{"id":7538,"date":"2019-01-13T11:19:40","date_gmt":"2019-01-13T16:19:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/funky16corners.com\/?p=7538"},"modified":"2019-01-13T11:19:51","modified_gmt":"2019-01-13T16:19:51","slug":"best-of-f16c-all-strung-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/funky16corners.com\/?p=7538","title":{"rendered":"Best of F16C – All Strung Out"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Example\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Funky16Corners Presents: All Strung Out<\/strong><\/p>\n


San Remo Golden Strings \u2013 Hungry For Love (Ric Tic) 1965
San Remo Golden Strings \u2013 I\u2019m Satisfied (Ric Tic) 1966
Luther Ingram Orchestra \u2013 Exus Trek (Hib) 1966
Kaddo Strings \u2013 Crying Over You (Impact) 1966
Robert Walker and the Soul Strings \u2013 Stick To Me (RCA) 1967
Lebaron Strings \u2013 Now She\u2019s Gone (Solid Hit) 1967
Soulful Strings \u2013 Burning Spear (Cadet) 1967
Soulful Strings \u2013 Soul Message (Cadet) 1968
Soul Strings and a Funky Horn \u2013 Yester Love (Solid State) 1968
Soul Strings and a Funky Horn \u2013 Think (Solid State) 1968
Soft Summer Soul Strings \u2013 I\u2019m Doing My Thing (Columbia) 1969
Soulful Strings \u2013 Chocolate Candy (Cadet) 1969
Soulful Strings \u2013 Zambezi (Cadet) 1969
101 Strings \u2013 A Taste of Soul (Alshire) 1970 (also billed as Les Baxter and 101 Strings)
Gordon Staples & the Motown Strings \u2013 Strung Out (Tamla\/Motown) 1971
Gordon Staples & the Motown Strings – Get Down (Tamla\/Motown) 1971
Soft Summer Soul Strings \u2013 Theme For Soul Strings (Columbia 1969)
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Listen\/Download -Funky16Corners Presents: All Strung Out – 98MB Mixed Mp3\/256K<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

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NOTE: This has been an exceptionally busy week, so I thought I’d dig into the archives and repost a favorite mix. I hope you dig it (or re-dig it) and I’ll catch you all next week. – Larry<\/strong><\/p>\n

Greetings all.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Welcome to another week here at Funky16Corners.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What you see before you is the result of one of my musical obsessions, taken to the nth degree.<\/em><\/p>\n

Longtime readers of Funky16Corners will already be hip to the fact that I am a huge fan of the Soulful Strings.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I consider Richard Evans<\/strong> to be a genius, and the work he did for the Cadet label, with the Soulful Strings and otherwise made for some of the finest music of the 1960s.<\/p>\n

It was a while back, while prepping a blog post about a JJ Barnes<\/strong> 45, that I discovered, quite by accident that two of his sides had been redone (using the same raw tracks) as string instrumentals on a Solid Hit 45, billed as the Lebaron Strings<\/strong> (after label honcho Lebaron Taylor<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

This got me thinking about other \u201cstrings\u201d instrumentals, and so the search began.<\/p>\n

I dug back into my own crates, and started to look elsewhere and was surprised by much of what I found.<\/p>\n

The \u201csoulful string\u201d instrumentals can be divided into pre-and-post Soulful Strings.<\/p>\n

The first wave, starting with the San Remo Golden Strings<\/strong> made its way onto vinyl in 1965.<\/p>\n

The first of these tracks, \u2018Hungry For Love\u2019 got its start as an uncredited instrumental on the flipside of Barbara Mercer\u2019s<\/strong> 1965 Golden World 45 \u2018The Things We Do Together\u2019.<\/p>\n

Reportedly, when the instrumental started to get some airplay, Ed Wingate<\/strong>, using the name of an Italian town that he and his wife had been to on vacation, paired the tune with \u2018All Turned On\u2019 (featuring pianist Bob Wilson<\/strong>) and the San Remo Golden Strings were born.<\/p>\n

The \u201cgroup\u201d was in fact various and sundry moonlighting Funk Brothers<\/strong>, backed by string players from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra<\/strong>, led by violinist\/concertmaster Gordon Staples.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Hungry For Love\u2019 was a minor hit, as was its follow-up \u2018I\u2019m Satisfied\u2019. Another San Remo cut, \u2018Festival Time\u2019 buoyed by the Northern Soul scene, became a UK Top 40 hit in 1971.<\/p>\n

The UK soul scene is an important link, especially in regard to the early string-laden instrumentals.<\/p>\n

\u2018Exus Trek\u2019 by the Luther Ingram Orchestra<\/strong> was released in 1966. It was an instrumental dub of that single\u2019s A-side \u2018If It\u2019s All the Same To You\u2019. Both sides of the 45 became popular spins in the UK.<\/p>\n

The same can be said of 1966s \u2018Crying Over You\u2019. An instrumental version of Duke Browner\u2019s<\/strong> vocal of the same name got its own 45 release, three catalog numbers before Browner\u2019s version (both writing and production are credited to Browner. As with the Ingram 45, both sides became popular spins on Northern dance floors.<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t been able to track down much in the way of info on Robert Walker and the Soul Strings<\/strong>. The involvement of producer\/arranger Ernie Wilkins<\/strong> suggests to me that it was a Detroit record. The side presented here, \u2018Stick To Me\u2019 is classic Northern Soul and is one of the rarer 45s in this mix. The flipside \u2018The Blizzard\u2019 is a great, uptempo dance craze vocal.<\/p>\n

\u2018Now She\u2019s Gone\u2019 by the aforementioned Lebaron Strings was released in 1967, pre-dating the vocal version of the tune by JJ Barnes by a year.<\/p>\n

As I mentioned earlier, these tracks can largely be divided into pre-and-post Soulful Strings eras.<\/p>\n

Though Detroit producers and musicians were ladling strings over all kinds of records (the classy sound of strings an important component of what would become known\/collected as Northern Soul) Richard Evans work with the Soulful Strings<\/strong> was the first purpose-built example of the sound.<\/p>\n

It was in Evans hands that the string aspect of the music became more than an embellishment. He integrated the sound of the string section with the more innovative aspects of the Cadet Records sound. That he had access to the finest musicians in Chicago had a lot to do with the artistic success of the records.<\/p>\n

Their first album \u2018Paint It Black\u2019 was released in 1966, but it wasn\u2019t until \u2018Burning Spear\u2019 charted, making it into the R&B Top 40 in early 1968 as well as having regional success on Chicago radio that the group had some success.<\/p>\n

Not only was \u2018Burning Spear\u2019 covered many times, but the group must have been selling LPs, since Cadet released no less than seven albums, including a live set and a Christmas record.<\/p>\n

Evans was no less than a visionary, taking what could have been a simple, easy listening concept and doing something entirely unexpected with it.<\/p>\n

The first two Soulful Strings tracks included in this mix are the classic \u2018Burning Spear\u2019 from the 1967 LP \u201cGroovin\u2019 With the Soulful Strings\u2019 and \u2018Soul Message\u2019 from 1968\u2019s \u2018Another Exposure\u2019. Both are fantastic examples of the broad palette that Evans was working with.<\/p>\n

The remainder of the tracks in the mix seem to have been following the lead of Evans and the Soulful Strings to varying degrees.<\/p>\n

\u2018Soul Strings and a Funky Horn\u2019,<\/strong> released in 1968 seems a direct attempt to capitalize on the sound of the Soulful Strings. Produced by Sonny Lester<\/strong> for his Solid State label, the record bears no other credits whatsoever (aside from songwriting).<\/p>\n

The LP was a mixture of covers of obvious hits and more obscure numbers.<\/p>\n

The two tracks included here, a cover of the Smokey Robinson and the Miracles<\/strong> \u2018Yester Love\u2019 and Aretha Franklin\u2019s<\/strong> \u2018Think\u2019 may not be nearly as adventurous as the Soulful Strings, but the band and the arrangements are tight.<\/p>\n

The Soft Summer Soul Strings<\/strong> are another mystery. Though the catalog number of the 45 seems to indicate a 1969 vintage, the music on the 45 points to a somewhat earlier time.<\/p>\n

The first tune included here, \u2018I\u2019m Doing My Thing\u2019 is a fairly obvious lift of the Supremes’<\/strong> \u2018Where Did Our Love Go\u2019 and the flip (with which we close the mix) \u2018Theme For Soul Strings\u2019 applies the same MO to King Curtis\u2019<\/strong> \u2018Soul Serenade\u2019 (both 1964 records). I haven\u2019t been able to make any connections using the info on the labels, so if anyone knows where this one is from, please drop me a line.<\/p>\n

The next two cuts hail from what in my opinion is the finest of all the Soulful Strings albums, 1969\u2019s \u2018String Fever\u2019. The first of the group\u2019s albums to be composed almost entirely of original material and featuring some of the grooviest sounds of their catalog, \u2018String Fever\u2019 is also one of the hardest Soulful Strings albums to come by.<\/p>\n

\u2018Chocolate Candy\u2019 and \u2018Zambezi\u2019 are both funky, forward thinking and leave the listener wondering why the Soulful Strings weren\u2019t much more successful.<\/p>\n

The next cut is an aberration of sorts, since it comes not from the world of soul, but out of Exotica. \u2018A Taste of Soul\u2019 was released a few different times, credited to Les Baxter, Les Baxter and 101 Strings<\/strong> and just 101 Strings.<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the more prolific exploit-Exotica outfits, 101 Strings created albums aimed squarely at squares, especially those with \u2018hi fi\u2019 systems.<\/p>\n

The California-based Alshire label was home to all manner of cash-in records aimed at the rock, pop, country and easy listening markets. There were dozens of albums issued under the 101 Strings name, including classical, ethnic, exotica and pop efforts.<\/p>\n

This material, once recorded was often issued and reissued with different covers, in different collections, getting the maximum mileage out of the product.<\/p>\n

\u2018A Taste of Soul\u2019 is itself an anomaly in the Alshire catalog. Though the cut opens with waves of strings that sound like they were lifted from a contemporary movie soundtrack, once the drums come in (and they come in heavy) you begin to realize that you\u2019re hearing something unusual.<\/p>\n

Where Cadet may have been casting an eye at the easy\/hi-fi crowd with the Soulful Strings albums, leaving them in the hands of Richard Evans and the Cadet house band took them in another direction entirely.<\/p>\n

101 Strings, emanating from the 99 cent bins in supermarkets, gas stations and occasionally record stores had no overt musical agenda beyond basic competence, but like any broken clock that reads the correct time twice a day, they struck gold with \u2018A Taste of Soul\u2019 (which even had a 45 release under Baxter\u2019s name).<\/p>\n

Gordon Staples<\/strong> and his compadres from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra were fixtures on all manner of Detroit soul records, for Motown as well as various and sundry smaller labels. It was in 1970 that Staples and the Funk Brothers (once again, anonymously) were paired yet again as \u2018Gordon Staples and the String Thing\u2019<\/strong> (aka the Motown Strings<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Of all the tracks in this mix, Gordon Staples and the String Thing meet the Soulful Strings on their own turf and come away looking (and sounding) quite good.<\/p>\n

The 1970 LP \u2018Strung Out\u2019 features a couple of well-chosen covers, as well as a grip of excellent originals penned by Motown arranger Paul Riser<\/strong>. Riser, who won a Grammy with Norman Whitfield<\/strong> for the instrumental b-side of \u2018Papa Was a Rolling Stone\u2019 wrote some stellar material for the String Thing\/Motown Strings.<\/p>\n

The first cut here \u2018Strung Out\u2019 \u2013 which also saw release as a 45 \u2013 is sought out by crate diggers and is a great showcase for the Funk Brothers (dig that James Jamerson<\/strong> bass line).<\/p>\n

\u2018Get Down\u2019, which is a little less laid back features some excellent guitar work.<\/p>\n

Many of the tracks from the \u2018Strung Out\u2019 album were recycled a few years later on the soundtrack to the Fred Williamson<\/strong> Blaxploitation flick \u2018Mean Johnny Barrows\u2019.<\/p>\n

The last track in this mix \u2013 the only one presented out of chronological order \u2013 is the Soft Summer Soul Strings \u2018Theme For Soul Strings\u2019. As I mentioned before, it sounds as if it was written as a \u2018tribute\u2019 to King Curtis\u2019 1964 \u2018Soul Serenade\u2019. It\u2019s slow, mellow, and is a great way to close out the mix.<\/p>\n

I hope you dig this look into an often forgotten chapter of the \u2018soul story\u2019.<\/p>\n

Also, make sure to follow Funky16Corners<\/strong> on Instagram<\/strong><\/a>, Twitter<\/strong><\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keep the faith<\/strong><\/p>\n

Larry<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Example\"<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>  <\/strong><\/p>\n

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If you dig what we do here or over at Funky16Corners, please consider clicking on the Patreon link and throwing something into the yearly operating budget! Do it and we’ll send you some groovy Funky16Corners Radio Network (and related) stickers!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Example\"<\/a>
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Funky16Corners Presents: All Strung Out San Remo Golden Strings \u2013 Hungry For Love (Ric Tic) 1965San Remo Golden Strings \u2013 I\u2019m Satisfied (Ric Tic) 1966Luther Ingram Orchestra \u2013 Exus Trek (Hib) 1966Kaddo Strings \u2013 Crying Over You (Impact) 1966Robert Walker and the Soul Strings \u2013 Stick To Me (RCA) 1967Lebaron Strings \u2013 Now She\u2019s Gone […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[129,11,14,66,12],"tags":[169,251],"class_list":["post-7538","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-best-of-funky16corners","category-funk","category-funky16corners","category-instrumental","category-soul","tag-northern-soul","tag-soulo"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pMKgo-1XA","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/funky16corners.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7538","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/funky16corners.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/funky16corners.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/funky16corners.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/funky16corners.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7538"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/funky16corners.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7538\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7541,"href":"https:\/\/funky16corners.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7538\/revisions\/7541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/funky16corners.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7538"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/funky16corners.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7538"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/funky16corners.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7538"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}