Long before dictionaries included a musical description for the word'funk', a common definition was "to emit an offensive smell, to stink".Ironically, the most popular "funk" bands (Parliament, Ohio Players,Sly and the Family Stone, or James Brown) all had substantial recordingbudgets and crisp, clean production for the most part. The originatorsof funk (as a musical style) weren't that far off from the dictionary'sdefinition. The music was raw, produced on cheap equipment and foundits way to a number of 7" records in the late 1960s around the sametime as the flood of garage pop (see 'Nuggets' or 'Box of Trash'comps). While a number of NYC-based bands are jumping down thebandwagon of returning to garage pop ideals, NYC-based Soul FireRecords is heading down the road of original funk. Over the course ofthe last couple years, the label has been releasing a number of raw,yet powerful 7" singles in extremely limited quantities, which now arecompiled on these two collections.
At first listen, it's rather deceptive, as you wonder if some of thesesongs truly date back thirty years. The first volume starts off withSoul Fire's third 7", two brief songs of looped gritty hooks by CalypsoKing & the Soul Investigators. It continues with the pimpin' soundsof Speedometer who bring to the collection a fierce horn section,wakka-wakka guitars and killer percussion. It isn't until the songsfrom Lee Fields & the Explorers that we actually finally hear asinger/band leader. While he shouts "Baby, I ain't James Brown" on "I'mthe Man" I must point out he does indeed squeak out an occasional JamesBrown line like "Give it up, turn it loose" and "I got soul." The tempodrops down for the two slow-riding numbers from Third Point and picksup again for a virile ending from The Soul Command, clearly masteredfrom terrible recordings. Volume One ends with a special bonus - "FastFunk Instrumental" by the Supersonics and a collection of breakbeatsprimed for sampling purposes.
samples:
- JD & the Evil's Dynamite Band - Haaa-Sheesh
- Lee Fields & the Explorers - I'm the Man
Volume two continues with seven more singles (14 tracks) and opens withthe flute and funk marriage by Bama & The Family. Lee Fields (whowas previously quoted as saying how he wasn't James Brown) pays a clearhomage to "Funky Drummer" with "Ain't it Funky Now" while theWhitefield Brothers play tribute to Funkadelic's "Super Stupid" with"In the Raw." The two songs from the Detroit Sex Machines adds a littlemore soul to the voice of the front man (and I swear this has got to bemastered from a slightly off-centered 45). There's no bonus beats onthis volume but the poorly-cut masters are enough to provide a mildamount of home-grown amusement. Unfortunately now, I'm hooked andcompelled to start buying their 7" single releases. Damnit!
samples:
- Bama & the Family - Don't Think... Do
- The Whitefield Brothers - In the Raw
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