the Mighty Imperials

Though none of the four members of the Mighty Imperials was over the age of 18 when they sat down in the Desco Records studios in 1999 to work on the music for Thunder Chicken, they were talented enough to entice gospel singer Joe Henry to add his voice to four of their tracks. With Leon Michels on organ, Homer Steinweiss on drums, Nick Movshon on bass, and Sean Solomon on guitar, the Mighty Imperials played deep funk reminiscent of early James Brown and the Meters. A single, "Kick the Blanket/Toothpick," came out that same year, but after Desco folded, the album sat on the shelves. In 2001 a bootlegged version was issued illegally in Britain, but finally, in 2004 Daptone took hold of the record and released it officially. By that time, the members of the Mighty Imperials were playing in different bands (Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Antibalas, Soul Fire, El Michels Affair) or involved in other activities, but the album still received positive critical response. ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide

Super-heavy funk from late great Desco Records scene! The Mighty Imperials were one of the best funky 45 groups to record for mighty deep funk Desco label -- and their first album never properly saw the light of day, thanks to some pressing and distribution messups before the demise of the company. Now, the whole thing's finally out officially -- a funky treasure that sounds like a lost 70s gem, and which has almost as much mystique, given the status of the original record! The core combo features organ, drums, bass, and super-heavy guitar -- and the album also features them recording with some additional vocal help from Joseph Henry! Henry sings in a mode that's very similar to Lee Fields' work with the deep funk scene -- and his vocals are on a number of tracks on the album -- leaving the rest as groovy funky instrumentals with a nice heavy late 60s sock-boogaloo sound! Includes covers of "Never Found A Girl" and "Cold Sweat" -- plus originals "Soul Buster pt 1", "Chico's Barnyard", "Kick The Blanket", "Thunder Chicken", and "Joseph's Popcorn".


1. Thunder Chicken
2. Never Found A Girl
3. Jody's Walk
4. Joseph's Popcorn
5. Chico's Barnyard
6. Kick the Blanket
7. Funky Belly
8. Ride Shank's Mare
9. Soul Buster Part 1
10. Cold Sweat

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