Comments (14)

By Larry, December 3, 2011 11:22 pm

Mr Howard Tate

Listen/Download – Howard Tate – Get It While You Can

Greetings all.

It bums me out to have to pass on the news that one of the great soul singers of the 60s, and the man behind one of my personal Top 5 soul 45s, the mighty Howard Tate has passed away at the age of 72.

Though I’d settled in for the night, I knew that it behooved me to get my ass out of bed and pay tribute to a man who’s voice has touched me so deeply.

I have yet to get details on the circumstances of his passing, but suffice to say Howard Tate had it all, lost it all and got a fair amount of it back before he left this earth.

‘Get It While You Can’ is an epic soul record which has appeared in this space at least three times, including (sadly) to mark the passing of Jerry Ragovoy earlier this year.

It is a record that hit me in the heart the first time I heard it and every single time after.

Howard Tate made a lot of great music during his career, but none of it comes close to the power of ‘Get It While You Can’.

The article below was originally posted back in 2005 when this blog was barely a year old.

Dig it, and remember how great Howard Tate was.

Peace

Larry

Howard Tate in the early 70s

Originally posted 10/25/05

To say that the 1960’s was a golden age for music (especially soul music) isn’t exactly breaking new ground.

The 60’s were a turbulent time…blah, blah, blahhhhh.… That said, there was so much great soul music being made back then, that much of it has been forgotten (if it was ever noticed in the first place). It certainly doesn’t help that the heart of this “golden age” was almost 40 years ago, meaning that most of the people that experienced it first hand have forgotten, moved on, or sadly REALLY moved on (i.e. expired…). Sure, there are lots of folks like me (and my ilk…) who jump up and down, waving our hands like a bunch of kooks trying to get people to remember, but aside from the curious few (which is – don’t get me wrong – far better than the curious “none”), spontaneous stampedes created by a newfound upswell in soul music fandom are few and far between (if not completely non-existent…).

I am also reminded – frequently – that as obscure as my tastes are (and they are obscure with a certain populist seasoning added), the world of record collector-dom is filled with people who’s focus is much more laser-like than mine, drilling ever deeper into the dark labyrinth of forgotten/neglected vinyl. As long as their purpose is to eventually share the information and music they excavate, more power to them. These kinds of things work like ripples on a pond. Even if the first impact/discovery is visible to an isolated group of collectors/specialists, the ripples spread, and with enough momentum, and enough popular appeal built in (on account of some things are obscure and forgotten for a good reason…) the obscurities will reach a much larger audience.

It would be unfair to list Howard Tate among those “lost” artists. Though it seems likely that were you to stop 100 people on the sidewalk, 99 (or more) of them wouldn’t know Howard Tate from Larry Tate, he actually had a long career making quality records for a relatively major label, some of which hit the charts, and as a result shouldn’t be counted with the Chicken Shack Johnson’s of the world.

Howard Tate, a singer of undeniable talent had the extremely good fortune to catch the ear of songwriter/producer Jerry Ragovoy. With songs and guidance from Ragavoy, and the backing of the Verve label (albeit not the best label for a soul singer), Tate laid down a string of powerful – and ultimately influential – singles and an LP for Verve between 1964 and 1968. The combination of Tate’s adaptable voice, and Ragavoy’s pop savvy (and fantastic songs) made for musical dynamite.

As I just mentioned Tate’s recordings were influential, and it’s entirely likely that you’ve heard today’s selection before (if not his version). ‘Get It While You Can’ became (along with other Ragavoy gems like ‘Cry Baby’, a hit for Garnett Mimms with whom Tate sang in the Gainors) a signature number for Janis Joplin.

Now, I’ve gone on record in the past as saying some rather uncharitable things about Janis, especially when it comes to her renderings of songs that I (and a lot of other folks) consider to be soul/R&B classics. While my estimation of Ms. Joplin’s talents may have been harsh, I think that if you line her covers up against the originals by Garnett Mimms, Etta James and Howard Tate (among others), the end result would not be favorable for her. While there’s certainly something to be said for an artist like Joplin’s value as a “popularizer” of lesser-known material, I’d be willing to bet that the number of people that went out and dug up Howard Tate records because they heard Janis sing ‘Get It While You Can’, is actually quite small (as they often are in these situations).

Howard Tate after his comeback

To take it to an even more basic level, I’d posit that Tate’s version is so good as to be definitive, and as a result any attempt to recreate that magic is wasted. I’m willing to admit that that statement is kind of unfair, but that’s my gut feeling every time I hear someone making hay off of a substandard reworking of a brilliant original (which seems to be the modus opperandi for the majority of the “product” generated by the entertainment industry, especially Hollywood these days). There are certainly exceptions to the rule even where the songs of Howard Tate are concerned, specifically the covers of ‘Stop’ by L’il Bob & The Lollipops and…get ready….here it comes….the epic reworking by the James Gang (you weren’t expecting that, right??? No one expects the James Gang!!!).

So, despite the fact that Howard Tate managed to graze the Top 50 a few times, his impact on the world of music was largely an artistic triumph and a commercial failure. ‘Get It While You Can’ is one of the great, shoulda/coulda/woulda stories of it’s day. When you add up all the talent involved, and the incredible performance (I’d rate it alongside great soul ballad tours de force like Otis Redding’s ‘Try a Little Tenderness’ and James Carr’s ‘Dark End of the Street’), the end result should have been a huge hit, well remembered by one and all and dragged out perennially as an example of all that was great about 60’s soul.

Unfortunately, the calculus of popularity being what it is, ‘Get It While You Can’ is a favorite of soul fans and record collectors and not too many others. The arrangement by Ragavoy is a testament to the value of understatement. Opening with quiet piano triplets, Tate comes in with a deep, gospel-inflected vocal, which builds into the anthemic (albeit brief) chorus. With the successive verses, the horns and guitar come aboard and the “build” becomes more powerful each time. Tate’s vocal soars like a beam of light from the Amen Corner, with the line ‘Don’t turn your back on love’ standing as a shining example of how amazing the fusion of gospel and rhythm & blues could be in the right hands. A lot of this has to do with the lyric by Mort Shuman, which is a simple, yet eloquent classic. Whether or not Shuman was tapping into the zeitgeist when he wrote –

“In this world, where people are fighting with each other. Nobody to care on, not even your own brother.”

– or was simply laying down a soulful tale of woe (with a word to the wise in the chorus), his words, as delivered by the mighty Tate hit home.

Following his tenure with Verve, Howard Tate recorded 45s for Lloyd Price’s Turntable label, Epic, and an LP for Atlantic (also done in tandem with Ragovoy). After 1974 Tate didn’t record for more than 25 years. He was reunited with Jerry Ragavoy in 2001 for the critically well received LP ‘Comeback’ and is touring and recording today. His Verve and Atlantic sides are available as reissues.

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (5)

By Larry, December 1, 2011 2:08 pm

The Village Callers LP

Listen/Download – The Village Callers – Hector

Greetings all.

I hope the end of the week finds things in your corner of the world settled, mellow and wonderful.

Things here are fairly groovy, with my lovely wife nestled in the warmth of home.

She’s doing well, considering the hell she’s been through, but her prognosis is good. She goes back in for round two of chemo next week, and while we’d all rather she be home, as the old saying goes, you gotta do what you gotta do, and right now that involves doctors and medicine and all that goes along and while it’s tough now we’ll have the rest of our lives to sit back and hoist our collective middle finger toward cancer as it disappears in the rear view mirror.

This has been a real awakening into the capricious nature of life, or at least what can happen to “our” life and how quickly it can be rearranged whether we like it or not. You can’t really waste a lot of time carping about why it is thus (though we’ve done that too), and in the long run the only sane thing to do is kind of stare down the beast with all the technology and mental strength you can muster, value the good things you still have (and that is a lot) and soldier on.

I won’t lie and tell you that I haven’t spilled a few tears, whether the product of fear, sadness or frustration, but I will tell you that you find real, solid comfort from all corners (sometimes in places you didn’t expect), and that is always a pleasant surprise.

Our friends – here in our immediate sphere, and out in the wilds of the interwebs – have been singularly uplifting, and in my own case, being able to retreat into the blog has been of immense value.

I should stop here and remind you that Friday night at 9PM sees the return of the Funky16Corners Radio Show on Viva Radio. This week is a survey of international funk and soul, with stops in Sweden, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Japan and Jamaica. If you can’t be there at the time of broadcast, you can always pick the show up as an MP3 on Saturday, right here at the blog.

That said, while I had a couple of articles stockpiled, I found myself straightening the record vault this week and while I was digging for a few records that I had neglected to scan, I pulled out my 45 of the Village Callers ‘Hector’ and realized, much to my surprise, that in the seven years the Funky16Corners blog has been up and running I have never (outside of inclusion in a mix or two) put the spotlight on this incredible record.

I think the first time I ever heard ‘Hector’ was wayyyy back in the day on one of the old UK ‘Sound of Funk’ comps (I think on the same volume that introduced me to ‘Iron Leg’ by Mickey and the Soul Generation) and it was a classic case of love at first listen.

It took me a few years before I got my hands on an original copy of the 45, but it has always held a special place of honor in my record box.

‘Hector’ is one of those records that has a secure place in my personal all-time Top Ten, and I always dig getting the chance to light it up on a big, loud sound system.

It has the kind of groove that builds so organically, with the drums, bass, congas, hand-claps, guitar and above all Hammond organ, that you’re up and out of your seat before you know it.

‘Hector’ has something that a lot of funk 45s don’t, that being it swings and the overall effect is nothing less than life affirming, and not on some corny, message-y way, unless you’re willing to take your message as delivered within the groove, in which case it’s super heavy and profound in the same way that sunlight, or a smile can be.

The Village Callers (borrowing their name from the Johnny Lytle soul jazz classic of the same name) were an East LA club band that mixed the soul hits of the day with Latin soul and jazz for funky stew. You can read more about their history here.

‘Hector’ is an uplifting, happy record that elevates my spirits whenever I play it, and I know that’s something I need now, and something all of you can benefit from as well, on account of the weekend is almost here.

So pull down the ones and zeros and then get up and shake to the sound of the Village Callers.

I’ll see you all on Monday.

Peace

Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (2)

By Larry, November 29, 2011 4:40 pm

Herbert Solomon: Secret Agent!

Listen/Download – Herbie Mann – Scratch

Greetings all.

The tune I bring you today is a very groovy bit of swinging soul jazz from one of my faves, Mr Herbie Mann.

I know that there are folks out there that don’t sweat Herbie the way I do, but you know I dig me some flute, as well as soul jazz of all kinds, which brings us back around to Herbie.

I would go so far as to say, with his early 70s, bare chested attempts at mainstreaming (which have their charm as well) Herbie was not only a very capable instrumentalist, but was also forward thinking, staying well ahead of the curve as it relates to the introduction of world music sounds as well as working a solid groove into his music.

He got his start in a Latin jazz bag, but by the early 60s was weaving in R&B as well and making some great records.

Now, I have a grip of Herbie’s albums, but the one that eluded me for the longest time was the one that contained today’s selection.

‘Our Mann Flute’ is – as far as I’ve seen – the most expensive of Mann’s 60s Atlantic output, mainly because it has such a groovy ‘spy craze’ cover, which means that along with soul jazz folks like me, the album is being chased by exotica fans and Beatle-booted modernists as well, thereby driving up its price and in some cases taking it out of the bargain bin (where you can find most of Herbie’s albums) and up onto the wall in a snappy, acid-free, plastic sleeve.

That said, though the version of the theme from ‘Our Man Flint’ is more Iron Leg material, the tune I bring you today is groovy indeed.

If the author credit on ‘Scratch’ rings any bells it’s probably because Wayne Henderson was part of the Jazz Crusaders, with whom this tune originated.

Mann’s version of ‘Scratch’ sees a front line of trumpet and flute (backed by pulsing saxophones) stating the main theme, before Herbie gets to step out in front for a solo.

The cut has a real dance floor push to it with some swinging flautistry by Mann and tight backing from his band.

It is a groovy cut indeed, and I hope you dig it as much as I do.

See you on Friday.

Peace

Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (6)

By Larry, November 27, 2011 12:15 pm

Symarip

Listen/Download – Symarip – Skinhead Moonstomp

Greetings all.

I should probably start by making it clear that the smooth, shiny head you found staring back at you when you pointed your browser at this page is in fact my own.

When my five year old asked me why I was bald, I told him I fell down and knocked it all loose.

The fact of the matter is that I have divested myself of hair in a show of solidarity with my wife, who just completed chemotherapy and is at home, recuperating.

It was easy for me. I just strolled into the discount barber shop (how can you possibly foul up cutting all of someone’s hair?) and said “Buzz me.”, which they did, much to my (7 year old) son’s surprise (he thinks I’m weird).

The biggest shock for me was not the ‘style’ itself, I dig the ease of short (or non-existant) hair, but that my scalp was suddenly exposed to the elements. I’m already up where the air is thin, and it’s cold. I fully expect to fall asleep on a park bench and wake up with a crown of frost on my dome.

That said, as I was ruminating on things to be blogged, I was struck by inspirado, and remembered that I had something apropos sitting in cold storage, and what better time to drop a skinhead reggae anthem than when I should have suddenly been rendered thus.

I first heard ‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ way back in the Two Tone era, when I picked up one of those ’20 Reggae Classic’ comps that Trojan put out to capitalize on how many of the ska and rock steady killers were then being repopularized by modern bands.

Symarip, a group that also recorded as the Pyramids (dig the inversion), The Bees, the Seven Letters and later Zubaba, recorded for a variety of labels (including Blue Beat, Attack, Treasure Isle and Trojan) between 1967 and 1971.

They laid down ‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ (itself basically a cover/reworking of Derrick Morgan’s ‘Moon Hop’) in 1969 (the version I have is an early-80’s UK pressing) and it quickly became an anthem for the skinhead movement in its early days when it was multi-racial, and concerned mainly with music and style, before ultra-right wing politics found its way into things.

The intro to the record is an homage to the opening to Sam and Dave’s ‘I Thank You’ and it opens up into a hard-charging dance floor party.

It’s a great, upbeat, good-timey record and a fitting send off to my locks.

I hope you dig it and I’ll be back later in the week.

Peace

Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (11)

By Larry, November 24, 2011 2:20 pm

Mmmmmmmm!

Greetings all!

This is an impromptu post, spurred on by the spirit of Thanksgiving, in which the holiday and the word take on extra special meaning.

I am thankful first and foremost that we are lucky enough to have my wife home with us for the holiday. I brought her home from the hospital this morning.

Hopefully being home and around her family will help make her stronger during her recovery.

Second, I’m thankful that I have this outlet to share my love of music with all of you.

I’m reposting the three food-related mixes I’ve done here over the years so that while you’re stuffing your gobs with gobbler, you can also stuff your ears with soul.

What you get here are the first two Soul Food mixes, as well as F16C Radio v.60 which is mostly chicken-themed, but ends in a flourish with the Niteliters ‘Serenade to a Jive Turkey’.

I hope you dig the sounds, and that you all have an excellent Thanksgiving weekend,

See you on Monday.

Peace

Larry

___________________________________________________________________________

Funky16Corners Radio v.3 – Soul Food (That’s What I Like) Pt1

Track listing

Brother Jack McDuff – Hot Barbecue (Prestige)

 Soul Runners – Chittlin’ Salad Pt1 (MoSoul)

Lionel Hampton – Greasy Greens (GladHamp)

Albert Collins – Cookin’ Catfish (20th Century)

Andre Williams – Rib Tips (Avin)

Maurice Simon & The Pie Men – Sweet Potato Gravy (Carnival)

Mel Brown – Chicken Fat (Impulse)

Lonnie Youngblood – Soul Food (That’s What I Like) (Fairmount)

Prime Mates – Hot Tamales (Sansu)

Just Brothers – Sliced Tomatoes (Music Merchant)

Leon Haywood – Cornbread and Buttermilk (Decca)

Bobby Rush – Chicken Heads (Galaxy)

Booker T & The MGs – Jelly Bread (Stax)

Gentleman June Gardner – Mustard Greens (Blue Rock)

West Siders – Candy Yams (Infinity)

Hank Jacobs – Monkey Hips and Rice (Sue)

George Semper – Collard Greens (Imperial)

Billy Clark & His Orchestra – Hot Gravy (Dynamo)

Listen Download Mixed MP3

__________________________________________________________________

Funky16Corners Radio v.9 – Soul Food Pt2

Playlist

1. Simtec Simmons – Tea Box (Maurci)

2. Johnny Barfield & The Men of S.O.U.L. – Soul Butter (SSS Intl)

3. Ronnie Woods – Sugar Pt2 (Everest)

4. Stan Hunter & Sonny Fortune – Corn Flakes (Prestige)

5. Fabulous Counts – Scrambled Eggs (Moira)

6. Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band – Spreadin Honey (Keymen)

7. Freddie Roach – Brown Sugar (Blue Note)

8. Albert Collins – Sno Cone Pt1 (TCF Hall)

9. Chuck Edwards – Chuck Roast (Rene)

10. Willie Mitchell – Mashed Potatoes (Hi)

11. Booker T & The MGs – Red Beans & Rice (Atlantic)

12. Righteous Brothers Band – Green Onions (Verve)

13. George Semper – Hog Maws & Collard Greens (Imperial)

14. Lee Dorsey – Candy Yam (Amy)

15. Roosevelt Fountain & his Pens of Rhythm – Red Pepper Pt1 (Prince Adams)

16. Bad Boys – Black Olives (Paula)

17. Willie Bobo – Spanish Grease (Verve)

18. American Group – Enchilada Soul (AGP)

DOWNLOAD – 39.3 MB Mixed MP3

__________________________________________________________________________

Funky16Corners Radio v.60 – Finger Lickin’ Good!

Funky16Corners Radio v.60 – Finger Lickin’ Good!

Playlist

____________________________________________________________________________________

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (1)

By Larry, November 23, 2011 10:57 am

Carl Carlton

Listen/Download – Carl Carlton – Don’t Walk Away

Greetings all.

I was lucky enough to find some free time in the past week, so you’re actually getting a second post for your Thanksgiving cornucopia.

Our table will – in a major stroke of good fortune – be graced by my wife, who is escaping the confines of the hospital in time to celebrate the holiday!

But first a reminder that the Funky16Corners Radio Show returns this Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio, and is posted here at the blog on Saturday as an MP3.

While the song your hearing today has been a fave of mine for a long time, it was in a completely different version.

I presented the Superlatives take on ‘I Don’t Know How (To Say I Love You) Don’t Walk Away’ back in 2007, not long after I first heard it spun at the Asbury Park 45 Sessions by my man Sport Casual.

It’s one of those epic soul 45s that go a long way toward defining the sound of the genre, especially since the Superlatives’ version mixes pure harmonies, slamming drums and a stellar arrangement.

Though a poster mentioned the Carl Carlton version when I put the song up, I didn’t get to hear it until sometime earlier this year (via my man Tony C).

Carlton should be known to most soul fans via his 1974 hit cover of Robert Knight’s ‘Everlasting Love’, or through his Northern Soul monster ‘Competition Ain’t Nothing’.

His 1969 version of ‘Don’t Walk Away’, which was a Top 40 R&B hit may not scale the heights of the Superlatives recording (which I believe is the OG), but it has its own charms, mainly Carlton’s voice.

He was only 16 at the time it was recorded (he started recording as ‘Little’ Carl Carlton) but he sounds like a much more mature singer.

The 45 was also produced by none other than Andre Williams!

As mentioned earlier, Carlton went on to have hits in the 70s and 80s, including ‘Everlasting Love’ (#6 Pop, #11 R&B in 1974) and ‘She’s a Bad Mama Jama’ (#2 R&B, #22 Pop in 1981).

I hope you dig the tune, have a happy Thanksgiving, and I’ll be back on Monday.

Peace

Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (3)

By Larry, November 20, 2011 2:00 pm

Miss LaVern Baker

Listen/Download – LaVern Baker – Batman to the Rescue

Greetings all.

I hope the new week finds you all in a groovy place.

I should take this opportunity to thank you all for your kind words during our family’s difficult time.

The good news is that the first leg of my wife’s treatment is nearing its end, leaving her a little stronger and ready to face what lies ahead.

This has been huge physical and psychological challenge for her, and the prospect of at least returning home until the next round of treatments is a pleasant one. This fight is likely to go on for some time, but it is one that we are all committed to winning, so keep sending those good vibes.

It means a lot.

I don’t recall where I first heard LaVern Baker’s ‘Batman to the Rescue’ but I do know that it was one of those ‘holy shit I have to find that record’ moments, followed (as these often are) with one of those ‘Holy shit that 45’s expensive!’ moments.

I’m not only a soul and funk fan, but also a devotee of the Batman TV show (preferring the pop art vibe to the later grim take on the character).

An in-demand mod soul classic ‘Batman To the Rescue’ is in reality a thinly disguised remake of Baker’s 1956 R&B hit ‘Jim Dandy’.

It’s a killer not only for the Batman connection, but as a great example of what a powerful singer Baker was. It’s a gas listening to her turn ‘rooftop’ into ‘roof-uh-top-uh!’ (not to mention ‘BIFF BAM SOCK POW WOOO!’) and the instrumental backing (heavy on the organ) is great.

Baker was a powerful singer who got her start in the R&B era (with hits like ‘Tweedlee Dee’) and was (like Ray Charles) an important transitional figure in the birth of soul.

She recorded for Atlantic between 1953 and 1965, moving to Brunswick from 1965 to 1968 where she recorded ‘Batman to the Rescue’.

By the time ‘Batman to the Rescue’ came out in 1966 – during the Batman craze of the time – Baker’s hit-making days (though clearly not her amazing voice) were behind her.

By the end of the 60s she had survived a serious illness, relocated to the Philippines and for the next two decades ran an NCO club on the US base at Subic Bay.

She returned to the US –  and showbiz –  in the late 80s, eventually appearing on Broadway and on the festival circuit, before her death in 1997.

I hope you dig the tune, and if you’re not familiar with her earlier stuff, make a point to check it out.
See you later in the week.

Peace

Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (14)

By Larry, November 13, 2011 3:36 pm

Reuben Wilson

Grover Washington Jr.

Listen/Download – Reuben Wilson – Inner City Blues

Listen/Download – Grover Washington Jr. – Inner City Blues

Listen/Download – Grover Washington Jr. – Mercy Mercy Me

Greetings all.

Here’s simultaneously hoping that you all are well and telling you that things are progressing as well as can be expected in our corner of the world.

My incredibly brave wife is standing tall despite chemo beating her like a rented mule.

These are hard times (a la Curtis Mayfield, Gene Chandler and Baby Huey) for her to endure treatment and for us to watch her do it.

It is alternately inspiring and disheartening, since the process reveals her ever deeper well of resilience, but also a seemingly endless supply of physical and psychological pain for her to deal with.

But, deal with it she does.

My thanks go out to the doctors and nurses who are helping her (and all of us) through this experience, as well as all the good folks who have sent messages of hope and prayer.

I’ve never had a huge amount of faith in humanity, but this experience – no matter how harrowing on its face – has also exposed our family to an extraordinary show of kindness and generosity from family and friends.

If there is an upside to this, that is it and it is humbling.

My (our) thanks to all of you.

Since I can’t guarantee more than one post a week while all of this is going on, I figure it behooves me to ensure that it brings with it a healthy dose of sounds, on which you can focus your aural ruminations until the next time I can get it together.

While I was combing the wilds of my hard drive, I happened upon a Reuben Wilson album, with an especially Hammond-groovy take on Marvin Gaye’s ‘Inner City Blues’ from his (Reuben’s) 1972 ‘The Sweet Life’ LP.

As I was giving it a listen, it occurred to me that I had other cool covers of  cuts from ‘What’s Going On’ in storage – of a similar vintage – and that I ought to pair them up in the dual causes of thematic consistency and general good music-ness.

I doubt that anyone reading this will dispute the greatness of Marvin’s 1971 epic, considered by many to be his greatest work, and one of the single finest soul LPs ever recorded.

It was a significant hit for Gaye, and it’s influence was far reaching, generating many cover versions across the soul, funk and jazz spectrums.

The first track I bring you today is the aforementioned Reuben Wilson take on ‘Inner City Blues’ (see Funky16Corners Radio v.24.5 for a very nice cover of this tune by Brian Auger).

Wilson is one of my favorite jazz funk organists of the classic era, never flashy but always stylish and on point. While he doesn’t always get the shine that some of his better known contemporaries do, his work with the Wildare Express (on Brunswick) and solo sides for Blue Note and Groove Merchant are essential.

His take on ‘Inner City Blues’ grooves hard, with some very nice soloing on the Hammond and tight, funky backing by his group.

The second and third cuts in this post are from an artist that continually shows up in surprising places.

Grover Washington Jr is a cat that I only knew from his big hits, and always assumed to have sprung up, fully formed as one of the standard bearers of smooth, R&B inflected jazz.

However, it was during my obsessive Hammond digging that I discovered that he had played with the Mark 3 Trio, and had done time in Philly area combos with none other than the mighty Charles Earland also recording as a sideman for other Prestige artists like Boogaloo Joe Jones, and Leon Spencer.

A few years back someone hepped me to his first solo album ‘Inner City Blues’, recorded for the Kudu label in 1971.

Backed by a serious group of sidemen, including Idris Muhammad, Ron Carter, Eric Gale, Bob James and Richard Tee, Washington displayed a tougher side of his sound.

I was surprised when I discovered how much work he did as a sideman for organists like Johnny Hammond Smith and Dr Lonnie Smith (were they giving everyone named Smith a Hammond organ??), as I was to discover how much I dug this album.

I was initially going to post only his lyrical, mellow cover of ‘Mercy Mercy Me’, but as I was writing this post I was listening to the album and decided that I had to include the title cut from the album as well.

Washington’s version of ‘Inner City Blues’ features some wild guitar as well as some very cool sax work by the man himself that I rougher than just about anything I’ve ever heard him play.

And really, could anyone possibly not dig the opportunity to hear two very cool versions of a song like this?

I thought not.

So, dig the Marvin worship and if I’m not back before Friday, remember that the Funky16Corners Radio Show will be back Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio, and then posted as an MP3 on Saturday.

Keep the faith and I’ll see you when I see you.

Peace

Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (10)

By Larry, November 8, 2011 2:48 pm

All hail the King

Clean cut but wild.

Listen/Download – King Curtis and the Noble Knights – Sack O’Woe

Listen/Download – Viceroys – Sack O’Woe

Greetings all.

Despite all handicaps temporal or emotional, my pathological need to share sounds with you all has elbowed its way onto the scene.

To begin, a brief update.

All is proceeding as expected with my wife currently reaching her treatment benchmarks.

This is not to suggest that she is up and doing a sprightly jig either, because as anyone who has ever endure chemotherapy will attest, there’s nothing quite like having a war going on inside your body at the microscopic level.

She is beyond tired, perpetually uncomfortable – though the term ‘uncomfortable’ seems sorrowfully inadequate to describe what she’s experiencing – worried (about the rest of us first, herself second), perplexed and most importantly angry, since one must meet the offending disease on all fronts, chemically and spiritually.

We all miss her terribly (especially the little Corners) but know that we all have to hang tough and keep her as “up” as we possibly can (while doing the same for each other).

Your good wishes are very much appreciated, and I assure you that they are being relayed to the missus as they roll in.

Of course, what better way to express these travails in music than a couple of recently acquired versions of one of my all time favorite soul jazz classics, Cannonball Adderley’s mighty ‘Sack O’Woe’.

I’ve never approached this great song in any way but instrumental, and since Mr Adderley laid it down that way, it behooves yours truly to eschew any investigation of the lyrical content (Jon Hendricks’ poetic appendage notwithstanding).

That said, were I to venture a guess as to the overall intent of the song, starting with the title and then digesting the feel of the music (especially Adderley’s versions) one would be forgiven for assuming that the vibe is not any mere gripe, but a defiant fist in the air aimed squarely at any and all oppressions, be they racial, economic, romantic or other, in the style of

‘Like, you know man, when I survey the world around me it occurs to me that what I have slung over my shoulder here is a sack o’woe.’

Which of course is a bag we Grogans find ourselves in right now, but just as soon as we find out where this leukemia cat lives, we’re gonna drop that sack on his doorstep and burn his fucking house to the ground.

You dig?

I thought that you would.

The two sacks I bring you this day come from the horn of King Curtis of Ousley and his Noble Knights, and another royal outfit from the PNW hinterlands by the name of the Viceroys.

Both recordings are of a similar, early 60s vintage, with the King plowing into the songs like a soulful bulldozer, and the Viceroys taking a slightly more laconic approach.*

Either way, both versions cool in their own way, and as soon as I find some more that I like, I shall share them too.

Make sure that you head over to MNtothat to pick up the Funky16Corners 7th Anniversary Mix. I’ll eventually post links and info here, but why wait when you can dig it now?

Make sure to check out this week’s Funky16Corners Radio Show, Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio, and I’ll see you all as soon as I see you.

Peace

Larry

*Keep in mind that both of these albums contain other treasure worth hearing, which have been, or will be played on the Funky16Corners Radio Show

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (19)

By Larry, November 4, 2011 5:12 am

Head over to Amen Brother to check out the mix and the set list!

Greetings all.

I know that after my post on Monday, it seems incongruous that I should be returning to this very space on Friday.
However, there are explanations aplenty.

I should start by giving a brief recap of the situation, that being, that after a week of feeling fatigued, my beloved wife has landed in the hospital with a case of leukemia.

In a short two weeks our world has been turned upside down, with everything we considered secure and normal shaken to its roots.

She’s weathering this disturbing (understatement alert) experience with a good deal of grace and courage, and I can only hope that I can try to match that from my side of things.

This is proving to be a painful lesson in the value of rolling with the punches, or at least attempting to do so, since no one likes to go through life catching punches, literal or figurative.

That said, we’re just trying to hang on, adjusting to the new (abnormal) ‘normal’, and doing what we can to stitch the whole mess back together as best we can.

Earlier this week, we were discussing life in general and Jen said that she’d had an opportunity to read Monday’s post (wireless internet and hand-held devices facilitating such things in the hospital setting) and she expressed her wish that I continue writing during this time.

I won’t argue with her, but I will state that anything I get posted here or over at Iron Leg will have to be wedged into the schedule as time (and sanity) allows.

I certainly have tons of stuff recorded and ready to go, so it’s only a matter of the writing and the interwebbing.

There is definitely something to be said for the restorative nature of creative pursuits, but if the old engine isn’t firing on all cylinders (said engine being what’s left of my brain) I can’t even take advantage of that, so bear with me.

I have to say that I am especially thankful for all the messages of support.

This Friday marks the seventh anniversary of the Funky16Corners blog.

It was on November 4th of 2004 that I transitioned from the old web zine format into something different, which in the beginning didn’t bear much resemblance to what you see today, unless of course you were to take Funky16Corners and Iron leg and stitch them together.

It wasn’t very long until things were purely soulful, and here we all are, seven years later, still riding the rails of the interwebs, engaged in a shared love of music.

I have always found the most satisfying part of this thing to be when one of you good people steps forward to add some info to the conversation, or merely to say thanks.

I guess that the blog is my way of expressing my thanks to all of you, at least as a reflection of how much I have always loved when someone turned me on to new sounds.

The really groovy thing is, that where I used to have those same conversations with my crate digging buddies in person, through the Funky16Corners blog I get to have the same kinds of exchanges with people from all over the world.

In this day and age where McLuhan’s Global Village seems like a dark place, it’s heartening to discover that some of us can find our own rays of light in the murk.

What you see before you is a brand new mix, conceived of and completed long before our current problems.

My man Pete Cadden of the Amen Brother crew over in Ireland saw that the anniversary of the blog was approaching and asked if I might be interested in putting together a guest mix for their site to mark the occasion.

Naturally, I said yes, and got to work on the mix you see before you (details over at MNtothat), just about an hour of tasty mid-tempo funk seasoned liberally with breaks.

There are a couple of familiar tunes, some very groovy b-sides and perhaps a few things you’ve never heard of before.

Also, make sure you check in with the Funky16Corners Radio Show, Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio (archived here on Saturday as an MP3).

I hope you dig it, and I’ll see you all soon.

Peace

Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (26)

By Larry, October 30, 2011 8:56 pm

AWWWOOOOOOOO!!!

Listen/Download – Johnny Watson – Wolfman

Greetings all, and Happy Halloween.

I hope the new week, and the arrival of the holiday find you all well.

Unfortunately, a very (very) serious and wholly unexpected health crisis has descended upon the House of Funky16Corners, and it behooves me to devote what time I have to helping my wife and sons in any way I can. Until such time as things are back to normal (or at least some semblance thereof) all blogging will be suspended.

Some things (a lot of things, actually) are more important than blogging, and so I must (temporarily) take your leave.

That said, this Monday is Halloween (and these posts were written before the hand of fate slapped us down) , so I figured I’d dip into the archives and whip something a little spooky on you all.

I’m not an avid collector of holiday material (Halloween or Christmas), but every once in a while I pick something up that fits the bill, and today’s selection is especially interesting.

There aren’t a whole lot of folks out there so identified with their chosen instrument that it gets appended to their name, and certainly none better known in the world of R&B, funk and soul than Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson.

So, you can imagine my surprise when I discovered that in 1967 he put out a piano instrumental 45.

Watson, along with his fellow legend and running buddy Larry Williams hooked up with the Okeh label in 1966 and 1967 for a brief but fruitful period in which they recorded the epic ‘Two For the Price of One’ album, collaborated with the LA psyche band the Kaleidoscope as well as releasing a few solo 45s each.

‘Wolfman’ was on the Watson solo 45 for the label (with a version of ‘Hold On I’m Coming’ on the flip) and is a great curiosity in his long discography.

Opening with the generic ‘spooky’ riff, the tune opens up into a slightly jazzy, vaguely Latin sounding piano instro with the rhythm section and horn backing.

Watson was a pretty good piano player too!

Okeh had the good sense to bill him simply as ‘Johnny Watson’, probably figuring that the ‘guitar’ would only confuse people.

In the end it didn’t matter, since the 45 doesn’t seem to have met with any success on either the R&B or Pop charts (unlike the Williams/Watson duets that hit the R&B Top 40 in 1967 and 1968).

Either way, it’s a very groovy 45 (scan the Funky16Corners Radio Show archives for the other side of the record) and I hope you dig it.

Don’t take any unwrapped candy, and I’ll see you all as soon as life allows.

Peace

Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (3)

By Larry, October 27, 2011 1:52 pm

The cover (above) The Banana Splits (below)

Listen/Download – Cal Tjader – The Tra La La Song

Greetings all, and join me as we wind up another week on the good ship Funky16Corners.

Since it is almost Friday, I must remind you all that the Funky16Corners Radio Show returns to the airwaves of the interwebs this and every Friday night at 9PM at Viva Radio.

This week features some very groovy stuff, as well as a nice little Halloween set for those in need something spooky and soulful. Keep in mind that if you are unable to join us at the time of broadcast, you can always stop by over the weekend and pick yourself up an MP3 of the show which you can listen to at your leisure.

Earlier this year I posted Cal Tjader’s version of ‘Gimme Shelter’ and told the story of how the old Funky16Cornersmobile got towed away while I was at a record show.

While discussing the song in the comments, I mentioned that Tjader had also covered the theme from the old ‘Banana Splits Show’ and promised to post it in the future.

Well, at the risk of sounding like Criswell, the future is now!

Unless you’re over 45, or some kind of hardcore pop-cult nut, you probably have no idea who the Banana Splits were, which was, a costumed quartet of people in animal costumes (dog, lion, gorilla and elephant) who lived together in a psychedelic clubhouse and had a band (sounds like a hallucination, right?).

Though most of (not all, most) the music associated with the show was disposable, bubblegummy pop, the one tune that everyone who ever saw it (or has heard Bob Marley and the Wailers ‘Buffalo Soldier’) remembers is the theme, otherwise known as the ‘Tra La La Song’.

Oddly enough, the song has had quite the little history of its own, being covered (and hitting the UK Top 10 in 1979) in a version by the Dickies, the aforementioned borrowing by Tuff Gong, and a later cover by Liz Phair and Material Issue.

A few years back I saw an ad for a reissue of a Cal Tjader album that I’d never seen before called ‘Plugs In’, which appeared to contain a cover of the ‘Tra La La Song’. Naturally, as big a Tjader fan as I am I found this hard to believe and figured it was either a misprint, an outtake or another song entirely.

That is until I scored myself a copy of the album when I was down in DC last year when the bizarre but tasty intersection of Mr. Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr. and Fleagle, Bingo, Drooper and Snork was confirmed.

Recorded live at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, California in 1969, ‘Plugs In’ featured Tjader with an electrified band. The addition of Al Zulaica on electric piano and Armando Peraza (who also recorded for Skye) on congas makes for a sound reminiscent of Vince Guaraldi’s later ‘Charlie Brown’ soundtracks.

Tjader takes the ‘Tra La La’ song at a relaxed and groovy pace that the actual Banana Splits never would have been able to achieve without chemical assistance.

It is a mellow cut indeed, and I hope you dig it.

See you on Monday.

Peace

Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.