My interest in classic R&B originated back in the '90s, admittedly from catching samples off the Beastie Boys. Though I’ve picked up a few token best of albums by the likes of James Brown, Curtis Mayfield and Sly & the FS, my knowledge of the genre remains thin at best. Thanks in part to the soul revival trend some years ago, I became inspired to explore more outside of my comfort zone (ie. just sticking to Amy Winehouse). From then on I’ve discovered many great old-yet-new sounding - and new-yet-old sounding - gems. Compiling this mix CD has given me the chance to learn more about the music I’ve grown to truly love. And what better way to tie it all together than with our most favourite and most universal theme – L-O-V-E (or just plain ol' gettin' it on!).
1. “I Was Made To Love Her” (1970)
Theron & Darrell
Eccentric Soul : Smart's Palace, 2009
2. “I Don't Want Your Love” (1970)
Barbara Howard,
Sister Funk 2: The Sound of the Unknown Soul Sisters, 2007
About a decade ago, collector and DJ, Ian Wright, drew on his phenomenal hoard of rare funk 45s to compile the first Sister Funk collection of obscure female-driven gems. Sadly that first now sought-after compilation has been long discontinued, and this second compilation seems to be heading towards the same fate. But let's talk about the music! They say funk is man’s music, but this femme funk track, with the barnstormin’ bassline, is a force to be reckoned with. Theron & Darrell may sing about lovin’ a woman, but Barbara Howard wants nothin’ to do with a man’s love. Interestingly, "I Don't Want Your Love" was actually written by her then-boyfriend and later husband, Steve Reece. Howard herself was part of the Midwest Funk scene of the 1960’s.
3. “Take Me" (1971)
The Fabulous Souls,
Peanut Butter Wolf's Jukebox 45's, 2002
Peanut Butter Wolf (aka Chris Manak) is a DJ, producer and founder of indie hiphop label, Stones Throw Records. This totally obscure funk song was rediscovered by Stones Throw, re-released as a 12” and became part of this 2002 compilation album.
Ira Raibon was an influential figure behind the "Indiana Funk" sound. When he was leading the Fabulous Souls, he released two versions of “Take Me” – one version out of Los Angeles, another version out of Indianapolis. This stumped historians and archivists who couldn’t quite figure out the connection between the two distant funk meccas. If you’re curious about the backstory on how this almost forgotten song got rediscovered, check it out here.
Good to see that Raibon is still makin’ music.
4. “If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely)” (1967)
Eddie Spencer
Jamaica To Toronto: Soul Funk & Reggae 1967-1974, 2006
Yes it is hard to believe, folks, but there really exists some good classic Canadian soul! In the 1960’s, the finest ska, rocksteady, and reggae recording artists from the West Indies traveled to Canada: Jackie Mittoo, Johnnie Osbourne, Wayne McGhie, Lloyd Delpratt, The Mighty Pope, Noel Ellis, Jo-Jo Bennett, and many more. Arriving in their new Canadian home, these talented singers, songwriters, musicians, and performers hit the studio and captured some of the hardest tunes this side of Kingston.
The J to T compilation, lovingly put together by DJ/ Canadian music historian, Sipreano, and Light In The Attic, truly encapsulates this moment in musical history. It’s filled with strong American soul influences from that period, but done with a style that's a bit dirtier and fuzzier, with some traces of Jamaican production style. This particular track was a #1 Top Chart Hit.
More info about the album.
5. If This Ain't Love (Don't Know What Is)
Nicole Willis and The Soul Investigators
Keep Reachin’ Up, 2005
How did Brooklyn-born soul vocalist Nicole Willis team up with the Finnish funk collective The Soul Investigators? And who woulda thought that Finland was a soul mecca?
While researching the liner notes for this compilation, I discovered that Willis is married to Finnish retro-groove king Jimi Tenor, who also contributes to this album (he does the horn arrangements and plays flute on this track). Willis herself has worked with Curtis Mayfield, The Brand New Heavies, Dee-lite and Mo' Wax, while the Soul Investigators have crafted two previous full-lengths and a handful of 45s. This super smooth retro album was a big hit in Europe, and less so in North America. Perhaps it has to do with its high production values, and though there’s nothing too rough or raunchy, it’s still finely crafted music at its best.
More info about about the music.
6. "Karina"
Menahan Street Band
Make The Road By Walking, 2008
I first experienced the music of the Menahan Street Band live (along with DJs Schwa and Cucumbah) when they opened for Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings in Montreal early last year. These five young, talented musicians are also members of the Dap-Kings, El Michels Affair (also featured in this CD), Antibalas and the Budos Band. The unifying factor is musician/producer Thomas Brenneck (Sharon Jones & the D-Ks, Budos Band, Amy Winehouse) who brought them together to record in the bedroom of his Menahan St. apartment in Bushwick, Brooklyn, hence their name.
Reaching beyond the funk-soul-afrobeat influences of their other projects into the more sublime realms of Mulatu Astatke, the Menahan Street Band creates a new instrumental soul sound that is distinct and lush. Their debut album, Make the Road by Walking, is marked by quirky arrangements, featuring vibes, horns, piano, organ, percussion and even a strange bling sound that Brenneck creates by tuning and plucking the strings of his guitar on the wrong side of the bridge.
7. "Getcho Soul Togetha (Part Two)"
Breakestra
Peanut Butter Wolf's Jukebox 45's
Another funky track from the same Stones Throw Records compilation album (the other was track 3's "Take Me"). Breakestra is a ten-piece funk "orchestra" from Los Angeles formed by Miles Tackett in 1996. Unsurprisingly, their style is much influenced by late 60's and early 70's soul and funk music. After releasing several EPs and two full-length albums of mostly covers and sample-filled breaks, Breakestra put out Hit the Floor in 2005 on Ubiquity Records, which included all-original recordings fusing elements of hip hop, funk, and soul.
8. “Love Addict” (1970)
Honey & The Bees
Sister Funk 2, 2007
A minor, but talented, Philadelphia female soul quartet previously known as The Yums-Yums. In 1970, they changed their name to Honey & The Bees and went over to Josie (best known as the home of the Meters' first three albums) knocking out some relatively little-known records with the aid of musicians who played on classic 1970s Gamble-Huff productions. Though the Supremes are an obvious point of comparison, Honey & The Bees had far better production values than the vast majority of girl group aspirants of the same era.
Honey & the Bees spent years on the club circuit, opening for bigger soul acts in Philadelphia and throughout the East Coast before disbanding in 1973. Group member Gwen Oliver married Fred Wesley of the JB’s, whom she met when Honey & the Bees opened for James Brown in 1971. Eventually their headstrong, take-no-b.s. attitude came into conflict with Brown's own strangle-hold control over his players and he had Wesley remove the group off tour.
9. “Do You Love Me (Like You Say You Do)”
Lee Fields & The Expressions
My World, 2008
When I first heard this song, I could’ve sworn it was from the late 60’s or early 70’s. They’ve even emulated the analog production sound from that time period. In fact, the album “My World” was released just last year, and though it may be considered throwback music, Lee Fields has actually been kickin’ around since 1969, when he cut his first 45. Having been with small labels throughout the 70s, he recorded an album in 1979 (Let’s Talk It Over) before disappearing for most of the 80s. Now that he’s with Truth & Soul, Fields may finally get some of the overdue recognition he deserves.
More info about the artist and a pitchfork review.
10. “Tell Me”
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
100 Days, 100 Nights, 2007
But the core of their music is the Dap-Kings while soul singer Lee Fields often sings with the Sugarman 3 and flautist Daisy Sugarman. They’re like one big happy family!
Daptone also built their own studios in Brooklyn where they’ve recorded most of their releases. Their distinctive sound is a product of the studio acoustics, recording only on analog tape (no digital), and mixing by Gabriel Roth. The Dap-Kings also perform on Amy Winehouse's album, Back to Black (itself recorded at the Daptone recording studio), and the band toured with her in 2007.
I don’t know about you but this song is really rockin’ and the entire album is just excellent. SJ & The DKs are also a great act to catch live.
11. “Tell Her” (1969)
Fred Williams & The Jewels Band
Eccentric Soul : Smart's Palace
Fred Williams, as a concert promoter for Dick Smart at his increasingly popular club Smart’s Palace, had the enviable position of working with the best musicians in Wichita, Kansas. The Jewels Band made a stellar combo, and “Tell Her” set the bar extremely high for Smart’s fledgling label, Solo Records.
This is one of my favourite songs of the compilation, as the deep sad longing of the vocals and evocative guitar work expresses to me personally what my idea of soul is about.
12. A Perfect Kind of Love
Nicole Willis and The Soul Investigators
Keep Reachin’ Up, 2005
Yes, another song from Nicole Willis and TSI. This is such a sweet and positive song, it just had to be included, just to offset the melancholy of “Tell Her”. So hope you guys don’t hate me for this. They are also another reason why I decided to name my first mix CD after them!
13. “I’ll Be Around” (1972)
The Spinners
Dead Presidents soundtrack
This is probably the only song in my compilation that has that classic Motown sound from the 70’s, though it was recorded after the group signed up with Atlantic. The Spinners is a Detroit-based soul vocal group who’ve been active since 1961.
“I’ll Be Around” is their first top ten hit, but it was actually the B-side of their first Atlantic single, "How Could I Let You Get Away". Radio airplay for the B-side led Atlantic to flip the single over, with "I'll Be Around" hitting #3 and "How Could I Let You Get Away" reaching #89. "I'll Be Around", sung by Bobby Smith, was also The Spinners' 1st million- selling hit single.
I thought this would follow well after “A Perfect Kind of Love” since it shares its idealistic optimism about love and romance.
14. “Put It On The Line” (1975)
Lyn Collins
James Brown's Funky People, 1988
Ok, let’s get back to reality here, people! There is no perfect kind of love, or a guy who’ll stick around through thick and thin, let alone “be man enough” to give his woman the security she needs. And boy, does Lyn Collins “put it on the line”!
Not surprisingly, James Brown had exhausted his group, which was formed in the 60’s, and by 1970 they had all moved on. The only two left were James and Bobby Byrd (singer, piano, songwriter). This double album was put out in 1972 and is funk-packed from start to end featuring such superstar players as Maceo Parker (horns), Fred Wesley (horns), Bootsy Collins (bass) and Lyn Collins (vocals). James Brown is not the featured vocalist on any of the tracks, but he writes every song, sings backup and plays the organ.
Lyn Collins was Brown's ''funky soul siren" and one of the most sampled female singers of all time. Nicknamed the "Female Preacher," Lyn Collins was discovered in the early '70s along with Bootsy and Catfish Collins by James Brown, who was making the transition to the hardest funk phase of his career.
15. “Broadway Sam”
Iceberg Slim
Reflections, 1976
My husband is a fan of genre fiction, including the black pulp stories of Chester Himes and Donald Goines, and the pimp chronicles of Iceberg Slim. At 18, Iceberg Slim was initiated into 'the life' in Chicago. Incarcerated several times for pimping along with several other crimes, he wrote 'Pimp' while in prison, which subsequently sold over 6 million copies. When I heard that Slim made a spoken-word recording set to groovy instrumentals by the Red Holloway Quartet, I got it for hubs as a gift. 'Reflections' is made up of graphic, semi-autobiographical tales of life on the mean streets.
Some info about Iceberg Slim.
16. “You’re Doing It With Her” (1969)
Rhetta Hughes
Sister Funk 2: The Sound of the Unknown Soul Sisters, 2007
Of the twenty songs featured in the Sister Funk Volume 2, this one is apparently the least rare, expensive or hard to find, according to Wright’s liner notes. Ironically, I could not find much web info about this sweet soul number by one time Chicago soul diva, Rhetta Hughes.
Hughes seemed ready to move into the spotlight in 1969 when her funky cover of the Doors’ “Light My Fire” made the R&B Top 40. But she never sustained any momentum. The next single “Angel Man” flopped, and Hughes was soon back on the supper club circuit, opening for such comedians as Bill Cosby. The wiki also lists her as an actress who has appeared in Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, The Wiz, as well as an episode of Law & Order.
The song “You’re Doing It With Her” is also in the Relight My Fire album. I like how the Sister Funk liner notes just has this to say about the song itself:
You’ll soon notice that two common themes seem to crop up with female soul vocals - “You’re doing it with her” or “I did it with your man”. This song obviously fits into the former category.
17. “Behind The Blue Curtains”
El Michels Affair
Sounding Out the City, 2005
Another excellent track from the Truth & Soul compilation, Fallin’ Off the Wheel. Some of the members are also from the funk outfit, The Might Imperials (which you’ll get to hear in track 20). Known initially for their “cinematic soul” sound, El Michels Affair have also collaborated with the Wu-Tang Clan and have put out an album of instrumental covers of Wu-Tang classics (I have it, and it’s awesome).
Read more about them here.
18. "Mr. Fortune" (1970)
The Hitch-hikers
Jamaica To Toronto: Soul Funk & Reggae 1967-1974, 2006
This hard-chargin’ funk-soul number, written by Wayne McGhie and sung by The Mighty Pope, is my favourite song in the Jamaica To Toronto compilation, and arguably the best song in this mix. Unfortunately, the band never found success and encountered occasional racist ignorance, and even violence, while touring Ontario and Quebec. In 1970 The Hitch-hikers released their self-titled debut LP on the Paragon label with Canadian country icon and notorious owner Jack Boswell.
With no industry or much promotional support, the record performed poorly. After a series of line-up changes with The Hitch-Hikers, the band released one more single, "Mr. Fortune" on Toronto’s Heart label. The single didn't go anywhere, and after playing around Toronto for a few years, and one tour of Quebec, the group broke up when McGhie left after a disagreement with Pope and Blair.
More info about The Mighty Pope.
19. "If I’m In Luck I Might Get Picked Up"
Betty Davis
This Is It!, 1973
This one sticks out a little from the mix, but I’m including it as I don’t think I’ll have another opportunity to include a Betty Davis track in future compilations. And wow. This powerhouse funk number from the former wife of Miles Davis makes James Brown look like friar tuck, it’s so sexed up and dirty!
Between 1973 and 1975, Davis only recorded 3 studio albums in her short-lived career, but the potent mix of raunchy, mischievous music established her as a singular figure during that period. Her performances brimmed with such wild licentiousness that her brother once dubbed her as the “Mae West of the music industry”, but also provoked religious groups to demonstrate at her concerts. She was definitely way ahead of her time and later became a big influence on Macy Gray and Missy Elliot.
Poignantly, her career stalled when she was overcome with chronic depression following the death of her father in the late ‘70’s, and she abruptly withdrew from public.
20. “Never Found A Girl feat. Joseph Henry”
The Mighty Imperials
Thunder Chicken, 2006
Davis helps to segue into some down home dirty New Orleans funk and The Mighty Imperials continue the tradition of The Meters with the organ/guitar/bass/drums combo as a vehicle for deep ‘70s funk. All four members of the band were apparently sixteen (with the exception of gospel singer Joseph Henry, who was the only one old enough to buy smokes) when they recorded Thunder Chicken at Desco Records studios in 1999.
A single, "Kick the Blanket/Toothpick", came out that year, but after Desco folded, the album sat on the shelves. Two years later, a bootlegged version was issued illegally in the UK, but in 2004, Daptone took hold of the record and released it officially. Sadly, if predictably, the members of the Mighty Imperials had already dispersed during the intervening limbo: splitting to attend university or playing in other bands like the Dap-Kings, Antibalas, El Michels Affair. But the album still received positive critical response.
As a reviewer wrote: in a time when so much music is the result of session musicians tweaked with Pro Tools, it is truly a shocking waste that such an uninhibited, talented group was stifled by red tape. But if you’ve read through these liner notes, you see that the story of The Might Imperials is not that uncommon. This compilation, in some ways, is like a treasure trove of what might have been.
21. “Super Good” (1970)
Myra Barnes (Vicki Anderson)
James Brown's Funky People, 1988
Myra Barnes has recorded singles under her birth name as well as stage name, Vicki Anderson, and is acknowledged by James Brown in his autobiography as the best singer he had ever worked with. Although best known for her performances with the James Brown Revue, she has also released some stellar singles, her most famous being the 1970 feminist anthem 'Message From The Soul Sisters' (still a floor filler 35 years later). She followed this up with the even more funky 'Supergood' - in answer to the James Brown song 'Superbad'.
What better way than to have Myra Barnes finish things off, as this whole journey has been, like, super good! Here in Quebec, we would also say “super bon”!
