Comments (3)

By Larry, April 23, 2015 11:04 am

Mickey Fields

Greetings all.

The end of the week is here, and so is the Funky16Corners Radio Show, which comes to you each and every 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 yourself an MP3 here at the blog.

Today’s selection qualifies as one of the very first funky 45s I ever scored.

‘Cracker Jack’ by Mickey and His Mice was a minor regional (Baltimore/DC) hit in 1970 and as a result is plentiful and cheap on the east coast (and probably everywhere else as well).

Opening with some thick, sticky bass, guitar and back and forth spoken word ish, it soon opens up into a funky organ/sax led instrumental jam.

It’s fun, funky and danceable, and as is so often the case, would be sweated heavily if it were rare, but since it isn’t, it’s neglected.

The backing track was recycled (also on the Marti label) as ‘Doin’ the Crackerjack’ by Changes, a much rarer and more expensive 45.

That said, I had no idea that the Mickey Fields listed on the label was the same guy who recorded an album with Richard ‘Groove’ Holmes (that I already happened to have a copy of!).

By all accounts, Fields had the chops to make it on the national scene, yet chose to remain in Baltimore where he was an important part of the local scene as a leader, sideman and mentor.

The other record I mentioned was ‘The Astonishing Mickey Fields’, a 1969 session. It is mainly a jazz date, but the version of the Doors’ ‘Light My Fire’ is very groovy indeed, and I’m including it here.

I hope you dig the tracks, and I’ll be back on Monday with some more.

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 (1)

By Larry, April 2, 2015 10:19 am

The Les James Trio

Listen/Download The Les James Trio – Joe’s Thing

Greetings all

The end of the week is here, and I should remind you all the the Funky16Corners Radio Show comes to you each and every Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio. If you cannot 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 out of the archive right here at the blog.

The fam and I are doing some Spring-breaking, so here’s something from the archives to keep you ears warm until Monday – Larry

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Originally posted November, 2012

I often find myself running out of steam by the end of the week.

You know how it is.

Truth be told, I have discovered that the remedy to such a lull is not – as might be expected – a solid and powerful boot in the ass,  but rather something subtly powerful.

Enough of a push to restore momentum, but nothing too sudden.

It is in furtherance of this idea that I have dipped into the crates and whipped out something that just might do the trick.

A while back, I was perusing the interwebs in search of some tasty vinyl to add to my record box, when I happened upon an auction for an unfamiliar, but very interesting looking record.

The disc in question was a mid-70s joint by a crew called the Les James Trio out of the Rocky Mountain metropolis of Denver, CO.

Now, I know that “Denver jazz’ doesn’t light any fire in your ears – unless you are a Paul Quinichette aficionado – but this auction came with a tantalizing soundclip.

So tantalizing in fact that I chased this record down like a lion after a juicy springbok, landed it and devoured it forthwith, if by “devour” it is meant to be understood as recording and digimatizing said record for the delectation of you good people.

There’s not much out there about Les James, other than a few links that suggest that he was something of a local institution in Denver, and the liner notes to the album which intimate that he might have hailed from Eastern Europe and made his way west, piano in tow.

The tune I bring you today – he one that made me covet the album so fiercely – is entitled ‘Joe’s Thing’, written by and named for James’ bassist Joe Lopez.

Much like the record that I brought you all on Monday, the things that happen on this record in regard to the alchemy of bass and drums is truly something to behold.

‘Joe’s Thing’ is in no way a “funk” record, but it is immediately obvious once the ones and zeros start to flow that is is monumentally funky, in a way guaranteed to make you sit up, notice, and groove, all at the same time.

Unlike so many self-released combos (Century was a famous “press your own”outfit out of California) the Les James Trio was actually a pretty tight unit. James was an excellent pianist, Lopez a shit-hot bassist and the drummer (listed only as Jo Jo) does his part admirably.

‘Joe’s Thing’ is a groover’s treasure because it starts out with a mighty riff, and then returns to the well a number of times, including a couple of phased drum breaks.

This is a banger – a subtle one – but a banger nonetheless.

You can send your thank you notes via the comments below.

You’re most welcome.

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.
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, March 31, 2015 11:08 am

Tarik Thornton – Scattered, Covered, Smothered and Diced

Ahmad Jamal – M*A*S*H Theme
Art Jerry Miller- Finger Lickin’ Good
Odell Brown & The Organizers – The Look Of Love
James Brown- Spinning Wheel
Lena Horne – Rocky Raccoon
Lonnie Smith- Move Your Hand- Part 1
Joe Williams & The Jazz Orchestra – Get Out My Life Woman
Brother Jack McDuff- Theme From The Electric Surfboard
Bobbi Humphrey- Harlem River Drive
Gene Ammons- Jungle Strut
Charlie Earland- Sing a Simple Song
Billy Cobham- Crosswind
Walter Wolfman Washington & Solar System – Good & Juicy
(Bonus Cut) Dejan’s Olympia Brass Band of New Orleans – Tuba Fats & Drums

Listen/Download – Tarik Thornton – Scattered, Covered, Smothered and Diced 46MB/Mixed MP3

Greetings all.

This is a very fortuitous week indeed, since thanks to a communique from my man Tarik Thornton (veteran of many Funky16Corners pledge drives and guest spots) we have the second brand new mix of the week!

If you have sunk your ears into any of his previous mixes, you know that Tarik has deep crates and excellent taste, and both are on display in ‘Scattered, Covered, Smothered and Diced’. Here you get just about 40 minutes of very tasty soul jazz and jazz funk, well mixed and served up hot.

I’m digging this one for the second time as I write this, and I think you’ll be giving it repeated plays as well.

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

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.

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, March 12, 2015 12:43 pm

Blue Mitchell

Listen/Download – Blue Mitchell – H.N.I.C. Pt2

Greetings all.

The end of the week is nigh, so I will remind you once again that the Funky16Corners Radio Show returns to the shimmering airwaves of the interwebs this and every Friday night on Viva Radio. If you cannot lend your ears at airtime, you can subscribe to the show as podcast in iTunes, listen on your mobile device through the TuneIn app, or grab yourself an MP3 here at the blog.

Closing out the week with something funky seemed like a good idea, so I bring you Blue Mitchell and ‘H.N.I.C. Pt1’.
Mitchell was, like the subject of Wednesday’s post, Yusef Lateef, a jazz veteran, coming up in hard bop with Cannonball Adderley and Horace Silver, and moving on to his own dates by the 1960s.

Like many of his ilk, Mitchell found himself at the end of the 1960s finding his way into a soulful bag. Many jazzers did this to varying levels of success, depending in large part on their affinity with and dedication to the material in question.

What is particularly interesting about today’s selection, is that it comes from a two-LP run that Mitchell had in 1968 and 1969 where he was working with Monk Higgins and Dee Ervin.

I haven’t been able to find out how this particular team came together, but the intersection of straight jazz with two figures closely identified with 60s soul is an interesting one.

The two albums, 1968s ‘Collision In Black’ and 1969s ‘Bantu Village’ (where this track originated) were composed almost entirely by Higgins and Ervin.. The dates appear to have been recorded in California, and are an interesting is somewhat mysterious chapter in Higgins’ and Ervin’s stories.

‘H.N.I.C. Pt1’ is also interesting because it is yet another iteration/variation of the Isley Brothers’ ‘It’s Your Thing’, a huge (and very influential) hit in 1969.

Featuring Mitchell and Bobby Bryant on trumpet, Paul Humphrey on drums, Wilton Felder on bass and Freddy Robinson on guitar, ‘H.N.I.C. Pt1’ manages to balance the jazz and funk nicely, with a fine solo by Mitchell.

I dig it (I need to score a copy of the LP), and I hope you do too.

See you 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.

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, March 10, 2015 11:58 am

Yusef Lateef

Greetings all.

How about we ease ourselves over the hump with some sweet, sublimely funky jazz?

Yusef Lateef is one of the giants of bop/post-bop eras of jazz, starting with Dizzy Gillespie in 1949 and playing well into his 80s, only passing away in 2013 at the age of 93.

He was a master of many wind instruments, mainly the tenor sax and the flute, but also on oboe and bassoon, as well as working a number of African and Eastern instruments into his music.

‘Nubian Lady’ was recorded in 1971 for his album ‘The Gentle Giant’, with Lateef on flute, Kenny Barron (who composed the song) on piano (with Ray Bryant on electric piano), and Albert Heath on drums among others.

It has a slow, mellow groove, but the drums manage to assert themselves nicely, giving the track a nice, funky feel.

Lateef’s flute states the main theme, and then returns to solo.

Y’all know I’m a huge fan of the flute in jazz and soul, and this is one of those records that you just want to kind of lay back and let it wash over you.

Listening to ‘Nubian Lady’ it sounds like the kind of record that must have been chopped and looped by someone, but as far as I can tell it has yet to be sampled.

It is a tasty groove indeed, and I hope you dig it.
See you on Friday.

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.

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, January 18, 2015 1:49 pm

Funky16Corners @ Spindletop – Early Set 1/10/11

Playlist

Listen/Download 80MB/256kb Mixed MP3

NOTE: Since my unexpected hospital captivity continues unabated, I thought I’d dip into the archives to hold you all until I could get myself back to the Funky16Corners Blogcasting Nerve Center and Record Vault.

So dig this mellow mix from 2011 and I’ll be back as soon as I can.

Keep the Faith

Larry

Greetings all.

The mix I bring you today is yet another live set from the archives, recorded at Botanica in NYC back in 2011.

This one was an early set, where I was allowed to indulge my taste for some low-to-mid-tempo soul jazz and moody soul instrumentals.

This is another late night groover, so pull down the ones and zeros and let it fly while you’re in a mellow mood.

I’ll be back on Friday with something new.

Keep the faith

Larry

_________________________________________________________________________________________

OAlso, 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, January 15, 2015 11:47 am

This guy? Funky?!

Greetings all.

The end of the week is nigh, so I will take this opportunity to remind you all that the Funky16Corners Radio Show returns to the airwaves of the interwebs this and every Friday night at 9PM on Viva-Radio.com. You can also 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.

Having started the week with some Northern Soul, and moved on to Library, I thought I’d keep the spirit of diversity alive and bring you some funky big band ish to close things out.

You know I love to dig up examples of old-school jazzers dipping their beaks into funk and soul, but when I heard there was a joint worth seeking out by Stan Kenton, my bullshit detector blew a fuse.

Kenton was one of the coolest (some might say cold) of the West Coast jazzers running a cerebral, heavily brassy, outfit from the 40s on through the 70s.

He started out as a pianist, and eventually concentrated on arranging and working as a bandleader, running an orchestra that produced alumni like Maynard Ferguson, Art Pepper and Shorty Rogers.

Kenton was very successful and always kept an experimental edge to his sound, but at no point did he produce anything that would suggest to me that he had anything like today’s selection in him.

Of course, by the time he recorded ‘2002 Zarathustrevisited’ in 1973, Deodato had already had a substantial hit with his own funky reworking of the Strauss classic ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’.

The early 70s were not a great time for big jazz bands in America, and the few old heads that were still working it, guys like Kenton, Woody Herman and Buddy Rich, were doing everything they could to stay relevant and commercially viable.

Though I can’t say for sure, it seems likely that Kenton (or the arranger on this number Dale Devoe) heard the Deodato arrangement and thought piling a truckload of brass on top of it would send it into the stratosphere, and decided to take a shot at it.

While it lacks some of the subtlety of the Deodato version, the Kenton version has a substantial amount of kick to it, from the drums (very nicely recorded) and of course, the brass, which comes on in wave after wave.

There’s a groovy sax solo, and some Maynard Ferguson-esque high-note antics, but the drums and percussion keep coming on strong, all the way to the end.

Oddly enough, I owned the LP version of this for years (which also features a nice version of ‘Live and Let Die’) but when a 45 popped up I had to grab it, because…come on…funky Stan Kenton on 45. You can’t leave that sitting in the bin.

I hope you dig it, too, and I’ll 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.

Comments (0)

By Larry, January 4, 2015 2:15 pm

Messrs Baker, Bruce, Bond and Heckstall-Smith

 NOTE/UPDATE 01/05/15 – Thanks go out to Nick Rossi for hepping me to the fact that the version of ‘Wade In the Water’ released in the US by the GBO was recorded just after Jack Bruce had departed the group (Jan ’66) for greener musical pastures. The version of the group featured on this 45 includes Graham Bond (covering the bass with his left hand) , Ginger Baker, Dick Heckstall-Smith, and new member Mike Falana on trumpet. Nick  also pointed me in the direction of this excellent Graham Bond discography.

Greetings all.

I thought I’d start the new week with some hot and heavy Hammond action.

The Graham Bond Organization’s version of ‘Wade in the Water’ had been on my want list for years, and I only managed to score a copy a few months ago.

I’ll go ahead and assume that many of you are unfamiliar with Bond, one of the key figures of the 1960s UK R&B movement.

He got his start on saxophone (much like Charles Earland in the US) eventually moving onto the organ, which became his signature axe.

The Graham Bond Organization is not only worth knowing for the music they made during their relatively short time together, but because of those that made it. Joining Bond, and saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith were two youngsters who would go on to (much) bigger things, Jack Bruce on bass, and Ginger Baker on drums.

That rhythm section would have a tumultuous relationship from their earliest collaborations, on through Cream and that band’s reunion in the 2000s.

‘Wade In the Water’, the oft-covered spiritual was recorded by the Organization in 1964 and released in the US on the Ascot label in 1965.

Opening and closing with organ work by Bond that suggests a Hammer horror film as much as a sweaty R&B basement club, the tune soon swings into action, with stellar work by the whole band, but especially Bond and Baker, whose thunderous drumming is particularly well recorded.

The flip side is a slow, vocal reading of the blues standard ‘St James Infirmary’.

Withing a year and a half, Bruce and Baker would join Eric Clapton in Cream, and Bond continued a truncated version of the Organization and would eventually reappear in Ginger Baker’s Air Force, as well as making a few solo LPs before is suicide in 1974.

Fortunately for us all, he left a trail of hard-hitting wax in his wake.

I hope you dig the cut, and I’ll see you all 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.

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 (4)

By Larry, December 11, 2014 1:03 pm

Marvin Gaye and Grover Washington, Jr.

Listen/Download – Grover Washington, Jr. – Trouble Man

Greetings all.

The end of the week is here, and so I must remond you 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 dig the show at airtime, you can subscribe to it as a podcast in iTunes, listen on your mobile device through the TuneIn app, or grab an MP3 here at the blog.

Also, make sure to stop by next week. The Christmas soul posts start on Monday, and the Funky16Corners Radio Show Christmas Special drops next Friday!

The tunes I bring you today are two versions (OG and cover) from one of the more interesting chapters in the career of the mighty Marvin Gaye.

We featured one of the mighty Marvin’s early classics here some weeks ago, and today we take a look at classic (though underplayed/underappreciated) mid-period ish.

When 1972 rolled around, Marvin had just layed ‘What’s Going On’ on the world.

How would he follow one of the greatest albums of all time?

Gaye took a step back, and decided to compose the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film ‘Trouble Man’.

He was in good company, alongside other soul stars, like Isaac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield, who had done stellar work on the soundtrack tip.

Gaye’s soundtrack for ‘Trouble Man’ was smooth and atmospheric, perfect for late nights.

The title track of the album was a substantial hit, making it to #4 R&B and #7 Pop in December of 1972.

‘Trouble Man’ has a slow, jazzy groove, with falsetto vocals by Gaye and instrumental backing from a mixture of Funk Brothers and West Coast players.

The following year, Grover Washington, Jr.  recorded his two-part ‘Soul Box’ project, in which he layed down extended versions of ‘Trouble Man’ and the Temptations’Masterpiece’, with a host of CTI stalwarts like Bob James, Ron Carter and Idris Muhammad.

Washington’s version of ‘Trouble Man’ isn’t much of a departure from the original, with the exception of Creed Taylor’s horn and woodwind production fleshing out the sound a bit. There’s also a very nice organ solo by Richard Tee around the five-minute mark.

What is exceptional is the fact that Washington has almost 16 minutes in which to stretch and expand upon Gaye’s theme. If you dig the CTI sound (and you know I do) that is a very groovy thing indeed.

So, turn the lights down low, pour yourself a drink, let these two play back-to-back, and slide yourself into the weekend.

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.

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 (2)

By Larry, November 20, 2014 12:24 pm

Gabor Szabo and Bobby Womack

Listen/Download – Gabor Szabo and Bobby Womack – Breezin’ MP3

Listen/Downoad – Sammy Gordon and the Hiphuggers – Breezin’ MP3

Greetings all

The end of the week is here,and so I must remind you to tune into the Funky16Corners Radio Show on Viva Radio, Friday night at 9PM. If you can’t dig in at airtime, make sure to subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes (or anywhere else you get your Pods handled) or grab an MP3 here at the blog.

Today’s selections can be filed in the ‘roots of familiar songs’ section of your brain.

If you’re over 40 (or otherwise well-listened) I suspect that you already know George Benson’s 1976 hit ‘Breezin’’, which in addition to regular airplay seemed for the longest time to be the background instro of choice on all kinds of TV shows. It was, in many ways, the ultimate, smooth jazz instro of its time.

What I didn’t know until many years after its initial release, was that the song ‘Breezin’ had deep, and very interesting roots.

Back in 1970, in the midst of his long, itinerant and occasionally very successful career, Bobby Womack ended up in the studio with Gabor Szabo.

Womack provided half the songs, and much of the rhythm guitar on Szabo’s 1971 LP ‘High Contrast’*.

One of those songs – used as the LPs opening track – was ‘Breezin’.

The Szabo/Womack version is mellow, but sports a nice, fat bottom as well, and some tasty soloing from the always dependable Gabor (a big fave hereabouts).

The second version of the song you’ll hear today (which I originally posted when Bobby passed away, back in June) came into my crates in a kind of roundabout way.

I already had a couple of 45s by Sammy Gordon and the Hiphuggers in my crates when I found their version of ‘Breezin’ (previously featured here when Mr Womack passed away) about five years ago.

The thing is, I didn’t know it was the famous song until I got it home, picking it up simply because it was Sammy.

The SG and the HH version of ‘Breezin’ (from 1972) is by far my fave,and I suspect it’ll be yours as well.

The drums and bass are heavy, and the intro is as tasty a piece of head-nodding funk as you’re likely to turn up.

The overall vibe maintains the sweetness of the melody, but those drums keep punching through the mix.

It’s a killer 45, and despite a couple of price spikes in the past, not too hard to come by these days.

I hope you dig the compare/contrast action, and I’ll see you all on Monday.

Keep the faith

Larry

 *Interestingly, Womack is listed as a co-leader on the LP and 45 labels, but not on the album cover

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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).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, October 19, 2014 11:09 am

Lena Horne

Listen/Download Lena Horne – Mother Time

Listen/Download Lena Horne – Nature’s Baby

Greetings all

As I was wandering through the dark, dusty back alleys of the Funky16Corners sounds warehouse, I took the time to stop and leaf through the ‘special’ file.

This is where I keep especially intriguing stuff, perhaps outside the direct/mainstream funk/soul ‘thing’, yet of particular interest to those with a more open mindset (and ears).

One of my specific areas of interest, is the intersection of performers from areas other than funk and soul with those sounds.

This includes all kinds of jazz and pop performers associated with an earlier era, making their bid for contemporary success.

My crates are peppered liberally with big band cats like Woody Herman, Buddy Rich and Stan Kenton walking the funky side of the street.

Less prominent, but just as groovy, are vocalists attempting to make the same leap.

Today’s selections come from that latter camp, brought to you by the silky pipes of the legendary Lena Horne.

Horne, who’s career stretched from the 30s to the 90s, was mainly a jazz leaning nightclub singer, but worked in many settings, from big bands to Broadway.

I had no idea she had ever wandered into a funkier landscape until a few years back when someone posted the 45 of the song ‘Feels So Good’.

Coming from her 1971 LP ‘Nature’s Baby’, the tune is smooth and funky.

I tried to cop the 45, but when I was unable to track down a copy, I grabbed the LP (much cheaper).

I’m glad I did, because when it fell through the mail slot, I discovered that it included a pair of very cool Gene McDaniels covers, which as far as I can tell were never recorded elsewhere.

The first of these is the fantastic ‘Mother Time’. This is the kind of deep, slyly funky stuff that McDaniels was so good at, and Horne sounds at home with the material. The band, mostly NY session heavyweights lays down a tasty groove.

The second track, ‘Nature’s Baby’ isn’t quite as funky, but features a great lyric and a sublime backing track (I really dig the strings).

The rest of the album, composed almost entirely of contemporary cover material (Leon Russell, Nilsson, Elton John, Paul McCartney) is worth hearing as an example of a great singer putting her stamp on a younger generation’s sounds.

I hope you dig the tunes, and I’ll see you all 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.

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, October 5, 2014 1:20 pm

The Mighty Miles

Listen/Download Miles Davis – In A Silent Way/It’s About That Time Pt1 (45 Edit)

Listen/Download Miles Davis – In A Silent Way/It’s About That Time Pt2 (45 Edit)

Greetings all

As I was strolling through the dark alleys, of the memory banks, of the folders of my hard drive, looking for something to start off the week, I stumbled upon something that I had forgotten about.

This has nothing to do with the quality of the music, but rather the unusual presentation.

Last year, whilst digging in Pittsburgh I happened on the 45 you see before you today, and had to grab it.

I have a couple of ‘electric’ era Miles Davis 45s, and I’m always surprised when I find them that the folks at Columbia felt the need to edit these tracks down and slap them on a 45.

I have a hard time imagining someone in a bar pulling a nickel out of their change pile and slipping into a jukebox to hear tracks from ‘In a Silent Way’ or ‘Bitches Brew’, and they sure as hell weren’t aimed at teenagers and the ‘Close’n’Play’ market.

Whether or not these came out in pursuance of contractual obligation (i.e. ‘OK Miles, we’ll release two singles a year…”) or an add appeal to progressive radio programmers (who were certainly more likely to spin the album cuts, anyway) I do not know.

That said, I felt it was worth posting up these snippets (slivers?) of goodness just so you could check them out.

Dig them, 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.

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.