You’ve heard Bernard “Pretty” Purdie drum on more albums than you can count. Besides releasing some 30 albums as a bandleader, and acting as Aretha Franklin’s musical director, Purdie played on records by Miles Davis, Herbie Mann, King Curtis, Tom Rush, Albert Ayler, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Roberta Flack, Cat Stevens, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Al Green…and that’s just scratching the surface! He also invented “The Purdie Shuffle,” tapping triplets against a half-time backbeat, among other rhythmic innovations. This rare record from 1972 is only the third he recorded as a leader, and, no surprise, he is surrounded by a stellar cast of musicians including guitarist Cornell Dupree, bassist Chuck Rainey, keyboardist Harold Wheeler, trumpeter Snooky Young, and reedman Seldon Powell. Needless to say, it’s a funky, eclectic affair, with plenty of great breakbeats, highlighted by the proto-rap tune “Artificialness” featuring Gil Scott-Heron! Comes in the original gatefold jacket art, too. Crate diggers gonna dig this one!
