Various Artists – Solomon King (Soundtrack, Tiger Swirl vinyl)

Solomon King is one of the great lost artefacts of 1970s independent Black cinema, a 1974 film written, directed, produced by and starring Oakland entrepreneur Sal Watts. Far from a vanity project, the film drew on Watts’ deep ties to the city’s cultural scene, and its soundtrack stands as one of the era’s most elusive soul-funk statements.

Arranged and conducted by southern soul veteran Jimmy Lewis—best known for his work with Ray Charles—the score blends propulsive rhythms with lush strings, wah-wah guitar and tight ensemble playing. Songwriters such as Joyce Stiger, who later penned Bobby Bland’s ‘Recess in Heaven’, add further depth, while the backing band represents the cream of Oakland’s thriving soul-funk community.

Long prized by crate diggers and DJs, original copies of the soundtrack have become notoriously hard to find. Working in collaboration with indie film imprint Deaf Crocodile, who previously restored and reissued the film with the cooperation of Belinda Watts, Real Gone now presents the soundtrack in expanded form, featuring additional tracks sourced from rare 45s on Watts’ Sal/Wa label.

A relentless, groove-heavy listen, Solomon King stands as a vital document of 1970s West Coast soul and independent filmmaking at its most inspired.