Newban/Newban 2 is the double album made up of the first two records from this Funk/soul/jazz band, originally released in 1977, now back to remind us that while rock and roll might have had its roots in the blues, funk is the illegitimate wild child of jazz, channelled through the cultural influence of black urban America.

The band's only two records have been insanely difficult to get a hold of until now, in fact your best bet used to be to try and track down the Japanese import for the second album. So, why is there all this interest in an obscure band from the seventies?

Interestingly enough Newban released both albums back to back in 1977, before the guys ran across the road to join a different record label under a different name. There is speculation that the two albums were made to fulfil their contract to their record label, Guinness Records, even if this is the case they still produced tracks which were technically brilliant with a sound which was as smooth as a babies bum.

Apart from the quality of the compositions and technical ability of the band, the core of Newban would, once they had crossed the road, transform themselves into the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Atlantic Starr, which moved the music more towards R&B, gaining the band two hits with ‘Secret Lovers’ and ‘Always’.

The band consisted of Joe Phillips (percussions and flute), Porter Carroll (drums and vocals), Clifford Archer (bass and vocals), Sheldon Tucker (guitar), Duke Jones (flugel horn), and Jonathan Lewis (trombone).

The CD has all eighteen tracks from the two albums, which includes 'Father Time' (4:23), 'Why did You Desert Me' (3:11), 'Central Park' (4:31), 'Fatback Sally' (3:46), 'Magic Lady' (3:58), 'Mellow Days, Easy Nights' (4:03), 'Hungry Grin' (2:32), 'Home with You' (2:58), 'Greenburgh' (3:16), 'Rhythm & Rhyme' (4:14), 'Find a Place' (4:32), 'If I Could (Make You Mine)' (2:37), 'Fine Woman' (6:10), 'Easin' Through' (4:33), 'Free Your Mind' (3:53). The album also contains three bonus tracks, 'Bells' (7:22), 'Miracle Holiday' (4:06) and 'Oh Wow' (6:22) which did not appear on the original release, from their sound quality this sounds like practice tapes, great sound, but not with the quality of a properly produced track, still a nice bonus for collectors of rare jazz/soul/funk.

The single CD does have two slightly different sounds; the first album ends with 'Home with You' and has a distinctive soul/funk sound, when we get to the tracks, starting with 'Greenburgh' a much stronger jazz influence comes through, with the greater use of woodwind and horns.

This is a great little gem which has been difficult to get since it original release, so get your bell bottoms on and get down to groove to the funky sounds of Newban.

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Charles Packer