Highly Valued Selections From Your Collection

[visuals]

I think it's safe to assume that due to one's individual taste in music and how it's perceived by that individual, We all have those times when certain songs, albums or groups that have been HIGHLY acclaimed by others just doesn't seem to measure up to our standards or expectations and ones that were overlooked, slept on and underrated/unappreciated by others can sometimes be keepers for ourselves. Of course, It's mainly because we are all different but I also feel it has a lot to do with mood and tolorance.

I have a co-worker who listens to old school flavors like I do but his idea of what FUNK is starts with James Brown & ends with Parliament. If it's not a major mainstream group like The Bar-Kays, Ohio Players, Lakeside, Con Funk Shun, Brass Construction, Cameo and so on, He tends to dismiss it usually without giving it much of a chance. I am one who digs it for what it is and my interest is listening to and finding gems that sound good because I actually FEEL them, Not because the commercial machine says I should or programs me by playing it 50 times a day making it a huge chart topping success. I guess there really is a fine line between treasure trove & garbage. As someone who was surrounded by music throughout my adolecent years in the late 60's, youngbuck 70's and the teenie-boppin high school 80's, I find myself so out of place with today's music that I cherish the same stuff that I hated back in the day.

Some of my greatest finds in music are those that may have never really caught on or were completely sleepers as far as mass demand from the average music consumer is concerned. Given the right mood and temperment within reason, I feel that one can adapt to "almost" anything. Keeping in mind most group's musical VERSATILITY, most listeners would probably select a cut like "Fencewalk" or "Fat City Strut" as their favorite Mandrill track. No doubt funky essentials, But I would say the track that really moved me was something like "Never Die". A perfect example of where I'm going with all of this is an album that "most" funk purists would more than likely consider an early funk essential.....Westbound label's "The Counts - What's Up Front That Counts" (1971).

While I liked at best a couple of tracks from this set, Most of them didn't move me at all. The "Funk Pump" album I liked much better for the Flies Over Watermelon & Funk Pump tracks and a few others but to the best of my knowledge, this one was never reissued on CD. Tracks like Love Sign, Lunar Funk & Get Down People and stuff from the Janus years were also cool. With this being said, I would like for those who have read thus far to give input on what they know and think of these tracks/albums....Junk or otherwise and also list some of your own faves.

Highly Valued Funk: (early funk & rarities, slick funk, world funk & afrobeat)

Sound Experience - Soulville Collection (best shot in the dark purchase last yr.
Slave - Showtime
Ebony Rhythm Band - Soul Heart Transplant
Magnum - Fully Loaded
The Meters - (entire catalogue on Josie)
Poets Of Rhythm
The Killer Meters - Tribute To The Meters (and done right too*****)
Galactic
Osaka Monaurail - Thankful For What You've Done
JD & The Evil's Dynamite Band - Explodes Across The Nation (soulfire)
Dexter Wansel - Life On Mars
Ripple - But It Sure Is Funky
Black Heat - Declassified Grooves
Exit 9 - Straight Up
Funk Inc. - Funk Inc/Chicken Lickin' & Hangin' Out
Mandrill - Just Outside Of Town
Joe Quarterman & Free Soul - Golden Classics
Midnight Movers - Truckin'
Rasputin's Stash - Rasputin's Stash (cotillion 71')
Rasputin Stash - Devil Made Me Do It
Lightnin' Rod - Hustler's Convention
Ray & His Musical Court - Cookie Crumbs (mystical in its own way)
Soul Fire - The Majestic Collection
Reuben Wilson & The Cost Of Living - Got To Get Your Own (finally got this!)
Eddie Hazel - Rest In P / Games, Dames and Guitar Thangs (This album will be available on cdbaby.com soon)
Calypso King & The Soul Investigators - Soul Strike
Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators - Keep Reaching Up***** (best shot-in-the-dark purchase this year so far!) Definately feeling this one.
Vern Blair Debate - Superfunk from the "Texas Funk" compilation
Bill Cosby - Hooray For The Salvation Army Band (of course it's cheesy but interesting to hear Cos in this hippie-type mode and plus he's backed by The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band)
Black Merda - Music From Mother's Mixer
Black Nasty - Talking To The People (Stax Funk)


Not Really Funk But Funky stuff in it's own way*

Fela Kuti & The Africa 70 - (entire Africa 70 collection)
The Daktaris - Soul Explosion
Antibalas - Liberation Afrobeat, Talkatif & Who Is This America***
Lafayette Afro Rock Band - Soul Makossa, Malik & Darkest Light Best Of
Osibisa - Woyaya, Osibisa, Happy Children, Osibirock & Heads
Tony Allen - (his work with Fela & The Africa 70,Psycho On Da Bus & Home Cooking
The Mood Mosaic - vol 2>Barnie's Grooves, vol 11>Feelin' Funky, vol 8>Funky In A Minor Mode, vol 9>The Sound Bullet & vol 3>The Sexploitation
Shake Sauvage - The French Soundtracks 1968 - 73' (psychedelic funk)
Bob James - One (Just for Nautilus)
Steely Dan - Aja & Royal Scam

Bluesmen

BB King - Live At The Regal & Live In Cook County Jail (Both Superb)
Albert King - Born Under A Bad Sign & Years Gone By
Howlin' Wolf (just about all)
Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Cow Fingers & Mosquito Pie, Portrait Of A Man & Frenzy
Peter Green (early Fleetwood Mac & Solo recordings)
Johnny Winter (before he turned to rock and roll)
Robin Trower (Bridge Of Sighs, Twice Removed From Yesterday & For Earth Below
Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced,Electric Ladyland,Band Of Gypsys, & Axis Bold As Love
Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush (fastest fingers I ever heard.)



Hippie Stuff } Progressive/Psychedelic Rock:
Vampyros Lesbos - The Sexadelic Dance Party
Moody Blues - Question Of Balance, In Search Of The Lost Chord & On The Threshold Of A Dream
The Bevis Frond - Inner Marshland
Hawkwind
Atomic Rooster & ELP (Carl Palmer's drumming is superb)
The Tangent
Porcupine Tree
Dream Theater
Trans-Atlantic
Blues Creation - Demon & 11 Children (These oriental dudes are tight)

[remicks]

*****

:-o

Bill Cosby - Hooray For The Salvation Army Band

:-o

You were doing so well until then too !!!... :razz::lol:

Wonderful list Visuals ...way beyond my funk credentials :roll:


I hope DiscoFunk chimes in .....

*****

[eddie]

A very nice list most of which luckily has been reissued on CD especially on compilations in the UK.

As for artists that I'm not into: Bill Cosby, Lightening Rod (too close to rap), Osibisa, Eddie Hazel, and Jimi Hendricks. That Eddie Hazel disc you mentioned should be available through Rhino handmade if it has not already sold out. I had a chance to get it for $15 and thought about it but knew I would not really enjoy it as much as his true fans who really value it. I also thought the Soul Fire double disc set was a bit overrated.
In regards to BB King, I have stopped collecting his 70's stuff and I don't usually enjoy live albums. I collect his original Lps on Kent CDs and they are pretty decent especially with bonus tracks.
My least favorite artist of all time in the pop/funk genre is Steely Dan. I never heard anything that showed originality from them.

Now for the classics I dig: Meters, Funk Inc., Calypso King (Great Cd cover), Dexter Wansel, Black Heat, Counts, and Ripple. I really dig anything with Slave or Steve Arrington. Deja and Aurra also evolved out of Slave later in the 80's and they're stuff I'm really into. I enjoy the Stax label artists you mentioned like Albert King and Black Nasty. Joe Quartermen and Free soul and the Sound Experience have great Collectable reissue Cds that for some reason about half of the people who review them don't grade them well. Please check all tracks on the Sound Experience Cd because several collectors including myself had laser rot or something very similar in the final three tracks. It's a very rare defect but the last 3 tracks would not play. About 2 years ago, I ordered a knew one and it playes fine. I also enjoy anything with Bob James as long as he's not playing classical or has Hilary singing.

I consider my collection about 90% complete. Currently my biggest area of purchases is retro-nuevo soul, smooth jazz, and New Jack. I can finally find that one Nelson Rangell Cd that's always out of stock or that Special Generation CD that's been out of print for 10 years online for only a couple of bucks with shipping. Great deal!! I have been noticing that many record shops do not take this common stuff but hoard Rasputin Stash, Whitfield Brothers, and Skull Snaps and charge huge bucks when it gets deleted. If you see some rare funk imports pick them up or else they'll be $50-100 a pop easily!!

[ol'skinflint]

Eddie: Aurra's songs "Patience" and "Make Up Your Mind" are great, aren't they? And are you familiar with Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame? "Nobody Can Be You" and "Feel So Real" are, in my mind, right up there with his work with Slave and the best Aurra tracks. As for rare recordings, I think my most treasured recording is the decidedly non-disco soundtrack to "Charlotte's Web". I have a picture disc version that I paid $25 for, and I have never seen another copy of it anywhere in my area, picture disc or not. I also have concert recordings by Carole King, Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin that were never commercially released. We have "record collector's conventions" in my area 4 times a year and I try to go as often as I can, but the sellers often ask ridiculous prices for their stock. Lastly, I own an ORIGINAL, FIRST PRESSING of the Beach Boys classic "Pet Sounds", and Prince's never released collaboration with Miles Davis called "Cruicial". And I own the soundtrack to the animated Judy Garland/Robert Goulet charmer "Gay Purree"; the songs were written by the same 2 writers who wrote the songs for "The Wizard of Oz" and they're melodic as heck.

[Disco Funk]

Here I go, Remicks!....

Originally Posted by visuals

With this being said, I would like for those who have read thus far to give input on what they know and think of these tracks/albums....Junk or otherwise and also list some of your own faves.

I'm all over the map. I used to avoid the later Parliament Funkadelic stuff, and stick to the early 70s stuff, but now I've warmed up to them. I can't get into the late 70s Barkays, Con Funk Shun ('Ffun' is a great track, though, as is 'Confunkshuniz'). Ohio Players, I'm happy with my Best Of CD of the later Mercury era. Their early Westbound stuff is alright. 'Funky Worm' is a classic. I'll give my recommendations after your list (my comments will follow '**')

Highly Valued Funk: (early funk & rarities, slick funk, world funk & afrobeat)

Sound Experience - Soulville Collection (best shot in the dark purchase last yr. ** Love these guys. Produced by Stan Watson, their songs have that big, philly mix sound.
Slave - Showtime ** I don't know this one.
Ebony Rhythm Band - Soul Heart Transplant **I think I listened to something by them, but wasn't moved to get the record.
Magnum - Fully Loaded **this album was okay. I think I prefer specific tracks, like Evolution.
The Meters - (entire catalogue on Josie) ** Awesome guys. I'm not too crazy about their Warner stuff, except for Just Kissed My Baby. Their Josie stuff is killer.
Poets Of Rhythm ** Not familiar with these guys.
The Killer Meters - Tribute To The Meters (and done right too*****) **Dunno
Galactic ** Not familiar
Osaka Monaurail - Thankful For What You've Done **Not familiar
JD & The Evil's Dynamite Band - Explodes Across The Nation (soulfire) **Not familiar
Dexter Wansel - Life On Mars ** Great track. The bass playing on this track is hardcore.
Ripple - But It Sure Is Funky ** I used to really like this track, but now I think it's alright
Black Heat - Declassified Grooves ** Good stuff. But I think their track 'Zimba Ku' is the best
Exit 9 - Straight Up ** I haven't heard the album. I've heard just the one song by them (Miss Fox?)
Funk Inc. - Funk Inc/Chicken Lickin' & Hangin' Out ** These guys are great. 'Kool Is Back', 'Smokin' at Tiffany's', and 'Chicken Licken' have awesome breaks. 'God Only Knows' is another great track.
Mandrill - Just Outside Of Town ** I'm the guy who likes Fat City Strut. Their other tracks are alright. I'm not too crazy about the rock virtuoso guitar sections in their songs.
Joe Quarterman & Free Soul - Golden Classics ** These guys are pretty good. I've only really like 'So Much Trouble On My Mind' and 'I'm Gonna Get You'. 'Get Down Baby' is another great track by them.
Midnight Movers - Truckin' **Haven't heard of these guys
Rasputin's Stash - Rasputin's Stash (cotillion 71') ** Mr Cool is a good track. I haven't gotten into the other cuts.
Rasputin Stash - Devil Made Me Do It ** title track is awesome, the rest of the album I haven't gotten into.
Lightnin' Rod - Hustler's Convention ** Pretty good stuff. I wish they'd release a version of this album without the vocals, or at least the unedited backing track that runs underneath 'Sport'. That intro break, by the way, was chopped off on almost every version on CD except for one of the volumes of Pulp Fusion. Until PF put it out, I was really peeved about that.
Ray & His Musical Court - Cookie Crumbs (mystical in its own way) ** Not familiar
Soul Fire - The Majestic Collection ** Not familiar
Reuben Wilson & The Cost Of Living - Got To Get Your Own (finally got this!) **Reuben Wilson - did he do that cover of 'Inner City Blues'?
Eddie Hazel - Rest In P / Games, Dames and Guitar Thangs (This album will be available on cdbaby.com soon) **I couldn't only get into the Fuz & The Boog track.
Calypso King & The Soul Investigators - Soul Strike **not familiar
Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators - Keep Reaching Up***** (best shot-in-the-dark purchase this year so far!) Definately feeling this one. ** not familiar
Vern Blair Debate - Superfunk from the "Texas Funk" compilation ** great track. If you like that strange organ sound, you should check out the Gregory James Edition CD.
Bill Cosby - Hooray For The Salvation Army Band (of course it's cheesy but interesting to hear Cos in this hippie-type mode and plus he's backed by The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band) ** This stuff's alright. I like Hickey Burr, which he did with Quincy Jones. I also enjoy the Mouth Of The Fish track from another soul album he did in the early 70s. It has a really cool, scratched wah guitar.
Black Merda - Music From Mother's Mixer ** I haven't gotten into their stuff
Black Nasty - Talking To The People (Stax Funk) **They had some good tracks on this album.

---------------------------------------


Not Really Funk But Funky stuff in it's own way*

Fela Kuti & The Africa 70 - (entire Africa 70 collection)
The Daktaris - Soul Explosion
Antibalas - Liberation Afrobeat, Talkatif & Who Is This America*** I'm sort of familiar with the above artists. I haven't gotten into their stuff.
Lafayette Afro Rock Band - Soul Makossa, Malik & Darkest Light Best Of ** Love these guys!!!
Osibisa - Woyaya, Osibisa, Happy Children, Osibirock & Heads
Tony Allen - (his work with Fela & The Africa 70,Psycho On Da Bus & Home Cooking** I haven't gotten into these guys.
The Mood Mosaic - vol 2>Barnie's Grooves, vol 11>Feelin' Funky, vol 8>Funky In A Minor Mode, vol 9>The Sound Bullet & vol 3>The Sexploitation
**I only bought Vol.2 because the later volumes sounded like they were recorded off of scratchy vinyl records.

Shake Sauvage - The French Soundtracks 1968 - 73' (psychedelic funk)
**an awesome compilation. Check out the Planete Sauvage soundtrack by Alain Gorageur for similar funky grooves.

Bob James - One (Just for Nautilus) ** I like Nautilus and Feel Like Makin Love; Two is great for Mardi Gras, Farandole, and You're Right As Rain.
Steely Dan - Aja & Royal Scam ** Love Steely Dan.

Bluesmen

I haven't gotten into the blues stuff. For BB King, I only bought the two Philly albums he did. Thrill is Gone is a great tune, though.


Hippie Stuff } Progressive/Psychedelic Rock:
Vampyros Lesbos - The Sexadelic Dance Party
Moody Blues - Question Of Balance, In Search Of The Lost Chord & On The Threshold Of A Dream
The Bevis Frond - Inner Marshland
Hawkwind
Atomic Rooster & ELP (Carl Palmer's drumming is superb)
The Tangent
Porcupine Tree
Dream Theater
Trans-Atlantic
Blues Creation - Demon & 11 Children (These oriental dudes are tight)
** I'm familiar with the above artists, but haven't bought the albums. If you are looking for funky oriented (prog) rock songs, check out the CD 'Block Rockin Breaks'. Also, the album Titanic by the group of the same name features lots of cool breaks.

In addition to the ones I commented above, here's what I'm into (very very basic list):

Pure Funk:

James Brown, Kool & The Gang (everything by these guys)
Skull Snaps - self titled album
Soul Searchers - Ashley's Roachclip, Blow Your Whistle, etc...
Dennis Coffey - his Sussex albums, like Evolution and Electric Coffey
Average White Band - all their albums are great up until the late 70s
The Wild Magnolias - self titled

Jazzy Funk/Big Band

Woody Herman (his late 60s through to the mid 70s stuff)
Herbie Hancock (Manchild, Thrust, Headhunters)
Headhunters (Survival of the Fittest)
All of the Mizell Brothers produced stuff from the mid 70s (Donald Byrd, Bobbi Humphrey, Gary Bartz, Johnny Hammond, etc...)
CTI (artists like Deodato)

African and Latin Funk

Manu Dibango, Matata, Nico Gomez, Joe Bataan.

Disco Funk

[visuals]

Originally Posted by eddie

Please check all tracks on the Sound Experience Cd because several collectors including myself had laser rot or something very similar in the final three tracks.

Eddie, I am another collector that wound up with one of those Cd's that were missing the last 3 tracks. Actually, On mine there were 3 and 1/2 songs missing. The disc played fine up to track 11 - "Don't Bother Me". After about 1 and 1/2 mins, The track cuts out and the disc has no sound from then on. I was warned about this from the vendor and was notified that the disc was a cut-out with the little hole in the top right-hand corner. Price was only 5.99 so I bought it anyway and liked it so much, I decided to buy another.....This time I went straight to the Collectables distributer. When I inquired about it, I was told that they had no way of knowing why this happened with the first one and that their computer showed no results of it being a cut-out disc. When I received my order, The new one shipped with the same hole it the corner but it played (entirely) fine.

Like you, I also noticed that some people wrote reviews on Sound Experience and made them sound like a waste of wax. This is exactly what made me post this thread in the first place. In my opinion, This was a great purchase for me that I am very proud to own. Definately a sleeper group. "Can This Be True" really moved me the most but I loved the whole disc. I admit that I expected a little more from Joe Q & Free Soul but still a good purchase. "So Much Trouble In My Mind" reminds me of "Movin" by Brass Construction due to the horn section. "The Trouble With Trouble" is also another that I really liked but it sounds a little flat due to poor remastering.

As for Slave, I am a big fan. I currectly own the cd's: Slave, Showtime, Visions Of The Light <I just can't seem to get into this one) & Party Lights:More Of The Best. My next purchase includes getting the 2-on-1 set "The Concept/Hardness Of The World". Mr.Mark Adams is one of my favorite bass players for a funk group (if not THE favorite) right alongside the under-rated Larry Graham. I liked Aurra back in the day and have been looking at the Salsoul or Solar (I always get these two lables mixed up) anthology for a while but haven't bought it yet. Deja I never heard of by name but I may know some of their tunes....somebody fill me in*

A few words on BB King: As a personal general rule, I'm not too thrilled about live albums no matter how much I may like the artist but the two that I mentioned "Live At The Regal & Live In Cook County Jail" are exceptional live cd's that I am very proud to own. Both capture a young BB when his voice was at it's strongest. The band were in a very tight mode on both albums but I tend to lean a little more towards Cook County Jail. They both have much of the same songs but were done with respectable differences. Both sets really have the sound of a classy nightclub with people sitting around sipping their drinks and having a good time while BB plucks and croons to the ladies & schools the fellas about the unworthy ones. In closing, I say even though you don't care for live albums, If you like BB, You wouldn't be hurting your collection by adding these to it.:)

[Disco Funk]

Sound Experience is an awesome group. They made three albums, as far as I know. The first was some live high school performance. Actually, I don't know if that was a legit or a recent bootleg. Then they did 'Don't Fight The Feeling' and 'Boogie Woogie'. The first one I have on CD, but 'Boogie Woogie' I have on vinyl. Some of the tracks from that album have appeared on CD, but not all, so its worth getting if you're trying to get your hands on all of their stuff. I didn't like the High School album. It was mixed in the Stan Watson philly style like the two studio LPs. There's also a track which was only issued on a 45, the flip to one of the 'Don't Fight The Feeling' cuts. The name of it escapes me, but that's also worth hunting down.

I've got an obscure group for you to check out with a sound similar to Sound Experience, with the brass and heavy bottom approach. APB (All Points Bulletin). They didn't make an LP, as far as I know, but you can find their singles kicking about for not too much money. They aren't a well known group, so that might be why their stuff isn't going for crazy bucks. I'd recommend checking out 'Funky Bottom-Bottom Funk' by them first.

Disco Funk

[Mixmachine]

Midnight Movers - Truckin' **Haven't heard of these guys

I'm glad to see there is a CD of this group, the only song I know by them is "Follow the wind" which was a big Club hit BIDT, I thought they were a one hit wonder group that never released an Album :oops:

I haven't gotten into the blues stuff. For BB King, I only bought the two Philly albums he did. Thrill is Gone is a great tune, though.

I tried to find BB's Lp/Cd with the cut "Philladelphia" but can't find it :cry:

Osibisa - Woyaya, Osibisa, Happy Children, Osibirock & Heads

I have all this LP, I loved Osibissa back in the day (love the cover art), haven't listened to them much in later years, except for my faves cut ( that I remember now) "The Coffe song" and "Music for the Gong Gong"

Steely Dan - Aja & Royal Scam ** Love Steely Dan.

I also love Steely Dan, Nothing original????? :-o oh well, I bought all their re-mastered cds ( yet to listen to all of them :oops:) Thier "Two against nature" DVD is a must have for any fan, the sound quality here is superb, reference stuff.

I love assorted cuts by Mandril Meters and many others on your list but never dug in deep into thier albums , in any case I couln't talk about it even if I did, :-o it's amazing to me how you guys can remember all this details, I sure can't.:???:

[Disco Funk]

Originally Posted by Mixmachine

I tried to find BB's Lp/Cd with the cut "Philladelphia" but can't find it :cry:

I think I ordered this on CD through a seller on Amazon (maybe amazon UK?). It was on the album 'Friends'. The album is awesome. The title track is really great, with a 'back stabbers' type message.

I also love Steely Dan, Nothing original????? :-o oh well, I bought all their re-mastered cds ( yet to listen to all of them :oops:) Thier "Two against nature" DVD is a must have for any fan, the sound quality here is superb, reference stuff.

I've watched the Two Against Nature performance, but haven't watched the DVD. I enjoyed it. The only album of theirs I have is AJA. I have two of their Best of CDs, the one with Ricky Don't Lose That Number, Haitian Divorce, etc.. and the other with Hey Nineteen, Deacon Blues, Green Earrings, etc...

I love assorted cuts by Mandril Meters and many others on your list but never dug in deep into thier albums , in any case I couln't talk about it even if I did, :-o it's amazing to me how you guys can remember all this details, I sure can't.:???:

I like the funk as much as I like the disco. They're parent and child as far as I'm concerned.

Disco Funk

[remicks]

*****

I was and I remain shocked ......SHOCKED I say ...at the number of Visuals' faves you didn't know DF !!! I'm now wondering if you should change your moniker to : DISCO funk :-P:icon_neutral: ........... forgive me , I keed ....

Originally Posted by Disco Funk

I like the funk as much as I like the disco. They're parent and child as far as I'm concerned.

Disco Funk

I believe you feel that disco is the child and funk is the parent ???;-)

On that we disagree ..... I'll say that funk is at best a distant second cousin of disco .....

****
Speaking of parents though ----- ;-)

... How about a mash mix of
Bill Cosby - Hooray For The Salvation Army Band and
Phylicia Allen --- Josephine Baker Superstar ---

Call it the "Do The Hustle with the Huxables " mix !!! :lol:

[visuals]

Originally Posted by Mixmachine

I'm glad to see there is a CD of this group, the only song I know by them is "Follow the wind" which was a big Club hit BIDT, I thought they were a one hit wonder group that never released an Album

MixMachine: I see that not many heads are familiar with "The Midnight Movers Unltd". "Follow The Wind" was the Mover's most popular single back in the day. I remember my dad, uncles and a few of their partners sitting around with a 1/2 gallon of shine smoking weed and listening to this stuff. This was around the mid-70's when I lived in Philly. Two more good ones were the tracks "Put Your Mind In Your Pocket" & "Funk Don't Mean A Scent".
The vocalist reminds me a lot of Johnnie Taylor. After doing some research and years of remembering the tracks, I finally tracked down the Funky Delicacies re-issue on cd back in 2004. It may still be available out there.

The Midnight Movers Unlimited

The liner notes mention the group's lead saxophonist/arranger George Patterson Jr. working with E,W & F's Maurice White as members of the Chess Records studio band back in 62'. Patterson was also the arranger for The Isley Brothers million seller "It's Your Thing" and went on working with the Isleys on the albums "Get Into Something", "Givin' It Back" & "The Brothers-Isley". If I remember reading correctly, A dispute between the Movers and the Isleys caused the two outfits to part company. Those were great albums too if you like the Isleys. I have all 3 on CD.

Having heavy (but tasteful) guitar use, This is definately funk for those with "aqquired taste" in the genre. I have read a few bad reviews for this one as well....before and after I bought it. I hold it dear to heart because of the memories that it brings back to mind. Not every track was a winner and to be honest, There were quite a few that I could have done without. Still, Worth a listen just for "Follow The Wind parts 1&2" and "Put Your Mind In Your Pocket". Could use a better quality remastering but as I always say.....Like it for what it is.

Originally Posted by Disco Funk

In addition to the ones I commented above, here's what I'm into (very very basic list):

Pure Funk:

James Brown, Kool & The Gang (everything by these guys)
Skull Snaps - self titled album
Soul Searchers - Ashley's Roachclip, Blow Your Whistle, etc...
Dennis Coffey - his Sussex albums, like Evolution and Electric Coffey
Average White Band - all their albums are great up until the late 70s
The Wild Magnolias - self titled

Jazzy Funk/Big Band

Woody Herman (his late 60s through to the mid 70s stuff)
Herbie Hancock (Manchild, Thrust, Headhunters)
Headhunters (Survival of the Fittest)
All of the Mizell Brothers produced stuff from the mid 70s (Donald Byrd, Bobbi Humphrey, Gary Bartz, Johnny Hammond, etc...)
CTI (artists like Deodato)

African and Latin Funk

Manu Dibango, Matata, Nico Gomez, Joe Bataan.

Disco Funk: I want to clarify a comment I made in an earlier post regarding "Funk starting with James Brown & ending With Parliament". I was trying to proove a point that even though mainstream artists may have dominated the charts in not only funk but any genre, That does not mean that the lesser known 2nd and 3rd tier groups were no less talented simply because they were underground or on small independent labels that yielded poor marketing,promotion,financial issues or whatever the case may be. I am HEAVILY into James and all of his spin-off endeavors. I own most of his catalogue on CD from the late 60's all the way up to the "Spank" album. I kind of got lost on James's 80's stuff and I didn't like anything he made from that point until he released "Static" and I wasn't too crazy about that either...Just my opinion. All those other groups I mentioned like Slave,Parliament/Funkadelic,Ohio Players,ConFunkShun,Cameo etc I am also very big on. I just feel that all of that stuff is basic but let's not forget the little guys that got knocked off because everyone else was tuned in to "whatever everybody else" was listening to. I'm still trying to get my co-worker to visit this site so he can see how many of my comrads like you and the other members here feel about the lesser-knowns. Just keep keepin' it real and let's always keep it funky.

"Kool & The Gang" is another group that I followed heavily....especially early Kool & The Gang with their 1970 self-titled album "Kool & The Gang", "Wild & Peaceful", "Good Times" & "Spirit Of The Boogie" being my 4 favorite albums. "Light Of The Worlds" was pretty good and "Music Is The Message". I really didn't like the JT Taylor days but some of it was listenable. Just to note for those who dig Kool: There is a mystery disc out there titled "Kool Funk Essentials 1970-1977" going for very cheap that has a lot of what I believe to be either unreleased material or maybe studio alternate/out-takes. The tracks are mostly instrumental and the liner notes were very sparse. The track titles have also been changed such as "This Is You,This Is Me" to "Power Of The Dollar". This is a plus for the Kool completist.

"Skull Snaps": I only know two tracks from this lesser known group which are "I'm Your Pimp" & "It's A New Day". These were sampled to death! Very good stuff that I would like to delve a little deeper into.* I have seen the CD around as an import and it carries a very hefty price tag.

"Soul Searchers": Isn't this the group that also made the mid 70's hit "Bustin' Loose with Chuck Brown"? If so very good stuff. I do remember "Blow Your Whistle" but never heard "Ashley's Roachclip"

"Dennis Coffey": OMG!!!! Another heavily sampled monster. All you heard was "Scorpio" samples back in the day. I remember how I felt when I finally got my hands on the themes "Black Belt Jones & Enter The Dragon" Very good stuff indeed.

"AWB": You said it best....everything until the late 70's was the sh***!
very tight playing on fast tracks and they also had some tuff ballads. I admit to jamming quite a few ladies to the tune of "A Love Of Your Own". I loved the obvious numbers "Cut The Cake" & "Pick Up The Pieces". "Person To Person" is another fav and I loved the rhythm on "Groovin' The Night Away". "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" was another sweet ballad. Good stuff*

"The Wild Magnolias": ???Never heard of. Hip me

"Herbie Hancock": All 3 of these were excellent with of course "Head Hunters" being my favorite. Harvey Mason's drumming was incredible on this set. "Manchild" runs an extremely close second with Ray Parker Jr. on guitar and "Thrust" was my least fav out of the three. I feel that "Vern Blair Debate's Superfunk" could have went perfect on the "Head Hunters & Manchild" albums. It has the same tone. Good pick.*

Of course I like Donald Byrd & Bobbi Humphrey's "Satin Doll" was great as well as her other stuff. I have only heard "God Made Me Funky" by the Headhunters but I have always heard their name mentioned as one of the finer lesser-knowns out there. Just about everything to come out of Creed Taylor's CTI records was great....Stanley Turrentine, Milt Jackson, Freddie Hubbard, Deodato, Grover Washington Jr, Bob James....I still have some of this stuff on reels and quite a few CTI albums. All good stuff. Woody Herman I have never heard of.

I probably should be ashamed for saying this, But the only thing I've ever owned by Manu DiBango is both the extended and regular mixes of "Soul Makossa". As much as I like makossa, I never decided to actually seek any more of Manu's material. Matata & Nico Gomez I have never heard of. I have seen Joe Bataam's name around but never heard any of his stuff either.
PS. the "Exit 9" track that you are refering to is titled "Miss Funky Fox". I gotta recommend this album to you because I feel that it leans on both funk and disco. Very fine line that is as we all know. Also, Reuben Wilson did cover "Inner City Blues". Great rendition of it too. If you like "Slave" at all, Be sure to pick up the 2-on-1 Cd "Showtime/Visions Of The Light". Showtime is one of those re-issues that I waited patiently to be released for years. Mark Adams in another finest hour set! Another Bob James piece that I love in addition to the ones mentioned is "Westchester Lady" from the "Three" album. I am also going to dig for the APB "All Points Bullitin" material that you mention. Seems like I heard of them or maybe saw something by them but overlooked it at the time. Thanks for hipping me.

[Disco Funk]

Originally Posted by remicks

*****

I was and I remain shocked ......SHOCKED I say ...at the number of Visuals' faves you didn't know DF !!! I'm now wondering if you should change your moniker to : DISCO funk :-P:icon_neutral: ........... forgive me , I keed ....

Hey man, I'm just a student. Not the teacher! If it's recent stuff, and not old school, I don't listen to it. That Daktaris stuff, I know that's a recent release, but it sounds retro.

I believe you feel that disco is the child and funk is the parent ???;-)

Fo' sho'! Funk begat Disco.

On that we disagree ..... I'll say that funk is at best a distant second cousin of disco .....

Then who's the daddy? :)

****
Speaking of parents though ----- ;-)

... How about a mash mix of
Bill Cosby - Hooray For The Salvation Army Band and
Phylicia Allen --- Josephine Baker Superstar ---

Call it the "Do The Hustle with the Huxables " mix !!! :lol:

[/quote]

Too bad they didn't milk that joke by showing the LPs on the Cosby Show. I guess, well, in Phyllicia Allen's case, it was too much of an embarrassment.

Disco Funk

[Disco Funk]

Originally Posted by visuals

MixMachine: I see that not many heads are familiar with "The Midnight Movers Unltd". "Follow The Wind" was the Mover's most popular single back in the day. I remember my dad, uncles and a few of their partners sitting around with a 1/2 gallon of shine smoking weed and listening to this stuff. This was around the mid-70's when I lived in Philly. Two more good ones were the tracks "Put Your Mind In Your Pocket" & "Funk Don't Mean A Scent".
The vocalist reminds me a lot of Johnnie Taylor. After doing some research and years of remembering the tracks, I finally tracked down the Funky Delicacies re-issue on cd back in 2004. It may still be available out there.
Album Art:

http://www.discomusic.com/forums/att...1&d=1148768582

The liner notes mention the group's lead saxophonist/arranger George Patterson Jr. working with E,W & F's Maurice White as members of the Chess Records studio band back in 62'. Patterson was also the arranger for The Isley Brothers million seller "It's Your Thing" and went on working with the Isleys on the albums "Get Into Something", "Givin' It Back" & "The Brothers-Isley". If I remember reading correctly, A dispute between the Movers and the Isleys caused the two outfits to part company. Those were great albums too if you like the Isleys. I have all 3 on CD.

Having heavy (but tasteful) guitar use, This is definately funk for those with "aqquired taste" in the genre. I have read a few bad reviews for this one as well....before and after I bought it. I hold it dear to heart because of the memories that it brings back to mind. Not every track was a winner and to be honest, There were quite a few that I could have done without. Still, Worth a listen just for "Follow The Wind parts 1&2" and "Put Your Mind In Your Pocket". Could use a better quality remastering but as I always say.....Like it for what it is.

I'll have to check that stuff out. Thanks for the headsup. I'm always trying to learn more and more about the old stuff.

Disco Funk: I want to clarify a comment I made in an earlier post regarding "Funk starting with James Brown & ending With Parliament". I was trying to proove a point that even though mainstream artists may have dominated the charts in not only funk but any genre, That does not mean that the lesser known 2nd and 3rd tier groups were no less talented simply because they were underground or on small independent labels that yielded poor marketing,promotion,financial issues or whatever the case may be. I am HEAVILY into James and all of his spin-off endeavors. I own most of his catalogue on CD from the late 60's all the way up to the "Spank" album. I kind of got lost on James's 80's stuff and I didn't like anything he made from that point until he released "Static" and I wasn't too crazy about that either...Just my opinion. All those other groups I mentioned like Slave,Parliament/Funkadelic,Ohio Players,ConFunkShun,Cameo etc I am also very big on. I just feel that all of that stuff is basic but let's not forget the little guys that got knocked off because everyone else was tuned in to "whatever everybody else" was listening to. I'm still trying to get my co-worker to visit this site so he can see how many of my comrads like you and the other members here feel about the lesser-knowns. Just keep keepin' it real and let's always keep it funky.

Cool enough! :)

"Kool & The Gang" is another group that I followed heavily....especially early Kool & The Gang with their 1970 self-titled album "Kool & The Gang", "Wild & Peaceful", "Good Times" & "Spirit Of The Boogie" being my 4 favorite albums. "Light Of The Worlds" was pretty good and "Music Is The Message". I really didn't like the JT Taylor days but some of it was listenable. Just to note for those who dig Kool: There is a mystery disc out there titled "Kool Funk Essentials 1970-1977" going for very cheap that has a lot of what I believe to be either unreleased material or maybe studio alternate/out-takes. The tracks are mostly instrumental and the liner notes were very sparse. The track titles have also been changed such as "This Is You,This Is Me" to "Power Of The Dollar". This is a plus for the Kool completist.

Yes, I have the Kool Funk Essentials. A real gem, even if the tracks aren't all that awesome. I like the alternates like you mention, including Spirit of the Boogie with a different title (which I've forgotten).

"Skull Snaps": I only know two tracks from this lesser known group which are "I'm Your Pimp" & "It's A New Day". These were sampled to death! Very good stuff that I would like to delve a little deeper into.* I have seen the CD around as an import and it carries a very hefty price tag.

The album is great. You'll really dig Trespassin' too. There are websites like Juno.co.uk and tunes.co.uk where you can check out sound samples.

"Soul Searchers": Isn't this the group that also made the mid 70's hit "Bustin' Loose with Chuck Brown"? If so very good stuff. I do remember "Blow Your Whistle" but never heard "Ashley's Roachclip"

Have you listened to 'Paid In Full' by Eric B & Rakim? Or 'Set Adrift On Memory Bliss' by PM Dawn? Or 'Jack The Ripper' by LL Cool J? If you have, then you've heard elements of Roachclip. The Paid In Full drums, which were used to death on that Milli Vanilli record, were sampled from Ashley's Roachclip.

You can hear a sample of the track on this webpage:

http://www.juno.co.uk/search.php?q=a...all&column=all

Here's a longer sampling:

http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11404.html

"Dennis Coffey": OMG!!!! Another heavily sampled monster. All you heard was "Scorpio" samples back in the day. I remember how I felt when I finally got my hands on the themes "Black Belt Jones & Enter The Dragon" Very good stuff indeed.

Scorpio, Son Of Scorpio, Ride Sally Ride, the list of samples goes on. This was one funky white dude who used to be a Motown session musician. He even made an appearance on that DVD 'Standing In The Shadows Of Motown'. If you dig their stuff, I would also recommend Cecil Holmes album 'Black Motion Picture Experience'. It features some of the same musicians and has a similar driving groove.

"AWB": You said it best....everything until the late 70's was the sh***!
very tight playing on fast tracks and they also had some tuff ballads. I admit to jamming quite a few ladies to the tune of "A Love Of Your Own". I loved the obvious numbers "Cut The Cake" & "Pick Up The Pieces". "Person To Person" is another fav and I loved the rhythm on "Groovin' The Night Away". "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" was another sweet ballad. Good stuff*

These guys did an awesome job of putting the jazz into the funk without it sounding inaccessable. The last great project they did was that Ben E King & Us album. Worth checking out if you haven't already.

"The Wild Magnolias": ???Never heard of. Hip me

Dude, you haven't lived until you heard these guys!!! That self-titled album featured the WM on vocals with the New Orleans Project (members of the Gators, a group whose CD of old stuff was released by Funky Delicacies a while ago). Man, this album has it all - wicked breaks, talking guitars and clavinets, wah distortion on the bass. God, this album will fragment your brain! They also did a track called Ho Na Nae that appeared on the CD reissue of the album, but wasn't released until the follow-up album. If you check out the websites I listed above, you can hear compilations with tracks from the album like 'Corey Died On The Battlefield'.

Peace Pipe and Soul Soul Soul can be heard on this cool online jukebox I discovered recently:

http://68.40.188.159:7000/playlist.c...wild+magnolias

While you're there, check out the Backyard Heavies. They live up to their name. Very obscure group that only released a couple of 45s, but their stuff has appeared on various funk comps, if you didn't know about them already.

"Herbie Hancock": All 3 of these were excellent with of course "Head Hunters" being my favorite. Harvey Mason's drumming was incredible on this set. "Manchild" runs an extremely close second with Ray Parker Jr. on guitar and "Thrust" was my least fav out of the three. I feel that "Vern Blair Debate's Superfunk" could have went perfect on the "Head Hunters & Manchild" albums. It has the same tone. Good pick.*

Thrust was alright. It was a lot more free jazz than the other albums. Manchild is the best one for me. It also features James Gadson on drums who also has a distinctive sound; and Louis Johnson of the Brothers Johnson on bass.

Of course I like Donald Byrd & Bobbi Humphrey's "Satin Doll" was great as well as her other stuff. I have only heard "God Made Me Funky" by the Headhunters but I have always heard their name mentioned as one of the finer lesser-knowns out there. Just about everything to come out of Creed Taylor's CTI records was great....Stanley Turrentine, Milt Jackson, Freddie Hubbard, Deodato, Grover Washington Jr, Bob James....I still have some of this stuff on reels and quite a few CTI albums. All good stuff. Woody Herman I have never heard of.

Yes, all of that stuff is good. Woody Herman was a big band guy who started dabbling in cross over grooves in the late 60's. I wouldn't call it hard funk, but its really good big band with a straight groove.

I probably should be ashamed for saying this, But the only thing I've ever owned by Manu DiBango is both the extended and regular mixes of "Soul Makossa". As much as I like makossa, I never decided to actually seek any more of Manu's material.

Soul Makossa is his signature tune, but he also did some grittier funky grooves. Tracks like Weya, Senga, etc... are feature wicked breaks and have a drum sound reminiscent of that early Sylvers stuff (who by the way are also worth checking out if you don't know about songs like Misdemeanor by Foster Sylvers).

Matata & Nico Gomez I have never heard of. I have seen Joe Bataam's name around but never heard any of his stuff either.

Matata was an african funk outfit. A song or two of theirs appeared on the Strut compilation Africa Funk. Nico Gomez was a recent discovery for me. This guy's album is latin funk with tonnes of breaks! I'm referring to the album Ritual, which was released in Japan on CD. Allmusic has some sound samples:

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...0:o0d3vw9qa9rk

PS. the "Exit 9" track that you are refering to is titled "Miss Funky Fox". I gotta recommend this album to you because I feel that it leans on both funk and disco. Very fine line that is as we all know.

I'll have to give it a spin next time I'm at the record shop. I think there's a reissue floating around.

If you like "Slave" at all, Be sure to pick up the 2-on-1 Cd "Showtime/Visions Of The Light". Showtime is one of those re-issues that I waited patiently to be released for years. Mark Adams in another finest hour set!

I've only checked out one Slave album, which was the first album. I could only get into the tracks Slave and Son of Slave because they were sampled by Tribe Called Quest back in the day.

Another Bob James piece that I love in addition to the ones mentioned is "Westchester Lady" from the "Three" album.

I think I have that one. If you like that Bob James sound, I'd also recommend the Mr Magic album by Grover Washington Jr.

I am also going to dig for the APB "All Points Bullitin" material that you mention. Seems like I heard of them or maybe saw something by them but overlooked it at the time. Thanks for hipping me.

These guys were another recent discovery by me. Obscure late 70s dirty funk.

If you want to check out more funky grooves and breaks I'm into, check out the sound samples on this website:

http://sandbox.pair.com/testbreak.html


Disco Funk

[visuals]

Originally Posted by Disco Funk

Have you listened to 'Paid In Full' by Eric B & Rakim Or 'Jack The Ripper' by LL Cool J?

O-Kaaay I always wondered where that sample came from! I remember bumping Eric B & Rakim's "Paid In Full" album in my new 86' 5.0 Mustang. That album was released around early summer that year and I remember it was one of the first cassettes that I played in it. I also had the 12"of L.L's "Jack The Ripper". I'm gonna have to dig on Roachclip. Good looking out on that one! Having the original source from a sample that I liked on a hip-hop album is always a plus. Every album Eric & Ra made together I bought...with "Follow The Leader" being my favorite & "Paid In Full' 2nd. Big fan then and still am. (I didn't like E's solo attempt though.

Misdemeanor by Foster Sylvers).

This is another one that I remember having to defend. Lots of people thought that when Dr.Dre used this on the D.O.C's "It's Funky Enough" it was something that he came up with. D.O.C used it again on "Return Of Da Living Dead" from "Helter Skelter". It's a shame how D.O.C's career changed forever after that accident. His flow never seemed the same as on "No One Can Do It Better". Loved the sample in the tracks as well as the original Sylvers cut. I'll probably drop a few dollars on the next Manu Dibango set I see around with those tracks you mention. Good Taste

Mr Magic album by Grover Washington Jr.

This is one of the 2 Grover Washington cd's i own along with "Inner City Blues". Both are good with Mister Magic being my better pick of the two.
Most of the late Mr.Washington's catalogue of CTI recordings are rightfully in print. The two mentioned above as well as "Feels So Good" (gotta have this for Knucklehead & Hydra, "All The King's Horses" and a few others I have seen around. During his days on Kudu Records, He also had some good jazz material with "Reed Seed" & "A Secret Place". Love Grover's stuff.

Nico Gomez

I followed your link to allmusic and checked some of Nico's samples. I have seen this cover art around in the past but never actually looked into any of the music.


After checking the latin/afro arrangements with funky overtones,accents and breaks on those clips though, I'll definately be digging. I see it's reissued on P-Vine and usually their imports are considerably pricey.:roll: Again,Thanks for hipping me to this.
I see it's greatly regarded by other collectors so it will be on the to-get list. The one with the girl sporting the orange fro on the cover sounds pretty good too. Like the rhythm on both but Ritual better. I can get into this stuff. Reminds me of some alternative "Santana" or maybe "Malo"

As for the rest of your recommendations, I will be on the lookout during my cd quests...especially Cecil Holmes & The Wild Magnolias as I like Mr.Coffey and it would be nice to hear something that can be compared to his funkyness. Also, I am familiar with The Gators. Some of their stuff I have scattered about on various compilation discs. It's so much stuff out there, I don't see an end to this collection addiction. Thanks for the links to the clips and stickin' me with another needle.:-D

[Disco Funk]

Originally Posted by visuals

O-Kaaay I always wondered where that sample came from! I remember bumping Eric B & Rakim's "Paid In Full" album in my new 86' 5.0 Mustang. That album was released around early summer that year and I remember it was one of the first cassettes that I played in it. I also had the 12"of L.L's "Jack The Ripper". I'm gonna have to dig on Roachclip. Good looking out on that one! Having the original source from a sample that I liked on a hip-hop album is always a plus. Every album Eric & Ra made together I bought...with "Follow The Leader" being my favorite & "Paid In Full' 2nd. Big fan then and still am. (I didn't like E's solo attempt though.

Glad to help you uncover an unknown sample. I'd recommend you check out the entire series on vinyl known as 'Ultimate Breaks & Beats'. That's where all of those late 80s hip hop producers sampled from. It'll spin your head.

This is another one that I remember having to defend. Lots of people thought that when Dr.Dre used this on the D.O.C's "It's Funky Enough" it was something that he came up with. D.O.C used it again on "Return Of Da Living Dead" from "Helter Skelter". It's a shame how D.O.C's career changed forever after that accident. His flow never seemed the same as on "No One Can Do It Better". Loved the sample in the tracks as well as the original Sylvers cut. I'll probably drop a few dollars on the next Manu Dibango set I see around with those tracks you mention. Good Taste

The early 70s Sylvers stuff all sounds like that Misdemeanor track in terms of the funky drums and soulful vocals. If you look on ebay, that's why the albums are going for mad-bucks. No one has bothered to reissue those albums on CD, which sucks!

This is one of the 2 Grover Washington cd's i own along with "Inner City Blues". Both are good with Mister Magic being my better pick of the two.
Most of the late Mr.Washington's catalogue of CTI recordings are rightfully in print. The two mentioned above as well as "Feels So Good" (gotta have this for Knucklehead & Hydra, "All The King's Horses" and a few others I have seen around. During his days on Kudu Records, He also had some good jazz material with "Reed Seed" & "A Secret Place". Love Grover's stuff.

I haven't gotten into all of Grover's stuff, but his Kudu material is great. I also have Feels So Good.

I followed your link to allmusic and checked some of Nico's samples. I have seen this cover art around in the past but never actually looked into any of the music.
After checking the latin/afro arrangements with funky overtones,accents and breaks on those clips though, I'll definately be digging. I see it's reissued on P-Vine and usually their imports are considerably pricey.:roll: Again,Thanks for hipping me to this.
I see it's greatly regarded by other collectors so it will be on the to-get list. The one with the girl sporting the orange fro on the cover sounds pretty good too. Like the rhythm on both but Ritual better. I can get into this stuff. Reminds me of some alternative "Santana" or maybe "Malo"

The second album you show above sounds more latin than funk. The Ritual album is really great. La Lupita is the one cut that I found on a bootleg compilation that spurred me on to find this great record.

As for the rest of your recommendations, I will be on the lookout during my cd quests...especially Cecil Holmes & The Wild Magnolias as I like Mr.Coffey and it would be nice to hear something that can be compared to his funkyness. Also, I am familiar with The Gators. Some of their stuff I have scattered about on various compilation discs. It's so much stuff out there, I don't see an end to this collection addiction. Thanks for the links to the clips and stickin' me with another needle.:-D

Glad to help you out. Being a beat head myself and someone who's been looking for the source of those old school funk samples, I've been buying bootleg vinyl compilations.

Not to plug any particular ebay seller, but this guy's been selling one favorite series of mine: Sacks of Soul. Awesome funk breaks on these records, and really cheap too:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/A-SACK-OF-SOUL-VO...QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.ca/REALLY-RARE-SOUL-...QQcmdZViewItem

He also sells a series called Rare Joints. The songs are slightly truncated on that series, but they are pretty good. The best in that series are Vol.3 and 5 (mislabeled as '8' in his auction listing). The others weren't that great, but that may have been because I have them on other records already, and there weren't as many breaks.

The 'Vinyl Dogs' series is also great. It takes breaks from all types of music with a funky groove, like african funk, big band funk, etc.