Funky16Corners Radio v.63 – 2008 Year In Review
Playlist
Dynamics – Ain’t No Sun (Since You’ve Been Gone) (Cotillion)
Denise Lasalle – Keep It Coming (Westbound)
Wee Willie Walker – Ticket To Ride (Goldwax)
Barbara Banks – River of Tears (Veep)
Ella Fitzgerald – Sunshine of Your Love (Prestige/MPS)
Little Royal – Razor Blade (Trius)
John Paul – I’m a Bad Son of a Gun (Philips)
Fatback Band –Goin’ To See My Baby (Perception)
Maurice & Mac – You Left the Water Running (Checker)
Peddlers – I’m Coming Home (Epic)
Precisions – You’ll Soon Be Gone (Drew)
Woody Carr – Peace Dance (Jerden)
Unifics – It’s a Groovy World (Kapp)
Syl Johnson – Come On Sock It To Me (Twilight)
Sons of Champlin – Fat City (Verve)
Roosevelt Grier – Slow Drag (MGM)
Senor Soul – Don’t Lay Your Funky Trip On Me (Whiz)
Sugar Pie Desanto – Go Go Power (Checker)
Scatman Crothers – Golly Zonk! (It’s Scatman) (HBR)
Greetings all.
I promised I’d be back for New Years Eve, and here I am.
I won’t go into too much detail here, other than to reiterate that it has been an extremely interesting/challenging 2008 here at the Funky16Corners compound. Many a day – especially in the last month or so – has found me ready to pull up the drawbridge and flood the moat, but every time thoughts like that cross my mind, I remember the music.
Last week, just before Christmas when I was laying in a hospital bed, though my physical pain wasn’t too daunting, I was confronted with a great deal of psychological pain and uncertainty in regard to my health, my future and that of my family.
I was feeling pretty dire, until I popped on my headphones and started trawling through the iPod, and between Otis Redding, Mississippi John Hurt and Leon Russell, I was reminded of the healing power of great, soulful music.
That power is what has always kept me going, and is the driving force behind the blog(s).
I’m not saying that I expect everyone to get that much out of it, but one can always hope.
The mix above is a sampling of some of my favorite individual tracks from the past year, and I think you’ll agree that it’s been a good one. Lots of deep stuff here, and a lively enough selection that were you to whip it on your New Years Eve crowd they wouldn’t look at you like you have lobsters crawling out of your ears.
Despite the hassles, it’s been a good year, and hopefully 2009 will be even better.
Thanks to all of you that have taken the time to stop by and engage in the conversation.
I’ll be back on Monday.
Peace and Happy New Year
Larry
PS Make sure to stop by Iron Leg for another year end wrap up
Funky16Corners 
December 31, 2008 at 12:27 am
Lobsters coming out of your ears! Where I come from, that’s called “Luck-eeee!”
2008 has kicked my ass too – I hope 2009 is better for everyone.
best,
-j
December 31, 2008 at 1:11 am
Dear Larry: Love your blog. Very good writing as usual and interesting musical facts. Of course, you always were a good writer and I am sure your regular fans are glad you are back in action.
Wish you a good 2009 and promise I will be checking out your blog on a regular basis. Did you see the Kennedy Center tribute to Morgan Freeman the music was great!
Love, MOM
December 31, 2008 at 8:25 am
Hey Larry,
Sorry to hear about your recent spell in hospital. I hope you have a happier and healthier 2009. Thank you once again for opening my ears to so much great music over the years.
Happy new year from sunny Scotland,
Duncan
December 31, 2008 at 9:23 am
Dear Larry,
Thanks for another great year with a lot of beautiful soul music you’ve let us discover. I wish you, your wife and your kin health, prosperity and a year without worries in 2009. Also I’d like to wish the same to all other F16C listeners.
Greetings from the Netherlands.
December 31, 2008 at 9:36 am
nice to hear you feel better ,keep on bloggin ,have fun ,a good new year to you and your family.
December 31, 2008 at 9:58 am
Dear Larry
Just dropped by for the first time for a couple of weeks and see you’ve been going through a bad time. Had a kidney stone myself a few years ago and wouldn’t wish that sort of pain on anyone, let alone the other kidney problems.
Glad to hear that you’re out of hospital and feeling a bit better. Thanks for all the great music you’ve introduced me to over the years. Look after yourself, and all the best to you and the family for 09
Mark
December 31, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Larry,
Great to have you back!!! Over the past week or so I often checked the RSS feed to see if you’d posted again and was always gladdened to see a new post, knowing that that meant that you were on the mend. Couldn’t agree with you more about the restorative power of music and how it can, and does touch us deeply on a level that I can not explain. Best wishes to you and your family, and the whole F16C extended family out there on the interweb for a great 2009, or at least one no worse than 2008 has been.
Peace,
John
December 31, 2008 at 2:35 pm
A happy and peaceful new year to you and yours Larry.My music has certainly helped me through a pretty shitty year. Also quite a few of the records on your list have made their way into my collection so many thanks for the digging dedication.
Cheers Tony.
December 31, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Larry,
A friend just turned me on to you and I’m so glad he did. Thank you so much for doing this blog.
Like you, I’ve got some uncertainty right now in terms of my health, and some scariness in that regard. But last night while driving home, Marvin Gaye popped on my iPod singing “His Eye is On the Sparrow,” and it was as if a weight was lifted. Then Otis came on singing “I’ve Been Loving You,” and my fears were, for the moment, completely gone. We can never underestimate the power of soulful music. It has gotten me through so much, and I believe it will carry me through any trials that await.
I’m glad to see that you are a kindred spirit in this regard, and I look very forward to being your fan for a long time to come.
I hope you have a wonderful night and a very happy and healthy 2009.
Jennie
January 1, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Thanks for your blogs and the glorious mixes. “Hoedown” turned my whole day around. The Funky16 year end review was way better than the year deserved. I hope ’09 treats you with kindness–may your generosity of spirit come back to you!
January 1, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Hi Larry,
good to see you’re back. I Check your blog almost every day and enjoy all your posts.
Happy and healthy new year!
Wede
January 1, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I’ve been monitoring your blog and you for a while now and keeping you in my thoughts. Thank you so much for all you give us, I feel so blessed by your contributions and by your music. Happy New Year, dear man xoxox!
January 1, 2009 at 7:10 pm
I’ve really been enjoying your blog. I wish you all the best in 2009. Happy New Year!
January 1, 2009 at 9:48 pm
looks like the old blogosphere is a great place to find friendly vibes, and this is no small gift.
“His Eye Is On The Sparrow,” loved it for years; think I heard good old Roberta do it in the past. It’s not only a fine little spiritual, but an uplifting thought whenever you need one.
The Old Guy
January 3, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I’m glad to see that you are back in the saddle again. Be sure to take it easy though… 🙂
Thanks so very much for all you do. I’m not worthy… 🙂
I hope that you and your have a very happy healthy and SAFE new year.
Peace and blessings.
January 4, 2009 at 7:01 am
Music often keeps me going too. It’s the great love of my life. I hope you’re feeling better and getting stronger and remember that there are many out here in the world pulling for you.
January 4, 2009 at 11:01 am
I haven’t been by in a while, either, Larry, but I will echo the other posters in my appreciation of and enjoyment of your blog and my sincere wishes for improved health and a wonderful 2009. You have given a lot of people joy and pleasure through your sharing of this music and I hope some of that comes back to you.
January 5, 2009 at 6:23 am
happy new year and keep the drawbridge down….probably the finest music blog on the web.
January 6, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Larry,
sweet music..lost count of the amount of times it has dug me out of the pit of despair. glad to hear you are back.
themusicologist
January 8, 2009 at 11:44 am
“I was reminded of the healing power of great, soulful music.”
Right on!!!!