'Texas Thunder Soul 1968- 1974' is presented both as a gatefold 2LP and as a 2CD plus DVD package. The DVD includes the short-films “Texas Jewels: The Making of Texas Thunder Soul” (by B+ and Flying Lotus) and “Prof. and his Band: A Documentary by Charles Porter” alongside a performance of the Kashmere Stage Band on the 1972 special “Jazz: Yesterday, Today, Forever.”

We’ve been saying it since the release of 'The Funky 16 Corners' back in 2001 but, after the documentary 'Thunder Soul' captured the audience award at festivals like SXSW and the Los Angeles Film Festival and then later on streaming services the world over, the word was out: Kashmere was the greatest high school band – ever.

Their story is tucked in between slabs of hard 70s funk, soul, and jazz; the late educator and catalyst Conrad O. Johnson transformed a bunch of rough-hewn high schoolers into a band that could compete with any in the nation – professional, or otherwise. Forget high school bands, we’re talking about sixteen year old kids who would give the JBs a run for their money.

The Kashmere Stage Band released a total of eight albums and three 45s on Johnson’s Kram label. The band’s best tracks are collected here alongside producer Eothen “Egon” Alapatt’s notes, with rare photos and ephemera.