La Clave-La Clave-'73 West Coats Latin funk-Lalo Schifrin-NEW LP

La Clave – La Clave
La Clave - La Clave
Label:    Verve Records – B0037858-01, UMe – B0037858-01, Verve Records – V6-8819, Verve Records – V6 8819
Series:    Verve By Request
Format:    
Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, 180g
Country:    US
Released:    Oct 2023
Genre:    Jazz, Latin, Funk / Soul
Style:    Latin Jazz, Guaguancó

An incredible album of Latin funk – the only-ever record from this west coast combo headed by the legendary Benny Velarde!

Benny's a name that you might recognize from earlier, straighter Latin dates for Fantasy – or for countless studio work during the 70s – but here, he's really got a talent for a funky 70s groove – and manages to hit a unique space that's somewhere between conventional funk, west coast Latin, and some of the hippest blacksploitation grooves of the time!

The album also features some under-credited work from Lalo Schifrin – who was tied to the project somehow (Velarde claims that the record was killed by MGM upon release because of a feud with Lalo) – but never really fully credited in the notes.

There's a definite link here with some of Schifrin's funkier soundtrack of the period – a great blend of jazzier elements and headier 70s funk – all served up with a tightness that has made the record one of our favorite funky treasures for years! Titles include "The Ghetto", "Latin Slide", "Who You Fooling", "Road Runner", "Soul Sauce", "Cocoa Leaf", and "Move Your Hands".

A1        Sally Go Round The Roses
Written-By – Stevens*, Sanders*
3:12
A2        Angels Of Mercy
Written-By – Botts*, Ellison*
3:17
A3        Move Your Hands
Written-By – Lonnie Smith
3:03
A4        Latin Slide
Written-By – Lalo Schifrin
4:07
A5        Who You Fooling
Written-By – H. Bruno*, T. Bruno*
3:34
B1        The Ghetto
Written-By – Hathaway*, Hutson*
3:20
B2        Road Runner
Written-By – Velarde*
4:30
B3        Soul Sauce
Written-By – Gonzalez*, Gillespie*
2:32
B4        Baila Mi Guaguancò
Written-By – Velarde*
5:10
B5        Cocoa Leaf
Written-By – Lalo Schifrin
1:45

    Arranged By – John D'Andrea
    Art Direction – Saul Saget
    Executive-Producer – John DeMarco, Marshall Leib
    Illustration, Design – Robert Hickson
    Leader – Benny Valarde*
    Liner Notes – Lalo Schifrin, Richard Oliver (4)
    Producer – Tony Bruno (3)

    Barcode: 602455624376