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By Larry, June 16, 2016 1:03 pm

FUNKDEFY presents LIVE SHINDIG! (Recorded at the Pinup Joint on 5/28/2016)
The Impressions – Preacher Man
Chakachas – Stories
WAR – Nappy Head
Brenton Wood – Baby You Got It
Mary Jane Hooper – That’s How Strong Love Is
Shirley Ellis – The Nitty Gritty
Robert Parker – Barefootin’
Bobby Bird – Keep On Doin’ What You’re Doin’
Little Royal – I’ll Come Crawling
The Ebonys – Sexy Ways
Soul Survivors – Explosion In Your Soul
The Chambers Brothers – I Can’t Turn You Loose
Oregone – Funky Nassau
Ray Lugo & The Boogaloo Destroyers – C’mon Everybody
Bonnie & Sheila – You Keep Me Hanging On
The Strangeloves – Hand Jive
John Wesley – Girl With The Red Dress On
The Doyley Brothers – Dance Little Suzie
Dorothy Williams – Watchdog
Gigliola Cinquetti – Cero en amor
Dick Jordan – I Want Her Back
Bunny Sigler – Sunny Sunday
Foster Sylvers – Mockingbird
Raphael Saadiq – Let’s Take a Walk
Mae West – Shakin’ All Over
The Frank Popp Ensemble – Business & Pleasure
The Mighty Hannibal – Jerkin’ the Dog

Listen/Download – DJRP and Trueskillz – Live Shindig Pt1 136MB Mixed MP3

Part Two
Barrett Strong – Money (That’s What I Want)
Eugene Church – Pretty Girls Everywhere
Young Jessie – Big Chief (King Of Love)
LaBrenda Ben & The Beljeans – The Chaperone
Eddie Palmieri – The African Twist
Ray Lugo & The Boogaloo Destroyers – Rico Boogaloo
The New Swing Sextet – Monkey See, Monkey Do
Pete Rodriguez – Oh That’s Nice
Speedometer – Happy
The 5th Dimension – California Soul
Junior Walker & The All-Stars – Shake and Fingerpop
Eddy G Giles – Soul Feeling Part 2
The T.S.U. Toronados – The Goose
The Barons – Making It Better
Kim Weston – Take Me In Your Arms
Shirley Ellis – Soul Time
Mitch Rider and the Detroit Wheels – Devil with a Blue Dress On & Good Golly Miss Molly
Soul Searchers – Blow Your Whistle
Jungle Fire – Fire Walker
Don Gardner – My Baby Likes to Boogaloo
Tony Clarke – Ghetto Man
Charles Bradly – This Love Ain’t Big Enough for the Two of Us
Jay Dee Bryant – Get It
Eldridge Holmes – Pop, Popcorn Children
Ike and Tina Turner – Poor Fool
The Capitols – Cool Jerk
Alvin Robinson – Searchin’
Stevie Wonder – You Met Your Match
Jimmy Ruffin – Baby I’ve Got It

Listen/Download – DJRP and Trueskillz – Live Shindig Pt2 143MB Mixed MP3

Greetings all 

Welcome back to the Funky16Corners 2016, Allnighter/Pledge Drive.

Today’s sets in the Allnighter comes from DJs RP and Trueskillz of Funkdefy Ohio!

RP was here last year, and this time out he brings us a two-part live set recorded with Funkdefy guest selector DJ Trueskillz.

A few words from Brian “Preacher Man” Hannan (DJ RP): Funkdefy has been grooving it in Columbus since 2004, making it the longest running all vinyl Funk-n-Soul party in Central Ohio.  Although I am one of the founders of this event, there is no possible way I can take credit for what we do.  I have always had the humble pleasure of spinning with incredible DJs for all these years.  Regardless if they were a one time guest, or a regular staple of the shindig, it was these DJs that created the collective sound we have been known for.  Funkdefy is not just an ensemble group of crate diggers and DJs, they are my friends and family.  This year I am honored to share with you long time Funkdefy member DJ Trueskillz.  He has been in the DJ scene for a long time and has a record collection that is mind boggling. You may have met him before at some of the big records shows trading and collecting. He is the only person I know that has a turntable for a nightstand.  We recorded our last shindig live and this is an excerpt of that night. We hope you enjoy the grooves. Get with us on Facebook and we hope you will become part of, and a friend of, the funky collective.

Don’t forget to click the Paypal button and donate, and we’ll be back on Monday with one last mix, part two (Queens) of Funky16Corners contribution to this year’s Allnighter!

___________________________

Your donations help to keep Funky16Corners up and running, with the blog, Funky16Corners Radio Show podcast and hundreds of hours of archived mixes.

Everyone that donates will get the new 2016 Funky16Corners badge and bumpersticker, with which you can adorn the garment and flat surface of your choosing.

Also, everyone that donates will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of the new 45 by the M-Tet!

So pull down the ones and zeros, dig deep and Keep the Faith!

___________________________

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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, June 15, 2016 11:59 am

Tarik Thornton – There Was a Time

Masonic Wonders – The Storm is Passing Over. (More-Love)
Bobby Womack – Interlude #2 (United Artists)
Delfonics- Hey Love (Philly Groove)
Tyrone Ashley- Let me Be Your Man (Phil-La)
Johnny Davis – The Love I See Now (Bandit)
Sex- Wonders of The World (SuperCity)
The Ballads – Dizzy World (Kimberly)
The Futures – Breaking up (Amjo)
Gene Anderson & The International Hook Up- Congratulations (HI)
Black Soul Express – When I Left You (Black Soul Express/Numero)
Duke Turner- Give Me Some Sugar Pt.1 (Spinning Top)
Young Mods- We Can Make It ( Pork)
Windy City- Let Me Ride ( Kelli-Arts)
Odds Against Tomorrow – Point of No Return (Sweet As Records)
The Relatives- Don’t Let Me Fall (Ever-Soul/Daptone)

Listen/Download – Tarik Thornton – There Was a Time 116MB Mixed MP3

Greetings all 

Welcome back to the Funky16Corners 2016, Allnighter/Pledge Drive.

Today’s set in the Allnighter comes from my man Tarik Thornton.

Tarik, who has deep roots in NOLA but now spends his time in the frosty north country has created a very, very special set for us this year.

Though the all-encompassing vibe is mellow, the mix covers the bases from gospel, to deep soul, to firme rolas, with some slightly familiar things alongside heavy obscurities from his crates.

This is a nighttime thing, so turn the lights down low, turn the volume up and open your ears (and your heart).

Don’t forget to click the Paypal button and donate, and we’ll be back tomorrow with a two-part mix from DJ RP of Funkdefy Ohio!

___________________________

Your donations help to keep Funky16Corners up and running, with the blog, Funky16Corners Radio Show podcast and hundreds of hours of archived mixes.

Everyone that donates will get the new 2016 Funky16Corners badge and bumpersticker, with which you can adorn the garment and flat surface of your choosing.

Also, everyone that donates will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of the new 45 by the M-Tet!

So pull down the ones and zeros, dig deep and Keep the Faith!

___________________________

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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, June 12, 2016 11:43 am

Part one: The Warmup Session
01 Sweet Inspiration – King Curtis & The Kingpins (Atco)
02 Sugarcane – The MGs (Stax)
03 Mystic Voyage – Roy Ayers Ubiquity (Polydor)
04 Sneakin In The Back – Tom Scott & The L.A. Express (Ode)
05 Season Of The Witch – Lou Rawls (Capitol)
06 Listen – Chicago Transit Authority (Columbia)
07 No Matter What Sign You Are – Supremes (Motown)
08 Hey Love – Stevie Wonder (Tamla)
09 Marvin’s Groove – B W Souls (Round)
10 Funky Thing Pt 1- Larry Ellis And The Black Hammer (Funk 45 reissue)
11 Yeah You Right – Sister And The Brothers (UNI)
12 Working Our Way Back Into A Funky Thing- Unifics (Fountain)
13 Everybody Wants To Be Free Pt. 2 – Amnesty (Lamp/Now-Again)
14 Soul Clappin – Pretty Purdie (Date)
15 The Message – Cymande (Janus)
16 Funky To The Bone – Freddie Henchie & The Soul Setters (Reprise)
17 Ain’t No Sunshine – Eddy Senay (Sussex)
18 Go On With Your Bad Self – Consumer Rapport (Wing And A Prayer)
19 I Can Dig It – Daley Diggers (Marmaduke)
20 Doo Doo – David T Walker (Zea)
21 Pick N Shovel – The Touch (Lecasver)
22 Nanzee – Donald Austin (Eastbound)
23 The Prophet – Jack McDuff (Cadet)
24 Reflections – Bill Conti (United Artists)

Listen/Download – Vincent the Soul Chef – The Warmup Session 173MB Mixed MP3

Part Two: The Windup Session
01 The Title Escapes Me – Toussaint McCall (Ronn)
02 Scramble – Billy Stewart (Chess)
03 The Hip Judage – Pigmeat Markham (Chess)
04 Let My People Go – Brother Jack McDuff (Cadet)
05 Give Everybody Some – Bar Kays (Volt)
06 Drunk – Ace Cannon (Hi)
07 Get It – Sam And Dave (Atlantic)
08 Shake A Poo Poo – Chet Ivey (Tangerine)
09 Hey Joyce – Lou Courtney (Popside)
10 Ode To Soul Man – Syl Johnson (Twinight)
11 Shakey Jakes – The Strange Bros. Show (Sire)
12 Soul Liberation Pt. 2- Rusty Bryant (Prestige)
13 It’s LB Time – Jay Youngblood (Ex Spect More)
14 Poppin Popcorn – Alvin Cash (Toddlin’ Town)
15 The Champion Pt. 1 – Willie Mitchell (Hi jukebox 33 pressing)
16 Pretty Lil Mama – Soul Crusaders Orchestra (More Soul)
17 Funky Feet – Johnny Robinson (Epic)
18 Shhhhhhhh (For A Little While) – James Brown (King)
19 Crabcakes – Gunga Din (Valise)
20 Shake – Shadows Of Knight (Team)
21 Pucker Up Buttercup – Jr Walker & The All Stars (Soul)
22 Get it – Wilmer and the Dukes (Aphrodisiac)
23 Secret Love – Billy Stewart (Chess)
24 O Wow – Panic Buttons (Gamble)
25 Lunar Funk – Fabulous Counts (Moira)
26 Higher Than High – The Undisputed Truth (Gordy)

Listen/Download – Vincent the Soul Chef – The Windup Session 156MB Mixed MP3

Greetings all 

Welcome back to the Funky16Corners 2016, Allnighter/Pledge Drive.

We start the week with a very special ‘double header’ from the man behind Fufu Stew, Vincent the Soul Chef.

Vincent has been digging, spinning and blogging for a long time. He has excellent taste and instincts about what kind of sounds blend together (and not just in the realm of soul and funk) and the two mixes he brings us today, the Warmup and the Windup are testaments to that fact.

Make sure to set aside a block of time to take these in together because they are more than worth the effort.

And now, a word from the Chef:

“As always, I am honoured… enough said. Now although it was close to ten years ago, I still vividly recall that day in November when I warmed up the revelers at the world famous Asbury Park Lanes, so suffice it to say, I went there again in my mind and on my turntables with this batch of 45s. After a few repeated listens however, and a few trips through the boxes, it mushroomed into a much bigger undertaking, so much so that I had to make TWO batches. Yup. Enjoy.”
www.fufustew.com www.facebook.com/fufustew/

Don’t forget to click the Paypal button and donate, and we’ll be back tomorrow with a brand new mix from the founder of the Asbury Park 45 Sessions and the man behind Fleamarket Funk, the mighty DJ Prestige!

___________________________

Your donations help to keep Funky16Corners up and running, with the blog, Funky16Corners Radio Show podcast and hundreds of hours of archived mixes.

Everyone that donates will get the new 2016 Funky16Corners badge and bumpersticker, with which you can adorn the garment and flat surface of your choosing.

Also, everyone that donates will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of the new 45 by the M-Tet!

So pull down the ones and zeros, dig deep and Keep the Faith!

___________________________

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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (1)

By Larry, June 5, 2016 11:33 am

Funky16Corners Presents: Queens
Vicki Gomez – Boys Are a Dime a Dozen (ABC/Paramount)
Rita and the Tiaras – Gone With the Wind Is My Love (Dore)
Apollas – Mr Creator (WB)
Clara Ward – The Right Track (Verve)
Gloria Jones – Heartbeat Pt1 (Uptown)
Sandy Wynns – Love Belongs To Everyone (Champion)
Tina Britt – The Real Thing (Eastern)
Brenda Lee – Dancing In the Street (Decca)
Candy and the Kisses – Keep On Searching (Scepter)
Dorothy Berry – Shindig City (Planetary)
Marie Queenie Lyons – Drown In My Own Tears (Deluxe)
Mirettes – Now That I Found You Baby (Mirwood)
Bobbettes – Tighten Up Your Own Home (Mayhew)
Funky Sisters – Soul Woman (Aurora)
Ella Fitzgerald – These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ (Salle)
Sari and the Shalimars – No Reason To Doubt My Love (Veep)
Judy Clay – Sister Pitiful (Atlantic)
Lesley Gore – Take Good Care (Of My Heart) (Mercury)
Barry St John – Cry Like a Baby (GRT)

Listen/Download – Funky16Corners Presents: Queens 86MB Mixed MP3

Greetings all and welcome to the 2016 Funky16Corners Allnighter/Pledge Drive!

This is the time of year where I and some of the finest selectors I know create some brand new mixes and post them here in the hope that you will all show your appreciation by clicking on the Paypal link and tossing something into the hat to help cover our yearly operating budget. This is the 10th Anniversary of the Pledge Drive and the 6th year of the Allnighter format.

This year’s line-up includes mixes from Asbury Park 45 sessions alums DJ Prestige, DJ Prime Mundo, DJ Bluewater, Vincent the Soul Chef, my man in the UK Ben Gibson, Tarik Thornton, HeavySoulBrutha Dave B, Chris Lujan of the M-Tet and the Dirty Dirty Podcast, DJ RP of Funkdefy Ohio and yours truly book-ending the whole thing.

The mixes this year are uniformly excellent, with sounds ranging from funk 45s, to Northern Soul, sweet soul, reggae, modern funk instros, soul jazz and everything in between.

We’ll be posting a mix each weekday for the next few weeks.

___________________________

Your donations help to keep Funky16Corners up and running, with the blog, Funky16Corners Radio Show podcast and hundreds of hours of archived mixes.

Everyone that donates will get the new 2016 Funky16Corners badge and bumper sticker, with which you can adorn the garment and flat surface of your choosing.

So pull down the ones and zeros, dig deep and Keep the Faith!

__________________________________________________________________

We’re going to get things started (and eventually finished) with a two-part mix by yours truly, entitled Queens & Kings. These are each an hour long and feature an hour of danceable soul, first by the ladies, and then by the fellas.
I’ve picked up a lot of outstanding stuff in the past year, including some of my personal Northern Soul grails, a couple of unexpected things (from people you wouldn’t expect, naturally) and lots of other groovy sounds!

So dig it, and we’ll be back tomorrow with DJ Prime Mundo!

___________________________

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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, June 2, 2016 12:01 pm

Funky16Corners Presents ‘Hot Gravy’ – Guest Mix for Music for Modern Living
Albert Collins – Cookin’ Catfish (20th Century)
Billy Davis – Stanky Get Funky (Cobblestone)
Wynder K Frog – Dancing Frog (UA)
Mighty Hannibal – Fishin’ Pole (Shurfine)
Billy Clark and his Orchestra – Hot Gravy (Dynamo)
Gate Wesley and Band feat Billy Lamont – (Zap! Pow!) Do the Batman (Atlantic)
Albert Collins – Sno Cone Pt2 (TCF-Hall)
Bettye Lavette – Feel Good All Over (Calla)
Timmy Thomas – Have Some Boogaloo (Goldwax)
Jerry Lee Lewis – Shotgun Man (Smash)
Isley Brothers – Nobody But Me (Wand)
RD Stokes – My Sandra’s Jump (II Bros)
Bob Seger and the Last Heard – Heavy Music Pt2 (Cameo/Parkway)
Bobby Hollaway – Cornbread, Hog Maw and Chitterlins (Smash)
Maggie Thrett – Soupy (From the Soul)
Jimmy Holiday – The New Breed (Diplomacy)
Howlin’ Wolf – Pop It To Me (Chess)
Roy Ward – Horse With a Freeze Pt2 (Seven B)
African Beavers – You Got Something (RCA)
Banana Splits – Doin’ the Banana Split (Kelloggs)
TV and the Tribesmen – Trip City USA (HBR)
Jimmy Preacher Ellis – Put Your Hoe To My Row (Round)
Buena Vistas – The Soul Ranger (Marquee)
Danny White – Natural Soul Brother (SSS Intl)
Bobby Freeman – C’Mon and Swim Pt1 (Autumn)

Listen/Download – Funky16Corners Presents – Hot Gravy 138MB Mixed MP3

Greetings all.

The end of the week is here, so I will remind you once again to check out the Funky16Corners Radio Show podcast, which drops each and every Friday with the best in funk, soul, jazz and rare groove, all on original vinyl. You can subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, listen on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, check it out on Mixcloud, or grab an MP3 right here at the blog.

_____________________________________________________

I should also say that the Funky16Corners 2016 Allnighter and Pledge Drive will start next Monday, June 6th.

As in years past, you will get a string of new mixes by myself and some of my favorite selectors, posted one every weekday over the course of more than two weeks.

These mixes will be accompanied by a Paypal/Donate button, so that those of you that dig what we do here (blogs, radio show, hundreds of hours of archived mixes) will toss something into the hat towards the operating budget for the next year.

All donors will also receive the new 2016 Funky16Corners badge and bumper sticker to affix to the garment and flat surface of your choice!

So stay tuned for that (lots of good stuff this year).

__________________________________________________________________________
The mix you see before you today – Funky16Corners Presents – Hot Gravy – was assembled at the behest of the most excellent Music for Modern Living blog, where it premiered last weekend.

Nigel has a good thing going over there, and has presented a number of very cool guest mixes by the best selectors in funk and soul.

This is a solid, hour-long kick in the pants, composed of some of the hottest dance floor soul and R&B bangers in my crates.

There are lots of old faves, a couple of things that might not be familiar, and with the weather finally getting warm, it should provide adequate moving and grooving for your weekend.

I hope you dig it, that you check out Music for Modern Living, and that as always, you…

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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, May 26, 2016 10:44 am

R.B. Hudmon

Listen/Download – RB Hudmon – Yo Yo MP3

Greetings all.

The end of the week is here so I will remind you once again that the Funky16Corners Radio Show podcast drops each and every Friday with the best in funk, soul, jazz and rare groove, all on original vinyl. You can subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTune, listen on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, check it out on Mixcloud, or grab an MP3 right here at the blog.

The tune I bring you today is another chapter in the fascinating world of Joe South.

South, who had a stellar recording career of his own is probably best known as a songwriter, penning hits for artists like Billy Joe Royal, the Tams, Deep Purple, Lynne Anderson and many others.

Today’s selection is a song that South wrote (it was first recorded by Billy Joe Royal the previous year) and produced for teenage singer R.B. Hudmon (his name is misspelled on the label) in 1968.

Hudmon was a Georgia-based singer who was part of Bill Lowery’s (who Joe South worked with extensively) talent stable in Atlanta. He was only 14 when he recorded South’s ‘Yo Yo’.

His version of the song (arranged by South and probably featuring him on guitar as well) is great, upbeat soul, featuring Hudmon’s high tenor and a great horn chart.

South would go on (as he would with many of the songs he wrote for others) to record the song himself in 1971, as would none other than the Osmonds, who would have one of their biggest hits with a version of the song (quite good, actually) in the late summer of that year.

Hudmon would go on to have a number of minor R&B hits for Atlantic between 1976 and 1978.

I hope you dig the record, 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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (1)

By Larry, May 22, 2016 11:32 am

The Apollas

Listen/Download – The Apollas – Mr Creator MP3

Greetings all.

I was driving around this past week, working my way through one of a couple of huge Northern Soul playlists I have stacked up in the iPod, and found myself replaying today’s selection several times.

The Apollas are one of those soul groups that despite laying down a collection of demonstrably amazing 45s, were met with utter indifference on the charts.

Composed of three singers – Leola Jiles, Ella Jamerson and Dorothy Ramsey – the Apollas worked for a short time in New York with Lieber and Stoller before moving on to do most of their recording for Loma and Warner Brothers out on the West Coast.

The bulk of their 45s were produced by Dick Glasser, and arranged by cats like HB Barnum and Gene Page.

Today’s 45 is – at least in my opinion – the finest thing they ever did, and that has a lot to do with the fact that the song in question was penned by no less a duo than Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson.

‘Mr Creator’ was released in early 1967, and though it made little to no impact on its release, it went on to be a huge favorite in the soul clubs of the UK.

The record is in many ways the perfect intersection of talents, with stellar vocals by the Apollas, booming production by Glasser, a punchy, danceable arrangement by HB Barnum (dig the way the horns and vibes come in and out of the mix) and a great, hook filled tune by Ashford and Simpson.

As with any great Northern Soul anthem, “Mr Creator’ is a masterpiece of dynamic/daramatic shifts. The way the song lifts at the bridge (around 1:05) and then again when the horns come in at around 1:35 is a thing to behold.

It kind of boggles the mind that a record this perfect went nowhere. The Apollas never made the R&B charts, and as far as I can tell they didn’t find any regional Pop or R&B success either. They were lucky enough to have access to great material and a dedicated producer, and fortunately soul fans have embraced them retroactively.

Their records are now in demand, and I’m lucky that I was able to score a copy that plays well in spite of it’s less than stellar visual condition.

I hope you dig it, 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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (3)

By Larry, May 19, 2016 12:02 pm

Timothy Wilson

Listen/Download – Timothy Wilson – Love Is Like an Itching In Your Heart MP3

Greetings all.

The end of the week is upon us and so is the Funky16Corners Radio Show, coming to you each and every Friday with the best in funk, soul, jazz and rare groove, all on original vinyl. You can subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, on Mixcloud, on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, or an an MP3 any old time you like right here at Funky16Corners.com.

Today’s selection is a very groovy cover version of one of my all time favorite records, the Supremes’ ‘Love Is Like an Itching In Your Heart’.

The artist is the little known (outside of soul collector circles), but excellent singer Timothy Wilson.

Wilson, who was born in Maryland was an early member of the Serenaders, alongside George Kerr and Sidney Barnes, and went on to record a grip of excellent 45s under his own name for labels like Veep, United Artists, Buddah, Blue Rock and Sky Disc between 1965 and the early 70s.

Wilson’s version of ‘Love Is Like an Itching In Your Heart’ (produced by Kerr, who worked on a lot of Wilson’s sides) was released on Blue Rock in 1969.

Sticking to the general template of the original, the pace is a bit faster (making it great for the dancers) with booming saxophone. Wilson has a high tenor voice that often veers to the edge of falsetto and it gives his version of the song and edge missing from the original.

Though he appears to have made his last record in the 70s, Wilson has toured as a member of the modern incarnation of the Teenagers (as in ‘Frankie Lymon and…’).

I hope you dig the record, 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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, May 17, 2016 11:04 am

Edwin Starr

Listen/Download – Edwin Starr – Back Street MP3

Listen/Download – Edwin Starr – Back Street (Inst) MP3

Greetings all.

Though the mighty Edwin Starr is best known to the general public for his Motown-era hits like ‘War’ and ’25 Miles’, the soulies will tell you that his greatest days were recording for the mighty Detroit soul powerhouse Ric-Tic between 1965 and 1967.

Ric-Tic, run by Joanne Bratton and Ed Wingate, released some of the finest Motor City soul of the classic era, with sides by Starr, Gino Washington, JJ Barnes, Rose Batiste, the Fantastic Four, Al Kent and many more.

Edwin Starr’s Ric-Tic sides are consistently excellent, and ‘Back Street’ is one of the best of the lot.

Written by Starr and LeBaron Taylor (both under other names) ‘Back Street’ is a fast moving number with a big following among the Northern Soul crowd.

The arrangement, featuring drums, percussion, handclaps and a prominent rhythm piano is pushed along by horn stabs and female backing vocals.

Starr’s vocal is, of course, top notch. He was one of the finest male voices working in Detroit during the classic era.

I’m also including the groovy instrumental take from the b-side, which has also been known to be spun for dancers of distinction.

I hope you dig the sounds, 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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, May 15, 2016 10:03 am

Jackie Verdell

Listen/Download – Jackie Verdell – Are You Ready For This MP3

Listen/Download – Jackie Verdell – I’m Your Girl MP3

Greetings all.

The new week has arrived and I though I’d whip a little of that high-class, uptempo soul in your direction.

I forget where I first heard of Jackie Verdell, but for some reason I thought she was a Chicago-based singer.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Verdell came out of Philadelphia, and before her 1960s career as a secular singer was a driving force in the world of gospel as a vocalist in the Davis Singers. So powerful was she, that the mighty Aretha Franklin singled her out for praise in her autobiography.

She moved over into the world of R&B and soul in 1963 with Peacock Records, and during the 60s moved on to Decca and Coral imprints before returning to the gospel fold in the early 70s.

Today’s selection, ‘Are You Ready For This’ was her first 45 for Decca in 1967. Penned by writer/producer Buddy Scott and singer Jimmy Radcliffe (he of the classic ‘Long After Tonight Is All Over’), produced by Joe Medlin and arranged by the great Bert De Coteaux, ‘Are You Ready For This’ features a great vocal by Verdell and a punchy, four on the floor beat. I really dig the interplay between the lead and rhythm guitars and the horn chart.

Though the record didn’t make the R&B charts, it did have some regional pop success in the Midwest and Los Angeles.

The flipside, ‘I’m Your Girl’, written by Verdell herself is a wonderful deep ballad with just a hint of a Southern soul sound to it.

Following her return to gospel, she recorded for a few different labels into the early 80s, but unfortunately did not find success.

Jackie Verdell passed away in 1991.

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

Keep the faith

Larry

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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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, May 12, 2016 11:23 am

Sonny Cox

Listen/Download – Sonny Cox – Chocolate Candy MP3

Greetings all.

The end of the week is here, and so is the Funky16Corners Radio Show podcast, which drops each and every Friday with the best in funk, soul, jazz and rare groove, all on original vinyl. You can subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, listen on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, dig it on Mixcloud, or grab an MP3 right here at Funky16Corners.com (and coming soon to Dirty Old Boston Radio).

I have a very groovy one for you today.

I was out scouting the hinterlands of the internet, on the prowl for records (you know, like always) and while perusing a sales list happened upon today’s selection.

Though I knew the name Sonny Cox, what grabbed me was the title ‘Chocolate Candy’.

‘Could this be the same ‘Chocolate Candy’ that the Soulful Strings recorded?’ I asked myself.

A quick enlargement of the label, which revealed the writer as Phil Upchurch confirmed my suspicions, so I grabbed it.

You all know that there probably isn’t a bigger fan of Richard Evans and the Soulful Strings in the world than yours truly, and finding covers of their material is a rare event, indeed.

‘Chocolate Candy’ first appeared on the group’s 1969 ‘String Fever’ album (their best, IMHO). Upchurch was the guitarist in the Chess/Cadet house band, who also recorded a number of excellent records under his own name (though, as far as I can tell he never recorded ‘Chocolate Candy’ on his own).

Sonny Cox was a sax player who formed the Three Souls and recorded with them for the Chess subsidiary Argo, eventually recording a solo album, ‘The Wailer’ for Cadet in 1966, which was arranged and produced by none other than Richard Evans.

Cox recorded ‘Chocolate Candy’, again with Evans producing, for Bell in 1969. He lays down a dark, reverb-filled version of the song on what sounds like a Varitone electric saxophone, with some great guitar, heavy bass and organ and handclaps.

The record didn’t go anywhere (though the flipside, a cover of ‘The Choking Kind’ got some airplay in Washington, DC.

Cox seems to have retired in the early 70s, taking up a new career as a high school basketball coach in the Chicago area.

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

Keep the faith

Larry

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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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, May 10, 2016 1:27 pm

Patti and the Emblems

Listen/Download – Patti and the Emblems – Please Don’t Ever Leave Me Baby MP3

Greetings all.

Many times over the years, I’ve talked about getting inured to an unfamiliar tempo.

Doing so (many times over the years) has expanded my musical horizons exponentially.

Though I started collecting fast-moving, dance floor killers back in the day, I have come to love ballads, deep soul, as well as all the wonders of mid-tempo stuff.

One such record is today’s selection, ‘Please Don’t Ever Leave Me Baby’ by Camden, NJ’s own Patti and the Emblems.

Though it is certainly brisk enough to dance to, ‘Please Don’t Ever Leave Me Baby’ is one of those songs that you reserve for the beginning/build up of a set. It’s not likely to drag people out onto the floor, but if they’re already their, they’ll get into the groove and keep moving.

Patti and the Emblems were a discovery of Frank Bendinelli and Leroy Lovett of B&L productions. They had their first (and only) hit in 1964 with ‘Mixed Up Shook Up Girl’ on Herald, eventually moving on to Kapp Records in 1967.

During their career they were fairly prolific, recording 10 45s over a four year period.

They were lucky to have a great lead singer in Patty Russell, and the help of a young Leon Huff on piano.

‘Please Don’t Ever Leave Me Baby’ (penned by Bendinelli and Lovett) is a hook-filled, very nicely produced number with all the hallmarks of a great Philly soul side (I live the vibraphone accents).

As far as I can tell, this 45 isn’t terribly expensive these days, so go and get yourself one for your play box.

I hope you dig it, and I’ll 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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.