RONNIE FOSTER"Two Headed Freap"LP Blue Note SAMPLES

$

73

* "Mystic Brew"
A Tribe Called Quest - "Electric Relaxation"
A Tribe Called Quest ft Jay-Z and Faith Evans - "Stressed Out"
Freeway and Anthony Allen - "Alright"
Rell ft Kanye West and Consequence - "Real Love"

BLUE NOTE BST-84382, 1972
Condition: Cover/ VG+. LP/ VG+.
Record cleaned on VPI Record Cleaning Machine.

AMG Review
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Ronnie Foster's debut album Two Headed Freap is a set of contemporary funky soul-jazz from the early '70s, which means it sounds closer to the soundtrack of a lost blaxploitation flick than Back at the Chicken Shack, Pt. 2. Foster certainly does display a debt to Jimmy Smith, but his playing is busier than Smith's and a bit wilder. Ironic, then, that his playing is in service to the groove and blends into the mix of wah-wah guitars, funk rhythms, electric bass, harps, and percolating percussion. Everything on Two Headed Freap is about glitzy groove — it sounds cinematic, colorful, and funky. It's true that there is little real improvisation here and the songs all have a similar groove, but it's worked well, and the music is ultimately appealing to fans of this genre. Jazz purists — even soul-jazz purists — will likely find this music a little monotonous and commercial, but fans of early-'70s funk from Sly Stone to Herbie Hancock will find something of interest here.

1. Chunky - Foster 4:50
2. Drowning in the Sea of Love Gamble, Huff 4:00
3. The Two-Headed Freap Foster 4:19
4. Summer Song Foster 5:20
5. Let's Stay Together Green, Jackson, Mitchell 4:50
6. Don't Knock My Love Pickett, Shapiro 4:30
7. Mystic Brew Foster 4:13
8. Kentucky Fried Chicken Foster 5:00

Shipping & Handling: US $7.50 Priority or $4.50 Media Rate. Canada $7.50. Western Europe: $15.00 (Airmail), $8.00 (Surface- 6 - 12 Weeks) . Eastern Europe, Japan and Austrailia: $16.00 (Airmail), $8.50 (Surface- 6 - 12 Weeks).
All others, please write.
Insurance is extra.
We are not responsible for items lost in the Mail.

GOLDMINE GRADING

MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.

NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.