Vinyl LP pressing. Archive collection of previously unreleased early 70s Portland funk. Includes 12-page 12" × 12? oral history of the band with some great cutouts, photos and local advertisements from the neighborhood. This collection of instrumentals is a crystal clear glimpse into a forgotten period of Portland's music history. Fostered by the Albina Art Center, a hangout spot for creatively-inclined black youth, The Gangsters were led by trumpeter Thara Memory, who wrote and arranged all of their material, and produced the sessions heard on this vinyl-only release. After gigging around the city for a few years, the group-who were almost all in their late teens-laid down some tracks at Ripcord Studios, but they disbanded soon thereafter and the tapes sat in a closet, unheard for over 40 years. Rescued from obscurity, the tracks on this album have all the punch and hip-swinging joy of fellow jazz/funk artists like The Crusaders, Weather Report and Pleasure. But with Thara Memory leading the charge, the music has a rich complexity, best exemplified by the nine-minute "Suite for Funk Band," which runs through a series of movements that touch on Latin grooves and post-bop before culminating in an almost-psychedelic breakdown capped off by a devastating guitar solo.
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Recommended equipment and accessories
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Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
Features an elliptical stylus that accurately tracks the grooves of vinyl records, delivering a rich, detailed sound with an output voltage of 5.5 mV
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Vevor Ultrasonic Cleaner
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Pro-Ject Phono Box DC Pre-Amp
Compact, high-performance phono preamplifier for both MM and MC cartridges, delivering a clean, detailed signal with minimal noise.
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Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO
Featuring a one-piece carbon fiber tonearm, precision-tuned motor, and a heavy steel platter with TPE damping, it ensures superior stability and sound quality.
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HumminGuru: Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
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