Monk Higgins - Sheba Baby (1975)

1. B B D
2. Three hoods
3. Sheba baby (vocal)
4. Get down Sheba
5. I'm in love with you (vocal)
6. Railroad
7. "Who the hell is that"
8. Heavyshot
9. A good man is gone (vocal)
10. Number one man
11. Sheba
12. The shark
13. Breast stroke
14. Speedboat
15. Good bye
16. She did it (vocal)

Blaxploitation.com
An interesting album from jazz players Monk Higgins and Alex Brown. Barbara Mason sings a strong late 70's funk feel theme, while the rest of the album is taken up with short, tight instrumentals. The album has a clean, crisp and jazz-influenced sound.

Isaac Hayes - Shaft (1971)

1. Theme From Shaft (Vocal)
2. Bumpy's Lament
3. Walk From Regio's
4. Ellie's Love Theme
5. Shaft's Cab Ride
6. Cafe Regio's
7. Early Sunday Morning
8. Be Yourself
9. A Friend's Place
10. Soulsville (Vocal)
11. No Name Bar
12. Bumpy's Blues
13. Shaft Strikes Again
14. Do Your Thing (Vocal)
15. The End Theme

Blaxploitation.com
Without a doubt, the best known and most enduring of all blaxploitation soundtracks. Isaac Hayes at his very best. Every 1970s record collection contains a copy of the 'Theme from Shaft'. The theme's wah guitar defined the music of an entire decade. Too many good tracks to miss, it's a beautiful blend of lush orchestral film score and out-and-out funk.

Gladys Knight & The Pips - Pipe Dreams (1976)

1. So Sad The Song
2. Alaskan Pipeline
3. Pot Of Jazz
4. I'll Miss You
5. Nobody But You
6. Pipe Dreams
7. Everybody Got To Find A Way
8. I Will Follow My Dream
9. So Sad The Song (Instrumental)


Blaxploitation.com
Gladys Knight starred in this Alaska-based love story. The album features a number of distinguished arrangers, including Michael Masser (also responsible for Diana Ross' underrated 'Mahogany' soundtrack), Bubba Knight and the great Dominic Frontiere (take a listen to the fabulous Brannigan main theme, sadly never issued on LP). Much of the album is standard Pips material and lacks depth, often descending into lounge jazz-tinged soul. The album features one stronger funk track, a slower guitar-based jam called 'Alaskan Pipeline'. An album for completists.

Curtis Mayfield & The Staple Singers - Let's Do It Again (1975)

1. Let's Do It Again
2. Funky Love
3. A Whole Lot Of Love
4. New Orleans
5. I Want To Thank You
6. Big Mac
7. After Sex
8. Chase

Blaxploitation.com
Curtis Mayfield lends a helping hand to the Staples Singers for a comedy drama film about a young boxer. The album contains a couple of good funk instrumentals, "Big Mac" and "The Chase", and the Staples Singers tracks are worth listening to.