Shout! Factory's two-disc
The Funk Anthology compiles the best of blues icon
Johnny "Guitar" Watson's recordings for the DJM label from 1970 to 1981. Also included are three tracks off
Watson's 1994 comeback album, Bow Wow. A hugely influential artist,
Watson was often overshadowed by his more well-known contemporaries including
Chuck Berry,
Little Richard,
Sly Stone, and
George Clinton. While
Watson got his start rockin' out in the '50s with such blues crossover classics as "Too Tired," "Hot Little Mama," and the mind-blowingly innovative instrumental "Space Guitar," he made an even bigger mark in the '70s playing his unique and equally innovative brand of funk. Changing from a slick pompadour to a groovy afro and three-piece suits,
Watson reimagined himself as a blues pimp extraordinaire and backed up his bravado with musical chops that had already made good on the developments of
T-Bone Walker,
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and
Ray Charles. Referring to himself as the "Original Gangster of Love,"
Watson's funk recordings found the multi-instrumentalist/vocalist mixing jazz harmonies, blues, soul, raw funk, disco, and R&B all into his own unique style. This is humorous, raunchy, rhythmically compelling, and melodically infectious music that benefits as much from
Watson's juicy synthesizer skills as his adept guitar playing. Barring some horn section and drum parts,
Watson often played all the instruments on his recordings, and tracks such as "Ain't That a Bitch," "Funk Beyond the Call of Duty," and "It's All About the Dollar Bill" prefigure work by the similarly inclined funk iconoclast
Prince. Also notable is his 1980 rap track "Telephone Bill," which certainly stands as one of the earliest recorded examples of the genre. Featuring gatefold packaging that showcases all of
Watson's iconic over-the-top album covers, a booklet full of photos, and lovingly written liner notes by music biographer
David Ritz,
The Funk Anthology is the definitive tribute to a true funk original. ~ Matt Collar