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Funky 45's
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| A.C. Reed - Boogaloo Tramp (Nike) – Following the lead of Lowell Fulsom, A.C. Reed saw 1967 as the perfect year to jump on the ‘boogaloo’ and ‘Tramp’ bandwagons simultaneously, with the surprisingly titled ‘Boogaloo Tramp’. Reed (a sax player/vocalist) had recorded a bunch of blues/R&B 45s for the Age and Chief labels, on his own and backing people like Earl Hooker and Willie Mabon. ‘Boogaloo Tramp’ is a fave amongst funk collectors. It has a great, raggedy feel to it, with a nice solo by Reed. This one’s going in the file for the big ‘Tramp’ records story I plan on doing someday. | |
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Chick Willis - Mother Fuyer (La Val) – Go Chick!! I had heard of this record for a long time, but only scored a copy (nice and minty, and about $4.00) recently, and it was well worth the wait. Chick was mostly a blues guy, but he gets down el mundo stone funky on this one, complete with some funny, dirty lyrics that would make Bethea the Maskman break down laughing. Chick lays down some nasty, fuzzy, chicken scratch guitar, with a loose horn section, and some slamming drums (which come in at the beginning of the song like a rhino through the kitchen door). I’ve seen this one going for as high as $60, and I’d say it’s worth it. BEWARE….the rest of Chick’s stuff is straight on (i.e. seriously non-funky) blues. |
| Albert Collins - Do The Sissy (Imperial) – To get on the late 50’s-mid 60’s Albert Collins tip, check out our article in the archives section. The late 60’s found him in California and signed to Imperial records (due in large part ot the intercession of members of Canned Heat). It was during his three album tenure with Imperial that Collins showed that he was more than able to keep up with the changing times. The hot, sometimes funky R&B of tunes like ‘Sno Cone’ and ‘Cookin’ Catfish’ gave way to a Meters-inspired vibe. This is well illustrated by ‘Do The Sissy’, a slightly crazy, almost minimalist slice of funky blues. Collins trademark guitar is there, but bent into almost Devo-esque shapes, not doubt influenced by all of the psychedelicizing going on around him. |  |
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Martha Turner - Dirty Old Man (Royal American) – I don’t know nuthin’ bout Martha Turner, outside of that this is a stone solid slab of Sister Funk. Turner has the pipes of a real soul shouter, and she gets able backing with some exceptionally funky wah-wah guitar, horns and drums. The lyrics are hilarious (…You horny old bugger! You’re just a dirty old man!”). Slap this one on the decks and watch the butts start to shake. |
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Al Wilson - The Snake (Soul City) – Al Wilson is best known for his huge hit of the early 70’s, ‘Show and Tell’. However Northern Soul fans go for ‘The Snake’ a cover of an Oscar Brown Jr. tune, that Wilson recorded for Johnny Rivers’ Soul City label in 1968. The tune has slightly dark, but humorous lyrics loosely based on an old fable. The tune is a hard driving dancer and Wilson gives a powerful performance. |
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Jerry-O - Soul Pearl (Boo-Ga-Loo) – There are those that will tell you that once you’ve heard one Jerry-O record, you’ve heard them all. I beg to differ. I will agree that Jerry-O’s sock boogaloo style may be an acquired taste, but if you dig his style, you will dig his records. ‘Soul Pearl’, which is backed by a funky cover of Slim Harpo’s ‘Baby Scratch My Back’ is not the fastest record Mr. Murray ever laid down, but it was some great wobbly guitar and lots of Jerry-O’s patented rap. I’ve heard a rumor that this was also recorded by Jerry-O cohort Bernie Hayes, and that the backing track may have been recycled for a disc by Edith Brown on the 4-Brothers label. Check our Jerry-O feature for more details. |
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Jimmy Hughes - Neighbor Neighbor (Fame) A solid slice of that good ole Fame studios southern soul. This is the original (the tune was a fave of the Brit R&Beat scene), and Jimmy lays it down good. Hughes was mainly a singer of ballads – his ‘Steal Away’ is a deep soul classic – but picks up the tempo here. Written by none other that Huey P. Meaux!
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