SHUGGIE OTIS Vinilo y CD

Review: The son of the legendary r&b bandleader Johnny Otis, American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Shuggie Otis carried his father's funk-r&b torch when he dropped his debut album Introducing. Emerging in 1969 when Shuggie was just 15 years old, he certainly sounds wiser beyond his years on record, with his voice a stark and low fixture of this otherwise masterwork in album form, and the many arrangements sounding like they'd come from a musician with decades of practice under their belt, not less than two. Modern listeners are likely to still be captivated by its stylistic breadth, not least by the dazzling instrumental flourishes of 'Sweet Thang' or the proto-neo-soul chromatics of 'Island Letter'.

Review: ** REPRESS ALERT ** This timeless classic by American singer-songwriter Shuggie Otis is an instantly recognisable masterpiece of soul. 1971's "Strawberry Letter 23" from his album "Freedom Flight" has endured and become a rare groove touchstone. Flecked with elements of psych and breakbeat, it is prescient, and stuffed with neat tics and tricks. Turn to the flip for an added bonus - "Ice Cold Daydream" is a funk bomb full of bouncing organs and squelching wah wah guitars with Shuggie's trademark vocal tones laid over the top.