Maceo Webcast #2 - Live 70s Funk
So, I'm an old Funkateer born the same year as Prince, am rooted in the 70s as the foundation for my appreciation of music. I must admit that I often find myself born a generation before most of the Purple folks on the web forums, so every now and then I realize how my reference points are not the same as others. So as my 2nd podcast, I decided to do a "Live 70's Funk" podcast.
I choose that theme for several reasons. 1) the old Prince rant which represents our generation - real musicians playing real instruments 2) live recorded albums by r&b/funk groups was a dead art by the 80s 3) I had started to accumulate some rare recordings I wanted to share and 4) as an early podcast, it was an attempt to share myself.
When I say share myself, I don’t mean as some Funk expert – I mean as this is what we did as teenagers in the 70s: we went to funk concerts!
With all good intentions, I decided to “re-create” the feeling of a good old fashion funk concerts. Now by funk concert, I talking bands or groups (not solo artists) with 10 guys on stage, horn sections, conga players, 2 lead singers, etc – as this was what we were into. I searched to find tracks and put together what I thought was a funky little show.
So I decided to re-visit it (or get another reminder of my age), based on CK and SeeNote bringing more of a r&b and hip hop vibe to the Entropy forum. As was my 2nd podcast and it was done with a crappy mic and before I started learning my way around Audacity, I tried to clean it up so it at least sounded on par with more recent podcasts (as had tossed the original Audacity files, had to work off my final mp3 copy). As a matter of principal (or stubbornness), I refused to re-record it with new vocals as it is now a record of that moment in time...a bit silly, but there ya go. But I did add 2 new songs (well, it’s what record companies do with re-issues! )
There is a bit of chronological grouping (versus order) in terms of when recorded, as was trying to focus on shows from when the bands were in their prime, back in the day, and not off some reunion tour. I was 80% successful.
The track list is:
1. Gimme Some More – The JB’s (’71)
Back then, many groups started the show with an instrumental. Thought the JB’s were up to the challenge. “You ready?” ‘Nuff said.
2. Sing A Simple Song – Sly & The Family Stone (’69)
Sly, Larry and the Gang bring the only funk allowed at Woodstock.
3. Ronnie’s Groove – Kool & the Gang (’71)
Before the raw funk of Jungle Boogie and the crossover 80’s pop funk of “Celebration,” Kool and the Gang were a jazz funk group. This is from Live at PJ’s.
4. Shining Star – Earth Wind & Fire (‘74)
EWF were also a jazz funk band long before they evolved. This is a live version of one of their first breakthrough songs, before they discovered they could crossover big time with pop disco such as ‘September’ and ‘Boogie Wonderland’. Features Maurice White and Philip Bailey on vocals
5. Don’t Change Horses (in the middle of the stream) – Tower of Power (’74)
This is from a recently uncovered live show in 1974, with Lenny Williams as the singer (my personal favourite of all their vocalists). Tower of Power horns. ‘Nuff said.
6. I’m the One – Average White Band (’77)
This version of the anything but average Scottish funksters’ 1976 jam is not from their well know live album ‘Person to Person’ but a longer version from a 1977 Montreux show. Alan Gorrie and Hamish Stuart played both guitar and bass, switching back and forth from track to track. Hamish is on bass here, Alan on lead rhythm and Onnie McIntyre plays some serious sublime rhythm grease.
7. Fancy Dancer – Commodores (’77)
From their live album released after the success of ‘Brick House,’ this track comes from the album before. Like Kool and the Gang and EWF, once he discovered they could cross over with ballads like “Easy” and “Three Times A Lady” and Lionel Ritchie said goodbye to the funk and hello to lots of money. This is Lionel when he was funky. Trivia note: Lionel did not sing ‘Brick House’ – the drummer Walter “Clyde” Orange sang it.
8. Get The Funk Out Ma Face – The Brothers Johnson (’78)
With brothers George ‘Lightnin’ Licks’ on guitar and Louis ‘Thunder Thumbs’ on bass, the Brothers Johnson were discovered by Quincy Jones, and became part of his group of sessions musicians that he used. Four years before he worked with MJ on ‘Off the Wall’, Q produced their debut album in ’75 which featured ‘Get the Funk’. At the time amongst 70’s Funkateers, Louis, Larry Graham and Bootsy were the kings of bass, each with their own fans. Louis is the least known today of the three, so here he is live on a rare recording from 1978. Includes a Thunder Thumbs bass solo. This is my edit of the long version from the show
9. FFun – Con Funk Shun (unknown)
Featuring singer/guitarist Michael Cooper, this was their biggest hit originally recorded in 1977.
10. Shake Your Pants – Cameo (unknown)
Before Larry Blackmon stripped Cameo down for the 80’s electronic funk of ‘Word Up’, Cameo was a 8 piece funk group that was all about the dance floor. This jam is back when Larry’s “Ooow” was natural, as it became his gimmick by ‘Word Up’
11. Fire – Ohio Players (unknown)
And to take us home, from their 1974 album. I should be writing something, as is the final song in our little concert podcast, but I am too busy looking at my Ohio Players cd covers. “Go OP go OP go”.
Anyway, hope you enjoy. Share with your elders, if necessary.
Listen later
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