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By Larry, September 22, 2015 11:34 am

Listen/Download – Lee Austin (the Burner) – I’m In Love MP3

Greetings all.

I come to you this fine day with one of the weirdest records ever to emerge from the world of James Brown.

Lee Austin, aka ‘The Burner’ was an ex-con, who was brought into the fold by the Godfather as his bodyguard, hairdresser, and last, but not least, recording artist.

Austin recorded a string of singles under the auspices of Brown between 1967 and the late 70s for a variety of JB-associated labels.

Austin’s 1974 cover of Bobby Womack’s ‘I’m In Love’ is, once you sift out all the bizarre audio bric a brac, a very nice performance indeed.

The problem is, I can’t imagine who has the time and energy for so mighty a sifting job.

The record openes with Austin’s orgasmic moans, interrupted by an announcer demanding you “Listen to the story.”

Austin then namechecks some heavies from the JB organizations (Fred Wesley and the JBs, Lyn Collins and Mr Brown himself), and launching into an extended rap.

Once he starts actually singing, you’re all, “Oh…OK, dude can sing.”

But, then, just when things get rolling, the announcer falls by again to let you know that “This record is TOGETHER!”

The thing is, that if Austin had been left alone to just sing the song over what is in essence a nice, smooth arrangement of a great tune, this record might have gone somewhere.

Unfortunately, what you get has the ring of an attention span gone all wonky (on a variety of intoxicants, no doubt) while James Brown tosses everything into the mix but the kitchen sink (and I’ll bet there’s an outtake somewhere where you can hear the sink).

Strange stuff, indeed.

I hope you dig it, and I’ll be back on Friday with something groovy.

Keep the faith

Larry

____________________________________________________________________________

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).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, September 20, 2015 10:42 am

Jo Armstead

Listen/Download – Jo Armstead – I Feel An Urge Coming On MP3

Greetings all.

In furtherance of the idea that one really ought to start the week off with a solid kick in the pants, I bring you this fiery biscuit from the discography of the mighty Jo Armstead.

Miss Armstead has appeared in this space before, with single tracks, in mixes and in many references to her talents as a songwriter.

Getting her start in the ranks of the Ikettes (she’s on ‘I’m Blue’), Armstead went on to record some very tasty singles for her own Giant label, and working as a songsmith, often in collaborations with Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson.

The song I bring you today is perhaps her best loved entry in the Northern Soul sweepstakes.

Released in 1967, ‘I Feel an Urge Coming On’ was a favorite on UK dance floors in haunts like the Golden Torch and the Blackpool Mecca.

It is a fast moving, tuneful groover (arranged by Mike Terry) with a powerful vocal by Armstead, piano (high in the mix), rhythm guitar and tastefully applied strings (as in just enough for added drama, but not so much that things ever get syrupy).

Armstead (who ran Giant with her husband Mel Collins) would release five singles on the label – all killers – in 1967 and 1968.

She went on to write or cowrite tunes for a veritable who’s who of 1960s soul and R&B, including Chuck Jackson and Maxine Brown, Marie Knight, Ray Charles, Betty Everett, the Apollas, Candy and the Kisses and many, many more.

Though she is loved by soulies the world over, she ought to be much better known.

So dig in (and dance if you are so inclined) and I’ll see you all on Wednesday.

Keep the faith

Larry

____________________________________________________________________________

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).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, September 17, 2015 12:37 pm

The Apollas

Listen/Download – The Apollas – Seven Days MP3

Greetings all.

The end of the week is here, and I must remind you once again that the Funky16Corners Radio Show returns to the airwaves of the interwebs this and every Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio. If you can’t be there at airtime, you can subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, listen on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, or grab yourself an MP3 here at the blog.

I first heard today’s selection back in the mid-90s on a great Rhino records comp called ‘Go Girl! Soul Sisters Telling It Like It Is’. I fell in love with the song ‘Seven Days’, but was unable to put my hands on a copy of the 45 (despite a long search) until early this year.

The Apollas were three southern singers, Leola Jiles, Ella Jamerson and Dorothy Ramsey, who did most of their recording (though their earliest sides as the Lovejoys were recorded in NYC with Leiber and Stoller) on the west coast.

They recorded a stellar string of 45s for Loma and Warner Brothers between 1965 and 1968, including the in demand Northern Soul classic ‘Mr. Creator’ in 1967.

Working with songwriter/producer Dick Glasser and a variety of top-shelf arrangers like Gene Page and HB Barnum, the Apollas laid down sweet ballads, dance floor stormers and funky 45s like ‘Seven Days’.

Opening with sharp snare shots, bass and electric piano, there’s great interplay between the lead and backing vocals, with the backup shooting through to the front on occasion.

‘Seven Days’ is the kind of thing that Aretha Franklin could have nailed, but I think it works better in the hands (voices) of a group like the Apollas.

Listen for the lead guitar punch through the mix at about the two-minute mark.

The flipside, ‘Open the Door Fool’ is also very cool.

I hope you dig the sounds, and I’ll see you all on Monday.

Keep the faith

Larry

____________________________________________________________________________

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).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, September 15, 2015 1:26 pm

Ollie and the Nightingales

Listen/Download – Ollie and the Nightingales – Girl You Have My Heart Singing MP3

Greetings all.

I have to shout out to my man Kris Holmes, who hipped me to today’s selection when he fell by on his grand tour of the states.

There’s really nothing better than a vinyl session with someone who has excellent taste, and Kris has that in spades.

Ollie and the Nightingales got their start as the gospel group the Dixie Nightingales, and recorded under that name in the late 50s/early 60s for Pepper, Nashboro and Chalice.

They made the transition to secular music with Stax in 1968, providing backing vocals for Sam and Dave and Eddie Floyd, and laying down their own stuff on a handful of singles and an LP between 1968 and 1970 (when lead singer Ollie Hoskins would leave the group and begin recording as ‘Ollie Nightingale’).

‘Girl You Have My Heart Singing’ was the flipside of their first Stax 45, ‘I Got a Sure Thing’ which was a Top 20 R&B hit in April of 1968.

While I dig the A-side, ‘Girl You Have My Heart Singing’ is an absolute killer.

Co-written by Booker T Jones (who also produced the record) and William Bell, the song features deep, rich harmonies and a great lead by Hoskins.

The thing that popped into my mind the very first time I heard this record was that it ‘rocked’. It has a great propulsive feel, driven by the drums, organ, bass and guitar, making it great for the dance floor and catchy as hell.

The short guitar solo at 1:03 is fantastic, and the breakdown at 1:45 makes me wonder if a young Michael McDonald was listening to it when he wrote ‘Taking It To the Streets’.

The group had two more Top 50 R&B hits in 1968 and 1969 before Hoskins left and was replaced by Sir Mack Rice, with the group continuing as the Nightingales.

Ollie Nightingale had a fairly long solo career before passing away in 1997.

I hope you dig the tune, and I’ll see you all on Friday.

Keep the faith

Larry

____________________________________________________________________________

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).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, September 13, 2015 11:22 am

Freddie Roulette

Listen/Download – Jackie & Tut – Hawaiian Punch MP3

Listen/Download – Jackie & Tut (feat. Herb Kent) – 10-2 Double Plus MP3

Greetings all.

I thought we’d start the week with a rather recent acquisition, one so groovy that I felt the need to bump it right up to the front of the line.

A while back someone posted Jackie and Tut’s ‘Hawaiian Punch’ on Facebook and I just about fell in love with it.

There’s a Latin phrase (which has popped up in this space before) ‘sui generis’, which is used to describe something that is unique, or in a class by itself.

‘Hawaiian Punch’ is mos def sui generis.

The first thing that grabbed me, aside from the steady groove, was the wobble-legged steel guitar lead, something I’m not accustomed to hearing on a funky record.

Sure, there are a handful of very groovy soul sides out there with pedal steel woven into the fabric, but this is the first one I’ve ever heard where it (though this is lap steel) used as a lead instrument.

The man behind the steel wasa Chitown cat named Freddie Roulette, who played locally (with Earl Hooker among others), eventually recording an album of his own – ‘Sweet Funky Steel’ – for Janus in 1973.

‘Hawaiian Punch’ was recorded in 1967 (you have to wonder if Robbie Krieger heard it before the Doors did ‘Moonlight Drive’) and released with a vocal, provided by none other than Chicago radio legend Herb Kent, on the flip called ’10-2 Double Plus’ (with Kent basically rapping over ‘Hawaiian Punch’). I tend to prefer the pure instrumental, but both sides are worth hearing.

The track is funky (thanks in large part to an absolutely titanic bass sound) and incredibly infectious. Put this one on at your next stein hoist and just try to keep the people from dancing.

Roulette continued to record in a wide variety of bands over the years, and is still active today.

I hope you dig the track, and I’ll see you on Wednesday.

Keep the faith

Larry

____________________________________________________________________________

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).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, September 10, 2015 3:06 pm

Timmy Carr

Listen/Download – Timmy and the Persianetts – Timmy Boy MP3

Greetings all.

The end of the week is upon us, so I simply must ask that you take an hour out of your Friday and tune in to the Funky16Corners Radio Show, Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio. If you can’t be there at airtime you can always subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, listen on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, or grab an MP3 here at the blog.

The record I bring you today is a fantastic slice of Philly R&B/soul that I picked up wayyyyy back in the day, when I was grabbing everything I could with a Philly pedigree.

And as pedigrees go, this one has a long one.

Timmy and the Persianetts (sic) recorded two 45s for Olympia and Guyden in 1963 and 1964.

Timmy, aka ‘Timmy Carr’ was Timothy Carstaphen, and the Persianetts (later Persianettes) were Vera Carey, Lucille Dunbar and Helen Hutchinson.

Carr went on to record the epic (unreleased when recorded but issued years later) ‘Got No Time’, one of the most brilliant Philly soul tunes ever waxed, and the Persianettes recorded one of my favorite soul 45s, ‘It Happens Every Day’ b/w ‘Call On Me’ for the OR label.

That said, ‘Timmy Boy’ has been lauded previously as one of the finer bits of imitation Phil Spectoriana ever laid down, which it is, but it is also groovy on its own merits.

Featuring a great lead vocal by Carr, and backing by the Persianetts on a tune based on the old folk song ‘Darling Billy’, the record builds, layer upon thundering layer until it ladles out that rich sonic soup with the Gold Star Studios sound.

This isn’t an easy record to find, but when you do (find it, that is) it isn’t terribly expensive.

I hope you dig it, and I’ll see you all on Monday.

Keep the faith

Larry

____________________________________________________________________________

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).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, September 8, 2015 2:34 pm

The Soul Sisters

Listen/Download – The Soul Sisters – Good Time Tonight MP3

Greetings all.

The middle of the week is here, and to help us all get over the hump, I have a little stick of dynamite by the Soul Sisters.

I picked up the 45 you see before you off of a friend’s sale list, because how could I not grab a 45 by a group called the ‘Soul Sisters’ with songs called ‘Good Time Tonight’ and ‘Some Soul Food’ on it?

It was a good thing I did too, since both sides – especially the one I bring you today – are smoking.

The Soul Sisters were Theresa Cleveland and Ann Gissendanner. They had previously recorded as the Canjoes (with none other than Lou Johnson) before signing with Sue. They recorded a grip of 45s and an LP for the label between 1964 and 1965 as well as a later 45 for Veep.

‘Good Time Tonight’, written by Smokey McAllister who also penned the oft-recorded ‘I Can’t Stand it’ – is a stomping soul shouter with a great horn chart and a ringing piano making its way through the mix.

The Soul Sisters voices (one high, one lower) complement each other and it’s not hard to imagine this getting spun in many a jukebox back in the day.

The song was covered that same year by Ike and Tina Turner on ‘The Ike and Tina Turner Show – Live’ on Warner Brothers.

I dig it a lot, and I hope you do, too.

See you on Friday.

Keep the faith

Larry

____________________________________________________________________________

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).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, September 6, 2015 11:05 am

Little Charles and the Sidewinders

Listen/Download – Little Charles and the Sidewinders – Shanty Town MP3

Greetings all.

I thought we’d get the week off to a start with an old fave of mine.

Back in the day, my man Haim turned me on to all kinds of groovy records. We had very similar tastes so he was a fantastic digging partner.

One of the groups he put me on to was Little Charles and the Sidewinders.

Ironically, the song that first grabbed me is the one I’m still looking for, probably the group’s rarest side ‘A Taste of the Good Life’ on Decca from 1967.

The record I bring you today is yet another disc from the extremely brief discography of the Botanic label (seen here a few weeks back with Gary US Bonds).

Little Charles was Nashville-born singer Charles Walker, who got his start touring with JC Davis’s band, before taking some of the guys with him and forming the Sidewinders in 1966.

The group recorded a series of discs for Decca, Drum, Botanic and Red Sands between 1966 and 1971.

The funky ‘Shanty Town’ was released in 1970. Powered along by a pulsing bass line and a wailing vocal by Little Charles, ‘Shanty Town’ is a very groovy number. It was – like everything else on Botanic – produced by Jerry ‘Swamp Dogg’ Williams.

Though it didn’t make any impact, it’s flipside ‘Please Open Up Your Door’ (which was issued again on Red Sands in 1971) was a minor regional hit in the St Louis, MO area.

Little Charles took much of the 70s and 80s off, running an art gallery,before returning to musicin the late 90s, first under his real name Charles Walker, and then with Charles Walker and the Dynamites.

I hope you dig the sounds, and if you have a reasonably priced copy of ‘Taste of the Good Life’ laying around, please drop me a line.

Keep the faith

Larry

____________________________________________________________________________

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).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, September 3, 2015 11:39 am

Crossing the Pond – An Hour of Transatlantic Organ Heavies!
Dave Russell with the Wright Sounds – Harlem Shuffle Pt2 (Jemal)
New London Rhythm and Blues Band – Soul Mate (Vocalion)
Casey and the Pressure Group – Powerhouse (Wizdom)
Andre Brasseur – Pow Pow (MFP)
Bob Kuban and the In Men – Batman (Musicland USA)
Dave Baby Cortez – Popping Popcorn (Okeh)
Four Instants – Watermelon Man (Society)
The Pop Ups – Lurking (HBR)
George Semper – Get Out Of My Life Woman (Imperial)
Cocktail Cabinet – Breathalyser (Page One)
Merritt Hemmingson – The Letter (RCA)
Trudy Pitts – Bucket of Soul (Prestige)
Troy Thompson Band – 1-2-3 (Dee Dee)
Donald Seward – Studio B Funk (Revolution)
Inez and Charlie Foxx’s Swinging Mockin Band – Shimmy (Dynamo)
Graham Bond Organisation – Wade In the Water (Ascot)
Wynder K Frog – Dancing Frog (UA)
Shotgun Express – Curtains (Columbia UK)
Brother Jack McDuff – But It’s Alright (Atlantic)
Wildare Express- Why Am I Treated So Bad (Brunswick)
Mohawks – Ride Your Pony (Pama)
Ross Carnegie – Cool Dad (El-Con)
James Brown – Shhhhhhhh (For a Little While ) (King)

Listen/Download – Crossing the Pond: An Hour of Transatlantic Hammond Heavies! MP3

Greetings all.

The end of the week is upon us, which mean that it’s Funky16Corners Radio Show time! Join me this and every Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio for the best in funk, soul, jazz and rare groove – all on original vinyl! If you can’t be there at airtime you can always subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, listen on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, or grab yourself an MP3 here at the blog.

Frequent fliers here at Funky16Corners know that I have a Hammond organ jones, and it has been quite a while since it has evidenced itself – in mix form, anyway – here on the blog.

So, I sat down, dug through the crates and whipped together a delicious meringue of Hammond (and other) organ sides for your delectation entitled ‘Crossing the Pond: An Hour of Transatlantic Hammond Heavies!“.

The catch -as they say – is that the music in question is split right down the middle, with about half of it originating overseas. Most of the foreign stuff is from the UK, but you also get groovers from Holland, Sweden, Belgium and right over our Northern border in Canada.

There are a couple of old faves, some folks that have appeared here at the blog in single posts,and a couple of very cool records/performers that have never appeared here in any form.

You get an hour of the good stuff to keep your ears (and hopefully your feet) busy, so dig in and I’ll see you all on Monday.

Keep the faith

Larry

____________________________________________________________________________

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).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, September 1, 2015 2:22 pm

Eddie Bo

Listen/Download – Eddie Bo – Fallin’ In Love Again MP3

Greetings all.

I hope the middle of the week finds you all well.

It has been far too long since we last visited with the mighty Eddie Bo.

Bo was one of the indisputable kings of New Orleans R&B, soul and funk, working from the 50s until his death in 2009.

‘Fallin’ in Love Again’ was the b-side of his first 45 for Joe Banashak’s Seven B label in 1966.

He would go on to record six singles for the label, one of which, his duet with Inez Cheatham, ‘Lover and a Friend’ was picked up for national distribution by Capitol.

‘Fallin’ In Love Again’ features a sweet vocal by Bo, some great female backing vocals and some great New Orleans guitar (George Davis?).

The song owes a structural/stylistic debt to Marvin Gaye’s ‘Hitch Hike’, especially the breaks in the chorus.

As far as Bo’s Seven B 45s go, this one is on the more affordable side, usually gettable in the 30-50 dollar range.

That said, I hope you dig it, and I’ll be back on Friday with a hot new Hammond mix!

Keep the faith

Larry

____________________________________________________________________________

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).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, August 30, 2015 11:38 am

Hank Ballard

Listen/Download – Hank Ballard – Come On Wit’ It MP3

Greetings all.

Like any sharp character, you need only see that familiar black and orange King label (with the Godfather’s head, too…natch) to know that there is goodness in the offing.

This time out we get yet another tasty side from the mighty Hank Ballard.

Ballard, who’s chart heyday (with the Midnighters) was almost a decade in the rear view mirror laid down this side in 1969.

His resurrection at the hands of James Brown may not have been a huge commercial success, but will go down in history as a real ‘solid’ on JB’s part, and as providing some of the best music in Ballard’s discography.

‘Come On Wit’ It’, (flip side of ‘Blackenized’) co-written by Ballard, Brown and Bud Hobgood is a great bit of chugging funk with a punchy bass line and some bright horns.

Ballard’s vocal is packed with raspy goodness (I love the repeated refrain of ‘Groovy to the bone!’).

Oddly, only one of Ballard’s later King 45s – ‘How You Gonna Get Respect’ – made it into the R&B charts, breaking into the Top 20 in November of 1968.

Fortunately most of his funky stuff (aside from his LP which can be expensive) is relatively affordable and not too hard to track down.

I hope you dig the track, and I’ll see you all on Wednesday.

Keep the faith

Larry

____________________________________________________________________________

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).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, August 27, 2015 1:17 pm

A younger, be-conked Gary U.S. Bonds

Listen/Download – Gary U.S. Bonds – I’m Glad You’re Back MP3

Greetings all.

The end of the week is here, and so then is the Funky16Corners Radio Show, coming to you each and every Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio, with the best in funk, soul, jazz and rare groove, all on original vinyl. You can listen live, subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, listen on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, or grab an MP3 out of the archive here at the blog.

We’re closing out the week with a record I found a few years back.

Gary US Bonds ought to be familiar to most folks via his stellar early 60s R&B sides for LeGrand (like ‘New Orleans’ and ‘Quarter to Three’) or his 1980s resurrection as part of the Springsteen galaxy of stars.

However, as this 45 demonstrates, Bonds made a stop at the short-lived, late 60s soul label Botanic for one, excellent 45.

Bonds came out of the Tidewater area of Virginia, working for Frank Guida’s LeGrand records.

By the time he hooked up with fellow Virginian Jerry ‘Swamp Dogg’ Williams in 1968, his chart successes were in the distant past.

Today’s selection ‘I’m Glad You’re Back’ was co-written by Bonds (he’s ‘G. Anderson’) and Williams, produced by Williams and arranged by Teacho Wiltshire.

Interestingly enough there were only three 45s released on Botanic (Bonds, Little Charles and the Sidewinders, and a rock band called Saturday’s Crowd) and they were all co-written and produced by Williams.

‘I’m Glad You’re Back’ finds Bonds working in a funkier, more explicitly soulful 1968-appropriate sound. The arrangement is tight, making tasteful use of the string and horn sections, and whoever is playing the bass is off the hook.

The record got some minor play in the New York market in the Fall of 1968, but that’s about it.

Bonds would keep recording for a variety of labels through the 70s, until he hit with ‘This Little Girl’ in 1981.

It’s a groovy 45, and I hope you dig it.

See you on Monday.

Keep the faith

Larry

____________________________________________________________________________

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).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.