Soul drummer extraordinaire Bernard Purdie’s soundtrack album to the 1974 movie Lialeh is an absolute treat. Eschewing the bongo/conga-driven wah wah ‘chase scene’ aesthetic of many blaxploitation soundtracks, Purdie instead put together a gorgeous collection of laid-back soul and funk, all underpinned by his peerless drum work. With not a bad track in the seven that make up its thirty-three minutes, Lialeh features four vocal tracks with the easy swing of the title track a particular joy, and three tightly played, nimbly arranged instrumentals, ending on the effortless, euphoric funk of ‘Hap’nin.’

– Harold Heath