Little Joe Cook

Listen/Download -Little Joe Cook and the Thrillers – Funky Hump MP3

Greetings all.

The end of the week is near so I will remind you once again to check out the Funky16Corners Radio Show, which 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 iTunes, listen on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, check it out on Mixcloud or grab yourself an MP3 right here at Funky16Corners.com.

Today’s selection is by another one of those groups with roots that lead back into the early days of R&B and doowop.

Little Joe Cook was a Philly-based singer who got his start in gospel in the 1940s, moving into secular music and forming the Thrillers in the early 50s. Little Joe Cook and the Thrillers went on to have R&B hits for Okeh with ‘Let’s Do the Slop’ in 1956 and then their biggest hit ‘Peanuts’ in 1957.

Cook also managed his daughter’s group the Sherrys who had a hit with ‘Pop Pop Pop-Pie’ in 1962.

The Thrillers continued to release 45s for labels like 20th Century, Reprise, Fury and Loma through the 60s.

I haven’t been able to date today’s selection definitively but it sounds like it would fall nicely sometime between 1969 and 1971. Released on the Philadelphia-based Soultown label (and as far as I can tell their only release) ‘Funky Hump’ sees Little Joe Cook and the Thrillers getting funky (of course…). The tune has a very groovy rhythm guitar figure repeated through the song, with a cool dance craze lyric delivered by Cook.

Cook retired in 2007 and passed away in 2014 at the age of 91.

I hope you dig the tune, 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.