It’s good to see record labels finally acknowledging the work of the so-called backroom boys who helped shape the musical landscape for the rest of us. A worthy companion to last year’s ‘John Morales: The M&M Mixes’ (BBE) comes this similarly styled compilation from another truly iconic New York character. Bob Blank, and his Blank Tapes studios were the backbone of the funk, boogie and disco scene in the mid-’70s to ’80s and a second home to the likes of producers Patrick Adams, Greg Carmichael, Arthur Russell and pretty much every artist on Salsoul Records. This first retrospective of one of the scene’s most revered producers, includes the first track ever recorded at the studio, Milton Hamilton’s ‘Crystalized’, while remaining dozen cuts includes such anthemic boogie cuts as Fonda Rae’s ‘Over Like A Fat Rat’, Debby Blackwell’s ‘Once You Got Me Started’, ‘I Got A Big Bee’ from Bumblebee Unlimited and Gladys Knight’s ‘It’s A Better Than Good Time’. Add Blank’s wife, Lola, singing on the cult ‘Wax The Van’, and rarities from Charanga 76, Mikki and Sun Ra, and his own Aural Exciters project and this quickly becomes another must-have collection from one of the most important creative dens during burgeoning dance scene.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Lewis Dene