PRICE:
$38.50
PREORDER
Ships When IN STOCK.
ARTIST
TITLE
Hogan, The Hawk And Dirty John Crown
FORMAT
LP

LABEL
CATALOG #
BEWITH 184LP BEWITH 184LP
GENRE
RELEASE DATE
2/27/2026

Hogan, The Hawk & Dirty John Crown sounds like the soundtrack of a blaxploitation movie from the early '70s and, packed with funky fusion and smoother orchestral numbers, it is basically that. Featuring a veritable who's who of killer library break snakes, it's not hard to see how this commands over £350 on secondary markets. This beautifully presented reissue, part of Be With's fresh campaign with the legendary library label Music De Wolfe, is well overdue. Recorded for De Wolfe in 1972, Hogan, The Hawk, Dirty John Crown is a fantastic start-to-finish listen. The flute-funk of Hawkshaw and Parker's opener "The Hawk" comprises driving, fuzzy, wah-wah-drizzled bell-laced breaks with synths and basslines to murder for. Up next, Haseley's "The Happening" is a carefree, rhythmic builder with strings and horns. Hawkshaw and Parker's amazing "Main Chance" is likely the reason you're here; it's a moody, beaty proto-hip-hop banger; all rolling drums and flute-laced, organ-drenched, synth-funk breaks. The cool AF "Hogan Baby" has a soft, rounded, bluesy feel. Grant's pounding "Dirty John Crown" brilliantly conjures swirling string-swept serenity atop driving, incisive drama-funk breaks. Hawkshaw and Parker come roaring back with the murky, creeping crime-funk of "Swarf" with killer basslines underpinning slow-mo high-class flute-funk. Reg Tilsley enters the fray with the bright, snappy, carefree "Turnover." The brief "Tarantula" gets listeners back on track with the driving crime funk breaks, super clean yet brooding. Side 2 opens with the car chase swag of Haseley's dramatic, driving "Precinct". Haseley's rolling "Sidewinder Version 1" is robust and exuberant with bouncy horns before a cracking Parker-Hawkshaw one-two featuring the tense "Pressure" and the deeply soulful "Call Me", a relaxed, medium-tempo organ feature. With building piano and strings Gordon Grant's excellently titled "Scorch" is as aggressive and dramatic as you'd hope. Hawkshaw and Parker's furtive flute-funk of "Digger" precede the light, melodic and romantic themes of Tilsley's "Marianne" whilst "Sidewinder Version 2", a faster iteration of Track B2 sees Haseley close out this remarkable set in bouncy, bright fashion. The audio for Hogan, The Hawk, Dirty John Crown has been meticulously remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring this release sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original, iconic sleeve has been restored as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.