Shakatak - Collection 1981~84 (6 Albums) [Japan LTD (mini LP) Platinum SHM-CD, 2014]

Shakatak have enjoyed a level of success and career longevity rarely paralleled in contemporary music - but then Shakatak is a particularly unusual group. Because of the nature of their music, their fan base is one that is far reaching while always retaining an ‘underground element’. This paradox sees the band, who are known primarily as serious jazz/funk musicians, enjoying both high ‘cult’ status and instant recognition as a household name.

Drivin' Hard, released in May 1981 on the Polydor label, is the first album by Shakatak. Wikipedia

Track Listing

01. Livin' In The UK (5:57)
02. Into The Night (4:39)
03. Toot The Shoot (4:02)
04. Lumiere (4:15)
05. Late Night Flight (3:58)
06. Waves (1:40)
07. Steppin' (Live) (5:53)
08. Covina (4:49)
09. You Never Know (5:15)
10. Brazilian Dawn (6:39)
11. Killing Time (Bonus Track) (5:27)
12. Feels Like The Right Time (Bonus Track) (4:55)

Produced by Nigel Wright

The Band

• Bill Sharpe - Bosendorfer Grand Piano, Keyboards
• Steve Underwood - Fender Bass & Fender Amplification
• Roger Odell - Sonor Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Roto/Toms & Synthdrums
• Keith Winter - Yamaha & Fender Guitars, Fender Amplification & Ovation Acoustic
• Nigel Wright - Fender Rhodes, Sennheiser Vocoder OBX Synth, keyboards and synthesizers
• Jill Saward - Vocals
• Jackie Rawe - Vocals

Night Birds, released in 1982 on the Polydor label, is the second album by Shakatak. Night Birds established Shakatak's trademark jazz-funk sound, and contains two of the band's biggest hits, "Easier Said than Done" and "Night Birds", the former reaching the No. 12 spot in 1981, the latter climbing to No. 9 in the following year. Wikipedia

Track Listing

01. Night Birds (6:26)
02. Streetwalkin' (5:30)
03. Rio Nights (5:14)
04. Fly The Wind (4:16)
05. Easier Said Than Done (6:08)
06. Bitch To The Boys (6:27)
07. Light On My Life (4:47)
08. Takin' Off (5:09)
09. Go For It (Bonus Track) (6:51)

Produced by Nigel Wright

The Band

• Bill Sharpe - Bosendorfer Grand Piano, Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Oberheim O.B.X., ARP Odyssey and Prophet 10 Synthesisers
• Nigel Wright - Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Oberheim O.B.X. and Prophet 10 Synthesisers
• Keith Winter - Yamaha SG 2000, Gibson 345, Ovation Acoustic, Mesa Boogie Amp and Custom Pedal Board
• George Anderson - Music Man Sting Ray and G&L 2000E Basses
• Roger Odell - Sonor Drums and Avedis Zildjian Cymbals
• Jill Saward - Vocals
• Jackie Rawe - Vocals (also Solo vocal on "Streetwalkin'")

This album comes from the same year (1982) as the one I reviewed previously (Night Birds) and it has many of the same qualities.

Track Listing

01. Invitations (6:14)
02. Lose Myself (5:23)
03. Lonely Afternoon (4:39)
04. Steppin' Out (4:47)
05. Stranger (5:27)
06. Usual Situation (5:06)
07. Sol Fuego (4:40)
08. In Shadows (2:06)

Produced by Nigel Wright

The Band

• Bill Sharpe - Keyboards
• Nigel Wright - Keyboards
• Keith Winter - Guitars
• George Anderson Jr. - Bass guitar
• Roger Odell - Drums
• Jill Saward, Jackie Rawe, Tracy Ackerman - Vocals
• Dick Morrissey - Sax
• Simon Morton - Percussion

Now here's the group's fourth album, recorded in 1983, and it maintains the standard of its three predecessors. In fact the style continued very much as before, with catchy tunes against a strong jazz-funk rhythm. As before, the band's strength lies in its musicians: notably keyboardist Bill Sharpe, who produces some wonderful jazz solos. Wikipedia

Track Listing

01. Dark Is The Night (5:28)
02. Don't Say That Again (4:46)
03. Slip Away (5:19)
04. On Nights Like Tonight (5:13)
05. Out Of This World (5:52)
06. Let's Get Together (3:48)
07. If You Could See Me Now (6:56)
08. Sanur (4:48)
09. Dark Is The Night (Extended Version) (Bonus Track) (6:11)
10. I Lose Myself (Re-Mix) (Bonus Track) (5:18)

Produced by Nigel Wright

The Band

• Bill Sharpe - Keyboards
• Keith Winter - Guitars
• George Anderson Jr. - Bass, backing vocals
• Roger Odell - Drums, percussion
• Jill Saward, Norma Lewis, Tracy Ackerman - Vocals
• Martin Dobson - Tenor sax
• Stuart Brooks - Trumpet
• Simon Morton - Percussion
• Nigel Wright - Brass arrangements

The group's biggest asset continues to be Bill Sharpe, whose inventiveness at the keyboard remains remarkably varied. And Bill can still come up with catchy tunes which make you want to sing along and even dance. His jazz sensibility helps to keep jazz at the band's core, when one suspects that they may be tempted to become ever more pop-oriented.

Track Listing

01. Breakin' Away (Bonus Track) (4:07)
02. Summer Sky (4:26)
03. Fire Dance (5:05)
04. Rising Sun (Bonus Track) (4:06)
05. Hypnotised (4:30)
06. Down On The Street (3:26)
07. Holding On (4:38)
08. Don't Blame It On Love (3:28)
09. Photograph (4:27)
10. Watching You (5:25)
11. Lady (To Billie Holiday) (3:17)
12. If You Want My Love (Come And Get It) (Bonus Track) (4:26)
13. Down On The Street (Dance Mix) (Bonus Track) (6:42)

Produced by Nigel Wright & Les McCutcheon

The Band

• Jill Saward - Vocals
• Bill Sharpe - Keyboards
• George Anderson Junior - Bass guitar
• Keith Winter - Guitars
• Roger Odell - Drums

Live in Japan is a live double album by English jazz-funk band Shakatak. It was recorded at the Nakano Sun Plaza Hall during the 1984 Japan tour, and only released in that country. Wikipedia

Disc 1

01. Introduction (2:37)
02. Dark Is The Night (6:42)
03. Don't Say That Again (4:37)
04. Streetwalkin' (5:16)
05. Sanur (5:11)
06. Slip Away (4:57)
07. Invitations (6:25)
08. Out Of This World (8:13)

Disc 2

01. Piano Solo (7:11)
02. Bass Solo (5:05)
03. On Nights Like Tonight (5:09)
04. Let's Get Together (3:35)
05. Bitch To The Boys (6:00)
06. Easier Said Than Done (8:43)
07. Night Bids (9:04)

Produced by Nigel Wright & Les McCutcheon

The Band

• Bill Sharpe - Keyboards
• Jill Saward - Vocals and Percussion
• Keith Winter - Guitars
• George Anderson - Bass
• Roger Odell - Drums




Notes

Cardboard sleeve reissue from Shakatak features Platinum SHM-CD format. The cardboard faithfully replicates the original Japanese LP design, including an obi (subject to change). This series features the following albums "Drivin' Hard +2," "Night Birds +1," "Invitations," "Out Of This World +2," "Down On The Street +4," and "Shakatak Live in Japan '83."



Many thanks to the original uploader: ALLexxess

SEE also:
Shakatak 1991 Remix Best Album
Shakatak 2013 Once Upon A Time - The Acoustic Sessions -