Mastermind -- Free And Wild

A few words from a happy gal. My master bath is finished: new tiles, new tub, new cabinets -- new everything. No more plumbers or painters from now on. 

I am free again (never ceased to be wild.)

(limelinx)

The Skull Snaps -- My Hang Up Is You

My Hang Up Is You (GSF Recordings, Inc. 1973) is an example of exquisite background harmonizing, a distinct lead vocalist, and a fine arrangement.
The group has resleased only one album, Skull Snaps, which is in high demand nowadays for all kinds of sampling. Skull Snaps is definitely a group whose Funk is heavily laced with Soul. I like this kind of modified Funk.
Before they became the Skull Snaps, the group called itself The Diplomats and already had released a number of successful singles.

Listen

Limelinx

Mandrill -- House of Wood

Mandrill  was formed by three brothers: Carlos Wilson (trombone, vocals), Lou Wilson (trumpet, vocals) and Ric Wilson (sax, vocals). Born in Panama, they grew up in Broollyn NY. The band included Bundy Cenac (Bass), Neftali Santiago (drums, percussion, vocals), Juaquin Jessup (lead guitar, percussion, vocals), Charles Padro (drums), Claude 'Coffee' Cave II (keyboards, percussion, vocals) and Fudgie Kae Solomon (bass) and Omar Mesa (Guitar). They are a Funk band, but they also combined latin, salsa, rock, soul and blues to create their own very distinct style.

House of Wood is a real dark song ... If you're brooding over life's downs, you'd better not listen.

Fencewalk live 1973

Wornell Jones -- Fall In Love Again

2010 gets off the ground funkayyyyyyyy with Wornell Jones. And again, I have to admit that I didn't know this artist until I came across his music online -- about 30 years after his album "Wornell Jones" was released. 
See! There are still undiscovered  gems waiting to be found ... At least for me. 

His voice immediately reminded me of Donny Hathaway's; thank goodness, however, Wornell's vocals appeal to me not nearly as lamenting and tormented as Donny's. He's got the throaty, pleading Hathaway quality without the melancholic touch. 

Fall In Love Again, my pick for this post, is 70's Funk deluxe. The song made it into my fav's playlist right away. The only thing I don't like about it is that it is way too short. It leaves me wanting for more of that driving rhythm ... 

Here's a short bio of Wornell Jones. I must say, I was surprised to read all the glamorous names he was associated with back in the day: Joe Simon, Eddie Kendricks, Rufus ... Quite impressive resume! But the   main part of his contribution to music was as a musician in the background; his self-titled album, it seems, remained the burst out into the open in his career.

"Born in Washington D.C., Wornell Jones grew up in the neighbourhoods of the area.

As a youngster, Wornell was always playing, singing or doing something musical.

After playing in local bands in D.C., Wornell began undertaking studio sessions in the early seventies for soul artists including Millie Jackson, Joe Simon, and other groups and artists.

Wornell began to tour with the likes of Sly and the Family Stone, Eddie Kendricks and KoKo Taylor.

He then began to write for many artists including The Pointer Sisters and Earth, Wind & Fire.

In 1979, he released his self titled album for Paradise Records.

The album contained the track 'Must Have Been Love', which was highly popular in the U.K.

The female co-vocalist on the song was Maxayn Lewis Moriguchi, who still collaborates with Wornell to this day.

Wornell has also worked with songwriter and guitarist, Nils Lofgren formally of the E Street Band.

He recorded and toured extensively with Nils, until moving to Tokyo, Japan in 1992.

Wornell has an excellent portfolio of songwiting credits which include, The Pointer Sisters 'Black & White', Ramsey Lewis 'Three Piece Suite', Maria Muldaur 'Open Your Eyes', Rufus 'Sealed In Red', B.T. Express '1980', Rockie Robbins 'Rockie Robbins' and Earth, Wind & Fire 'The Eternal Dance'.

He is a good friend of the artist Art Madison."  

This clip is from a live performance in the 90's in Japan.  

Fall In Love Again (Wornell Jones, 1979, Paradise Records)

Chocolate Milk -- Pretty Pimpin' Willie, How About Love

(l.: prototype of "Pretty Pimpin' Willie -- sure looking kinda silly.) 




Everybody Funk Up This Tuesday!


Chocolate Milk  had a few minor hits in the mid 70's. The one title that I instantly associated with the group's name was of course Actions Speak Louder Than Words, which got quite some air time in 1975. After that, I can't remember anything worth mentioning from the group. Lately, though, while I was digging my way through a stack of 70's Funk groups, I came across a song by Chocolate Milk that had me listen up first -- and move next. That bass guitar is irresistible. Give it a good listen!
Chocolate Milk was a group of eight men who met in Tennessee and formed their band around sax player Ammadee Castenell Jr. They followed in the footsteps of such enormously successful groups as Kool and The Gang and Earth, Wind and Fire -- a kind of competition that is hard to beat.
Later, they moved to Louisiana, replacing The Meters as Allen Toussaint's band. After they split with Allen Toussaint in the 80's, they went through several personnel- and producer changes. (They also did some recording with Paul McCartney.)  Chocolate Milk still fared well during the Disco era, but once the Disco sound was no longer in demand, the group split and vanished.


How About Love

Pretty Pimpin' Willie

Fatback Band: "Are You Ready To Do The Bus Stop", "Wicky Wacky"

Die verrueckten 70er. Fatback Band: Are You Ready To Do The Bus Stop



Wicky Wacky

Funk That Monday Up! Miami: "Funk It Up", Average White Band "Cut The Cake", Commodores "I Like What You Do", Joe Youngblood "It's L. B. Time"

Thanks to (( jc's )) excellent blog, blogsportsoul, I found some great music by Miami, a Funk group, I didn't know up to now! The track I've posted today is from the album Party Freaks, which is simply hot!  

I have a serious problem  with Funk, though: once I start listening I can't quit. So, I got my FUNK playlist going -- and here are some of the songs that came up this morning ... 

I hope you'll like them.

Hey y'all loosen up! Will you?




It's L. B. Time Joe Youngblood
Funk It UP Miami
Cut The Cake The Average White Band (live)
I Like What You do The Commodores

Lee Fields: "Meet Me Tonight", "You Made A New Man Out Of Me" "

Lee Fields erinnert sehr an James Brown: funky durch und durch. Der erste Titel Meet Me Tonight tendiert jedoch etwas in Richtung Deep/Southern Soul.

You Made A New Man Out Of Me von seinem Album "Problems" (2002) ist aber m. E. Funk supreme!

Seine CD's und LP's sind ganz schoen teuer, habe ich gerade festgestellt. Leider besitze ich nur "Problems," aber das ist ein ausgezeichnetes Album. Ich kann also leider nichts zu den CD's hier sagen.

Und auf geht's dann mit Lee's Musik:

Meet Me Tonight (mp3)

You Made A New Man Out Of Me (mp3)