Jack Hammer - Colour Combination / Swim

Year Released: 1966
Genre: R&B / Mod Soul / Early Funk

Description:

Issued in 1966 on Polydor (and later on UK mod circuits), “Colour Combination” is a fiery slab of transatlantic R&B from the inimitable Jack Hammer — a singer, songwriter, and dancer whose charisma earned him the nickname “The Twistin’ King.” The track delivers a sharp social message wrapped in pure mod-soul energy, driven by stabbing horns, crisp drums, and Hammer’s spirited vocal exhortations.

On the flip, is the BIG tune for this slice of wax “Swim” which captures the mid-’60s dance craze energy, mixing rhythm-and-blues propulsion with a touch of raw funk that presaged the coming soul explosion. Both tracks radiate the kind of showman intensity that made Hammer a cult figure across Europe’s club scene, particularly among Northern Soul and mod collectors.

With its combination of social consciousness and party heat, this single stands as a snapshot of the R&B world on the verge of turning fully funky — spirited, brassy, and bursting with life.