Right On To The Real And Death To The Fakers

Artwork originally found at WeFunkRadio

Light My Fire - The Doors
Light My Fire - Al Green
Light My Fire - The Four Tops
Light My Fire - Jose Feliciano
Light My Fire - Ebony Rhythm Band

T.G.I.F.F.! That’s right, Thank Goodness It’s Funky Friday. And oh what a funky Friday it gwan be.

Today we here at The Funk would like to dedicate our posting to the University of Maryland Basketball sqizzaud and their ill fated/half assed effort yesterday in the ACC tourney. I don’t really follow college basketball like my man Baffoe does, but if the ACC tourney is in your backyard, you sort of watch to see what’s happening. And around the DC area, there are two things that you are guaranteed to hear about each and every day in regards to sports. That Daniel Synder is the devil reincarnated and that Maryland Basketball “has to win this game, because they are Maryland”. Now, as most of my peoples have figured out over the years, I hate Maryland (not the sate) and everything about the university. To me, they are just West Virginia University, College Park Campus.

But B, why you hatin’?

As the great Common (FKA Sense) once spit, “If I don’t like it, I don’t like it, that don’t mean than I’m hating”. But this has really nothing to do with anything other than if you live in the Metro DC Area; you are force fed the “greatness” of Maryland Basketball. Homerism at its best.

But the post is dedicated to them cause they need to seriously “light a fire” under their asses if they make the NCAAs, cause if they lose in the first round, that campus will ignite. And that would be some funny shit to watch.

So anyhow, we bring you the five versions of the seminal Doors classic, “Light My Fire”.

First up is the OG version by The Doors. Take a listen and then compare and contrast it to the rest. I was never into the whole Doors craze (meaning I didn’t sit down and analyze the lyrics like they were biblical text) but they did make some good music. This is one of my favourite songs out of their catalog.

Second, we travel down to visit the good reverend. No I’m not talking ‘bout Jesse, I’m referring to Al Green. You all know Al. Al, meet The Funk..The Funk, meet Al. Al takes the original version and seriously gives it a dash of funk, a pinch of southern soul, and about a tub full of sappy molasses straight out of the woods. Rev. Al pleads with the track and to the woman listening to it to light his fire, and in his day, I’m sure Al got “lit” whenever he wanted to. The horns, a classic Al Green sound, ooze out of the speakers like well, you get the idea. If you don’t have it already, go get this to listen to. As a note, I found this on a compilation so at the end you'll hear the beginnings of another track.

Third, we take it to the Four Tops for their rendition of "Light My Fire". If you listen to their version against the Rev. Al Green's version, you'll notice the difference in style and execution. The Four Tops are straight up Motown sound, which I really like. Their version has more of that Big Band sound to it with the orchestration and the guys doing the harmonizing back ups. Levi Stubbs does his best work when he would get church-a-fied on tracks while the sounds sort of just were turned down a bit. Classic record by a classic group.

Fourth, is the beatnik version (at least to me it is) by Jose Feliciano. It's a slower, jazz/coffee house version and really for the sake of argument isn't "Funky" per se, but it is a good cover version of the original. So just take a listen and if you don't dig it, well fast forward to the next one...

Finally, we have the Ebony Rhythm Band's super "mark" duper version. My man Zak sent me this last week and all I can say is that it is seriously a funky instrumental track. Like most intsra tracks of the day, this one uses a lot of organ and rhythm guitar to substitute for vocals. They hit it right on the head. At about the 2:05 mark, the wah wah electric guitar gets its shine on and funks out something serious. There is a nice little breakdown about a minute later as well. Before this week, I was not to familiar with The Ebony Rhythm Band but after looking around, the boys over at Stones Throw Records had this to share. So if you like it, support good funk reissues and a good label and go buy their stuff.

SPECIAL BONUS!!!!

Here are some of the covers we found that didn't really fit into our plans but are funky anyhow. Take a listen and add them to your collection.

I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - CCR
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Zapp & Roger
For What It's Worth - Serigo Mendes & Brasil '66 (orig. posted on Soul-Sides.com) *
For What It's Worth - The Voices Of East Harlem
Apache - The Ventures
Apache - Sugar Hill Gang
99 & A Half Won't Do - Wilson Pickett

So there you have it, another Friday, another funky assortment of music for you to funk out to. So get with it man. I'll get at you all next week. As my homie Keith Boogie would say "I'll keep you abreast of twats going ons".

Special Birthday Shoutout to Raissa, whose insightful look into the mind/action/feelings of a shooter girl in Canada just might lead me to write a script or something (if she wants to anyhow). But don't fear, I'll never go Hollyhood on yawl. The Funk ain't for sale. But you can rent it by the hour. HIYO!!!

Peace to:
Taxi Driver
Low End Theory
Joey @ Straight Bangin'
Mike @ Royal Toy Box
Richard @ ETNOBOFIN (NZ Represent!)
LaSchmoove
Ja'Marty Marr
Brother J
DJ K-oz
Beth & Hurt McGirt
The BAN Family
Mo Lowery


At one with the funk,
Brother B Deenie

The Inverted Spin

Spinning Wheel – Blood Sweat & Tears
Spinning Wheel – The JBs
Spinning Wheel – Peter Cincotti
Spinning Wheel – Shirley Bassey

Today, we at The Funk would like to bring to you another double posting of cover song goodness. Why, well because we are nice folk trying to let some of that funky sunshine in on those that may not be so inclined. So enjoy.

Side Note 1: I'm not going to get really really specific into the posting today cause of all the issues I've been having with the system today. Just so you don't get mad at a brother.

First up, you'll notice the horns-a-blazing intro that PE used for Nite Train...that was a classic...which leads into the main ingredients of the track. I was not aware of Blood Sweat & Tears as far as being a band that could crunk out some funk, more in that's what Keith, Mo, Hurt, FranWeezie and the rest of the BAN family gave for RMC during our football playing days. Anyhow, here is a bio of the group. What would you describe this song as? Jazz Funk? Funk Rock? Jazz Rock? Funk Razz? Or just plain good music? I'd go with the latter myself. Towards the end, dude goes off on the trumpets...very high class.

Secondly, we have a nice instrumental version of Spinning Wheel by that funk band of bands, The JBs. For those that don't know the story behind The JB's, check this out. I've prolly got a rack of stuff from The JBs and this is pretty good for them. Has a kind of mellowed out feel given all of the high energy/feet stomping/girls taking off their undergarments type of music that they normally hit us with. I think that this record was made for the sole purpose of giving the Beat-Niks a chance to do the George Jefferson walk and not get laughed at. It's all about inclusion folk.

Third, we'd like to take it down yet another knotch to a jazz rendition of Spinnin Wheel by Peter Cincotti. Not a whole lot that I can say about dude that this already has not. It's classic jazz that you could dig while you sit around the fireplace discussing the pros and cons of electron manipulation and it's effects on plant life. That or I'm sure you'd hear it at Hef's place. I like it though. As a bonus, homeboy is some kind of prodigy, which gives at least one a good release in the past year. HIYO!

Finally, we'd like to introduce the first of two cover versions by Shirley Bassey (the other will be on Friday). For those who don't know, Big Shirley (wasn't that the name of Cole's never seen girlfriend on Martin?) is famous for the theme songs that she did from the early James Bond films. She's got her own site of new material if you are so inclined. Her rendition of Spinning Wheel sounds more "orchestrated" than the others but if you peep her body of work, that is her thing. She gives this version a little bit of what I like to call "kitty growl". That underlying sexiness in certain female voices that ooze sex appeal but are not overtly fake like porn stars doing 900 number chat lines...not that I'd know what those sounded like.

For our Added Bonus Section today, we here at the funk have been working hard to provide you the reader/listener some of the best that good clean funky ass music has to offer. We search tiredlessly over the net, in our personal record crates, and in some cases the crates of people we don't really like but who have the records we like. So in honor of our commitment to you we'd like to present our theme song:

Working In A Coal Mine - Lee Dorsey
Working In A Coal Mine - Booker T & the MGs

So thanks for being patient while we tried to get around performance meetings/host problems today.

Side Note 2: Be on the lookout for a script/book called "Adventures Of A Shooter Girl" by my home-ette (female homie) from the north, Raissa. I think it could make a good film myself. Of course I'd have to do plenty of "on site" research to properly make the film you understand...

I Live for the Funk, I Die for the Funk
Brother B.

Blogger.com Problems

I'm having a terrible time trying to log on and post Thursday's madness but there seems to be an issue with Blogger.com. Anybody else having problems posting?

I'll try to get it up as soon as it'll let me.

B

Thursday Delay

I'll have Thursday's update posted sometime after 2 pm...mad meetings today!

Brother B

Just Grab 'Em In The Biscuits!

Yo! It's Wednesday!

First off, R.I.P Biggie Smalls. 8 years and still no closer to finding the killer.
_____

Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles
Eleanor Rigby – The Crusaders
Eleanor Rigby – El Chicano
Eleanor Rigby – Ray Charles

Great googily moogily! Great Caesar's Ghost! and other exclamational type sayings...

It's Wednesday aka Hump Day here at the Palace of Ludwig Von Funkenstein and in honor of all things "Hump", we'd like to give yawl a nice little double posting of cover songs that hopefully will bring out some memories/funk/cures to ailments that you may not have know you possessed. So on with today's selections.

First up, the original, the classic, the joint that Kanye sampled but couldn't get cleared in time to save Talib's last LP. I won't go into great detail about this song, other than to say that it's a pretty cool track. And by cool I mean "I can listen to it at work without complaints from the Tech department for being not their kind of music". It's a simple track, but it's well thought out. And it'll be the last Beatles track we do this week. There are soooo many cover songs for them it's insane.

Next up on the dockett is The Crusaders version. Now this rendition is more to my liking due to the track being Jazz, which makes the song flow much easier. I had not dealt much with The Crusaders before a few months ago but now that I'm learning more and getting into their LPs, I'm glad that I am. Here is a little bio for those interested. Another good thing about The Crusaders version is the length. Clocking in at over 7 minutes, it gives the listener more time to fully appreciate the music that is taken from The Beatles original. The horn play that simulates the vocals sounds like it belongs with the master copy. Kinda like that SNL skit with Eddie Murphy as the 5th Beatle. The cat that played the sax...Hilarious.

Third in the batting order today is El Chicano's version. It sounds like The Crusaders tribute in that it's a jazzy instrumental, but El Chicano puts its own signature on it by using that wah wah guitar in place of the horns and infusing the track with that Spanish flavor. The organ usage is really on time. Zak sent me a rack of their other songs and if you want some really good stuff to listen to, pick up their 20th anniv. edition. It's a can't miss.

Finally for Ol Miss Eleanor, the legend himself honors us with is rendition. Ray Charles, who by now if you are not familiar with, please send your Soul/Funk pass back to the place you got it from, did this excellent take. Go grab the DVD if you want a refresher course on Mr. Charles. Anyhow, Ray brings his heart and soul into his version of Rigby, which results in an upbeat Motown/South Georgia-ish kinda feel. The background singers have the same harmony that most of the groups back then had (Vandellas, Supremes, etc.) in that it sounds like they are singing back up to Ray from across the room. It's a very very good version of the song however. Take a listen to the original GZA/Genius.

For the 2nd part of The Funk's celebration of Hump day, we'd like to get into a classic rock favorite, Proud Mary.

Here are the three versions that we decided to post:

Proud Mary - CCR

1st up, the original by the Swamp/Rock/Funk band, Creedence Clearwater Revival. Bio looks something like this here. I've always had a liking for Creedence ever since I was little and then got back into in High School after Danny Boy Glass and I sang "Suzy Q" in the lunch room to the amusement of some of the ladies. Good Times.

Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner

2nd, is the seminal soul classic by Ike & Tina Turner. Tina brings that added "I'm gonna kick your ass"-ness into this version of "Mary" by telling you upfront "We never ever do anything nice & easy, and we gonna do the end rough". You can't beat that with a bat. I'm sure Ike tried a few times, but he got his in the end. This song reminds me of that movie of Tina's life where they do this song live and she has that really short dress on that is made out of like a bunch of strings and she shakes it like she's got ants in her pants and she needs to dance. These primadonna mark ass tricks today ain't got nothing on Tina.

3rd, is an interesting selection. I was looking on Limewire for some Proud Mary covers and across the screen rolls the following, "Proud Mary - Leonard Nimoy w/ William Shatner". Now I know that Billy has done some music work in the past, even did a few videos, which even that was spoofed. But Mr. Spock? Is it really him? According to research, it is. I don't think Billy Boy is on it, but I may be wrong. Take a listen:

Proud Mary - Leonard Nimoy

As an extra special added bonus, here are two more versions of "Proud Mary" for you to enjoy:

Proud Mary - Solomon Burke
Proud Mary - Tom Jones

Apparently, Proud Mary was a real ship, according to King Solomon. And I think the Ladies Love Tom Jones more than they love Cool J. I'm just saying.

Anyhoodle, that's about it for Hump Day presented by The Funk. Hope to see you next time when we reveal the secrets of how Pop Rap stars are still living and Real Rappers are dead. Tune in! (topics subject to change at a moments notice. no purchase necessary. all winners will be notified through nueromarketing devices.)

Same Funk time, Same Funk Channel
Brother B

I'm Looking At The Front Door...

Get Out My Life Woman - Lee Dorsey
Get Out My Life Woman - Solomon Burke
Get Out My Life Woman - Iron Butterfly

It's Tuesday here at Chez' Funk, and today we'd like to give a special tribute to all of those women who have maxed out the credit cards, lost the house keys, wrecked the Jetta, and fooled around on their man. (We here at the funk respect women with the utmost sincerity and passion, however, a few of yawl need some help or a AA type program and shit...)

If there is a more "to the point" title for a song of this kind, I'm not quite sure what it is. If it exists, please leave us a note in the comments or something. "Get Out My Life, Woman", the simplicity and at the same time the directness, tell the listeners exactly how our boy Lee Dorsey feels about his woman. And he doesn't play around either. Lee was an interesting fellow from the Crescent City (aka New Orleans) with an interesting career. His bio is listed here.

Some of you may recognize the drum pattern in the beginning of this song, and with good reason. Check out a partial list of "who sampled it" list provided by The-Breaks.com:

* "Get out of My Life, Woman" (Drums)
Beck's "Where it's At"
Big Daddy Kane's "Brother, Brother"
Biz Markie's "Just a Friend"
Black Moon's "U Da Man"
Compton's Most Wanted's "This is Compton"
Common's "Breaker 1/9"
Cypress Hill's "Hits from the Bong"
De la Soul's "Fanatic of the B Word"
Diamond D's "Feel the Vibe"
Fat Joe's "Flow Joe"
House of Pain's "Over There Shit"
Lench Mob's "Capital Punishment in America"
Lord Finesse's "Fat for the 90's"
Leaders of the New School's "Zearocks"
Public Enemy's "Here I Go"
Red Hot Lover Tone's "Give it Up"
Wu-Tang Clan's "Maria"

X-Clan's "Verbal Milk"

Now that, that's some serious love right there.

Next up is one of my personal favo(u)rite aritists, Solomon Burke. On his version of "Get Out", Solomon almost gets into a rapping exercise up front (Beat Box!), letting his woman know where he stands on her recent traversities (new slag alert!) and gum flapping. I mean this song inspires people to do them snaps and shit that were all the rage in the early 90's. Two snaps up and a swift kick out the door. I can even envision Solomon doing this track and getting all AMG "B*$Ch Betta Have My Money" and shit. Classic.

As an added piece of historical rimmermerang (old skool slang alert!) his song was sampled for that True Skool classic "Blue Cheese" by Kieth Boog's flavo(u)rite UMCs. King Solomon is still doing his soul review tour so if he comes to a town or province near you, I'd suggest going to check it out. He can still put on a show.

Finally today, we run into that late 60's rock band with the really diametrically opposed group name, Iron Butterfly.

Side note: If a butterfly was made of iron, would it fly? Is that a dumb question?

Anyhow, Iron Butterfly are most famously know as the cats who did that 17 odd minute epic, "Inna Gadda Da Vida". When you think of spaced out acid rock, you have to think of that song. If you don't own it, you must get it soon. But they also did some covers of more mainstream stuff like their version of "Get Out". It starts off with those same keyboard synth sounds as you find in Da Vida over a nice little drum pattern. Then it goes into full Southern Funk Rock mode and the rest is pure dopeness.

So there you have it ladies. Yawl had better shape up or ship out. Cause us men have an anthem to counter all that Beyonce/Ciara/Jenifer Lopez mess. On the real, we got three different versions for that ass. BAAM! And don't be mad, UPS is hiring.

Just kidding yawl...seriously, where you going? Honey? (sound of door slamming). Damn.

For tomorrow we're gong to have a double post for Hump day so after groovin' out to today's choice cuts, get your funktometer (new slang alert!) ready.

Do you and your meager "good music" knowledge a favor and peep the truth:

Unkut.com
Ear Fuzz
Soul Sides
Straight Bangin'
Low End Theory
Xanax Taxi
FunkDigital.com

(Tell 'Em The Funk Sent You!)

Do You Have The Funk?
Brother B.

*And on some other shit, if you watch 24 like I do (being you plan your whole Monday night around it), Michelle is back! How friggin crazy is this season? Hot Daam this show is good.

Quick Update to Comments Section

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

So to all of you who have left comments since day one, my bad for the deleted info but this system seems to be less of a hassle than the Blogger.com stuff. So keep commenting, it should be a lot easier.

Shouts to Taxi Driver, Keith Boogs, Mentos, LaSchmoove, Raissa, Joey @ StraightBangin', and err-body else for helping spread the word.

Brother B.

Beneath The Sheets Week

Hey Jude - The Beatles
Hey Jude - Wilson Pickett feat. Duane Allman

It's Funky Covers Week here at The Funk, where our staff has searched high and low for some of the coolest, rarest, and of course funkiest covers of songs that are available. I'll preface this week by saying that we can't get to all of the covers that exist cause it's a very very large number, however we've picked out our favo(u)rites and we hope that you'll like 'em too.

Today we have one of the most famous songs in existence, "Hey Jude", which was originally done by The Beatles. You all know who The Beatles are, but if you want a good, in depth look into their work, check this out. Now, I'm not going to try to sit here and tell yawl that I'm a knowledgeable dude on the cultural and musical significance of this track, but homeboy here sure as hell can. DAAAM!

My pops used to play the original Hey Jude (among other classics) when me and my brother were younger. We'd do like a family talent show and shit around Christmas time...It sounds hella corny now but back in like 82 I was the little white version of Dizzy Gillespie. I should have stuck with the trumpet in hind sight. Pops was a DJ in the late 70's in my hometown of Statesboro, GA playing stuff from Shag Music, Soul, Adult Contemporary, etc. He still has a rack of those 45s in his basement which I sift through now and again looking for samples.

Wilson Pickett, know to many as "Wicked" Wilson Pickett for his "from the bowels of hell" yelling on some of his tracks had a string of hits in the early to late 60s - 70s such as "Land Of The Thousand Dances", "In the Midnight Hour", and "Mustang Sally". You can check out a pretty thorough bio here.

To Me, his version of "Hey Jude", with Duane Allman on guitar, flips the original feeling of The Beatles (sort of melancholy-esque) to a rhythmatic, upbeat, testimonial that if they'd allow it, would be in Southern Baptist Churches across the South. It's full of a real, heart felt passion, which explodes on this track around the 2:42 mark. Makes me wanna testify.

Both of these versions of "Hey Jude" are considered classics here at The Funk, and throughout the rest of the week, you can expect more classics to be posted up for your listening/spiritual enjoyment/fulfillment.

Big Shouts this week to The Low End Theory, Xanax Taxi, and Big Daddy DJ Mentos (as always) for inspiration, linkage, and keeping it funktafied.

Always Funkin' Til the AM.
Brother B

* As an added Bonus here is a leftover from last weeks "Shit You Didn't Know Was Funky"
Green Eyed Lady - Sugarloaf