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By Larry, March 29, 2016 6:36 pm

The Delacardos

Listen/Download – The Delacardos – They Put a Spell On You MP3

Greetings all.

The tune I bring you today is not only an excellent 45 on its own merits, but also a part of a small but very interesting chapter in the classic era of soul.

If you are a regular reader of Funky16Corners you already know that I believe Otis Redding to be the greatest soul singer of all time. He was an absolute master, hugely influential and one can only imagine what he might have produced had he not been cut down at the age of 27.

That said, for all of my deep and abiding respect for Otis, it was only fairly recently that I discovered that he had produced a couple of records for other people.

The list is short, including Redding’s protégé Arthur Conley, organist Jackie Hairston, singer Billy Young, and the group behind today’s selection, the Delacardos.

A North Carolina group, which included a singing front line – Vernon Hill, Chris Harris, Harold Ford and Robert Gates – and their backing band, the Delacardos recorded ten 45s between 1962 and 1967 for Elgey, Shell, Imperial, Dimension, United Artists and Atlantic.

Today’s selection, ‘They Put a Spell On You’ was the last of their Atlantic sides, two of which (including this one) were produced by Otis Redding*.

They had worked with Redding’s manager/business parter Phil Walden earlier in their career, which is probably how they ended up working with Otis.

‘They Put a Spell On You’, co-written by group member Chris Harris and band member Ronnie Grier, is a gritty, mid-tempo burner that sounds like a not-too-distant cousin to Sam and Dave’s ‘You Got Me Hummin’. It features a great lead vocal and some tasty harmonies by the group.

As far as I can tell, despite working with Redding and Walden, the Delacardo’s recordings didn’t see any commercial success.

They split up after this 45.

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

Keep the faith

Larry

*One of the two 45s has production credited to Redwal Productions, but I have seen mention that in this instance it is in fact Otis producing

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, March 27, 2016 10:35 am

Chuck Wood

Listen/Download – Chuck Wood – Seven Days Is Too Long MP3

Greetings all.

I thought we’d get the week started with an honest to goodness Northern Soul anthem.

Naturally, there’s a story to go along with this one, which will stand as a testimony to my occasional obliviousness and the nature of luck.

Many, many years ago, before my wife and I were blessed with our kids, she used to accompany on the occasional digging expedition.

I would usually provide her with a basic criteria as to what kind of stuff I was looking for, and she would dig through the crates with me.

Over the years she managed to pull a couple of real winners, and today’s selection is one of them.

Now when she saw the title ‘Soul Shingaling’ (the flipside of this 45), the alarms went off and she handed it to me. Though I’d never heard of Chuck Wood, I couldn’t in good conscience pass up a 45 with that title, so I put it in the keeper pile and gave it a home in my crates.

Now, at the time, though I was a fan of the Northern Soul “sound”, I didn’t know much of the canon, so it was a few years until I flipped over ‘Soul Shingaling’ and discovered just how good ‘Seven Days Is Too Long’ is.

Recorded in 1967, ‘Seven Days Is Too Long’ was actually a minor regional hit on the East Coast, especially in Philadelphia (I scored my copy on the outskirts of that city), but was pretty much all the success that Chuck Wood ever had.

That was until the record was rediscovered by the UK soul crowd, who embraced the record, making it a huge Northern Soul hit, getting it reissued (it had seen an original 1967 pressing in the UK on the Big T label) twice, in 1971 on Mojo and then in 1975 on Pye.

The record’s Northern Soul popularity should come as no surprise, since its bright, poppy hooks and driving pace and anthemic chorus sound tailor-made for those dance floors.

There’s not much in the way of information about Wood himself out there, which is odd considering the popularity of the record (I was lucky enough to find the picture above in a book on Northern Soul).

The song was covered in 1980 by Dexys Midnight Runners.

It’s a fantastic record and I hope you dig it as much as I do.

See you on Wednesday.

Keep the faith

Larry

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, March 24, 2016 11:49 am

Funky16Corners Presents Go Go Shoes – Mix for Night Train Radio Show
The La Salles – La La La La La (VIP)
Jimmie Preacher Ellis and the Odd Fellows – (C’Mon) Let’s Dance to the Drum Beat (Kris)
Tina Britt – The Real Thing (Eastern)
Johnny Jay and the Gangbusters – Gangbusters Blues (Josie)
Gene Waiters – Shake and Shingaling Pt2 (Fairmount)
Cannibal and the Headhunters – Shotgun (Date)
Dottie Cambridge – He’s About a Mover (MGM)
Gravities (Bobby Newton’s Band) – Do the Whip (Instrumental Version) (Mercury)
Lonnie Youngblood – Go Go Shoes (Fairmount)
Ronnie Rae and the Dynamics – Funky Shuffle (RJR)
Soul Continentals – Bowlegs (Sound Stage Seven)
Big Maybelle – 96 Tears (Rojac)

Listen/Download – Funky16Corners Presents: Go Go Shoes MP3

Greetings all.

A while back Steve and Paul of the Night Train radio show (92.3 Sheffield Live in the UK) asked if I’d put together a guest mix for their show.

That mix airs this Thursday, (3/24 11pm GST/ 7pm EST), and you can pick yourselves up a download right here at the blog.

The Night Train guys requested a tight half hour, and that’s what you get, with soul, R&B and Northern sides mixed together for your dancing (and listening) pleasure.

These are all (with a few exceptions) fairly new additions to the Funky16Corners crates, so aside from a play or two in the podcast, they haven’t appeared here before.

So tune into the Night Train, pull down the ones and zeros, and have yourselves a great weekend.

I’ll see you all on Monday.

Keep the faith

Larry

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, March 22, 2016 12:24 pm

The Four Larks

Listen/Download – The Four Larks – Groovin’ at the Go Go MP3

Greetings all.

I come to you, mid-week, with one of the greatest 45s ever made, and a story to accompany its dulcet tones.

Many years ago, in the early days of the Funky16Corners blog, I got an e-mail from a reader (whose identity is sadly lost in the sands of time) saying how much they dug the blog, and asked for my address so that they could send me something.

So, a couple of weeks pass, and then I get a package in the mail. I opened it, only to be greeted by a genuinely shocking sight.

There in the package was one of my personal holy grail 45s, ‘Groovin’ at the Go Go’ by the Four Larks, in stone mint condition, with a note saying how the sender had come across it at a stoop sale in Brooklyn, knew that I had sung its praises on the blog (mentioning of course how I had been unable to score a copy), and thought they’d send it my way as a token of their appreciation for my efforts.

Now, I should mention – for those of you who are not record collecting obsessives, or Northern Soul fans – that this is no ordinary garage sale/flea market find. This is a record that regularly fetches between 200 to 350 dollars in this kind of condition (way out of my price range) and this sainted soul dropped a mint copy in my lap for nothing.

That, my friends, is what the Jewish members of my family would describe as a mitzvah. A really big mitzvah.

Sadly, I soon lost the box with the sender’s name and address, and despite asking on the blog for contact info, have not heard from them again (if you’re still out there, PLEASE drop me a line).

They should know, that over the years, when I wasn’t feeling the love (blog-wise), that act of kindness was a well that I could return to over and over again to restore my faith in the readership, and mankind in general.

That all said, it is undeniable (at least to me and most Philly soul heads) that the Four Larks ‘Groovin’ at the Go Go’ is a monument to the greatness of the Harthon sound specifically, and Philadelphia soul in general.

The lead vocal by Vivian McDougal is first rate, and the backing by the Four Larks (including her then-husband, the mighty Weldon), and the instrumental backing (flawless) are both among the best of the era, and the tune, written by Philly giant Thom Bell is amazing.

‘Groovin’ at the Go Go’ is a Northern Soul favorite for all of the obvious reasons, including the hooks, bright pop-soul sound and that driving beat.

The 45 holds a place of honor in my playbox, and when I had the opportunity to spin at the legendary Subway Soul night in NYC, I made sure to give it an airing.

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

Keep the faith

Larry

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, March 20, 2016 11:52 am

Johnny ‘Hammond’ Smith

Listen/Download – Johnny Hammond – Higher Ground MP3

Greetings all.

I thought we’d ease ourselves into the week with some long-form, funky Hammond organ from the man who’s name matched the axe, Johnny ‘Hammond’ Smith.

Known alternately as Johnny ‘Hammond’ Smith (he attached the Hammond to set himself apart from guitarist Johnny Smith and organ maestro Jimmy Smith) and Johnny Hammond (as he is here, having detached the ‘Smith’ in 1974, JHS was one of the masters of the classic era of organ led soul jazz.

He recorded for Riverside and Prestige from the late 50s into the early 70s, moving on to Kudu in 1971.

Today’s selection, his cover of Stevie Wonder’s 1973 hit Higher Ground’ comes from his (Hammond’s) 1974 LP of the same name.

Here Johnny gets to stretch out (the shortest track on the album is over seven minutes long) with a hot band that included Steve Gadd on drums, Ron Carter on bass, George Benson on guitar and electric piano by the arranger for the date, none other than Bob James.

It is a very groovy session for one relatively late in the game. There’s a little of that Creed Taylor CTI/Kudu polish (always a good thing) but also plenty of head nodding funk (the album also includes the heavily sampled ‘Big Sur Suite’).

All of his Kudu LPs are highly recommended.

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

Keep the faith

Larry

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, March 17, 2016 11:45 am

Isaac Hayes

Listen/Download – Isaac Hayes – Never Can Say Goodbye MP3

Greetings all.

The end of the week is here, and so then is the Funky16Corners Radio Show. We come to you each and every Friday with the best in funk, soul, jazz and rare groove, all on original vinyl. You can dig the show as a podcast in iTunes (subscribe and rate, s’il vous plait), listen on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, listen on Mixcloud, or grab an MP3 right here at the blog.

We lose out the week with yet another version of one of my all-time favorite songs, Clifton Davis’s ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’.

It has always seemed odd to me, that such an amazing song, a veritable soul standard, was penned by a guy who is best known as an actor.

Between the hit versions by the Jackson Five (the biggest hit, and in my opinion, the gold standard), Gloria Gaynor (and the eight other versions in my iTunes library), I never tire of the song.

The rendition I bring you today comes courtesy of the mighty Isaac Hayes.

Hayes, who never met a song that he couldn’t give the “epic” treatment to, covered ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’ on his 1971 Black Moses album (coming in one of the greatest LP packages ever made).

Hayes was fresh off the mega-success of ‘Shaft’ and returned to the studio with a collection composed almost entirely of covers, by the likes of the Carpenters, Toussaint McCall, the Jackson Five, Curtis Mayfield, Kris Kristofferson and the Shirelles (among others).

Naturally, Ike takes the song at his patented slow and sexy pace, with some velvety vibes running underneath everything, and his own baritone on top.

Though it doesn’t stretch out to the 12 minute stratosphere of ‘Walk On By’, Hayes gives the song a respectful five-minute reading, and the all-male backing vocals are particularly interesting touch.

Whether you dig the song as much as I do, you really need to pick up as much Isaac Hayes as your record shelves will handle.

Dig the tune, and I’ll see you all on Monday.

Keep the faith

Larry

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, March 15, 2016 11:46 am

Packed and ready to roll

In the midst of Set 1

Our Host Gene Meredith on the wheels of steel

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Larry Grogan Set 1 (Mixed Bag)
Falcons – I’m a Fool (I Must Love You) (Big Wheel)
Jewels – Opportunity (Dimension)
Vicki Gomez – Boys Are a Dime a Dozen (ABC/Paramount)
Eldridge Holmes – Emperor Jones (ALON)
Tangeers – This Empty Place (Scepter)
Mad Lads – No Time Is Better Than Right Now (Volt)
Spellbinders – A Little On the Blue Side (Columbia)
Sims Twins – A Losing Battle (Omen)
ZZ Hill – Don’t Make Promises (Kent)
JC Davis – Fezneckie (Chess)
Tommy Tucker – Long Tall Shorty (Checker)
Barbara Lynn – I’m a Good Woman (Tribe)
Gentleman June Gardner – It’s Gonna Rain (Emarcy)
Sam Cooke – Shake (RCA)
Billy Davis – Stanky Get Funky (Cobblestone)
Pop-Ups – Lurking (HBR)
Johnny Otis Show – Keep the Faith Pt1 (Eldo)
Supremes – Love Is Like an Itching In My Heart (Motown)

Listen/Download -Funky16Corners SSSC Set 1 – 101MB Mixed Mp3/192K

Larry Grogan Set 2 (Dancers)
Precisions – If This Is Love (I’d Rather Be Lonely) (Drew)
Benny Gordon and the Soul Brothers – I’m Gonna Give Her All the Love I’ve Got (Wand)
Taj Mahal – A Lot of Love (Columbia)
Marketts – Stirring Up Some Soul (WB)
Corvairs – Ain’t No Soul Left In These Old Shoes (Columbia)
Theresa Lindsay – I’ll Bet You (Golden World)
Incredibles – I Can’t Get Over Losing Your Love (Audio Arts)
Dorothy Berry – Shindig City (Planetary)
Mary Love – Lay This Burden Down (Modern)
Trade Martin – Moanin’ (RCA)
Soul City – Everybody Dance Now (Good Time)
Younghearts – A Little Togetherness (Soultown)
Eddie Floyd – Big Bird (Stax)

Listen/Download -Funky16Corners SSSC Set 2 – 75MB Mixed Mp3/192K

Greetings all.

This past weekend I had the honor of guesting at the Steel Stax Soul Club at Porter’s Pub in Easton, PA.

It was  a little bit of a ride, so we packed up all the Corners in the van and headed West for a little soul spinning (me) and R&R (all of us).

Steel Stax Soul Club is the brainchild of longtime DJ/collector and scooter expert Gene Meredith, who I first met more than 30 years ago back in the mod/garage days of the Dive.

I am always game to get out there and lay down some Northern Soul heat on the decks, and SSSC gave me that opportunity in spades.

I was able to record almost all of the night (you can dig Gene’s sets on his Mixcloud page) including both of my sets. The first set is a mixed bag (including some sweet, and slightly slower stuff) and the second set is all high octane dancers.

It was a great time, with much good music, and a bunch of new additions to my want list. I hope to make it back there to spin again some time in the future.

I hope you dig it (make sure to check out Gene’s sets, too) , and I’ll see you all on Friday.

Keep the Faith

Larry

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, March 13, 2016 11:39 am

Harvey Scales

Listen/Download – Harvey Scales – What’s Good For You (Don’t Have To Be Good To You) MP3

Greetings all.

I hope the new week finds you all well.

The tune I bring you today is yet another tasty chapter in the long-running saga of Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s own soul giant, the mighty Harvey Scales.

Though his presence on the charts was limited to one fleeting instance in 1967 (with his 60s group, the Seven Sounds), he made a string of outstanding funk and soul records from the early 60s well into the disco era.

His run of excellence started with the local Cuca and Magic Touch labels (1966/67), moving on to Chess and Cadet (1969-1971), then Stax (1972/73) the later in the 70s on Casablanca, the into the 90s for Earthtone and Kashgold.

The record I bring you today was not, but clearly should have been a hit.

‘What’s Good For You (Don’t Have to be Good To You)’ was released in 1972, and it is a slice of funky soul perfection, fitting right in alongside the best of the Invictus/Hotwax sound.

Pushed along by a bubbling bass guitar and some party noises, ‘What’s Good For You..’ is one of those records that you’d swear was sampled (especially that repeating piano figure), yet never was. It has an extremely catchy chorus, and is prime dance floor material.

Scales went on to co-write Johnny Taylor’s big hit, ‘Disco Lady’.

Speaking of samples, Scales funky disco opus, ‘Dancing Room Only’ would go on to be sampled by the Beastie Boys (among others).

Scales still performs today, in and out of Milwaukee.

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

Keep the faith

Larry

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, March 10, 2016 1:35 pm

Angela Simpson

Listen/Download – Angela – Rapping MP3

Greetings all.

The end of the week is upon us, and so then is your weekly helping of the Funky16Corners Radio Show. I come to you once a week with the best in funk, soul, jazz and rare groove, all on original vinyl. You can (and should) subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, listen on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, groove to the show on Mixcloud, or grab and MP3 right here at the blog.

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Also, should you be in the vicinity of Easton, PA this Friday night (3/11) I will be guesting with the Stax Steel Soul Club at Porters Pub, 700 Northampton St, Easton, PA. I will be packing some top-shelf Northern Soul floor-fillers, and some slower, sweet stuff, too, so come on by, hoist a pint and get your dance one!

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We close out this week with something unusual.

I first heard of Angela Simpson way back in the day on SoulStrut, when the album popped up in a bunch of finds lists.

Her self-titled LP of songs and poetry usually gets filed under ‘kiddie funk’, though unlike many records in that bin, this is more like a collection of recitations over funky backing (as opposed to a band full of kids).

Recorded/released in either 1971 or 1972 on the Spectrum label (home to all kinds of funk, soul and gospel), the album is mush better than the cover would lead you to believe.

Angela’s poetry is pretty simple stuff (she was, after all, a kid…) but the backing, especially on today’s selection, ‘Rapping’ is very groovy indeed.

I have no idea who the backing band was, but they were tight, laying down a funky groove, with some particularly nice lead guitar.

I know this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (I’ve seen some online comments by people who did not dig it at all) but in the early 70s context of oldschool/Sesame Street, I think it works.

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

Keep the faith

Larry

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, March 8, 2016 1:00 pm

Ernest Vantrease

Listen/Download – Ernest Van Treose and the McDaniel Mary St Band – Popcorn Push Push MP3

Listen/Download – Ernest Van Treose and the McDaniel Mary St Band – Medicine Man MP3

Greetings all.

The track I bring you today is a very funky 45, with a very funky pedigree.

‘Popcorn Push Push’ by Ernest Van Treose and the McDaniel Mary Street Band is one of those old-school, funk 45 crate staples. I was after it for years, finally grabbing an OG for my play box last year.

The tune rumbles along on a wave of pulsing bass, ringing, Meters-like guitar, and some tasty organ action.

Released in 1969, the 45 (both sides) was written and produced by none other than James Shaw, aka the Mighty Hannibal.

I’m not sure if Ernest Van Treose (often credited under what appears to be the correct spelling ‘Vantrease’) hooked up with Hannibal in Atlanta (though the band takes its name from an intersection in Atlanta), but he was a busy player. Vantrease was for years a sought after keyboard player for giants like BB King, Buddy Rich and Ray Charles as well as playing in the band of his brother, trumpeter Earl Vantrease.

‘Popcorn Push Push’ is a killer, and the flipside, ‘Medicine Man’ gives Vantrease a little more space to solo on the organ.

Vantrease did at least one more 45 with Hannibal for RCA, though this time it was a vocal soul effort ‘These Are the Things’ , released as Ernest Vantrease with the McDaniel and Mary Street Band in 1970.

I hope you dig the tunes (make sure to grab Monday’s mix) , and I’ll see you all on Friday.

Keep the faith

Larry

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

Comments (1)

By Larry, March 6, 2016 11:33 am

Funky16Corners Presents – Funky Music Is the Thing
Harvey Scales – Dancing Room Only (Casablanca)
Alvin Cash – Twine Time (XL)
Eddie Drennon and BBS Unlimited – Get Down Do the Latin Hustle (Friends and Co)
United Image – African Bump (Branding Iron)
Cookie Jarr and His Krums – Ain’t No Use Pt1 (Roulette)
Willie Henderson and the Soul Explosions – Is it Something You’ve Got (Brunswick)
Robert Parker – Get To Steppin’ (Island)
Seven Seas – Pat’s Jam (Glades)
Dave Richmond – Phase Out (KPM)
Frankie Gee – Date With the Rain (Claridge)
Hack Bartholomew – La La You (CTI)
Lyn Collins – Give It Up or Turnit A Loose (People)
Rimshots – Do What You Feel Pt2 (Stang)
Jr Walker and the All Stars – Gimme That Beat Pt2 (Soul)
The Brothers – Fire (RCA)
Dynamic Corvettes- Funky Music Is the Thing (Abet)
Maceo and the Kings Men – Thank You Fallettinme Be Mice Elf Agin Pt2 (House of the Fox)
Bobby Keys – Gimme the Key (Ring’O)
Jimmy Bo Horne – Dance Across the Floor (Sunshine Sound)
ST4 – Funky (Scepter)

Listen/Download – Funky16Corners Presents: Funky Music Is the Thing 113MB Mixed MP3

Greetings all.

I hope the new week finds you all well, at least well enough to get out on the floor.

A while back, I took my son out for a long-promised digging session at one of the few decent local record stores. He grabbed himself a bunch of LPs, while I scoured the 45 bins, picking up mostly disco 45s.

Most of the stuff I found fell on the funky side of things, and while listening to them, I started to work up  the mix you see before you today, in which that kind of thing is mixed in with more of the same, some slightly later, danceable funk, as well as a couple of unusual things that sounded right to me.

The hour-long mix is (with three exceptions) culled exclusively from 45s, heavy on the drums (there are a couple of nice breaks in there) and all right, tight and outtasite for the dance floor.

As always, I hope you dig it, and I’ll see you all on Wednesday.

Keep the faith

Larry

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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By Larry, March 3, 2016 12:01 pm

Listen/Download – Shalamar – Simon’s Theme MP3

Greetings all.

Here’s a crazy one to close out the week, but first a message from our sponsor.

The end of the week is nigh, and so you should be on the lookout for this week’s episode of the Funky16Corners Radio Show – dropping a day early this week –  in which I (as always) endeavor to bring you the finest in funk, soul, jazz and rare groove, all on original vinyl. You can subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, listen on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, check iut out on Mixcloud, or grab yourself an MP3 right here at the blog.

Now, the record you see before you, a 12” single by Shalamar, might lead you to believe that you’re about to hear some late 70s/early 80s disco ish, featuring the voice of Jodi Watley (who doesn’t appear on this record). Not at all an unreasonable expectation, but as usual, I am here to confound you (and your expectations).

Fans of the history of Northern Soul will probably be familiar with the name Simon Soussan. His reputation (not all that healthy, as you’ll see if you go a-Googling) was as a producer, and popularizer/exploiter (good and bad) of Northern Soul and disco sounds.

There are countless stories about Soussan and his comings/goings/working on the music scene, including the propagation of one of the few known copies of Frank Wilson’s ‘Do I Love You’ via the world of bootlegs/carvers.

That said, the record you see before you today was the very first release by the group Shalamar, created by Soussan and Dick Griffey.

The topside of this 12” was a Stars on 45-type medley of 1960s Motown classics presented with a disco beat called ‘Uptown Festival’ (which was a US R&B Top 10 hit in 1977, making it into the Pop Top 30).

The side I bring you today, ‘Simon’s Theme’ struck me the first time I heard it (thank you Soul Chef) as a very modern take on the Northern Soul sound (though not too modern to spin for a Northern dance floor).

‘Simon’s Theme’ features the famous four-on-the-floor beat, vibes and strings and a melody full of hooks, that had it been produced in the 60s, would fit right in on any Northern Soul playlist, and (as they used to say) therein lies the rub.

You see, the song had been recorded in the 1960s, by an Allentown, PA group called Father’s Angels, under the title ‘Bok to Bach’. The song was originally issued in the UK as a b-side (to a song called ‘Don’t Knock It’), where it languished for a few years before being discovered by the Northern Soul scene, where it would go on to be a huge hit (and re-pressed a number of times).

So, when Simon Soussan went into the studio in 1977, he rather conveniently (for him) “borrowed” (cough, cough…) the entire melody of the song, retitled it ‘Simon’s Theme’ and tacked it onto the b-side of a disco single.

How’s about that for balls?

Soussan went on to be a successful producer of disco records, but he seems to have left quite a bad taste in the mouths of the Northern Soul scene, especially among record collectors/dealers, after which he appears to have disappeared into the ether.

Either way. It’s a crazy story, and a pretty cool record.

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

Keep the faith

Larry

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.