Homer Banks

Listen/Download – Homer Banks – Round the Clock Lover Man MP3

Greetings all.

Changes are afoot!

Starting today, the Funky16Corners blogging experience begins its transition into the (grandiosely named, but with tongue in cheek) Funky16Corners Radio Network!

The changes are as thus – The concentration of the operation will continue its shift to podcasting/radio, with the Funky16Corners Radio Show originating every week as a live broadcast, Thursday nights at 9PM Eastern on MIXLR, and will continue to be posted as a downloadable podcast every Friday, and broadcast in the UK on Cruising Radio.

The Iron Leg Radio Show will also move to a monthly live broadcast (day to be determined) also on MIXLR and will continue to be broadcast on Cruising Radio in the UK.

Actual written blogging will continue, but will likely be limited to one new post a week.

This year’s Funky16Corners Allnighter/Pledge Drive will evolve into a Summer of Soul, with a new guest mix posted here (starting at the end of June) once a week, every week for the duration of the summer.

So dig in, join me on Thursday nights, and keep watching this space for further details.

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Over the last five years or so, Homer Banks has become one of my all time favorite artists.

As both a performer and songwriter, Banks made some of the finest Memphis soul 45s of the 1960s.

He was a fine singer in the Southern soul tradition, and wrote some killer tunes, for himself as well as artists like the Mad Lads, Wilson Pickett, Johnnie Taylor, Sam and Dave and Jeanne and the Darlings.

Today’s selection was released in 1968 and has an interesting pedigree indeed.

‘Round the Clock Lover Man’ was written by Banks and Allen Jones, produced by Johnny Keyes and Packy Axton of the Packers/Pac-Keys and arranged by Keyes as well.

‘Round the Clock Lover Man’ finds Banks harmonizing with himself (I think) with an interesting melody, mid-tempo pace and carefully applied horns and piano.

It exists in a kind of odd gray area half a step up from ballads but not quite aggressive enough to be a dancer.

This doesn’t suggest that the quality isn’t first rate, but rather that the song is not easily pigeonholed.

It was the second-to-last of the singles in his 66-68 run with Minit.

As far as I know Banks work as a performer has yet to be gathered in one place and reissued, which is a damn shame as it’s all good.

I hope you dig the tune.

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My weekly radio show for WFMU’s Give the Drummer Radio, Testify! is on the air live, every Wednesday night from 10-12. If you dig Funky16Corners and/or Iron Leg I think you’ll dig it. So tune in when you get a chance!
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Also, make sure to follow Funky16Corners on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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. <