Seventeen gems of fierce funk, rapturous soul and transcendent disco and boogie, super-charged with celebration and affirmativeness, loaded with roaring choirs, rocking horns and popping bass guitars, from the years leading up to Savoy’s acquisition by Malaco.

In the sixties they shared bills with every gospel superstar going (not to mention Little Bald Head Johnny, who had no tongue, and Mule Man, who presumably had a big willie and pendulous balls).