Con Funk Shun-What album cuts do fans really feel?

[eddie]

Con Funk Shun

Since Secrets and Spirit of love are the only 2 domestic reissues of Con Funk Shun's original albums, I am curious as to the quality of their catalog. I've read reviews of the Funk Essentials best of volumes 1 and 2 and fans state that Universal chose random cuts and much is to be desired epecially in the slowjam arena. I also have Ballads, a killer live set, a UK spectrum best of with Burnin from 1985, and a budget compilation from USP. There is an over 90% overlap on these compilations and Universal just doesn't seem to get it!
"Honey Wild" was a cut that blew me away and reminded me of New Birth's or should I say the O'Jays "Wildflower."
What were your favs from Con Funk Shun from back in the day?

[K-Bee]

I have a weakness for their mid 80s stuff. The "Electric Lady" set from 1985 have quite a few good ballads on it...."I'm leaving Baby" and "Pretty lady" to be excact.
1986's "Burnin' Love" LP didn't sell much but that doesn't mean it was bad, and the uptempo were better than on the "Electric Lady" one...they had a kind Cameo/Word Up kinda thing going on but with an even harder edge to it.
Choice tracks: "Do Ya", "JoJo" (actually a rap song) and the title track.

Also try to track down "7" from 1981 - it's out on CD as part of Polygram's "original funk LP" series of reissues

Yhe live set you have...is that the 1996 "Live For Ya A**" one

[Svend]

I've always loved "Chase Me" from the 1979 lp "Candy," and "Got To Be Enough" from 1980's "Spirit Of Love."

[sammyperez]

:D Wow! Deja vu, as I was just playing the 'Secrets' LP over the weekend. That LP is killer for the slow jams:

Who has the time
Tears in my eyes
I'll set you out o.k.

all three are top notch ballads that I would play alongside 'Love's Train'. That entire LP is underrated. 'By your side' was another favorite and besides 'Chase me' I also dug the obscure 'Main slice' from the 'Candy' LP.

Easy,

Sam "ALL JAM"

[discofresh]

I'm feeling "think about it"....disco heaven

DJ Boogie Badness :)

[occasio]

I still enjoy the following:

Time
Sure feels good to me
Da lady
Highway 1

Kinda sentimental favourites.

[Anonymous]

I've been searching for some of the old school R&B jams that I used to listen to in high school and college (those formative years!). I just wanted to respond to the note on Con Funk Shun's "Main Slice", off the "Candy" album. That's one of the songs I've look all over for. Seeing that someone else remembered it made me smile. I just hope it's as I remembered it when I get it.

With all the sampling that has taken place in hip hop and R&B, you would think that the record companies would have re-issued all the old stuff that formed the hook for the new songs. Here's hoping.

[QUINNY]

I've really been getting into Chase Me lately. Tuff Funk eh, Svend?

[efunk_adelic]

I've really been getting into Chase Me lately. Tuff Funk eh, Svend?

back in it's day... that was the cut! :D

[originalbigm]

Browsing at the local flea market I came across an album called "Organized Con Funk Shun".It was put out in 1978 by Pickwick Records and features 7 cuts recorded by Con Funk Shun in 1973 by the group in Memphis.I gave the vendor a $1.00 for it.It was in Excellent condition. I took it home and threw it on the turntable. WOW! Here are the cuts.

Time
Get Down With It
Do You Really Know What Love Is For
Sure Feels Good To Me
Love In Me
Seascape (Instrumental)
Funky Things On Your Mind

The production is first rate,the funk is kick ass and an absolute great find on my part. Interesting cover notes really expound on their begiinings. Listening to these cuts one can only draw parallels to Brass Construction on Get Down With It,Mandrill on Funky Things On Your Mind,Ohio Players on Sure Feels Good To Me and BT Express on Time and Seascape conjures up reflections of Kool & The Gangs Summer Madness.

From the cover notes,
The name CON FUNK SHUN has an interesting story behind it.While the band was making these recordings were being made ,the band sent out demo tapes to various companies.Everybody got together to write up a story about PROJECT SOUL which was their name at that time.A change of name was considered and they began sorting and rejecting many possibilities.After a long discussion,somebody complained"Too Many names and too much confusion," to which another said"Not confusion,CON FUNK SHUN." The question was then asked "What's that?" and the answer came,"CON FUNK SHUN is organized confusion." (With a good laugh by all). Needless to say, the name stuck, but because the name represented a new word,the group went further,and wrote a dictionary definition of CON FUNK SHUN.

CON FUNK SHUN (KON-FUNK'-SHUN) -
adjective:The unique sound of combining a dynamite rhythm section with a powerful three piece horn section(trumpet,saxophone,trombone),topping it with outstanding lead vocals and a four and five part harmony with a touch of flash choreography.noun:1)A group of seven versatile singers and musicians whose combined talents produce the finest entertainment that can be seen and/or heard.2)The new name of a band formally called PROJECT SOUL from Vallejo,California.They all studied music at Solano College and have been GREAT ever since!

For all you CON FUNK SHUN fans you owe it yourself to track down this album.I just can't stop playing it.

[eddie]

That's a great find indeed. I have some pre-Capital Peabo Bryson that's as good as his late 70's output. The Gap Band also has some pre-Mercury Lps (3) that are extremely rare. It would be interesting to hear what the sound like before the 1979. I've heard those Gap Bamd records are only rumored to exist.

I definitely heard a Kool and the Gang influence in Con funk shun. Howerver, I thought they took their name from the Nite-liters tune of the same name.