The South Side Movement - s/t LP

Label: Real Gone

Blue vinyl edition.

This 1973 gem is another one of those obscure '70s soul-funk albums released on a small independent label that has gone on to become a crate-digging favorite and a huge inspiration to modern-day hip hop artists and beyond. Chicago-based The South Side Movement began as the backing band for the Sam & Dave-inspired soul duo Simtec & Wylie; their self-titled debut on the Scepter imprint Wand — much of it written by Chicago label owner and producer James Vanleer — scored a top 20 R&B hit with "I' Been Watchin' You," and they went on to make a couple of other records before disbanding in the mid-'70s. So, your basic one-hit wonder, right? Well, not exactly... while The South Side Movement never reached the same level of commercial success, that one hit has been sampled by — are you ready for this? — The Beastie Boys, Beck, Erykah Badu, Jadakiss, and many more. The rest of the album is very tasty Windy City soul-funk, with an unexpectedly great cover of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" a highlight. First-ever LP reissue.