For fans of the rare groove, those much sought after vintage, funk breaks, Joe Bataan's "Call My Name" should be like striking gold. Only the thing is, these tracks aren't rare at all. Sure, Call My Name sounds the part of a rare find, but Joe Bataan recorded the entire album, his first in 20 years, at New York's famed Daptone Studios in 2004. Originally released last year on Spains Vampisoul imprint, it's been repackaged for digital-only release by ESL Music.

1. Call My Name
2. Chick-a-Boom
3. I'm The Fool (parts 1 & 2)
4. Cycles Of You
5. Secret Girl, My Superfraud
6. Ernestine
7. Chevere Que Chevere
8. Keep The Change
9. Call My Name (Voodoo Trombone Quartet remix)
10. Chick-a-Boom (Chris Joss remix)
11. I'm The Fool (Fort Knox Five remix)
12. Ernestine (Lemon remix)
13. Chevere Que Chevere (Ursula 1000 remix)

You may know Mr. Bataan for his hit version of "Crystal Blue Persuasion", or his instrumental version of Gil Scott-Heron's "The Bottle", and may even recall that he held the title as "The King of Latin R&B". Better chances are, this is the first time you've heard his name.

The album kicks off with "Call My Name", an amazing track that gets right down to it with a funky synth lead followed by mellow breakbeats and some nice organ keys. Bataan's voice comes on strong and reinforces the heavy funk vibe. It's followed by "Chick-a-Boom", and although it's hard to believe, the funk gets even deeper. Great breaks, excellent lyrical content, crazy organ work, and plenty of cowbell. The tone gets more intimate with "I'm The Fool (parts 1&2)" which drops a little sitar, more organ, and a distinct Latin percussive rhythm. Once again, Bataan's voice and lyrics make this song something special. He brings on some nice blues style in "Ernestine" the most somber track on the album.

If your favorite nighttime haunt does its thing in a breaks style, you're sure to be hearing some of the mixes found here from the talents of the Voodoo Trombone Quartet, Chris Joss, Fort Knox Five, Lemon, and Ursula 1000. These mixes hold it down!

Voodoo Trombone Quartet deliver a big breaks and horns piece with their mix of "Call My Name", but in my opinion you just can't beat Chris Joss' rework of "Chick-a-Boom". It's got a nasty good electro-breaks style. Fort Knox Five (in always true form) give "I'm The Fool" an incredible rockteady-breaks flavor. Lemon's remix of "Ernestine" delivers mellow beats and psychedelic vibes, while Ursula 1000 finish up by giving "Chevere Que Chevere" a Latin b-boy style.

It seems Bataan's 20-year hiatus hasn't affected his musical abilities, or vocal chops in the slightest. With its dusty, rare groove style that sounds as if it were just pulled from some 30-year old vault, Joe Bataan's "Call My Name" takes ESL Music in a surprising yet natural new direction. It's a recommend listen for fans of Thunderball, Fort Knox Five, Chris Joss, or vintage soul and funky breaks in general. Welcome back Mr. Bataan.

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