Following the slow, shapeless explorations of Invitation To Openness, Les McCann felt the need to reinvigorate himself with some sharp, gutbucket funk. The progressive black jazz movement of the early '70s was going in two directions simultaneously — one freer and more abstract, the other sharper and funkier. Utilizing a pared-down, four-man band — comprised of bassist Jimmy Rowser, drummer Donald Dean, guitarist Keith Loving, and percussionist Buck Clarke — McCann turns in some of the stickiest, steamiest funk grooves of the era with “Shamading,” “North Carolina” and “Let It Lay.” His ballads are even more compelling. “She’s Here” and “Seems So Long” are spacious and hypnotic. McCann sings like an openhearted, looser version of Lou Rawls, and producer Joel Dorn infuses the performances with pungent atmosphere. The extended spoken-word rap of the title track might be most indicative of the era, but the keystone song is “What’s Going On?” McCann’s unhurried, understated rendition uncovers in Marvin Gaye’s anthem a current of low-down worry that all subsequent interpretations have failed to grasp.