A funky holy grail, one of the rarest of the rare, and the only album ever cut by funky guitarist Carl "Sherlock" Holmes! Carl's work on the guitar is incredible fast riffing and jazzy, with a style that's dirtier and messier than some of his 70s jazz funk contemporaries, but which also lays back on a few tracks so that Carl can deliver a sweetly soulful vocal. The album's a real blend of styles, all handled pretty darn well from the hard funk of "Black Bag" and "Investigation", to the Latin jamming of "Modesa", the fast grooving of "Get Down Philly Town", and the mellow soul of "Think It Over" and "Your Game". Great stuff and a real treat to finally have reissued.
This is a super rare soul/funk record where Carl tries to close "the gap between R&B, jazz and psychedelic rock by the creation of a sound that is funky, mellow, intricately soulful and explosive, yet uniquely disciplined in its complexity!
This is a @320 vinyl rip of the reissue CRS records LP, including covers.
Tracks
A1.Investigation 4.05
A2.Close To You 5.07
A3.Black Bag 3.20
A4.Think Is Over 3.25
B1.Modesa 4.59
B2.Your Game 4.16
B3.Get Down Philly Town 2.59
B4.It Ain't Wright 3.07
Review by Groovy Emmanuel
Well, well, well.. It's time now for some to the dirtier side of funkiness grooves of the early seventies, painted with some to the mellower side soul touches of the same era. And it's a fine little record from one of the less familiar names around, Philly guitarist and vocalist Carl "Sherlock" Holmes.
Carl started gigging in the early sixties forming Carl Holmes and The Commanders with whom he recorded a full length album for Atlantic in 1962 entitled «Twist Party At The Roundtable», and a couple of 45's for Parkway and Verve later on. They even gigged with one Jimi Hendrix in 1966 but alas never recorded. After a final 45 for the local Philly label Black Jack, the group disbanded and Carl formed the Sherlock Holmes Investigation a solid outfit backed by a strong rhythm section packed with congas, vibes, flute, organ and sax. Philly's Sigma Sound Studio was the place they recorded their sole album and Custis R. Staten's CRS Records was the label that released it. And here we are.
Smokin funk breaks in «Black Bag», «Investigation», «Get Down Philly Town», «It Ain't Right» and some syncopated latin-inspired jams in «Modesa» all coming out of the legendary Philly studio?… Yeah, why not? Music is One, or isn't it? Ouch. All these coupled nicely by some fine mellow numbers in «Close To You», «Think It Over» and «Your Game» . ouch again! And all but one (Bacarach/David's «Close To You») written by a guy named Len Woods. A remarkable blend of styles, no doubt!
Finally there's a little confusion on when this little record was released. Is it late sixties, early seventies or mid seventies? Having that in mind, just listen to «Your Game». and focus on the break midway to the end, 2:55 to 3:14 of total 4:12 minutes the song lasts. Well, I thought I saw a pussycat, as Tweetie the cartoon used to say. Is it Marvin's «What's Going On?» .? Did this little record come out before or after Marvin's record? Ouch once more. But nevertheless, pay no attention at all, cause music is still the best no matter when or where or whatever, as long it is good. And last but not least, who the heck is Len Woods? The guy is a hell of a songwriter. Is he Carl himself or someone else? A final ouch to the end.
—————————-
Wicked & Wonderful! Nikos & Groovy Em…need I say more! :¬)
/Laf
this blog gets better post after post. A M A Z I N G
And, oh yeah, forgot to leave a comment on the year of this albums release…I actually think it was released in 1974. Which unfortunately kinda sinks Emmanuels cool ideas on Marvin borrowing some vocal licks for his “What’s Going On” from 1970. Please note that the album is just as good, even if it was released in 1974! :¬)
/L
Laf, the year of release still remains a mystery. All Music Guide mention 1970. Discogs and Dusty Groove 1974. Those who have sold a copy (Popsike) do not mention the year of release cause i am sure that the original copies do not mention it. Till now i find no catalogue of Curtis R. Staten’s C.R.S. label.
Anyway a great record! Thank you Groovy Emmanuel for sending me your vinyl copy.
thanx nikos for this awesome post
Wow! I can’t wait to hear this one!! Much thanks!
hey nikos! just wanted to say THANKS for all you do man! This blog is my education. Thanks for ruling!
black dog..wooooooooooo a classic…thanks for that good post..and nice review..thanks dude jean paris
oooops bag…jean
man this one is a real gem. thanks and keep up the great work!
Music is just a wheel spinning eternally. Everything is music, even “light is just a vibration of a note too, everything is” (FZ said that…). Music is still the best, how true. And top of that, a way for people to share thoughts and communicate. For that individual record, cover, layout and music contained say perhaps it’s late sixties early seventies, some reviews say it’s 1974. But who needs to care actually, as long as music is rocking us eternally… Thank you Laf, Nikos and all for responding.
Wow! A masterpiece! Thank you Groovy Emmanuel and Nikos.
Totally agree with that, Em! :¬)
A precious record! Blew my mind!
ExXxcellent! thank you for this find, nikos. Black Bag is awesome…
peace, E-mile
Thanks nick. Top notch find as always!
Nikos,
Your blog is the best. You have saved the soul of this poor white guy living in Wisconsin.
I have Black Bag from a comp CD called Breakdown! that I bought way back when I first got into this stuff, and it’s become one of my favorites. Thanks so much for digging this up and giving me the opportunity to hear the whole album!
Thanks for another amazing share. Investigation is one brutal track! You’re the best
Peace and blessings.
Thanks for this one, nikos and for all the awesome work you do!
Sounds good!
A must have.
I’d never thought I’d see this one…Thanks a lot man!
thanks for posting
another gem I probably would never hear if it weren’t for you Nikos! much thanks for this FUNKY ASS record, i started bobbin and dancin from the youtube video of ‘investigation’!!! can’t wait to hear the rest, thanks again!!!
You always come through! Thanks for all the hard work.
Absolutely amazing album. Thank you Emmanuel and nikos
oh what a treasure – thanks a lot for sharing!!!!
One of the best records posted lately. Greetings from Hungary.
Thanks for sharing this one with us Nikos!
Thanks for sharing this one with us all Nikos!!
¿Have you noticed the extreme similarities between “Investigation” and Lou Donaldson’s “Everything I Do Will Be Funky (From Now On)”… sound like a blatant ripoff to me… (Lou’ song is from 1969)
Anyway, great discovery, thanks!
great, big groove, another treasure for my soul!!
thank you i didnt know him
great posts mannnnn
Wonderful post–thanks!
Thanks for the gem!!!
sceen