Cody Black

Listen/Download – Cody Black – Stop Trying To Do What You See Your Neighbor Do MP3

Greetings all.

The end of the week is nigh, and so then is the Funky16Corners Radio Show, which drops each and every Friday (on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Mixcloud and Funky16Corners.com) with the best in funk, soul, jazz and rare groove, all on original vinyl.

We end the week with a later side from one of those singers beloved by the Detroit aficionados on the UK soul scene (yet barely here in the US).

Cody Black came up in Ohio (not far from King Records) , but did the bulk of his recording for a variety of Detroit labels from 1961 into the mid-70s.

His work is of a consistently high quality, yet he never really had more than regional success (in and around Detroit) until he was discovered by the Soulies in the UK.

Today’s selection ‘Stop Trying To Do What You See Your Neighbor Do’ was released in 1970 on Capitol, produced by Ted White (the former Mr Aretha Franklin) and co-written by Black and Tony Johnson (of Tony and Tyrone).

‘Stop Trying…’ was recorded in the Motor City yet has many of the hallmarks of Southern soul from around the same time.

The relaxed, yet slightly funky beat, the piano, bass and guitar are all very cool, and the female backing singers drop in at all the right times.

Black has a cool, slightly raspy and very flexible voice.

The flipside, ‘Ain’t No Love Like Your Love’ has more of a gospel flavor to it (so much so that I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a reworking of an actual gospel song).

He recorded a series of singles with White’s Stone’Roc outfit in 1969 and 1970, and doesn’t seem to have entered the studio again until the late 70s.

Black’s 45s from this era are fairly cheap and easy to find, unlike his earlier Northern sides, many of which are very rare, and very, very expensive.

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.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.