Mr. Funky Belly

To most funk and soul fans, Warren Lee is just another blip on the radar screen. Some may have heard of ‘Star Revue’, though more are likely familiar with his funk classic ‘Funky Belly’. To most though - aside from those 2 45s - he occupies the same position as hundreds of otherwise anonymous artists.

This is a shame, because his career (however brief) as one of New Orleans’ better R&B/soul singers, was marked by some excellent records. Lee wrote most of his own material and via Toussaint  he had access to top-notch production and  arrangements.

Born in 1938 in Vacherie, LA, Warren Lee Taylor grew up watching and listening to local musicians. He made his first record in 1961 for Ron records. ‘Unemployed’ b/w ‘The Un-Huh’ faded without a trace. He next recorded for Soundex with the first of two “answer” records to Arthur Alexander’s classic ‘Anna’. The first, ‘Anna (Stay With Me)’ is actually the same song with a re-written lyric. The flip-side, ‘You’ll Be Sorry Someday’ is a bluesy ballad that featured Lee’s rough-edged vocal.

In 1963 he moved to Nola records under the guidance of Wardell Quezerque where he first recorded ‘Anna (We’re Gonna Get Married)’ b/w ‘A Letter To Santa’ (which I haven’t been able to score a copy of).

That same year ‘London Bridge’ b/w ‘Geraldine’ for Jin records (billed again as Warren Lee). ‘London Bridge’ is a mid-tempo novelty (not one of his better sides), but ‘Geraldine’ is a ballad that straddles the line between doowop and deep soul.

His next Nola side (in 1964) saw his billing changed to Warren (Lee) Taylor. ‘Every Day Every Hour’ is a great slice of New Orleans soul, and Lee’s development as a singer is clear. The flip, ‘Key To Your Door’ is another bluesy number with some cool horns.

In 1965 he made the move into the Allen Toussaint stable and recorded his first sides for Deesu records. The first ‘Star Revue’ b/w ‘Waiting for a Bus’ is one of the best soul 45s to come out of New Orleans in the 60’s. ‘Star Revue’ is an absolutely storming number where Lee name-checks Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Solomon Burke, not to forget himself ‘The Mighty King Lee’.
The tune features a fantastic vocal by Lee (with backing by Willie Harper and Toussaint), pounding piano and a solid horn chart.

 Very popular locally, the record also got some play in other markets (as evidenced by it’s appearance on one of Philly DJ Jerry Blavats compilations), and was covered a year later by the late Arthur Conley. ‘Waiting For a Bus’ is slower number with an interesting Toussaint melody.

His 1966 follow up ‘Climb The Ladder’ is an enjoyable attempt at a dance craze tune, while it’s flip ‘Ever Since (I’ve Been Loving You)’ is upbeat hand-clapper reminiscent of some of Toussaint’s sides with Lee Dorsey in the same period.Lee next appeared on the Tou-Sea label in 1967 with ‘Underdog Backstreet’ b/w ‘Just Like A Woman’ (not the Bob Dylan song. ‘Underdog Backstreet’ is a rough, funky tune that was apparently a big regional hit (it was later issued on the ‘Pow City’ comp, which is where I heard it. I haven’t been able to track down the flip, a cover of the old Louis Jordan tune ‘Ain’t That Just Like A Woman’. The record must have reached someone outside of New Orleans, since it was also issued in the UK on the Pama label.

The next time he would record it would be on the funky side of things. The 1969 single ‘Mama Said We Can’t Get Married’ is a James Brown style raver with lots of funky grunts and hard drums (a sample of the tune can be heard at www.funk45.com.

In 1970, still under the guidance of Allen Toussaint, and backed by the Meters, Warren Lee moved to the Wand label for what it likely his finest moment, the hard-hitting ‘Funky Belly’. Sporting some extremely funky guitar and drums (not unlike their backing for Betty Harris on ‘There’s A Break In The Road’), the tune has become a deep funk fave and commands some decent coin on the collectors market. The flip ‘Born In The Ghetto’ is a loping, genial but otherwise undistinguished effort.

After that, Lee would only record one more time, in 1974 with ‘Direct From The Ghetto’ b/w ‘So Suddenly’ on the Choctaw label.

In 1977 he was felled by a massive stroke, found God and put his music career on permanent hold, though he still lives in the New Orleans area.

Warren Lee Discography

Note: I found  photo above in Jeff Hannusch's outstanding book
The Soul of New Orleans: A Legacy of Rhythm and Blues