El Chicano “I’m A Good Woman” (Revolucion LP, Kapp Records, 1971)

(Click title to download)

This track can be found in “Singles Mixer Vol. 1”

Afternoon to all my internet friends on this grey and damp Sunday.  Before I embark fully on an afternoon of football I just had to drop this jam on the world, hearing it two days ago for the first time I nearly puked with excitement and didn’t want to deprive anyone else of the same feeling.

Anyone who knows me probably knows two things; I love cover songs and I love Barbara Lynn.  So you can imagine my excitement when I picked up this El Chicano record the other day.  I’d been looking for a 45 of “Don’t Put Me Down (If I’m Brown)” forever to no avail and the price was right so I figured I’d check the full length to see what else was on offer.  My dang jaw dropped as the opening hit and I immediately recognized the opening to one of my favorite and one of the most hard hitting soul cuts ever Barbara Lynn’s “I’m A Good Woman.”

I won’t say it’s better but hot potatoes does El Chicano do right by this tune.  Lending it their signature funky LA, Hammond driven “our own thing” groove, the song remains poignant and deep while trading the suggested shuffle of Lynn’s version for a latin tinged percussion driven anthem with Ersi Arvizu handling the mic duties admirably and the backbone of the group Bobby Espinoza absolutely killing the organ.

If you’re not familiar with the OG, ‘highly recommended’ would be an understatement and El Chicano are, kind of like War (both in time, place and style), a great group that straddles styles but put out consistently good, interesting records, especially if you’re not predisposed to Latin music in general they’re a good jump off.

Kickoff looms so I bid you adieu.  Enjoy.