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

 

 

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

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.