NF Porter – Keep On Keeping On
Nolan Porter
Listen/Download NF Porter – Keep On Keeping On
Greetings all
If you – like moi – spends an inordinate amount of time listening to, thinking about, researching and digging for music, it is easy to become jaded, or at least top have your senses dulled to a certain degree.
As a result, it’s easy to miss some of the subtler wonders out there, which is why you have to engage in periodic reappraisal.
That said, the other side of the coin is that the truly remarkable records cut through that fog in remarkable ways.
I first heard NF Porter’s ‘Keep On Keeping On’ years ago when it was included on a comp of favorites from the storied Golden Torch soul club in the UK.
That collecting included a lot of amazing records, but none stood out more starkly than ‘Keep on Keeping On’.
It’sone of those records that I have often found myself spinning repeatedly, letting the vibe sink in a little more deeply with each play.
Recorded in 1971 by Nolan Porter (billed at different times as Nolan, NF Porter, and Frederick II), the record made it into the R&B Top 40 at the end of 1971, Porter’s second such hit that year.
Porter came up in Southern California, getting his start as a classical singer, before meeting producer Gabriel Mekler’s sister while in college.
Mekler signed him to his Lizard label, where he would record the ‘No Apologies’ LP in 1971*.
Porter was backed in the studio by various and sundry members of the Mothers of Invention and Little Feat (Lowell George, Jimmy Carl Black and Roy Estrada) as well as Johnny Guitar Watson.
‘Keep On Keeping On’ – co-written by Porter and Richie Flowers but originally only credited to the latter – is a record of unique power.
Though Porter’s delivery is purely soulful, there is an underlying foundation of rock and even psychedelia to the song (dig the backward guitar) that imbues it with a certain darkness.
The ominous, propulsive rhythm guitar and the tom-toms create a thick, often thunderous platform from which Porter launches his high tenor into the stratosphere.
Its strong beat has made is a perennial favorite with the Northern Soul crowd, as is his (much rarer/more expensive/excellent) 1972 ABC single ‘If I Could Only Be Sure’ (a US R&B Top 30 hit).
Porter recently ended a long, self-imposed retirement to return to the stage in the US and the UK, and recent video demonstrates that he is still in fine voice.
I hope you dig this amazing record, and I’ll see you all on Friday
Keep the faith
Larry
*Porter would also compose ‘Funky LA’ for labelmates Paul Humphrey and the Cool Aid Chemists
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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.
Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).
Themocracy
I had the great fortune of getting to see Nolan perform a few weeks ago. Hearing him sing this was beyond description. To say he is “still” in top form belittles the man’s talent.
It was certainly not my intention to belittle him in any way. I love his voice.
Oh no, you misunderstood me!
Great tune! I found it on the b-side of a bootleg when I bought Ray Charles “I don’t need no doctor” more than twenty years ago. Joy Division were forced in their early days from their record company to cover that song (they wanted something like a northern soul punk hit). The band didn’t like it well but it ended up as their original “Interzone” on their first lp “Unknown Pleasures”.