Defining which is the best SLAPBAK album isn't going be easy… As all theirs productions are full of such FUNK Pearls in a raw state… Jewels like perhaps we won't ever see in new music today ('cause I think we're all a little bit nostalgic… in our search of pure sound) that my task seems to be an "impossible mission" at the time that I decided to talk to you about their case !!! ;o)
But, I'm not that kind of person to abandon in face of the difficulties so I'm gonna try to give my objective advice (On the other hand, it's sure, I overestimate my capacities…;o)))

All Right, I said it but I prefer, in introduction, to prevent you from the danger : if you like the big FUNK that stains, the tough sound without concession, this group will bewitch all your senses !!!
So here we go for a travel without possible return…

"Fast Food Funkateers" (12 Tracks) was released in 1992. Jara Harris (the undeniable leader as he wrote, produced and played a lot of instruments) was at that time alone on vocals. And if you were thinking that the rebirth of Funk was only an illusion or that you wouldn't gonna hear any real funk anymore, I can tell you were wrong ! I repeat myself but the message needs to pass clear and loud !!! ;o))
Let's have a look at the collaborations here for their debut album : Bootsy Collins, George Clinton and Larry Blackmon co-produced at least one track…
We are between Funk, P-Funk, Funk-Rock, Funky ballads and you feel the good vibe of our favourite music… The only small disappointment for me is the track with the Leader of Cameo… I was not expecting a " ballad " and that's perhaps why, even if I love that title a little more after one listen, it's not the bomb I was dreaming of…
The Best tracks for me : "24 Below", "Cold-Bloodeed Slapbak", "Gimme that Funk" (with Bootsy "Hit Me" ;o) and "Kickin' the Do" (with George, Bootsy, Dawn Silva and Fred Wesley as guests) : the P-Funk in all it's splendour…

"Slapbak's Blue Light Special" isn't an official album… It was… but the deal with Warner Brothers was broken… So it's an unreleased part of the Slapbak's history with 14 Tracks from 1994.
This album isn't less interesting than the first one even if there are no famous guests on it...
But precisely, it's here that we can appreciate their own talent and they don't need anyone to make good Funk music… And also it's well known, the second album is often more awaited and by that fact, more harder to achieve because you need to show something different… And that they do here !
The Best tracks for me : "Loverider (that remind me The Time and Prince a little with the guitar's riffs), "Headache Man", "Please come and Save Us" (That's all we ask them ;o), "It's Time to Go" and "Don't Know what's in my Head".

1995 : The 1st version of "If it ain't Broke, Don't Funk Wid It !" (14 Tracks), never released officially too on that version and so a new Collectible… We find on it some tracks of the forthcoming official version but also excellent tracks that won't be released later (and the only question is why ??? ;o(
I named "For her Pleasure" (this track only worth the invest… ;o), "Leave my Mama outta this" (that sounds like Zapp but it's normal because it's indicated on the bootleg "A Tribute to Roger & Zapp" ;o), "Break up is Hard to Do" (really Good), "Taste of your Love" (a great ballad…) and "The Light".

1996 : FINALLY !!! "If it ain't Broke, Don't Funk Wid It !" (15 Tracks) is released : this time it's an official one and so the 2nd album listed in the group's discography for the traditional audience. I need to indicate here that this one has a particular taste for me… Because it's by this one that I discovered their music and when you'll heard the quality level on it, you'll understand why I'm slaving away to inform you about them… Because, as a real Funkateer like me, your preference is the Funk from the 70's and the 80's but the FUNK we like the most still exist today !!! You just have to not only have a look behind but pay attention to our advise and follow the good music… ;o))
At the Unpublished Department : "Pure Funk " (a pure joy ! and one of my favourite tracks of the group by far…), "We Come to Jam" (really really great), "Lover of the Year" (a slow jam) and "Cry" (something between Curtis and Isaac, our soul men…).
The Best tracks for me (with "Pure Funk") : "Sway", "Funky Situation", "Call me what you Like" and "Nothing last forever"... It would be more simple to say ALL !!! ;o) except perhaps the last track too Heavy Rock Funk for me (but I love the drumbeat on it… This group must be amazing Live !!!).

Futurevoid arrive the next year (1997) and this album (13 Tracks) appears like a bend in the musical evolution of the group.
Two things hit me on it :
First, the systematic of Hip Hop and the rap parts of TJ Quake… This element give the first part of the album (7 tracks) a West Coast sound that remind us the best productions of Snoop Dog and Dr Dre !!! (I precise, I love this part ;o)
But where it becomes more difficult for me to appreciate, it's the second part (6 tracks). This time it's more inspired by George Clinton in a Funkadelic way, the tracks are more Rock Psychedelic… I'm sorry but it's harder for me to like this mix (I prefer Parliament for their funky side), it's takes me an " effort " to appreciate… So to resume, I don't know what is the best Slapbak album for me but I know which I like the less… But I'm sure it's a great news for some of you, a good reason to listen and make your own decision… ;o)))
The Best tracks for me : "Slide this Way" (so Bootsy), "Groove in my Jacuzzi" (it must be one of Jara's favourite tracks as we find it often in the following releases…), "Get into Position" (an original Dance/Rap mix), "All the Days, Everyday" and "Deeper" (more in a Jazz spirit and it's nice to change a little of style sometimes).

"The Return of the Fast Food Funkateers" is " announced " in 1999… and this new album (16 Tracks) confirm the tendency of the previous one… The years passing, the sound became more " synthetic " and the musical evolution has been well assimilated by our US Funkateers…
The title of the album is a good choice because it's really like a " Big-Mac " here and you can find a lot of variety in it : a slice of tasty bread (The P-Funk offers at the beginning of the album : the first 5 tracks), a steak and different ingredients (sometimes surprising) with a sauce that can be difficult to digest ;o) (some R'n'B, some ballads or some psychedelic rock : the next 6) and a new tasty coat of bread (with the return of the Funk inspiration for 3 tracks or mid-tempo to finish slowly : the last 2 tracks).
The Best tracks for me: "Never Fake the Funk" (no never… be careful, I'm watching ;o) irresistible with his loud and hoping bass !!!), "This car is Fast" (in a Snoop Vibe), "Get on the Bus" (I Love that one !), "Groove in my Jacuzzi" (Excellent), "Phat my Dreams" and "The Jungle Bunnies" (more inspired… and crazy as Bootsy).

And now we gonna finish strong… When I contacted Jara Harris (last February… as you see we anticipate ;o) to interview him (we believe it, we believe it… It's gonna arrive. You will know all next month ;o), it's this album (dated from 2001) that he send me. Its title "Fast Food Funkateers 2nd edition" and I was schemed by its content and name as I was expecting the one I've just reviewed before… But all has an explanation… Because I know now that it was the first version of the new European album that the Funk to the max site will release soon (Yeah remember our friends of Seven Eleven…) in a remastered version and a new title "Ghetto Funkography" (that's all we can say on it for the moment but we'll talk about it soon for sure).

Funkygirl October 2002