get on down proudly presents another top-notch vinyl reissue, from their long-running series of collaborations with james brown’s famed 70s funk label people records. as the 1970s wore on, the classic funk sounds that had defined james brown’s backing band, the j.b.’s, gave way to the rise of disco music. fred wesley and his collective of musicians couldn’t resist the chance to make their mark, releasing “hustle with speed” in 1975, with charles bobbit and don love producing, and the godfather himself, james brown co-writing and providing arrangements. “hustle with speed” didn’t cross over like the band had hoped it would, but it was nonetheless remarkable album, featuring the j.b.’s signature funky style married with disco to exciting effect. all the while there’s still plenty to be had for the funk die-hard, from the brass blow-out jam “here we come, here we go, here we are”, to the trombone-heavy “all aboard the funky soul train”, to the powerhouse opening salvo that is “(it’s not the express) it’s the jbs monaurail”. songs from “hustle with speed” would take on lives of their own decades after the album’s release, through sampled appearances in tracks by jay-z, nas, eric b. & rakim, ultramagnetic mcs, epmd, and many more.
