Grooves & Samples #8: Jon Lucien – Would You Believe In Me (1973)

Grooves & Samples is a weekly dive into old dusty crates of jazz, funk, soul and beyond.

Jon Lucien was a soulful jazz singer primarily active in the 1970s. He was initially touted as a black Frank Sinatra and drew comparisons with artists like Nat King Cole due to his rich and deep voice. The album he is most known for is his 1973 LP tilted Rashida which features traditional jazz, funk, and soul sensibilities with a wide array of influences including his Caribbean heritage and a touch of Brazil.

This weeks selection, the song “Would You Believe In Me”, is a thoroughly catchy bright funk tune that coaxes your muscles to contract and move to the horns.  The track has been sampled several times including by Raashan Ahmad for his track “If I” which cleverly uses part of Lucien’s vocals to form a new version of the classic.