説明
数々のテレビや映画音楽を手がけたAlan HawkshawやAlan Parkerら、伝説のライブラリー音楽職人たちが1972年に残し、中古市場で約6万8,000円以上もの高値で取引される激レアなドラマ・ソウル／ストリート・ファンクの名盤が遂に復刻。
イギリスの伝説的ライブラリーレーベルMusic De Wolfeが1972年に制作した、知る人ぞ知る傑作『Hogan, The Hawk And Dirty John Crown』がBe Withレーベルのプロジェクトにより待望の再登場を果たす。本作は、1970年代初頭のブラックスプロイテーション映画のサウンドトラックを彷彿とさせる、ハードなスパイドラマ調のソウルやタフでジャジーなストリート・ファンクが詰め込まれた一枚だ。
参加しているのは、数々の映像音楽を手がけ後世のヒップホップ・シーンからもサンプリング源として広く知られるAlan Parker、Alan Hawkshaw（ここではWilliam Parrish名義）、Simon Haseley、Reg Tilsley、Gordon Grantといった、ライブラリー界の一流職人たち。そのため、コレクターの間ではオリジナル盤が約6万8,000円以上で取引されるほどの人気を誇っている。
アルバムは、Alan HawkshawとAlan Parkerによる強烈なフルート・ファンク「The Hawk」で幕を開ける。うねるシンセやキラーなベースライン、ワウギターが絡み合う極上のブレイクだ。さらに同コンビによる「Main Chance」は、転がるドラムとオルガンがサウンドを支配する不穏なプロト・ヒップホップ・チューン。Simon Haseleyによる「Hogan Baby」は、Burt Bacharachの影響を感じさせる哀愁を帯びたブルージーな仕上がりを見せ、続くGordon Grantの「Dirty John Crown」では劇的なストリングスと鋭いファンク・ブレイクが交錯する。
B面に入っても勢いは衰えず、カーチェイスを連想させるSimon Haseleyの劇的なトラック「Precinct」や、アグレッシブなGordon Grantの「Scorch」など、インストゥルメンタル・ファンクの至高のナンバーが並ぶ。
今回の復刻にあたり、Simon Francisによる丁寧なリマスタリングとCicely Balstonによる確かなカッティングが施され、オランダのRecord Industryにて最高水準でプレスされた。アイコニックなオリジナルジャケットも美しく再現され、音質・ルックスともに申し分のない仕上がりとなっている。
A1. A. Parker / W. Parrish - The Hawk
A2. S. Haseley - The Happening
A3. A. Parker / W. Parrish - Main Chance
A4. S. Haseley - Hogan Baby
A5. G. Grant - Dirty John Crown
A6. A. Parker / W. Parrish - Swarf
A7. R. Tilsley - Turnover
A8. A. Parker / W. Parrish - Tarantula
B1. S. Haseley - Precinct
B2. S. Haseley - Sidewinder (Version 1)
B3. A. Parker / W. Parrish - Pressure
B4. A. Parker / W. Parrish - Call Me
B5. G. Grant - Scorch
B6 .A. Parker / W. Parrish - Digger
B7. R. Tilsley - Marianne
B8. S. Haseley - Sidewinder (Version 2)
This is that absolute stank-face filth: hard, espionage drama-soul and tough, jazzy street-funk. Hogan, The Hawk & Dirty John Crown sounds like the soundtrack of a blaxploitation movie from the early 70s and, packed with funky fusion and smoother orchestral numbers, it is basically that.
Featuring a veritable who's who of killer library break snakes - Alan Parker, Alan Hawkshaw (under sneaky alias William Parrish), Simon Haseley, Reg Tilsley and Gordon Grant - it's not hard to see how this commands over £350 on secondary markets.
This beautifully presented reissue, part of Be With's fresh campaign with the legendary library label Music De Wolfe, is well overdue.
Recorded for De Wolfe in 1972, Hogan, The Hawk, Dirty John Crown is a fantastic start-to-finish listen. The flute-funk of Hawkshaw and Parker's opener "The Hawk" comprises driving, fuzzy, wah-wah-drizzled bell-laced breaks with synths and basslines to murder for. Up next, Haseley's "The Happening" is a carefree, rhythmic builder with strings and horns. Let's face it, it doesn't prepare us for the monster that follows...
Hawkshaw and Parker's amazing "Main Chance" is likely the reason you're here; it's a moody, beaty proto-hip-hop banger; all rolling drums and flute-laced, organ-drenched, synth-funk breaks. Just sensational - you'll want to play it again and again and again.
The cool AF "Hogan Baby" has a soft, rounded, bluesy feel - it's a lighter number and Haseley's work here sounds more than a little indebted to Burt Bacharach. It's melancholic, reflective and contains ace breaks with beautiful flutes and wistful horns. It's just gorgeous. Grant's pounding "Dirty John Crown" brilliantly conjures swirling string-swept serenity atop driving, incisive drama-funk breaks. Sublime. Hawkshaw and Parker come roaring back with the murky, creeping crime-funk of "Swarf" with killer basslines underpinning slow-mo high-class flute-funk.
Reg Tilsley enters the fray with the bright, snappy, carefree "Turnover". It's lightweight but still retains some nice orchestral movements. The brief “Tarantula” gets us back on track - from the pen and chops of Hawkshaw and Parker, are we surprised? - with the driving crime funk breaks, super clean yet brooding. Synths, sax and 'nuff guitars. YES.
Side 2 opens with the car chase swag of Haseley's dramatic, driving "Precinct". Jazzy, instrumental flute funk over great percussive breaks. We love this. Haseley's rolling "Sidewinder Version 1" is robust and exuberant with bouncy horns before a cracking Parker-Hawkshaw one-two featuring the tense "Pressure" and the deeply soulful "Call Me", a relaxed, medium-tempo organ feature. With building piano and strings Gordon Grant's excellently titled "Scorch" is as aggressive and dramatic as you'd hope. Hawkshaw and Parker's furtive flute-funk of "Digger" precede the light, melodic and romantic themes of Tilsley's "Marianne" whilst "Sidewinder Version 2", a faster iteration of Track B2 sees Haseley close out this remarkable set in bouncy, bright fashion.
The audio for Hogan, The Hawk, Dirty John Crown has been meticulously remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring this release sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original, iconic sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.
