Following on from acclaimed compilations like ‘Down Under Nuggets’ and ‘Heavy Soul’ (and two other new titles ‘Running The Voodoo Down’ and ‘Dodgy Bossa (& Silly Sambas)’ - details below), Festival Records presents another deep dig into the archives, this time shining a light on rare Australian soul-jazz, jazz-funk, and freaked-out groove rock from the late ‘60s and ‘70s.

BACK ON THE STREET AGAIN - AUSTRALIAN FUNK, SOUL & PSYCH (MOSTLY) FROM THE FESTIVAL VAULTS is a stunning 20 track CD and 2LP release that highlights a point when the previously disparate styles of rock, jazz and soul all started influencing each other, and exciting new genres were created. To quote the liner notes:

“Australia produced some amazing music during the 60s and 70s that sat outside of the normal rock mould. Avant guard artists like John Sangster pushed boundaries and experimented with the fusion of local and overseas influences; artists like Dalvanius recorded soaring disco music that was lost amongst the popular music of the time, only to be rediscovered by DJs overseas who were searching for unknown sounds; composers like Brute Force and His Drum took risks and recorded left-field funky sounds hidden within their more mainstream compositions; and popular artists like Billy Thorpe occasionally strayed from their A&R directions and took leaves from the books of American artists who were largely unknown in Australia at the time. Beneath the veneer of bland rock and roll lay an unknown multitude of funky sounds hidden from mainstream view. “ - DJ Kinetic

In addition to the artists that Kinetic mentions (and the compilation features two John Sangster tracks – stunning versions of ‘Hair’ and the Beatles’ ‘A Day In The Life’), the collection includes iconic names of the era like the Daly-Wilson Big Band (featuring Kerrie Biddell), Renee Geyer and the Johnny Rocco Band. ‘60s sides from Ross D Wyllie and The ID (featuring Jeff St John) reveal the various styles’ roots in American rhythm & blues, and the unexpected inclusion of some legendary Australian rock outfits like Tamam Shud and Blackfeather reveals the psychedelic and  progressive rock influences at play. The full range of the music is highlighted by the inclusion of both cabaret/daytime TV performer Al Styne and outrageous Kings Cross club act Count Copernicus & The Cosmic Fire as well as the in-house studio ‘pops’ orchestra, Festival Studio 24 Orchestra.

BACK ON THE STREET AGAIN - AUSTRALIAN FUNK, SOUL & PSYCH (MOSTLY) FROM THE FESTIVAL VAULTS  was compiled by DJ Kinetic along with Pete Pasqual (Creative Vibes/My Vinyl Revolution) and Erica Olson (My Vinyl Revolution). It follows in the footsteps of the acclaimed Respect Overdue series of CD from over a decade ago. It also follows the July 29 release of two like-minded Festival Compilations, ‘Running the Voodoo Down - Explorations in PsychRockFunkSoulJazz 1967-80’, which looks at the American stuff that influenced so much of this (including Funkadelic, James Brown, Lightning Rod & Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis amongst others); and ‘Dodgy Boss (& Silly Sambas)’, which looks at the Brazilian music craze of the ‘60s and includes Sergio Mendes, Herbie Mann, Astrud Gilberto, Quincy Jones, Elvis Presley and others)., 

BACK ON THE STREET AGAIN - AUSTRALIAN FUNK, SOUL & PSYCH (MOSTLY) FROM THE FESTIVAL VAULTS is released on CD and Double LP and as Digital Download on September 16 2016.