'Express Yourself: The Best of Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band'

No doubt you've heard Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Band. Their music's been featured in "Boogie Nights," "Remember the Titans" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." Advertisers have used their tunes in commercials and rappers have funked up tons of hip-hop tunes with samples of the band's music.

My question is how could anyone have heard tunes such as "Express Yourself," "Do Your Thing" and "Spreadin' Honey" without rushing to a record store in search of one of the group's albums. Seriously. Order "Express Yourself: The Best of Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band"now.

I love Sly and the Family Stone and War, but Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band were just as funky and a lot jazzier. Charles Wright's horn section — which consisted of Big John Rayford, Bill Cannon, Ray Jackson and Gabe Flemings — was one of the best in the business.

And talk about sexy ... just listen to "Till You Get Enough." The tune starts with Al McKay's simple rhythmic guitar riff that sounds a lot like something Pops Staples might have played. Then you hear Wright's sweet vocals. At first, he sounds as if he's singing a gospel song; then you figure out he's moaning. The more I listen, the more it sounds like the horn section's moaning, too. And the song's undulating funk almost mimics the sounds of sex. "Your Love (Means Everything to Me)" heats up even more; it reminds me a little of Toots Hibbert's reggae interpretations of Al Green songs.

You'd have to be pretty old to keep from dancing when you hear the pulsing instrumental funk on "The Joker (On A Trip Thru The Jungle)" and "65 Bars And A Taste Of Soul." But even folks in the nursing home will be swaying in their wheelchairs when they hear "Doin' What Comes Naturally," which provided a musical roadmap for the funk bands that followed Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Band.

Save the slow grooving "Tell Me What You Want Me to Do" for when you need to cool down. And trust me, you'll need some decompression time after listening to this album.