Reissued Charles Kynard's 1972 cult classic Woga, recorded in Los Angeles for Mainstream Records and featuring top-tier musicians Chuck Rainey, Paul Humphrey, Arthur Adams, and George Bohanon. Produced by Bob Shad, the album stands as one of the label's funkiest releases, showcasing Kynard's signature Hammond organ grooves. Woga is reissued here on vinyl for the first time since its original release, complete with its original gatefold artwork using first-generation session photos. This edition comes with newly remastered audio plus a two-page insert featuring new liner notes by Kevin Le Gendre. Charles Kynard, born in St. Louis in 1933, passed away relatively young at the age of 46 in 1979. Despite a short career, he left a lasting impression on the international jazz-funk scene with a string of soul-jazz classics, culminating with Woga. Kynard began his professional career in St. Louis before relocating to Los Angeles in the early '60s, where he started recording for the Pacific Jazz label. There, he worked with renowned musicians such as Howard Roberts, Sonny Stitt, and Buddy Collette, releasing his debut album for the label in 1963. In 1971, Kynard joined Bob Shad's Mainstream Records and recorded three highly sought-after albums for the label, including Woga. Woga includes dynamic covers of contemporary soul hits such as Donny Hathaway's "Little Ghetto Boy," Aretha Franklin's "Rock Steady," and the Staple Singers' "Name the Missing Word," alongside deep-cut originals like the fiery "Hot Sauce," the laid-back "Lime Twig," and the explosive nine-minute jam "Slop Jar," featuring standout solos by trombonist George Bohanon, guitarist Arthur Adams, and trumpeter Jerome Rusch. This reissue also includes the bonus track "Smiling Faces Sometimes", a rendition of the Motown psychedelic soul hit by The Undisputed Truth. Recorded during the original Woga sessions, the track briefly surfaced on a low-profile compilation two years later. It features none other than the legendary Carol Kaye on bass.
