Charles Kynard – Woga LP

Description

Wewantsounds reissuesCharles Kynard‘s 1972 cult classicWoga, recorded in Los Angeles for Mainstream Records and featuring top-tier musiciansChuck Rainey,Paul Humphrey,Arthur Adams, andGeorge Bohanon. Produced byBob Shad, the album stands as one of the label’s funkiest releases, showcasing Kynard’s signature Hammond organ grooves.Wogais reissued here on vinyl for the first time since its original release, complete with its original gatefold artwork using first-generation session photos. This edition comes with newly remastered audio plus a two-page insert featuring new liner notes byKevin Le Gendre. Charles Kynard, born in St. Louis in 1933, passed away relatively young at the age of 46 in 1979. Despite a short career, he left a lasting impression on the international jazz-funk scene with a string of soul-jazz classics, culminating withWoga. Kynard began his professional career in St. Louis before relocating to Los Angeles in the early ’60s, where he started recording for the Pacific Jazz label. There, he worked with renowned musicians such asHoward Roberts,Sonny Stitt, andBuddy Collette, releasing his debut album for the label in 1963. In 1971, Kynard joined Bob Shad’s Mainstream Records and recorded three highly sought-after albums for the label, includingWoga.Wogaincludes dynamic covers of contemporary soul hits such asDonny Hathaway‘s “Little Ghetto Boy,”Aretha Franklin‘s “Rock Steady,” and theStaple Singers‘ “Name the Missing Word,” alongside deep-cut originals like the fiery “Hot Sauce,” the laid-back “Lime Twig,” and the explosive nine-minute jam “Slop Jar,” featuring standout solos by trombonistGeorge Bohanon, guitaristArthur Adams, and trumpeterJerome Rusch. This reissue also includes the bonus track “Smiling Faces Sometimes”, a rendition of the Motown psychedelic soul hit byThe Undisputed Truth. Recorded during the originalWogasessions, the track briefly surfaced on a low-profile compilation two years later. It features none other than the legendaryCarol Kayeon bass.