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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.

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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!

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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!

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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 29, 2016 11:52 am

Ronnie and the Pomona Casuals (Charlie Lett, center)

Listen/Download – Ronnie and the Pomona Casuals – Out of Sight MP3

Listen/Download – Ronnie and the Pomona Casuals – I Wanna Do the Jerk MP3

Greetings all.

Ever since digging into the history of ‘land of 1,000 Dances’ back in the day I have had an interest in the East LA/Chicano music scene of the 1960s.

Southern California was a hotbed of Chicano bands that specialized in a a very groovy mixture of R&B, rock and soul. Groups like Thee Midniters, Cannibal and the Headhunters, the Atlantics and the Blendells laid down some of the hottest 45s (and a couple of excellent LPs) of the day.

Among their ranks was a multi-racial powerhouse by the name of Ronnie and the Pomona Casuals.

Led by guitarist Ronnie Duran, the band included his brother Jimmy on sax, lead singer Charlie Lett, drummer Philip Duran (not a brother), organist Robert Arroyo, bassist Ryan O’Brien and baritone saxophonist Bob Foley, the Casuals met and formed in high school.

They were managed by Billy Cardenas (who also produced their LP) who also handled a lot of the bigger area bands.

They recorded their album for Bob Keane’s Donna records in 1965, with none other than Arthur Lee (pre-Love) assisting on songwriting and backing vocals.

The album is a great example of the kind of blend that the East LA bands were so good at, with mostly R&B/soul material played with an exuberant, rocking feel.

The tunes I bring you today are the group’s ‘I Wanna Do The Jerk’ (rumored to have been written by Arthur Lee), and their cover of James Brown’s ‘Out of Sight’.

‘I Wanna Do the Jerk’ is one of those records where you can just picture a gym full of sweaty kids getting down while the band works it out on stage.

Their take on ‘Out of Sight’ (also covered by Cannibal and the Headhunters) has the same ragged but right feel of the rest of the record (I have no doubt that these guys played their own instruments in the studio) and the vocal by Lett is excellent.

The liner notes on the LP were written by DJ Gene Weed, who was also the host of Shivaree, one of the coolest 60s ‘dance party’ shows, which featured a lot of interesting pop, soul and R&B acts.

In addition to their LP, the Pomona Casuals recorded a handful of 45s for Donna and Mustang, and continued playing into the 1970s.

I hope you dig the tracks, 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 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

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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 24, 2016 11:23 am

“Paul Nero” AKA Klaus Doldinger

Listen/Download – Paul Nero – Soul Medley #1 MP3

Greetings all.

The record I bring you today is an interesting combination of groovy sounds and an interesting back story.
A couple of years back someone on Facebook posted a clip of today’s selection and I knew I had to go out and find myself a copy.

The interesting thing is that ‘Paul Nero’ doesn’t exist, at least under that name. He is in actuality German saxophonist and arranger Klaus Doldinger, working under a pseudonym.

Using the ‘Paul Nero’ name, Doldinger and a collection of prominent German musicians, including organist Ingfried Hoffman (aka Memphis Black) and guitarist Siegfried Schwab (who with Manfred Hubler went on to record a bunch of incredible exploitation soundtracks later compiled as Vampiros Lesbos Sexadelic Dance Party) and American expat guitarist Joe Quick (who recorded on the Memphis Black records).

There were at least four albums released under the ‘Paul Nero’ name, all composed of covers of then popular hits, some focusing on soul, and some on pop/rock.

Today’s selection (actually listed on the album as ‘This Is Soul/Soul Finger/Soul Man’) is from the 1968 ‘Soul Party’ album, which is composed entirely of similar medleys. ‘This Is Soul’ is an original composition and the other tunes were -of course – originally done by the Bar Kays and Sam & Dave.

The opening section ‘This Is Soul’ features someone (with a German accent) speaking the intro, after a sweet drum break (one of the reasons this album is sought after) and the members of the band joining in one by one, a la ‘Memphis Soul Stew’. The playing – across the entire album – is quite good, in the style of a UK/Euro library LP.

My only complaint is the medley format, since I’d like to hear this band playing the entire songs.

That said, I’m going to be on the lookout for the rest of the albums (most of them were only released outside of the US).

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

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, May 3, 2016 11:49 am

Prince, Mitch Ryder and the Pointer Sisters (dig that 80s typography…)

Listen/Download – The Pointer Sisters – I Feel For You MP3

Listen/Download – Mitch Ryder – When You Were Mine MP3

Greetings all.

I can remember the first time I saw Prince.

I first became aware of his music when I was still in high school, and he popped up on the Midnight Special playing ‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’. He was unlike anything I’d seen before, and at the time, unlike anything I was listening to.

When ‘Controversy’ came out in 1981 it was the first Prince tune that really caught my ear, but it wasn’t until 1984, when ‘Purple Rain’ came out that I actually owned one of his records.

Prince has never appeared here on Funky16Corners before, due mainly to the fact that we concern generally ourselves with soul and R&B of a much earlier vintage. That said, no matter how much, or how often Prince transcended those genres, he was a master of both and tribute must be paid.

Prince was one of those artists for whom the term ‘sui generis’ seems to have been created.

Though, in retrospect, it’s pretty easy to suss out his roots and influences (though maybe less so with the visual element stripped away, which considering that his fame came about during the video age may be a moot point), one of the reasons that he first rose to prominence was precisely because he was hard to pin down stylistically.

He was mixing then contemporary funky R&B with new wave and rock, reaching for the same threads that George Clinton had grabbed (Hendrix, James Brown*) and pulling them into a more streamlined future where he would expand on their appeal to the larger pop audience.

His status as a giant in modern culture, as a songwriter, musician, performer, discoverer and nurturer of other people’s talent in unquestionable and the size of the gap he leaves behind is sure to widen as the years go on and people have the opportunity to take in the full scope of his work and influence.

Though the first thing most people think of is Prince as a remarkable performer – a man who was able to combine the flash and virtuosity of Jimi and JB with the outsized showmanship of the P-Funk empire – he was also a great (and prolific) songwriter, evidenced not only is his own work, but by how many of his songs have entered the public consciousness via other artists.

The first time I can recall hearing a Prince song done by someone else was when Chaka Khan took ‘I Feel For You’ (then a five year old album cut by Prince) to the top of the charts in 1984. I didn’t know it was a Prince song when I heard it, but finding out that he had written it gave me a whole new level of respect for him.

The next decade saw Prince songs becoming hits by the Bangles, Sinead O’Connor, Sheila E and many others.

The cuts I bring you today are two earlier covers of his songs from the years right before Prince turned from a singer into a genuine phenomenon.

The first is one that I had no idea existed for years (probably because it was overshadowed by the Chaka Khan version), is the Pointer Sisters 1982 cover of ‘I Feel For You’.

Prince had originally recorded the song as a demo intended for Patrice Rushen, and it first appeared on his self-titled 1979 album.

Recorded for the group’s 1982 ‘So Excited’ album (the title track would hit the charts twice, in 1982 and then again in 1984), ‘I Feel For You’ follows the Prince original pretty closely, taking the tempo down a hair and pushing the electric piano to the fore. It provides an interesting contrast to (and bridge between) Prince’s original and Chaka Khan’s hit, which was by any measure one of the most exciting records of the 80s.

The second tune I bring you today is Mitch Ryder’s 1983 cover of ‘When You Were Mine’. First recorded by Prince for the ‘Dirty Mind’ LP in 1980, and then appearing as the flipside of the ‘Controversy’ 45, the song was recorded by Ryder for his 1983 ‘Never Kick a Sleeping Dog’, produced by John Mellencamp under the pseudonym ‘Little Bastard’.

Ryder had been one of the best blue-eyed soul singers of the 60s, and had by this time settled into a more rock/pop style. That wasn’t a hindrance, since Prince’s version of ‘When You Were Mine’ was pretty much a straight ahead new wave record. The song was a great fit for Ryder’s seasoned rasp and it was the last time he made a dent in the Hot 100. The song was covered the following year by Cyndi Lauper on her first album.

Though it’s likely many of you have already explored Prince’s discography, if you haven’t, check it out (especially the early stuff).

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

Keep the faith

Larry

*There’s a bootleg recording of Prince at the Fillmore in 2004 that features a scorching version of the JB’s ‘Pass the Peas’ featuring none other than Maceo Parker on sax.

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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, April 26, 2016 10:58 am

The Soul Survivors

Listen/Download – Soul Survivors – Tell Daddy MP3

Greetings all.

Today’s selection comes to you courtesy of the Funky16Corners ‘Hey, I didn’t Know They Had Another Record’ department.

The Soul Survivors (of Philadelphia, PA) are best known as the band that put Gamble and Huff on the map with their huge 1967 hit ‘Expressway To Your Heart’.

Though they had a minor hit with 1967’s ‘Explosion In Your Soul’, their chart presence was in steady decline throughout their career.

Their Crimson LP and 45s are all cool, but for most people (myself included for a long time) that was the end of the story.

So, imagine my surprise some years ago when I found their 1969 Atco LP ‘Take Another Look’ at a garage sale. I honestly had no idea they’d ever recorded post-Crimson (they even went on to record for TSOP into the 70s!), so I grabbed the album and took it home.

While I wouldn’t describe the record as a complete success, I will say that it has some definite highlights.
Recorded partly in Philly with Gamble and Huff at the boards, and partly in Muscle Shoals with Rick Hall, ‘Take Another Look’ is definitely worth a listen.

My favorite track on the album is the Soul Survivors return to the original “masculine” version (the song was after all written by Clarence Carter, prior to its legendary recording by Etta James as ‘Tell Mama’) of ‘Tell Daddy’.

The arrangement adds a slightly more modern/swampy edge to the familiar sound, but the overall effect is classic soul, with great vocals by the band and some tight hornwork. There’s very little of the 1969, bare feet in the mud white boy over-singing, with the Soul Survivors keeping it right, tight and outtasite.

This LP doesn’t turn up a whole lot, but it is definitely worth picking up if you find it.

I hope you dig it, and I’ll 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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, April 24, 2016 9:49 am

Sandy Nelson

Listen/Download – Sandy Nelson – Love Is Like an Itching In My Heart MP3

Greetings all.

Today’s selection sees us returning to the “you find groovy music in the strangest places file”, as well as another visit from our friend Sandy Nelson.

Long story short, Sandy Nelson was one of the most ubiquitous instrumental artists of the 1960s. The drummer had his first hits with ‘Teen Beat’ in 1959 and ‘Let There Be Drums’ in 1961, and though he didn’t make much of a stir on the charts after that, he churned out a steady succession of LPs (mostly for Imperial) in the 60s and early 70s, covering rock, pop and soul hits with a fair amount of style and verve, backed by the cream of LA sessioners.

Today’s selection is Nelson’s 1966 cover of my all-time favorite Supremes cut ‘Love Is Like an Itching In My Heart’.

Released on his ‘Superdrums’ LP, Nelson’s version of the tune has enough punch and style to make it on a soul dance floor. He hits that snare drum like it owes him money, and the arrangement, heavy on guitar and sax is a killer.

Nelson had enough style imbue his soul covers with plenty of heat (I really wish I had this one on a 45), and managed to attack garage and pop tunes with the same verve.

His records are cheap and easy to find at your better garage sales and flea markets (or on-line if that’s how you roll), and there is always something cool on them.

So get digging, 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, April 14, 2016 9:26 am

Big Jay McNeely and Band – The Squat (Swingin’)
Big Jay McNeely and Band – Without a Love (Swingin’)
Leon Haywood – The Fat Fish (Fat Fish)
Leon Haywood – A River’s Invitation (Convoy)
Leon Haywood – Soul Cargo (Fat Fish)
Leon and the Burners – Whiplash (Josie)
Leon and the Burners – Crack Up (Josie)
The Packers – Hole In the Wall (Pure Soul Music)
The Packers – Go Head On (Pure Soul Music)
The Hideaways – Hide Out (Mirwood)
Leon Haywood – Soul On (Imperial)
Leon Haywood – Cornbread and Buttermilk (Imperial)
Leon Haywood – 1-2-3 (Imperial)
The Soul Machine – Bag of Goodies (Pzazz)
The Soul Machine – Twitchy Feet (Pzazz

Listen/Download – Funky16Corners Presents: Leon Haywood at the Organ 1962-1968 MP3

Greetings all.

The end of the week is here, and so is the Funky16Corners Radio Show, dropping 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 online via the TuneIn app or Mixcloud, or grab an MP3 right here at the blog.

News came down the pike last week that the great Leon Haywood had passed away at the age of 74.

Fans of 60s and 70s soul would have been familiar with vocal hits like ‘It’s GotTo Be Mellow’, ‘Mellow Moonlight’ or ‘I Want’a Do Something Freaky To You’.

However, as I discovered – quite by accident, years ago – Leon Haywood was not only a smooth singer, but a Hammond wrangler of the first order.

Turning over a few of his Decca and Imperial 45s revealed organ instrumentals, and then delving deep into the mystery behind that recording of the Packers’ ‘Hole In the Wall’, it was gradually revealed that in addition to a great singing voice, Haywood was just as comfortable on the keys.

He recorded on organ and piano frequently through the 1960s, often as a backing musician, or under a group alias, and then pretty much abandoned the sideline as he got more popular in the 70s.

I had this mix simmering long before he passed away, but as soon as I heard he was gone, I moved it to the front burner.

Born in Texas, he moved to California in the early 60s where he hooked up with the band of R&B saxophonist Big Jay McNeely, with whom he made his first records as an organist. I’ve included both sides of one of his 1962 McNeely 45s, both tunes co-written by Haywood. ‘The Squat’ and ‘Without a Love’ both feature Haywood using a wide open, slightly distorted/overmodulated organ sound in a heavily reverbed production. ‘The Squat’ is a wild R&B dancer, with it’s flipside working a more sedate, bluesy side of the street.

The next few songs fall into the window of 1965-1966, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they weren’t in exact chronological order.

Haywood recorded a full album for the LA label Fat Fish in 1966, which included a few vocal numbers (but did not include his big Northern Soul number ‘Baby Reconsider’ which was on a later Fat Fish 45), as well as a grip of piano and organ instrumentals. I’ve included three tracks from this album, including the tunes ‘Fat Fish’, ‘Soul Cargo’ and his swinging cover of Percy Mayfield’s ‘A River’s Invitation’, which appeared on the album as well as a Convoy 45 (where I first heard it).

Next up is both sides of a 45 that I had for at least 15 years before I realized it was Haywood, by Leon and the Burners. ‘Whiplash’ – which uses a similar organ sound to the McNeely 45 – owes a debt to Alvin Cash’s ‘Twine Time’. The flipside, ‘Crack Up’ has a lean, Memphis sound to it.

The next two sides see Leon Haywood walking into the midst of the one of the most interesting musical mysteries of the classic soul era. The Packers ‘Hole In The Wall’ was a Top 5 R&B/Top 40 Pop hit in the Fall of 1965. The session was put together by LA DJ the Magnificent Montague, and included most of Booker T and the MGs (minus Duck Dunn) who were in LA recording with Bobby Darin, saxophonist Packy Axton of the Mar-Keys, and none other than Leon Haywood on organ (Booker T on piano) and Earl Grant on bass.

All would have been clear enough had this been the only record the Packers did, but Axton went on (with a variety of other players) to record a bunch of “Packers” records over the next few years, as well as both sides of the ‘Hole In the Wall’ 45 being issued in the US and the UK as two differently named songs by someone named Joe S. Maxey (more here).

Complicating matters even more, is the fact that Nat Nathan, sometimes with Haywood (sometimes without) would also record a bunch of ‘Hole In the Wall’-esque 45s (you can see the roots of the Packers “sound” in Haywood’s Fat Fish sides), including ‘Hide Out’ by the Hideaways on the LA Mirwood label.

As I mentioned earlier, Haywood included organ and piano instrumentals on his Decca LP ‘It’s Got To be Mellow’ and on the B-sides of his Decca and Imperial 45s. Included here are the originals ‘Soul On’ (45 only) and ‘Cornbread and Buttermilk’ (from the LP) and the 45-only cover of Len Barry’s ‘1-2-3’.

The last two tracks in this mix are the two sides of a great, funky 1968 Hammond 45 that I was after for years, only bagging a copy late last year. The Soul Machine’s ‘Twitchie Feet’ b/w ‘Bag of Goodies’ (recently covered by the Incredible Say Whats) were played, produced and written by Haywood, during his time with the LA-based Pzazz label (where he also recorded with Little Janice).

Now, I have no doubt whatsoever that there are gaps in this mix, especially where Haywood’s work as a sideman, or pseudonymous bandleader are concerned. I have a few 45s that I suspect are his handiwork, but no hard evidence to go on. If any of you have any records to add to the list, please let me know.

Haywood spent time between his 60s and 70s hits working in the studio, backing people like Shuggie Otis. He also started his own Evejim label, and worked as a producer.

He was a talented performer, and will be missed.

I hope you dig the mix, 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 (1)

By Larry, April 10, 2016 11:18 am

Travis Wammack

Listen/Download – Travis Wammack – Night Train MP3

Greetings all.

It behooves me to warn you that listening to the 45 you see before you may cause heart palpitations, nervous collapse or both, depending on how much coffee and or sugar you have ingested.

Travis Wammack is one of those names that keeps popping up on compilations of instrumental hits, due to his 1964 hit ‘Scratchy’.

Wammack was born in Mississippi but made his name playing in Memphis as a leader, sideman and working as a hired gun for giants like Little Richard (he was Mr Penniman’s bandleader for a decade).

Today’s selection, a cover of the strip club perennial ‘Night Train’. Written and performed by Jimmy Forrest in 1951, ‘Night Train’ was covered countless times by R&B, soul, jazz and rock performers, including the mighty James Brown.

Wammack’s version of the song is one of those instances of source material taken out back, draped over a pile of hand grenades, soaked in nitroglycerine and then blowed up (real good).

I mean, hot damn if this isn’t two and a half minutes of pure, unadulterated insanity. Wammack’s guitar sounds as if it’s being pumped through a Leslie speaker, and the band (just guitar, bass and drums) is recorded in as raw a fashion as I have ever heard on a major-label 45.

Ostensibly a showcase for Wammack’s guitar bad-assery, it serves more as a vivid example of what will happen when intoxicated people are let loose on musical instruments and recording equipment.

The flipside, ‘Karate Time’ is infinitely more subdued, but also quite groovy.

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.

Comments (1)

By Larry, April 5, 2016 11:39 am

Listen/Download – The Majestic Choir and the Soul Stirrers – Why Am I Treated So Bad MP3

Greetings all.

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

The tune I bring you today is a favorite of mine (which has appeared here –on the blog or the podcast – in other versions by the Staple Singers (Pop Staples wrote the song), the Sweet Inspirations, Bobby Powell, the Wildare Express and Brian Auger Trinity).

Not only is it a very groovy song on its own – sonic – merits, but also because it has a certain genre flexibility and depth that made it a standard, but in several different settings.

Originally recorded by the Staple Singers in 1965, the song was a perfect distillation of the group’s unique mixture of blues, soul and gospel, bringing with it an explicit civil rights message that couldn’t have been more timely. The Staples even took another – more modern/soul – run at the tune a few years later, with Larry Williams at the board.

The version I bring you today was recorded in 1967 (released in 1968) combining the voices of Harold Smith’s Majestic Choir (who had done a few gospel albums for Checker) and the legendary Soul Stirrers (who were also recording for Checker at the time).

Sounding as if it were recorded 100% live in the studio, their version of ‘Why Am I Treated So Bad’ manages to come on with a soulful edge, due in large part to the funky backing band and the tight harmonies.

Interestingly enough, Checker appears to have been reaching for a soul/gospel crossover with the Majestic Choir (starting with a 1967 45 including versions of ‘People get Ready’ and ‘What the World Needs Now’) that predates the breakthrough of the Edwin Hawkins Singers by two years.

I dig this version a lot, and I hope you do too.

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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, March 24, 2016 11:49 am

Funky16Corners Presents Go Go Shoes – Mix for Night Train Radio Show
The La Salles – La La La La La (VIP)
Jimmie Preacher Ellis and the Odd Fellows – (C’Mon) Let’s Dance to the Drum Beat (Kris)
Tina Britt – The Real Thing (Eastern)
Johnny Jay and the Gangbusters – Gangbusters Blues (Josie)
Gene Waiters – Shake and Shingaling Pt2 (Fairmount)
Cannibal and the Headhunters – Shotgun (Date)
Dottie Cambridge – He’s About a Mover (MGM)
Gravities (Bobby Newton’s Band) – Do the Whip (Instrumental Version) (Mercury)
Lonnie Youngblood – Go Go Shoes (Fairmount)
Ronnie Rae and the Dynamics – Funky Shuffle (RJR)
Soul Continentals – Bowlegs (Sound Stage Seven)
Big Maybelle – 96 Tears (Rojac)

Listen/Download – Funky16Corners Presents: Go Go Shoes MP3

Greetings all.

A while back Steve and Paul of the Night Train radio show (92.3 Sheffield Live in the UK) asked if I’d put together a guest mix for their show.

That mix airs this Thursday, (3/24 11pm GST/ 7pm EST), and you can pick yourselves up a download right here at the blog.

The Night Train guys requested a tight half hour, and that’s what you get, with soul, R&B and Northern sides mixed together for your dancing (and listening) pleasure.

These are all (with a few exceptions) fairly new additions to the Funky16Corners crates, so aside from a play or two in the podcast, they haven’t appeared here before.

So tune into the Night Train, pull down the ones and zeros, and have yourselves a great 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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, March 20, 2016 11:52 am

Johnny ‘Hammond’ Smith

Listen/Download – Johnny Hammond – Higher Ground MP3

Greetings all.

I thought we’d ease ourselves into the week with some long-form, funky Hammond organ from the man who’s name matched the axe, Johnny ‘Hammond’ Smith.

Known alternately as Johnny ‘Hammond’ Smith (he attached the Hammond to set himself apart from guitarist Johnny Smith and organ maestro Jimmy Smith) and Johnny Hammond (as he is here, having detached the ‘Smith’ in 1974, JHS was one of the masters of the classic era of organ led soul jazz.

He recorded for Riverside and Prestige from the late 50s into the early 70s, moving on to Kudu in 1971.

Today’s selection, his cover of Stevie Wonder’s 1973 hit Higher Ground’ comes from his (Hammond’s) 1974 LP of the same name.

Here Johnny gets to stretch out (the shortest track on the album is over seven minutes long) with a hot band that included Steve Gadd on drums, Ron Carter on bass, George Benson on guitar and electric piano by the arranger for the date, none other than Bob James.

It is a very groovy session for one relatively late in the game. There’s a little of that Creed Taylor CTI/Kudu polish (always a good thing) but also plenty of head nodding funk (the album also includes the heavily sampled ‘Big Sur Suite’).

All of his Kudu LPs are highly recommended.

I hope you dig the track, 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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.