WILLIE BOBO - Juicy (1967-1998) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Willie Bobo's music is triangulated between Latin jazz (Mongo Santamaria's division; the percussionist first gained notice in Santamaria's band), what by the mid-'60s had come to be called soul-jazz, and good old-fashioned lounge-act kitsch. None of the three influences overwhelms the others on 1967's Juicy, although from the lubricious title and cover photo on down, there's a certain "swingin' at Hef's pad" vibe to the proceedings that makes this album of particular interest to latter-day hipsters. Most of the song selection consists of soul-jazz covers of popular hits of the day, from a funky take on Eddie Floyd's "Knock on Wood" to a bossa nova-fied version of Bob Crewe's "Music to Watch Girls By," but the real standouts are the small handful of band originals, particularly the fiery groove of the title track, on which Bobo's timbales get their hardest workout. The 1998 CD reissue includes a full half-dozen extras, mostly less-than-revelatory alternate takes and leftovers, but the restored full-length version of the swell "La Descarga del Bobo" is a nice touch. by Stewart Mason
Tracklist :
1     Knock on Wood 2:40
Steve Cropper / Eddie Floyd
2     Mating Call 3:03
Tadd Dameron / Bert Keyes
3     Mercy, Mercy, Mercy 2:33
Gail Levy / Vincent Levy / Joe Zawinul
4     Felicidad 3:17
Clarence "Frogman" Henry
5     La Descarga del Bobo 5:38
William Correa
6     Juicy 3:26
Mike Stoller
7     Ain't Too Proud to Beg 2:42
Eddie Holland / Norman Whitfield
8     Music to Watch Girls By 2:18
Sid Ramin
9     Dreams 3:24
Bobby Valentín
10     Dis-Advantages 2:01
Mitch Leigh
11     Roots 3:13
Sonny Henry
12     Shing-a-Ling Baby 3:04
William Correa / Bobby Valentín
13     Juicy - Alternative Take 2:19
Mike Stoller
14     Music to Watch Girls By 2:26
Sid Ramin
15     Dis-Advantages - Alternative Take 2:01
Mitch Leigh
16     Shing-a-Ling Baby - Alternative Take 3:36
William Correa / Bobby Valentín
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Bobby Brown
Cornet – Melvin Lastie
Guitar – Sonny Henry
Timbales, Vocals – Willie Bobo