Buddy Miles - A Message To The People (1971)

Buddy Miles (1947 - 2008) was one of the greatest Rock musicians to ever live. Not only did he famously play drums in Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys in the final years of Jimi's life, but he played just about everything else on his own solo albums - on this particular one, he is responsible for: lead vocals, drums, lead guitar, organ, and background vocals. A true visionary. With his combed-out Afro and his skills on the drums (not to mention every other aspect of music), Buddy Miles was kind of the original ?uestlove.

Oh! And he did the lead vocals for the California Raisins!

Also, look at that damn album artwork!! Abdul Mati painted it, along with many of the greatest album covers of all time - such as Miles Davis' Bitches Brew  for instance. 

Anyway, the most important thing of course is the music, and it is worthy of every ounce of curiosity that artwork inspires. Simultaneously funky, powerful, soulful, and totally rocking, this is music of a certain quality that just isn't heard anymore. Here is my favorite song on the record (and one which balances all these elements in a way that gives me chills every time), "The Segment":

If that doesn't do it for you, I don't know what to say. Maybe one more taste of this album art will help.

ENJOY