Minnesota Music Minute: Secret Stash

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- We have a "throwback" for Friday's Minnesota Music Minute.

Yes, there's a local record label called Secret Stash that is going back to the 1960s and 70s. The label is releasing a compilation record of song that didn't quite make it onto the charts, but has the soul to get your body moving.

Every generation has a sound. In the 80s, Minnesota music was dominated by Prince. Rewind 10 or 20 years, and there were equally soulful singers paving the way.

"There's really a tight-knit community that existed in north Minneapolis and St. Paul for these musicians," said Will Gilbert with Secret Stash.

The 60s and 70s were stamped with soul and funk.

"The music goes straight to your heart.  It does something to your soul.  It's unexplainable, but when you hear it, you know it's real," said Wilbur Cole.

Now, a local record label "Secret Stash" is retelling the story of that golden era with an album, and the songs are sung by the original artists.

"We the old ones, we come from down in the 60s, know what I mean?" Cole said.

The record is called Twin Cities Soul and Funk: Lost R&B Grooves from Minneapolis/St. Paul 1964-1979.

"We originally were going to re-issue one record and discovered all of this other music out there," Gilbert said.

This album is more than music. Secret Stash spent countless hours sorting through music libraries, they contacted the Minnesota Historical Society and conducted their own interviews with more than 65 musicians.

They took all of that information and created a 32-page paper telling the tales behind the music.

"The story that they've captured from all the musicians in the Twin Cities that are involved, this is just a great undertaking," said Gilbert.

It took seven months to track down all the musicians.

"It's surreal for us to be back together again after all of these years," Cole said.

Wanda Davis does a rendition of "Save Me." Dave Brady and The Stars sing "Baby, Baby I Need You." The Valdon's kick off the album with their dance track "All Day Long."

"To have this to be put on for us, it means a lot to us.  Because it brought some of us together who haven't seen each other in 35 years," Cole said.

The Twin Cities Funk and All Stars featuring the Valdon's will play a public release concert at the Cedar Cultural Center on Saturday. The album is available for purchase at the Fifth Element on Sept. 25.