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By Larry, June 23, 2015 10:46 am

DJ BLuewater – Over and Over

Dermot Lynch – Cool It
The Three Tops – It’s Raining
Lloyd & Glen – Keep On Pushing
Whistling Willie – Soul Tonic
The Ethiopians – Losing You
The Tonettes – What You Gonna Do About It
The Techniques – Where Were You
Pat Kelly – Trouble In Mind
The Freedom Singers – Real Gone Loser
Johnny Osbourne – Go Find Yourself A Fool
Alton Ellis – Personality
John Holt – Have You Ever Been In Heaven
The Sensations – War Boat
Johnny Osbourne – Warrior
The Hippy Boys – National Dish
Johnny Organ – Something Tender
Boris Gardner – Don Juan
Sound Dimension – Psycho Reggae
Dennis Alcapone – The Sky’s The Limit
Fabulous Five – Come Back And Stay
Dave Barker – Green Grows The Lilacs
The Heptones – Cry Baby Cry
Glen Adams – She’s So Fine
John Holt – Let’s Dance
Zoot Simms – All Rudies In Jail

Listen/Download DJ Bluewater – Over and Over

Greetings all!

Today’s set comes to you from another Asbury Park 45 Sessions head, the mighty DJ Bluewater.

Bluewater has some of the deepest Jamaican crates around, and always whips up a stellar mix of reggae and rocksteady sounds for the Allnighter/Pledge Drive.

This time out is no expection, with over an hour of fine, vintage island sounds.

So dig it, make your donation via the Paypal button and stay tuned for more sounds.

Tomorrow: DJ RP of Funkdefy!

Everyone that donates will get the 2015 premiums, including the new badge and a bumper sticker!

See you on Monday.

Keep the Faith

– Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, June 22, 2015 11:29 am

Vincent the Soul Chef – Easy Chair Sessions Vol II

01 Plain Brown Bag-Jimmy McGriff (Capitol)
02 Sophisticated Funk-John Roberts (Duke)
03 The Philly Freeze-Alvin Cash (Mar V Lus)
04 Chicken Crazy-Joe Tex (Dial)
05 Sorry Bout That-Syl Johnson (Stateside-French)
06 The Train-Ray Charles (Tangerine)
07 Doing My Thing-Ray Bryant (Chess)
08 Twitchie Feet-The Incredible Say Whats (Lugnut Brand)
09 Modern Jive-Pretty Purdie (Date)
10 Ann-The Meters (Josie)
11 No More Water In The Well-Odell Brown & The Organizers (Cadet)
12 Cook Out-King Curtis (Atco)
13 Show Me-The Dells (Cadet)
14 That’s How I Feel-The Sisters Of Righteous (King)
15 Getting Away-Cliff Nobles & Co. (Phil LA Of Soul)
16 Friends-Dickie Goodman (Rainy Wednesday)
17 Popcorn Charlie-Charles Spurling (King)
18 Beware Of The Dog-Georgie Fame (Epic)
19 Respect-Dick Hyman (Command)
20 Do What’s Right-Eddy Seay (Imperial)
21 Keem O Sabe-The Electric Indian (United Artists)

Listen/Download Vincent the Soul Chef – Easy Chair Sessions Vol II

Greetings all!

Today’s set comes to you from our old friend, Vincent the Soul Chef.

Proprietor of Fufu Stew, and a frequent contributor of guest mixes to this site (and I to his) Vincent has deep crates and outstanding taste.

First, a few word from Vincent:

“Once again I am proud to be a part of the annual Funky16Corners Soul Club celebration. I took a seat in my easy chair to spin just a few sides at random, a reprise of a five year old concept… Lots of personal favourites, new acquisitions and some from way in the back of the crate. It’s all here, presented with the utmost respect as always. Grab a chair, sit back, relax and enjoy.”

So dig it, make your donation via the Paypal button and stay tuned for more sounds.

Tomorrow: DJ Bluewater!

Everyone that donates will get the 2015 premiums, including the new badge and a bumper sticker!

See you on Monday.

Keep the Faith

– Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (2)

By Larry, June 21, 2015 10:45 am

Chris Lujan – Dirty Dirty Podcast

Mickey and His Mice – Cracker Jack (Marti)
Bobby Freeman – Four Piece Funky Nitty Gritty Junky Band (Double Shot)
Fat Albert Orchestra and Chorus – Fat Albert (Hey, Hey, Hey) (Tetragrammaton)
Alvin Cash – Moaning And Groaning (Toodlin’ Town)
Jimmy McGriff – Step One (Solid State)
Rodger Collins – She’s Looking Good (Galaxy)
Ray Charles Orchestra – Booty Butt (Tangerine)
Georgie Fame – Beware Of The Dog (Epic)
James Brown Play and Directs – The Chicken (King)
Albert King – Cold Sweat (Stax)
Syl Johnson – Ode To Soul Man (Twinight)
The Ikettes – Peaches and Cream (Modern)
Soul Sisters – I Can’t Stand It (Sue)
Jimmy Smith – Goldfinger (Part II)
Cliff Nobles – The Horse (Phil-L.A. of Soul)
Booker T. & the MG’s – Chinese Checkers (Stax)
The Exciters – A Little Bit Of Soap (Bang)
Ike & Tina Turner – Sweet Rhode Island Red (United Artists)
Natural Bridge Bunch – Pig Snoots, Part II (Atco)
Dave “Baby” Cortez – Organ Shout (Chess)
The Mar-Keys – Bo-Time (Stax)
The Delegates – Funky Butt (Mainstream)

Listen/Download Chris Lujan – Dirty Dirty Podcast

Greetings all!

Today’s set comes to you from my man Chris Lujan.

When he’s not playing bass with the mighty M-Tet, Chris is spinning the turntables on the Dirty Dirty Podcast.

This is his first mix for Funky16Corners and he comes correct, with a grip of funky and soulful stuff, including lots of Hammond organ!

So dig it, toss something into the tip cup via the old Paypal button and stay tuned for more groovy stuff.

Tomorrow: Vincent the Soul Chef!

Everyone that donates will get the 2015 premiums, including the new badge and a bumper sticker!

See you on Monday.

Keep the Faith

– Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, June 18, 2015 10:39 am

Tarik Thornton – Corvette Summer

The Sylvers- Stay Away (MGM)
James Carpenter (Marriage is Only) a State Of Mind (Kent)
The Edwards Generation – I Need You Only (Tight)
King Ernest Baker- I Can’t Turn You Loose (Supreme)
Ray J & Norma Jean ” This Is Our Song Of Love (Hep’ Me)
Bob Brady – Love Is The Master (Chariot)
The O’Jays- Hold On (United Artists)
Bobby Jones- Talking Bout Jones'(EXPO)
Bad Weather Inc.- I Never Never Knew(Bad Weather)
Lillian Dupree- Hide in Seek ( D-Town)
Lil Gary – Are You Foolin’ ( Jerma)
The Gaturs- Yeah You’re Right,You Know You’re Right ( Gatur)
Maxine Crayton – Don’t Take Your Love (Steeltown)
Garland Green- Ain’t That Good Enough (Revue)
Jo Ann King – Don’t Play With Fire (Fairmount)
The Floaters – Take One Step At A Time (ABC)
Jackey Beavers – Trying To Get Back To You PT. 1 ( Dade)
De-Lite-Ful – Forget That Girl ( Vigor)
The Prophets Of Peace – The Max ( Maxx)
The Main Ingredient- Rolling Down The Mountainside ( RCA)
Barrett Strong – Man Up In The Sky (Capitol)
William Devaughn- Hold On To Love ( Tec)

Listen/Download Tarik Thornton – Corvette Summer

Greetings all!

Today’s set comes to you from our old friend Tarik Thornton.

One of my favorite selectors (with many past mixes here at Funky16Corners), with roots in the Crescent City, Tarik always comes loaded for bear, and this time is no exception.

‘Corvette Summer’ is packed with cool grooves (including a lot of stuff that was new to me!), including some NOLA heat.

Dig it, click on that Paypal button and have yourselves a great weekend!

Coming Monday: Chris Lujan of the M-Tet and the Dirty Dirty Podcast!

Everyone that donates will get the 2015 premiums, including the new badge and a bumper sticker!

See you on Monday.

Keep the Faith

– Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, June 17, 2015 11:38 am

New Directions In Sound: A Fuzzy Rock Forty Five Mix For The Whole Family.

Crazy Elephant – In the Dark Part of My Mind
Sound Syndicate – Little Girl
The Music Machine – Talk Talk
Whichwhat – Parting
The Tremelos – Instant Whip
Fumaca Preta – You, Me Libertar
Count Five – Psychotic Reaction
The Hombres – Let It Out
The First Edition – Just Dropped In
The Shadows of Knight – Oh Yeah
The Feathers – Trying To Get To You
The Monkees – (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone
Terry Knight and The Pack – Numbers
The Standells – Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White
The Nite Liters – Set Me Free
The Rugbys – You, I
The Seeds – Pushin’ Too Hard
The Pyramids – Penetration
Mercy – Fireball

Listen/Download DJ Prestige – New Directions In Sound

Greetings all!

Today’s mix comes to you courtesy of the mighty DJ Prestige of Fleamarket Funk.

Proprietor of one of the foremost funk and soul blogs, master selector/collector, Prestige was the founder of the Asbury Park 45 Sessions.

This year, Pres has favored us with a very groovy departure from form, indeed, dropping a hot mix of fuzzed out rock 45s!

It’s a very solid playlist, and those of you that hit up Iron Leg as well as Funky16Corners will flip!

So dig it, and when you get the feeling, click on that Paypal button and toss something our way.

Tomorrow: Tarik Thornton!

Everyone that donates will get the 2015 premiums, including the new badge and a bumper sticker!

See you tomorrow.

Keep the Faith

– Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, June 16, 2015 11:17 am

Prime Mundo Get On the Bus
the sisters and brothers – yeah, you right [uni]
the maskman and the agents – stand up [bbc records]
sonny green – lock it up and don’t lose it [united artists]
earth wind and fire – c’mon children [warner bros.]
syl johnson – different strokes [twilight]
big john hamilton – big bad john [minaret]
ohio players – pain pt. 1 [westbound]
the interpertations – soul affection [bell records]
little milton – poor man [checker]
calvin leavy – brought you to the city [blue fox]
ella washington – fragile [sound stage]
julie driscoll, brian auger and the trinity – shadow of you [atco]
gene page – satin soul [atlantic]
the soul purpose – funnin’ [chisa]
black bass band – kami sound blues [disques carrere]
barrabas – mellow blow [atco]
jimmy lomax – remember me [camille]
jackie opel – shelter the storm [studio one]

Listen/Download DJ Prime Mundo – Get On the Bus

Greetings all!

Today’s mix comes to you courtesy of my man and old-school Asbury Park 45 Sessions compadre DJ Prime Mundo.

In addition to his work as a master chef, Prime is one of the finest selectors I know, with a remarkable ear and impeccable taste.

Back in the day, his sets were always a highlight of the 45 sessions, and he carries on that tradition with his guest mixes.

I know you’ll dig it.

While you’re here, click on the Paypal button and throw something into the till to help keep the lights on here at Funky16Corners.

Tomorrow: DJ Prestige!

Everyone that donates will get the 2015 premiums, including the new badge and a bumper sticker!

See you tomorrow.

Keep the Faith

– Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (2)

By Larry, June 15, 2015 10:39 am

Ben Gibson – Mo’Soul

Al Foster Band – Night Of The Wolf – Mellow Mellow Records
Frank Beverley & The Butlers – If That’s What You Wanted – Inferno
Dean Parrish – I’m On My Way – O.O.T.P
The Vontastics – Never Let Your Love Go Cold – St. Lawrence
Chris Clark – Something’s Wrong – SOUL
Sister Sledge – Love Don’t You Go Through No Changes On Me – Atco
Harvey – Any Way You Wanta – Tri-Phi
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis – Don’t Make A Fool Out Of Me – Sunday Best
Jackie Wilson – I’m So Lonely – Brunswick
Chairmen Of The Board – When Will She Tell Me She Needs Me – Invictus Records
The People’s Choice – Big Ladies Man – Phil-La Of Soul
Johnnie Morisette With Jennell Hawkins Sexette – I’m Hungry – J.&J. Records
Richard Marks – I’m The Man For You – Now-Again
Frank Motley & The Bridge Crossing – Ya-Ya – Jazzman Records
Billy Hawks – (Oh Baby) I Do Believe I’m Losing You – BGP
Leon Bridges – River – Columbia Records

Listen/Download Ben Gibson – Mo’Soul

Greetings all!

Today I bring you the first guest mix of the 2015 Allnighter/Pledge Drive, ‘Mo’Soul’ from my man in the UK, Ben Gibson.

First, a few words from Ben:

“I’m sure that those of you that drop by Funky16Corners regularly will all agree that Larry is a huge cornerstone (pardon the pun!) of our scene! I’ve been visiting this great site for years now and I’ve lost count of the many great records that I’ve been hipped to from Larry often resulting in a hurried and sometimes feverish spending spree, ask my bank manager, I’m sure he could tell you!

I urge you all to continue to support this great resource of information and music so Larry can carry on sharing his great collection and knowledge with us!

It’s a massive honour to have been asked to contribute, so here’s 50 minutes of the good stuff from my playbox for your listening pleasure!

Enjoy!

Ben”

So dig it, click on the Paypal button, (Everyone that donates will get the 2015 premiums, including the new badge and a bumper sticker!)and sit back and groove to the sounds. Tomorrow: DJ Prime Mundo!

See you tomorrow.

Keep the Faith

– Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, June 14, 2015 11:14 am

Funky16Corners Presents: Soul Party Vol1 – A Lot of Love

The Precisions – If This Is Love (I’d Rather Be Lonely) (Drew)
Bob Kuban and the In Men – SOS (Stop Her On Sight) (Musicland USA)
Jackie Lee – Temptation Walk (Mirwood)
Little Richard – Function at the Junction (Okeh)
Timothy Wilson – Got To Find a New Love (Buddah)
Billy Harner- Sally Sayin’ Something (Kama Sutra)
Faye Ross – Faith, Hope and Trust (Round)
Mighty Dodos – Honey I Need Your Love (Spark)
Bob and Earl – The Sissy (Cheyne)
Larry Williams and Johnny Watson – A Quitter Never Wins (Okeh)
Felice Taylor – Love Theme (Inst) (Mustang)
Gene Pitney – She’s a Heartbreaker (Musicor)
The Platters – Washed Ashore On a Lonely Island (Musicor)
The Belles – Don’t Pretend (Mirwood)
Roscoe Robinson – That’s Enough (Wand)
The Olympics – I’ll Do a Little Bit More (Mirwood)
Ike and Tina Turner – Dust My Broom (TRC)
Taj Mahal – Ain’t That a Lot of Love (45 Edit) (Columbia)

Listen/Download Funky16Corners Presents:Soul Party Volume 1 – A Lot of Love

Greetings all!

Welcome to the 2015 Funky16Corners Alnighter and Pledge Drive.

This is the annual MP3 fete in which yours truly and a gathering of my favorite selectors present you with a series of brand new mixes (in a variety of styles) in the hope that you’ll dig deep and throw something in the pot for the Funky16Corners yearly operating budget (server space/bandwidth etc).

As always, Funky16Corners.com brings you new posts every week, as well as maintaining an archive with literally hundreds of mixes, as well as over 250 episodes of the Funky16Corners Radio Show Podcast.

This time out there are some killer mixes, which will spool out, one every weekday for the next few weeks.

I have created two brand new Northern Soul mixes for this year’s Allnighter, which will open and close the ceremonies.

This first mix, ‘Soul Party Vol1 – A Lot of Love’ packs a grip of my dance floor favorites into 45 minutes of pure listening pleasure. There are some old faves, some recent acquisitions, some long-time white whales finally harpooned, all of them upbeat and primed for the dancers in the crowd!

Over the next few weeks you will see a ton of new mixes from some of the best selectors out there, all new, all excellent and all ready to download.

Every day you’ll also see a Paypal/Donate button (see below) which you can click on to give to the cause!

So dig it, click on the Paypal button, and sit back and groove to the sounds from my friends Ben Gibson, DJ Prime Mundo, DJ Prestige, Tarik Thornton, Chris Lujan, Vincent the Soul Chef, DJ Bluewater, DJ RP of Funkedfy, and Heavy Soul Brutha!

Everyone that donates will get the 2015 premiums, including the new badge and a bumper sticker, as well as a ‘classic’ Funky16Corners sticker or two as long as supplies last!

See you tomorrow with a new mix by Ben Gibson!

Keep the Faith

– Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (1)

By Larry, June 11, 2015 10:58 am

The Cooperettes

Listen/Download – The Cooperettes – Everything’s Wrong

Greetings all.

The end of the week is here, and so is the Funky16Corners Radio Show, which rolls into town each and every Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio. If you can’t be there at airtime, you can subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, listen on your mobile device via the TuneIn app,or grab an MP3 here at the blog.

____________________________________________________________________

This coming Monday, 6/15 brings the beginning of the 2015 Funky16Corners Allnighter and Pledge Drive!
Things are getting underway a little later than usual this year, thanks to some family commitments as well as lining up some spectacular new mixes for your listening pleasure.

You’ll be digging mixes from old faves like Asbury 45 Sessions vets DJ Prestige, DJ Prime Mundo and DJ Bluewater, Tarik Thornton, DJ RP of Funkdefy, Vincent the Soul Chef, and Heavy Soul Brutha, as well as new 2015 contributors Chris Lujan (of the M-Tet and the Dirty Dirty Podcast) and Ben Gibson, all bookended by two brand new Northern Soul mixes by yours truly!

All contributors will receive the new 2015 Funky16Corners badge, as well as one (or more, as supplies last) of the groovy stickers you see above, as well as my eternal gratitude.

So get your ears ready!

____________________________________________________________________________

Today’s selection is yet another winner out of the Harthon galaxy of stars.

The Cooperettes discography is not long, but it is packed with winners.

Their ‘Shing-a-ling’ (also known in the unissued verion by Irma and the Fascinators as ‘You Need Love’) was one of the first big Northern 45s I tracked down back in the day, and it remains a favorite.

The group included the Cooper sisters, Janette, Debbie, Tina and Angie, and released a half dozen 45s between 1966 and 1969 for labels like Brunswick, ABC and IDB.

‘Everything’s Wrong’ was their second 45, released in early 1967 and was a minor local hit in Philadelphia.

A great, mid-tempo dancer, with a Shirelles feel to it (interesting since the tune was co-written by Wes Farrell, who penned ‘Boys’ for that group), ‘Everything’s Wrong’ is yet another one of those records that should have been a hit, but got lost in the pop tidal wave of 1967.

The Cooperettes had a second wave of popularity with the Northern Soul scene, when ‘Shing-a-ling’ was reissued in the UK in 1975.

I hope you dig the tune, and I’ll see you all on Monday for the Allnighter.

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.

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, June 9, 2015 11:59 am

The Contours

Listen/Download – The Contours – Just a Little Misunderstanding

Greetings all.

Since the middle of the work week is approaching, I though it apt that I should smooth us all over the hump with one of my all-time favorite soul 45s.

The Contours, despite having made a grip of excellent records, and one of the biggest/best remembered soul hits of the 60s (‘Do You Love Me’) are something of an also-ran, which is in no way an artistic judgement, but rather the public perception.

Their work was of a consistently high quality, yet they labored in the shadow of the bigger Motown stars like the Temptations and the Four Tops.

They had eight R&B Top 40 hits between 1962 and 1967, with today’s selection, ‘Just a Little Misunderstanding’ their second-to-last hit, making it into the R&B Top 20 in June of 1966.

Co-written by Clarence Paul, Morris Broadnax and a youngster by the name of Stevie Wonder (who also plays drums on the record!), ‘Just a Little Misunderstanding’ is both a guaranteed dance floor killer, but also has enough pop hooks to stick in your ears.

The stylish lead vocal is by Joe Stubbs (brother of Levi) who had done time in the Falcons and went on to join 100 Proof Aged In Soul.

This would be Stubbs’ only lead vocal with the Contours, and he was soon replaced by Dennis Edwards (who would later join the Temptations).

‘Just a Little Misunderstanding’ re-entered the UK charts in 1970.

It is a very groovy record, and ought to have a place of honor in any soul DJ’s box.

I hope you dig it as much as I do, and I’ll see you all on Friday.

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.

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (2)

By Larry, June 7, 2015 11:25 am

Listen/Download – The Stagemasters – Baby I’m Here Just To Love You

Greetings all.

The record you see before you this fine day hopped into my crates years ago during one of those stellar Allentown all-45 digging sessions.

I had never heard (or heard of) the Stagemasters, but the disc looked cool, so I gave it a spin on the portable and it went directly on the ‘keeper’ stack.

The ensuing years have revealed little about the group or their outstanding stomper of a 45.

Going with the information available on (and about) the label, the Stagemasters hailed from the Reading, PA area.

The Slide label was owned buy a cat named Lenny McKinnon, who also owned the Lorraine, Reading and Hit-Kingdom imprints.

‘Baby I’m Here Just To Love You’ was initially released in 1966 on Slide, then again in 1968 (with a different flipside) on Hit-Kingdom.

It is a storming floor-filler, opening with some very heavy rhythm guitar and bass, followed by a rough, wailing lead vocal and some groovy harmonies.

The record has the kind of relentless energy that the UK soulies dig so much, which is probably why it eventually got a bootleg pressing across the pond.

You can pick yourself up a copy of the Slide issue for between 20 and 30 bucks (for some reason the Hit-Kingdom pressing goes for well over 100 bucks).

I hope you dig the track, and I’ll see you all on Wednesday.

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.

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (0)

By Larry, June 4, 2015 12:14 pm

Ben Aiken

Listen/Download – Ben Aiken – If I Told You Once (I Told You a Million Times)

Listen/Download – Ben Aiken – You Were Meant To Be My Baby

Greetings all.

As the end of the week is near, allow me to remind you once again about the Funky16Corners Radio Show, which takes to the airwaves of the interwebs each and every Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio. If you can’t be there at airtime, you can keep up with the show by subscribing to it as a podcast in iTunes, listening on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, or by grabbing an MP3 here at the blog.

Also, all mixed are in-house, and the go date for this years’s Funky16Corners Allnighter/Pledge Drive will be 6/15, with a new mix being posted every weekday for the next few weeks. This year you’ll get mixes from Ben Gibson (Mo’Soul), DJ Prime Mundo, DJ Prestige, Tarik Thornton, Chris Lujan, Vincent the Soul Chef, DJ Bluewater, DJ RP of Funkdefy, HeavySoulBrutha and of course, two new assemblages from my own crates!

There’s a groovy new badge for this year’s premium (and lots of stickers), so dial into the vault and get ready!

Today’s selection found its way into my crates via that old standby, brand loyalty.

I was out digging at a stoop sale, and though I had never heard of Ben Aiken before I put my hands on this 45, seeing the Loma label, and the name of the mighty Jerry Ragovoy, it moved immediately to the keeper pile, and came home with me.

Possessed of an Eddie Holman level tenor, with a sweet touch, and based in Philadelphia, Aiken recorded a string of 45s for labels like Squire, Roulette (he had his biggest success with his 1965 Roulette 45 ‘Stay Together Young Lovers’), Loma and Philly Groove between 1965 and 1972. I have also seen references that seem to indicate that he also sang with a number of other groups on Philly Groove during his time with the label.

‘If I Told You Once (I Told You a Million Times)’, written and produced by Ragovoy and arranged by Herb Bernstein was Aiken’s first 45 for Loma in 1967.

A classic Ragovoy ballad, ‘If I Told You Once…’ starts off slow and easy, but picks up a little steam with a really interesting key change in the bridge.

Aiken’s vocals are excellent, and the flip ‘You Were Meant to Be My Baby’ is a nice, upbeat dancer.

Once again, another excellent Jerry Ragovoy production is cast into the ether and inexplicably, all but ignored by the listening public.

As far as I can tell, you can only pick up Aiken’s Loma material on original 45s, or on the series of Loma reissue LPs that came out in the 70s. His later Philly Groove stuff is accessible on a Collectables CD.

I hope you dig the tracks, and I’l see you all next week.

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.

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.