Space Funk & Funky Moog
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In the early 1970s the synthesizer (Moog) and related electronic instruments came into their own at the same time as electric bass and its modern amplification. The Moog's cerebral, spacey, cold qualities contrasted sharply with the warm earthiness (or scary, militant punch) of the bass and drums. But, as with the equally unlikely match of Latin rhythm with jazz horns, eventually a great new hybrid emerged. There are two basic types of funky Moog tunes: 1) Moog tunes that are funky, and 2) funk tunes that have Moog. The same applies to space funk. Fascination with all aspects of space exploration never ended with the passing of the 1960s, nor did space themes escape the attention of soul, funk, and jazz artists. Especially for "out" jazz artists, space represented the final frontier of ultimate artistic freedom. In space, no one can hear you express yourself through honks and bleeps. Novelty songs about black astronauts conquering and starting new worlds also made the scene. Among the many pop Moog records, some funky tunes were inevitable. Hugo Montenegro's cover of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" is typical. Far more fertile are the production (sound library) albums of the period. There, originality, funk, embrace of the Moog, and space for sounds' sake all fit together nicely. But there ought to have been many more space-funk records. Unfortunately, the keyboard wizards of the soul-jazz era somehow coasted along on the Hammond and then leaped straight into the tacky mid-'70s synthesizers that actually sound like synthesized traditional instruments. Lonnie Smith typifies this type of player. Sure, "That Lady" by the Isleys has synthesizer all over it. But it is not the classic space funk or funky Moog of, say, Jean-Jacques Perrey's "Eva." Buying: Space & Moog funk is the most highly desired idiom after classic funk with breakbeats; grab it if you can. Production LPs are key. |
Space Funk & Funky Moog LPs
| Rating | |
| 7 | Brother Ahh: Sound of Awareness; Strata-East 19731 (Robert Northern w/Max Roach; out/electronic) |
| 8 | Brother Ahh & the Sounds of Awareness: Move Ever Onward; Divine 52134A; 1975 (Robert Northern; out/spoken w/sitar) |
| 7 | Vic Caesar: Bare Knuckles ST; Gucci G-303; 1977 (funky Moog/funk) |
| 8 | Paul Collier: Paulverized; Jingleville CHAR-1077 (country rock/space funk w/breakbeats) |
| 7 | Don Harper: Live-Neutral-Earth; Impress IA-406; 1975/1974 (production; funky Moog/space-electronic) |
| 8 | John Murtaugh: Blues Current; Polydor 24-4016 (w/Herbie Hancock, Bernard Purdie) |
| -> | Jean-Jacques Perrey -- see Odd Pop section's Moog page |
| 7 | Willsher/Chesher/Hawksworth: Electroshake No. 2--Electronic Sounds; De Wolfe DWLP-3135; 1969 (production) |
| 8 | Sun Ra & his Arkestra: Nothing Is; ESP 1045; 1966 ("Exotic Forest"--exotic soul jazz) |
| 8 | Sun Ra & his Myth Science Arkestra: Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy; Saturn 408 |
| 7 | Sun Ra & his Astro-Solar Infinity Arkestra: My Brother the Wind; Saturn ESR-521; 1970 |
| 7 | Sun Ra & his Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra: The Night of the Purple Moon; Saturn 522; 1972 |
| 7 | Sun Ra & his Astro-Solar Infinity Arkestra: My Brother the Wind Vol. II; Saturn SR-523 |
| 8 | Sun Ra & his Arkestra: Space is the Place; Blue Thumb; 1973 |
| 7 | Sun Ra & his Arkestra: The Other Side of the Sun; Sweet Earth; 1979/1978-79 (10-minute update of "Space is the Place") |
Partly Funky Space/Moog LPs
| Rating | |
| 7 | Muhammad Ali & his Gang: The Adventures of Ali & his Gang Vs. Mr. Tooth Decay Vol. 1; Arther Morrison; 1976 (Ali, Frank Sinatra, Richie Havens, Jayne Kennedy, Ossie Davis, Arther Morrison) |
| 6 | Alberto Baldan Bembo Sound Orchestra; Star Track TR-1982 (production/Moog/space disco) |
| 6 | Bottom & Co.: Rock Bottom; Motown/Gordy G6-977-S1; 1976/1975-76 ("Ticket to the Moon"; funk/disco/Moog-space funk) |
| -> | Doug Carn -- see soul-jazz piano |
| 6 | The Jimmy Castor Bunch Featuring the Everything Man: E-Man Groovin'; Atlantic SD-18186; 1976 ("Space Age") |
| 5 | The Jimmy Castor Bunch: Let it Out; TK/Drive 107; 1978 |
| 9 | The Continental III: Just for You; Baldwin CS-8229; 1978 ("2001 Space Odyssey") |
| 8 | Continental Four: Dream World; Jay-Walking JWL-1020; 1972 ("Escape from Planet Earth") |
| 7 | Claude Denjean: Open Circuit; London Phase 4 SP-44196 ("Kiss This") |
| 7 | The Doctor Exx Band: Superman & Other Disco Hits; Pickwick SPC-3668; 1979 (disco/funky Moog; reissue, probably of Alshire) |
| 8 | Mark Duval & his Music; Chappell LPC-1052; 1972 ("Phase-Out"; production) |
| 5 | Charles Earland: Odyssey; Mercury Phonogram SRM-1-1049; 1976 ("Journey of the Soul") |
| 8 | The Electrifying Sounds of E.M.F. (Derek Scott & Jack Parnell): Way In--Way Out; Berry/Conroy BMLP-113; 1974 (production/Moog) |
| 7 | Don Ellis: Shock Treatment; Columbia CS-9668 ("Star Children"--not funky but a classic) |
| 7 | Bernard Estardy: Electro Sounds Volume 2; Telemusic TM-3033; 1973 ("Riviera Express"; production/Moog/space-electronic/Moog funk/flute; France) |
| 8 | Lee Fields & the Soul Providers: Gimme the Paw; Pure LP-008 ("Lea's Rice Pudding") |
| 7 | Frank Ford & Andy Angel: The Music Side of Ford & Angel; Baldwin CS-7803; 1974 (lounge act; great instrumental version of "Space Odesey"-sic) |
| -> | Mort Garson -- see Hyp Records/Odd Pop/Moog--Mort Garson |
| -> | Bruce Haack -- see Hyp Records/Odd Pop/Moog |
| 7 | Doug Hammond/David Durrah et al: Reflections in the Sea of Nurnen; Tribe TRCD-4009; 1975 (soul jazz/space funk/funky Moog) |
| 7 | Isaac "Redd" Holt Unlimited: Isaac, Isaac, Isaac; Paula LPS-4006; 1974 ("Listen to the Drums") |
| 7 | Lew Howard & the "All Stars": America '76 Parts 1 & 2; Bosworth BLP-141; 1975 (production/funk/Moog funk/exotic funk; "Rock Funk"; final cut by the Gary Pacific Group) |
| 6 | Rod Hunter: Soul Makossa; Decca 210037; 1973/1972 |
| 7 | Ice: Import/Export; Prestige P-10096; 1975 (Lafayette Afro-Rock Band; funk/disco/Moog) |
| 9 | Melvin Jackson: Funky Skull; Limelight LS-86071 (bass/space/out) |
| 8 | John Keating: Space Experience; EMI Studio 2 (U.K.) TWO-393; 1972 (Columbia CQ-32382) |
| 7 | Ramsey Lewis: Funky Serenity; Columbia KC-32030; 1973 ("Dreams") |
| 6 | Ramsey Lewis: Sun Goddess; Columbia PC-33194; 1974 |
| 6 | The Love Machine; Arista/Buddah BDS-5710; 1978 ("Sex-o-sonic") |
| 7 | Mike Mandel/Clark Ferguson/Carlo Curley: RMI Harmonix Synthesizer & Kyeboard Computer; Rocky Mount Instruments RMI HSKC-1; 1974 (some funky cuts) |
| 9 | Owen Marshall as Captain Puff in the Naked Truth; Aditi 1975 |
| 7 | Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony: Disco Baby; Avco AV-69006-698; 1975 |
| 8 | Brother Jack McDuff: Magnetic Feel; GRT/Cadet CA-60039; 1975 |
| 7 | Hugo Montenegro: Love Theme from The Godfather; RCA Victor APD1-0001; 1972 (ARP) |
| 7 | Hugo Montenegro: Hugo in [Stevie] Wonder-Land; RCA Victor APL1-0413; 1974 (ARP; great cover of "Superstition") |
| 7 | Hugo Montenegro: Other By Brothers; RCA Victor APL1-0784; 1975 (ARP) |
| 8 | Oliver Nelson: Skull Session; Flying Dutchman BDL1-0825; 1975 (horns/Moog) |
| 8 | Henrik Nielsen: Media Music Release No. 9--Contemporary Life Styles; Capitol MEJS-6 |
| The Mike Nock Underground: Between or Beyond; MPS 15.261; 1971/1970 ("Space Boogaloo") | |
| 7 | Okko [Becker]: Sitar & Electronics (Moog/sitar/drums; w/Herb Geller) |
| [Ralfi Pagan -- see Latin Soul] | |
| 7 | Hap Palmer: Movin'; Educational Activities, Inc./Activity Records AR-546; 1973 (kid funk/Moog/sitar; "Funky Penguin") |
| 7 | Alan Parker: Hot Ice; De Wolfe DWS/LP-3278; 1974 (production; funk/funky Moog/soul-jazz flute) |
| Perez Prado ['70s European LPs, esp. w/tunes "Imperfect" & "Escandalo in Scotland"] | |
| 6 | Andre Previn/London Symphony/Simon Preston: Rollerball ST; United Artists UA-LA470-G; 1975 |
| 7 | Asha Puthli: The Devil is Loose; CBS S81443; 1976 ("Space Talk"; disco/space funk) |
| 9 | Emil Richards: New Sound Element: "Stones"; MCA/Uni 73008 (Moog/percussion; Dick Beavers, Moog) |
| 6 | Rufus: Rags to Rufus; ABC ABCX-809; 1974 ("Rags to Rufus") |
| 7 | Patrice Rushen: Preclusion; Prestige P-10089; 1974 ("Puttered Bopcorn") |
| 9 | The Seven Shadows directed by Derrick Vaughan: Seven Shades of Sound; Bosworth BLP-139; 1975 (production) |
| 6 | [Jerry Styner & Larry Brown:] Orbit III; Beverly Hills BHS-38 ("Orbit III") |
| 7 | Jean-Claude T.: The Bicentennial Poet; CBS/Philadelphia International PZ-34246; 1976 (some Moog) |
| 8 | Tip of the Iceberg; Project 3 PR-5091-SD; 1975 ("Squawk Talk") |
| 7 | The Undisputed Truth: Cosmic Truth; Motown/Gordy G6-970-S1; 1975 ("UFO's") |
| 7 | Jimmy Vann & George Greer: Songs of Metric Man; Orsatti/Metric MR-1-51; 1975 |
| 8 | Jeff Wayne Space Shuttle: Star Trek/Planet of the Apes; Wonderland WLP-301; 1975 ("Apes' Shuffle") |
| 7 | Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of the War of the Worlds; CBS PC2-35290; 1978 (space/spoken/funky; 2-LP w/book) |
| 8 | The Zeet Band: Moogie Woogie; Chess LPS-1545 (w/Paul Beaver, Mike Bloomfield, Phil UpChurch) |
| 7 | Uncredited: Jingles; Berry/Conroy BMLP-109; 1974 (some of everything) |
| 7 | Uncredited: Nonstop Discotheque Party Dance; Gateway GSLP-3530 (covers Lady Marmalade, Fame, Shining Star, Get Down Tonight..) |
| 6 | Uncredited: [Production Music]; Robert Hall/New World W-294/295 (funky Moog/disco/drums) |
| 9 | Various: Afro-Rock Vol. 1; Kona LP-001; 2001 (2-LP compilation; Yahoos: "Mabala") |
| 7 | Various: The Best of Luv N' Haight Volume One; Ubiquity/Luv N' Haight LHLP-011; 1993/?-'77 (soul jazz/funk/Moog/flute/guitar) |
| 8 | Various: Brazil by Music/Brazil by Cruzeiro; [no label/#] (Brasilian Moog!; airline promo; Jingle Cruzeiro, Ary Barroso, Jorge Ben, Jobim, Caymmi, Marcos Valle, Buarque, Nascimento..) |
| 9 | Various: Jazzy Funky New Orleans; Tuff City/Funky Delicacies DEL LP-0022; 2001/1962-72 (compilation) |
| 6 | Various: Rhythm Stick; Bruton Music BRH-8 (102); 1979 (production) |
| 9 | Various: Trunk Presents the Super Sounds of Bosworth; Trunk Barked 1; 1996 (production; The Leo Hassler Synthesizer: "Drama in Space") |
| 8 | Various: Trunk Presents the Super Sounds of Bosworth Vol. 2; Trunk Barked 2; 1996 (production; reissue-compilation) |
[Partly] Funky-Moog 45s
| Rating | |
| 8 | Groop: Moonbase Omega/Moongroove; Jazzman/Stark Reality Stark.009; 2001 (UK) |
| 8 | Dr. Rosemary "Red" Hallum: Disco & Soul Dances; Activity Records AR-569; 1976 |
| 7 | Quincy Jones: $ ("Dollar") ST; Warner Bros./Reprise MS-2051; 1972 |
| 8 | Kahuna Kawentzmann: GoGo Sitar/Road to Estoril; Jazzman/Stark Reality Stark.012; 2001 (bongo rock/funky Moog/sitar; UK; rec. in Germany) |
| 8 | Cecil Leuter: Pop Electronique No. 2/Andy Loore: Mixed Drums; Jazzman JM 011 (UK) |
| 8 | The Lightmen Plus One: Energy Control Center; Lightin' LP-2001; 1971 (bizarre, Texas, partly out/Moog) |
| 7 | Medium Rare: Nagasaki/Nature Boy; Audiofidelity/Harlequin HAR-3809 (disco w/funky Moog) |
| 9 | Bruno Spoerri: Les Electroniciens/Howard Wales: Rendezvous with the Sun Part 2; Jazzman JM-003 (UK) |
| 9 | Sun Ra & his Astro-Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra: I'm Gonna Unmask the Batman/The Perfect Man; Saturn ES-537 |
| 9 | Clay Tyson: Man on the Moon/You Don't Know What I Want; Kng 6209 (comedy w/music by JB) |
| 7 | Uncredited: Thematic Music/Thematic Music --7" 45--; Robert Hall Audition Record (Moog w/Christmas, mod, Brasil) |
[Partly] Space-Funk 45s
| Rating | |
| 9 | 1984: There's a Wrinkle in Our Time/Psychadelic Love (sic); Nise/Round B-70-230 (Phila. space funk) |
| 9 | Bad Medicine: Trespasser Parts 1 & 2; Enyx EN-002; 1974 |
| 8 | The Casuals: Moonbound/A Trip to the Moon; Liberty/Trans International Airlines; c.1969 (hip narrated hypothetical moon flight; picture sleeve) |
| 8 | The First Theremin Era: The Barnabas Theme from "Dark Shadows"/Sunset in Siberia (A-side space-funk/electronic horror) |
| 8 | Hot Property: Slip-A-Disc-O/Jalopy rag; Educator DM-4669; 1976 (from Wayne, PA) |
| 6 | Barry Miles' Silverlight: Rebate/mono; London 5N-221-DJ; 1975 (disco/Moog funk) |
| 8 | The Moon Man: The Moon Man is Back/Moon Walk In; Good Sounds 4 (space soul twist) |
| 9 | Moony Moon: Walking on the Moon/What About Mars; Fayette F-82569 |
| 7 | The New Censation: Come Down to Earth/mono; United Artists/Pride PR-XW-406; 1974 |
| 8 | The Ninchuks: Bruce Lee's "Return of the Dragon"/mono; Bryan BP-1; 1974 |
| 7 | Robert Starks & the Geniuses: Space Travelling Parts 1 & 2; Big Star BB-0012 (outish space funk/psyche w/conga) |
| 7 | Marvin Wright: Robot Dance/Scott David: Funky Phanthom (sic); Queen Constance 2 (A-side space funk/spacey disco-funk; B-side disco-funk) |
Hyp Records is a 3-part guide:
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