Funk & Soul: Original LPs
The Word: Funk is the way. Hard, heavy, happening, hip, clean, affordable, real. Working DJs and collectors will find the goods here, plus a smattering of the best related stuff (mod soul/boogaloo, sweet soul, disco, spoken, party rap, funky gospel, funky blues).
See Jazz for jazz funk (funky soul jazz) & funk by jazz players. And Funk 45s below.
Afrique: Soul Makossa; Roulette/Mainstream/Red Lion 394; 1973; sealed (w/Roulette distribution sticker) S $40 -- funk/Afro-Beat/guitar/percussion; classic session (credited as "Chubokos" on a 45) packed with stuff for DJs; w/jazz-funk heavyweights Charles Kynard, Paul Humphrey, David T. Walker, Ray Pounds, Chino Valdes, King Errisson..; Soul Makossa, Kissing My Love, Sleepwalk, Let Me Do My Thing, Slow Motion, Hot Mud, House of Rising Funk, Dueling Guitars, Hot Doggin', Get It
The Airmen of Note: New Spirit; USAF; 1977; E+/E+ S $20 -- military/funk/jazz; one of the top military-recruitment LPs (Air Force always is best except Port Authority); funk instrumental highlights include "Fire" by Ohio Players, "Getaway" by Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder's "You & I," & the soul jazz of Herbie Hancock's "Butterfly"; also Brian's Song, Happy, The Hungry Years, Apples, Feelings, Send in the Clowns; priced too low just to see if anyone notices
Muhammad Ali & his Gang: May the Brush Be With You; Arther Morrison/Cornucopia CP-7000; N/N- S $30 -- spoken/kids/celebrity/funk; rarer sequel to "The Adventures of Ali & his Gang Vs. Mr. Tooth Decay Vol. 1"; w/Ali, Howard Cosell, Frank Sinatra, Richie Havens, Arlo Guthrie, Jimmy Carter, Lily Tomlin, Pat Boone, Billie Jean King, Marlo Thomas, Ossie Davis, Arther Morrison, Sunshine Morrison
Vicki Anderson: Message from a Soul Sister; Famous Flame FF-1028; N/N S $75 (or N-/N- S $60, specify) (or 2nd N/N S $50, specify) -- funk; rare/fantastic/long-out-of-print singles compilation prod. by James Brown himself (similar to the Lyn Collins LP)!; chock full of heavy, heavy hits--absolutely essential (even IF you've got all the rare singles in top shape); Message from the Soul Sisters (here complete--the single is abridged!), Sound Funky, Super Good, Answer to Mother Popcorn (very slight noise on all pressings--JB probably didn't use the tape on this cut), I'm Too Tough for Mr. Big Stuff, Once You Get Started, I'll Work it Out, In the Land of Milk & Honey..
Dan Armstrong/Various: The Sound of Dissent; Mercury SR-61203; cutout E+/N S $40 -- funk/speech; original funky music w/terrific breaks & speech samples!; forget "The Delegates" and other post-Dickie Goodman schlock; forget also the annual news-in-review LPs of just speeches; this is original, together, happening; w/Eartha Kitt, Dr. Spock, George Wallace, Paul Krasner, Stokeley Carmichael, JFK..
The Association/Charles Fox: Goodbye Columbus ST; Warner Bros. 1786; 1969; white-label promo N-/N S $20 -- not funk, of course, but sought by funkhounds for the uptempo, Fatboy Slim-sampled instrumental "Dartmouth? Dartmouth!!" (used in the dance scene in the film), which of course is 1 of the 5 tunes (of 10 total) by the legendary Latin-jazz composer Charles Fox; the movie introduced Ali MacGraw & is pretty weird itself ("Every father's daughter is a virgin")
The Banana Splits: We're the Banana Splits; MCA/Decca DL-75075; 1969; cutout E/N S $100 -- kid funk/funky rock/psyche-soul/commerce/sitar; coveted as the rare, weird TV-show memento it is, but there's also a variety of hip stuff to play; "Doin' the Banana Split" is solid, fun, uptempo funk from Barry White(!)--great for DJs & as insight into Barry's early days; "In New Orleans" has electric sitar; funky rocker "I'm Gonna Find a Cave" has breakbeats (drum-solo intro); you also get the hit "Tra La La Song" & others; please note: shares a couple of the best song titles w/the Hanna-Barbera 45s/EPs but it's a totally different recording!
John Barry: Midnight Cowboy ST; United Artists UAS-5198; 1969; N-/N shrink S $25 -- partly funky classic w/singers Nilsson (Everybody's Talkin'), The Groop (A Famous Myth, Tears & Joys), Elephants Memory (Jungle Gym at the Zoo, Old Man Willow), Leslie Miller (He Quit Me); well worth it for thick vinyl/top shape
Fontella Bass: Free; Jewel/Paula LPS-2213; 1972; N/N- shrink S $30
George Benson with the Harlem Underground Band: Erotic Moods; Paul Winley 131; 1978/1970; N-/N- S $30 (or E/E+ S $25, specify) -- funky soul-jazz guitar/Afro-Beat/funk; essential for the full-length version of Afro-Beat/breakbeat classic "Love Potion-Cheeba-Cheeba" (attributed elsewhere to Mighty Tom Cats); rest great too!; w/heavyweights Ann Winley, Ruben Wilson, Dave Baby Cortez, Willis Jackson..; Erotic Moods, Fed Up, Loose Joints (great!), Overture Erotic, Smokin' Cheeba-Cheeba, Sweet Taste of Love
Charles Bernstein: Gator ST; United Artists UA-LA646-G; 1976; cutout N-/N- S $40 (or uncut sealed S $50, specify) -- country funk (swamp funk/trucker funk)/jazz funk/sitar; great, scarce ST featuring Jerry Reed as Bama McCall who sings his own, hip "Ballad of Gator McKlusky" (Burt Reynolds in the film); also a Bobby Goldsboro song but desirable for all the instrumental wonders: Hannah's Club (jazz funk), Erotica (sitar), Swamp Chase, Moment of Truth/Ghetto Shakedown, Flight in the Night (funky drums)
Eddie Bo: Check Mr. Popeye; Rounder 2077; 1988/1959-62; cutout N-/N S $20 -- New Orleans; funky singles compilation of 14 earlier hits by the hip & fabulous Eddie J. Bocage; if you have the other compilation (w/Hook & Sling & other later cuts), you need this too--it's different material & every bit as terrific
Willie Bobo & the Bo-Gents: Do What You Want to Do; Sussex SXBS-7003; E+/E+ S $100 -- funk/soul-jazz legend (jazz-funk rather than Latin), super-hip; chockablock w/useful, heavy stuff for DJs (the original's great sound is well worth it); there's a lost-session LP w/alternate cuts to supplement it, but everyone needs to start with the real thing; Bobo's on timbales w/Victor Pantoja on conga; Broasted or Fried, Dindi, Shut Up & Pay Attention, Soul Foo Yong, Come Together, Do What You Want to Do..
John Bread/Richard Eldwyn: Modern Beat, Modern Dances; Patchwork MC-46 (France); E+/N S $25 -- disco/production (sound library); 10 tunes, some w/Moog & decent bass guitar: Chick Chick, Lazer, Palace, Super Disco, Disco Rhythm, Go to the Music, Rock Music, Let's Go, Disco Together (female vocal), Slow du Petit Matin
Charles Brimmer: Expression of Soul; Chelsea CHL-508; 1975; E+/N S $30 -- soul/funk; prod. Senator Jones; funk DJs appreciate "The Music is Funky (Is It Alright)" but the rest is soul; scarce, especially in such top shape (fine except top seam split)
James Brown: Showtime; Mercury/Smash SRS-67054; 1964; E+/N S $30 -- one of his audience-dubbed-in "live" LPs but better for it--one of his best for the label & tough to find in stereo/top shape; songs are among his lesser-known but worthy, shows the scope of his repertoire at the time; Evil, Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens, Caldonia, Sweet Lorraine, Out of the Blue..
James Brown: I Got You (I Feel Good); Polydor 2489.196; 1983/1966 (faithful French reissue of King 946); N/N $15
James Brown & his Famous Flames: Cold Sweat; King KS-1020; 1967/1964-67; blue-label deep groove bullet-hole cutout E+/N- S $30 -- original pressing, top shape, stereo; his first modern, studio, stereo, new-material King record; tho it's "all new great songs never in an album" 1/2 were recorded in 1964 (1/2 in 1967)
James Brown & the Famous Flames: I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me; King 1030; 1968; 2nd N-/N- shrink S $40 (or 2nd cutout N/N- shrink S $30, specify) -- funk; 1 of his 2 best, hippest, funkiest, & rarest original LPs; LOUD & PROUD, w/great solos & heavy drum breaks galore--YOU NEED THIS!!!; graced by a groovy jacket (natty JB w/3 mod, go-go chicks); don't settle for a current reissue (if there is one) when you can have the real thing in top shape!; I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me Parts 1 & 2, There Was a Time, The Soul of JB, Get It Together Parts 1 & 2, Funky Soul #1..; highest recommendation
James Brown & the Famous Flames: I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me; King 1030; 1968; 1st/"knife-edge" super-heavy vinyl V+/V+ S $25 -- funk; press bump/warp in the title cut (brief low noise) but quite nice (jacket/disc/play), better than the grade & low price indicate
James Brown: The Payback; Polydor PD-2-3007; 1974/1973; 2-LP gatefold E/E- S $15 -- funk; masterpiece (the whole thing, not just the smash hit); very respectable condition: on Sides 2-4 just a few light marks that are not heard; heavier marks on Side 1 w/some noise heard on the sole throwaway track, "Doing the Best I Can"; a very serviceable original, especially at the price
The James Brown Story--Ain't That a Groove 1966-1969; Polydor 422-821231-1; 1984/1966-9; N/N shrink $20 -- compilation; as w/other top JB comps, some key 2-parters ("Licking Stick, Licking Stick," "Ain't That a Groove," "Give it Up or Turnit a Loose") are stitched together, making these the definitive versions; notes by Cliff White
The Fabulous James Brown; HRB DD-1004; 2-LP E/E+ S $20 -- funk; every working DJ's friend, a 20-cut compilation w/all the big ones: My Thang, Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, Payback, Mother Popcorn, I Got You, Super Bad, Hot Pants, Cold Sweat, Got the Feelin', Night Train, Say it Loud..
Various: James Brown's Funky People; Polygram/People 422-829417-1; 1986/1971-6; E+/N S $40 -- funk; excellent compilation of the heavy, heavy singles on the People label, most of which are very hard to find (and here you get clean stereo & liner notes); this & the 2-LP "Funky People Volume 2" are essential for DJs & JB collectors--a 1-stop shop for classic party records; Hot Pants Road (JBs), Mama Feelgood (Lyn Collins), Givin' Up Food for Funk (JBs), Think (Lyn Collins), Pass the Peas (JBs), Gimme Some More (JBs), Parrty (Maceo & the Macks)..
Brown Sugar featuring Clydie King; Chelsea BCL1-0368; 1973/1972; E+/E+ S $30 -- female-led soul-funk-disco from California, unusual; notable cover of Sly's "Dance to the Music" (w/a slight breakbeat); Soul Asylum, Moonlight & Taming You, Didn't I, Real Love, Don't Hold Back..
Brute Force; Atlantic/Embryo SD-522; 1970; die-cut gatefold, white-label promo V+/E+ S $50 -- conga funk; seriously heavy, rare item w/everything great: drum breaks, Afro conga, out horn blasts, groovy vocals on some cuts; Do It Right Now, Some Kind of Approval, The Deacon, Right Direction, Monster, Ye-Le-Wa, Doubt; jacket's right corners are dog-chewed like a rough cutout but it's a major prize just the same
Ralph Carmichael: The Cross & the Switchblade ST; Lexicon/Light LS-5550-LP; E+/E S $45 -- funk/jazz/religion; funky, funky drums, breakbeats, the works; legendary Jesus-freak ST (& book series) that, like John Rydgren's work, blatantly attempted to appeal to the lost souls of youth culture, junkies, street people, gangbangers, etc.; definitely the hippest thing Pat Boone (star of the film) ever did!; Switchblade Theme (the funkiest), Rumble, The Addict's Psalm, You Gotta Try, I Just Lost, Where Is It?..
Stokely Carmichael: Free Huey!; Motown/Black Forum B-451-L; 1970; cutout sealed S $30 -- spoken, live; Black Panther Party leaders in one of the several fine records in this great but relatively tiny, rare series
Clarence Carter: Testifyin'; Atlantic SD-8238; 1969; sealed (uncut!) S $25 -- soul; rec. w/the Muscle Shoals folks; we like the Xmas funk of "Back Door Santa"; Bad News, Snatching It Back, Soul Deep, I Smell a Rat, Doin' Our Thing, Instant Reaction, Making Love, The Feeling is Right..
Alvin Cash & the "Registers": Twine Time; Mar-V-Lus MLP-1827; E-/E- $25 -- soul; a dozen songs w/Cash & Monk Higgins should make for a terrific, very valuable album, but poor sound quality (of the notoriously muddy mix/pressing) hurts it, hence the low price; still, it's prime '60s Alvin Cash!; Barracuda, Shake, Do It One More Time, Bump, Hawk Eye, Twine Awhile, Shake a Tail Feather..
Jimmy Castor: Hey Leroy, Your Mama's Calling You -- see Latin
Change of Pace: Bring My Buddies Back; Stonelady SL-1001; gatefold N-/N- S $135 -- soul; prized rarity from East Orange, NJ; curious, original, Vietnam-era material & artwork; impeccable disc & jacket (except a minor tear in back, for which we've knocked off $15)
Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band: Evolution; Sussex SXBS-7004; V/V S $20 -- guitar funk; his classic, essential particularly for the highly influential, smash-hit, bongo-rock/funk masterpiece "Scorpio" (covered by Johnny Frigo, Kashmere Stage Band, etc.); other tunes such as "Gardens of the Moon" also among his best work
Rev. Carlton Coleman [Rock Gospel Time/The Rock Ministry]; Brunswick BL-754173; 1970; sealed cutout S $300 (or cutout N/N shrink S $250, specify) -- gospel funk/insanity jazz/crazy funk-rock/hip preachin'/drug topics; one of the best things we've offered on this page; a few years after making some swinging mod-soul/boogaloo 45s ("mashed potatoes" things, some even for James Brown, compiled recently by Norton) comes this mindblower; 6 long cuts --RockGospelTime, Rock Message, Share It, Gift of God, The Shepherd Song, The Dope Song-- which range from killing playing (music directed by Willie Henderson, & it hits all the highs: full-on Leon Thomas-esque spiritual soul jazz, breakbeat funk, etc.) to pure, music-free, echo-y spoken African-American-style preacherin'!; this man has the greatest face since Kojak (the jacket photo is mesmerizing), super VOICE, & attitude; the music & the message are FANTASTIC & entirely useful for today's DJs (dig it ironically or not!)
Lyn Collins: Female Preacher; Famous Flame FF-1027; sealed S $75 (or N/V+ shrink S $25, specify) (or spare jacket, specify) -- rare/fantastic/long-out-of-print singles compilation prod. by James Brown himself (similar to the Vicki Anderson LP); 10 killer cuts, some on her 2 LPs (Think, Mr. Big Stuff), some not!; Mama Feelgood, Give It Up or Turn It Loose, Things Got to Get Better, You Can't Love Me if You Don't Respect Me..; also, we have a spare empty jacket for this title for someone wanting a cardboard upgrade (or hip decor)
Arthur Conley: Soul Directions; Atlantic/Atco SD-33-243; 1968; purple/tan cutout E/N- S $20 -- soul; you don't see clean copies of this treasure every day, & even then not at a low price; Funky Street, Burning Fire, Hear Say, People Sure Act Funny, Otis Sleep On..
The Continental III: Just for You; Baldwin CS-8229; 1978; V/N S $300 -- lounge act/funk-disco/space; you may be down with the Continental 4 (no relation), but this too is outtasight; call it private press or vanity press or what have you, it's a super-obscure trio that has full powers (organ, synth, conga, flute, saxes, etc.) at its disposal; that's all very nice, but what's it really all about? How 'bout a smoking, deep-bass cover of "Brick House" (think about it!)--vocals in groovy, jazz-lounge style (no attempt to duplicate the Commodores, mercifully) & the playing's equally hip & swinging, w/jazzy solos that really do it justice; yep, it's a DJ's wet dream (not just a rare cover of a major mover but a GOOD one!); among the also-rans there's a good cover of "2001" but everything's gonna be anti-climactic after "Brick House" (still a top lounge-act LP apart from the big tune); Oww! she's mighty-mighty and knows how to please...; jacket wear but flawless disc
Bill Cosby Presents Badfoot Brown & the Bunions Bradford Funeral & Marching Band; MCA/Uni 73080; gatefold cutout E/E S $20 -- soul jazz; 1 of the Coz's 3 music LPs (all hip & very hard to find), it's a strange one on a strange label; w/Uni drummer Bill Black; influenced by the c.1969 proto-fusion sounds of Miles Davis but with more emphasis on percussion than trumpet; lengthy liner notes about meeting with friends (Robert Culp, Stevie Wonder, etc.) after the assassination of MLK (and the making of this record) reveal the deeper, serious side of Bill Cosby; side-long pieces: Martin's Funeral (15:13), Hybish, Shybish (20:20)
Bill Cosby Sings Hooray for the Salvation Army Band! [& Other Grooves]; Warner Bros. WS-1728; cutout V+/N S $30 -- funk/golden throat; prod./arr. Fred Smith w/Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band backing, it's a known sample source, & if that's not enough, the Coz's ad-libbing & original songs provide unique irritainment; seriously, this & his other Salvation Army Band LP (both very scarce) are good & highly desired by rare-groove hounds--unlike his common Silver Throat or comedy LPs, natch; Get Out of My Life Woman, Sunny, Satisfaction, Funky North Philadelphia (to tune of Funky Broadway), Hold On, Road Runner, Stop Look & Listen, Sgt Pepper..; jacket has some ring wear but the hardest thing to get w/this one is a clean disc, which this is
Lou Courtney: Skate Now--Shing-A-Ling; Riverside RM-2000; 1967; gatefold E+/E+ $75 (or E-/E $60, specify) -- mod soul/boogaloo/psyche-funk; his classic, best LP!; from "Do the Thing" (4 minutes of one of the best floor-packing boogaloos ever) to "Psychedelic Shing-A-Ling" (WILD!!!) to "I've Got Just the Thing (Shing-A-Ling)" to "Skate Now," it's all a solid winner, gloriously produced ("A Funk Bros. production," it says); 1/2 of the 10 cuts are massive movers EVERYONE NEEDS & WILL LOVE!!!; all in heavy, superior mono (much more bass than stereo); note: there's also a cut or 2 from this session on 45 only--get it all if you can
Betty Davis: They Say I'm Different; Just Sunshine JSS-3500; Unipak gatefold E-/N S $50 (or V/N- S $40, specify) -- funk; best of 3 essential LPs by original Miles Davis gal-pal Super Freak/funk queen; gorgeous jacket & the tunes are even more smokin'; He Was a Big Freak, Don't Call Her No Tramp, Shoo-B-Doop & Cop Him, '70s Blues..
De La Soul: 3 Feet High & Rising; Tommy Boy TB-1019; 1989; cutout E/E S $25
Bob Dorough: Multiplication Rock; Capitol SJA-11174; 1973; sealed cutout $60 (or black/spectral E-/E- S $35, specify) -- kid funk; legendary, most-wanted funky kids' LP (of the scholastic-television variety) by always-hip, jazzbo-singer-composer Dorough, complete w/funky drums/breakbeats; Three is the Magic Number (famously sampled by De La Soul for "The Magic Number"), I Got Six..
Dyke & the Blazers: So Sharp!; Ace/Kent KEND-004; 1983; N/N [S] $20 -- UK-import compilation covering highlights from the 2 LPs & singles (12 cuts every DJ needs); mono & stereo depending on original recordings; top sound, thick vinyl, so sharp!
Charles Earland: The Dynamite Brothers ST; Prestige P-10082; 1973; cutout E+/N- S $60 -- soundtrack/funk/soul-jazz/synth; one of his best, most creative efforts, as well as one of the best funky STs!; titles include Razor, Snake, Kungfusion, Weedhopper
Cleveland Eaton: Instant Hip; Ovation OV-1703; 1976; E/N S $25 -- one of the greatest bass players does some soul jazz (Cleve's Jam) but it's mainly disco & disco-funk, but good & a scarce LP; Funky Funky Music [Sho Nuff Turns Me On], Bo's Blue, Whammy Ommy, Bama Boogie Woogie, Natural Rhythm, The Funky Cello..
William Eaton: Struggle Buggy; TK/Marlin 2211; 1977; sealed cutout S $20 -- w/Ralph MacDonald, Eric Gale, Patti Austin, Barry Rogers, Victor Paz, Tom Scott, Noel Pointer, Jacki Byard..; Struggle Buggy, Friends & Lovers, Just Can't Turn Down, Brand New Lover, Time & Love, Elevator to the Stars, Conjure Woman
The Eliminators: Loving Explosion; Soul Brother SBCS-4; 1999/1972 (REISSUES Brunswick BRC-7-7001; 1974/1972); U.K. import N-/N S $15 -- funk; one-off heavy rarity nicely reissued on thicker vinyl than the $100 original; Give It Up, Rump Bump, Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can), Get Satisfied Pts. 1 & 2, Loose Hips..
Everyday People; Paramount PAS-6021; 1971; E/E+ S $60 (or cutout E-/E+ S $50, specify) (or cutout E-/E- S $30, specify) -- funk/funky rock; heavy Canadian LP!; famous for the cover of the title Sly Stone hit as well as 10 originals (Nova Scotia Home Blues, I Like What I Like, I Get That Feeling, Girls..), which make it highly desirable for content as well as scarcity (hip & great, tho not to be confused w/the other "Everyday People" LP on Red Coach); has all your vital funk ingredients: clean drum breaks, thumping bass, chicken-scratching guitar, even psyche organ!
Funk, Inc.: Hangin' Out; Fantasy/Prestige PRT-10059; 1973/1972; green (2nd pressing) E/N $45 -- funk/soul jazz; one of the unique funk-jazz/jazz-funk David Axelrod-produced powerhouse group's classic best (their 3rd LP); Smokin' at Tiffany's (killer breaks, incl. the samplers' delight, a clean drum intro), Give Me Your Love (terrific guitar-led cover of the Curtis Mayfield classic), We Can be Friends, Dirty Red (hot, hot track!!!), I Can See Clearly Now, I'll Be Around
Funk, Inc.: Superfunk; Ace/Beat Goes Public BGPD-1060 (REISSUES Prestige PRST-10071; 1973); UK/France import N-/N S $25 -- funk; their rarest LP (& when it does turn up, it's never clean) is stone funky!!!; not to be missed!; Message from the Meters, Goodbye So Long, Hill Where the Lord Hides, Honey I Love You, Just Don't Mean a Thing, I'm Going to Love You (Barry White!)
Nikki Giovanni & the New York Community Choir under the direction of Benny Diggs: Truth is On Its Way; Right-On RR-05001; sealed S $30 -- black power rap/gospel/poetry; her first & best LP, fantastic stuff: Ego Tripping (an ultimate BRAG, in the tradition of the Dirty Dozens, also her own favorite piece which she read recently on NPR), Great Pax Whitey, Second Rapp Poem..; not rare but here it's original, unopened, uncut, perfect!
Big Jim "H" & his Men of Rhythm: Hammond Organ Dance Party; Stereo Gold Award MER-344; 1971; U.K. import N-/E+ S $20 -- organ; pop Hammond w/some funky drums here & there; "Blues for the Keyboard" is the best (& reason it's here); great mod dance-scene jacket; My Sweet Lord, La Bamba, House of the Rising Sun, My Way, Ruby Tuesday, Power to the People..
Big Jim "H" & his Men of Rhythm: Dance Party of Hammond Hits; Stereo Gold Award MER-361; 1972; import N/N S $40 (or N-/N S $30, specify) -- organ/"JUNGLE FEVER!"; very rare in the US, it's a Damil USA production under the direction of D.L. Miller (of Alshire fame); pop Hammond w/some funky drums here & there; mostly tunes that were hits in the UK rather than US (Back Off Boogaloo, Son of My Father, Storm in a Teacup, Song Sung Blue..) & you may recognize 1 or 2 of the 3 originals here from other Alshire LPs; but it's essential for & all about JUNGLE FEVER!!!; that's right, one of the only covers of the Chakachas' smash hit (complete w/moans), and what a cover it is!
Chico Hamilton: Chico the Master; Stax/Enterprise ENS-7501; 1973; cutout N-/N S $35 -- conga funk; heavy!; Ghenghis, Stu, Fancy, Conquistadores '74, I Can Hear the Grass Grow, Feels Good..
Isaac Hayes: Truck Turner ST; Stax/Enterprise ENS-2-7507; 1974; 2-LP gatefold; V+/E- S $20 -- funk; 4 sides of Hayes at his best; essential for the killer breakbeat intro to "Breakthrough" (clean drum break); thx to thick vinyl, it plays very well even tho less than pristine; priced to move
Jim Helms: Kung Fu--Music & dialog from the Warner Bros. TV series; Warner Bros. BS-2726; 1973; w/INSERTS!!! N-/N- S $60 -- fu funk/spoken/TV/exotica; w/David Carradine; not "fu funk" per se but essential; all the classic, super-hip dialogue, music, & parables: Caine's Theme, Grasshopper, Dark Angel, A Children's Game, The Search, Sign of the Dragon, On Evil, Power of the Other, The Lotus Pond, One with Nature, The Shaolin Temple..
Monk Higgins: Little Mama; United Artists UA-LA005-F; 1972; E-/E+ S $35 -- funk/soul jazz; w/Joe Sample, Paul Humphrey, Freddy Robinson..; breaks & stone grooves!; Little Mama, Black Fox, Can't Stop..; some water damage on the jacket but it's unobtrusive
Joe Houston: Kicking Back; Big Town BT-1004; 1978; sealed S $40 -- funk/rock; hot rarity sealed & uncut!; the chief funk pick is "Mr. Big 'H'" in pure J.B. style (that's the "back" that's kicking), with its "out" sax on top (Bo Rhambo & Freddy Clark on saxes + 3 others on gtr-bs-drm) but basically a direct lift from James Brown (on a funk-comp too); "Kicking Back Parts 1 & 2" also is great funk, with some trippy guitar; the rest --Hawaiian Disco, T-Bone Disco, Baby What You Want Me to Do, Trippin' In, Why Don't You Rock Me-- are updates of his classic r&b/blues-rock-twist style and would appeal at least to typical Joe Houston fans
Langston Hughes & Margaret Danner: Writers of the Revolution; Motown/Black Forum B-453-L; 1970; cutout N/N shrink S $25 -- spoken
Willie Hutch: Ode to My Lady; Motown M6-838-S1; 1975; cutout E-/N- S $20 -- funk/guitar; w/Dennis Coffey; 5 of 10 cuts are funky & comparable to his other LPs such as Mark of the Beast & the 2 STs; Party Down, Ode to My Lady, Hold On, Love Power, You Gotta Give Love Up..
Dick Hyman (Fantomfingers, Sweet Sweet Soul, Mirrors, Age of Electronicus, etc.) -- see Moog
Jim Ingram: Drumbeat; Stax/Respect TAS-2606; 1974; cutout E/E+ S $30 -- Black Power Rap/conga; the celebrated journalist/author/etc.'s best work, both for the music & his stern-sounding but right-on "telling it like is" speech, which makes it like the great LPs on Black Forum (or Last Poets); nice jacket, liners, production (if only other Stax LPs were this good)
The J.B.'s: Doing it to Death; People PE-5603; 1973; red label E/V+ shrink S $30 -- great value on the original masterpiece; plays well tho w/slight wear/noise in spots
The J.B.'s: Doing it to Death; People PE-5603; 1973; purple-label (late-'70s) N-/N shrink S $75 (specify)
Syl Johnson: Total Explosion; London/HI SHL-32096; 1975; sealed cutout S $30 -- prod. by Willie Mitchell, it's one of his best LPs (the other good ones are super-rare/pricey); covers "Take Me to the River" to great effect
Syl Johnson: Ms. Fine Brown Frame; Boardwalk/Erect NB-33260-1; 1982; N-/N- S $20 -- disco/funk/rap/blues; sure, almost no one was any good in 1982, but...just as a few '80s efforts by James Brown and Joe Bataan are worth having, this one's worthwhile (as almost all Syl Johnson LPs are, if you can get them); the title track is great (he even raps a little) & the rest is wonderful at least for his irrestible singing (& there's even some blues, oddly enough for the time)
Juggy Murray Jones: Rhythm & Blues; Jupiter 1401; 1977; E+/N- S $20 -- disco/funk; legendary producer; Get Yourself Some, Dance Groove, Come On Do It Some More, Get Your Thing Together, People of the World, Just a Little Bit..
Quincy Jones: $ ("Dollar") ST; Warner Bros./Reprise MS-2051; 1972; sealed cutout S $35 -- funk/Moog/sitar; lesser-known funky ST offers funk cut "Money Runner," some Moog & even a little electric sitar; Little Richard, Roberta Flack, and the Don Elliott Voices guest on the vocal tracks (the instrumentals are better)
Jumbo: Turn On to Love; Prelude PRL-12142; 1976 (German); V+/E+ S $15 -- disco; super-rare in the US; saucy jacket; best for Side 2, the 17:18 title track; Side 1: Let's Dance (Dance, Dance, Dance), China-Na, Loco-Loco, Saturday, Sexy Lady
Karns High School Bands: Marching Band/Studio Lab Band/Concert Band/Karns High School Choir; Director DR-8237; N/N- shrink S $15 -- stage/school (mod rather than funky); custom pressing; a rare find for the stage/school collector; dir. by Jack H. Thomas & Milton Nelson; the marching band is also called the "Academic Sinfonians"; Blue World--Phoenix, Stormy, Traces, The Horse, Festivo, Theme for Tomorros (sic), Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In, Waters Ripple & Flow, Three Songs of Parting, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Much Ado About Nothing
Herman Kelly & Life: Percussion Explosion; T.K./Alston 4409; 1978; cutout N-/N- shrink S $50 -- funk/disco/percussion; recorded in Brasil & Miami, it's a classic sample, desired mainly for the "Dance to the Drummer's Beat" drum break but good also for "Who's the Funky D.J.?"; rare, top shape!
Kool & the Gang: The Best of Kool & the Gang; De-Lite DE-2009; 1971; E-/E- S $40 -- funk; fantastic comp of their legendary early hits (Gene Redd's masterpieces); even if you have the rare 1st LP (this & "Kool Jazz" give you all but 1 cut from it), the timings here are different (some longer, some shorter), making it just as essential; priced low for some marks which aren't heard except for a little noise just at the start of the 1st cut (The Penguin)--plays terrificly otherwise; Kool It, Kool & the Gang, Raw Hamburger, Funky Man, Give It Up..
Labelle: Moon Shadow; Warner Bros. BS-2618; 1972; w/insert E-/E S $20 -- Patti & the group's "rare groove" LP; "People Say They're Changing" is funky too, but the LP is famous for the title cover (hip, 9:24 version w/bongo break!)
The [Original] Last Poets: Right On!; Juggernaut JUG ST-8802; 1968; gatefold V+/V+ S $20 -- Black Power rap/Afro-American poetry w/music; prod. Juggy Murray; "an expedition into inner self for the listener--for mature audiences only"; "A Woodstock in Poetry"; "Revolutionary revelation"--Imamu Baraka; terrific record inspired by the film (part soundtrack)
The Last Poets: At Last; Blue Thumb BTS-52; 1973; later pressing cutout E-/E+ S $30 (or later pressing cutout water-damged jacket V+/E+ S $20, specify) -- Black Power rap/Afro-American poetry w/music; as fantastic, intense, and necessary as any & all their great records; unless you're a total square, do not fail to own this masterpiece!
Bobby Lester; Columbia CS-9963; N/N shrink cutout S $25 -- funk; Harvey Brooks, Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis, & Jerome Richardson are on it & it's great; not rare, not expensive, just a solid value; a few very strong cuts for DJs
Enoch Light & the Light Brigade: Brass Menagerie 1973; Project 3 PR-5060QD; gatefold N/N- S/Q-quad (4-channel disc) $30 (or N-/N- S $20, specify) -- Moog/funk/conga/mod/sitar/quad; the only good 1 of 3 Brass Menagerie LPs, it's one of the hippest things on the label (despite the lame title); w/Candido on congas; terrific cover of Hot Pants(!), Explorations for Moog (original Moog by Dick Hyman), Theme from Shaft (w/tabla!), I Feel the Earth Move, Season of the Witch ("psychedelic" w/Vinnie Bell on sitar)..
Enoch Light & the Light Brigade: Permissive Polyphonics; Project 3 PR-5048SD/QD; 1970; gatefold N/N- S/Q-quad (4-channel disc) $30 (or N-/E+ S/Q $25, specify) -- mod/Moog/beats/sitar/quad; "escapism through the turned-on sounds of today"; one of the very best, hippest ones; w/Dick Hyman on Moog & Lowrey organ, Vinnie Bell on sitar, Arnie Lawrence; Puppet Man (terrific mod Moog funk!), Mas Que Nada, Pass & I Call You (more Moog, Lowrey, & breakbeats!), Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay, Marakesh Express, Let it Be..
Jon Lucien: Premonition; Columbia PC-34255; 1976; N-/N- shrink S $30
Duke Lumumba: Jungle Funk; Capitol ST-284; cutout V+/E+ S $60 -- soul-jazz horns/Afro-jazz from Ghana; heavy, funky, hip, rare, obscure, terrific!; Jungle Funk, Money No Play, Afrikaloo, Let Me Have Fun, Akagruge, Mafam, Like It Is, Peace Brother, It's My Time, Kusasi Rain
Sabu Martinez [ homepage ]: Afro Temple; Pure R-101; 1993/1973; limited reissue (1000 copies) of Sonet Grammofon AB SPLCD-2885/527-498-2; deep groove w/red insert as in the original N-/N- S $90 -- Afro-funk/conga
Vaughan Mason & Crew: Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll; Brunswick BL-754221; 1980; V/E S $25 -- disco; made for the disco rollerskating craze (the first one), it's one of those super-rare Brunswick funk-era wonders; music is fairly basic (like Blowfly's) but useful for DJs (long tracks, heavy); Roller Skate, Cravin' Your Body, Thinking About You Baby, We're Gonna Funk You Up, Bounce Rock Skate Roll Parts 1 & 2
Milt Matthews, Inc.: For the People; Catalyst CAS-1111; V+/E+ S $100 -- funky rock rarity w/strong elements of soul/funk, gospel, blues; strong originals --Disaster Area, Can't See Myself Doing You Wrong, Oh Lord, That's What I Feel-- meet extraordinary, well-chosen covers: Runaway People (Dyke & the Blazers!!!), Presence of the Lord (Blind Faith!), The Thrill is Gone, Hard Day's Night
Curtis Mayfield: Back to the World; Buddah/Curtom CRS-8015; 1973; gatefold E/E S $25 -- funk/soul; great!; Future Shock (major hit), Keep on Trippin', Future Song, Can't Say Nothin'..
Curtis Mayfield: Sweet Exorcist; Buddah/Curtom CRS-8601; 1974; gatefold E/E S $25 -- funk/soul; one of his very best; essential for "Ain't Got Time" & "Kung Fu"; title cut & "Power to the People" great too
Curtis Mayfield: Got to Find a Way; Buddah/Curtom CRS-8604; 1974; sealed S $25 -- funk/soul; one of his great ones at a giveaway price for an uncut, unopened, ORIGINAL copy; Ain't No Love Lost (great 1 for DJs that hasn't been overplayed), Mother's Son, Cannot Find a Way, A Prayer, So You Don't Love Me, Love Me (Right in the Pocket)
The Second Rudy Ray Moore Album--This Pussy Belongs to Me; Comedians Inc. COM-S-1105 (reissues Kent KST-002) N/N shrink S $20 -- w/Lady Reed & music by the Fillmore Street Soul Rebellion; features such classics as "Signifying Monkey" & "Hurricane Annie Meets Dolemite"
Rudy Ray Moore Presents the Lady Reed Album--Queen Bee Talks; Kent KST-004; E+/V S $20 -- 1st LP by the great Lady Reed ("The Madam"), funnier than Dolemite himself!; priced low for some wear/marks/pops but not too bad (& jacket's great)
The Rudy Ray Moore Christmas Album; Kent KST-005; N/E- shrink S $30 (or cutout E+/E- S $25, specify) -- nasty party rap; definitely not "family entertainment" for the holidays; "Merry Christmas, Baby" & More.../"The Night Before Christmas" & More...
The Rudy Ray Moore Album--Return of Dolemite, "Superstar"; Kent KST-010; E+/E+ S $40 (or E-/E- S $30, specify) -- "Featuring the Grunts & Groans of Love" & an outrageous jacket; w/Lady Reed & others
Rudy Ray Moore Presents Billie McAllister: What a Big Piece of Meat; Kent KST-011; */N- S $25 -- rare, top shape; *jacket is for I Can't Believe I Ate the Whole Thing (Kent KST-016); a bit Frankensteinish bc of the mismatched parts, but priced accordinaly; both are good & rare!
Rudy Ray Moore as "The Prince": The Sensuous Black Man; Kent KST-013; E-/E- S $40 -- of all the RRM LPs, the hilarious "Sensuous" series (3 LPs) are the very best
The Rudy Ray Moore Souvenir Album: Sweet Peter Jeeter; Kent KST-023; E/N S $60
The Rudy Ray Moore House Party Album: The Dirty Dozens Vol. 1; Cherry Red CR-5101; E-/E S $40 -- San Francisco label that issued other RRM/Kent material contemporaneously and/or just after (not a modern reissue label)
Rudy Ray Moore's Greatest Hits; Mutt & Jeff/Erotic MJ-5021-ER; 1986; 2-LP E/N S $40 -- terrific compilation prod. by Joey Jefferson; 1/2 from rare LPs we've yet to find (& we have most of them); Pimpin' Rock, Signifying Monkey, Dolemite, Definition of Fart, Childless Couples, I'm Not Like Richard Pryor, Shine, Great Titanic, Rotatus, Petey Wheatstraw, Gettin Married
New Haven Women's Liberation Rock Band/Chicago Women's Liberation Rock Band: Mountain Moving Day; Rounder 4001; 1972; E-/E- S $30 -- school-stage band/funky rock/wimmin's issues; yep, it's gals gettin' their liberated groove on AND some more fiercely man-hatin' funky rock (including a cover of Junior Walker's "Shotgun" with both a funky beat AND a shoot-'em-down Lesbian rap); band members --15 shown in photos-- presumably associated w/Yale & perhaps the U of I?; anyway, it's a great period piece (no pun intended) that holds up very well in the age of digging for hip private-press (or nearly so, in this case) obscurities, anomalies, and other delights
Henrik Nielsen: Media Music Release No. 9, Record 6--Contemporary Life Styles; Capitol MEJS-6; E-/N- S $100 -- production/instrumental/electronic; best of the series, a strong fave among all production LPs, & incidentally our first such LP (the reason we got into this stuff in the first place--it's that strong!); 10 concise tracks (about 2 mins. each) but 1/2 are terrific; best is "Uptight" (monster funky drums/break) and "Adventurous" makes the grade as space-funk; for super-rare cuts/sampling/inspiration, nothing beats it
The Now Generation: Sock it to Me!; Alshire/Somerset SF-30800; V/N- S $30 -- mod soul/boogaloo/organ; killer "northern soul" rarity, well worth it just for Little Joe Curtis' 2 vocal mod-soul tracks (dance floor sure bets); fine moments, even breakbeats among the rest too; water-damaged jacket bottom edge
Claus Ogerman (Soul Searchin', Watusi Trumpets, Latin Rock, Saxes Mexicanos) -- see pop
Shuggie Otis: Here Comes Shuggie Otis; Epic BN-26511; REISSUE N/N shrink S $10 -- guitar/funk/blues/breakbeats; his best LP (Inspiration Information is vastly overrated) & most useful for DJs
Hap Palmer: Movin'; Educational Activities, Inc./Activity Records AR-546; 1973; gatefold V+/N- S $25 -- kid funk/funky Moog/sitar; undoubtedly the only decent Hap Palmer LP, known for standouts "Funky Penguin" & "Far East Blues"
Johnny Pate: Shaft in Africa ST; ABC ABCX-793; 1973; cutout N-/N S $50 (or E-/E+ S $40, specify) -- funk/conga; "Headman" & "Truck Stop" are monster exotic-breakbeat wonders, but the whole thing is great, one of the very best funky STs ever (as you'd expect with Johnny Pate); MUCH better than anything else about Shaft
Billy Paul: War of the Gods; CBS/Philadelphia International KZ-32409; 1973; gatefold w/insert cutout E+/N S $20 -- vocal; one of his great ones, a bit more conceptual/spiritual (weird, dramatic jacket art) than Going East but just as hip
Melvin Van Peebles: Don't Play Us Cheap ST; Stax STS-2-3006; 1972; 2-LP gatefold w/booklet; cutout N-/N S $25 -- hard-to-find musical ST w/Rhetta Hughes, Esther Rolle, Joshie Jo Armstead & others; Bad Character Bossa Nova, The Washingtons Thing, The Phoney Game, Know Your Business, Quittin Time, Break That Party..
The Politicians Featuring McKinley Jackson; Buddah/Hot Wax HA-711; 1972; V+/E- S $25 -- funk; great one-off rarity (like a few others on this label & Brunswick) way underpriced mainly for water damage on the bottom of the jacket (image largely intact); Pscha-Soula-Funkadelic, Funky Toes, Free Your Mind, Politicians Theme..
[United States Navy] Port Authority; U.S. Navy 71001; N/N shrink S $150 (or N-/N S $125, specify) (or E-/N- S $100, specify) (or V/V+ S $60, specify) -- funk/soul/jazz/military recruitment; legendary funk obscurity (a couple of other such LPs are great too, including another by Port Authority, but this is THE BEST); everything's here, from over-the-top blue-eyed soul shouting to electric/fuzz guitar, to mod horns (3 trumpets & Mac Wright on trombone), to deep funk (bass, drums, organ), to pure drum solos & other break beats, changes, grooves, etc.; it's like a top production LP!; Get Together, UFO, Sour Grapes, Funkophobia, Mark 1, Hangin', The Letter, [MONSTER JAZZ-FUNK JAM] Port Authority Bus Blues..
The PR TV Band: Colours--Contemporary Orchestral Funk; Gema/Coloursound CS-45; E+/N S $60 -- disco-funk/production (sound library); 10 cuts all with a color & "Funk" or "Funky" in the title; sounds like the Crusaders, late-'70s or early '80s, but good ("Funky Black" & "Funky White" are the best cuts); IMPOSSIBLY RARE
Andre Previn/London Symphony/Simon Preston: Rollerball ST; United Artists UA-LA470-G; 1975; cutout N-/N S $25 -- funk/funky Moog; a great, if sick, '70s movie; what makes the ST essential for DJs are the deep bass, deep funk w/Moog cuts "Executive Party" & "Executive Party Dance"; the 6 other tunes are classical (classic horror theme "Toccata in D Minor" is nice to have)
Lloyd Price: To the Roots & Back; GSF S-1003; 1972; sealed $40 -- soul/funk; heavy vinyl; all original & not your old man's Lloyd Price album, it has a couple of very tasty funk treasures amid other updates of his soul hits which also are mainly funky (reminds us a lot of Clarence Reid LPs); Sing a Song, They Get Down (guitar funk w/drum breaks), I Want You to Know, It Ain't Easy (conga funk w/drum breaks), Electric Lover, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Lady Luck, Stagger Lee, Personality..
Louis Prima w/Sam Butera & the Witnesses: The Prima Generation '72; Brunswick BL-754183; 1972 (national after Prima ST-0072); white-label promo N-/N shrink S $40 -- One of 2 Louis Prima LPs that belong on the funk page (the other just for being on De-Lite); this self-produced, live rarity got picked up by funky Brunswick, where it probably never got past the promo stage; "What You Hear is What You've Got" is the pick--a blistering, psyche-funk guitar instrumental by Ronnie James; other cuts: Sympathy for the Devil, Oh Happy Day, (The New) Sorrento, Lazy River, It's Impossible, Love Story, Cold Cold Heart..
Clarence Reid: Dancin' with Nobody But You Babe; Atlantic/Atco/Alston SD-33-307; 1969; cutout N-/N S $50 -- funk/funky soul/funky-rock; very hip, hit LP by top producer (his work as alter-ego Blowfly does not compare to his straight stuff) contains many of his best, uptempo hits; one of the last great funk LPs that hasn't quite become recognized as a collectors item, but it's scarce enough now & fast headed that way; Send Me Back My Money (a terrific song!!!), Nobody But You Babe (another big hit--original version--redone later on the rare Tayster LP), 25 Miles, Tear You a New Heart, Polk Salad Annie..
Clarence Reid: Running Water; Atlantic/Atco/Alston SD-7027; 1973; TEST PRESSING S $30 -- funk/soul; super-rare test pressing for the also very-hard-to-find original release!; generic solid white jacket (not shown) & label; some audible marks on 1 track ("Ruby," not one of the best anyway), otherwise it's "as new" (top shape); Living Together is Keeping Us Apart, New York City, If It Was Good Enough for Daddy, Real Woman, Please Accept My Call, The Truth, Ruby, Love Who You Can, Please Stay Home, Like Running Water
Leonard Rosenman: Beneath the Planet of the Apes ST; Amos AAS-8001; cutout N/N shrink S $75 -- spoken/conga/psyche/sci-fi; rarer, better, more sinister of the 2 major "Apes" ST LPs; loaded w/treasures for the sampler: tho "March of the Apes" is the lead musical standout, it's also packed with the classic dialogue ("The only good human...is a dead human") that makes this film so cool; hip jacket art & still photos complete the package; the first movie may be the big-budget classic, but this is the great ST!
Rotary Connection; Cadet Concept LPS-312; E+/E+ S $20 -- psyche-soul/funky rock/sitar; w/Minnie Riperton; Soul Man, Ruby Tuesday, Turn Me On, Lady Jane, Like a Rolling Stone
Rotary Connection: Trip 2; Cadet Concept LPS-317; gatefold E+/E+ S $25
Rotary Connection: Dinner Music; Cadet Concept LPS-328; cutout E/E shrink S $25
The New Rotary Connection: Hey, Love; Cadet Concept LPS-50,006; E/N- S $35
Rotary Connection SPECIAL: all 4 LPs, $100 postpaid US, $110 airmailed
Gil Scott-Heron: The Revolution Will Not be Televised; Flying Dutchman BDL1-0613; 1974; gatefold E/E S $25 -- terrific compilation of the best from his 3 first LPs (all top classics); very hip & essential
The Seven Shadows directed by Derrick Vaughan: Seven Shades of Sound; Bosworth BLP-139; 1975; E/E+ S $100 -- production (sound library)/funk/calypso jazz/soul-jazz organ/Latin jazz/mod soul/Moog funk; 14 great tracks on one of the best Bosworths (which is saying a lot); Microwave, Funky Chicken Cube, Live Dangerously, The Watchful Eye, Fonseca Bay..
Ananda Shankar -- see exotic-foreign
The Silhouettes: Conversations with the Silhouettes -- see jazz
Nina Simone: High Priestess of Soul; Philips PHS-600-219; E+/N- S $20
Nina Simone: Silk & Soul; RCA Victor LSP-3837; 1967; deep groove N-/N- S $20 -- The Look of Love, Cherish, Turn Me on, Go to Hell..
The Superdudes: Super Bad!; Pickwick SPC-3354; (jacket: "Soul Makossa Played & Sung by the Ghana Soul Explosion!") E/E- S $20 -- funk/Afro-Beat; fair covers of hit tunes but known/desirable more for the jacket (nude w/guns & dynamite); Soul Makossa, Superfly T.N.T., Are You Man Enough? (from "Shaft in Africa"), Lean on Me, Superstition, Back Stabbers, Family Affair, For Once in My Life, Yester-Me Yester-You
Booker T. & the M.G.'s: Melting Pot; Stax STS-2035 (Canadian Polydor pressing); N/N shrink S $20 -- their #1 funk monster: all original & just about all great for DJs; super deal on a top copy!; Melting Pot, Back Home, Chicken Pox, Fuquawi, Kinda Easy Like, Hi Ride, LA JAzz Song, Sunny Monday
Jean-Claude T.: The Bicentennial Poet; CBS/Philadelphia International PZ-34246; 1976; white-label promo E/N S $60 (or same but w/timing strip E/N- S $45, specify) (or same/timing strip E/E- S $30, specify) -- black-power rap/spiritual soul jazz/sex; prod. by Phil Terry; obscure, promo-only Philly wonder; JCT was the 1st poet to appear at the Playboy Club in Beverly Hills & his style is "Black-power rap" (tho more modern & like Gil Scott-Heron rather than Last Poets), i.e., narrated w/bongos plus more-orchestrated pieces; "Nude & Next to Nature Theme" (w/responding female) is the killer sex groove for DJs, & there's plenty more to be excited about
T.V. & the Tribesmen/Huey P. Meaux: Barefootin'; Hanna-Barbera HLP-8507; 1966; E+/E+ $60 -- mod soul/boogaloo from New Orleans/Texas; vocal (and how); Barefootin', Hip-Shaking, Fat Man, Soul Barefootin' (instr.), Get Soul, Trip City USA, Too Many Dogs for Me, Break it Down to Me..
Taj Mahal: Brothers ST; Warner Bros. BS-3024; 1977/1976; E/N- S $25 -- fairly scarce funky ST; oddly enough it features good use of steel drums; the star cut is "Free the Brothers," over 8 mins. of African-esque chant ("Let us free the Brothers") over conga & Brasilian percussion; Funky Butt, Brothers Doin' Time, Night Rider, Malcolm's Song..
Temptations: Temptin' Temptations; Motown/Gordy 914; 1955; deep groove E-/E S $20 -- great 1st press!
Rufus Thomas: Crown Prince of Dance; Stax STS-3008; 1973; cutout E+/N- S $15 -- Funky Robot, Funky Bird, Funkiest Man Alive, Get Up & Do It
Timmy Thomas: Why Can't We Live Together; T.K./Glades 33-6501; 1972; cutout N/N- shrink S $30 -- funk/soul; highly unusual artist & sound, really minimalist in his use of organ & percussion (sounds like a primordial beatbox); truly unique, original (8 of the 10 cuts), & quite apart from run-of-the-mill funk, a good base for further production; "Funky Me" is the DJ pick (here in stereo) but there's more to it than that
Touch: Energizer; Brunswick BL-754212; 1975; white-label promo N/N S $30 -- disco/funk
The True Reflection: Where I'm Coming From; Atlantic/Atco SD-7031; 1973; TEST PRESSING S $200 -- soul/vocal; super-rare (if not unique) test pressing for the original release!; generic jacket & white label; original typed data sheet gives track titles, timings, & session numbers (look them up on other sites); any standard, stock copy of this title in top shape is a heavy rarity, but this is in all likelihood one of a kind!
Ike & Tina Turner: Too Hot to Hold; Pickwick SPC-3284 (older reissue of So Fine; Atlantic/Pompeii SD-6000; 1968); cutout N/N shrink S $30 -- funk; repackaging (new jacket art/photos, slight change in song order) of their rare & fantastic 1st LP for the label (all terrific; if you haven't heard them, you HAVEN'T heard I&T!!!), w/the Iketts; Too Hot to Hold, Bet'Cha Can't Kiss Me, Shake a Tail Feather, You're So Fine, So Fine, I Better Get Ta Steppin', It Sho Ain't Me, Ain't Nobody's Business..
Ike Turner & the Kings of Rhythm: A Black Man's Soul; Pompeii SD-6003; 1969; black jacket E-/N S/ES $45 (or E-/E S/ES $35, specify) -- funk; the instrumental seminal funk LP by Turner, nominated for a Grammy & known to beatheads as essential/classic; heavy, great breakbeats; Thinking Black, Black Beauty, Ghetto Funk, Blacks' Alley, Black Angel, Getting Nasty, Funky Mule, Philly Dog, Scotty Souling, Up Hard, Nuttin' Up, Freedom Sound
Ike & Tina Turner: Get it Together!; Atlantic/Pompeii SD-6006; cutout E/N S $30 -- funk; compilation; if you haven't heard their rare, dynamite, heavy-funk & hard-soul, Pompeii LPs, you HAVEN'T heard I&T!!!; Funky Mule(!!!), Too Hot to Hold, I'm Fed Up, Bet'Cha Can't Kiss Me, Cussin' Cryin' & Carryin' On, Make 'Em Wait..
The Undisputed Truth; Gordy G-955F; 1971; flexi E/E+ S $25 -- funk/funky rock; 1st/rarest by Norman Whitfield's terrific group (consistently one of the heaviest & hippest acts ever on the Motown family); California Soul, Ball of Confusion, Aquarius, Smiling Faces Sometimes, Ain't No Sunshine, Heard it Through the Grapevine, Like a Rolling Stone..
The Upsetters featuring Jimmy Wess: We Remember Otis; ABC ABCS-651; 1969; cutout N-/N S $60 (or promo E/N S $50, specify) -- soul/funk; terrific Baltimore-area obscurity; Wess sings Otis hits really well (& excitingly), & we love the completely soulified version of Don't Be Cruel(!), but the even better attraction may be the "Memphis sound": instrumentals (esp. Grab This Thing) done solidly in the Booker T. vein
Joey D. Vieira/David Crigger: Drum Drops Vol. 3; Music Tree DD-7780; 1979; E/N- S $40 -- drums/production; "The Professional Album" & really great!; Intro, Straight Disco, Salsa Disco, Rhythm & Blues, 5/4 Rock, 7/8 Funk, Jazz Fusion II, Afro Cuban, Jazz Funk, 1/2 Time Rock, R&B Ballad
Joey D. Vieira/David Crigger: Drum Drops Vol. 4; Music Tree DD-7780; 1979; N/N S $30 -- drums/production; "The Light Rock Album" it says but includes "Funk Ballad," "Latin Ballad," etc.
Junior Walker & the All Stars: Moody Junior; Soul S-733-L; 1971; V+/E+ S $20 -- prod. by Johnny Bristol; known for Groove Thang & Moody Junior (both funky, good for DJs, makes this his most wanted LP); several good ballads, at least, among the rest of it
War: Live; United Artists UA-LA193-J2; 1973; 2-LP gatefold N-/N- S $20 -- Cisco Kid, All Day Music & others; side-long treatments of Slippin' Into Darkness & Get Down
The Watts Prophets: Rappin' Black in a White World; ALA 1971; 1971; E/E- S $60 -- Black-Power Rap (Last Poets style); the best of the few efforts that even dared to emulate the great Last Poets succeeds at it marvelously; with this, the Last Poets LPs, and a few others you can spin rap day and night without ever moving beyond 1973 or so; great jacket, too; CRAZY HIP!!!
War w/Bobby Womack: The Other Side of War Warms Your Heart; Souffle SO-2017; 2-LP gatefold E+/N- S $40 (or E/E+ S $30, specify) -- funky soul instrumental (light, sunny mood); rare 25-cut back story to the phenomenonal LA artists who made up top funk groups War, Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band, Soul Runners, etc.; Womack's able backing includes Latin percussion; A Cup of Soul, On Fire, Afro-Cuban Opus No. 1, Ripe Bananas, Time is Tight, California Spring..
Clarence Wheeler & the Enforcers: The Love I've Been Looking For; Atlantic SD-1585; 1971; cutout N-/E+ S $35 -- funk/soul jazz; their best (& hardest to find/most wanted, for good reason) LP is ALL GREAT (no dogs) but "Broasted or Fried" is the stone killer; w/Eric Gale; Mighty Burner (Earland!), Heebie Jeebie Dance, Hey Western Union Man..
Wild Tchoupitoulas; Antilles AN-7052; 1976; [later pressing] cutout N/N shrink S $20 -- New Orleans; REALLY THE METERS, it's a funky classic in the style of Wild Magnolias, most famous for "Brother John," one of the standards of New Orleans Meters-y funk; not a recent reissue, top sound/quality, great price
Tommy Wills: [Soulful Moods of] Man with a Horn; Airtown/Terry-Gregory TG-1005; cutout E/N S $20 -- mod/camp pop-soul-jazz sax man, famous for the mod-funk single "Funky Sax" (which is not nearly as rare as the LP); Mercy Mercy Mercy, Girl from Ipanema, Harlem Nocturne, Soul Yackety Sax, Back at the Chicken Shack, Shadow of Your Smile..
Charles Wright: Rhythm & Poetry; Warner Bros. BS-2620; 1972; cutout N/E S $30 (or cutout E-/E- S $20, specify) -- funk; ex-Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band leader, out on his own but strong as ever; the funky hits for DJs are Soul Train (his tribute to the show) & Run Jody Run
Charles Wright: Doing What Comes Naturally; ABC/Dunhill DSD-50162; 1973; 2-LP gatefold w/lyrics insert N-/E+ S $30 -- funk; deluxe, essential stuff by ex-Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band leader
Charles Wright: Ninety Day Cycle People; ABC/Dunhill; 1974; E-/N S $40 -- funk; one of the ex-Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band leader's least-known & latest but best LPs; at least 3 tunes are terrific for DJs but the hands-down, funky essential is "Gimme That Sandwich!"; jacket has slight water damage (priced lower for that)
Malcolm X Speaks Again; Grand LP-100 Vol. 1; 1966; N/E shrink $30 -- spoken/politics; "Exclusive! The only professionally recorded studio works made with Malcolm X....while he lived"; it is one of the scarcest & most interesting of his records; sound can be a bit muddy but it's always understandable & engaging; great photos & liners too; Violence & Non Violence, Human Rights & Civil Rights, Birmingham Sunday School Bombing, The Ballet or the Bullet, Black Nationalism
Various: Cooley High ST; Motown M7-840R2; 1976; 2-LP gatefold E+/N S $20 -- soul/funk; hip movie & loosely a "blaxploitation" ST but good & a double!; widely desired for the original cuts (known samples) but it's also one of the absolute best Motown comps (a near-perfect one-stop shop for all the best cuts from the beginning)
Various: Mardi Gras in New Orleans; Mardi Gras MG-1001; 1976; reissue (old one) N/N S $25 -- New Orleans/funk; comp; classic, essential for THE baddest funk by Bo Dollis & the Wild Magnolias (studio version of Handa Wanda, Parts 1 & 2 plus 2 others); other artists are Professor Longhair, Stop Inc., The Hawketts, Earl King, Al Johnson; first-rate psychedelic jacket art & notes too!
Various: Music for Dancefloors--The Cream of the KPM Green-Label Sessions; Strut LP-005; 2000; 2-LP N-/N- S $30 -- production/funk/disco/soul jazz/instrumental; great compilation of funky '60s-'70s stuff (ideal for anyone just getting started with KPM and other production music); some seriously fantastic rare tracks, 18 in all, plus another 6 "breaks" (about a minute each); liners are on heavy-duty inner sleeves
Various: Rare Funk Vol. 1; Cobalt COBLP-1004 (UK); E/E S $30 -- funk/bossa/disco/funky rock; "promotional" comp, 10 tracks; Public Enemy, Disco Dub Band, Esquires (terrific version of JB's "Think"), Jackie Mittoo, Blue Mitchell, Som Tres, Mantronix, Sivuka, Love Unlimited Orch., Meters
Various: Rare Funk Vol. 4--Soundtrack Edition; Cobalt COBLP-1007 (UK); N-/N- S $40 -- "promotional" comp, 14 tracks (not all from funky STs); well worth it for such rarities as the JB's "Blind Man"
Various: Sing a Song of Soul; [U.K.] Chess CRL-4519; 1966 distributed by Pye; E+/E+ S $35 -- rare UK compilation of 13 classic songs in nice clean sound, plus a groovy jacket of 3 soul beauties; Little Milton/We're Gonna Make It, Fontella Bass/Soul of the Man, Maurice & the Radiants/Voice Your Choice, Jackie Ross/Take Me for a Little While, Johnny Nash/Love Ain't Nothin', Fontella Bass & Bobby McClure/Don't Mess Up a Good Thing, KoKo Taylor/Wang Dang Doodle, Mitty Collier/I Had a Talk with My Man, Bobby Moore/Searchin' for My Love, The Knight Bros./Temptation 'Bout to Get Me, James Phelps/Love is a 5 Letter Word, Etta James/Only Time Will Tell, Billy Stewart/I Do Love You
See Also:
jazz for funky soul jazz (jazz funk)
Latin for Latin soul, -funk, -disco
Wanted LPs (reissues ok):
- 9th Street Exit: Be Happy; Solid Foundation E-55101; 1974
- Blowfly: Funk You!; Weird World WW-2037?; 1982
- Edja Kungali: African Rhythm-n-Ology; 1972
- Rudy Ray Moore/Dolemite:
- Rudy Ray Moore: The Beatnik Scene; Kent 3006
- Lady Reed: Shades of Moms Mabley; Kent KST-017
- Rudy Ray Moore: Filmed Live in Concert; Kent KST-018
- Rudy Ray Moore's Greatest Party Hits Vol. 1; Kent KST-019
- Rudy Ray Moore Does Jokes & Satire Made Famous by Redd Foxx; Kent KST-024
- [unknown title]; Kent KST-025
- Rudy Ray Moore: Close Encounter of the Sex Kind; Kent-026
- (any later Kent LPs & possibly others)
- Ray Stephen Oche: Interpretation of the Original Rhythm
- Carl LaRue & his Crew: Swinging in Canada; KKC
Funk 45s
Please note: shipping/handling for 45s is gratis!
The Word: Of the thousands of great funk 45s (and related mod soul/boogaloo, sweet soul, disco, funky gospel, funky blues), few are easy to find. Here is quite a selection, perfect for starting a collection.
Abaco Dream: Life & Death in G&A/Cat Woman; A&M 1081; N- S? $40 -- funky rock/Moog funk
ADC Band: Long Stroke/That's Life; Atlantic/Cotillion 44243; 1978; N S $20 -- late funk/proto-rap in the P-funk vein, good!
Gary Atkinson: Wanderin' Soul/KB-2; Corillions 110; 1981 N S $150 -- country-funk; only 100 ever pressed & this is the end of them; the most-wanted record (1 of only 2 that are soul/funk) made by outsider-musician Marlin Wallace; hip country (not to mention Satan-mentioning) & funky A-side w/great bass & drums!; it's a pet project of Jello Biafra's that spun, er, into control; get it & the other one (see "Maurice Rock" below) while you can
Banzaii: Chinese Kung Fu/Chinese Kung Fu (Disco Version); Scepter SCE-12407; 1975; N- S $15 -- kung fu funk/disco; a cash-in on the popularity of "Kung Fu Fighting" but w/cheesy synthesizer instead of pathetic lyrics; plenty of chop and grunt sounds, tho!; nice break on the A-side
Barbara & the Uniques: There It Goes Again/What's the Use; Arden 3001; E $20 -- soul; prod. New Chicago Sounds
The Barrons: I'm So Lonely/Some Kind of Fool; Alithia 6049; 1973 (prod. Dollars & Cents); promo N S $25 -- soul/funk; NJ sweet-soul/vocal group; B-side is a little heavier funk, like Dynamics
The Blackbyrds: Do It, Fluid/Summer Love; Fantasy 729; N $10 -- A-side a stone killer, classic party groove ("I like to party...") every DJ needs; the B-side is yet another smash hit that's perfect for summer
Booker T. & the MGs: Chinese Checkers/Plum-Nellie; Atlantic/Stax 137; white label! N- $15 -- pair of first-rate yet lesser-known instrumentals by the masters; B-side especially fierce w/near-fuzz guitar
The Boys in the Band: [How Bout a Little Hand for] The Boys in the Band/Sumpin Heavy; Spring SPR-103; V+ $15 -- funk; B-side a nice, unusual chunky instrumental in the MGs/Soul Runners vein
Brenda & the Tabulations: Why Didn't I Think of That/A Love You Can Depend On; J/G/Top & Bottom 411; white-label promo N $15 -- Philly soul
Tina Britt: Who Was That/I Found a New Love; UA/Veep V-1280; N- $20 -- prod. Juggy Murray!; great soul singer backed w/the Atlantic/Muscle Shoals sound; A-side a funky blues, B-side a soul ballad
James Brown Productions & Related
Vicki Anderson: I'll Work It Out/Answer to Mother Popcorn (I Got a Mother for You); King SK-6251; 1969; black/orange stereo E+ S $60 -- funk; legendary cut, looks clean but w/a little noise, as all copies seem to have (even the LP comp JB made)
Hank Ballard: Finger Poppin' Time/With Your Sweet Lovin' Self; People PE-606; 1972; purple label! V+ $40 -- super-rare original release!; ultra-funky A-side found only on a later Polydor 45 (also rare); B-side also on super-rare LP 1052 (unreissued)
James Brown & the Famous Flames: Night Train/Why Does Everything Happen To Me; King 5614; 1962 (rec. 1961 & 1957); N $15
James Brown: Out of Sight/Maybe the Last Time; Smash S-1919; 1964; N- $15 -- vocal; his huge hit for this label, not King! (the original LP was withdrawn within days bc of a new version of "I Got You")
James Brown & the Famous Flames: Papa's Got a Brand New Bag Parts 1 & 2; King 5999; 1965; E $15 -- never hurts to have the original funk song on 45, esp. for the lesser-heard but jazzy Part 2
James Brown & the Famous Flames: The Christmas Song Versions 1 & 2; King 6064; 1966 (ballad); N $15
James Brown: I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)/There Was a Time; King 45-6144; 1967; yellow-label promo N- $20 -- awesome!
James Brown: Tit for Tat (Ain't No Taking Back)/Believers Shall Enjoy (Non-Believers Shall Suffer); King 6204; 1968; N- $15
James Brown: Funky Drummer Parts 1 & 2; King 6209; 1970/1969; orange/black E- S $20 -- one of his most-wanted singles, for good reason!
James Brown Plays & Directs: Soul Pride Parts 1 & 2; King 6222; 1969; yellow-label promo E S $25 -- terrific instrumental, scarce single; has the "A James Brown Production--The Sound of Success" logo
James Brown: Let a Man Come in & Do the Popcorn Part 1/Sometime; King 6245; 1970; black/orange N- S $20 -- funk; the A-side is a killer
James Brown: Let a Man Come in & Do the Popcorn Part 2/Gittin' a Little Hipper Part 2; King 6275; 1970; black/orange E S $15 -- desirable especially for the instrumental soul-jazz B-side, which is all but the first 30 secs of the tune from "Nothing But Soul" (an LP few will own)
James Brown: Stone to the Bone Parts 1 & 2; Polydor PD-14210; 1973; E S $10
James Brown: Living in America/Vince Dicola: Farewell; CBS/Scotti Bros.; 1985; picture sleeve E/N S $10 -- from Rocky IV; catchy tune & sleeve image
James Brown w/Bobby Byrd: Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved Parts 1 & 2; King 6347; 1970; N- $25
Bobby Byrd: If You Don't Work You Can't Eat/same; King 6342; 1970; white-label promo w/Byrd's photo N $30 -- funk; monster track; faint pen mark 1 side only
Bobby Byrd: If You Don't Work You Can't Eat/You've Got to Change Your Mind; King 6342; 1970; N- $25 -- funk; monster A-side; B side w/JB
Bobby Byrd: I Know You Got Soul/It's Not I Who Love You (Not Him Anymore); King 6378; 1971; N $50 -- masterpiece!; perfection in King sleeve w/jukebox label
Lyn Collins: Me & My Baby Got a Good Thing Going/I'll Never Let You Break My Heart Again; Polydor 2066.273 (import version of People PE-615; 1972) picture sleeve E/N- S $20 -- A-side listed as "Me & My Baby Got Our Own Thing Going"; get it for the sleeve!
Lyn Collins: Wide Awake in a Dream/same; People PE-641; 1974; white-label promo N- S $20
Lyn Collins & the Famous Flames: Baby Don't Do It/mono; People PE-657; 1975; white-label promo N- S/M $20
Maceo & the Macks: Cross the Track (We Better Go Back)/The Soul of a Black Man; People PE-647; 1974; E S $20 -- funk; tremendous party funk A-side, hip/deep J.B. spoken B-side; pops on the fadeout (last second or two), otherwise immaculate & one of the best values in this section
Fred Wesley & the J.B.s: Rockin' Funky Watergate Part 1/Rockin' Funky Watergate Parts 1 & 2; People PE-643; 1974; E+ S $20 -- "live"; full-length B-side!
Marva Whitney: You Got to Have a Job (If You Don't Work-You Can't Eat)/I'm Tired, I'm Tired, I'm Tired (Things Better Change Before It's Too Late); King 6218; blue N $40 -- killer live A-side w/JB & the B-side is one of her strongest too
Burnett Bynum & the Invaders: Disco Fever/Black Foot; Cargo C-22377; 1977; V S $15 -- rare Phila. instrumental, jazzy, disco-funk; excellent but marks/noise
Tony Camillo's Bazuka: Dynomite Parts 1 & 2; A&M 1666; 1975; N- S $15 -- disco; a classic people still enjoy, thx to super-funky bass & horns (up there w/KC at his best), spacey Moog riffs, and heavy repetition by the chorus of "Dy-no-mite"; definitely fits into any "fu funk" set
The Capitols: Soul Brother, Soul Sister/Ain't That Terrible; Atlantic/Atco/Karen 1543; E- $20 -- funk/boogaloo; in trying to recapture the glory of "Cool Jerk" the group did score w/a few hip ones; both sides great!
The Capreez: Soulsation/Time; Sound SI-171; E+ $25 -- soul, blue-eyed?; we suspect this Detroit group is actually a rock group trying their hand at soul; no doubt rare
Carleen & the Groovers: Can We Rap/Right On; Jazzman JM-009; REISSUE N $10 -- funk (heavy)
Alvin Cash & the Crawlers: Twine Time/The Bump; Mar-V-Lus 6002; (c)1963; 2nd E $15
The Chevelles: The Gallop/Gloria Walker: Talking About My Baby; Flaming Arrow 45-FA-35; V+ $15 -- thanks to a recent reissue, people now know about the Chevelles funk LP (anything by them is rare), but this earlier "bongo funk" single, instrumental southern funk/Afro-Beat, is far better; Gloria Walker's is a narrated blues; presumably the Chevelles back her, as she was part of the group
The Chicago Cubs: Pennant Fever/Chicago Cubs Clark St. Band: Slide; Chess 2075; cutout N $20 -- mod soul/organ; A-side vocal's sporty & to the tune of "Fever" but it's the funky, funky B-side you need!
The Continental Four: Escape from Planet Earth/Take a Little Time (to Know Me); Jay-Walking JW-017; 1972; N $25 -- space-funk/soul; acclaimed soul group blasts off into deep space with awesome space-funk head-scratcher, "Escape from Planet Earth," an anthemic call to start a new [funky] generation, w/hip "soul" countdown, funky bassline, & Isley-esque phased guitars--FANTASTIC (like Undisputed Truth's "UFOs" only better)
Les Cooper & the Soul Rockers: Wiggle Wobble/Dig Yourself; Everlast 5019; N $10 -- soul rock
Les Cooper & the Soul Rockers: Let's do the Boston Monkey/Owee Baby; Enjoy 2024; V+ $20 -- mod soul/mod soul-rock; 2 great sides kick off a new funkier sound; wear but plays well
Ruth Copeland & New Play: A Gift of Me/The Music Box; Invictus IS-9072; S? E- $15 -- funky rock; from the Self-Portrait set; clean except scratch on Side 2 yields some brief background pops
General Crook: Gimme Some Parts 1 & 2; Down to Earth 73; N $30 -- funk; prod. Walter & Burgess Gardner; his best!; terrific stuff, unplayed store stock from Chicago (where the General commands) at a special low price (while we have a few available)
General Crook: What I'm Getting Now & What I'm Used to, Ain't the Same/Get Over; Down to Earth 75; N- $50 -- psyche funk (fuzz guitar)/funk-rock; prod. Walter & Burgess Gardner; B-side rare, heavy, hard, with fuzz-guitar sound (A-side soul)
General Crook: What Time It Is Parts 1 & 2; Down to Earth 77; E- V+ $20 -- psyche funk (fuzz guitar)/funky rock; prod. Walter & Burgess Gardner; hard 'n heavy Chitown funk, w/fuzz guitar
General Crook: Fever in the Funkhouse/instrumental; Scepter/Wand WND-11276; 1974; E- S $20 -- psyche funk (fuzz guitar)/funky rock; hard 'n heavy Chitown funk w/fuzz guitar
Cathy Davis: Come Back Parts 1 & 2; Twelve O'Clock 1001; N- $15 -- funky Florida soul w/strings; probably the first on the label
Betty Davis: Steppin in her I.Miller Shoes/If I'm Lucky I Might Get Picked Up; Just Sunshine JSA-503; N S $20 -- funk
De La Soul: The Magic Number/Buddy; Tommy Boy/Big Life BLR-14; 1989; UK picture sleeve E+ S $20 -- rap; A-side samples the classic Bob Dorough "Three is the Magic Number" from Multiplication Rock; B-side features Jungle Brothers, Monie Love, Queen Latifah, Q-Tip
The Delights Orchestra: King of the Horse/Do Your Thing; Atlantic/Atco 6641; N $50 -- mod funk/drums; serious horn funk & killer breakbeats on the B-side!
Bo Diddley: Bo-Jam/Husband-in-Law; Chess CH-2134; 1972; E+ S $10 -- funk; A-side a heavy cut from one of his scarce funk LPs; priced low for a gentle warp but tracks fine
Doris Duke: Feet Start Walking/How I to Know You Cared; Canyon 35; N- $15
Dyke & the Blazers: You Are My Sunshine/City Dump; Original Sound OS-90; 1970; N- $15 -- funk; no way a cover of "You Are My Sunshine" could be terrific? Wayyyy!
Dynamic Corvettes: Key to My Happiness Parts 1 & 2; Abet 9461; 1975; N $25
Yvonne Fair: Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On/Let Your Hair Down; Motown M-1306-F; 1974/1971-1973; E+ $20 -- funk; after several singles as a James Brown diva, she's now emulating funk queen Betty Davis!; B-side live; both sides great!; w/Funk Brothers Earl Van Dyke, Dennis
Coffey..
The Family: Family Affair/Nation Time; North Bay NB-302; N $25 (or N- $20, specify) -- funk/guitar; North Bay's "The Family" is Sly & the Family Stone; prod. by Broadway Eddie--"A MIGHTY PRODUCTION"; instrumental guitar funk; A-side by Sly & the Family Stone, B-side Gamble & Huff
The Family: Do the Robot Parts 1 & 2; North Bay NB-304; N $25 -- funk/guitar; North Bay's "The Family" is Sly & the Family Stone; prod. by Joe Jefferson & Stan Watson; instrumental guitar funk with baritone "Do the Robot" interjections on Pt 1
The Fatback Band: Soul March/To Be With You; Perception PS-520; 1973; E S $15 -- funk/soul; the moving, guitar-led instrumental A-side is where it's at for us, although the sweet-soul ballad B ain't bad, if that's your cup of meat; from their great rare LP that's VERY tough to get clean (here the funkier A-side is fine but the B pops a little)
Lee Fields: Let's Talk it Over/She's a Love Maker; London 190; 1973; E- $50 -- funk like JB; label sides reversed; tape, writing on label; pops at start of "Love Maker" heard in brief drum intro (not essential to start there)
Lee Fields: Meet Me Tonight/A Man Gotta Do What a Man Gotta Do; BDA 1141991; 1991; N S? $15 -- not quite up to his usual standards but it's LEE FIELDS!
Bobby Freeman: Four Piece Nitty Gritty Junky Band/Susie Sunshine; Double Shot 144; 1970; E $15 -- funk
Fessor Funk: Take Me to the River/mono; Roxbury RB-2007; 1975; white-label promo N- [S] $30 -- funk; from LA, a great interpretation of the Al Green hit
Lionel Hampton & his New York Jazz All-Stars: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes/Matilda; Glad-Hamp GH-3001; 1979; promo N $15 -- vibes/disco jazz/calypso jazz; B-side "discolypso"; co-prod. Chico O'Farrill; funky percussion elements as w/most of the great Glad-Hamp singles
Hidden Strength: I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger/mono; United Artists UA-XW847-Y; 1976; promo E [S] $15 -- disco/funk; from after their 1975 LP, probably promo-only/rare & quite possibly the last thing they ever did
Highway QC's: Be at Rest [I'll Fly Away]/same; Peacock P-3200; 1973; white-label promo N S $15 -- funk, late/proto-disco by a funky gospel group; very hard to find & GREAT!
Jimmy "Bo" Horne: Dance Across the Floor/It's Your Sweet Love; Sunshine Sound 1003; 1978; N S $15 -- disco classic
[Michael Viner's] Incredible Bongo Band: Bongolia/Bongo Rock; Pride PR-1015; E+ w/"Joe" on label $15 -- bongo rock; incredibly loud, spacious sound; from "The Thing with Two Heads"
Incredible Bongo Band: Dueling Bongos/Let There be Drums; MGM K-14635; 1973; N $20 -- bongo rock; incredibly loud, spacious sound; original MGM sleeve
Incredible Bongo Band: Kiburi/mono; Atlantic/Pride PD-7601; 1974; E- S $20 -- funk vocal from "Return of the Incredible Bongo Band" (which is Afro-funky rather than bongo-rock)
The Interpretations: Soul Affection/Snap Out; Bell 757 (B side instrumental version of A); E+ $15
J.B. Pickers: Super Soul Theme/Kim & Dave: Nobody Knows; Amos AJB-157; N $30 -- funk instrumental A-side brief but w/legendary drum/breakbeat; both from rare "Vanishing Point" ST (Super Soul is the groovy DJ in the '70s cult film)
Ernest Jackson: Love & Happiness/Hogwash; Stone 200; 1973; E $10 -- the classic cut
Jarvis Jackson: Something I Never Had/The Long John; Sims 291; E $25 -- funk/boogaloo; for the B-side only, which is a terrific, dance-floor packing mover
Melvin Jackson: Funky Skull Parts 1 & 2; Limelight L-3089; white-label promo V+ $15 -- funk/soul-jazz bass; wild stuff, best cut from a rare LP, some wear but plays well, great sound (great for DJs)
JOMO: Uhuru (African Twist)/Hangin' Out; Checker 1192; cutout E- $20 -- Afro-mod-soul-rock; both sides by Andre Williams (probably JOMO is Andre Williams)
Quincy Jones: Money Runner/Passin' the Buck; Warner Bros./Reprise REP-1072; E- $15 -- funk; instrumentals from the great Dollar ("$") ST (Money Runner is the big one)
Juggy Murray [Jones]: Buttered Popcorn/Thock it to Me Honi; Sue 14; E $20 -- funk
Juggy Murray Jones: Inside America Parts 1 & 2; Jupiter JUP-901; 1976; N- S $20 -- disco/funk; his classic from the period
Herman Kelly & Life: Dance to the Drummer's Beat/Easy Going; T.K./Alston 4409; 1978; N- S $20 -- funk/disco/percussion; recorded in Brasil & Miami (as the Percussion Explosion set), it's a classic sample ("Dance to the Drummer's Beat" has a famous drum break at least on the LP) & not a bad 45, especially clean
Freddy King: The Boosa Nova Watusi Twist/Look Ma, I'm Cryin'; Federal 12482; N- $15 -- uptempo funky blues guitar instrumental/vocal blues
Johnny Kirk & Lilly Thomas: (HUMMmm) A Love Like Ours/Bitter with the Sweet; Cotique 3001; E- $100 -- soul, dance/crossover of the so-called "northern soul" flavor (B-side is the pick); oddly, it's on Cotique, the great Latin-soul label; rare & still unknown to most, so here's a chance for someone to get ahead of the pack [for a change]
Patti LaBelle & the Blue Bells: Down the Aisle/C'est La Vie (So Goes Life); King 45-5777; N $15 -- her only King single; perfect shape!
Laura Lee: Mama's Got a Good Thing/Love More than Pride; Chess 2068; cutout N $20
The Lords of Percussion (Mort Garson): The Kung-Fu/Geisha Girl; Old Town OT-105; 1974; N- $40 -- Fu-funk & great!; heavy beats, groove, guitar, & "fu"; exotic B-side has a lot going for it too; Garson is the occult-Moog sound genius & this single packs in a lot of ideas
Lunar Funk: Mr. Penguin Parts 1 & 2; Bell 172; 1972; N $20 -- great hip vocal w/breaks
Cash McCall: Stoop Down/instrumental; Jewel/Ronn 76; 1974; N- $15 -- white-label promo
Gwen McCrae: Rockin' Chair/It Keeps on Raining; Cat 1996; 1975; N- S $15
The Meters: A Message from the Meters/Zony Mash; Josie 1024; "Josie" on left N- $20 -- New Orleans funk; killer sides not on LP!; A-side covered by Prestige stars Funk, Inc. & Leon Spencer, Jr.; everyone needs this terrific original single; again, it's NOT on the LPs
The Meters: Doodle-Oop (The World is a Bit Under the Weather)/same; Josie 1029; white-label promo N- $20 -- funky rock/New Orleans funk; marker on the label
Mickey & the Soul Generation: Football/Joint Session; Maxwell L-806; w/original Maxwell inner sleeve N $75 -- rare Texas funk that's all the rage lately & deservedly so
Bobby Moore & the Rhythm Aces: Hey Mr. D.J./Searching for My Love; Chess/Checker 1129; V $15 -- mod soul; TERRIFIC cut, great sound; disc looks like death (original pressing) but plays remarkably well; very little noise just at the start, where they first call out "Hey Mr. D.J.!"
Olympic Runners: Do It Over/mono; London 45-202-DJ; 1974; N- [S] $15 -- funk; promo
Olympic Runners: Grab It/Let Your Fingers Do the Talking; London 5N-216; 1974; N S $20 -- funk; 2 top cuts, stereo
Opus VII: People/People-disco; Gramophone GRA-45702; 1976; V+ $10 -- disco-funk/funky disco; B-side's shot, but the A-side's hipper anyway; great breakbeat-ish intro, then hip funk & voice
Panic Buttons: O-Wow/same; Gamble G-230; white-label promo V+ $25 -- funk instrumental from Virtue Studios; killer breaks, uptempo, horns, everything; the stock version has the throwaway "Lisa" as the B-side, so this is all you need; there's a chip out of the outer edge & other wear but 1 side plays fine
Brenda Patterson: Keep On Keepin' On/West Window Song; Epic 5-10599; 1970; white-label promo N $20 -- funky rock; promotes scarce LP featuring Redbone; heavy blues & Arkansan funky-gospel influences; think of Cold Blood's great Lydia Pense (although maybe even louder & stronger) & you about have it; prod. Larry Cohn; A-side rocks!
The People's Choice: I Likes to Do It/Big Ladies Man; Phil-L.A. of Soul 349; E- $18 -- classic Philly funk; heavy bass!
The People's Choice: The Wootie-Te-Woo/'Cause That's the Way I Know; Phil-L.A. of Soul 352; E S $15 -- funk; both sides fantastic, stone classics
The People's Choice: Let Me Do My Thing/On a Cloudy Day; Phil-L.A. of Soul 358; 1972; 2ndary pressing N $20 -- funk; scarcer than the earlier ones; see why the group was hot in the pre-disco years
The Persuaders: Thin Line Between Love & Hate/Thigh Spy; Atlantic/Atco 6822 E $15
Joe Quarterman & Free Soul: Thanks Dad Parts 1 & 2; GSF 6911; 1973; N S $30 (or N- S $25, specify) -- funk; prod. by Lloyd Price (who was doing his own funky things on the label) & Quarterman; from the year after their collectors-item LP, so if you have the LP, you know you're in for a treat here: nearly 8 mins. of top funk
Clarence Reid (a.k.a. Blowfly): A Real Woman/same; Alston A-4608; 1972; white-label promo N- $10
Clarence Reid: Along Came a Woman/Something Special About My Baby; Tayster N $25 -- soul/funk; rare
Maurice Rock & Clyddie Brown: Give Me Your Love/Knock on the Door; Corillions 15; 1981 N S $75 -- country soul; only 100 pressed & very few left; the OTHER great, hip record by outsider-musician/genius Marlin Wallace; highlighted by excellent guitar, a great male/female soul duet; dug camp or straight, it's already a rare-groove essential for soulies who've heard it all & CATCHING UP FAST TO THE GARY ATKINSON RECORD in popularity
D.J. Rogers: March On/mono; Shelter P-7326; 1972; N $20 -- funk vocal; lead cut from a great rare LP (that's funk/gospel funk); sounds totally like Sly & the Family Stone, w/elements of rock & gospel; rare & worthy!
Lee Rogers: Go-Go-Girl/I'm a Practical Guy; D-Town 1067 E $20 -- mod soul/boogaloo; great one! (both sides)
Timmie Rogers: Super Soul Brother/It Rolls Through Everything; Chess/Cadet CA-5685; V $15 -- A-side a hilarious rap over r&b/party funk; substantial marks & noise keep it low but still well worth it
Oliver Sain: Scratch My Back/Soul Serenade; Nashboro/Abet 9447; 1972 E $15 -- from the collectors item" Main Man" LP!
Oliver Sain: London Express/Blowing for Love; Nashboro/Abet 9460; 1975 N $15
Samson & Delilah The BOSS Six: Living in a World of Trouble/Don't Leave Me Here; King James KJ-401; 1974; V S $15 -- funk; heavy (uptempo vocal mover), local (Upper Darby, PA) rarity priced way too low for wear/noise (not so terrible but sub-broadcast quality); B-side nice female-led soul ballad
Harvey Scales & the 7 Sounds: Get Down/Love-Itis; Atlantic/Magic Touch 2007; V+ $40 -- funk
George Semper Rhythm Committee: It's Your Thing/Don't Be Afraid; Rama Rama RR-7799; 1970; w/original Rama Rama inner sleeve N $75 (or E- $40, specify) -- rare organ-led funk by famous producer (rare LP on Imperial & own label Inner City Records); one of the best versions of the Isley classic (we like only Senor Soul's better)--definitely funky, upbeat, & a surefire floor-packer; even Side 2 is pretty good
Eddy Senay: Ain't No Sunshine/Hot Thang; Sussex SUX-230; 1971; E+ $15 -- funk/guitar from great but scarce LP; hot!
Billy Sha-Rae: Do It/Crying Clown; Spectrum 114; V+ $25 -- funk; rare, great, heavy one, wherein Billy incites you to do the popcorn, sock it to him, etc., a la JB
Lalo Schifrin: Theme from Enter the Dragon/mono; Warner Bros. WB-7735; 1973; white-label promo E $20 -- fu funk; fu funk is rare enough, but we're especially to have obtained this item (US originals being so scarce)
Joe Simon & the Mainstreeters: Theme from Cleopatra Jones/Joe Simon: Who was that Lady; Polydor/Spring SPR-138; 1973; picture sleeve N-/N- $25 -- hip theme from rare ST; gorgeous sleeve
The Soul Cop (Oliver Christian): I Keep Coming Back for More/Tribute to Girls; Norfolk International 10,001; V $10 -- soul/sweet soul from Norfolk, Virginia
The Soul Runners: Last Date/Charley; MoSoul 5103; yellow label E+ $15 -- one of the best of the several bands that led to Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band, the Soul Runners had a few great, Booker T.-ish funk instrumentals; here, "Charley" is the pick
Soul Tornadoes: Go for Yourself/Funky Thang; Burt 4000 (on label as "Soul Toranodoes"); E $25 -- funk/instrumental/guitar; their classic, seriously top stuff!; A-side one of the best examples of "chicken pluckin'" (guitar) funk, while B-side is slighly more laid-back, with great psyche-ish guitar as in the very best Senor Soul, Meters, & Funk, Inc. tracks
Leon Thomas: Thank You Baby Parts 1 & 2; Don King DK-102; 1975; E- S $10 (co-arr. w/Neal Creque)
Leon Thomas: Tonight/Leon's Blues; Sunshine SSB-725; 1977; E- S $10
Timmy Thomas: Why Can't We Live Together/Funky Me; T.K./Glades 1703; 1972; N- $15 -- an usual artist & sound, really minimalist in his use of organ & percussion (sounds like a primordial beatbox); "Funky Me" is the DJ pick; impeccable shape
Timmy Thomas: Stone to the Bone/Watch It! Watch It! Watch It! for Dudley Dudley Dorite (sic); T.K./Glades 1740; 1977; N S $15 -- funk; never seen the LP (& never this single before); comes w/jukebox title strip
Ultrafunk, featuring Mr. Superbad--Freddie Mack: Kung Fu Man/instrumental; Contempo 7701; 1974; N $25 -- Fu funk/fu disco; hip rap on the vocal side is great tho the funk is hurt a little by disco-era strings; still, in the limited world of "fu funk," it's a scarce & valuable asset
The Voices of East Harlem: Giving Love/New Vibrations; Just Sunshine JSA-504; 1973; promo(!) N S $25 -- funk/soul; super-scarce songs from their 2nd & rarest LP (JSS-7) on a nearly unheard-of clean stereo promo 45!
L.J. Waiters & the Electrifiers: Can You Deal with It?/instrumental; Phil-L.A. of Soul PH-377; 1976; white-label promo N $15
L.J. Waiters & the Electrifiers: If You Ain't Gettin' Your Thing Parts 1 & 2; La Shawn RM-5127; N $20
Watson & the Sherlocks: Standing on the Corner/Funky Walk; Soulsville SV-1015; N- $50 -- funk; one of the hippest on the label, for both sides (DJs will love); B-side is an uptempo mover a la the great Dyke & the Blazers sone (but a different one & faster); So do you need it? No s**t, Sherlock!
Andre Williams: Soul Groove/Pearl Time; Sport 105; 1967; V+ $20
Andre Williams: Rib Tip's (sic) Parts 1 & 2; Avin 103; N $20
Bobby Williams: Funky Superfly Parts 1 & 2; MTVH 3737; 1974; E $75 -- funk; light press bumps & some marks but plays; the full hi-fi sound you only get from 45s (always worth it for one of the rarest & hottest funk cuts going)
Tommy Wills "Man with a Horn": Born to Lose--I Can't Stop Loving You (tribute to Ray Charles)/Funky Sax; Airtown JB-2-004; N $20 -- instrumental; "Funky Sax" is great, funky mod jazz/mod soul
Wilmer & the Dukes: I'm Free/Heavy Time; Aphrodisiac 261; PICTURE SLEEVE! (see above) E+/N $40 (or non pic-sleeve V $15, specify) -- funk; good, scarce; B-side is the mover (plays fine on the $15 copy, whereas the A-side has some noise)
Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band: Love Land/Sorry Charlie; Warner Bros. 7365; N $10 (or white-label promo N- $10, specify)
Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band: What Can You Bring Me/Your Love (Means Everything to Me); Warner Bros. 7475; 1971; N S $20 -- 2 stone funky, JB-worthy, great tracks, clean, stereo, right-on!
Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band: Wine/Nobody (Tellin' Me 'Bout My Baby); Warner Bros. 7504; 1972; N- S $25 -- funk; 2 non-LP cuts!; monster crazy funky "Wine" is the only song to drink the fortified stuff (and all other wine) by & it's our favorite Wright/Watts single; original WB sleeve
Charles Wright: (Well I'm) Doing What Comes Naturally Parts 1 & 2; ABC/Dunhill DSD-50162; 1973; N S $20 -- funk; 2 minutes longer than the LP version!
See Also:
Jazz 45s for soul-jazz funk (funk by jazz musicians, including Blue Note, organists, etc.) & other hip jazz
Latin 45s for Latin & Latin-soul, -funk, -disco
Wanted 45s:
- Hank Ballard: Blackenized/Come On Wit' It; King
- Judy Carne: Right, Said Fred/Sock It to Me; Reprise 0680
- Dyke & the Blazers: The Wobble/Stuff; Original Sound OS-102
- The French Connection: Monte Carlo/Penguin Talk; Famous 711F
- Germanics: What You See is What You Get/?
- Honeydrippers: Impeach The President/?; Alaga (or EP reissue)
- Jerry & the Medicine Men: The Medicine Man Parts 1 & 2; Edco 101
- Carl LaRue & his Crew: Please Don't Drive Me Away/Monkey Hips & Oyster Stew; KKC
- The Romeos: Calypso Chili/Mon Petite Chow; Loma 2041; 1966
© Hip Wax
to order
Jim Helms: Kung Fu ST
Lynn Collins (J.B.)