Funky16Corners Blog v.3.0 aka We’re Moving!

That’s right, We’re Moving!!

Greetings all.
This post is to notify you that the Funky16Corners Blog is moving.
Due to a number of reasons, first and foremost being that WordPress seems to be on a tear in relation to MP3 blogs the Funky16Corners blog has relocated to the following address:

http://funky16corners.com

(though www.funky16corners.com should work as well).

What this means, is that while you’ll still get all the delicious funk, soul, jazz and rare groove that you’ve come to expect from Funky16Corners, the whole enterprise has been relocated to our very own server space, no longer dependent on the whims of a free blogging service.
Henceforth, all new posts will be at the new location, and as soon as I finish moving the old posts (the podcast and guest mix archives are already up and running in the new location) I will be shutting this one down.

I go into the deal in more detail over at the new space, and I would ask you to adjust your linkage, especially of you are the proprietor of a blog or website that links back to us.
So, follow the link, and join us at the new location.

Keep the faith!

Peace

Larry

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

 

PS Iron Leg isn’t moving quite yet, so head over to the usual place for a new mix of psychedelia.

PSS Check out Paperback Rider too.

PSSS Don’t forget to hit up Funky16Corners on Facebook

You can also follow Funky16Corners on Twitter

Attack of the Evil Kidney 2 (Electric Boogaloo)

Greetings all!
Guess here I’m writing this?
In the goddamn, motherf&%$#! hospital, that’s where.
As I mentioned last week I had been in for a “minor” (heh heh…) procedure related to my ongoing kidney issues. Well, I get out of the hospital, and over the course of the next week I start feeling not so good, I call my doctor, describe the symptoms and the next thing you know, bob’s yer uncle and I’m back in a hospital bed.
The catch this time is that I have been nephrostomy-fied, which means I have a tube leading from my kidney (I only have the one), out my back and into a lovely rubber bag. It will remain thus for the next few days until they go back in, put back in ANOTHER stent (look it up) and set me free once again like a rogue bear being helicoptered into the wild.
I have had just about enough of this shit, but there’s not much I can do about it.
The one little ray of sunshine is that I just discovered quite accidentally that the hospital has a wi-fi connection, so I am able to alleviate the positively soul numbing boredom of this place by communicating with you all via the interwebs.
I’ll be here until at least Tuesday, so I am going to attempt to get my Monday posts together, and will be monitoring the blog.
Wish me well.
Peace
Larry

Two From the Stonewall Jukebox

Stonewall Inn, NYC 1969

“Listen – Gladys Knight & the Pips – The Nitty Gritty – MP3″

“Listen – Gladys Knight & the Pips – Friendship Train – MP3″

Greetings all.

I hope everyone has downloaded this weeks slice of the Funky16Corners Radio pie, ingested the funk and got themselves some pep in their step.
Summer is finally here, and although the thunderclaps pop in now and again, it’s usually at the end of a hot day, which is par for the summer course, so I can’t really complain (can I?).
And now, a sociopolitical public service message…*
Last weekend we were out running the errands and what not, listening (as we always are) to the Sirius satellite radio, and since Mr Stern was pumping a repeat, we moved on over to OutQ (the LGBT station) to see what was up, and happened upon a very interesting piece of soul/funk related information.
June 28th marked the 40th anniversary of the beginning of the Stonewall uprising, in which the patrons of the bar of the same name fought back against police harassment of the gay community, giving birth to the modern gay rights movement.
The host (I think it was Derek Hartley Larry Flick) was going through a list of the songs on the jukebox at the Stonewall that night in June 1969. Naturally my ears perked right up, since history has proven our gay brothers and sisters to have excellent taste in dance music.
I made a note to myself to dig into Google to see if I could turn up a copy of the song list.
I did.
“Why?” you ask “am I doing this?”
Well, first of all, basic cultural/musical curiosity.
Secondarily – but ultimately more importantly – we as a nation are at a crossroads of sorts in relation to recognition of gay Americans as first class citizens (i.e. entitled to the same rights as the rest of us), especially in relation to the institution of marriage and all the rights that follow.
The fact that we have allowed religious ideologues to keep this right (which is a 100% civil concept in that you can get whatever religious figure you want to marry you, but if you don’t get a license and file it at city hall you are not married) away from our fellow citizens, because they happen to be gay, lesbian or transgender, is a digrace.
The concept in question is equal protection under the law. It’s pretty simple despite a veritable tsunami of disingenuous double-talk from religious figures and their political servants to the contrary.
The time is long since passed for this injustice to be remedied. President Obama seems to be taking a (very) measured approach to the situation, but I hope that he’ll end up doing the right thing and ending the prohibition against gay marriage.
The Stonewall uprising is an important touchstone for this issue since it was really the first significant event in which the gay community stood up and insisted that they be treated with the same level of legal respect as their fellow Americans.
It has been a long 40 years, but things have gotten better since then. They aren’t where they should be, but it is important to keep in mind that for almost three of those four decades, the fight for gay rights has been running against the rising tide of religious fundamentalism, and the latter’s effect on political discourse (as it is).
Fortunately for all of us, we have a Constitution that is supposed to guarantee equal rights for all citizens. Unfortunately not everyone that has taken an oath to uphold that document is clear on this point.
Anyway…
If you take a look at the 1969 playlist from the jukebox at the Stonewall, there’s lots of Top 40 soul and funk, a couple of surprises (the Equals’ ‘Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys’ , The Flirtations ‘Nothing But a Heartache’ and Marva Whitney’s slamming ‘It’s My Thing’), as well as show tunes and mainstream balladeering (Streisand, Sinatra, Eydie Gorme and Connie Francis).
I wanted to commemorate this anniversary, so I picked a couple of personal favorites out of the list and reposted them.
The tunes in question are both by Gladys Knight and the Pips. The first, their version of Shirley Ellis’ ‘The Nitty Gritty’, which is a funky killer, and second (and more symbolically important) ‘Friendship Train’.
I’ve always felt that despite their chart success, Gladys and her Pips don’t really get the respect they deserve amongst the soul and funk crowd.
So, the next time this particular issue comes up for discussion, whether among friends, at the ballot box or in court, keep these words of wisdom in mind, and do what you can to push things in the right direction.

Oh yes it is now people let me tell you now
We’ve got to learn to live with each other
No matter what the race, creed or color
I just got to tell you what the world needs now
Is love and understanding get aboard the friendship train
Everybody shake a hand make a friend now
Listen to us now, we’re doing our thing
On the friendship train

Keep it in mind, and I’ll be back on Monday with some soul.

Peace

Larry

*Bet you thought you wouldn’t see one of those for at least four years..

PS Don’t forget to head over to Iron Leg .

PSS Check out Paperback Rider too.

PSSS Don’t forget to hit up Funky16Corners on Facebook

Funky16Corners Radio Show Tonight 9PM

Greetings all.

This is just a note to let you know that the Funky16Corners Radio Show on Viva internet radio returns tonight – Thurs 02/12 at 9PM . The show will play at 9PM, and will be archived thereafter at the Funky16Corners Radio Show Page (where you can still hear many old shows if you haven’t checked it out yet).
Also, the next installment of the Asbury Park 45 Sessions is dropping next Friday 2/20 at the World Famous Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, NJ. Fall by if you’re in the area.

And, if you’re on Facebook, stop by and join the Funky16Corners group.

Peace

Larry

Funky16Corners Radio v.62 – Hot Pants!!!!!!!!!!!!

Funky16Corners Radio v.62 – Hot Pants!! Under the Covers with James Brown

Playlist

Otis Redding – Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag (Atco)
Dee Felice Trio – There Was a Time (King)
Shark Wilson & the Basement Heaters – Make It Reggae (Ashanti)
Cannibal & the Headhunters – Outta Sight (Rampart)
Albert King – Cold Sweat (Stax)
Dick Hyman – Give It Up of Turn It Loose (Command/ABC)
Mar-Keys – Dear James Medley (Atlantic)
Truman Thomas – Cold Sweat (Veep)
Soulful Strings – There Was a Time (Cadet)
Byron Lee – Hot Reggay (Dynamic)
Jerry O – There Was a Time (White Whale)
Jimmy Lynch – There Was a Time (LaVal)
Enoch Light & the Brass Menagerie – Hot Pants (Project 3)

To hear this mix, head on over to the Funky16Corners Radio Podcast Archive

Greetings all.

I hope all is well on your end.
I wish I could say the same…
I have been having physical problems for the last week or so (nothing tragic, but sick enough to lose interest in most interesting stuff), as well as dealing with some serious family responsibilities that oddly enough reared their head just about this same time last year.
I am – thank Jeebus – still employed, but even that is of little consolation (until you turn on the news and realize how bad things really are).
Anyhoo…I missed my first Asbury Park 45 Sessions this past Friday (my first MIA in almost two years), and I spent most of the day on Saturday engaged in a little restorative vegetation.
It was in the midst of said lollygagging that I happened to be perusing the old hard drive, and then our friendly neighborhood mail carrier arrived with a record (as he so often does) and the deal – as they say – was sealed.
Ever since I started doing the Funky16Corners Radio Show over at Viva internet radio, I’ve been much more careful about gathering and sorting my digi-ma-tized material. As I was flipping through the folders, I just happened to notice that I had a number of covers of James Brown songs in the to-be-blogged area, and I started to copy them into a folder, with the intention of someday making them into a mix.
Then the mailman showed up with yet another, and after a touch of brainstorming, during which I plunged briefly into the crates to pull out a few more sides, I sat down with the turntable and the laptop, and set to work (though I would hardly describe sitting at the dining room table with headphones on as “work”).
When I was done, I had the mix you see before you, and I had an excuse to take most of the week off to concentrate on, and attend to what the crate diggerati describe as “real world moves”.
A couple of these songs have appeared in this space before, a few as individual tracks and others as part of themed mixes.
My hope is that the new context will forgive the recycling.
Things get rolling with a great version of ‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag’ by my all time fave soul singer, the master Otis Redding. I think you’ll agree that he did a fine job.
Next up is the only JB ‘protégé’ in the group, pianist Dee Felice and his trio with a slamming take (the first of four in this mix) on ‘There Was a Time’. I have a few other versions of this tune not included in this mix, and I remember at one time contemplating an all ‘There Was a Time Mix’, but eventually thought better of it (especially since I don’t have the Soul Searchers version yet).
Next up is the wholly awesome Jamaican re-working of the Godfather’s ‘Make It Funky’, recast by Shark Wilson and the Basement Heaters as ‘Make It Reggae’.
Most folks are certainly familiar with Cannibal & the Headhunters epic reading of Chris Kenner’s ‘Land of 1000 Dances’ (in which they introduced the ‘NA, NA NA NA NA’S), but I suspect only the Brown Eyed Soul aficionados among you have heard their take on ‘Outta Sight’.
If you’re not hep to the sounds of Albert King, get down to the Record Barn and grab some of the heat he laid down for the Stax label. Like Little Milton and Freddy King, Albert created a soulful strain of the blues, and was often backed by the Stax house band when doing so. His smoking version of ‘Cold Sweat’ was released as the B-side of a 1970 Stax 45.
Dick Hyman is a name well known to jazzbos, and Easy fans as well. He spent a lot of the 60s experimenting with Moog synthesizers for Enoch Light’s various labels. His version of ‘Give It Up (Or Turn It Loose)’ is something of an acquired taste (which I’ve acquired), and should be listened to repeatedly. Whoever’s working the drums is setting a very tasty groove amongst the various bleeps and bloops of the moog.
The Mar-Key’s are best known for their hit ‘Last Night’, one of the earliest hits for the Stax label. Their James Brown medley comes from their 1966 LP on Atlantic.
The Hammond stylings of Mr Truman Thomas are a big fave hereabouts, and first and foremost among them is his wailing version of ‘Cold Sweat’.
Speaking of Funky16Corners faves, they don’t get any fave-er than Richard Evans’ Soulful Strings. Their take on ‘There Was a Time’ is from their live LP.
I recently picked up a very groovy LP by the late Byron Lee and his Dragonaires. ‘Reggay Hot & Cool’ includes both his reworking of ‘Hot Pants’ (entitled) ‘Hot Reggay’, with some very cool flute, and a smooth version of the theme from ‘Shaft’.
The version of ‘There Was a Time’ by Jerry-O namechecks another Chitown cover of that particular song, by (as Jerry refers to him) Gene Chandler ‘The Woman Handler’. It’s definitely one of Jerry-O’s funkier sides for White Whale.
Next up is yet another version of that very tune, by guitarist/comedian Jimmy Lynch. The 45 (on LaVal, the same label that brought you Chick Willis’ ‘Mother Fuyer’) has some questionable fidelity, sounding as if it was recorded surreptitiously, but the power of the tune shines through.
We close things out with a return to the laboratory of Mr Enoch Light, with a surprising tasty version of ‘Hot Pants’ by the Brass Menagerie. This is the record that the mailman dropped off, and brother it was worth the wait. Though Light’s albums were clearly intended for Hi-Fi nuts, the bands he worked with were the cream of the studio crop, and often enough they craned out some funky stuff (breaks for days and what not).
I hope you dig the mix, and I may or may not be back on Friday.
Peace
Larry

PS Make sure to stop by Iron Leg for a great bit of folk rock

PSS Check out Paperback Rider as well

Funky16Corners Radio Show Tonight 12/11 – 9PMEST

Greetings all.

I’m back (sort of…)!
This is just a note to let you know that the Funky16Corners Radio Show on Viva internet radio returns tonight – Thurs 12/11 at 9PM – for its second edition. The show will play at 9PM, and will be archived thereafter at the Funky16Corners Radio Show Page (where you can still hear the last 3 weeks shows if you haven’t checked it out yet).
Me on the other hand…bleechhh. I’m sick, tired, sick AND tired (did I mention that I was sick??). I’ll be back on Monday (maybe with a mix, we;ll see to what level my normal powers of mixology are restored this weekend). Until then, get down with the Funky16Corners Radio Show.

Peace
Larry

Funky16Corners Guests at Hook and Sling

To hear this mix, head on over to the Funky16Corners Guest Mix Archive

Greetings all.
A littlw while back, Mr. Double Down over at the Hook and Sling blog inquired if I might be interested in once again gracing that spot with another guest mix.
The Hook and Sling-ers are fine folks, so naturally I responded in the affirmative.
The result is something that I’d been wanting to do for Funky16Corners for a long time, but as it worked out, the hour-long Northern style amalgamation will be dropping at Hook and Sling instead.
There are some old faves, and some stuff you might not know. You should make sure to fall by and check it out.
I think you’ll dig it.
Me? I just got back from a visit with my physician, who – believe it or not – told me to chill on the whole “burning the candle at both ends” thing, so I’ll be absent until this Friday.

WITH THESE TWO EXCEPTIONS…

Make sure to tune in this Thursday at 9PM for the Funky16Corners Radio Show on Viva Internet Radio.

Also, last but certainly not least, assuming that I have recovered sufficiently, I’ll be spinning this Friday (12/12) at the Asbury Park 45 Sessions at the World Famous Asbury Lanes. The whole AP45 crew will be bringing the heat, as will returning guest selector Cool Hands Luke! I hope to see you there.
Until then…
Peace

Larry

PS Don’t forget to head over to Iron Leg for a new garage punk mix

PSS Check out Paperback Rider as well.

REMINDER – Funky16Corners Radio Show Premieres Tonight At 9PMEST

Just a reminder that tonight (Thursday) at 9:00PM I’ll be trying something new, with an on-line show at Viva Internet Radio. It’ll be a weekly thing, with new episodes every Thursday, and lots of the kind of stuff you’re familiar with the ye olde blogge, except with the added “benefit” of spoken commentary from yours truly. The shows will be archived after each premiere, so if you aren’t around when it drops, you can fall by the Viva site and give it a listen (I really dig their player/interface too).
I hope you get a chance to check it out.
I’ll be back tonight after the show with a new post for the weekend.
Peace
Larry

PS Attention Tony C! I think we’re having e-mail related problems. All is well! – L

The Return of Funky16Corners Halloween!

Greetings all.
This is going to be a busy couple of weeks.
We have Halloween this Friday (thus the repost of last years Funky16Corners Radio Halloween Spooktacular), Election Day next Tuesday – for which I’ll be posting something cool – and then in the middle of next week the four year anniversary of the Funky16Corners Blog, for which I’m working on a special mix.
I have some personal committments toward the end of the week, so this maybe the last post until the election post on Sunday night.
If all goes as planned, the anniversary mix (Number 60!) will be up next Wednesday, after which the Funky16Corners fam will be hitting the road for a well deserved vacation.
I hope you dig the spooky stuff, and I’ll work on keeping the sounds coming.
Happy Halloween!
Peace
Larry

Originally posted 10/29/07

We Now Return to Blacula Meets Black Dracula!

Funky16Corners Radio Halloween Spooktacular!?!

Playlist

1. Lou Rawls – Season of the Witch (Capitol)
2. Souls Unlimited – The Raving Vampire Pt1 (Wig Wam)
3. Bill Doggett – The Worm (Columbia)
4. Clea Bradford – My Love’s a Monster (Cadet)
5. Fred Wesley & the JB’s – Doin’ It To Death (People)
6. King Coleman – The BooBoo Song Pt1 (King)
7. Roger & the Gypsies – Pass the Hatchet Pt1 (Seven B)
8. Fame Gang – Spooky (Atlantic)

To hear this mix, head on over to the Funky16Corners Radio Podcast Archive

BOO!!!!
Heh, heh, heh…
I mean…Greetings all.
Halloween is upon us, so I thought it only fitting that we here at Funky16Corners should brew something up for the holiday. In the spirit of Dr. Frankenstein, my monster is also made from recycled parts, as every track in this mix (except for the drops) has appeared here in the past, a couple of them are even single tracks from Halloweens past.
Though there is an underlying spirit of Halloween consolidation, presenting these great songs for people who may have gotten on the Funky16Corners bus a few stops down the line from the rest of you, I have to admit to a certain preoccupation with what some would call “real world moves“. In all honesty, family obligations have taken a step up in the past week and there are some important things that need to be addressed which prevented me from stealing a few hours to exhume, and digi-ma-tize some “new” old stuff for your delectation.
Rest assured that it will not always be thus, and give the mix (not the individual tracks, which I provide as a courtesy, as always) a listen as I’ve tracked down some interesting, seasonal drops that take some of these tunes – barely related to Halloween – and recasts them in a spooky light (you may have to use your imagination a little, but then again that’s what Halloween’s all about). There are appearances by Halloween luminaries such s Count Floyd, Criswell, Gomez & Morticia Addams, The Simpsons, the Kids In the Hall, Monty Python, and of course Casper the Friendly Ghost.
You get Lou Rawls souling up Donovan, funky bloodsuckers from the Carolinas, a rare meeting between Frank Herbert and Bill Doggett, the mighty Clea Bradford with a romantic Frankenstein’s monster of a kind, funky murder from Fred and the JB’s, a shocking turn by King Coleman, the Axe Murderers national anthem, and in closing, a slightly funky reworking of the Classics IV.
So, I hope you dig it and that you have an excellent Halloween.
I’m going to go trick or treating with my wife and sons, and we’re all going to watch ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown’ three or four times.
Peace
Larry

PS I got a rock…

PSS Don’t forget to check out this week’s mix at Iron Leg!

Merl Saunders RIP

Merl Saunders
1934 – 2008

Listen/Download – Merl Saunders – Soul Groovin – From Funky16Corners Radio v.35 – Soul Organs Pt2 – MP3

Listen/Download – Merl Saunders – Soul Roach Pt2 from Funky16Corners Radio v.55 Soul On – MP3

Listen/Download – Merl Saunders – Julia – from Funky16Corners Radio v.24.5 The Beat Goes On – MP3

Listen/Download – Merl Saunders & Heavy Turbulence – A Little Bit of Righteousness – from Funky16Corners Radio v.53 Ain’t It The Truth- MP3

Greetings all.
I had something entirely different already written up for the beginning of the week, but unfortunately I just heard that one of my fave organists, and one of the truly interesting lights of the Bay Area music scene, Merl Saunders, had passed away at the age of 74*.
Though I’m sure I knew of Saunders during the few years I was going to see the Grateful Dead – Saunders had recorded with various members of the band, especially Jerry Garcia – I didn’t really start to get into his music until I dug up one of his Galaxy label soul jazz sides.
Merl Saunders was born and raised in the Bay Area, and before he started grooving with the hippified element, he fronted a slamming organ combo, recording for a variety of west coast labels, including Galaxy and Early Bird.
Though I managed to find most of his early 45s over the years, it was only earlier this year that I finally scored a copy of the rare ‘Soul Grooving’ LP by the Merl Saunders Trio and Big Band.
Saunders had a fantastic touch on the Hammond, working soul jazz, funk and rock with equal facility. His organ stylings have been a repeated part of the Funky16Corners Radio experience, appearing in no less that four different mixes.
The tunes I’m posting today range from his earliest soul jazz efforts right through to some of his funkier sounds.
The first cut is my personal favorite, the cut ‘Soul Grooving’, which features Saunders on both organ and electric piano. Dig the thumping bass and groovy guitar solo on this one.
The second tune is the flip side of his 45 for the collectible Early Bird label, ‘Soul Roach Pt2’, which is as pure a piece of soul jazz organ shuffle as you’re likely to come across.
The third track is another fave, and very unusual in the Saunders catalog, a version of the theme from the Diahann Carroll TV series ‘Julia’, another cut on which he doubles on organ and piano. I love the electric piano solo on this one. Very groovy indeed.
The final cut is one side of the 1970 45 recorded by Saunders with the group Heavy Turbulence. I’ve heard that the funky ‘A Little Bit of Righteousness’ features none other than Mike Bloomfield of the Electric Flag on guitar. Saunders went on to record an album called ‘Heavy Turbulence’ in 1972 which featured both Garcia and Tom Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival.
In the 70s, Saunders went from working a soul groove to laying down a jamming groove as a part of the extended Grateful Dead family, recording with the Dead, and on solo albums by Garcia and Robert Hunter , and eventually recording the classic ‘Blues From The Rainforest’ LP.
He was felled by a stroke in 2002, and it was reportedly complications from that ailment that took his life this past week.
He will be missed.
Peace
Larry

*I know that the blog is starting to look like the soul/funk obituary page, but when someone of note passes, it’s important to honor their memory. I’ve always thought that the obit page was the last stop for many interesting people before passing on to the great beyond of their choice. With any luck, if you’ve never heard anything by Merl Saunders, and you dig what I posted, you’ll continue to investigate his work, keeping his music alive.

PS Make sure to head over to Iron Leg for a new edition of the Iron Leg Digital Trip Podcast devoted to 60s pop.