Originally released on Atlantic Records, Pure Pleasure's reissue of Rahsaan Roland Kirk's euphoric celebration of black music is yet another labour of love from a label that cares.

Heavyweight vinyl with replica period labels harnessed to a cover that nobly attempts to mirror the original release gives the package an authentic feel, while the re-mastered audio is full and vibrant. B¡acknuss was an attempt to introduce Kirk's multi-reeded sound to a younger audience with interpretations of songs by such contemporary popular artists as Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Clifton Davis and Bread. Inserted between his joyous renditions of Withers' ‘Ain't No Sunshine’ and Smokey Robinson and The Miracles' ‘My Girl’ are Kirk's sermonised arrangement of ‘Old Rugged Cross’ – together with vocalist Princess Patience Burton's Funkadelic-meets Fela Kuti-tinged ‘One Nation’, an hysterically-delivered shout out for equality that sets the session on fire. For the jazz purist, however, it is Kirk's compositions here that give the record an extra dimension. Both the flute infested ‘Which Way Is It Going’ and the sprawling title track are ecstatic outpourings of righteously played jazz groove that fiercely underline his true commitment and direction.