Get Off Your Ass and JAM with The Rolling ILX Funk Listening Club: New Selections Weekly! Updated Mondays and Fridays! All ILXors and Lurkers Welcome!

That sounded disparaging , I meant the kind ILM in general would like. You know what I mean anyway.

I like the way ESG (apparently) came up with their sound on their own and had no idea what was going on in the whole post-punk/No Wave scene.

They remind me of a minimalist Tom Tom Club quite a bit.

I like the way ESG (apparently) came up with their sound on their own and had no idea what was going on in the whole post-punk/No Wave scene.

i can believe it since most people had no idea that was going on.

no one got any thoughts on tannenbaums friday funk bonus?

xp - Yeah, but compare to clued-in art school kids like the Bush Tetras who ended up in kind of the same musical place...

17/5 - Tannenbaum Schmidt
24/5 - Ismael Klata (Not a rangers fan honestly)
31/5 - funksclovetu
7/6 - Seandalai Funkify
14/6 - moka Funka
21/6 - Abbott The Bricklayer
28/6 - The Rev Funkenstein
5/7 - pfunkboy
12/7 - Turangalila Funkapus
19/7 - mbison the texan funkateer
26/7 - Shakey Mo Funkier
2/8 - Tom "Funkybutt" D
9/8 - Von Bootee!

ready to go funkybaum schmidt?

This week, we look back at the Titans of Talkbox Electro Funk: ZAPP AND ROGER!! (pay attention, Chromeo fans!)

Zapp was formed in 1978 by brothers Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Lester Troutman, Tony Troutman and Terry "Zapp" Troutman. Known for hits such as "More Bounce to the Ounce", "Dance Floor" and "Computer Love", the group was a partial source of inspiration to West Coast hip-hop and G-funk, which came out of the hand clapped-drum beat styled funk of Zapp's records, with Roger's use of the talk box becoming another reason for the group's impact and its success.

All Music Guide artist bio

Zapp - Zapp I(1980)
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Spotify

Released in 1980 just as George Clinton's P-funk empire had reached the brink of its existence, Bootsy protégé Roger Troutman proved himself a worthy successor with Zapp's self-titled debut album and its subsequent two follow-ups. In actuality, Zapp originally was a branch of the Parliament/Funkadelic collective, as group leader Roger Troutman was originally signed to Clinton's short-lived CBS subsidiary, Uncle Jam Records. After Troutman completed the album with CBS' money, Clinton's help, and Bootsy's production, Warner Bros. stepped in, offered Roger a considerable sum of money, and slyly bought the album -- leaving a distressed Clinton with no Zapp album for his shaky boutique label. Propelled by the dancefloor smash "More Bounce to the Ounce," the album quickly became a considerable hit. It was here that Troutman first defined the vocoder-laden funk aesthetic that would become his trademark for the remainder of his career. In addition to the near ten-minute "More Bounce," the album also featured "Be Alright," another epic jam that slowed down the funk to a smoked-out, almost ballad-like tempo (both songs would later fuel numerous early-'90s West Coast rap hits via sampling). Of the remaining four songs, "Funky Bounce" and "Brand New Player" also stand as perennial standouts, further affirming Troutman's dense funk aesthetic. Later Zapp albums would have their moments, but this debut is absolutely solid from beginning to end, in addition to being the foundation from which Troutman would base all later work, and with "More Bounce to the Ounce" and "Be Alright," it houses two of the best moments in '80s funk.

Imo, worth checking for "More Ounce To The Bounce" and "Brand New Player" , with the rest... well, you make your own mind up.

Roger Troutman - The Many Facets Of Roger (1981)

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Spotify

This is Roger Troutman's first solo release, and it blazes the same trail as the Zapp LPs. Singing through a synthesized vocal box, there's no mistaking Roger's sound. His version of Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is classic, and was a monster on the R&B charts. "So Ruff, So Tuff" continued the maddening dance grooves. But Roger does it all -- hence the title of the album -- his blues and jazz explorations are top-shelf. A very well-rounded set from a versatile, underappreciated artist. [The 2002 Rhino reissue sports three additional bonus tracks.] ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide

For me, a much more consistently enjoyable album than Zapp I

In 1999, Larry Troutman shot Roger Troutman in an alley, and then was himself found dead slumped over in a car a few blocks over, later that day. Homicide/suicide.

Can't vouch for quality, but some French fans have reworked a 2cd album's worth of Roger's work: http://rogerrevisited.free.fr

Rick James - Street Songs (1981)
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Spotify

Rick James had already reached the top of the R&B charts numerous times before STREET SONGS, but this 1981 release was the crossover breakthrough that earned him pop stardom. This is where his mix of P-Funk grooves and Blowfly lyrics hitched its wagon to some surefire pop hooks without losing any of the funk. Oh, and just in case anyone wants to stop dancing long enough to think about it, STREET SONGS is supposedly a concept album about the street life of ladies of the night and their, um, business managers. A triumphant return to defiant, in-your-face funk, the triple-platinum Street Songs was not only his best-selling album ever, it was also his best period, and certainly the most exciting album released in 1981. The gloves came all the way off this time, and James is as loud and proud as ever on such arresting hits as "Super Freak," "Give It to Me, Baby," and "Ghetto Life."Even the world's most casual funksters shouldn't be without this pearl of an album.

ILM voted that "Give It To Me Baby" should be my favourite song of ALL TIME. Trust them.

3 absolute classics, Though I always thought Zapp II was even better, so you guys are in for a TREAT if you investigate further. Great choices! I have the solo roger on OG lp, its wonderful.

And the rick james album is a masterpiece.

great choices.

forks can you update title please?

let's go generic for the future

ok can you say updated every Monday with a Friday bonus pick?

yup

thanks.

Anyone listened yet?

I've heard the Zapp and Rick James albums countless times - Brand New Player and Funky Bounce are the other keepers from the Zapp album besides More Bounce. Honestly don't remember much about the non-hits/singles stuff from the RJ album tbh. Dunno the Many Facets of Roger, will have to find that one.

I liked the get off your ass and jam bit of the thread title forks added before, forks please put it back!

shakey you wont be disappointed with the roger album

cheers, forks!

Betty Davis is my thing, many thanks to whoever put it up. It really benefits from the strong vocal and fairly limited arrangements, makes it hang together as an album much better than some of the other ones we've had. It also shows again that Funk is a broad church - I'm pretty sure this'll be where Zeppelin were trying to get to with the likes of 'Trampled Underfoot'.

Aahhhh So Ruff, So Tuff - haven't heard this in a loooong time. sweet.

told you that you would dig it.

bonus album coming tomorrow but i hope there will be more discussion today on tannenbaums choices

Updated Spotify Playlist

I've always thought Thriller was a ripoff of Give It To Me Baby

Friday Funk Bonus!
Funkadelic - Uncle Jam Wants You (1979)
http://www.dustygroove.com/images/products/f/funkadelic~_unclejamw_101b.jpg
Not A Spotify Link

My favourite late period funkadelic album.

How do you define late period? You prefer this to ONUAG?

I listen to it more, ONUAG is the start of the late period

what stops Uncle Jam from being the 10/10 album is the horrendous ballad Holly Wants To Go To California. The worst song in pfunk history. (yes worse than the excesses on america eats its young)

Shakey disagrees though.

I know it's a classic and all, but "Knee Deep" is far too long

no it isnt

Yes it is. It's boring.

"Never Buy Texas From a Cowboy" is even longer and isn't boring!

knee deep is too short if you ask me

the scatting on Knee Deep kinda goes on a bit more than I need it to

and yeah I like Holly

crazy talk

Tuomas you prefer this era of Funkadelic?

24/5 - Ismael Klata the funkateer from polomint city, lanarkshire
31/5 - funksclovetu
7/6 - Seandalai Funkify
14/6 - moka Funka
21/6 - Abbott The Bricklayer
28/6 - The Rev Funkenstein
5/7 - pfunkboy
12/7 - Turangalila Funkapus
19/7 - mbison the texan funkateer
26/7 - Shakey Mo Funkier
2/8 - Tom "Funkybutt" D
9/8 - Von Bootee!

ismael you ready?

http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/211aada11d45f2fdb4d89095a7b9bd6a/113371.jpg

1. Rose Royce - Rose Royce III: Strikes Again! (1978)

Rose Royce's third album contains two killer ballads: "I'm in Love (And I Love the Feeling)," and the much recorded "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" which Gwen Dickey works like Mary J. Blige wishes she could. Norman Whitfield's productions often included doses of classical elements and this album is no exception, the sampling and borrowing occur frequently. "Angel in Disguise," another sweet ballad, sounds a bit contrived. As effective on upbeat tunes "That's What's Wrong with Me," "Do It, Do It," and "First Come First Serve," are first-class movers and shakers. A carnival barker on the intro mars the opening cut "Get Up Off Your Fat."

Spotify link

For some reason Rose Royce don't register nowadays, except when 'Car Wash' gets wheeled out for yet another cover - barely a mention on ILM, no proper thread of their own, nothing written about this album other than the AMG quote above (which is really starting to annoy me, not least because I think a carnival barker is a fine way to begin any album). This is my way of redeeming them.

I got into it when I heard 'First Come, First Serve' on my funk guru's radio podcast. It's still my favourite of the funky cuts, but pretty much blown away by the following track 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore', which I can't believe I didn't know and love to death already.

The whole album's excellent, though - good songs, tight playing, great singing. They deserve your love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdjedUIilT0

2. Walter 'Junie' Morrison - Junie 5 (1981)

Junie 5 is a 1981 solo album recorded by singer/multi-instrumentalist Walter "Junie" Morrison. It was the second and last album that he would record for Columbia Records. As with the previous album Bread Alone, all of the instruments used on the album would be played by Morrison himself. The album also features involvement from the Ohio Players.

Junie 5 was reissued by Sony Records in Japan on 5/21/94, but has since been deleted.

Being relatively new to the funk, I'm not really up with what's well-known and what isn't. I suspect this is one of the obscurer ones though.

I first heard 'Jarr The Ground' on the same podcast as Rose Royce (you really should check it out), thought it was the greatest thing I'd ever heard, but had a couple of horrible weeks with no way of finding out what it was - shazam was no help, googling the lyrics was useless (not helped by my thinking they were actually singing "Charlie Brown"), and I was convinced in any case that it was really a Stevie Wonder obscurity and I was going to have to get his whole back catalogue before I'd get fulfilment.

But eventually all became clear. In truth the album drags a bit early on and the intro is a textbook example of moodkilling, but the last three tracks are fantastic ('Last One To Know', 'Jarr The Ground' and 'Taste Of Love'). It's not spotifiable, and I can't find a handy link or even any youtubes other than the one above to help you out. Will see what I can do, but in the meantime use your imaginations, or pay a visit to Junie's own store.

Do listen to 'Jarr The Ground' at least, if you do nothing else - I love it!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yCW4Ntg9bPY/SkDEfrBLQrI/AAAAAAAAAAM/-b6nhrUBLdI/s320/Small+Club+(Thunderball).jpg

3. Prince - Small Club (1988)

I wanted to check out some live funk. I can't remember how I heard about this, but it seems to be the best quality boot available and obviously Prince is an awesome performer, so I gave it a turn and yeah, it's good. It's strangely difficult to find out much about it - the definitive version, at least certainly the one I have, is eleven tracks and just shy of 110 mins (see cover), recorded in The Hague - but there do appear to be at least two other boots going by the same name.

It's quite a lot to take in so I don't have much to say about it myself right now, but the sound quality is excellent and the playing is fine. What I will say is that these are really long songs (loads are over ten minutes) that I mostly hadn't heard before, but none of them drag.

Obviously not on Spotify either, however there are other means and I don't think it's too naughty to give a pointer seeing as it's special circumstances. I gather that Prince stuff doesn't stay up for long, but these guys have a link that works right now.

Bread Alone or the Westbound albums are the best Junie, but iirc this is still pretty good.

and im glad that the eventual prince pick isnt one of his well known albums (theyre all well known obviously) so kudos for avoiding them.

looking forward to hearing it as i dont know it at all

I forgot to say - 'Last One To Know' on the Junie album got me all excited 'cos I thought I'd discovered where Daft Punk got 'Digital Love' from. But I looked that up this evening, and it turns out they borrowed from a different record entirely. The Junie one still sounds just as much like it though!

have you heard the junie albums i mentioned?

No, this stuff's all new to me and I'm just picking things up at random rather than trying to get all methodical about it. If I did that I'd never have got near Junie - the Parliament/Funkadelic links box on wikipedia is gargantuan, and his stuff isn't even in it.

http://www.duke.edu/~tmc/pfunk.html

try the motherpage

these are all new to me, altho I'm familiar with each of the artists' other work. Didn't even know Junie had another solo album after Bread Alone tbh

I think my mate has it on cd

I just cant get into the rose royce at all.

Junie album was pretty good, been a while since I heard it.