John Ellison Up from Funk (2-CD)

(2-CD set) If John Ellison did not single-handedly move soul into funk and add a little Gospel to the mix, he was certainly among the small group of inspired artists who took R&B out of the studio and formed self-contained bands to open the new and exciting era of funk. His now-classic R&B turned rock anthem, (She's) Some Kind of Wonderful, written originally for his first band, the Soul Brothers Six, kick-started his 50-year career in the music business. This retrospective of music he himself created over half a century remains as fresh as the day he wrote and recorded it, polished as only a master in studios going back to mono recording knows how to do it. To listen to John Ellison is to hear the best music of the modern era in the crystalline purity of a unique voice with a unique sound, as comfortable on stage as in a studio, a talent that has endured and earned a place in music history.