Bill Deal and the Rhondels

Listen/Download Bill Deal and the Rhondels – Tuck’s Theme

Greetings all

I hope that the end of another week finds you well.

As Friday is upon us, I should remind you that the Funky16Corners Radio Show returns to the airwaves of the interwebs this and every Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio. You can also subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, or grab an MP3 here at the blog.

The tune I bring you today has been languishing in my crates for a long ass time, mainly because of a bad case of lost-in-the-shuffle-it is.

I picked up my 45 of Bill Deal and the Rhondels ‘Tuck’s Theme’ years ago and for no good reason at all, forgot all about it.

I say for no good reason because once you hear ‘Tuck’s Theme’ you will – as would any sane person – realize that it is a superb bit of funk with a big, fat, swaggering drum break.

The name Bill Deal may be a familiar one, especially if you have access to oldies radio here on the East Coast, the further south the better.

Deal was a keyboardist and bandleader out of the Tidewater area of Virginia who – along with the Rhondels – hit the charts a number of times in the late 60s with their rollicking brand of brass-inflected, blue-eyed soul (covering cuts by artists like Maurice Williams and the Tams).

The band recorded half a dozen 45s (and an LP) for the Heritage label (also home to the Show Stoppers), of which ‘Swingin’ Tight’ b/w ‘Tuck’s Theme’ (released in 1969) was the fourth, it’s A-side grazing the Top 40 in a number of regional markets.

The cut features Deal working it out on some kind of clavinet-like electric keyboard, backed by the brass section, with a fuzzed out guitar eventually chiming in.

Things really get cracking when drummer Ammon Tharp lays down that big, swinging break.

It’s really is a killer, one of those that’ll have your head nodding as you get into the groove.

The record has ben sampled a few times, by groups like Jurassic 5 and People Under the Stairs.

Bill Deal and the Rhondels became an institution on the Beach Music scene, carrying on in one form or another until Deal’s passing in 2003 (though a version of the group, billed as Bill Deal’s Band still tours today).

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

Keep the faith

Larry

 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived!

The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock.

They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US).

Click here to go to the ordering page.
Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

 

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

One Response to “Bill Deal and the Rhondels – Tuck’s Theme”

1. ray says:

   January 12, 2013 at 9:20 pm

   very cool AND a picture sleeve!