Rufus Thomas – Do The Funky Chicken (Stax Remasters) (1969/2011) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

One of Thomas’ career highlights, this hit record featured the smash hit title track, which charted on both the R&B and Pop charts. The follow-up single, which split the voodoo funk of “Sixty Minute Man” with the gospel-inflected “The Preacher and the Bear,” made it to #42 on the R&B charts. This reissue, available here as a high resolution download, is rounded out by the bonus tracks “Funky Mississippi”, “Funky Way”, I Want To Hold You and “Itch and Scratch”.

Rufus Thomas’ first album following Stax’s break from the Atlantic had “Do the Funky Chicken” as its centerpiece, so the emphasis upon good-humored dance tunes was unsurprising. There were some weird moments, particularly the down-and-bestial seven-minute update of “Sixty Minute Man” (on which Rufus sounds like he’s singing in tongues), a remake of “Bear Cat,” and a two-part version of “Old McDonald Had a Farm.” Still, the slightly goofy uptempo arrangements can get a little tiresome, and since his best hits from the period are better than the album-only tracks, almost everyone should just stick with a compilation. Some editions add seven bonus tracks from 1968-1974 singles, which are OK but not essential; Eddie Floyd’s “Funky Mississippi” (from 1968) is about the best.

Tracklist:
1. Rufus Thomas – Do The Funky Chicken (03:18)
2. Rufus Thomas – Let The Good Times Roll (03:39)
3. Rufus Thomas – Sixty Minute Man (07:18)
4. Rufus Thomas – Lookin’ For A Love (03:49)
5. Rufus Thomas – Bear Cat (A.K.A. Hound Dog) (02:57)
6. Rufus Thomas – Old McDonald Had A Farm (Part 1) (03:44)
7. Rufus Thomas – Old McDonald Had A Farm (Part 2) (02:47)
8. Rufus Thomas – Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown (02:42)
9. Rufus Thomas – Soul Food (04:31)
10. Rufus Thomas – Turn Your Damper Down (02:54)
11. Rufus Thomas – The Preacher And The Bear (03:56)
12. Rufus Thomas – Funky Mississippi (02:58)
13. Rufus Thomas – So Hard To Get Along With (03:05)
14. Rufus Thomas – Funky Way (02:58)
15. Rufus Thomas – I Want To Hold You (02:11)
16. Rufus Thomas – Itch And Scratch (Part 1) (03:14)
17. Rufus Thomas – Itch And Scratch (Part 2) (02:45)
18. Rufus Thomas – Boogie Ain’t Nuttin’ (But Gettin’ Down) (Part 1) (02:58)
19. Rufus Thomas – Boogie Ain’t Nuttin’ (But Gettin’ Down) (Part 2) (02:43)