Funk legend Maceo Parker has announced his first new studio album in eight years – ‘Soul Food – Cooking with Maceo’ will be out on June 26th via the Mascot Label Groups new imprint, The Funk Garage.
First up from the album is a re-recorded version of his own CrosS the Track, one of two new versions of his own music, the other being M.A.C.E.O. Elsewhere on the album there is versions of Mississippi masters such as Dr. John’s voodoo funk of ‘Right Place, Wrong Time’, The Meters ‘Just Kissed My Baby,’ ‘Yes, We Can Can’ recorded by Allen Toussaint as well as takes on Aretha Franklin’s ‘Rock Steady’, Prince’s ‘The Other Side of the Pillow’ and Maceo’s long-time hero and Ray Charles Saxophonist, David “Fathead” Newman ‘Hard Times’.
Of the record, Maceo says “One of the things that I have enjoyed about being an artist is that sooner or later it’s time to record new material. Somehow, this time around, we decided to cover some tunes. So, that’s what this album is all about. In the studio, you have the luxury of recording songs by groups that you have enjoyed throughout the years”.
This new version of Cross the Tracks is still as funky as the last one, maybe even tighter, and the high figure that is prevalent in the original is taken back in the mix. The Saxophone solo really swings, and the Organ stabs in agreement along with it. You can never have too much of this in your life.
Check it out, here
