Rasputin's Stash - 1971 - Rasputin's Stash

Rasputin's Stash

1971

Rasputin's Stash

01. Your Love Is Certified 2:08

02. I'd Like To Know You Better 3:45

03. What's On Your Mind 2:45

04. Take Me On Back 3:45

05. Mr. Cool 3:28

06. You Better Think 5:39

07. Freaks Prayer 2:45

08. Prelude 0:17

09. Dookey Shoe 3:20

10. You Are My Flower 4:40

11. I Want To Say You're Welcome 2:12

12. Epilogue 1:30

Bass, Vocals – Bruce Butler

Brass – Wardell Peel

Congas, Percussion – Norval Taylor

Drums, Percussion – Frank Donaldson

Keyboards, Vocals – Paul Coleman

Keyboards, Vocals – Vincent Willis

Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals – Martin Dumas, Jr.

Reeds – James Whitfield

Recorded at Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida

Chicago soul brothers Rasputin's Stash didn't hit the big time, but their quality funk deserves to be resurrected and enjoyed by future generations. What the band lacks in imaginative vocal styling, they more than make up for with instrumental prowess. Rasputin's Stash plays with a perfect combination of street-smart grit, professional level chops, and drug-savvy freakiness, rocking a funk that has proven popular with latter-day beat samplers. "Your Love Is Certified" leads off the debut, and it's the strongest cut, undeniable dancefloor bait with countrified slide guitar and a bracing horn arrangement. Keyboardist Vincent Willis wrote the tune and takes lead vocals, delivering silly lyrics like "Hey baby, when you come to me/I don't worry, 'cause it's C.O.D." with conviction, and it should have been a hit. The rest of the LP gets more progressive, surveying territory similar to what fellow travelers Funkadelic were exploring at the time (though without the sheer abandon of that amazing combo). "What's on Your Mind," "You Better Think," and "I Want to Say You're Welcome" are energetic pieces with great ensemble playing, but while quieter numbers like "Take Me Back" and "You Are My Flower" are well built, the lyrics and vocal performances are a bit banal. The tracks with the most personality are a pair of hamhock-funky character studies that drip with greasy charm. After a brief spoken introduction from two jive cats sucking noisily on a joint, "Mr. Cool" slides in slow like the baddest pimp in the pool hall. Our hero brags about making it with "the president's old lady," displays his dark shades and white car, then claims to have been the first man on the moon. The chorus is marked with the declaration, "No jive/Gimme five," followed by an audible slap (later borrowed for the Beck song "High Five"). "Dookey Shoe" is more of the same, except this time the singer is preoccupied with his irresistible appeal to the women, being as he is a "nasty, nasty man" with a "dirty, funky plan in my hand." The camp factor of these tunes has grown over the years, but Rasputin's Stash was clearly out for laughs in the first place. There's a lot for serious funk mavens to play with in these grooves, and afro fetishists will probably want to buy a frame for the cover..

What about a funk group from Chicago paying homage to the famous Russian prophet/mystical? The band, founded in the early '70s by session musician Martin Dumas Jr, debuted with a killer album on Cotillion (a subsidiary label of Atlantic, operating from 1968 to 1986) in 1971 showing their intense power and a full-on blaxploitation aesthetic. Their sound was mainly a mix of fuzzy guitars and tight horns arrangements, with lots of cool percussion thrown in. At times, you can tell there's almost a Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band vibe to their approach, but mixed with some lysergic influences -- think about early Funkadelic -- verging on their more rock side of things.

After the release of the Funk box set collection "What It Is" many rare Funk groups were revealed to a new generation of grooveseekers. Rasputin's Stash was one such group. This debut record from this 8 piece outfit was recorded in Miami,Fl in 1971 for Cotillion Records a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. The 12 cuts represent a sound blended with Jazz,R&B and Funk instrumentals. "Your Love is Certified" begins as a drum introduction before the band joins in for a seasoned jam. "Take me on Back" a soulful ballad arranged with strings and horns reflect the Gospel influences of early 70's Soul."You Better Think" rings with sound effects and horns alongside voices before erupting into a Funky calibrated effort. The liner notes for this release are in Japanese with the exception of the song lyrics,thus not offering much information on the groups history. Rasputin's Stash produced only one other album during there run ,their sound was likened to early Earth,Wind&Fire and Mandrill.This release captures a Funky ensemble on the move circa 1971.