RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK / BLACKNUSS (ATLANTIC)

Ａ）Rahsaan Roland Kirk, tenor sax, manzello, stritch, clarinet, flute, miscellaneous instruments; Sonelius Smith, piano; Billy Butler, guitar; Henry Mattathias Pearson, bass; Khalil Mhrdi, drums; Richard Landrum, congas; Joe Habad Texidor, percussion; Cissy Houston, vocal.
NYC, August 31, 1971

Ｂ）Charles McGhee, trumpet; Dick Griffin, trombone; Rahsaan Roland Kirk, tenor sax; Richard Tee, piano; Mickey Tucker, organ; Cornell Dupree, Keith Loving, guitar; Bill Salter, bass; Bernard Purdie, drums; Arthur Jenkins, congas, cabasa; Joe Habad Texidor, percussion; Princess Patience Burton, vocal.
Regent Sound Studios, NYC, September 8, 1971

A1. Ain't No Sunshine (A)
A2. What's Goin' On (Mercy On Me) (B)
A3. I Love You, Yes I Do (B)
A4. Take Me, I'm Ready (B)
A5. My Girl (B)
A6. Which Way Is It Going (B)
A7. One Nation (B)

B1. Never Can Say Goodbye (A)
B2. Old Rugged Cross (B)
B3. I Wanna Make It With You (B)
B4. Blacknuss (A)

本盤は９０年代半ばに六本木ＷＡＶＥで 「VOLUNTEERED SLAVELY」 と一緒に買った再発輸入盤レコード、全１１曲中９曲がＲ＆Ｂやロックのカバーで "Which Way Is It Going" "Blacknuss" の２曲が R.Kirk 作です。Ａ面冒頭の "Ain't No Sunshine" は Kirk の flute が凄い。音色が「尺八？」と思わせる力強い演奏、メロディも印象的な曲なので「このレコードも傑作？」と 思わせますが、他の曲は個人的に今ひとつのカバー。Ｂ面は、Old Rugged Cross と Blacknuss が R.Kirk 色が濃い何時もの演奏なのでファンならＡ面よりＢ面がお薦めです。