One of many funk anthologies to come out of the U.K. in recent years, Stone Cold Funk is an outstanding mix of '70s funk that should appeal to modern ears. There are several tracks on Stone Cold Funk, from artists such as Joe Quartermain & Free Soul, Lee Dorsey, Ripple, and Aaron Neville, that appear on other funk compilations such as Funk Soul Brothers and the Blaxploitation series. There are a few gems on here, however, that are hard to find elsewhere. Lightin' Rod's "Sport" is a unique piece of '70s Gil-Scott Heron-like rap that created the blueprint for gangsta rap decades later and the funky bassline has been sampled several times over the years. Another oft-sampled track is the Skull Snaps' "It's a New Day," and listening to the funky drum breaks at the beginning and middle of the track, it's easy to see why. While "It's a New Day" remains virtually unknown, it has been one of the most sampled songs ever, and a must for any funk or hip-hop fan. There are also a few interesting lesser-known tracks by the Ohio Players and the Meters as well as a couple of soul numbers by Ann Sexton in the tradition of Aretha Franklin and Etta James. While much of the music in Stone Cold Funk should be familiar to funk fans, there are more than enough hidden treasures on the album to make it worth your while. ~ Jon Azpiri, All Music Guide