A Back Man’s Soul is an instrumental funk and soul album, released with a black and white and colored cover. It contains songs written by Ike Turner, his St. Louis colleague Oliver Sain and some others. All tracks were recorded at various studios in the U.S. between tour dates. The album was originally released in 1969 from Pompeii Records in America on vinyl and 8-track cartridge. In England, it was first issued in 1975 from DJM Records under the different title „Funky Mule“ and in Germany from Bellaphone Records as „Ike Turner & His Kings of Rhythm“. It was reissued in 2002 in it’s original format from Funky Delicacies Records and in 2003 on compact disc with four bonus tracks, including three with vocals from Tina Turner. It’s also part of the 3 CD box set The Complete Pompeii Recordings from 2016.

A1. Thinking Black 2:41

Written by Ike Turner
Single release in 1969

A2. Black Beauty 2:21

Written by Ike Turner

A3. Ghetto Funk 2:53

Written by Ike Turner

A4. Black’s Alley 2:44

Written by Oliver Sain / Recorded at Cosimo's studio, New Orleans

A5. Black Angel 3:15

Written by Oliver Sain / Recorded at Cosimo's studio, New Orleans

A6. Getting Nasty 3:08

Written by Ike Turner / Recorded at Bolic Sound, Inglewood

B1. Funky Mule 3:22

Written by Marvin Holmes / Recorded at an unknown studio, Washington DC

B2. Philly Dog 2:24

Written by Rufus Thomas / Recorded at an unknown studio, Washington DC

B3. Scotty Souling 2:59

Written by Ike Turner / Recorded at an unknown studio, Washington DC

B4. Up Hard 2:40

Written by Art Miller / Recorded at Cosimo's studio, New Orleans

B5. Nuttin’ Up 2:25

Written by Ike Turner / Recorded at an unknown studio, Washington DC

B6. Freedom Sound 2:38

Written by Ike Turner

cd bonus tracks

13. Chain Of Fools 2:11

14. Chain Of No More Doggin’ 3:32

Vocals by Tina Turner

15. Knock On Wood 2:45

Vocals by Tina Turner

16. Drifting Blues 2:35

Vocals by Tina Turner

All selections on this album are Instrumentals and were originally recorded in stereo, with the exceptions of „Black Alley,“ „Getting Nasty,“ „Nuttin' Up“ and „Freedom Sound“ which have been electronically reprocessed for stereo from the original monophonic recordings.

Produced by lke Turner

THE KINGS OF RHYTHM
Bass: Jesse Knight Drums: Mack Johnson Guitar: Ike Turner Percussion: Teasky Tribble Piano: Fred Sample, Ike Turner Saxophone: Washee Trombone: Jesse Heron

Cover Design: Loring Eutemey
Art Direction & Design (CD): Hal Wilson with Peter Ciccione
Photos (CD): Bob Gruen