The Brides of Funkenstein

Jazz, Funk, Disco?

Pt IV – To the end of the LP shelf

Welcome back once again crate diggers, completing the recent theme, here are even more tunes for which I’m not really sure the appropriate ‘genre’ label. It’s possible that some of these tunes might be defined as Jazz-Funk, some might be Funk and some might even be classed as Disco.

As with the previous 3 mixes these are monster tunes from monster artists and come from LPs produced between the late 60′s and mid 80′s.

In today’s mix I bring you Parliament, Gary Toms Empire, Ohio Players, The Brides Of Funkenstein and, as promised, the special addition from Christopher CoShea Campbell, with his version of his Dad’s song Standing At The Crossroads:

• Big Footin’ -Parliament
• Fire – Ohio Players
• I Call My Baby Pussycat – Parliament
• Gary’s Love Theme – Gary Toms Empire
• The Motor Booty Affair – Parliament
• The Freeze (Sizzleenmean) – Parliament
• Far East Mississippi – Ohio Players
• Water Sign – Parliament
• Amorous – The Brides Of Funkenstein
• Disco To Go- The Brides Of Funkenstein
• Christopher CoShea Campbell – Standing At The Crossroads

Christopher is the son of the late William Edgar Campbell, aka Eddie Campbell, of ‘Eddie & Ernie’ fame. As you may know, Christopher recently featured on a Hook & Sling article (if you missed it… go here!) and got in touch with me to ask if I’d like to drop his cover into one of my mixes (and to discuss our shared passion for Bootsy Collins (Parliament, Funkadelic, etc.). Christopher says “I grew up listening to them heavily … as an artist I am definitely bringing them back sound-wise and style-wise in my original material in my upcoming album”)… I for one look forward to hearing it!

Pop back soon for an Eddie & Ernie special mix where Christopher shares his memories of his dad’s music…

Wayne Henderson - Emphasized

Jazz, Funk, Disco?

Pt III – Further along the LP shelf

Welcome back crate diggers, continuing the ongoing theme, here are some more tunes for which I’m not really sure the appropriate ‘genre’ label. It’s possible that some of these tunes might be defined as Jazz-Funk, some might be Funk and some might even be classed as Disco.

As before these are monster tunes from monster artists and come from LPs produced between the late 60′s and mid 80′s. This is part 3 of 4.

In today’s mix I bring you Parliament, P-Funk All Stars, Wayne Henderson, Funkadelic, George Clinton, Gary Toms Empire, The Whole Darn Family and the Ohio Players; 12 tunes for you to sit back and enjoy with the brew (or smoke) or your choice:

• Agony of DeFeet -Parliament
• Acupuncture – P-Funk All Stars
• Get The Ants Out Ya Pants – Wayne Henderson
• Get Off Your Ass And Jam/Night Of The Thumpasorus People – Funkadelic/Parliament/George Clinton
• Man’s Best Friend – George Clinton
• She’s Something Else – Gary Toms Empire
• Body Language – Parliament
• Last Dance – George Clinton
• Who’d She Coo? – Ohio Players
• Skin Tight – Ohio Players
• Seven Minutes Of Funk – The Whole Darn Family

If this music is to your liking be sure to pop back soon for part 4, which has the special addition from Christopher CoShea Campbell that I referred to before.

Ultra Funky!

Jazz, Funk, Disco?

Pt II – More from the LP shelf

Welcome back crate diggers, continuing the theme I started the other week, here’s some more tunes for which I’m not really sure the appropriate ‘genre’ label. It’s possible that some of these tunes might be defined as Jazz-Funk, some might be Funk and some might even be classed as Disco.

As before these are monster tunes from monster artists and come from LPs produced between the late 60′s and mid 80′s. I expect this to be part 2 of 4, based on the number of LPs I’m pulling from the shelves.

In today’s mix I bring you Ultrafunk, Gary Toms Empire, P-Funk All Stars, George Clinton, Parliament and the Ohio Players; whilst only 11 tunes in this mix, it’s 66 minutes long; so as always grab a seat, or pull on your dancing shoes and enjoy:

• Who Is He (What Is He To You) – Ultrafunk
• Everybody Up – Ohio Players
• 1-2-3-4 (Let’s Do It Again) – Gary Toms Empire
• Generator Pop – P-Funk All Stars
• Party People – Parliament
• Computer Games – George Clinton
• Love Rollercoaster – Ohio Players
• Use Me – Ultrafunk
• Say It – Ohio Players
• My Ladies Run Me Crazy – Ohio Players
• Kung Fu Man – Ultrafunk

If this music is to your liking be sure to pop back soon for parts 3 and 4, including a special addition from Christopher CoShea Campbell (son of the late William Edgar Campbell, aka Eddie Campbell of ‘Eddie & Ernie’ fame).

Brass Construction - Masters of Rhythm

Jazz, Funk, Disco?

Pt I – Along the shelf to “C”

Welcome back crate diggers, I thought I’d pillage my LP shelves and pull some tunes for which I’m not really sure the appropriate ‘genre’ label. It’s possible that some of these tunes might be defined as Jazz-Funk, some might be Funk and some might even be classed as Disco.

Whatever genre label we apply to the tunes, these are monster tunes from monster artists and come from LPs produced between the late 60′s and early 80′s. I have pulled together approximately 90 minutes, yet only covered “A-C” on the shelf, so expect a few more mixes in the coming days…

In today’s mix I bring you William Collins (in the guises of William “Bootsy” Collins, Bootsy’s Rubber Band & Bootsy); The Average White Band, The Blackbyrds, Brass Construction and Brick:

• The Blackbyrds – Funkie Junkie
• Bootsy – Fat Cat
• The Blackbyrds – Do It Fluid
• William Bootsy Collins – Landshark (Just When I Thought It Was Safe)
• Average White Band – Person to Person
• Bootsy – F-Encounter
• Brick – Dazz
• Brass Construction – Changin’
• Brick – Good High
• William Bootsy Collins – #1 Funkateer Excon (of Love)
• The Blackbyrds – Walking In Rhythm
• Brass Construction – Love
• The Blackbyrds – The Blackbyrds’ Theme
• Bootsy’s Rubber Band – She Jam (Almost Bootsy Show)
• William Bootsy Collins – Countracula (This One’s For You)
• Brass Construction – Movin’
• Average White Band – Feel No Fret

If this music is your thing, I suggest you kick back, pull on the headphones and enjoy…

The Late Rufus Thomas (in action at WattsStax)

Hot on the heels of last Sunday’s mix (posted earlier); here’s the mix I threw together this morning.

As is often the case, all taken from 45 (no LPs this time) and mostly from original copies.

This was another “grab and play” session without much thought for anything really, just grabbing tunes and dropping the needle.

I hope there’s something in this mix that grabs you!

Track list:

• The Gaturs – The Booger Man – Gatur (508)
• Thomas East – Sister Funk Part 1 – True Soul (004)
• Howard Wales – Huxley’s Howl – Coastal (101)
• Eddie Bo & Inez Cheatham – Lover And A Friend – Capitol (2150)
• Bernie Hayes – Cool Strut Part 1 – Volt (4047)
• J R Bailey – We Need Love – Virgo (101)
• The Noble Knights – Sing A Simple Song – Cotillion (44030)
• Eugine Blacknell – We Know We Got To Live Together Part 1 – Seaside (4112)
• The Dap Kings – Nervous Like Me – Kay-Dee (003)
• Rufus Thomas – Sophisticated Sissy – Stax (221)
• The Diplomatics – Hum-Bug Part 1 – Lamp (7004)
• All The People – Cramp Your Style – Blue Candle (1496)
• Louis Chachere – The Hen Part 1 – Paula (321)
• The Deacons – Sock It To Me Part 1 – Shama (100)
• Chester Randel’s Soul Sender’s – Soul Brother’s Testify – Anla (102)
• Skip Easterling – Keep The Fire Burning – Alon (9033)
• James Crawford – Fat Eddie – King (6130)
• Mickey & The Soul Generation – Joint Session – Maxwell (806)

Enjoy the tunes… if I can avoid getting roped into some chores, I’m off to pillage my LP shelf…

Mary Jane Hooper - She Had Reasons!

Hi, I have really been struggling to find the time to get bloggin’… so many tunes queued up for your audio delight and so little time to blog them up for you.

I’ve bagged a few great tunes recently that I hope to be able to share with you real soon. Amongst recent acquisitions are: Voices of East Harlem – Wanted, Dead or Alive; Lee Dorsey – Four Corners; Bobby Byrd – If You Don’t Work, You Don’t Eat; Vibrettes – Humpty Dump (green label); Dynamics – Ain’t No Sun; Marvin Gaye – One More Heartache; The Dapps – Bringing Up The Guitar and a few LPs too (couple of Dynamics & Voices of East Harlem)

I also watched with interest a copy of Third Guitar – Baby Don’t Cry on the ‘Bay the other day (I’d bagged a copy for some large notes a few years back) and was delighted to see it’s still holding it’s ground when one appears, finally selling for US$660… should I ever decide to part with my Mint copy I have some bargaining power for some of those elusive tunes!

Back to blogging… I really wanted this site to be a regular update, but work has a nasty habit of getting in the way! That said I did manage, last Sunday, to throw some tunes on the decks which I thought I’d share for you.

The mix is typically eclectic (as are my tastes). I’ve always wanted to start a mix with Deodato… having done so I’m not sure I ever would again… interested to hear your views on it?

The track list:

• Deodato – Also Sprach Zarathustra – CTI (12)
• Billy Larkin & The Delegates – Funky Fire – Kola Shanah (7007)
• Calvin Arnold – Funky Way – Venture (605)
• Mary Jane Hooper – I’ve Got Reasons – PowerPac (2053)
• The Black Exotics – Theme Of Blackbyrds – Funk45 (38)
• Barrabas – Mellow Blow – Atco (7036)
• The Gaturs – Cold Bear – Gatur (508)
• Camille Bob – 2 Weeks, 2 Days, Too Long – Soul Unlimited (102)
• The Show Stoppers – Shake Your Mini – Show Time (111)
• Marlena Shaw – Brother Where Are You – Cadet (15753)
• Candy Phillips – Timber Part 1 – Atlantic (2290)
• Harvey Scales And The Seven Sounds – The Funky Yolk – Chess (2089)
• Camille Bob – Brother Brown – Soul Unlimited (102)

Happy listening…

The Capitols

Happy new year.

I hope, like me, you had a great night last night and enjoyed some good food, beers and great music with friends…

Just a quick post to make my latest mix available for your audio pleasure… it’s an eclectic mix, 65 minutes or so in length, mostly Northern Soul, some new tunes and a smattering of Funk.

I hope to be back later with a 45 post specifically requested by a visitor, in the meantime I hope you enjoy today’s mix.

Cool Jerk ’68 Instrumental – The Capitols
I’ve Been Turned On – Jo Armstead
How Long Has It Been – The Casinos
Um Um Um Um Um Um – Major Lance
If I Could Only Be Sure – Nolan Porter
Happy Days – The Magictones
Come On Train (instr) – Don Thomas
There Was A Time – James Brown and the Fabulous Flames
That’s Enough – Rosco Robinson
Turning My Heartbeat Up – The M.V.P.’s
Mercy (instr) – The Third Degree
Beggin’ – Franki Valli & The 4 Seasons
Trying To Find My Woman – Lou Courtney
Opelia – Tim Tam
Tears (Nothing But Tears) – Lee Roye
Mean So Much – Cannibal & The Headhunters
Promised Land – Cheyenne
I’ve Got The Fever – Creation
The Gallop – Chevelles
Sliced Tomatoes – Just Brothers
There Was A Time – Jimmy Lynch
Hitch It To The Horse – Fantastic Johnny C
The Mule – James Boys
I’ll Bet You – Billy Butler
Go Go Girl – Lee Dorsey
Night Owl – Bobby Paris

Bill Withers

Happy in-between holidays.

If, like me, you use this time as an opportunity to catch up on some good music; I hope today’s offering is a double helping of audio delight.

For a long time now I’ve often mulled over which version of a number of songs I prefer and, if I’m honest, my preference changes over time according to my mood/needs at the time.

A recent discussion with James (of CurryMusic.com) on our preferences for Harlem (Bill Withers v Creative Source), prompted today’s mixes; tracks that have been recorded by different artists; so that you too can ponder your preferences.

There are two mixes today, both contain the same songs, but recorded by different artists. Some are very similar, some are wildly different.

Mix 1:

Hard Times – Baby Huey & The Babysitters
Who Is He (And What Is He To You?) – Bill Withers
Stoned Out Of My Mind – The Chi-Lites
Harlem – Bill Withers
Light My Fire – Jackie Wilson
Gimme Shelter – Merry Clayton
Tighten Up – The Night Men
Use Me – Bill Withers

Mix 2:

Light My Fire – Tammi Lynn
Stoned Out Of My Mind – Mary Ann Farra & The Satin Soul
Who Is He (And What Is He To You?) – Creative Source
Harlem – Creative Source
Gimme Shelter – Cal Tjader
Tighten Up – Archie Bell & The Drells
Hard Times – Curtis Mayfield
Use Me – Isaac Hayes

If you were to pop over there today, you might just find something from me.

If that doesn’t interest you I do urge you to pop on over for some great mixes and chatter that’s all funk & soul related…

Mr Double Down presents: Soul–A–Lu–Yah (A Guest mix For Bold Soul Brother)

First up, I’d like to thank Bold Soul Brother for allowing me to grace these pages here with a guest mix for you. This is fast becoming an excellent growing resource for funk and soul and I urge each and everyone of you to continue to fall by here to sample his wares!

You can currently find him holding the fort over at my small recess of the internet, The Hook & Sling, where he has a fantastic mix of Northern soul awaiting you!

Ok on with business! What you have here is an hour of Funk, Soul, R&B (the proper stuff mind!) and a few Northern 45s thrown in for luck as well. All have been taken from my 45s collection, and are a mixture of old favourites that have been on constant play at home, as well as a few big spins that you’re likely to hear at our monthly nights on the South Coast.

I hope you enjoy my selection for you, and be sure to roll by The Hook & Sling where you can find more of the same, as well as a previous two part Guest mix from Bold Soul Brother, here & here

Track List

Chairmen Of The Board – Since The Days Of Pigtails (And Fairy Tales)   Invictus
Average White Band – Cut The Cake   Atlantic
Lee Dorsey – Go-Go Girl   Amy
Dave “Baby” Cortez – There’s A New Man   Sound Pak
The Moving Finger – Higher And Higher   Mercury
The Graham Bond Organisation – I love You   Page One
The Spellbinders – Chain Reaction   Direction
The Ambassadors – I’m So Proud Of My Baby   Atlantic
Billy Butler – The Right Track   Soul City
The Peps – You Never Had It So Good   D-Town
The Falcons & Band – I Found A Love   Lu Pine Records
Bob & Gene – Don’t Leave Me   Mo-Do Records
The Objectives – Love went Away   Jewel Records
Soul Brothers Six – She’s Some Kind Of wonderful   Atlantic
Fred & The New JB’s – Breakin’ Bread   People
Syl Johnson – Dresses Too Short   Twinight Records
Al Trahan – Can I Feel It   Spindletop Records
The Mixed Emotion – Am I Imposing   Rock-Way
Kings Go Forth – Don’t Take My Shadow    Mr. C
Darrell Banks – Open The Door To Your Heart   Revilot Records
Tony Allen And The Champs – Nite Owl   Specialty

Eddie Kendricks - Goin' Up In Smoke

Here’s a little something I put together the other Sunday … a mix made up of smooth grooves for the dancers amongst you.

Most of these are taken from 45, a few are lifted from LP; but all are taken from vinyl and are amongst those I’ll tend to drop when I feel the need for some chillin’.

Coming soon: something I’ve been pondering doing for a while (a covers versus original mix).

But before those, please pop back mid week for a special guest mix from Mr Double Down of Hook & Sling…

In the interim; I hope you enjoy today’s sounds.

Tracks in today’s mix are:

Eddie Kendricks – Date With The Rain
Oliver Sain – Bus Stop
B.T. Express – Express
Marvin Gaye – Inner City Blues
B.T. Express – Do It (Til You’re Satisfied)
Commodores – Brick House
The P. Funk All Stars – Pumpin’ It Up
Mary Ann Fara & Satin Soul – Stoned Out Of My Mind
Eddie Kendricks – Going Up In Smoke
Oliver Sain – Booty Bumping
Randolph Brown & Co – It Ain’t Like It Used To Be
The P. Funk All Stars – Generator Pop
Eddie Kendricks – Girl, You Need A Change Of Mind
The Controllers – People Want Music
Ohio Players – Everybody Up
Lenny Williams – Since I Met You
Eddie Kendricks – Eddie’s Love

70 minutes or so of James Brown and Eddie Bo tunes (plus a couple of other instrumental delights).

Shhhhhhhhh (For A Little While) – James Brown (King 6164)
Mercy D – Sam & The Soul Machine (Funky Del 18) **
The Drunk – James Brown (Bethlehem 3098)
Fat Eddie – James Crawford (King 6130)
Things Are Better – Ernie & The Top Notes (Fordom 105)
Popcorn With A Feeling – Steve Soul (Federal 12551)
Dull Knifin’ – Trick Bag (TB 10001) ****
Funky & Some – The Last Word (Polydor 14226)
Git-It – Sam & The Soul Machine (Funky Del 18) ***
Screwdriver – Lee Austin (Int. Bros. 01)
Funky, Yeah! – Curley Moore (House Of Fox 1934)
Live It Up – James K Nine (Federal 12572)
Quiet Village (Part 2) – Dome City Rock (Dome City 35)
Sunshine #9 – Osaka Monaurail (Our Label 005)
Crossover – The JB’s (Polydor 41396)
Bringing Up The Guitar – The Dapps (King 6147)
Funky Broadway – James Brown (Smash 27093 )  *
Trip – 1984 (Tramp 114)
Disco Baby – The Hustlers (People 658)
Quiet Village (Part 1) – Dome City Rock (Dome City 35)
Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours – Osaka Monaurail (Our Label 005)
Lowdown Popcorn – James Brown (King 6250)
21st Century Kenya – Electrostats (Three Oaks 101)

* Released on LP only “James Brown Plays The Real Thing” (Smash 27093)
** Previously unreleased, taken from LP “Funky Funky New Orleans 2-B”  (Funky Del 18)
*** Previously unreleased, taken from LP “Funky Funky New Orleans 2-A” (Funky Del 18)
**** Released on LP only “French Quarter Textiles”  (Trick Bag 10001)

Close to 80 minutes of deep funk, so once again, grab a beer and sit back; or pull on your dancin’ shoes and enjoy.

Hey Joyce – Lou Courtney (Popside 4594)
Huxley’s Howl – Howard Wales  (Costal 101)
Baby Don’t Cry – The Third Guitar (Rojac 123)
Sophisticated Sissy (Pt 1) – Curley Moore  (Instant 2638)
Pull My Coat – The Eddy Jacobs Exchange (Columbia 44821 DJ)
Cramp Your Style – All The People (Blue Candle 563)
Soul Brother’s Testify – Chester Randle’s Soul Senders (Anla 102)
Mighty Mighty Children – Baby Huey & The Babysitters (Curtom 1939)
The Next Message – Mighty Mo & The Winchester Seven (Peace Street 1980)
Funky, Yeah! – Curley Moore & The Kool Ones (House Of The Fox 1934)
King Midnight – The Delta Rhythm Section (Mocambo 1014)
Butterballs (Pt 1) – Butterball (Double-B 101)
Black Boy – Dyke & The Blazers (Beat Goes Public 26) *
Heavy, Heavy – Keno-I & The Hermit (Breakin Bread 011)
Stagger Walk – The Fabulous Capris (Sticky 001)
Funky ’69 – Alvin Cash (Toddlin’ Town 119 DJ)
Hard Times – Baby Huey & The Babysitters (Curtom 0105)
Won’t Nobody Listen – Black Haze Express (Clintone 005 DJ)
You’re Starting Too Fast – Johnny Pate (ABC 078 DJ)
Double EE Agent – Charles Greene (Anla 108)
Hook & Sling (Pt 2) – Eddie Bo (Scram 117)
I’m The Man – Chris Jones (Goodie Train 008)
Listen To Me – Baby Huey & The Babysitters (Curtom 741670)
Can We Rap – Carleen & The Groovers (Jazzman 009) *
Soul Power (Pt 1) – Busey’s Soulblenders (Busey’s 2485)
Tighten Up Your Own Thing – Etta James (Cadet 5664 DJ)
The Hen (Pt 1) – Louis Chachere (Paula Records 321)
Trip – 1984 (Tramp 114)

*       Re-issue

If you have listened to any of my other mixes; this might be a bit of an eye-opener; as it’s completely different. In essence this demonstrates the range of my musical tastes (from classic Northern Soul – which you’ll find in this issue; to Deep Funk – as heard in other mixes). This mix demonstrates for me, where it all began, imagine a 17 year old into music big time, when mainstream music was either Punk, Ska (Coventry revival), Mod (revival), Brit Pop (the first time round) or (late) disco. Whilst I’d never been a great dancer, I’d always loved music that made me want to dance (and enjoyed watching the local talent shuffle around). I fervently collected the entire catalogue of 2-Tone and The Jam, but by far my biggest interest was from what the Mod revival introduced to this scooter riding youngster…. northern soul and what a musical revelation that was for me.

What you hear in this mix was put together for a colleague (directly onto CD) and as such I was “just grabbing” and paying no particular attention to BPM or mixing for dancing; I was literally just grabbing old favourites. We start with Laura Greene’s “Moonlight Music and You” (one of a few tracks in the mix given public attention a few years back thanks to a certain “fried chicken’s” advertising campaign); I then bombard you with some great classics  and end, perhaps appropriately, with Jimmy Radcliffe’s “Long After Tonight Is All Over” (the cue to grab a slow dance, your coat and bag, and your lift home). It’s also a guest mix on “the hook and sling” blog.

Most are original issues, some are re-issues, a few (including Chavez) are bootleg (with Chavez I thought for a day or two that I’d stumbled on an original, until Manship confirmed from my delta number that it was a bootleg; still worthy of a good price – but not close to the original). The Frank Wilson you hear is taken from the re-issue on Soul, but I also have a much earlier re-issue in my collection (sadly I don’t own one of the two Soul originals – if I did I wouldn’t have the burden of debt!)

If you’re about to settle back and listen to this mix it’s close to 80 minutes; so do settle down with a beer, or roll a fat one (if that’s your thing), lean back and enjoy.

Keep the faith.

Laura Green – Moonlight Music And You – RCA – 9164
Yvonne Baker – You Didn’t Say A Word – Parkway – 140
Freddie Chavez – They’ll Never Know Why – Look – 5010
Andre Brasseur – The Kid – Congress – 271
Lee Roye – Tears – MCA – 378
Bobby Hebb – Love, Love, Love – Philips – 40400
Chuck Jackson – Hand It Over – Wand – 169
Barbara Acklin – Love Makes A Woman – Brunswick – 55379
Leslie Uggams – Love Is A Good Foundation – Sonday – 6006
Len Barry – It’s That Time Of The Year – Decca – 31969
Jackie Lee – I’ll Do Anything – Soul Fox – 1001
Dena Barnes – If You Ever Walk Out Of My Life – Inferno – 2002
Chuck Jackson – Good Things Come To Those Who Wait – Wand – 1105
Frank Wilson – Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – Soul – 35019
Vikki Baines – Country Girl – Parkway – 966
Rose Batiste – Come Back In A Hurry – Revilot – 206
Chuck Jackson -These Chains Of Love (Are Breaking Me Down) – Wand – 1129
Ronnie Milsap – Ain’t No Soul (Left In These Old Shoes) – Scepter – 12161
Leroy Taylor – Oh Linda – Brunswick – 55345
The Beach Girls – Skiing In The Snow – Dynovox – 202
The TSU Toronadoes – I Still Love You – Volt – 4030
Cliff Nobles & Co. – Switch It On – Phil La Soul – 324
Bobby Garrett – I Can’t Get Away – Mirwood – 5508
Jackie Wilson – Soul Galore – Brunswick – 55290
Adams Apples – Don’t Take It Out Of This World – Brunswick – 55330
Al Wilson – Help Me – Wand – 1135
Stemmons Express – Woman, Love Thief – Karma – 201
Fred Hughes – Baby Boy – Brunswick – 55419
Harold Melvin – Get Out (And Let Me Cry) – Landa – 703
Chuck Jackson – Any Day Now – Wand – 122
Jimmy Radcliffe – Long After Tonight Is All Over – Musicor – 104