Texas Thunder Soul (1968-1974)

The tireless dollar-bin scourers over at Stones Throw have assembled yet another astonishingly packaged collection of funk rarities in the form of Texas Thunder Soul, an exhaustive two-disc overview of the phenomenal Kashmere Stage Band, a Houston High School band who churned out some of the heaviest funk ever recorded during their all-too-brief lifetime. Masterminded by bandleader Conrad O. Johnson, who worked up funky big-band arrangements of pop hits and soul classics for his young charges, the Kashmere Stage Band boasted a truly monstrous sound that continues to astound after the passage of nearly four decades. The band’s storming take on “Super Bad” alone makes this record a must-own, but though the Kashmere Stage Band were stellar interpreters of other people’s material, the presence of a couple of funky original tunes, like the bass heavy “Headwiggle,” makes a strong case for Conrad Johnson’s songwriting skills. A truly unique record and a compelling slice of musical history, Texas Thunder Soul sheds light on a previously forgotten chapter of soul history.