E. Rodney Jones at the mic!

Listen/Download – E. Rodney Jones – R&B Time Pt1 (Vocal) MP3

Listen/Download – E. Rodney Jones – R&B Time Pt2 (Instrumental) MP3

Greetings all.

The new week is dawning, and what better way to slide into the groove than with the intersection of Chicago soul, motor mouth DJs and a certified Northern Soul classic?

We have covered the work of the mighty E. Rodney Jones here many times before, usually in connection with the oeuvre of Jerry-O.

Jones was one of the top DJs in Chicago during the 1960s, and like many of his compadres (see Funky16Corners Radio v.44 ‘Hey Mr DJ’) waxed a few records of his own.

‘R&B Time Pts 1&2’ was released in 1965 and was a minor hit in St Louis, as well as getting play in NY and Miami (why it didn’t chart in Chicago, where it was no doubt in heavy rotation, I do not know).

Fully credited to Jones (though I’d say it was a safe bet there were actual musicians involved) the tune is a hard charging dancer (thus the Northern Soul popularity) with a bizarre faux-Asian introduction and Jones rapping over the tune with instructions for the dancers. The flip is a straight instrumental dub (minus the weird intro).

The price of the record seems to have varied wildly, running anywhere from 30-100 dollars, and there is also a local pressing on Charisma that goes for big bucks.

It is a groover, and I hope you dig it.

Keep the faith

Larry

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PS Head over to Iron Leg too.