The Untouchable Machine Shop - Machine Shop

Year Released: 1973
Genre: Funk / Soul / Rare Groove

Description:

“Machine Shop” by The Untouchable Machine Shop is a raw and heavy-hitting funk 7″ single originally released in 1973 on Wavelength Records, distributed by Scepter Records. Issued as a two-part single — Part 1 on the A-side and Part 2 on the B-side — the record delivers tight, rhythm-driven funk built around a deep, mechanical groove that epitomizes early-1970s instrumental funk craftsmanship.

The A-side, “Machine Shop (Part 1)”, opens with a tough breakbeat groove — crisp drums, syncopated guitar licks, and a rolling bassline that locks into an industrial rhythm. It’s a hard, percussive funk workout that feels both organic and mechanical, channeling the precision of a factory floor into an irresistible dance groove.

The B-side, “Machine Shop (Part 2),” expands on the theme, offering extended instrumental passages, sharp horn accents, and open drum breaks that later became favorites among DJs and sample diggers. The stripped-back production highlights the musicians’ tight interplay and rhythmic discipline, while maintaining the raw energy typical of regional funk recordings from the early ’70s.

Though it never charted upon release, “Machine Shop” became a cult classic in the rare groove and breakbeat community, prized for its unpolished analog sound and distinctive rhythmic character. The track’s open drum sections and propulsive groove have made it a quiet favorite among hip-hop producers and collectors of deep funk 45s, often appearing on rare-funk compilations and DJ sets focused on vintage instrumentals.

Musically, “Machine Shop” embodies the blue-collar ethos of 1970s American funk — direct, driving, and rooted in rhythm above all else. Its name and sound evoke the steady pulse of machinery, but its groove remains deeply human, powered by sweat and swing rather than automation.

Original U.S. pressings on Wavelength Records are now highly collectible, particularly clean promo copies. The single stands as a testament to the era’s raw studio-funk artistry — minimalist, powerful, and timeless in its appeal to dancers, DJs, and sample hunters alike.

“Machine Shop” remains one of those hidden gems of the deep-funk underground: a track that captures the intersection between 1970s soul grit and the breakbeat legacy that would later fuel hip-hop