Diane Jenkins - Recycle / Gee Baby, What About You (Digital 45)

Diane Jenkins recycles the funk and turns it into pure gold on this ultra-rare single originally released in 1973 on the legendary Creative Funk imprint. Copies of the original 45 RPM issue of this funk masterpiece are so rare that they sell for hundreds of dollars on collector's sites. As lead singer for the 1970s funk band Creative Funk, Diane Jenkins - although relegated to just a footnote in the history of the genre, has long been considered one of the greatest vocalists of the golden era of funk among true connoisseurs of the genre. Her handful of singles from the era consistently provide the evidence through the top quality of all her releases - both with Creative Funk and under her own name. The single presented here, "Gee Baby, What About You" b/w "Recycle" boasts an "A" side and a "AA" side - no doubt a nod to the high quality of the content. Where "Gee Baby, What About You" is a tender soul ballad, "Recycle" is a straight up funk manifesto that burns on all cylinders with it's driving horns, wah-wah guitars and James Brown like groove until it breaks down and let's you down easy before taking off again towards the end as she implores you to "recycle your mind." This rare gem is presented here newly remastered and finally made available in the digital domain.