Live tracks! The icing on the cake in any record collection. From my youth back to funk history.
It is difficult to quite easy to find these albums. Today they’re throwing this record at you. After the release of James Brown’s “Live At Home with His Bad Self” I decided to do this mix, because funk music lives from these moments. An album is not on it, namely that of Eddie Harris, Live at Moonwalker. Somehow I lost this one.
We begin with one of my heros of my youth. I bought this album at a flea market in 1989 and still listen to it today a lot and I have been to many concerts of Mothers Finest. Most recently last year. The essence of the MF sound appeared in 1979 on the album simply titled “Live”. Mother’s Finest’s power comes into its best form.
In 1977 the Commodores released “Easy”, which became the group’s biggest hit yet. Commodores “Live!” was also released the same year. The album reached number 3 on the chart. This album has such an intensity. Maybe one of greatest Funk Live album.
“Get Down On It” from Kool & The Gang was originally released on their “Something Special” album in 1981. This version is from one of the various live versions (2007). Mandrill‘s rocking “Git It All” was recorded at the famous Montreux Jazz Festival and shows the group’s range of improvisation. It was the last song before the encore.
Live At Home with His Bad Self
James Brown “Live At Home with His Bad Self” was recorded with the intention of making a live album, which was then scheduled as a holiday release late that year (2019) and would commemorate his move back to Mr. Brown’s southern roots. It featured a stellar band with his esteemed saxophone player Maceo Parker and no fewer than three drummers, Parker’s brother Melvin, Jabo Starks and Clyde Stubblefield. But the line-up disbanded soon after the concert and the soul legend assembled a new group including the emerging young bassist William ‘Bootsy’ Collins.
Aretha Franklin set captures the unmitigated Queen of Soul, during a 1972 appearance at a National Association of Radio and Television Announcers function in the City of Brotherly Love. Oh Me Oh My: Aretha Live in Philly, 1972 is a worthy companion to that equally indispensable artifact.
The magnificent version of “Try a Little Tenderness” that Otis Redding laid on what he called “the love crowd” at the Monterey Pop Festival. It was the musical highlight of the whole festival. The song goes back to 1932, and was recorded by such folks like Mel Torme and Bing Crosby.
Donny Hathaway‘s Live Album was recorded at two concerts: side one at The Troubadour in Hollywood, and side two at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. There are two notable solos on the album, one on the track “The Ghetto” by Hathaway on electric piano. A beautiful performance.
A beautiful live Album.
Live at Carnegie Hall
Live at Carnegie Hall one of the best concert recordings from the 1970s. It shows Bill Whiters at his highest peak. Warm, raunchy, secular. And an amazing James Gadson on Drums, nobody else in the music combines hard rhythms and warm sensuality so knowingly as Mr. Whiters, the man of the melodies.
A wonderful live album that capitalizes on Withers’ trademark melancholy soul sound while expanding the music to fit the room granted by a live show.
Alfred “Pee Wee” Ellis was a basic member of the most influential reed-section of the global funk history, the James Brown band besides Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley. He blew his sax for ten years in the probably most important era of James Brown playing in their unimaginably tough way, while was also the co-author and co-orchestrator in such legendary hits, as I Feel Good, Cold Sweat or I’m Black and I’m Proud. I was also happy to see him live.
“Wattstax” organized in 1973 by Stax Records to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the revolt and riots in the Watts district. Considered as the African-American Woodstock, he has allowed the Black community in L.A. to find themselves at peace to the sound of Soul music around artists like Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, The Staple Singers, Eddie Floyd, The Bar Kays and many others…
Despite several years of teaching, Roy Buchanan never learned to read music, but played by ear. “His” guitar was the Fender Telecaster, with which he created wah-wah sounds. Numerous tours and concerts followed until the “best unknown blues guitarist” Buchanan retired from the record business in the second half of the 1970s. 1981 he came back, on the album “My Babe” he played drummer Danny Brubeck, a son of Dave Brubeck. It was not until 1985 that a new album was released, “When a Guitar Plays the Blues”. He often came into conflict with the law and had alcohol problems. On August 14, 1988, Roy Buchanan was arrested for drunkenness after a serious argument with his wife. Later he was found dead in his cell.
War Live is the first live album by funk group War, recorded during a four-night engagement at Chicago’s High Chapparral club and released as a double LP on United Artists Records in 1973. Many of the songs appear in extended versions, two of them filling an LP side apiece. “Anthology 1970-1974” contains a mere seven songs, including “Ballero” which was previously unreleased.
Live at Fillmore West
King Curtis Live at Fillmore West showcases the concert he played with his band the Kingpins in March 1971 who were supporting with the cream of Funk musicians. Cornell Dupree, Jerry Jemmott, Pancho Morales, Billy Preston and Bernard Purdie. The amazing band to backing Aretha Franklin.
Professionally Curtis was having a prolific and successful time in the summer. A week after its release in August 1971, Curtis was stabbed to death outside his brownstone apartment in New York City. For me the pearl of all “Funk Live” recordings.
“Shake a Tail Feather” from Ike & Tina Turner Show is on a Rhino Hi Five Album. It was recorded in Texas in 1967.
An integrated West Coast funk outfit, Tower Of Power became known primarily for its highly professional horn section. But they also had a knack for catchy riff tunes, and a bass player with a phenomenally fast technique and the brains to use it musically: Francis Rocco Prestia. After forming in the Bay Area in the late 60s, the band went through a zillion lineups, hitting a commercial and critical highpoint from 1973 to 1975. “Soul Vaccination: Live” is the fourth live album and shows the band at his best 1999.
I know there are more good albums missing like Stevie Wonder in 1970 or Curtis Mayfield one year later, maybe there will be another mix, who knows?
- Baby Love – Mother’s Finest Live 1979
- Slippery When Wet – Commodores Live 1977
- Get Down On It – Kool & The Gang
- Git It All – Mandrill Live at Montreux 2002
- Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose – James Brown Live from Augusta, GA 1969
- Respect – Aretha Franklin Live in Philly 1972
- Try a Little Tenderness – Otis Redding Live at Monterey Pop 1969
- I Thank You – Sam & Dave Live at the Trax 1979
- The Ghetto – Donny Hathaway Live 1972
- Lonely Town, Lonely Street – Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall 1973
- Pass The Peas feat. Fred Wesley – Pee Wee Ellis Live and Funky 2001
- Do The Funky Chicken – Rufus Thomas Live at Wattstax 1973
- Green Onions – Roy Buchanan Live At Rockpalast 1985
- Ballero – War Live 1973
- A Nickel And A Nail – Otis Clay Live in Japan 1983
- Memphis Soul Stew – King Curtis Live at Fillmore West 1971
- Shake a Tail Feather – Ike & Tina Turner Live in Texas 1967
- Pop That Thang – The Isley’s Live at the Bitter End 1972
- Diggin’ On James Brown – Tower Of Power Live 1999
Live tracks! The icing on the cake in any record collection. From my youth back to funk history. by Funkologie on Mixcloud