Carl Sherlock Holmes
Carl "Sherlock" Linwood Holmes, Jr. (born June 29, 1938) is an American rhythm and blues and jazz guitarist, singer, and songwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is best known for leading the funk and soul groups Carl Holmes & The Commanders and Sherlock Holmes Investigation.
Holmes began performing in the early 1960s, forming the group Carl Holmes & The Commanders. In 1962, the group recorded the full-length album "Twist Party At The Roundtable" for Atlantic Records.
In May 1966, a young Jimi Hendrix (pre-Experience) performed as a guitarist with The Commanders, though he never recorded with them. After The Commanders disbanded following a final release on the local Philadelphia label Black Jack, Holmes formed a new group called Sherlock Holmes Investigation.
In 1974, he released the highly sought-after soul/funk album Investigation No. 1 on the C.R.S. label. On this album, Holmes served as the lead guitarist, lead vocalist, arranger, and producer. Notable songs from his discography include "Investigation," "Modesa," "Black Bag," and "It Ain't Right".
Holmes' work is categorized within the soul, R&B, and jazz-funk genres. His 1974 album has seen several reissues, including a notable one by Tramp Records, due to its enduring popularity among vinyl collectors and rare groove enthusiasts. His brother, John Holmes, served as the drummer for Carl Holmes & The Commanders.
Investigation No.1
A2 Close To You (B.Bacharach, H. David 5:07)
A3 Black Bag (Len Woods 3:20)
A4 Think It Over (Len Woods 3:25)
B1 Modesa (Len Woods 4:59)
B2 Your Game (Len Woods 4:16)
B3 Get Down Philly Town (Len Woods 2:59)
B4 It Ain't Right (Len Woods 3:07)
Label: C.R.S. – CRS-01
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk
The album Investigation No. 1 by Carl "Sherlock" Holmes is a highly sought-after funk and soul classic from 1972, celebrated for its strong rhythm section, smoking funk breaks, and Latin-tinged jams.
Primarily considered a classic of the funk and soul genres, the album is a favorite among DJs and collectors, particularly for its "smoking" breaks. All but one of the tracks were written by songwriter Len Woods.
Notable tracks praised in reviews include the funk workouts "Black Bag," "Investigation," "Get Down Philly Town," and "It Ain't Right". The song "Modesa" is highlighted as a syncopated, Latin-inspired jam. The album also features some mellow numbers, such as "Think It Over" and "Your Game".
The original C.R.S. LP is extremely rare. Reissues by labels like Tramp Records and Dynamite Cuts have made the material more accessible to a wider audience, sometimes including bonus tracks that were previously only available on 45 rpm singles.
Carl Holmes was a seasoned guitarist who had previously recorded for labels like Atlantic and Verve and even gigged with Jimi Hendrix.
Investigation No. 1 was the only record released by his band "The Sherlock Holmes Investigation" before they disbanded, making it their definitive statement and a cult classic in the funk community.
The album generally holds a high rating among collectors and fans, with an average rating of 4.56/5 on Discogs based on user ratings.