by Richie Unterberger
Thomas' first album following Stax's break from Atlantic had &Do the Funky Chicken& at its centerpiece, so the emphasis upon good-humored dance tunes was unsurprising. There were some weird moments, particularly the down-and-bestial seven-minute update of &Sixty Minute Man& (on which Rufus sounds like he's singing in tongues), a remake of &Bear Cat,& and a two-part version of &Old McDonald Had a Farm.& Still, the slightly goofy uptempo arrangements can get a little tiresome, and as his best hits from the period are better than the album-only tracks, almost everyone should just stick with a compilation. The CD adds seven bonus tracks from 1968-74 singles, which are OK but not essential; Eddie Floyd's &Funky Mississippi& (from 1968) is about the best.