Young-Holt Unlimited
The Definitive
Written-By – Eldee Young, Isaac Holt
3:21
2 Wack Wack
Written-By – Donald Storball, Eldee Young, Hysear Don Walker, Isaac Holt
3:01
3 Soulful Strut
Written-By – Eugene Record, William Sanders
3:01
4 Baby Your Light Is Out
Songwriter – Eldee Young
Written-By – Hysear Don Walker, Isaac Holt
3:08
5 Listen Here
Written-By – Eddie Harris
4:12
6 Country Slicker Joe
Written-By – Eldee Young, Kenneth Chaney, Isaac Holt
3:03
7 Light My Fire
Written-By – Jim Morrison, John Densmore, Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger
2:43
8 Horoscope
Written-By – Eldee Young, Kenneth Chaney, Isaac Holt
2:40
9 Good Vibrations
Written-By – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
4:10
10 Give It Up
Written-By – Eldee Young, Hysear Don Walker, Isaac Holt
2:44
11 You Gotta, I Gotta
Written-By – Eldee Young, Isaac Holt
4:06
12 Soulful Samba
Written-By – Osvaldo Nunes
2:30
13 Funky Duck
Written-By – Eldee Young, Kenneth Chaney, Isaac Holt
3:12
14 Funky Is As Funky Does
Written-By – Eldee Young, Hysear Don Walker, Isaac Holt
3:04
15 Yum Yum
Written-By – Eldee Young, Isaac Holt
2:43
16 Orient East
Written-By – Eldee Young, Kenneth Chaney, Isaac Holt
4:03
17 Doing The Thing
Written-By – Eldee Young
2:40
18 Just A Melody
Written-By – Carl Davis, Eugene Record
2:20
19 Young & Holtful
Written-By – Kenneth Chaney, Isaac Holt
2:53
20 Ain't There Something Money Can't Buy
Written-By – Isaac Holt
2:54
Label: Brunswick – BRC 33012-2
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2005
Genre: R&B Jazz
Style: Jazz-Funk, Soul-Jazz
The Definitive Young-Holt Unlimited is a highly-regarded compilation showcasing the instrumental soul-jazz group's blend of jazz, R&B, and pop, featuring their iconic hits like "Soulful Strut" and "Wack Wack," offering a fun, funky, and soulful trip through their funky grooves, excellent bass work, and catchy tunes, making it a must-have for fans of '60s/70s groove music, despite a few weaker covers.
The album captures their signature sound – an invigorating mix of jazz trio roots (from the Ramsey Lewis Trio) blended with infectious R&B and pop grooves. It includes their massive instrumental hits, the laid-back "Soulful Strut" (built on Barbara Acklin's "Am I the Same Girl") and the silly, catchy "Wack Wack".
Expect groovy bass lines from Eldee Young, solid drumming from Redd Holt, and often Ray Charles-inspired keyboard work, creating a live, party-like atmosphere. Beyond the hits, the collection provides funky covers (like "Light My Fire") and previously unreleased tracks, offering a comprehensive look at their sound.
Their timeless music, especially "Soulful Strut," became a holy grail for hip-hop producers, leading to hundreds of samples, notes MusicBrainz. Critics and fans praise it as an excellent collection of soulful, funky R&B instrumentals, a testament to their ability to create timeless, feel-good music that bridges jazz and pop, making it a highly recommended listen.