The Bar-Kays have a long history starting as a back-up band for Otis Redding; four members later died in the 1968 plane crash that also killed Redding. Before that tragedy befell them, however, they scored a major hit for Atco Records with the goofy-but-funky, MG's-styled "Soul Finger" - sampled these days in a lot of rap songs. After the crash, a reconstituted group recorded a series of fine instrumental records, including "Son Of Shaft," for Stax. Ultimately, the Bar-Kays transformed into one of those rump-shaking, 70's funk bands with enough players to field a football team. Their later hits include the funk classics "Freakshow On The Dancefloor" and "Do It (Let Me See You Shake)."

To cover all the bases, you gotsta buy no less than four records: Soul Finger, their pre-crash 1967 Atco debut (reissued by Rhino); Best Of The Bar-Kays (1986), covering their post-crash Stax sides; and both Best Of The Bar Kays (1993) and Best Of The Bar-Kays Vol. 2 (1996), which survey their long, hardcore funk tenure at Mercury. That's a lot of Bar-Kays, I know, but trust me... your booty will thank you.