24-Carat Black – Brown Baggin’
I thought I’d commemorate the release of 24-Carat Black’s Gone: The Promises of Yesterday, with a quick Dig Deep post on the first record. I first came into contact with the eccentric soul of 24-Carat Black back in 1994 through one of the first rare groove collections that I’d heard, the first volume of Luv ‘n’ Haight’s Jazz Dance Classics. This particular volume, compiled by a DJ who later became a good friend, Matthew Africa, featured Gary Bartz’ Celestial Blues, Rusty Bryant’s The Fire Eater, and also included the blistering instrumental “24-Carat Black Theme.” That compilation was one of a handful of collections from that period that got me interested in finding classic breaks and diggin’ up soul, funk and jazz records that were great recordings, but never got their due after initial release.
An original copy of the record from 24-Carat Black has been one of the few records that has eluded me over the years. I’ve only owned reissued CD and vinyl versions of this record and I don’t think I’ve ever even actually seen an original copy, though I’m sure I know a couple DJs who own one. As a testament to it’s worth and rarity I’ve heard of this record going for $3,000 or more. It is a true holy grail record, even though shortly after it was released in 1973, it was moved straight to the bargain bin. While many records that are revered by crate diggers have one or two tracks that are worthy of the acclaim, this record from 24-Carat Black is exceptional from start to finish. It has a sound that is only closely shared by Axelrod’s late 1960s solo records, an otherworldly quality to it, dark, brooding, unique and supremely funky, just a monumentally deep record.
The track I’ve included here is one of my all-time favorite instrumentals, “Brown Baggin’.” “Brown Baggin’” is a song that for a long time, in my mind at least, was my theme music (I’m Gonna Git You Sucka style) as I’d start walking around back home in Atlanta or in Oakland when I lived in the Bay.
Cheers,
Michael