RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK — Blacknuss

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3.92 | 5 ratings | 1 review

Album · 1972

Filed under Soul Jazz
By RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK

Tracklist

A1 Ain't No Sunshine 2:26
A2a What's Goin' On 3:46
A2b Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
A3 Take Me Girl, I'm Ready 2:48
A4 I Love You Yes I Do 3:19
A5 My Girl 3:06
A6 Which Way Is It Going 2:24
A7 One Nation 3:40
B1 Never Can Say Goodbye 4:00
B2 Old Rugged Cross 7:14
B3 Make It With You 4:50
B4 Blacknuss 5:13

Total Time: 43:09

Line-up/Musicians

Vocals – Cissy Houston (tracks B1,B4),Rahsaan Roland Kirk (tracks: A1, A5, B1, B4)
Bass – Henry Pearson (tracks: A1, B1, B4), Bill Salter (tracks: A2 to A7, B2, B3)
Congas – Richard Landrum (tracks: A1, B1, B4)
Congas, Percussion [Cabassa] – Arthur Jenkins (tracks: A2 to A7, B2, B3)
Drums – Bernard Purdie (tracks: A2 to A7, B2, B3), Khalil Mhdri (tracks: A1, B1, B4)
Flute, Saxophone [Tenor], Percussion [Police Whistle, Gong], Saxophone [Manzello, Stritch], Arranged By – Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Guitar – Billy Butler (tracks: A1, B1, B4), Cornell Dupree (tracks: A2 to A7, B2, B3), Keith Loving (tracks: A2 to A7, B2, B3)
Organ – Mickey Turner (tracks: A2 to A7, B2, B3)
Percussion – Joe Habad Texidor
Piano – Richard Tee (tracks: A2 to A7, B2, B3), Sonelius Smith (tracks: A1, B1, B4)
Trombone – Dick Griffin (tracks: A2 to A7, B2, B3)
Trumpet – Charles McGhee (tracks: A2 to A7, B2, B3)

About this release

Atlantic SD1601 (US)

Recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, N.Y. August, 31, 1971 & Regent Sound Studios, New York, N.Y. September, 8, 1971

Thanks to snobb for the updates

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RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK BLACKNUSS reviews

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You can never really know what to expect from a Rahsaan Roland Kirk record, he was never one to be bound by style or genre, instead, he approached any style he wanted with his trademark enthusiastic energy and off-the-wall creativity. So it comes to pass in 1972 that Kirk hits us with this rather wild collection of soul jazz tunes, plus a few expected unexpected oddities, called “Blacknuss”. In the early 70s, much of the soul jazz world had morphed into a groove-heavy style of psychedelic fusion, and “Blacknuss” fits in well with all of that. This is groove based music, but as you would expect from Kirk, this is not a particularly laid back album, instead, many tracks are often exploding with near chaotic energy.

Most of the tunes on here are well known RnB/pop numbers, but you have never heard them played like this before. Along with all the covers, there are also a couple of Kirk originals; “Which way is it Going” is a high speed country romp with frantic flute playing and some yelling too, and title cut “Blacknuss” is African fusion, once again hitting a high speed tempo. Kirk has some great support musicians on here, with honorable mention going to organist Mickey Tucker and his old school full-stops-out organ sound that puts cuts like “I Love You Yes I Do” and “Old Rugged Cross” right over the top. Next time you’re throwing a party, forget about that fluffy little acid jazz record and put this on instead, “Blacknuss” would make a great soundtrack to a party about to teeter out of control.