Stoned Soul Picnic - Hip Joint

Year Released: 2002
Label: Blow It Hard Records
Genre: Funk / Soul-Jazz / Acid Jazz Revival

Description:
Released in the early 2000s by UK funk collective Stoned Soul Picnic, “Hip Joint” is a standout cut from their underground cult album The Erotic Cakes of Stoned Soul Picnic. The band — comprised of Justin Dodsworth (Hammond organ), Mark Evans (drums), Anthony Reed (guitar), and Harry Furnell (bass) — channels the raw energy and musicianship of classic late-’60s funk and soul-jazz while updating it with a distinctly modern swing.

Driven by Hammond organ grooves, tight rhythm guitar, and crisp break-style drumming, the track nods to the sound of The Meters, Jimmy McGriff, and early Booker T. & The MG’s, while reflecting the acid-jazz influences of the 1990s UK scene. “Hip Joint” feels simultaneously vintage and fresh — a modern reinterpretation of crate-digger funk aesthetics recorded with live analog warmth.

Though never a mainstream release, “Hip Joint” found a dedicated following among rare-groove DJs and modern funk enthusiasts, appearing in B-boy mixes, underground radio playlists, and independent compilations across Europe. Its combination of tight musicianship and organic energy makes it a timeless entry in the post-acid-jazz canon — proof that authentic funk can thrive well beyond its golden era.