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!

alright, no sign of moka, turangalila is too busy @ work. Who can post tonight? Shakey mo?

buncha punks shirking their duties!

yeah I can do this

cool, post away then. Email me your choices first and i will find spotify links. I was going to email me but I forgot the new addy you gave me so i only have the old one that you never check.

email you, not me, obviously.

WattStax: The Living Word
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KmPfJhokokU/ScZTQ3Tf8tI/AAAAAAAAIso/p6rW3fEjyz0/s400/VA-WattstaxTheLivingWord.jpg

Soundtrack to the amazing documentary, featuring many of Stax's best at the height of their powers/popularity just prior to the label's implosion. Includes Rufus Thomas starting/stopping a riot, Bar Kays delivering some of the fastest wah-wah pedalling ever, and my personal favorite version of Ain't No Sunshine by Isaac Hayes clocking in at an astonishingly absorbing 17 minutes. The between-song chatter was mined endlessly for samples, especially by Public Enemy and Ice Cube

Muddy Waters: Electric Mud
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:lL_GEJxkZMmrAM:http://homepage.mac.com/jatticusryan/.Public/muddy_waters.jpg

A classic "sell-out" move album, routinely voted "the Worst Blues Album of All Time" by purists and reportedly loathed by Muddy himself. But the actual record is a marvel - Pete Cosey at his pre-Miles Davis best, everything fuzzed out to the nth degree and tons of amazing, rollicking drum work. Cypress Hill looped "Tomcat" as the basis for "Ultraviolet Dreams".

Parliament: Mothership Connection
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:9_8EQ-ehTDlZJM:http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/chaos61/parliament_mothership_connection-1.jpg

the nee-plus-ultra of funk albums, reputedly the first R&B album to feature zero ballads. There's kind of nothing more to be said of this, as it's probably the best and most well-known Parliament album, and deservedly so. A breakthrough in concept in consistency, this would mark the beginning of P-Funk's peak commercial period. Super heavy but also bouncy and plasticized, Bernie, Bootsy, and George are all at their best, ably assisted by Maceo and Fred Wesley (and the rest of the JBs horn section). Mindblowing.

aw man harvey fuqua died

new rota

12/7 - Turangalila Funkapus
19/7 - The Rev Funkenstein
26/7 - Tom "Funkybutt" D
2/8 - Von Bootee!
9/8 - Polomint City FunKlata
16/8 - Doran D'VoidOfFunk
23/8 - pfunkboy
30/8 - Funky Mo Collier

Spotify links

Wattstax - The Living Word http://open.spotify.com/album/0a9H8Tz9M694g6KuJvRDyo
Muddy Waters - Electric Mud http://open.spotify.com/album/2u8GYGxTQGPAdEkyI8Bv9E
Parliament - Mothership Connection http://open.spotify.com/album/734MC4wQsfNWsg9HLTrUoN

no discussion? Everyone has surely heard Mothership Connection!

12/7 - Turangalila Funkapus
19/7 - mbison the texan funkateer
26/7 - Shakey Mo Funkier
2/8 - Tom "Funkybutt" D
9/8 - Von Bootee!
16/8 - Polomint City FunKlata
23/8 - Doran D'VoidOfFunk
30/8 - pfunkboy

Turangalila cant take his shot, he's busy. Anyone want to take his shot?

Tuomas do you want another shot sometime?

hermanz aksed me to go this week, so i got:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e6/Parliament-Funkentelechy_Vs._the_Placebo_Syndrome_%28album_cover%29.jpg

parliament - funkentelchy v the placebo syndrome

spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/1FuGcOBda4iJma3adpRcgW

i resisted putting this in my first go-around because i feared the funk listening club would just be all p-funk all the time, which i’m personally okay with but it’s certainly not all that the funk world has to offer.

anyway, this is my favorite lp of all-time of any genre. it’s bookended by “bop gun (endangered species)”, an immediate assault on that which is unfunky, and “flashlight” which is basically the electro-funk blueprint. but on the whole, it’s a sprawling jazz-psych-dance-funk masterpiece. "Sir Nose d'Voidoffunk (Pay Attention - B3M)" is a maddening lurch that evolves into some twinkle-toed funk fairy that summons the spirits of looney tunes theme and the 3 blind mice. “funkentelchy” is its bouncing cousin that talks in commercial taglines and swings so hard. “wizard of finance” is a love song for ppl who love strained fiduciary metaphors (i.e. me). “placebo syndrome” is a dream, kind of beatles-style descending chord progression (w/ more horns obv).

if mothership connection is p-funk star wars, this is empire strikes black.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ca/Isleysheat.jpg

the isley brothers - the heat is on

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/113hKdgPCgDXwegavxniAZ

i defy any woman of child-bearing age to listen to side b of 'the heat is on' and not be pregnant when “make me say it again” is over. I DEFY YOU. not to mention side a which has “fight the power” and the title track which i would be remiss to exclude mention because they PWN.

http://www.hardtofindrecordsrecordstore.com/htfrimages/BMR140817.jpg

con funk shun - candy

Download http://bit.ly/dakgGp

a solid dollar-bin find. group reminds me of the isleys a bit (“(let me put) love on your mind” is p much a dick-you-down anthem in that vein). title track’s just all kinds of bumpin, fast paced syncopation and what not.

Sam & co dont seem to be around anymore

I hope people decide to catch up on these 3 albums.

The Parliament and Isleys are classics, you wont regret it.

con funk shun never quite hit the heights for me but it was ok. worth a listen

19/7 - Shakey Mo Funkier
26/7 - Tom "Funkybutt" D
2/8 - Von Bootee!
09/8 - Polomint City FunKlata
16/8 - Doran D'VoidOfFunk
23/8 - pfunkboy

That's another great selection of albums. Funkentelchy is probably my third favourite album of theirs after Mothership Connection and Motor Booty Affair. Most people seem to rate Flashlight as one of their very best songs but for me that album is all about Wizard of Finance which is maybe their best ballad.

The Heat is on is yet another perfect album. I probably would put it just ahead of 3 + 3 which is also classic. The ballads are just killer and Hope You Feel better Love might be my favourite song of theirs (that or Behind a Painted Smile) Live it up is another really good album of theirs, they really were on fire around that time.

I just picked up a cheap copy of Candy last week. After a couple of plays I'd say it's not in the league of The Isley Brothers or Parliament but it's pretty good. The ballads really remind me of Earth, Wind & fire and the upbeat songs sound a lot like early Gap Band or Cameo. Most of the 70's funk I get I always want to hear a bunch of their other albums but I'm not sure I'll be rushing out to get much more by Con Funk Shun, the few things I've read about them suggest Candy is their best album would anyone here strongly recommend any others?

Ok this is an xxpost, I recently got round to buying Mandrill is and I've really fallen in love with it. It reminds me a lot of War who are one of my favourite bands from that era. Can anyone recommend which albums to get next? AMG says the first one is hardly essential and Composite of Truth gets a higher grade. I'm aware AMG can be very hit and miss, I'd really appreciate any guidance.

that album is all about Wizard of Finance which is maybe their best ballad

I wouldn't go THAT far - but it is their best ballad. not sure why that is, maybe because it's goofier than their other ballads

kitchen person, the 1st Mandrill is great, but it is very different. Its quite experimental and dare i say prog? But it is very good.
I have the 1st 5 albums and We Are One, and while Is is the best one, you wont be disappointed with those.

Great, I'll get some of the early albums ordered soon then. I might not get the first album straight away, prog isn't exactly my favourite genre. Thanks for the advice though, I'm really excited about hearing some more of their albums.

Its not prog rock, i just mean it has longer songs and suites. Its still mandrill. Its prob my 3rd fave of theirs. Its good.

Mandrill definitely reminds me of War. I think War was a better singles band tho

Okay cool, I'll check it out. I'm glad to see most of their stuff seems to be fairly easy to get on vinyl and CD.

Think I'm going to be looking for some more of this kind of sound for a while now, I've had the first Cymande album on my wishlist for ages I'm imagining they have a similar kind of sound.

shakey you taking your turn?

toms turn then

Forgot, if I don't post something later today it'll have to wait till Thursday

ok

ok

Plenty of time for you to post "ok" again

BOHANNON - Stop and Go (1973)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_osaKxjJ33dE/S4q2cmz_yJI/AAAAAAAAASQ/FtW7WManJuI/s400/bohannon-1.jpg

Believe me I agonised over what Bohannon album to choose. You see, Bohannon was one of a handful of artist/producers in the 70s (Klaus Dinger, Mike Leander...) to invent a drum sound/style so awesome it almost didn't matter what he put on top of it. Straight 4/4, snare, kick, hi-hat, no cymbals, no fills, no rolls. The Bohannon Beat. BUT, this (his first) album only has it on one track ("The Pimp Walk") whereas his next five or so albums have it on most of their tracks. Dilemma. But I decided on "Stop and Go" eventually, simply because, though it's not his most characteristic album, it's his best (of the early albums at least). For a start, the slow tracks on most of his albums really drag them down whereas here they're as good (sometimes I think even better) than the uptempo numbers. His later albums are a whole other thing.

Not Spotty

MANDRÉ - M3000 (1979)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cLxnR3lIheA/SjR5SpsOCZI/AAAAAAAACO0/RUCFTJu4aTE/s400/Picture+2.png

Again, could have chosen any of the three albums synthesizer wizard André Lewis recorded as Mandré for Motown in the late 70s. This is the final one. Opens and closes with some mind-boggling electronic jiggery-pokery, in between are a succession of blatantly P-Funk inspired jams. Some bright spark at Motown had the idea of promoting Mandré as being "funkier than Parliament". Cheeky! (Can't believe how the shit the sleeve of this album is, almost picked the first album instead for the sleeve alone!)

Not Spotty

GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION - Ain't No 'Bout-A-Doubt It (1975)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61UkedNZq4L.jpg

3rd album from Larry Graham's band. Post-Family Stone, Larry's trip was smiles and positivity in place of angst and paranoia - but don't go wrinklin' your nose and furrowin' your brow just yet because that still means grooves as relentless as a Panzer Division! Sleevenotes inform me that this album was produced by God, making this his first major production job since the Creation (not the London-based 60s mod band). Surely the only funk album to namecheck Montrose: that's the band, not the Scottish town (unless the Average White Band did so, Dundee's just up the road from Montrose after all). Includes the brilliant pop song, "Your Love"... and check Larry's ludicrously bombastic vocal on the closing track! Good times!

Spotty

Non Spotty Link

the GCS is my fave GCS. its a fucking jam! Awesome pick.

Sleevenotes inform me that this album was produced by God, making this his first major production job since the Creation

always lol'd at this, those liner notes are a riot. great album, altho I think it was diminishing returns for GCS from here on out. Your Love is fucking killer.

dunno the Mandre (never even heard of it) or the Bohannon (who I have def. heard of - BOHANNON BOHANNON BOHANNON BOHANNON). will check 'em out!

I love Bohannon, glad (but surprised) no-one had picked him so far, allowing me to be the first!

Shakey i love love love Graham Central Station - Now Do U Wanna Dance and My Radio Sure Sounds Good To Me

Mirror is the last one I really like - My Radio always seemed to thin and silly to me. Never heard Do U Wanna Dance. Were these also produced by God? should've got him back in the studio imho

2/8 - Von Bootee!
09/8 - Polomint City FunKlata
16/8 - Doran D'VoidOfFunk

That's a great surprise seeing Mandre as one of this weeks picks. That's easily my favourite of his first three albums. I definitely agree about the artwork, especially compared to how great the first two albums look. His lost fourth album has recently been reissued on CD I keep meaning to order it.

I just bought a bunch of Bohannon records recently (Keep On Dancin', Bohannon and Dance Your Ass Off) Stop & Go was my next one on the list to get but it's the one I never seem to be able to find for a decent price. He's just brilliant, I've loved everything I've heard by him so far.

Haven't heard that Graham Central Station album but will be checking it out for sure.

Yow! Sorry, funksters - thought I wasn't due until later in the month. (It's been a busy summer and I haven't been following the thread's progress.) Let me think up a few albums and accompanying remarks right this minute...

(Oh wait...looks like I was bumped ahead a week, so it's not actually my memory that's at fault, after all. Anyways...)

Parliament - Osmium (1970)
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b0p31jZ2ttw/RupsWCYMIbI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/rJix_dok9lU/s320/Parliament+osmium+1970.jpg

Not only is this more of a Funkadelic than Parliament album, it's also more like a 1975 Funkadelic than a 1970 one. In the words of Xgau: "What happens when a black harmony group names an album after the heaviest metal, depluralizes its name, and pluralizes its music? It may be pretentious bullshit, but it sure is interesting pretentious bullshit--bagpipes and steel guitars, Bach and rock, Satchmo as Kingfish, work chants as dozens, all in the service of a world view in which love/sex becomes frightening, even brutal, and no less credible for that."

Larry Young - Lawrence of Newark (1973)
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf500/f518/f51877ma6lq.jpg

This is kinda halfway between In a Silent Way and On The Corner, with LOTS of percussion (two full kit drummers plus congas and bells). Plus guest appearances by Pharoah Sanders and James Blood Ulmer! (Actually, upon reflection, maybe this is more appropriate to the jazz listeners thread (bass is acoustic) but I'm too lazy to change it now.

The Commodores - Machine Gun
http://img516.imageshack.us/i/commodoresmachinegun1lh.jpg/

I hate Lionel Richie as much as the next guy, so it's easy enough to assign most of the credit to his bandmates. No ballads!

"Lawrence of Newark" is fantastic, not sure what it's doing on a funk thread tho!

machine gun rules, all 3 albums are brilliant great picks!

xpost - Yeah, I should've second-guessed myself. So howbout we just pretend it's not there and substitute THIS:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41E4Z2QCQRL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Let's be greedy and have both, both are awesome

has that Larry Young album been ref'd on some other thread...? I've never heard it but it looks familiar. I think Osmium's kinda a mess personally, but not without its merits. It's like a test-run for America Eats Its Young. Commodores album is ace, proof that they never should have let Lionel take over the songwriting

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WYSTqa5QopU/R_4N6ZQ-c1I/AAAAAAAAC4o/oFjM4muYt6Q/s320/Across%2B110th%2BStreet.jpg

Across 110th Street
Bobby Womack

Spotify link

This is mostly about the godlike title track, which appears here in three different and wonderful versions, but there's some interesting other stuff too. There are a few instrumental themes, which are pleasant if not particularly memorable. The other four songs are more soulful, 'Do It Right' being the standout - it's a fairly dirty soul/rock affair with an ecstatic bridge, I love it.

The album is the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film of the same name, which I've never seen but would like to. Wikipedia says it's a violent affair: "By-the-book black police Lieutenant Pope (Kotto) has to work with crude, racist and streetwise Italian-American Captain Mattelli (Quinn). They are looking for three blacks who slaughtered five men—three blacks and two Italians—in the robbery of $300,000 from a Mafia-owned Harlem policy bank".

-

http://ecoloinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/band1.jpg

High Times
Jamiroquai

Spotify link

My campaign to rehabilitate this lot continues. Fantastic singles band, so I've just gone for the greatest hits. Beautifully-structured pop songs, good voice and great playing. I like the arrangements too, the sort of crusty/eco tip they started out on annoyed me at the time but in this context it breaks things up nicely. Mostly funk-lite with a bit of disco, and a couple of dirty squelchers as a nice bonus. The run all the way to 'Feels Just Like It Should' is up there with anyone imo.

-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK5GZKtSdy8

Live At Ronnie Scott's
Curtis Mayfield

No spotify link, nor have I been able to find a helpful download link for ye

This is a 1988 live album recorded at Ronnie Scott's in London. It'd hardly be worth posting it, except that it was also filmed and I acquired the DVD recently. Marvellous watching. It's just great to see him, unshowy but with absolute assurance, carry the crowd with him in such an intimate setting.

There's one obvious flaw in the film, which would be horrible if it weren't overwhelmed by the performance and the wisdom of the man, but if you don't know it I'll let you discover it for yourselves!

The performance above is my favourite, but it's all great. I've found almost the whole thing on youtube, links below (replacing xxxx with http obviously).

xxxx://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL0oz8vmBw4 - “Little Child Runnin' Wild”
xxxx://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HCRSkXa8U8 - “It's All Right”
xxxx://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBrnzqbGMaU - “People Get Ready”
xxxx://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUlzJu4BiSU - “Pusherman”/“Freddie's Dead”
xxxx://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwYM2Fj9nrc - “I'm So Proud”/“Billy Jack”/“We Got to Have Peace”
xxxx://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK5GZKtSdy8 - “Move on Up”
xxxx://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE65KuhH7Co - “To Be Invisible”

(the last one isn't from Ronnie Scott's, but I can't find a version from the dvd - it may actually be just over the credits, I can't remember right now)

boooo fake crap funk alert!! no stupid essex boys in crap hats!

seriously, a truly awful band.

hush now, funk is a broad church

Er, the dog's eaten my homework... I don't suppose I can have an extension can I? [/blushes]

How about some time next month? Then I promise I will be as funky as my fat St Helens ass will let me.

I'm wondering whether it's:
(i) Bobby Womack;
(ii) Curtis Mayfield; or
(iii) Jay Kay
who's enough to kill a funk thread stone dead.

No worries doran, next person to volunteer can do it!

Anyone want to volunteer for this week or for future weeks?