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Funky 45's
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Fabulous Counts – Rhythm Changes
b/w Pack of Lies (Westbound) –
Their last 45 before dropping the ‘Fabulous’ from their name (though
both sides of the 45 appear on their ‘It’s What’s Up Front That
Counts’ on Westbound where they’re billed as ‘The Counts’), this is
one of the Fabs best. ‘Rhythm Changes’ is
a stone funky vocal (which opens with a fantastic ‘UNH!!’) in
which the band gets to stretch out. As always Leroy Emmanuel’s incredibly
funky guitar is up front. The flip, ‘Pack of Lies’ is a feature for
organist (and main composer) Mose Davis, and is a killer, making this one of
their best singles.
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| Body Motions – False Alarm b/w Puttin’ You On (Harthon) – A curiousity from Philly’s legendary Harthon label. These tracks are basically instrumental dubs of the Volcanos’ ‘It’s Got To Be A False Alarm’ and the United Four’s ‘She’s Puttin’ You On’. Both instros work well as dancers. Got my copy from the UK so I wouldn’t be surprised if someone was spinning this at an all-nighter somewhere. I have my suspicions that this 45 may not have existed until issued for the Northern Soul market in the early 70's. Anyone have the straight dope?? |  |
| Benny Gordon & The Soul Brothers – (Get It) Come & Get It (RCA) – Benny and his Brothers were one of those great – but anonymous – soul bands that made a bunch of wicked 45’s for different labels (RCA, Wand, Estill and others) and then faded into the ether. This is one of their funkiest. It’s one of those early (65-66) funky discs (like Gene Waiters ‘Shake and Shingaling’ on Philly’s Fairmount label) that popped up in the wake of JB records like ‘I Feel Good’ (which they name-check in the run-off), ‘Out Of Sight’ and ‘Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag’. There’s some percolating guitar and a gritty vocal by Benny. |
| Gunga Din – Crab Cakes b/w Snake Pit (Valise) – Rare funky organ biscuit, written by Phil Medley (who co-wrote ‘Twist & Shout’), with some vaguely West Indian cat raving about crab cakes. Not the nuttiest funk record ever, but right up there. The flip, ‘Snake Pit’ is pretty tasty too. |  |
| Freddy King – Funky (Cotillion) – Freddy King, like Albert Collins was first and foremost a bluesman, but always kept his ears open and had a taste for other sounds. Many of his instrumental hits of the 1960’s , like ‘San Ho Zay’, ‘Hide Away’ and ‘The Stumble’ crossed over to rock’n’rollers. ‘Funky’ sees our hero getting into the groove and absolutely blasting off. The opening drum/cowbell beats are cool, but when Freddy kicks in things go straight through the roof. The tune is a rump-shaker and the guitar cuts through it all like a knife. Definitely my fave by Freddy and one of the great funky blues records ever. |
| Buddy Guy – Buddy’s Groove (Chess) – Speaking of funky blues, this ’67 era entry by the mighty Buddy Guy is another killer. Backed up by an amazing array of Chess studio hands (including Phil Upchurch, Matt ‘Guitar ‘ Murphy and AC Reed) Buddy gets funky, and even favors us with a break?!?! As Buddy says, ‘It sounds so good I believe I’m gone get a little bit for myself!’ |  |
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Eddie Holman –
Eddie’s My Name (Parkway) – I am constantly bamboozled by the
fact that Eddie Holman did not meet with greater success prior to ‘Hey
There Lonely Girl’ in 1970. Between 1965 and 1968 he wrote and recorded a
remarkable series of soul and pop records for Cameo/ Parkway and Bell, in
addition to writing tunes for a number of other Philly performers (including
Larry Clinton’s ultra-rare ‘She’s Wanted’ on Dynamo). Among these
amazing records is the unbelievable ‘Eddie’s My Name’. Long a fave on
the Northern Soul scene, it’s a storming tune, upbeat in every sense of
the word with a chorus that’ll have you singing along at the top of your
lungs. It took me a while to find a copy of the record, but fortunately most
of his pre-ABC work has been compiled on a Goldmine Soul Supply CD. | |
