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Instant Funk

Witch Doctor (LP)

Salsoul Records (US) / 1979 / SA 8529
LP-album 33 ⅓ rpm Vinyl

Arranged by Larry Davis (with Bunny Sigler on "I Had A Dream")

Writers:
Bunny Sigler (A2, A3), Larry Davis (A1, B1), Dennis Richardson (A1, B2), George Bell (A1, B4), Scotty Miller (B1, B4), Kim Miller (B1, B2, B3, B4), Raymond Earl (B1, B4), Charles Williams (B2)

Tracks A1 and B1 mixed by Larry Levan

Instant Funk are:
Raymond Earl (bass)
Kim Miller (guitar)
Scotty Miller (drums)
Dennis Richardson (piano)
James Carmichael (lead vocals)
Larry Davis (trumpet)
Johnny Onderlinde
Eric Huff
George Bell (guitar)
Charles Williams (congas)
All do background vocals

Additional musicians:
Jimmy Sigler (organ)
Randy Brecker (trumpet)
Bob Malach (saxophone)
Louis Del Gatto (saxophone)
Tom Malone (trombone)
Michael Ray (trumpet)
Willie Williams (trombone)
Robin Eubanks (saxophone)
Bunny Sigler (background vocals)
The John Brothers (background vocals, guest vocalists on "Witch Doctor")

Recorded and mixed at Blank Tape Studios, Inc. - New York
Executive producers: Joe, Stan and Ken Cayre

Side A
1. Slap, Slap, Lickedy Lap (7.12)
2. Witch Doctor (5.51)
3. I Had A Dream (5.53)

Side B
1. Bodyshine (7.00)
2. It's Your Love On My Mind (4.00)
3. I Want To Love You (4.10)
4. Scream and Shout (4.00)

Appearing a year later from the "Instant Funk" LP, which contained their great hit "I Got My Mind Made Up", Witch Doctor is a spectacular follow-up for Instant Funk.

Side A opens with the vicious "Slap, Slap, Lickedy Lap", a fast number destined to put the dancefloor on fire and with great vocal work. Next is the title track, a slower funk track a bit Parliament-style, maybe the best of the LP. And closing side A there's a slow number set afire ("I had a dream") again with splendid vocals. Each one of this songs is a climax in itself.

Side B can't maintain so great a groove, but there's no filler anyway. The other disco-oriented track, "Bodyshine", refers to "I got my mind made up" in the way old Motown producers tended to reprise their hits. A very good album by the great funk band Instant Funk, with the aid of Philadelphia's writer-producer Bunny Sigler.

Submitted by nano (4)