Audiopile Review: One of the first releases in Numero’s beloved Eccentric Soul series was their incredible compilation of singles from the Miami imprint Deep City, which, among others, helped reintroduce the world to the incredible sounds of both Helene Smith and Betty Wright. Deep City collapsed after their brief two-year run, but Frank Williams, bandleader and saxophonist of The Rocketeers, who had a four singles on Deep City, would go on to launch Saadia. While Deep City’s run of singles were indebted to the dominant sound over at the two powerhouses of soul, Motown and Stax, Saadia began to incorporate the new sounds of funk, which was in the early stages of changing the face of soul music. While Saadia would be home to groups and singers that never recorded much beyond the handful of singles issued for the label, it would, however, most notably be the launching pad for Little Beaver, who would soon go on to record a string of albums through the early 70s that would become sought after by collectors and sampled heavily in hip-hop. Another dimly lit corner of the expansive independent US soul/funk scene gets its shine thanks to Numero, saving us thousands of dollars in the process (the original singles are almost all in the triple digit price range!). This one pairs nicely with the recently repressed Miami Sound comp from Soul Jazz!

After the fall of the Deep City label, Rocketeers bandleader Frank Williams set up shop under the name of his twin daughters Saadia and Giwada and got to work reinventing the Miami Sound. Tracked between 1968-1970, this LP gathers 15 of Saadia’s funkiest and deeply soulful moments, featuring Pearl Dowell, Joey Gilmore, Little Beaver, Frank Williams’ Rocketeers, Robert Moore, Brother Williams, and Sam Baker. Your next sample, first dance, workout jam or closing credits is buried in here somewhere.