Don Julian and the Larks

Listen/Download – Don Julian and the Larks – Shorty the Pimp Pt1 MP3

Listen/Download – Don Julian and the Larks – Shorty the Pimp Pt2 MP3

Greetings all.

Don Julian, with the Meadowlarks (an early, integrated doowop group) and then the Larks, was a West Coast R&B/soul/funk fixture in the 50s, 60s and 70s, recording for a variety of labels, like RPM, Specialty and Money.

The Larks worked their way through classic soul styles, with Julian and the group making their way right into funk by the early 70s.

‘Shorty the Pimp’ is a masterpiece of Blaxplo-funk, and has something of a mysterious provenenance.

The track (anda few others that found release on 45) were supposedly part of a soundtrack to an unreleased blaxploitation movie called ‘Shorty the Pimp’, which, considering the cinematic reach of the song is entirely believable.

That, and the fact that the deep, spoken voice on the track is none other than Don Julian’s running buddy, Richard ‘Louie Louie’ Berry!

‘Shorty the Pimp’ is a slow grooving, funky mover, mixing falsetto vocals, group harmony and the aforementioned narration with some of the finest lyrics ever composed about life on the streets. There’s lots of cool rhythm guitar and organ working its way in and out of the mix.

Julian and the Larks would also create the soundtrack for the film ‘Savage’ around the same time.

‘Shorty the Pimp’ was sampled almost two decades later by Too Short on his own track of the same title.

‘Shorty the Pimp’ appeared on the rare Don Julian and the Larks LP ‘Super Slick’, but if you don’t have a coupla hundo burning a hole in your pocket, you can score a copy of this most excellent 45 for a fraction of that.

I hope you dig it, 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.

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.