Hi! I’m Rufus D. Light, your funktastic record player, (not the kind allowed in the YWCA, however) writing these navigational notes to show you, as Bobby Byrd so aptly puts it, the way to get down. It is quite a way, as you might imagine, winding down from Lover’s Lane via Striver’s Row and Lonely Avenue to Soul Street and on to Funky Broadway. And, as if you haven’t guessed it already, “Soul Talkin’” is what gets you there. Especially if legendary performers like the ones assembled on this compilation are doing the talking. Moreover: They talk the talk and walk the walk – body and soul, with minds that matter. First and foremost we present to you the wonderful Bobby Byrd, also known as the “Godfather’s Godfather” (yes, he always was and will be James Brown’s #1 friend and associate – sometimes on the sidelines, always in the headlines!). His gravelly, groovy baritone sends chills down spines and raises hairs (and most other human extensions), whether he’s singing “The Way To Get Down” and “I Got It”, or emotionally and instrumentally supporting his wife Vicki Anderson in her haunting piece of advice “Don’t Throw Your Love In The Garbagecan”. Close to home, but from the other side of the Atlantic, we have Soul Society. This Hamburg based band of soulful funkateers supplies the sweetest (and tightest) “Soul Talkin’” around. Back in the States we find the marvellous Roger Troutman with a prime example of what made him one of the funkiest men in the state of “Soul-Hio”. Long before he ever thought of George Clinton producing his “Zapp”, Roger recorded his debut album with “The Human Body”. Their fabulous “Freedom” still shines bright, in all its original and initial glory. Just around the corner from where Roger worked his “zapped” magic, a youngster named Dean Francis crowned his high-school career with “Funky Disposition”, a sensational and sought-after single, in 1969. This marvellous man, who today works as a mentor, teacher, film-maker, and musician, of course, in Columbus, Ohio. Listen and learn – you will love the “Dean of Funk”! Another lovable character, straight from New Orleans, is the singing and piano-playing Eddie Bo who convincingly asked us to “Kick It On Back” – a supreme slice of Crescent City Funk! Slightly smoother and completely cosmic is the lovely “Space Princess”, brought to us by keyboard-wiz and mood-magician Lonnie Liston Smith. “Everybody Loves The Sunshine” is a hitting exclamation by his friend Roy Ayers, Virgo vibist extraordinaire and one of the funkiest brothers from Coast to Coast (no wonder: he was born in L.A., but has been spreading his vibes out of N.Y.C. ever since the 70s!). Holding it all together is the tantallizing trio that is presenting this luxurious lesson in “Soul Talkin’”. Lee Armstrong Express, made up of Lee and his brother Emanuel and their “Sister Of Soul”, has been actively involved in all of these productions. They convinced Bobby Byrd to enter the studio and record his debut-album, for instance, and were also there every step of the way when Lonnie, Roy, Dean and Vicki laid down their tracks. So it is only fitting and fair, that their various virtuosics pepper “the way to get down” with a tasty dish of “Chicken’n Waffles”, while the vocally sensational “Sister(s) Of Soul” offer “Here’s What You Need”, “I’m Your Lady” and – oh yes! – “Baby Love”. All in all, it is quite a soulful congregation. And all they really want is to show you the way to get down. Enjoy!