75

Description

Texas-born guitarist Melvin Sparks is one of the godfathers of Acid Jazz. He first came to prominence in the bands of Jack McDuff and Lou Donaldson, providing an essential element in their funky groove-based classics of the late 60s. He then joined the Prestige Records funk team, under the tutelage of producer Bob Porter. He made his debut LP "Sparks" for the label in 1970, alongside Idris Muhammad, Leon Spencer, and Houston Person. Two more exciting albums appeared on the label with "Spark Plug" and "Akilah," plus over a dozen sideman appearances. When Porter left to set up Eastbound Records in Detroit – as part of Westbound Records – Sparks followed, recording his first album "Texas Twister" in 1973. The following year, after Porter's departure, he recorded the album that became "'75" with some of the label's top studio musicians, including members of Funkadelic and singer Jimmy D Scott, who sang on "I Got To Have You" and "If You Want My Love." This soul jazz of the era included club classics like "Get Ya Some" and "Get Down With The Get Down." Sparks began recording another album for the label that languished in the vaults for decades, then primarily focused on session work before being rediscovered by the acid jazz scene in the late 80s, and was brought to Europe for a tour as part of the BGP All-Stars. This late renaissance saw him record five more albums. This is the first vinyl reissue of this album since 1975.