Country Funk

Country Funk

Considering that the L.A. quartet Country Funk was neither country nor funk, perhaps its name was to blame for the fact that its 1970 eponymous debut fell into obscurity. This twang-rock album has since become as much of a vinyl crate-digger’s gem as similarly twangy (and rare) albums by Sand, Unicorn, Euphoria, and Prelude. With its searing, psychedelic fuzz-guitar leads and Adam Taylor’s vocals—which made him sound like the next of kin to Stephen Stills—the opening “A Part of Me” could be mistaken for a long-lost Buffalo Springfield hit. “Phoebe (Mourning Pink)” follows, featuring late-'60s folk-rock oozing with Byrdsy vocal harmonies. Then “Not This Time” kicks down a hard strut that rocks like a heavier version of Poco. Unlike most of its contemporaries, Country Funk showed a deep love for the blue-eyed soul coming out of Philadelphia. “When I’m Without You” best exemplifies this, with a big warm groove and a go-go boogie that gives its sound more dimension.

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