A vibrant journey through funky music, featuring a range of artists who have left their mark in different eras. Each song telling a unique story and capturing a distinct era.
Behind the note …
Cloud of Sunshine – Jae Mason
From “Tender Man” in 1975. Not much is written about him.
Right On – Sons Of Slum
Hailed from Chicago, Illinois and were formed by founding members Maurice Bell and Daktori whilst at college in the year 1962. They played in and around Chicago until the legendary Mel Collins took over management and gave them the name of Sons Of Slum. The Sons decided to take control of their own destiny and recorded their third album before splitting in 1978. This was also never released until now and the partnership with Cordial Recordings.
Living For The City – Ike & Tina (Leftside Wobble Rework)
A 1973 single by Stevie Wonder from his Innervisions album. Here an adaption from Tina with a little Wobble Rework. A DJ and producer based in London, UK.
Got My Man – Loleatta Hathaway & George Benson (Dr Heinz Funkenpumpe Creation)
Soul Flow – Paul Kelly
His professional career took off in the early ’60s when Clarence Reid invited him to join his group. In 1972, Paul released an album “Dirt” on Warner Brothers.
Funky – Freddie King
The name says it all. Driven by various rapid percussion and charging horn blasts, this upbeat instrumental provides a welcome contrast to King’s straightforward blues persona. A showcase for King’s ability to blend into an ensemble while remaining the cornerstone of the tune, he finds himself playing a supporting role as the overall mood propels the song forward.
Funky Pete – Guitar Ray
Raymond Washington may well have been related to the great Earl King, brother in law has been suggested, and there are certainly some musical similarities in their gruff vocals and axe playing styles. Guitar Ray recorded just over half a dozen 45RPM singles in New Orleans.
Don’t Mess With People – Mandrill
From “Composite Truth” is a studio album by the Brooklyn-based band Mandrill. The album was recorded in Winter 1972 at Electric Lady Studios and The Hit Factory, both located in New York City. The producer of the album was Mandrill itself, in collaboration with Alfred V. Brown.
Ten on the Door – ATA Records
ATA records was set up by Leeds based musicians Pete Williams and Neil Innes in 2014. They are based out of Neil Innes’s ATA studios, a disused garage on the outskirts of town, ATA studios is an aladdin’s cave of vintage 1960s recording equipment. Recording exclusively to 2” tape and adopting mid-century recording techniques has resulted in their distinctive sound.
Chut Bébé Dort – Godchild
French funk rock collective feat. Jean-Claude Pierric. In the mid 70’s they released a self-titled album for Les Tréteaux label.
Plus Plus – Poets Of Rhythm
German funk band from Munich, founded in the early 1990s by Jan Weissenfeldt and Boris Geiger.
That Beat’s Got the Devil in It – Lenis Guess
Multi-talented singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, and label owner Lenis Guess was undoubtedly one of the most celebrated musicians known for his contribution to “The Norfolk Sound“. The self-taught vocalist and musician first started releasing 45s on Frank Guida’s many labels before setting up his own D.P.G. label. Guess, together with his new partner Dorsey “Brock” Brockington, opened up their own recording studio in Norfolk, Virginia. Their teen-aged house band, Raw Soul, matured into a tight unit and started backing some of Virginia’s finest vocalists.
Laugh – The Jacksonians
There was a band from Jackson, a small Tennessee town 70 miles from Memphis, simply called The Jacksonians, a shaggy bunch of musicians with Afro haircuts that wouldn’t fit through the front door, beards like roots and sideburns eating up at least half their faces, got to work and transformed the ditty into an Americana ballad where the happy California sun. Whitney Webb Jr. Joseph McKinney (keyboards), Samuel Frazier (tenor sax), Jimmy Morris, Grady Carter Jr. Fenoye Lanier(drums) & Farris Lanier Jr.(lead singer).
The Music of Your Mind – The Corner Gang
A mega soul-funk rarity by The Corner Gang originally released on TSG Records in 1976. Re-issued by P-Vine Records.
The Soul Stroke (Can You Handle It) – King Earnest
“King” Ernest Baker was an American blues and soul singer. Baker was born in Natchez, Mississippi, and died in a car crash in 2000, just after finishing recording an album.
Stay in the Groove – Ricky Calloway & Kenny Dope & The Dap-Kings
Rickey Calloway is a R&B funk singer, rhythm guitar musician and songwriter from Jacksonville, Florida. As a teenager, he started out doing a James Brown impersonation in local nightclubs, talent contests, and went on to find his own style.
Lovejoys – Eat At Wongs
The Playlist
- Cloud of Sunshine – Jae Mason
- Right On – Sons Of Slum
- Living For The City – Ike & Tina (Leftside Wobble Rework)
- Got My Man – Loleatta Hathaway & George Benson (Dr Heinz Funkenpumpe Creation)
- Soul Flow – Paul Kelly
- Funky – Freddie King
- Funky Pete – Guitar Ray
- Don’t Mess With People – Mandrill
- Ten on the Door – ATA Records
- Chut Bébé Dort – Godchild
- Plus Plus – Poets Of Rhythm
- That Beat’s Got the Devil in It – Lenis Guess
- Laugh – The Jacksonians
- The Music of Your Mind – The Corner Gang
- The Soul Stroke (Can You Handle It) – King Earnest
- Stay in the Groove – Ricky Calloway & Kenny Dope & The Dap-Kings
- Lovejoys – Eat At Wongs
A vibrant journey through funky music, featuring a range of artists who have left their mark in different eras. by Funkologie on Mixcloud