Your destination for all things funky. Curated and written by DJ Blue Funk: record collector, music aficionado, and DJ. Highlighting jazz, funk, soul, disco, hip hop, electronic, reggae, world music, rock, and everything in between.
Well, well, well, it's that time of year: the sun is finally out and shining here in the chilly twin cities, Minnesota, spring is here, and what better way to celebrate than national Record Store Day! My trusty digging partner Eveline and I grabbed some coffee and set out for a day of digging, music, digging & more digging!
First stop was Mill City Sound to stand in line for limited edition releases... Well, we didn't realize how much the fame of the record store had spread over the last year and the line was around the corner! We waited for a good 2 hours before getting to the record bins, it was quite the wait, but very much worth the wait! I grabbed the 2 7"s I wanted, Bernard Purdie's new record, The Messenger Incorporated's Soulful Proclamation re-press, and the new Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio live record (which I hear is now out of print!). I also managed to snag a Salsoul release I had my eye on for awhile: The Greatest Show on Earth by Metropolis (Check the breakdown on this track).
Finds of the day
We then made two quick stops at the Electric Fetus & Hymie's Vintage vinyl. The Electric Fetus was swarming with Prince fans & quite chaotic, so I just made a quick dip in the vinyl & CD bins, and picked up a re-press of Thelonious Monk's Monk's Dream, which had been on my list for quite sometime (it's a classic without debate, a shame I hadn't gotten into my collection sooner), and a funk comp by DJ Shadow. Then we moved onto Hymie's Vintage Vinyl, who always throws a mean block party–they were quite crowded again this year, so this was a quick stop too. I found the repress of Cymande's Promised Heights done by the ever-amazing Mr. Bongo Worldwide and a 7" of Hijack by Herbie Mann.
After these stops, some more coffee, and a short walk, we made our way back to Mill City Sound as I had the chance to DJ for the last hour of the day. I spun a mix of afro, latin, funk & jazz, all on 45s, which was a first for me, but I was incredibly pleased with how it turned out. Eveline had the luck of finding a repress of Ahmad Jamal's Awakening and brought it over while I was spinning, so I dug into my gig money and made my final purchase of the day. All in all it was quite the successful day & I was more than overjoyed to get to DJ on one of my favorite days of the year! Here's to Record Store Day & all the wonderful time it brings!
For those of you who missed it, Here's my setlist from Saturday complete with links! Enjoy:
Well, well, it's been over a month without a blog post. What between giving a talk about funk music, starting a new job, and a few DJ sets, I've been completely swamped. I did, however, in the spirit of spring break season, manage to get away for a couple of days to the windy city of Chicago. It was nice to get away & do some sightseeing, but I especially enjoyed digging for records at Dusty Groove. Ranked the 3rd best record store in the US (by some list I'm not certain of), I was very much excited to visit, especially since I had been following them on social media for a few years now.
Chock full of 'dusty grooves' from Brazilian records, to gospel, to jazz & funk, this dig was a particularly good time, and my trusty digging partner Eveline and I dug up some real gems. Here are some of my finds!
Keep the Funk a Flowin' - Mojoba (7" Promo, 1976 Polydor)
I didn't really know much about this group when I dug this up, but given the title and the fact that it was marked down to a dollar, I figured I'd give it a listen. Sure enough, it was a jam. Turns out Mojoba is an abbreviation of the [MO]sley [JO]hnson [BA]nd. They released only 2 singles under this alias, but it looks like they released some albums under the title of Mosley & Johnson, in the later 80s. Either way, a great way to start off the roster of stellar grooves! Check it out here.
Stone To The Bone - James Brown (7" Single, 1973 Polydor)
Here's a man that needs no introduction: The Hitman! The Godfather of Soul, it's the one and only JAMES BROWN. I've been really lucky to find a lot of James Brown 7"s in the last year & this cut taken from the Payback album is another super-soul-sure-shot. Backed by Stone to the Bone (Some More), at $5.99, this 7" was a no brainer. Sampled by Del The Funky Homosapien in the irresistible "Mistadobalina," this tune chugs along in a true James Brown fashion, keeping it steady groovy, all funk & no waste. Check out the full 10 minute version here.
Message to the Ghetto - Prime Cut (7" Promo, 1973 Polydor)
I've been keen on collecting what are referred to as "message songs" and it doesn't get more straightforward than this. With the want to bring social issues to the forefront through the music that was birthed through them, my passion for funk has led me to countless songs about the hardships that the musicians & their communities have faced. This song is another stellar addition to my bag, with some gospel stylings, over a funky piano groove. The Prime Cut delivers the message and the FUNK. Fortunately I found a fairly clean copy, which was marked down from $19.99 to $6.99!
I was pleased to add this gritty anti-drug song to my bag. Do yourself a favor and take a listen to it here.
Zebra - Simple Song b/w I Forgot to Say (7" Single, 1974, Reissued by Athens Of The North)
This incredible funk jam came to my attention through the compilation Soul Spectrum Records Vol. 1 on the always quality Jazzman records. With a Kool & The Gang-esque horn line, pounding bass, kick-ass drums, and soulful harmonizing, this is a dance-funk sure-shot. While the original has become highly sought after & too pricey for this DJ, Athens Of The North has reissued the single in all its funky glory. Even though the flip is a run-of-the-mill slow jam that didn't really do it for me, with the strength of side A, picking up this 45 was a no-brainer! Jam out here.
The Mighty Clouds of Joy - Truth Is The Power (1977, ABC Records)
Here's a delightful slice of gospel, soul & disco from 1977 that I've been looking for for a while now. While the album has many gems, none will move you quite like the first track "There's Love In The World (Tell The Lonely People)." Starting with a piano intro, the track builds to an infectious piano-based groove, and the Mighty Clouds of Joy let loose with amazing vocals for a sublime slice of gospel disco. This one always lifts my spirits & I was pleased to get it on vinyl!
Olympic Runners - Don't Let Up (1976, London Records)
The Olympic Runners, for those who don't know, were a group of British studio musicians who laid down a few albums full of funky-funky cuts. Perhaps their most famous is the instrumental, "Put The Music Where Your Mouth Is." I still have yet to find a copy of that record, but I was familiar with this record through the sampling of the title track by hip-hop group Ugly Duckling. What I did not know was that the Olympic Runners was home to none other than Pete Wingfield who penned the ever-hummable, "Eighteen with a Bullet." Connections, man, it's all about the connections.
Thoughts aside, enjoy the funk that is "Don't Let Up" here.
Linda Williams - City Living (1979, Arista)
This album has two cuts that I was familiar with, "City Living" and "Elevate Our Minds." The former is a funky bass-driven dance number that might get filed under "disco" but really does without the kitschy sheen that has become somewhat associated with the 'genre.' (Disco really wasn't a genre so much as a short-hand way of referring to music played at discos... While the term has become associated with the more kitschier records of the era, there were a lot of great 'disco' records, too. These are lovingly referred to as "Dance Classics" in Japan, which is a title I quite like.) I first heard this by way of the Reflex's edit, which extended key segments of the song to great effect. I heard "Elevate..." on a disco comp I bought last year and while slower than "City Living," it's positive message, latin rhythm, and piano groove are just as infectious. So I knew this LP was well worth the purchase. Oh did I mention it was sealed & $4.99? Another no brainer, really.
Vic Pitts & The Cheaters - The Lost Tapes (2014, Secret Stash Records)
Now I still do not know a whole lot about this record but I did know two things: it's Minneapolis funk & it's on Secret Stash Records. These two pretty much guaranteed that this would be a great purchase, but I had the Dusty Groove Employee (Thanks man!) drop the needle on a few cuts & I was blown away by the few seconds that I heard. Was that a funked up cover of "Thank You" by Sly Stone? Do I hear other rare, delicious Minneapolis grooves? Please please, say no more, I'm sold.
Young-Holt Unlimited Plays Super Fly (1973, Paula Records)
This was one of the two finds that really blew my socks off (as if the ones above weren't enough)! I listened to this album for the first time last fall, when I was looking for a different take of "Pusher Man" for a playlist I was making at the time. I had known that Young-Holt Unlimited had done covers of Mayfield, but I was not prepared for the grooves that were contained within this album. Side A kicks off with "Freddie's Dead," then follows through with "Give Me Your Love," "Pusher Man," "Superfly," and concludes with the Young-Holt original "Hey Pancho," which I think, is the highlight of the album. Side B contains some other covers, diverging from the Super Fly theme, but with such a funked-out line up, side A is hard to beat.
The Counts - What's Up Front That Counts (1971, Westbound Records)
My best find by far was this funk album from 1971. I had known about the Counts for a long time, from their boiling near-8 minute work out of "What's Up Front That Counts," to the heart-wrenching soul that is "Why Not Start All Over Again" (this one always gives me goosebumps), to the organ-driven gritty funk of "Pack of Lies" (sampled by Snoop & Dre for "What's My Name?") I knew this album was well worth keeping an eye out for. So you can imagine the excitement when I was flipping through the new arrival bins and stumbled across this album. I actually ran to the back of the store, arms flailing and all to show Eveline this record. I got a chance to listen to it upon returning and it did not disappoint. AT. ALL. All killer, no filler. A straight funk masterpiece from start to finish and well worth the money, if I do say so myself! This one will be at the front of my crates for a long, long time, that's for sure.
What a dig this was! We even had some time to visit the now somewhat famous (???) shit fountain about 10 minutes from the record store.
Thanks for an amazing time Dusty Groove, you made my trip to the windy-city a whole lot funkier! I will be sure to visit again when I'm back in town!
Thanks so much for reading! Keep coming back for more posts & music... Help me spread the word by sharing my blog with a friend or following me on Facebook. Till next time... ~ DJ Blue Funk
I just uploaded a new mix called "We Got To Have Peace" and you can listen to it here or by clicking on the photo above. I put a lot of thought and care into this one, so I felt like explaining some of my thoughts about it below. Feel free to read or just move on to the tunes, either way, I think what I am trying to convey should be pretty straightforward and clear.
I must admit, I've stopped following politics closely. The sheer amount of news is overwhelming and it seems like if one unbelievable event occurs, the next day something even more unbelievable happens. With the 2016 elections, I think many people believe a new low has been reached, but as I dig back into my records from the 70s and think back to history, I know that things have always been pretty bad for those without money, power, or social status. I suppose people felt like some sort of progress was made, but I think we are quick to forget that this is a country where the civil rights act was passed just over 50 years ago, and women's voting rights have existed just shy of 100 years.
Still, the division, rage, and political situation of the world today (come on now, the world is so much larger than the United States!) is frustrating. Countries keep pouring money into armies to fight wars; we ignore the crisis that our planet is facing, putting profits and convenience above the very planet that we live in; people are still dying from starvation; the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. We try to pat ourselves on the backs by giving Western countries titles such as "first world countries," "advanced," "civilized," but what good is being all that, if it still leaves people starving and on the streets? How civilized are we, if we cannot look another person in the eye and recognize them as a fellow human being? Not much, I believe.
So what does any of this have to do with a blog dedicated to records & music? A lot, actually. Much of the music that I like and listen to has been birthed from sociopolitical struggles, from the pleas of Marvin Gaye, to the raucous shouts of Fela Kuti, to the poetry of Gil Scott-Heron, to the intergalactic vibes of P-Funk, to the inception of Hip-Hop, music has been central to the history of social commentary. Especially with the rise of the MC, tracing its roots to toasting in Jamaica, street poetry in Harlem, way back to the griots and prophets of West Africa, politics and music have been forged together and have become inseparable.
Now, these conditions and messages are not always in the forefront. Sometimes the healing power of music can do more for a person than one would imagine. You can't protest 24/7, you can't watch the news 24/7, if we don't take a moment to enjoy what we have in life, then we will end up drained and spent. As Audre Lorde said, self-care can be a political act. The official motto of the Zulu nation is "peace, unity, love, and having fun" which I think captures what music can do in a succinct manner.
While there is much background to be mined and I could go on, let me get back to the music and how this all connects. I've been wanting to do a mix with a theme of peace & unity for a long time now, primarily inspired by "Let's make peace & stop the war" by Funk Inc, "We know we have to live together" by Eugene Blacknell, & "Why can't we live together" by Timmy Thomas. So with my latest upload I decided to put the message in the forefront. It's great to enjoy the great music that has come out of hardships, but it's also important to recognize where it is coming from and take some of those issues to heart. I think this is part of what it means to be a responsible listener of music in this day and age (in addition to actually buying & supporting artists, especially independent ones).
I've culled 33 songs from my vinyl & digital collection featuring both new & old music from the likes of Gil Scott-Heron, Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley, Lee Fields, Stevie Wonder, Kool & The Gang, Cameo, Roy Ayers, The US, Bohannon, Darondo, Sir Joe Quarterman, Zara McFarlane, the aforementioned songs, and many many more... But I felt that no song was worthier to name this mix after than the uplifting, vibrant soul classic "We Got To Have Peace" by the one and only Curtis Mayfield. This is really the message that I want to convey: until we stop killing each other & learn to live together, what good is progress? Why do we keep highlighting our differences and respond with fear? We KNOW we have to live together, so why can't we live together?
We got to have peace.
All these songs that were recorded over 40 years ago still ring so true today. I hope that the songs that were recorded today won't ring true 40 years from now, but I think they probably will. Progress is slow, change is hard to come by, but some strides ARE being made. Large scale thinking can sometimes be really daunting though, so I think it's apt to ask ourselves the question that Orgone asks in the last tune of the mix: "When all is said and done, are we still loving each other?"
And I will sign off with this quote from Donny Hathaway:
"Take it from me, someday, we'll all be free."
Peace, unity, love & having fun,
Chris aka DJ Blue Funk
Last Friday I had the wonderful opportunity to play a 2.5 hour vinyl set at Barely Brothers Records located in Saint Paul, MN. I went in the day before to dig through their used vinyl & figure out what tunes I wanted to play. In the process I found many old favorites & new tunes that I wanted to share.
I started things off with some smoother jazz funk from the likes of Victor Feldman, Ramsey Lewis, Art Farmer & Brian Auger and then moved things up with some jazzy hip hop from Big L, CSC Funk Band and the like.
From there I picked up the tempo and started playing more funk and soul, peppering in samples and some hip-hop from Young MC, Ugly Duckling, and Roots Manuva.
Then I took a short detour into electornica & jazz with a Mr. Scruff remix of Herbie Hancock and a Saint Germaine classic "So Flute," which was particularly well received.
After this I changed up the pace again with a pair of spoken word pieces "When the Revolution Comes" by the Last Poets into "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." It was a great honor being able to play a tune by my hero & inspiration Gil Scott-Heron and the song that inspired it back to back for a live audience.
The latter half of the set I played a lot of rare grooves, afro-sounds, and disco, from the likes of Haze, Julius Brockington, Wood, Brass & Steel, Joe Thomas, Willie Bobo, Lafayette Afro Rock Band, Peter King, and Orgone. I was particularly thrilled at the chance to play a cut from Orgone from a promo copy of their upcoming album "Undercover Mixtape Vol. 1" (Pre-Order it here). I had been losing my mind to their cover of the Gwen McCrae classic "All This Love I'm Giving," so it was a particular thrill & joy to play this live.
Losing my mind to Orgone's furious synth funk
All and all it was a fabulous evening, and to top it all off I got a gift card to the store. I decided to grab a few of the more memorable records from my set.
Haze - Self Titled
Glorious, raw, uncut funk from the hometown of the Purple One. Many years before Prince's arrival on the scene, there was a brewing funk & soul scene in Minneapolis & Saint Paul and Haze is a fine example of the musicianship & energy of the scene. Notable also is that Sonny Knight (RIP) joined the group for their second album.
Packed tight with solid grooves, I chose to play A3 "Waiting For The Moment" which has a bugged-out, killer clavinet solo that will knock your socks off. I'm looking forward to digging further into the sounds on this album in the near future!
Deep Street Soul - Come Alive!
This is UK soul/funk group Deep Street Soul's latest 2016 release. I haven't actually gotten a chance to listen to this yet, but I did get to play a song from their first album when I DJ'd.
I really dig Freestyle Records and their first record, and I try to stay caught up on the modern soul scene, so this seemed like an obvious purchase for me at $7.19! I look forward to hearing more of their grooves soon.
Julius Brockington - Sophisticated Funk This one has been on my radar for quite sometime. I've been familiar with Julius Brockington by way of "This Feeling (Freedom)" which was sampled by Jurassic 5 for "Freedom." While I wasn't as familiar with the material on this album, I've had "Do Your Thing" in my YouTube playlist for almost a year now. It's a chilling, grooving, funked-out cover of an Isaac Hayes piece that appears on the Shaft soundtrack.
Well what I was not aware of was that beyond the funky intro riffs, there was much more hidden within this 8 minute opus. I finished my set with this cut and just let the grooves cook as I started packing up my gear. About 5 minutes in is a drum solo, where the drummer just gives you one breakbeat after another. It really goes to show how important it is to take in the whole song and how a song you thought you knew can still blow your mind. I'm glad I got a chance to play the full 8 minutes and score it as a souvenir from this great experience.
If you'd like to dig a little deeper or want to see what else I'm up to, give me a follow at the links below. Thanks for reading & keep on grooving. Until next time, DJ Blue Funk.
It's been quite some time since I last posted, but I am hoping to start posting more regularly. I will be chronicling my digging trips and sharing some of my discoveries, with links to the music, if possible.
For my first digging trip this year, I went to the always wonderful & well-stocked, Mill City Sound in Hopkins, MN. Milly City is a great record store that has been expanding shelf space & inventory constantly, buying collections from across the country and putting some truly great records out for sale. One of the main reasons I love Mill City so much is their incredible basement section of 45s. There are boxes on boxes of 7 inches that I still have yet to be able to get through their entire stock, but I always find some great 45s and a lot of them are in terrific shape. Last year on record store day I cleaned up on James Brown and Kool & The Gang 45s, all in excellent condition for 3-5 dollars a piece.
Here are my finds from my trip on January 6, 2018:
Chaka Khan - I'm Every Woman b/w A Woman In A Man's World (7", picture sleeve)
No introduction is really needed for this absolute soul classic; remixed by the likes of Frankie Knuckles and influential on the early house scene is soul diva Chaka Khan's hit single "I'm Every Woman." I always love it when I find a 45 in great shape with the picture sleeve, so this was a no brainer for me at $2.99. What I was not familiar with was the cut on side B, "A Woman In A Man's World," which is also a fantastic groove with incredible, uplifting vocals. Chaka will continue to inspire & move, making this a great addition to my record bag!
"A Woman In A Man's World"
James Brown - Sex Machine b/w The Popcorn (7")
Another tune that needs no introduction is the classic "Sex Machine" by James Brown. Quite scandalous at the time of its release, but admired for its raw groove, sheer energy & unforgettable chant of "Get up, get on up," this was another song that I wanted to add to my arsenal. The release date on this particular 45 is unknown, but my best guess is that it is a reissue of some sort that came out in the 70s. The flip is the instrumental work-out, "The Popcorn," a classic JB-groove, if you'd ask me!
Ever since I got a copy of the 1975 version of sex machine and was incredibly disappointed with the result, I've wanted the proper version, so this was a great find for me, although I hope to track down the 45 with both parts 1 & 2 in the future.
Latimore - Let Me Live The Life I Love b/w It Ain't Where You Been (7")
I have been familiar with Latimore for a while now, through the incredible "Out to Get'cha." I figured with such a broad catalog, it would be worth my time to dig in a bit more, so I picked up a few 45s and gave them a listen... I can say that I was mighty pleased that I did!
This 45 is fantastic, as both tracks drip with soul. The keys are COLD and Latimore's voice rides the groove with ease. While I enjoyed both cuts, side B was the real winner for me, building and building with some funky clavinet work to boot. A lower tempo song that is somehow both raw & smooth. Take a listen below:
"It Ain't Where You Been"
Chi-Lites - Are You My Woman (Tell Me So) b/w Troubles A' Comin'
I have been after this song for a while, as it has pretty much everything a funk/soul DJ/collector could want. Drum break? check. Blazing horns sampled by a big-name artist? check. Vocal breakdown and harmonizing so funky it will melt your face off? checkity-check-check-check! Not a rare tune by any means, but an absolute belter, sampled by Beyonce in the soulful hip-hop collab with Jay-Z "Crazy in Love." In addition to the great dance factor, this was a joint I wanted just so I could school some people on sampling and blow a few minds. I'm always looking for ways to get people into soul/funk music from the 70s and many times samples can be a good gateway, it sure was for me!
On Side B, the Chi-Lites break it down on a more conscious tip with "Troubles A' Comin'" which is another great, slower cut that speaks straight to the soul. With a great piano line & a clear gospel influence, it's a great track to mellow out to.
"Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)"
Delegation - Oh Honey b/w Let Me Take You To The Sun (7")
Now, I am not a big sucker for slow, love songs, but after hearing this song sampled by Brothers Like Outlaw and on BADBADNOTGOOD's incredible Late Night Tales mixtape, I was more than sold. This song has just enough groove and mellow, and avoids the schmaltziness of many ballads. This cut is quite soothing and relaxing, which you need sometimes, whether it be when you're tired from a night of grooving or if you're going through a rough patch in life. The intro key-line will grab you and soon you'll be head-bobbing and singing along. Side B was a more uptempo cut, but it sounded a bit overproduced, so for me, the winner here was most definitely "Oh Honey."
"Oh Honey"
Pieces Of A Dream - Please Don't Do This To Me b/w Mt. Airy Groove (7")
Here is another example of why it's a good idea to flip over a record and listen to side B. Pieces of a Dream, a band discovered and produced by Grover Washington Jr., recorded a string of albums through the 80s to today. I must say I am not super familiar with the group's discography, but I have been familiar with Mt. Airy Groove for some time. Mt. Airy Groove has been sampled by Grandmaster Flash, DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, Leaders of the New School, Force M.D.'s, Geto Boys, and was even remixed as a "rap version" by Grover Washington and Pieces of a Dream themselves. The track combines a breakbeat with jazzier instrumentation, and a scratch-like sound that pulses throughout the track. Another classic breakbeat joint for my record bag!
"Mt. Airy Groove"
Herbie Hancock - Chameleon b/w Autodrive (7")
I am hard pressed to pick a "favorite" artist, but one that influenced me greatly and has a special place in my heart is Herbie Hancock. His albums "Thrust" & "Head Hunters" opened my eyes to a whole new world of jazz, funk, and dance music, so it was with much excitement that I grabbed this 7". Although I already have the album on vinyl and fitting a 15 minute opus onto a 7" is not really going to do the original justice, my interest was piqued, I wanted to see what part of the song they put on the 45, plus this would give me a short version that I could play in sets more easily than the full album cut. The flip "Autodrive" is another favorite of mine. It's a less obvious cut from the "Future Shock" album which contained the massive b-boy hit "Rockit" and an electronic re-working of the title track originally by Curtis Mayfield. Autodrive doesn't have any scratching on it, but it does have an acoustic piano solo over a electro-groove, making it both an interesting & danceable track. It sounded like they lopped off the ending, but most of the solo remains intact, thank goodness!
Roy Ayers - Hey Uh-What You Say Come On b/w You and Me My Love (7")
Continuing on the jazz-funk tip, I found this 45 by the one and only Roy Ayers. I am always on the hunt for tracks by Roy Ayers and am happy to finally get a 45 by him that is in decent shape! This one is great because it has 2 great tracks from the classic LP - Everybody Loves The Sunshine. Side B is the same as the album version and a groovy, jazz funk track, with sparing vocals, smooth keys and a tight bottom end. Side A is interesting because it sounds as if the 45 version is a slightly different edit from the album version. There is no synths over the intro drum break, which comes in heavy after the intro chant of "Hey, uh! what you say, come on!" A Perfect track to get the energy going, making it another a great addition to my bag.
Listen to the album version of "Hey Uh-What You Say Come On"
Nite-Liters - Cherish Every Precious Moment b/w I've Got Dreams to Remember (7")
The Nite-Liters were an instrumental funk outfit that released a string of classic albums in the early 70s. They later joined with vocalists to form New Birth, which also released some great material in the mid 70s. I found another single by them 2 years ago containing the funk workout that is "Afro-Strut," so I was pleased to add this one to my collection. Both sides are great, but side B is the real winner for me, as the group gets down & gritty with a song about heartbreak and nightmares, reworking an Oddis Redding joint to maximum funkiness. The drums, blues-inspired guitar and bass-line interlock seamlessly, and when the vocals fade out there is a killer guitar solo that comes in along with handclaps. A song about bad dreams never felt this good.
"I've Got Dreams To Remember"
Tower of Power - Down To The Nightclub b/w What Happened To The World That Day (7")
Here's another classic funk offering from the Oakland funk band Tower of Power. I had the pleasure of seeing them up-close and live in 2016 at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minnesota and my love for them has kept increasing since. This band has it all, one of the tightest horn sections, a jaw-dropping rhythm section, and great vocalists.
This single is from their 1972 album "Bump City," and offers a classic Tower of Power pairing of a uptempo funk workout & a mellower groove on the flip. While I mainly got this single for "Down to the Nightclub," which packs a solid-funk-punch to the gut in just over two and half minutes, side B is also incredible. As far as love songs go, this is just the way I like 'em: smooth and mellow, but with a groove. This song is sure to put you in a breezy mood & put a smile on your face, and then towards the end the horns come in, adding the perfect finishing touch on an already sublime tune. Truly a master of their craft, the band celebrated their 50th anniversary last year. Thanks for keeping the funk alive!
"What Happened To The World That Day"
Dennis Coffey - Honky Tonk b/w El Tigre (7") & Getting It On b/wRide, Sally, Ride (7")
To finish off this treasure trove of 45s, I picked up 2 45s by the incredible Dennis Coffey. I became familiar with Dennis Coffey many years ago through the b-boy & funk classic "Scorpio" which has been sampled and covered to death (my current fave being the Bacao Steel & Rhythm Band's version). Coffey added his signature wah-wah guitar to numerous productions in the late 60s & early 70s, with his most famous probably being the Temptations' "Cloud Nine."
I have yet to find Scorpio on 45, but with such a prolific, funky output, it was a no-brainer to pick up both of these 45s, heavy on the funk with nasty guitar riffs and fat, fat drums. "Honky Tonk" is a bit more cheesy as he started to incorporate more disco elements into his production, but El Tigre carries on the funk torch beautifully. Getting It On b/w Ride, Sally, Ride, is clearly the winner here however, with blazing guitar funk dripping on both sides, "Ride, Sally..." is reminiscent of "Scorpio," while "Getting It On" fuses funk with a heavy rock guitar, bringing Coffey's playing front and center.
Listen to "Ride, Sally, Ride"
Aaaand, that's a wrap! I hope you enjoyed the tunes & stay tuned for my next blog post... In the meantime, I always share links to tunes I'm digging on my DJ page on facebook and upload some of my discoveries as mixes to mixcloud, so if you're intrigued & want to dig deeper, find me/follow me on the links below... Thanks for reading & keep on grooving ~ DJ Blue Funk.
1. Roy Ayers - Hey Uh-What You Say Come On
