Cameo, proving that a tight funk is a good funk has released two albums worth checking out. Their first album, Cardiac Arrest, made it crystal clear that Larry Blackmon's outfit was a force to be reckoned with. If you were into hard, tough funk in 1977, it was impossible not to be excited by Cameo's debut. For the most part, this is an album of aggressive, unapologetically gritty funk. On classics like "Rigor Mortis", "Funk Funk" and "Post Mortem" one can pinpoint Cameo's influences -- namely, Parliament/Funkadelic, the Ohio Players, and the Bar-Kays. But at the same time, these gems demonstrate that even in 1977, Cameo had a recognizable sound of its own. For funk lovers, Cardiac Arrest is essential listening.

The second album is their previously unreleased on CD version of We All Know Who We Are. This album also hearkens back to 1977, and although Cameos roots were still based in George Clinton's Parliament/Funkadelic, they created their own sound of Funk by using a heavy bass sound paired with a strong synth to create a truly original sound. Ultimately, Cameo would become quite influential itself. All seven tracks on this album are truly right on.