Funky16Corners Radio v.78 – Forbidden City Funk

Funky16Corners Radio v.78 – Forbidden City Funk!

Playlist

Parliaments – Good Ole Music (Revilot)
Marlena Shaw – California Soul (Cadet)
Soulful Strings – Zambezi (Cadet)
Mystic Moods – Cosmic Sea (WB)
Bobby Byrd – I Know You Got Soul (King)
Willie Smith – I Got a New Thing (Genuine)
Louie Ramirez – Do It Any Way You Wanna (Cotique)
Willie Tell & The Overtures – Kick-Back (Chess)
Hoctor – Gold Coast (Hoctor)
La May – Free the Soul Man (SPQR)
Incredible Bongo Band – Apache (Mr Bongo reissue)
Melting Pot – Kool and the Gang (Ampex)
Danny Delaney – Stop and Think (Palmetto)
Cymande – Fug (Janus)
Chuck Carbo – Can I Be Your Squeeze (Canyon)
Louis Chachere – The Hen Pt1 (Paula)
David Batiste & the Gladiators – Funky Soul Pt1 (Instant)
Nanette Workman – Lady Marmalade (Pasha)
Laura Lee – Crumbs Off the Table (Hot Wax)
James Brown – Hot Pants Pt1 (People)
Lyn Collins – Think (About It) (People)
Roger & the Gypsies – Pass the Hatchet Pt1 (Seven B)

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

The view from behind the decks at Forbidden City

Getting ready to pull the trigger on Hoctor’s ‘Gold Coast’.

Greetings all.

The end of another year is at hand, and I thought I’d try something different this year. The fam and I are hitting the road for some relative-related visitation, so this will be it until the New Year.
Last Wednesday I had the honor of sharing the decks with my Asbury Park 45 Sessions cohort DJ Bluewater at his new Master Groove night at Forbidden City in Manhattan (the evening’s other guest selector was none other than the mighty M-Fasis). Forbidden City is a chill venue with some very cool people, and despite the holiday traffic and huge heaps of snow in the street I had a great time.
A couple of folks (specifically members of the Funky16Corners group on Facebook) requested a set list for the night, and while I was recovering from the Christmas festivities I thought it might be a cool idea to record the evening’s selections in a new edition of the Funky16Corners Radio podcast. The only real difference between this and any other edition of  F16C Radio, is that the tracks herein were selected on the fly, as I DJ’d. Certainly there was a level of selection inherent in what went into my DJ box (which holds about 75 singles) but the set itself was assembled on the spot at Forbidden City.
What you’ll be listening to is just over an hour of hot funk 45s (many breaks within) including a couple of new arrivals that will most certainly be blogged about separately in the coming months.
The evening was marked by an interesting (thought certainly not unprecedented) incident toward the end of my set. While the bar wasn’t packed, there was a crowd, including a particularly lively group of young ladies who came in right before I started spinning and proceeded to whoop it up with several rounds of drinks. Nothing out of control, but they were clearly deep in the holiday spirit(s).
About 45 minutes into the proceedings, one young lass approached me and informed me that she had come from an entire table of flamenco dancers (I was worried for a minute that she was going to request actual flamenco music, a genre that I rarely carry with me). She then asked me – right in the middle of a set of tight, slamming funk (see above list for confirmation of same) if I might “play something dancey”?
Now, in situations like this, I always try to maintain my icy veneer of cool. I’m certainly not averse to taking requests, as long as they are – how do you say – of an ‘appropriate’ nature. I’ve seen some weird ones, i.e. a kid requesting anything by KISS during a set of Northern Soul, and I’ve also dealt (as almost any DJ has) with surly, drunken booth-monkeys who seem to feel that it’s OK to crawl on/into the DJ booth, bumping/placing their drink on the turntables, causing the tone arm to jump as they demand something specific (which I immediately counter with a demand that they remove themselves from my immediate vicinity with the greatest possible haste).
This particular girl was polite, but I couldn’t help but recoil slightly at the idea that a self-proclaimed dancer could not find it in themselves to move to any or all of the records listed above.
I mean, honest to god, funk is, by definition, funky, a state of being that gets its name by its ability to cause people to move in a rhythmic fashion, often described by observers as “dancing”. Not everyone who feels compelled to move by these records is a good dancer, but they are all dancing. Even those wallflowers who are prevented – by timidity, inebriation or physical infirmity (or a combination of any or all of the above) – from dancing usually react to the power of the music by some seated version of the dance, with the foot-tap, the head-bob, the seated-shimmy or something else along those lines. Anyone confronted by a 45 like Bobby Byrd’s ‘I Know You Got Soul’ who doesn’t move at all, should be checked for a pulse.
That said, I was in a festive mood, so I dipped into my DJ box and pulled out my number one slice of guaranteed Becky-bait, Nanette Workman’s French language version of LaBelle’s ‘Lady Marmalade’, which gives them all the easily recognizable Top 40 vibe they can handle while simultaneously allowing me to save face by offering quality funk to those in the know. I followed this with some James Brown (‘Hot Pants’), Lyn Collins (‘Think About It’) and since my time was just about up, I whipped a little Roger & the Gypsies on the assembled masses, figuring if that wasn’t “dancey” enough, there was nothing anyone of my powers could do, and HO HO HO, and what the fuck, and “Good evening ladies and gents!” and what not.
Happily, after I sort of/kind of answered her request, these people actually got up and danced, to four 45s that were in essence EXACTLY the same as the sixteen others that preceded them, proving once again that human nature is a funny thing, and sometime giving the people what they want is exactly the same as giving them what they need, and everyone walks away from a night at the pub with a wobble in their step and more importantly, a smile on their face.
It is in that spirit that I wish you all a Happy New Year, and the best of all things in Twenty-Oh-Ten (man, who saw that coming???).

Peace

Larry

NOTE: The Funky16Corners Radio Podcast Archive has been updated (see link in sidebar) , and all seventy seven previous mixes are now represented.

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PPS – Make sure to fall by Iron Leg for a year-end wrap up mix.

PPPS Make sure to hit up Funky16Corners on Facebook

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Jay and the Techniques – Here We Go Again

Jay and the Techniques

Listen/Download – Jay and the Techniques – Here We Go Again

Greetings all.
I write to you as I recuperate from yet another – hopefully the last – encounter with kidney stone related surgery. My intrepid urologist (there’s a phrase you don’t hear too often) located and blasted the remaining stones, and if all goes as planned I won’t have to go back the hospital anytime soon (this was my fifth trip this year, only two of which were planned).
Fortunately the body parts required for operation of the Funky16Corners blog – listening ears and typing fingers – appear to functioning properly, so we plow ahead.
The tune I bring you today is something I was turned on to in the early days of the Asbury Park 45 Sessions.
Back then, the AP45 crew had a distinctly different composition than it does today. One of the early DJs, who left the fold after only a few appearances was Garden State Soul’s own Jay Boxcar. Like another ex-AP45er, Connie T. Empress, Jay brought a more classic/Northern soul vibe to his sets. When he dropped the tune I bring you today I took a run up to the turntables and was pleasantly surprised to discover that the high quality tune I was hearing was no stone rarity, but rather a neglected b-side by Jay and the Techniques.
A multi-racial soul band, Jay and the Techniques hailed from Allentown, PA, and had their first and biggest hit ‘Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie’ in 1967. The tune I bring you today was the b-side of their second hit, ‘Keep the Ball Rollin’.
‘Here We Go Again’ is a storming dancer with a pounding organ/horn riff and a wonderful vocal by Jay Proctor. Produced and arranged by Philly legends Jerry Ross and Joe Renzetti ‘Here We Go Again’ is a departure from Jay and the Techniques ‘nursery rhyme’ tunes and is a wonderful slice of pop-inflected soul. The grooviest thing of all is that you ought to be able to pick up your own copy at the next flea market/boot sale for less than a dollar.
I hope you dig the tune and I’ll be back on Wednesday with something cool.

Peace

Larry

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PS Head over to Iron Leg for some wild folk rock

PSS Check out Paperback Rider too.

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8/14 Asbury Park 45 Sessions Wrap Up

Maurice Williams meets the Buena Vistas

Yours truly upon the wheels du steel

Pat James Longo (see playlist below) & DJ Prestige discuss all things funky

Funky16Corners Playlist
Titanic – Sultana (CBS)
Santana – Jin-Go-La-Ba (Columbia)
Oneness Of Juju – African Rhythms Pt1 (Black Fire)
Mandrill – Fencewalk (Polydor)
Buena Vistas – The Soul Ranger (Marquee)
Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs – The Four Corners (Veep)
Tommy Wills – (Funky) 4 Corners (Airtown)
Quincy Jones – Money Runner (Reprise)
James Brown – The Payback Pt1 (Polydor)
Royalettes – River of Tears (Roulette)
Isley Brothers – Get Into Something Pt2 (T Neck)
Dyke & the Blazers – Shotgun Slim (Original Sound)
Commodores – Machine Gun (Motown)
Tony Camillo’s Bazuka – Dynomite Pt1 (A&M)
Bar-Kays – Sang and Dance (Volt)
Willie West – Said To Myself (WB)
Bobby Byrd – If You Don’t Work You Can’t Eat (King)
Laura Lee – Crumbs Off the Table (Hot Wax)
Richards People – Yo Yo (Tuba)
Louis Chachere – The Hen Pt1 (Paula)

Pat. James Longo Playlist

Jimmie Willis – “Soul Power PT. 1” (Orr Records cat. 1100 (Prod. by Porter – Sago))
Charlie Lucas And The Thrillers – “Wonderful Feeling” (Waterbird cat. WB001 (Produced by C. Simmons))
Curtis Davis – “Your Love And My Money” (Bev-Mar Records cat. BM 1001)
Bobby Freeman – “Do You Wanna Dance, 1970″ (Double Shot Records cat. #152” (Prod. by: Winn-Rodgers))
Big Mac – “That’s The Way YouTreat Your Woman” (Jewel Records cat. SL 1274 (Produced by Dan Clay Upia Productions))
Lorenzo Holden – “The Wig” (Cee-Jam Records cat. INSTRUMENTAL #1 CJ-8961 (Plug Side / Wht Lbl Promo)
The Sensational Guitars of Dan & Dale – “Robin’s Theme” (Tifton cat. 45-125 (with Pic Sleeve)
The Combinations – “Bump Ball!” (RCA Victor cat. 47-9482 (Producer Jim Foglesong)(Plug Side / Not For Sale))
The Blues Groove – “Makin’ It (Verve cat. VK-10417)
Ruff Francis & The Illusions – “Give Me Mercy” (Essica Records cat. 002″)
Bo Diddley – “I’m High Again” (Checker cat. 1200 (Produced by Gene Barge & Charles Stepney)
Frankie Newsome – “Don’t Mess With My Lovemaker” (Part II) (Savern cat. SN-104 (Prod. By Sago – Stevio Arr. Cond. by Z. Sago)
The Pazant Brothers – “Skunk Juice” (RCA Records cat. 47-9634 (Production / Prod. by Ed Bland)
Ray Barretto – “Together” (Fania cat. 501 (Produced by: Jerry Masucci))
Monguito Santamaria VOCAL BY: Ronnie Marks – “Hey Sister” (Fania cat. 481)
Ray Rodriquez – “Workout – Part II” (Ghetto Records cat. G – 010 (Music Directo – Joe Bataan / Producer – George Febo))
The Stark Reality – “Say Brother” (Big Yellow cat. 45-63 Produced by Spotlite Enterprises))
Rusty Bryant – “Fire Eater” (Prestige cat. PRT-750 (PR-2932))

Listen/Download – Mandrill – Fencewalk/Hagalo – MP3

Greetings all.
Just a quick note to say that the Asbury Park 45 Sessions were once again banging, the perfect accompaniment to a warm summer night. I joined DJ Prestige, DJ Bluewater, M-Fasis, DJ Prime Mundo and special guest selector Pat James Longo for an evening of funk, soul, disco, latin and all manner of grooves.
There were several heavy sets, and Mr Longo brought the heat, dropping a number of incredible 45s, including one by Stark Reality that moved right to the top of my want list.
We also managed to buy and trade some cool vinyl amongst ourselves, including a couple of new residents for my record box (which I am digitizing as I type this).
Hopefully we’ll be doing this again in a couple of months, and as I always say, if you’re in the area, you simply must drop by.

Peace

Larry

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

6/12 Asbury Park 45 Sessions Wrap-up

Your’s truly massaging the mixer “just so”

“Listen – Bobby Byrd – I Know You Got Soul – MP3″

Funky16Corners 6/12 Asbury Park 45 Sessions Set List

Dixie Cups – Two Way Poc-a-way (ABC/Paramount)
Jimmie Preacher Ellis – Put Your Hoe to My Row (Round)
Bar-Kays – Give Everybody Some (Volt)
Scatman Crothers – Golly Zonk!(It’s Scatman) (HBR)
JJ Barnes – Day Tripper (Ric-Tic)
Fabulous Emotions – Number One Fool (Nico)
Otis Goodwin – Mini Skirts (Walker-Reeder)
Bobby Byrd – I Know You Got Soul (King)
Gene Chandler – In My Body’s House (Checker)
Chuck Carbo – Can I Be Your Squeeze (Canyon)
Exotics – Boogaloo Investigator (Excello)
Gunga Din – Crab Cakes (Valise)
Meiko Hirota – On a Sorrowful Day (Columbia)
Lulu – Love Loves to Love (Epic)
Baby Huey & the Babysitters – Mighty Mighty Children Pt2 (Curtom)
ST-4 – Funky (Scepter)
Charles Brinkley – In the Pocket (Music Machine)
Eldridge Holmes – The Book (Deesu)
Little Royal & the Swingmasters – Razor Blade (Trius)
Freddie Scott & the Four Steps – Same Ole Beat (Marlin)
Johnny Otis Show – Country Girl (Kent)
Etta James – Tighten Up Your Own Thing (Cadet)
Rumplestiltskin – Rumplestiltskin (Bell)

Greetings all.

Just a quick note to say that last night’s edition of the Asbury Park 45 Sessions was -as expected – a banger, with a lively crowd getting down to repeated helpings of funk 45 heat.
In addition to my own, there were smoking sets by DJ Bluewater, DJ Prestige, MFasis, and DJ Prime Mundo (who dropped a 45 so heavy that my mind was good and truly blown). Make sure you head over to Fleamarket Funk for some more pics and set lists.
The next Sessions will be sometime in August, so set aside the entire month, lest you miss the action.
I’m reposting the Bobby Byrd 45 that I spun last night.
I’ll be back on Monday with the regularly scheduled goodness.

Peace

Larry

PS Don’t forget to head over to Iron Leg

PSS Check out Paperback Rider which has finally been updated.

PSSS Don’t forget to hit up Funky16Corners on Facebook

The Crusaders – Put It Where You Want It

The Crusaders

“Listen – The Crusaders – Put It Where You Want It – MP3″

Greetings all.

I hope you’ve all weathered the week and are ready to dig in to the weekend.
I sure as hell am….

If you’re in the area, and feel like getting down to the sounds of soul and funk spun exclusively on the 7”/45RPM format, then you could do no better than to fall by the world famous Asbury Lanes for the latest installment of the legendary Asbury Park 45 Sessions. Now halfway through it’s third year, the AP45 Sessions have become a local institution, featuring the deepest crates in the area, including my own (natch), and those of DJ Prestige, DJ Prime Mundo, Jack the Ripper, MFasis, DJ Bluewater and an ever impressive revolving cast of guest selectors.
I spent some time this week pulling some heat from the crates, which mixed with several interesting recent acquisitions ought to make for a sweet set.

The tune I bring you today is an old fave. Though the name of the Crusaders was very familiar when I was a kid, I cannot for the life of me remember where or when I first heard ‘Put It Where You Want It’. I have a vague recollection of it being used as incidental music by someone, perhaps on a TV or radio show back in the day, but I can’t be sure.
Truth be told, for a long time I knew it was a Crusaders’ song, but didn’t know the title, once buying the ‘Street Life’ CD from a record club because a friend had assured that that was their big hit, and probably what I was looking for. ‘Street Life’ was in fact the band’s biggest hit (in 1979), but as it turns out, the tune I was looking for may not have been their biggest hit, but it was indeed their first (in 1972).
The Crusaders started out in their hometown on Houston, TX (in the mid-50s) as the Swingsters, at one time including Hubert Laws in the line-up of their next incarnation, the Modern Jazz Sextet. The core of the group – keyboardist Joe Sample, saxophonist Wilton Felder, drummer Stix Hooper and trombonist Wayne Henderson – relocated to California in 1960 and started operating under the name Jazz Crusaders.
The Jazz Crusaders recorded 19 (?!?) albums between 1961 and 1971 for Pacific Jazz and Chisa, playing a soulful variation on hard bop, as well playing countless session dates individually and collectively. They dropped the “Jazz” from their name in 1971 and becoming simply the Crusaders. It was under the new, truncated moniker that the group took on a funkier edge.
The tune I bring you today, ‘Put It Where You Want It’ is from the 1972 LP ‘1’, and as I mentioned before was the very first hit for the Crusaders, making into the R&B Top 40 and falling just outside the Pop Top 50. Featuring Joe Sample’s rolling electric piano and the guitar of Larry Carlton, ‘Put It Where You Want It’ is a perfect, summertime head-nodder, as well as a fine example of certain jazzy style of West Coast R&B that wound its way into the sound of groups like Steely Dan, Stuff and the later Doobie Brothers.
I hope you dig the tune, and I’ll be back on Monday with something funky(er).

Peace

Larry

NOTE: Don’t forget to fall by Viva Internet Radio Tonight at 9PMEST for the latest edition of the Funky16Corners Radio Show. You can always check out the show (and many pastshows) in the archive.

NOTE: If you haven’t yet checked out the new funk 45 mix I did for Galactic Fractures, head on over there and pull down the ones and zeros.

PS Don’t forget to head over to Iron Leg for some more pop.

PSS Check out Paperback Rider too.

PSSS Don’t forget to hit up Funky16Corners on Facebook

Funky Movement 2009 Wrap Up

James Brown and Eddie Bo Perfect Together

Greetings all.

My man DJ Prestige and I have returned from our mini-sweep of the mid-Atlantic soul/funk continuum and I have to say that no matter how wiped I am, no matter how depleted and in need of restorative sleep, I could not take to my bed without dropping a few words to let you know how it all went down.
Pres and I hit the road Friday morning and thanks to some immaculate timing managed to dodge the traffic and hit DC by mid afternoon. We hooked up with my old friend Chris (himself a well respected DC area DJ) who squired us around DC for some smoking West Indian chow (jerk chicken, mmmmmmm…) and thrift digging.

Chilling at Marvin on Ave U in DC
DJ Birdman, Funky16Corners, and Birdman’s DJ partner Marshall

We headed into town for Chris’ extra-chill rare groove night at Marvin on Ave U (very nice place), then on to the amazing (and artery abusing) Ben’s Chili Bowl for some half-smokes and chili cheese fries before moving on to our sets at Moneytown.

DJ Prestige and DJ Birdman dig in at Ben’s Chili Bowl

DJ Nitekrawler at Moneytown

The crowd at Moneytown

DJ Prestige cues up another winner

Moneytown – run by DJ Nitekrawler – is held at Dahlak in the Adams Morgan neighborhood. Nitekrawler has built himself a very nice night with Moneytown, drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd who proved that there’s no shortage of excellent dancers (who dig moving to some excellent records) in DC. Thanks go out to the Washington Post for a very nice write-up prior to the gig.

Digging in DC

The next morning we moved on to some very fruitful digging (whatup to Mike and Marshall at Memory Lane) before moving on to Richmond as the sun was going down.

DJ Troy of the Scorpio Brothers Sound System at Mercy!

Funky16Corners mixing Johnny Otis and Eddie Bo

The party people at Mercy!

If it’s good to you, It’s good for you – DJ Prestige

The Richmond gig – Mercy! run by DJ Troy Hurt of the Scorpio Brothers Sound System – was also killer, with a slamming venue (Cous Cous, excellent food and great people) and another large and excited crowd.
In both locations we met up with a large number of interwebs acquaintances (hey to all blog readers and Soulstrutters, especially Matt in Richmond) and the response was enough to give yours truly a swelled head.
Biggest thanks of all to the Knott’s of DC for the stellar hospitality and accommodations and Troy in Richmond for the same, as well as to everyone that fell by and made both nights a party.
Unfortunately, thanks to a lack of computer time and general disorganization I don’t have set lists written up, but suffice to say there were lots of old faves, some freshly dug acquisitions (hitting the turntables mere hours after being unearthed) and lots and lots of dancing.

LP (above) and 45 (below) digs…

With any luck Pres and I will be able to do this again (maybe with some more stops along the way) later in the year. If you’re running a funk/soul night somewhere withing driving distance of NJ, and want to have us out, drop me a line and say the word.
Hopefully by mid-week I’ll have some of my new finds digi-ma-tized and ready for posting.
Make sure to stop by Fleamarket Funk for some more pics.

Peace

Larry

PSSS Don’t forget to hit up Funky16Corners on Facebook

Rex Garvin & the Mighty Cravers – Raw Funky b/w Funky16Corners On the Road

Rex Garvin & the Mighty Cravers

“Listen – Rex Garvin & the Mighty Cravers – Raw Funky – MP3″

Greetings all.

I hope all is well with you as the magnetic center of the week approaches.
I was all groovy gravy until the Winter Warlock fell by and dropped like a foot of wet, heavy snow on my driveway, and then (you just knew an “and then” was coming, dincha??) to add insult to injury, causing even further injury (oh yes) my goddamn motherf@#& snowblower – which coincidentally hasn’t been started in two years (thanks in large part to an extended dearth of snow in our region) refused to cooperate (i.e. start) and I was forced to take the manual approach to snow removal which left my back, knees and shoulders shredded like wet tissue paper, so it’s something of a miracle that I can even type without breaking into tears (god bless pain medicine).
Anyway (dot dot dot)

Now that the run on sentence is out of my system I must remind you that the end of this week will see myself and my man DJ Prestige packing our vinyl into the Funky16Corners-mobile (a sporty 2003 Honda Odyssey mini van with baby seats and kid garbage strewn about the floor) and motoring down to the nation’s capitol to spread some Asbury Park 45 Sessions style love with the vintage funk 45s, first at Moneytown (at Dahlak) in DC on Friday night 3/6 and then the following night (look at us we’re Grand Funk freaking Railroad) in Richmond, VA at Mercy! (at Cous Cous), two of the finest funk and soul parties below the line of Mason and Dixon.
This promises to be a very groovy experience as we love the vinyl thing, as well as the fact that we are going to be able to meet up with some old friends, new friends and such, and maybe (just maybe if sleep and energy allows) get in a touch of digging.
If you are within driving distance of either party it would be very cool if you would stop by and say howdy.
As a result of the travel and the plans and what not this will be the last post of the week. Because of that, I figured that the record in question should be something cool, so I reached into my bag of tricks (a la Felix) and pulled out a fairly recent acquisition.
The sounds of Rex Garvin and the Mighty Cravers has been featured herein several times in the past, mainly because one of those records – ‘I Gotta Go Now (Up On the Floor)’ – is one of my all time faves.
I’m always on the lookout for Rex Garvin sides I don’t have, and late last year, at one of the AP45 Sessions the 45 Killer brought down a box of sale stuff and in it was a copy of today’s selection, ‘Raw Funky’ by Mr Garvin and his Cravers.
Rex wasn’t lying when he named this song, on account of its being both raw and funky, with a taste of the James Brownian vibe plus a soupcon of something a little more free and chaotic (which is how Rex rolled) and the end result is most excellent.
Pull down the ones and zeros, slip on your dancing shoes and if your down in Ole Virginny, drop by and party with us. If you can’t be there in person, join us in spirit and cut yourself a rug on your home turf.
Have a great rest of the week and I’ll see you all on Monday.

Peace

Larry

NOTE: If that all wasn’t enough, don’t forget to fall by Viva Internet Radio Thursday night at 9PMEST for the latest edition of the Funky16Corners Radio Show. You can always check out the old shows in the archive.

PS Don’t forget to head over to Iron Leg for a new edition of the Iron Leg Digital Trip Podcast…

PSS Check out Paperback Rider which has finally been updated.

PSSS Don’t forget to hit up Funky16Corners on Facebook

Nanette Workman – Lady Marmalade + News…

Nanette Workman

“Listen – Nanette Workman – Lady Marmalade – MP3″

Greetings all.

The end of yet another week is upon us and I don’t know about you guys, but I’m good and whipped, and by the time you read this I may well be on the road for a four or five hour trek (second busy weekend of three in a row).
Next week I’ll be hitting the road with my man DJ Prestige. We’ll be motoring down to Washington, DC and Richmond, VA for two nights of Asbury Park 45 Sessions style record slinging. I’ll be posting detailed information in the coming week.

Anyway, enough about my exhaustion, how’s by you?
I’ll venture a guess that there are many among you similarly afflicted, so why not crash into the weekend with a hot one??
The tune I bring you today is one that I picked up sans-portable, but the price-tag (low, low, low) combined with a cover version of a hot song seemed like a good buy, and it was.
I had never heard the name Nanette Workman before, but once I got the record home and realized that her version of ‘Lady Marmalade’ was not only hot but sung in French, I set to Googling and found some interesting stuff.
First and foremost, Ms. Workman is not French, but in fact an American-born singer who made her career working not in France, but in French-speaking Canada. During the 1960s she worked on Broadway and TV, and after meeting Canadian star Tony Roman she moved to Quebec and started to record in French (apparently initially singing the lyrics phonetically since she could not yet speak the language).
Workman went on to perform in the UK (where she recorded with the Rolling Stones) and Europe, before returning to Quebec in the early 70s, where her version of ‘Lady Marmalade’ was one of her first big hits.
Workman’s version follows the LaBelle blueprint fairly closely, with the addition of some fat, fuzzy bass guitar, and of course the added attraction of the (entire) tune being sung in French. It’s very groovy indeed, and got a nice reaction when I spun it recently.
I hope you dig it, and I’ll be back on Monday with something cool.
In the meantime, don’t forget to fall by Viva Internet Radio tonight at 9PM for the latest edition of the Funky16Corners Radio Show. You can always check out the old shows in the archive.

Have a great weekend.

Peace

Larry

PS Don’t forget to head over to Iron Leg for late 60s fuzz…

PSS Check out Paperback Rider which has finally been updated.

PSSS Don’t forget to hit up Funky16Corners on Facebook

2/20 Asbury Park 45 Sessions Wrap Up

“Listen – Memphis Black – Why Don’t You Play the Organ Man – MP3″

Joe Cuba Sextet – El Pito (Tico)
Nanette Workman – Lady Marmalade (Pacha)
Albert King – Cold Sweat (Stax)
Apostles – Six Pack (Kapp)
Tony Newman – Soul Thing (Parrot)
Establishment – House of Jack (King)
Rex Garvin & the Mighty Cravers – Raw Funky (Uptown)
Lionel Hampton – Greasy Greens (GladHamp)
Memphis Black – Why Don’t You Play the Organ Man (Ascot)
Martinis – Hung Over (Bar)
Big John Hamilton – Big Fanny (SSS Intl)
TSU Toronados – Play the Music Toronados (Volt)
Meters – Look Ka Py Py (Josie)
Soul Tornados – Crazy Legs (Westwood)
BW Souls – Marvin’s Groove (Round)
Hank Ballard – Butter Your Popcorn (King)
Mohawks – Champ (Philips)
Freddie Scott & his Orchestra – Pow City (Marlin)
Donald Austin – Crazy Legs (Eastbound)
Gayletts – Son of a Preacherman (Steady)

Greetings all.
Last night marked the two year anniversary of the Asbury Park 45 Sessions. There was a nice turnout on a positively frigid night. No matter, we were all inside the lanes, insulated from the Arctic winds, heating up the joint with stacks of smoking OG soul and funk 45s with sets from DJ Bluewater, Jack the Ripper, MFasis, DJ Prestige, DJ Prime Mundo and yours truly.
It was – as always – a gas.
Those of you south of the Mason Dixon line who seek a similar form of succor should be alert, since DJ Prestige and myself will be hitting the road in a few weeks to bring the AP45 vibe down to Washington DC (Fri 3/6) and Richmond, VA (3/7). More detailed info as the dates get closer.
I’ll leave you with a repost of a tune from a few weeks back.
See you on Monday.

Peace

Larry

DJ Prestige Setlist

Intro: Rudy Ray Moore – This Pussy Belongs To Me/Kent
The New Birth – You Are What I’m All About/ RCA
Myron & E with the Soul Investigators – Cold Game/ Timmion
Mophono – Tighten Up Remix/ CB
Wilmer Alexander & the Dukes – Get It (Instrumental)/ Aphrodisiac
We The People – Breakdown/ Davel
Brother Soul – Feelin’ Funky/ Elmcor
The DT6 – Don’t Doubt Me/ Starla
Jessee Gresham Plus 3 – Shootin’ the Grease/ Head
Creative Funk – Funk Power/ Creative Funk
Soul Searchers – Blow Your Whistle/ Sussex
Roger Collins – She’s Looking Good/ Galaxy
The Emperors – Karate/ Mala
Alvin Cash & the Registers – Philly Freeze/ Mar-V-Lus
Willie & the Mighty Magnificents – Funky (8) Corners Pt. 1/ All Platinum
The Joe Cuba Sextet – Sock It To Me/ Tico
Wee Willie Mason – Funky Funky (Hot Pants)/ Jay Walking
Wilbur Bascomb & The Zodiacs – Just a Groove in “G”/ Carnival
Pamoja – Oooh, Baby/ Lotus Land
The Boys In the band – Sumptin’ Heavy/ Spring
El Michels Affair – C.R.E.A.M./ Truth and Soul

DJ Prime Mundo Setlist

quincy jones – money runner (reprise)
syl johnson – let them hang high (twinight)
howard tate – look at granny run run (verve)
pieces of peace – pass it on pt. 1 (twinight)
the sylvers – stay away from me (pride)
julius brockington – this feeling (freedom) pt. 1 (burman)
rufus thomas – funky bird (stax)
frederick II – groovin’ out on life (vulture)
wisdom – nefertiti (adelia)
sons of slum – right on (stax)
della reese – compared to what (avco)
reginald milton – clap your hands (funk45)
jomo – uhuru (african twist) (checker)
the hidden cost – bo did it (marmaduke)
sharon jones – how long do i have to dub for you? (daptone)
quantic/flowering inferno – juanita bonita (tru thoughts)
u roy – tide is high (state line)
garry davis & the vendors – funk machine (20th century)
tnt band – the meditation (cotique)
sam hutchins – dang me (gap)
alice clark – you got a deal (rainy day)
jimmy hughes – i’m a man of action (fame)
funkadelic – better by the pound (westbound)

DJ Bluewater Set List

sugarman 3 – solid funk
sugarman 3 – funky so and so pt. 1
brother williams – cold sweat
lee fields – give me a chance
the collegiates – red beans and rice
delores ealy – honeydripper
marva whitney – unwind yourself
dee dee gartrell – second hand love
a.b. skhy – camel back
eddie bo & inez cheatham – lover and a friend
the dirte four – on the move
the grips – tennessee strut
honey & the bees – baby do that thing
delores ealy – its about time i made a change

PS Don’t forget to head over to Iron Leg

PSS Check out Paperback Rider which has finally been updated.

Joe Cuba RIP

The always stylish Joe Cuba Sextet

“Listen – Joe Cuba Sextet – Psychedelic Baby (You’re Psychin’ Up My Mind) – MP3″

“Listen – Joe Cuba Sextet – El Pito – MP3″

“Listen – Joe Cuba Sextet – Que Son Uno – MP3″

Greetings all.

I had something else planned for the end of the week, but then the sad news that the mighty Joe Cuba had passed on hit the interwebs and I was duty bound to mark said passing.
If you’re a fan of boogaloo/Latin soul, then the sounds of the Joe Cuba Sextet loom very large. Cuba (born Gilberto Calderon in 1931) made some of the greatest party starters in the genre, including the 1966 hit ‘Bang Bang’ (Top 40, Top Ten in many markets), and my personal boogaloo fave, ‘El Pito’.
The tunes I’m posting today include ‘Psychedelic Baby (You’re Psychin’ Up My Mind)’ – which appeared here a few weeks back, ‘El Pito’ (which was included in Funky16Corners Radio v.51 – Spanish Grease, originally posted back in June of ’08) and a track that that’s never been posted here at the blog, a taste of the mellower side of Joe Cuba, ‘Que Son Uno’.
They’re all quite groovy.
I hope you dig the sounds, and that you raise a glass this weekend in memory of one of the true greats of Latin soul, Mr. Joe Cuba.

Peace

Larry

PS Don’t forget that this Friday night (2/20) marks the return of the Asbury Park 45 Session at the World Famous Asbury Lanes in (where else) Asbury Park NJ. If you’re withing driving distance you’d do well to fall by, soak up the heat of funk and soul on 45, and if you’re hungry, you can soak up some tater tots and beer too.

Also, leep in mind that the Funky16Corners Radio Show on Viva internet radio returns tonight – Thurs 02/19 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).

PS Don’t forget to head over to Iron Leg

PSS Check out Paperback Rider which has finally been updated.