Listen/Download Aaron Chico Bailey and the Family Affair Band – The Point Pt1

Listen/Download Aaron Chico Bailey and the Family Affair Band – The Point II (Eclipse 5-24-75)

Greetings all

The middle of the week is approaching so I thought I’d fire up a tasty little funk 45.

I first heard ‘The Point’ by Aaron ‘Chico’ Bailey and the Family Affair Band way back on one of those old Mod Jazz CD comps.

It was a while before I tracked down a copy of the 45, and when I did I was surprised to discover that it was from 1975.

Though I’ve tried to find out something (anything) about the band over the years, I have been almost entirely unsuccessful.

The Kris label, founded in the early 60s by southern transplant Mel Alexander, was based in Los Angeles. Its discography included a lot of blues, R&B, soul and funk, and stretched on (at least as far as vinyl is concerned) into the late 70s.

Kris released a bunch of sides by Jimmie Preacher Ellis (who also recorded for another west coast label, ROUND), funky bluesman Chick Willis, Little Joe Blue and Harmonica Fats.

Aaron ‘Chico’ Bailey appears to have been active on a few labels in the mid-70s (I find at least one other 45 on the LaVal label) and though he only had one 45 under that name for Kris, there is another single by Chico and the Family Tree Band, ‘What’s Your Point Pts 1&2’ that I’d be willing to bet is the same guy.

‘The Point’ and “The Point II (Eclipse 5-24-75)” sounds like it was recorded at least five years earlier than it was. The sound is raw, and the funk (dig the bass player) definitely has a late 60s/early 70s vibe to it. The a-side is listed as ‘instrumental w/voice effects’, but there’s not much in the way of vocals. I dig the percussion breakdown near the end of Pt1.

“The Point II (Eclipse 5-24-75)” includes some extended saxophone soloing.

I have no idea what happened to Aaron ‘Chico’ Bailey after 1975.

If any of you do, please drop me a line.

Until 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.