Lionel Hampton – Funky Chicken
Lionel Hampton
Listen/Download – Lionel Hampton – Funky Chicken MP3
Greetings all.
I have sung the praises of the mighty Lionel Hampton in this space many times over the years.
Hampton had serious, solid jazz credentials going back to the mid-1930s and the Benny Goodman Orchestra.
Like many of his contemporaries, when the 1960’s rolled around, and the demand for, and popularity of large jazz bands started to wane, Hampton made many (artistically) successful attempts at musical relevancy, including the epic 45 ‘Greasy Greens’ on his own Glad-Hamp label.
Starting in 1972 Hampton signed with Brunswick Records and recorded a series of albums aimed at a younger market, recording versions of many contemporary pop and soul hits.
1976’s ‘Off Into a Black Thing’ was his fifth and final outing for Brunswick, and despite it’s placement firmly in the disco era, it included a number of earlier, funkier sounds.
The track I bring you today is Hampton covering Willie Henderson’s 1970 ‘Funky Chicken’ (the title track of Hampton’s album is another tune from Henderson’s album).
‘Funky Chicken’ isn’t only a cover, but it also uses the same backing track as the 1970 original, with Hampton soloing over it (and someone rapping over that).
It’s nothing groundbreaking, but since the OG is so funky, and Hamp’s (he was closing in on 70 when he recorded it!) vibes sound very groovy indeed, I’ll take it.
Oddly enough, Hampton’s Brunswick albums are fairly hard to come by, but worth picking up when you find them.
I hope you dig the tune, and I’ll see you all next week.
Also, make sure to follow Funky16Corners on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Keep the faith
Larry
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