Col Nolan & The Soul Syndicate - Whatever It's Worth (1968) [Reissue 2019]

A fantastic funky set from the Sydney scene of the 60s – one of the coolest, cookingest combos to ever record in Australia at the time – and a group with a mix of mod and soul elements that reminds us of the best organ jazz recorded in London too! The group's led by the mighty Col Nolan – whose handling of the Hammond is wonderful – with lots of cool, compressed tones that work very well with the funky drums of John Sangster – a player that most folks know for his other records that feature vibes instead of drums! Sangster's great here kicking up a groove for the combo – and the tunes also feature plenty of tenor and flute from Col Loughnan, whose tight lines underscore all the best elements in the organ. There's a wonderful 60s nite club vibe running through the whole set – and titles include "Shades Of McSoul", "Sunny", "Blues For Madeline", "Ode To Billie Joe", "Rivera Mountain", and "Whatever It's Worth".