I can hardly believe the very first edition of the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club came out in 2012 - much time has passed, but my mission remains the same - to give you lucky lucky people another hard hitting selection - a crafty musical right hook, another fist full of funky things - and this new collection packs a hell of a punch!
For Volume 4 - we open up with 3 disco tinged bangers, Kylie Auldists' Family Tree will transport you directly onto the dance-floor of New York's legendary Studio 54 discotheque - Smoove & Turrell's cover of Hot Chocolates' You Could've Been A Lady' has got that Newcastle boogie oogie oogie vibe down - Lexsoul DanceMachine have marinated Beef Grinder in sizzling hi hat cymbals and a spicy clav riff so saucy Stevie Wonder would be shocked!
Add into the mix 3 classics dug from the crates - one from Brian Auger, one of the best Hammond organ players ever, one intensely catchy number from from Ginger Johnson & His African Messengers, and a super rare track from John Heartsman & Circlesthat comes from an album so rare that it has changed hands for $5,000!
Mix in a crop of contemporary funk, soul and latin bangers from acts such as The New Mastersounds, The Tibbs, Lisa Stansfield, Lack Of Afro ft Joss Stone, Sunlightsquare, Marta Ren & The Groovelvets, Flevans, a killer groove from Lance Ferguson's Black Feeling Vol 3, a 100% exclusive track from The Fantastics! feat Sulene Fleming too, and you've got the soundtrack to an instant party on your hands..
So there you have it boys & girls - I give you The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club Volume 4 - the cream of the current crop, the choicest cuts of my favourite slices of the slinkiest soul, weapons grade funk bombs - it does exactly what it says on the tin..and then some.
Craig Charles.