ECCENTRIC SOUL: THE DYNAMIC LABEL (TANGERINE VINYL)

Born out of the largesse created from Rene & Rene's Hot 100 Tejano tornado 'Angelito,' Dynamic Records was but one of half a dozen labels run by San Antonio music and real estate mogul Abe Epstein. His flag ship group, the Commands, took their AFB circuit-honed chops up to the middle of the charts in 1966 with 'No Time For You,' paving the way for 20 other soulful singles over Dynamic's impressive two and a half year run. Epstein's open door policy led to a diverse cross section of the population converging inside his studio on General McMullan Drive, as whites, blacks, and Latinos were swapped in and out of groups as needed. That melting pot mentality is well represented by the Tonettes, Little Jr. Jesse & the Tear Drops, Don & the Doves, Willie Cooper & the Webs, Bobby Blackmon & his Soul Express, and Doc & Sal. Compiled here are 28 of Dynamic's most intriguing sides, representing the first layer of a treasure trove of San Antonio soul we'll be unleashing over the coming year.