American Gypsy - American Gypsy (1975)

Artist: American Gypsy
Title Of Album: American Gypsy
Year Of Release: 1975
Label (Catalog#) :Chess Records
Country: Netherlands/USA
Genre: Funk, Soul, Funk Rock
Quality: FLAC (*image + .cue,log)
Bitrate: Lossless
Time: 40:18
Full Size: 260Mb(+3%)

An album that begins with an amazing break -- and then rolls into a great batch of fuzzy guitar grooves! The set is one of the odder albums to be issued by Chess Records during its funk years -- as American Gypsy were a Dutch band, recording in Holland, and the record was only licensed to Chess for release in the US. We're not sure what made them make this international ploy in their dying years (as they also did with the album Atlantis, by Daniel Salinas), but the move gave them a great bit of funk that's been a favorite with collectors for years! At some point, the album's got a rock/soul sound -- almost in the vein of Thin Lizzy or some of the other European groups of the time -- but on the best cuts, that heavy guitar gets used to great funky ends, and the rest of the group jumps in line with a good groove. The most famous cut is the massive "Inside Out", which has an excellent breakbeat, funky bass, and very soulful grooves -- but other nice cuts include "Golden Ring", "While It's Cold Outside", and "Let Your Life Lead By Love".

Tracks:
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01. Inside Out (Lorenzo Mills, Joe Skeete & Steve Douglas)
02. 10, 000 Miles (Joe Skeete & Lorenzo Mills)
03. Ooh Why Not (Hans Van Hemert)
04. Golden Ring (Steve Douglas & Joe Skeete)
05. Lady Eleanor (A. Hull)
06. Angel Eyes (Piet Souer)
07. White Its Cold Outside (Hans Van Hemert & Piet Souer)
08. Stuck On You (Piet Souer)
09. Let Your Life Lead By Love (Hans Van Hemert)
10. Tribute To American Gypsy (Hans Van Hemert & Piet Souer)

Personnel:
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Joe Skeete : Guitar, Mellotron, Vocals
Steve Clisby : Piano, Alto Sax, Lead vocals
Michael Harmane : Guitars, Vocals
Dale Harrel Jr. : Guitars, Vocals
Richard James : Drums, Percussion
Lorenzo Mills : Percussion, Vocals

All thanks to original releaser