Tag: Funk
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The Meters, Fire On The Bayou, 1975 on Reprise
New Orleans’ own The Meters—here including Wardell Quezergue, George Porter Jr, Cyril Neville, Joseph Modeliste, Leo Nocentelli, and Arthur Neville—released the same year they were opening for the Rolling Stones on a US tour. Great funk band near if not at the height of their powers. My copy—via private sale—is the 2009 reissue, on 180g…
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Prince, For You, 1978 on Warner Bros.
This was the debut album from his purple majesty, with all songs written, performed, and recorded by Prince himself. Recorded at the Record Plant in Sausalito CA. It’s not my favorite of his albums but it shows his early promise and he was doing it all himself. Very sexy and funky even now. My copy—via…
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Tavares, The Best of Tavares, 1977 on Capitol
Wonderful collection of disco/soul/funk from the mid-seventies, including their biggest hits “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” and “It Only Takes a Minute.” They ended up on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, doing “More Than A Woman.” But even if you don’t like disco, they are well worth checking out. They were from New Bedford…
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Grant Green, Green is Beautiful, 1970 on Blue Note
Green joined here by Blue Mitchell (trumpet), Claude Bartee (tenor sax), Emmanuel Riggens (organ), Jimmy Lewis (bass), and Idris Muhammad (drums) plus Richard Lendrum (bongos) and Candido Camero (congas). Recorded in 1970 by Rudy Van Gelder in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. My copy—via Salem Flea Marketplace—is the 2023 Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series reissue, mastered by…
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Herbie Hancock, Sextant, 1973 on Columbia
1973’s Sextant was the last LP with the so-called Mwandishi-era sextet: Bennie Maupin, Eddie Henderson, Julian Priester, Buster Williams, and Billy Hart. It was also his debut on Columbia after Blue Note and Warner Bros. Columbia would also release Head Hunters later the same year. Great, funky collection – side 2 is one track, the…
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Erykah Badu, Worldwide Underground, 2003 on Motown
This was Badu’s third album, following Baduizm (1997) and Mama’s Gun (2000). It was produced by Freakquency (Badu along with Rashad Smith, James Poyser, and RC Williams) and features dead prez (Stic Man and M1) on “The Grind.” Lenny Kravitz guests on guitar, Roy Hargrove on trumpet and vocals, and Queen Latifah, Angie Stone, and…
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Various Artists, Heavy Soul, 1972 on Atlantic
Great compilation of early seventies soul on Atlantic, including luminaries like Aretha Franklin, Sam & Dave, and King Curtis but also some lesser known folks (at least for me), including Dionne Warwick’s sister Dee Dee Warwick (as Dede) and The Beginning of the End – something of a one-hit wonder with “Funky Nassau. “ Love…
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Rufus & Chaka, Masterjam, 1979 on MCA
This was the eighth album by Rufus and their fifth with Chaka Khan. (They were Rufus, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, and Rufus & Chaka Khan in various releases). Produced by Quincy Jones, it’s great late seventies funk/soul and went platinum, led by the single “Do You Love What You Feel.” Rufus released their seventh album…
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Sly & The Family Stone, There’s A Riot Going On, 1971 on Epic
Fifth studio LP from Sly and the Family Stone, recorded in 1970 and 1971. Includes “Family Affair” and the title track. Generally gets cited as a kind of turning point for the bad into darker and more experimental direction – more drum machines, more overdubbing, with Sly playing most (all?) of the album’s instrumentation. Whatever…
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Prince, Controversy, 1981 on Warner Bros.
Prince’s fourth full-length album, which he wrote, produced, and played most the instruments on. (André Cymone gets co-writing credit on “Do Me Baby” on some later versions, but is not credited here – plus backing vocals for Wendy & Lisa, Bobby Z for Drums and Lisa and Fink for keys on some tracks). I love…
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The Meters, Rejuvenation, 1974 on Reprise
My copy is a Vinyl Me, Please Essentials reissue from 2021, on yellow vinyl, with listening notes by Josh Terry. Produced by Allen Toussaint (who also did some horn arrangements) this was their fifth studio album and second with vocals (the first three were mostly instrumental). Lots of people sampled from this album and the…
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Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, 1975 on ABC Records.
Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, 1975 on ABC Records. Chicago origins funk band that mostly came to be known for Chaka Khan, as this album’s title suggests Sweet Thing and a cover of the Bee Gees Jive Talkin’ were the big singles
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T-Connection, Pure & Natural, 1982 on Capitol.
T-Connection, Pure & Natural, 1982 on Capitol. Funk/disco band from the Bahamas via Miami
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Raydio, Raydio, 1978 on Arista.
Raydio, Raydio, 1978 on Arista. Self-titled debut for the band fronted by Ray Parker Jr. of “Ghostbusters” fame (I ain’t afraid of no ghost!) You can find “Is this a love thing” on YouTube- I’d have gone with the parenthetical subtitle “(or is this just a sex thing)” but maybe too risqué in 1978? Some…
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Herbie Hancock, Head Hunters, 1973 on Columbia.
Herbie Hancock, Head Hunters, 1973 on Columbia. (My copy is from the Vinyl Me, Please Story of Herbie Hancock anthology) What can you say about Head Hunters? One of the best selling Jazz records of all time. Hancock melds funk, soul, r&b, and early synths with a solid jazz foundation. A must have for any…
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Parliament Live, P. Funk Earth Tour, 1977 on Casablanca records.
Parliament Live, P. Funk Earth Tour, 1977 on Casablanca records. Make my Funk the P. Funk, I wants my Funk uncut