ulisten.net podcast #6: Wade Marcus - Spinning Wheel

ulisten.net podcast #6 (download MP3)

Today's podcast features a funky rearrangement by Wade Marcus of the Blood, Sweat & Tears hit, Spinning Wheel. It's another one of the hot tracks from the same box set featured on Podcast #3 (The Stovall Sisters - Hang On In There).

The main groove of this tune, which starts cooking from beat one, is what's most notable on this track. The riff played by the bassist, guitarist and organist in unison is highly sophisticated without losing a lick of its hard-ass funk quality. Marcus's selection of flute to play the melody is at once enigmatic and playful. But that flute ain't playing Bach: it digs in hard during the solo section. And among other things, don't miss the lush string arrangements that pop in for a brief visits -- especially near the climax of the tune and the extension of the flute solo. And then, before the guitar solo and the fade, a totally unexpected foray into 70s TV and film soundtrack scoring -- it feels like this could be on behind a car chase scene in a Dirty Harry flick.

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Artist Name: Wade Marcus
Track Title: Spinning Wheel
Album Title: What It Is! Funky Soul And Rare Grooves (1967-1977) (4-CD box set)
Release Date: 2006

You can buy this recording at: cd universe | amazon.com (not available at amazon.ca) | rhino records | itunes (US store only) | froogle | google