Monthly Archives: June 2008

Guest Mix Series: Jason Perlmutter

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Jason Perlmutter and Willie J. Randolph, producer of Paul Barton’s “So Very Hard To Make It” on the Carolina Funk compilation

I told you I had some surprises in store for this Guest Mix series. Here’s another one. Jason Perlmutter hails from Chapel Hill, NC. He spent 5 years putting together the Jazzman release Carolina Funk. A retrospective of the Funk scene in North and South Carolina, this record was hand picked by Perlmutter and Jazzman, it’s unprecedented and a fine example of the undocumented history of the genre in the Carolinas. Jason and I have been corresponding for a while, and I was delighted and honored to have him on board for this guest series. A guy like Jason is another example of what I strive to do here at Flea Market Funk. It’s all about preservation of the music, and most importantly sharing it to the masses while simultaneously spreading the word about these artists. Perlmutter has not just done that, but like Daptone, Now-Again, and others, has given these long lost artists a second chance. Their discovery by an entire new generation of beat heads, record diggers, DJ’s, and Funk appreciators has not only given them a new found fame, but financial rewards they truly deserve after all these years. His new offering, Carolina Funk, First In Funk documents rare and unreleased funk recordings made in the Carolinas in the 1960s and 1970s, and is available on Jazzman UK/ Now-Again Records. Get into the groove here at FMF and dig the sounds of the Carolinas as dug up Jason Perlmutter and Company. Enjoy!

Reggie Saddler Revue – Just Wait And See
Willie Hobbs – Yes, My Goodness, Yes
Nick Allen – Hard Way To Go
J Young B Hill – It’s Got Soul
Dynamite Singletary – Super Good
Essence Of Life – Walking In My Shadow
Soulfull Strutters – Let Your Feelings Go
Black Smoke Band – I’ll Keep Searching
Soul Aces – You’re Different
Ikhlas – Sing La La La
Time Zone Band – Traveling Through My Mind
Al-Dos Band – Doing Our Thing With Pride
RIP – I’m Trying
ASAP Band – Giving In
Ice – Hey, Hey
Frazelle – Today Is The Day
Brief Encounter – Human
Larry Connor – Cold Day

Download or Listen to Jason Perlmutter from Carolina Funk Guest Mix for Flea Market Funk

Hazey, Hot, Humid Digging Morning

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The boxes looked great but had completely shitty records in them, except 1.

It’s getting to crunch time here in NJ. By crunch time I mean record season. The Summer opens up a giant amount of people, vendors and vinyl pouring into The Spot. A lot of record guys come out, but if you don’t get here early, well, you’re kinda screwed. Number one, I have to beta the likes of Eggbeard and Stinkie Steve to anything and everything because these cats are notorious for scooping any interesting vinyl up. Although both of them have passed on straight heat on more than one occasions, and I have benefited from that. This morning i was to meet Larry from Funky 16 Corners , The JJB, and Devil Dick, who I shared a great sushi dinner and wine with the previous evening. DD and the JJB had an unforseen event to take care of, so that left Larry and I to have a run and the vinyl offerings. I got there a bit early, because I’m not gonna lie, I have been suffereing from insomnia for quite a while. I hit the Old Man up straight away. He sold me a few beat 45′s he had, just some common stuff, but what he did have for me was two mint pressings of John Coltrane on Impulse!. I am a huge Jazz nut, and I jump at the chance to get my hands on any original offerings that are out there. Larry and I finally connected and were browsing when Stinkie Steve was pulling his normal bullshit at a table. i went to go through some records and he’s saying, “That’s mine, that pile is mine”, all while spreading records out everywhere. I nipped that shit in the bud and exclaimed: “All of these are your records?”, as I pointed to the whole table. He actually didn’t bite for an argument, rather just gathered his mess and I went along digging. He lived up to his nickname this day as well. It was a mixture of a number 3 sub sandwich and 4 day old garbage, with a hint, just a hint, of a soiled infant’s diaper. Needless to say, we made tracks like Q-Tip losing his wallet in El Segundo. Johnny No Change had some good stuff, and a cat that has been here for the last couple of weeks, Smiley came through as well. Even though it was another bad 45 day, I still managed to get some great stuff.

Lps:

The Soul Set featuring Norman Seldin – Live from the Village Purple Onion/ Johnson
Billy Eckstine – If She Walked Into My Life/ Stax
The Incredible Hulk – Black Chasm/ Peter Pan
Redd Foxx – Redd ’75/ MF Records
Little Lenny – Gun in A Baggy/ RAS
Various Artists – Super Soul/ Wand
John Coltrane – Ascension/ Impulse!
John Coltrane – Coltrane/ Impulse!
Bohannon – Keep On Dancing/ Dakar
Ramsey Lewis Trio – Upendo Ni Pamoja/ Columbia
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On/ Tamla

Betty Wright – Baby Sitter

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Download or Listen to Betty Wright – Baby Sitter from the Alston Records 45

As the holiday approaches here at FMF, and the long weekend will be upon us, I wanted to take the time to thank everyone who participated in the Guest Mix Series, and with any luck, we’ll do it again next year with all new Guests who will have a hard time filling the big shoes of the selectors from this Series. Our artist today is no stranger to to guesting on records as well as releasing some great sides of her own. Here is the original Clean Up Woman Betty Wright with “Baby Sitter” on Alston Records. I might note that this is a favorite of the Devil Dick, who turned me on to this side some time ago.

Born in Miami, FL in 1953, Betty Wright has been a staple on the Miami music scene from day one. Startin gout in the Gospel group Shades of Joy, Wright would move on as a background singer before eventually settling into her own with her release of “Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do”. She kept plugging away and released her most famous side “Clean Up Woman”, the side that spawned response songs, not to mention sampled in the 90′s by Biggie and Mary J. Blige. Wright was not stopping, and by 1974 had won a Grammy for “Where Is the Love?”. She continued to record, release consistent records, and even teamed up with Stevie Wonder in the early 80′s for “What Are You Gonna Do With It?”. She still records to this day, and has lent her golden voice to records by Erykah Badu to Jimmy Cliff to David Byrne and more.

“Baby Sitter” spins a tale of losing your man, to none other than the babysitter. It’s an upbeat number, that has a terrific bass line, tight drumming, a horn section to die for, and who can forget the harmonica playing along to “Rock a By Baby”! Produced by Clarence Reid and Willie Clarke, you know that this side could not be bad. It’s some fuuunky ass Soul my friends. It’s an excellent example of what Betty Wright was capable of doing in the early 70′s. The Miami Sound was hot, and Henry Stone’s stable of record labels was putting out hit after hit. Betty Wright was no exception, and proves once again on this track that she was a definite Queen of Soul. I’ll be back over the weekend with a Digging report, and let’s not forget the Guest Mix Series on Monday with Carolina Funk’s Jason Perlmutter. Keep Diggin’!

Shabba Ranks – Roots and Culture

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Download or Listen toShabba Ranks – Roots and Culture from the VP 12“

Good mid-week to the family. I hope all of you enjoyed the superb mix of The Soul Chef. It was a surprise and delight for him to contribute to the Guest Mix Series. Next week, we’re going to have Jason Perlmutter of Carolina Funk fame. It should be as Larry over at Funky 16 Corners says: “A Stone Gas”. What we have here is a guilty little pleasure of a record that I love to play at gigs, and finally acquired this past weekend on 12″, although I’ve had it on one of those fine Dancehall comps for quite some time. It’s the original Loverman, Shabba Ranks with “Roots and Culture” from 1991 on VP Records. I know that this is a bit late as far as Flea Market Funk tracks go, but good tracks are good tracks, there is no denying that.

Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon aka Shabba, was born in 1966 in Sturgetown, Jamaica. Brought up in Trenchtown, the young future toaster eventually got into the Roots Melody Soundsystem with Admiral Bailey. Starting out as Co-Pilot, he released 1985′s “Heat Under Sufferer’s Feet”. After a name switch to Shabba Ranks, he would eventually catch the eye of Jamaica’s music elite, garnishing attention from Josey Wales and King Jammy’s Studio. Releasing “Original Fresh”, Shabba would start a wild ride at Digital B Studios with super producer Bobby Digital and the record label of the same name. Ranks would churn out big time hits such as “Wicked Inna Bed”, “Peeny Penny, “Live Blanket”,”Mama Man,” and this very record. Add in “Mr Loverman”, “Twice My Age” (with Krystal), “Telephone Love”, and others. His collaborations with Maxi Priest, Cocoa Tea, Queen Latifah, Johnny Gill, and KRS-One are legendary. Shabba Ranks was the first Dancehall artist to ever receive a Grammy. He was the inventor of the X-Rated Dancehall style, paving the way for guys like Sean Paul and Shaggy. His bragadocious and sexual bravado made him stand out as an artist and around the world. Shabba Ranks is a Reggae legend, that many new artist coming out of JA have to thank for laying down the foundation in the digital Jamaican age. This song was also featured on the Steven Seagal classic Marked For Death, if that is truly a classic.

Shabba Ranks cry for the respect of the Roots and Culture of Jamaica is just what the youth of the early 90′s needed. Calling out slackness and a lack of respect for the founders of Jamaican music, giving respect to your elders, teaching the youth, and stoppage of black on black crime, the X-Rated MC holds up a level of social consciousness that makes him stand out IMHO. You can say what you want about Shabba, how he is too sexual, how his lyrics ooze that dirty style, but he came correct on this track. I can’t imagine a world of Jamaican music without Shabba, and his signature scowl. Big up and Nuff Respect to Mr. Lover Lover for teaching the youth. See you Friday with some more goodness. Keep Diggin’!

FMF Guest Mix Series: The Soul Chef

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Vincent the Soul Chef cooking up some marvelous shit.

Good Monday to you all. A couple of more Guest mixes in this series, including today, so get them while you can. This next guest selector came and blessed the 1′s and 2′s at a previous 45 Session. He has some deep, deep crates, and with the Guru being his vinyl Pusherman, well, it seems he has the Baltimore area down on lock. He is the author of the notable FuFu Stew, and is consistently coming up with mixes of his own, and Guest Mixes all throughout the blogosphere. Give a warm FMF Guest mix welcome to none other than The Soul Chef.

Introspeak-Happy Anniversary Quintet from The Flintstones Modern Stone Age Melodies
01 Kool And The Gang-Kool & The Gang (De-Lite)
02 Do The Boomerang-Jr. Walker & The All Stars (Soul) a tribute to your grandfather…
03 Get Out Of My Life Woman-Lee Dorsey (Amy)
04 Watusi Jump Pt. 2-Lou Donaldson (Blue Note)
05 How Come?-Monk Higgins (Checker)
06 Sophisticated Funk-John Roberts (Duke)
07 Super Cool-Black Heat (Atlantic)
08 Win Lose Or Draw-Brother Jack McDuff (Cadet)
09 Ain’t No Sunshine-The Sweet Happenings (Tee)
10 Double Barrel-Dave And Ansil Collins (Big Tree)
11 Funky Rubber Band-Popcorn Wylie (Soul)
12 Hum Along And Dance-The Temptations (Gordy)
13 I Can’t Dance To That Music You’re Playing-Martha & The Vandellas (Gordy)
14 I Get Lifted-George McRae (TK)
15 Missing You-O V Wright (Back Beat)
16 What Can You Bring Me-Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (Warner)
17 It’s Instrumental To Be Free-The 8th Day (Invictus)
18 Get Up Get Into It Get Involved Pt. 2-James Brown (King)
19 Love And Happiness-Earnest Jackson (Stone)
20 I Can Dig It-The Daley Diggers (Marmaduke)
Exitus-Happy Anniversary Quintet from The Flintstones Modern Stone Age Melodies

Download or Listen To A 45 RPM Exercise for Flea Market Funk by The Soul Chef

I May Have Seen These Records Before

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Recycled records and The Old Man buying picture sleeves.

Sometimes the Spot is hit or miss, and no I’m not talking about the De La Soul sample, I’m saying it literally. Today was just one of those days. I thought I might catch up with Jack the Ripper or Silent G, but the early morning heat must’ve keep them cool in their air conditioning. I arrived a little on the early side, but nevertheless the Spot was starting to get busy with activity. I did an unusual thing today, I wore my headphones and listened to a great mix of Reggae, Danger Doom, Bowie, and various heavy Funk as I walked the aisles. I don’t usually do that, but the atmosphere around the FMF compound has been a bit tense, so I just kind of wanted to get lost in music rather than listen to people barter (which is usually worth the FREE price of admission). The Old Man didn’t have anything for me, and that’s ok. In fact, there were very few 45′s to be found other than the recycled records Big Gay Joe had. In fact, even though I didn’t buy anything from him, I stayed a while because he’s usually singing Show Tunes, but today he was pumping some sweet Hammond sounds out of his custom van. It was a tape he recorded what must have been decades ago of Toni Lynn Washington out of Boston, MA straight killing the B-3. He turned it up and did a little dance around the van, but was thwarted by some guy about 3 tables away who said he had ear problems. The guy actually put on shooting headphones to drown it out. What a bummer, because I can’t remember the last time I saw BGJ this happy. He’s always in a good mood, but the Hammond really gets him. I know the feeling. I love listening to the stories of when he used to go to Newark, NJ and watch all the Jazz greats: McGriff, Smith, Brother Jack McDuff, etc. I wish I could have experienced that. It must have been tough for him back then, a White guy in an all Black neighborhood watching these Jazz greats. Times were different then, the music was better, and racial relations were strained. At any event, Joe is a great guy, one of the better vendors, who always has a story or anecdote while you browse. Johnny No Change was hovering around, but not set up, and I saw Egg Beard bebopping behind us, but no Stinkie Steve. Apparently the Stinkster got himself into a pickle. The Caddy got impounded. There were cries from the Spot regulars for ol’ Steve to go legit, but we know that you can’t change the ways of an old dog. Looks like he might be MIA for a while. The heat grew more intense, and well, I had to get back into the Digging Moblie and hit the road. Here are some scores for the day, and unfortunately, no 45′s!

Shabba Ranks – Roots and Culture/ Digital B 12″
Peterson, Pass, and Brown – The Giants/ Pablo
Count Basie Encounters Oscar Peterson – Satch and Josh/ Pablo
Sandy Nelson – Boogaloo Beat/ Imperial
Brazilia ’67 – Mas Que Nada and Guantanamera/ Wyncote
Deodato – First Cuckoo/ MCA
Warning – S/T / Vertigo
Otis Redding – Dock of the Bay/ Volt
Eddie Kendricks – He’s A Friend/ Tamla
Quincy Jones – Bossa Nova/ Mercury
Stanley Turrentine – The Baddest Turrentine/ CTI

Keep Diggin’!

FMF Vol. 29: Frank ‘N Beans

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Since I have been doing The FMF Guest Mix Series, I have been amassing a bunch of new choons ( I can’t say that enough) and Lps that I’ve been dying to put on mixes. Before I get into the mix, I want to say a HUGE “Thank You” to all the people that have contributed to the Series so far. The mixes have been eclectic and on point. There are a few more left, so they’ll be dropped each Monday until the well is dry…until next year. I released the Summer Special last year, so in keeping with the Summer vibe, here is FMF Vol. 29: Frank ‘N Beans. Everyone needs a mix that they can play while it’s warm, and this is the kick off here at FMF. This particular mix I believe is a great jump start to your Summer season, with healthy portions of Latin, Brazilian, Deep Funk, Funky Soul, Hammond sides, and well, Bill Cosby. This is just a drop in the bucket. I have a large amount of stuff I’ve been kind of holding back, which includes a Latin Mix I have been dying to get out ( go over to Funky 16 Corners to get Larry’s great Spanish Grease mix for another Summertime fix), perfect for a BBQ or a Summer drive. That being said, put on your flip flops, grab a beer or a cold drink, sit on your porch or in your favorite chair, and dig in to the 29th installment of Flea Market Funk.

FMF Vol. 29: Frank ‘N Beans Track List

Kenny Smith & the Lovelighters – Go For Yourself (Edit)/ Now-Again
Mad Dog & the Pups – Funky Monkey/ Magic City
The Joe Cuba Sextet – Ooh! Ah/ Tico
Roger Collins – She’s Looking Good/ Galaxy
Bill Cosby – Hooray For the Salvation Army Band/ WB
The David Rockingham Trio – Soulful Chant/ Josie
Mongo Santamaria – The Windjammer/ Atlantic
The Cecil Holmes Soulful Sounds – 2001/ Buddah
Bill Black’s Combo – Shoo-Bee-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day/Hi
Les McCann Ltd – Fake Out/ Limelight
O’Donel Levy – People Make the World Go Round/ Groove Merchant
Toots & the Maytals – Funky Kingston/ Island
Jorge Ben – Cuidado Com O Bulldog/ Phillips

Download or Listen to FMF Vol. 29: Frank ‘N Beans

Keep Diggin’!

Brother Jack McDuff – Hot Barbecue

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Brother Jack McDuff – Hot Barbecue from the Prestige 45

Here’s a midweek treat for all of the Flea Market Funk Family. It’s a bit of a preview of what’s to come on Friday, as I am finally dropping another podcast. I still have some Guest DJ Mixes on deck (have no fear), but I figured I’d throw this side out, which is one of my favorite Latin organ sides. In fact, it’s been done a bunch of times, also by Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers (on Milestone Records). You can read all about Brother Jack McDuff from the very first FMF post, the post that started it all, here. For now though, get those Summer vibes flowing, and settle in with the Brother as he does what he does best, smokes it on the Hammond. What’s ahead is FMF Vol. 29: Frank ‘N Beans. It’s a great selection of Summer inspired sides and artists, that you can pump at your next barbecue, gathering, or soiree. Enjoy this side, and I’ll see you Friday, Keep Diggin’!

FMF Guest Mix Series: DJ Prime Cuts

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DJ Prime Cuts always coming correct with the Reggae

I’ve know DJ Prime Cuts for a long time. I mean, we go back pretty far. We have been collecting vinyl together for the better part of 15 years plus. We’ve traveled all over this country (and the world for that matter) on a quest for vinyl. Although we’ve grown older, got married, and become adults (for the most part), the love we both share for records still runs deep. I can always count on Prime to go digging (when he’s not being a Gourmet Chef, but he still makes the time), and I can easily say we’ve never had a squabble about a record, because who better to lose out to a rare 45 or some heavy JA shit than one of your friends? I’ve seen his record collection go from big, to frigging bigger, and the stuff he was pulling on the cheap when he lived in Philadelphia was unbelievable. He’s a regular at The Spot and a member of the Asbury 45 Sessions Team. I’m proud to call this guy my friend, and fellow DJ. Here’s a mix from his deep, deep, Jamaican crates:

Yes Rasta!!! Tracklist

Super Cat – Cry Fi De Youth
Nigger Kojack – Hole in the Bucket
Cocoa Tea – Love the People Want
Techniques – Little Did You Know
Tapper Zukie – Man Ah Warrior
Justin Hinds & the Dominoes w/the Skatalites – Corner Stone
Alton Ellis – Knock on Wood
Delroy Wilson – Easy Snappin’
Michael Bitas – Die Yu Die
Bob Andy – I’ve Got To Go Back Home
Wailing Souls – Run My People
Congos – Fisherman
U-Roy – Dreadlocks Dread
Highlites Sons of Jah – Freedom of Movements (Dub)
Big Joe – Dub Girl
Augustus Pablo – Brace a Boy
Culture – This Train
Johnny Osbourne – We Need Love
The Soul Bros. – Chicken & Booze
Techniques – Queen Majesty
U-Roy – Chalice in the Palace

Yes Rasta!!! DJ Prime Cuts Guests at Flea Market Funk

$500 Stereo in a $75 Car

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Probably the best table and nicest new guy all day.

As the heat was back once again, like the Roots, I had to hit it and quit it this morning. I arrived kind of early to find a bustling market. The scouting report from yesterday was that it was lame as hell (Friday is generally record day, but I opt for Saturdays), so I wasn’t expecting too, too much. There was another Jazz record show going on Fri/Sat/Sun up North, and believe it or not, that drew some regular wackies away. The main wackie being the man with egg in his beard, or our old pal Egg Beard. I’m sure the thought of cherry 78 Jazz records for this man (geez that sounds like an E Bay handle) being handled by non professionals had him up for weeks. However, I heard the Stinkie Steve was back, fresh with a new ‘do and the same attitude. He was trying to shake this old guy down because he was selling his records too cheap. In fact, he told him to give him $5 for every ten records he tells how much their worth. I believe he also said he was in Journey for five years as well. Apparently he was trying to unload a well beat copy of an “I Who Have Nothing” 45 for huge bucks. One could only hope it was Ray Fraser and Shades of Madness, but the guy said he wasn’t sure. It could have been Tom Jones for all we know. That Stinkie is a sly one. Good times people. The Old Man’s stash is dwindling fast, but Psych Dave hooked me up with a few gems, especially the Gary Bartz Lp. I had a great conversation with an older Black gentleman who was screaming about kids today with $500 stereos in a $75 car, playing that damn Hip Hop. He didn’t discriminate, and yelled at the ladies, or “Lot Lizards”, who enjoy being called a bitch. He said if he’d ever have called his wife a bitch, he would have gotten strychnine in his drink! I don’t want to cross paths with that woman. All in all, it wasn’t as humid as last week when I was there, but the records were few and far between. I’d like to send out a big FU to the cats selling shitty records without a cover that were “all different prices”. Maybe you should stick to your NASCAR memorobilia, and realize a sealed Ratt record really is worth about $.07. That’s my rant for today. DJ Prime Cuts is up on deck on Monday on the Guest Mix Series. He’s got some tight Reggae goodness he wants to share. Stay tuned. Here’s the booty I found in the field today:

45s:
Luther Ingram – Help Me Love/ Koko
The Staple Singers – Give A Damn/ Stax
Doris Troy/ Bossa Nova Blues/ Atlantic
Tommy Hunt – Jerkin’ Around/ Forever Oldies (Reissue)
The Bar-Kays – Don’t Do That/ Volt
Super Snooper and Blabber Mouse – Monster Shindig/ HBR
Twistin’ Kings – Congo Part 1/ Motown

Lps:

The Lemon Pipers – Green Tambourine/ Buddah
Gary Bartz – Music Is My Sanctuary/ Capitol
Nina Simone – Baltimore/ CTI
The Ornette Coleman Quartet – This Is Our Music/ Atlantic

Keep Diggin’!

R.I.P. Tim Russert. Sunday mornings will never be the same. Big Shoes to fill.

Freddie McCoy – Summer In the City

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Freddie McCoy – Summer In the City from the Prestige Records 45

With all the hot, humid, and down right nasty heat we have had as of late, I decided to post this record. In fact, it will be included on a future mix I have in the works called Prestige on Prestige. This mix will feature my favorite cuts from the Prestige label. Keep your eyes and ears out for that in the near future. I will hopefully have my latest podcast mixed down over the weekend, and will drop it sometime next week. I think you’ll enjoy it, as it has some recent finds as well as some tunes you’ll love to play while hanging with a cold one in the Summer. For now, let’s get into “Summer In the City” by Freddie McCoy from 1967 on Prestige Records.

When we talk about Soul Jazz, there are a lot of names that come into play. We always talk about the organ, because let’s face it: McGriff, Holmes, McDuff, Jimmy Smith, Shirley Scott, the list goes on and on. How about a vibraphonist? Freddie McCoy started out in 1961, and along side Johnny Hammond in 1963 on the Prestige label ( releasing Lonely Avenue )would start his journey into Jazz history. He was a cat who really didn’t play for the critics, but for himself, and would be known for laying down some funky grooves and a load of Soul jazz sides. His seven record run with this very label ended in 1968, but he’d move on to the Budda subsidiary Cobblestone to release a fave over at Funky 16 Corners, Gimme Some! in 1971. While on the Prestige label, his albums were produced by Cal Lampley. Lampley has produced artists like Groove Holmes, Miles Davis, Joe Jones (Introducing the Psychedelic Guitar of..which looks interesting, I need to have it), among many other reissues of the likes of Nina Simone, etc. When Lampley was replaced by Bob Porter, McCoy Tyner did not record for Prestige again. That is a question that was raised shortly after about McCoy’s departure, and if indeed Porter’s presence had anything to do with the absence of one of the funkiest Soul Jazz players around.

The song itself, as we all know is a classic. No doubt recorded after the Lovin’ Spoonful had success with it in 1966, The Freddie McCoy Septet hit pay dirt with this side. Along with Freddie on vibes, his band line up of Wilbur Dad Buscomb, Edward David Williams (trumpet), JoAnne Brackeen (piano) Wally Richardson (guitar) Eustis Guillemet (bass) and Ray Lucas (drums) were laying down some funky Soul Jazz whether they knew it or not. Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs in 1967, one can only wish they were a fly on the wall at this session (as well as many, many others there). This is the type of Soul Jazz record I like to find. I got this thing for next to nothing, and to me, it was a really great find. It’s records like this that push me to dig deeper and deeper, uncovering forgotten gems and bringing them to the masses. I’ll be back Monday with another FMF Guest Mix from the Guest Mix Series. Keep Diggin’!

**PS: Check out my man SF from The Offside Rules collabo with the wunderkid Jozy Altidore (formerly of NY Red Bull, now of Villereal) on a play list here. Jozy, we’re gonna miss you man, but good luck! By the looks of this playlist, his kicking is better than his picking, knowwhutimsayin?

Collective Consciousness Society – Whole Lotta Love

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Collective Consciousness Society – Whole Lotta Love from the Rak Records 45

I’m hoping everyone enjoyed the Guest Mix by Devil Dick. I thought I might shake it up a bit (but not too much) and go off base for FMF with a Psych Mix. While I can enjoy the genre from guys like Andy Votel, DJ Shadow, or any of the contributing Psych heads from Soul Strut, I had to give props to the Devil Dick because his love for those records runs deep as well. On with the progam. What we have here tonight, is a record I’d heard of, as a matter of fact I’d heard of the label too. Trouble is, I never see them out in the field. Cool Hands Luke rocked a RAK record at one of the 45 Sessions, and my man DJ Save 1 out of Rhode Island hepped me to this on sale over the web. I opened up with this at the last Asbury Park 45 Sessions. Here is a great record and cover version of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” from C.C.S. in 1970 on Rak Records.

C.C.S. were a British group formed by Bluesman Alexis Korner and vocalist Peter Thorup. The band itself also consisted of different studio cats who would be around, but also included Tony Carr (drums), Herbie Flowers (bass), Harold Beckett (trumpet), Harold McNair (woodwind), and Henry Lowther (trumpet), among others. This wasn’t all, as they were going for a unique sound to rival the top Rock acts of the day. So they would grab the creme de la creme of Jazz/ Studio musicians of the time which also included Kenny Wheeler, Les Condon and trombonist Don Lusher, mixed in with Ronnie Ross on baritone, Danny Moss on tenor, and Ray Warleigh on flute. The entire line up would always be subject to change throughout the band’s history. The band’s interpretation of time period Rock tunes was quite interesting, and Korner’s Blues influence would shine through on their records. How could this band not be good with the best studio session players in the band! A lot of their music was arranged by conductor John Cameron, who added in different timing and changes in otherwise radio specific songs. This could prove to be a bit much (and tricky) for the players on tour, and eventually the band would disband in 1973. Korner would move on to start the group Snape with King Crimson members Boz Burrell and Ian Wallace. This tune was also used as the theme song for the Brit telly show Top of the Pops (which may or may not be covered by TOTP Orchestra not CCS) and reached into the UK Singles chart in 1970. They recorded for the most part on Mickie Most’s Rak label, which I’m a fan of as well. It’s a good looking 45 label, as you can clearly see from the scan.

“Whole Lotta Love” by C.C.S. is right up there with Dennis Coffey and Ike and Tina Turner’s cover versions of the mighty Zep. I think it might even be better IMHO. The flute, which many people may be annoyed by, just furthers this band legitimacy. Their interpretation, often out of time, and a bit odd and Jazzy, is definitely a hit for me. Being from the States, you know I didn’t grow up with Top of The Pops, so forgive me my UK brethren if I’m hyped up on a TV theme you all grew up with every weekend. The odd timing-Rock-meets-Jazz-meets-Funky Big Band is why I’m loving it. I hope you do too. See you Friday with another slice of goodness. I have started gathering records for my next mix, which I can assure you you are going to dig. Keep Diggin’!

FMF Guest Mix Series: Devil Dick

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Here is another installment of the FMF Guest Mix Series. This next selector is no stranger to digging, unsleeved 45′s, flea markets, or styrene. He is the former guitar player of banned from MTV band Godspeed, (here’s their Wiki entry as well), and current member of Solace, we instantly bonded over our shared love of good beer, coffee, and of course fuzzy 45′s. This guy has the best kept secret record collection in Central Jersey. When not being a super Dad, slaying heavy metal riffs, or making sweet soul mix tapes (yes I said tapes, as in cassettes), he put together a mix of his specialty genre: Psyche. It’s a bit of a stretch for the Flea Market Funk sound, but I assure you, this guy is an authority on it. Here’s what DD had to say about the mix, so enjoy!

“When I found out DJ Pres was doing this guest DJ mix thing I thought I’d put together a killer Fuzzy and Funky mix for him but when I talked to him on the phone he was all about getting some Psychedelic jams together…. I was more than happy to oblige.
It was pretty tough picking out the tunes in this mix because I could have gone on for days and days without stopping but I wanted to keep it brief and to the point and then I thought shit man, I have so many tunes I want to use why not do a sister mix!?! So I did!
I put together not 1 but 2 great sampling’s of late 60’s & early 70’s psychedelic music with some wicked fuzzy guitar tones mixed throughout, lot’s of killer organ work, some smooth but pumping bass lines and last but not least some trippy vocals and lyrics. Keep your dancing shoes under your bed for this one but bust out that bean bag chair from the attic and dust of your lava lamp, plug in you “Black Light”, break out your “sack” & burn, burn, burn!!!

1.) Star Trek Theme: For me this show really embodies the 60’s, when it really was all about exploration, exploration of body (love-in’s and free love) and mind (drugs, drugs, drugs!)
This show was trippy to my young and under developed mind. I really wanted to use the theme that has Kirk saying “To boldly go where no man has gone before” but couldn’t find it in my collection, but I thought this was a cool “intro” so to speak…. I dropped in a little excerpt from the John Peel “have a marijuana” LP for good measure at the end just in case you didn’t realize where this was all headed….

2.) Freak Scene: A Million Grains of Sand – This here is a rare one folks, from the album Psychedelic Psoul. This is quintessential extreme example of early experimental psych. Very obscure, so information is sparse but I think it came out quite early, in or around 67.

3.) Beacon Street Union: My Love – Part of the so-called “Bosstown Sound” (along with such groups as Ultimate Spinach, Orpheus, and Earth Opera), named for a street in their native Boston, whose original members were John Lincoln Wright (vocals, percussion), Paul Tartachny (guitar, vocals), Wayne Ulaky (bass, vocals), Robert Rhodes (keyboards, bass), and Richard Weisberg (drums). With the exception of a few rock standards, their diverse music was composed by group members, primarily Wright and Ulaky. Not a major rarity but a great cut non-the-less.

4.) SRC: Secret Destination – One of Detroit’s finest IMHO, Along with the Stooges, MC5, and the Amboy Dukes, SRC (Scott Richardson Chase) was a group of local heroes of the Michigan rock scene in the late ’60s and early ’70s, although in terms of national success, they were relegated to the second division populated by such bands as the Frost and the Rationals. This cut is from their second album from 1969 and man what a mover! Killer guitar work, crazy organ working behind the guitar and the vocal melodies and lyrics are tits! These guys just never got their just deserts.

5.) Aorta: Sleep Tight / Cataclyptic – I’ve posted these guys before in my lil’ blog before here: These 2 cuts are from their great and under rated self-titled album which is getting harder to find these days. Enjoy these tracks that all run together, strange sound collages, buzzy psychedelic guitar, and bizarre drug-induced lyrics.

6.) J.D. Blackfoot: The Ultimate Prophecy – I’ve also posted Mr. Blackfoot at The Devil’s Music before. A killer rare non-lp cut. Here is a killer trippy hippy guitar psych masterpiece from this American Indian from his 1st album of the same name.

7.) Tomorrow: Revolution – Another rare psych gem here from Britain released in 1968, recognized as Steve Howe´s pre-Yes band these guys along with the soft Machine and Pink Floyds were among London’s great psych bands. Most known for “My White Bicycle” this is an equally trippy ride, strap in!!!

8.) Blackfeather: At the Mountains of Madness – Blackfeather were from Down Under and are probably best known for the fact that Brain Johnson vocalist ( I dare not call him a “singer”) from AC/DC was in this band. He played the “recorder”…. I don’t think there is any recorder on this cut. Read all about them here: Blackfeather This is a mighty rare album unless your from “down under”…”

Download or Listen to: At the Mountains of Madness Pt. 1: A Psych Mix for Flea Market Funk by Devil Dick

So if you dig what is laying out here for your ears stop over to The Devil’s Music for the Twin of “At the Mountains of Madness Pt. 2”

Keep Diggin’!

96 Degrees In the Shade

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Weird Religious candle of a guy with a knife killing someone else. Only at the Spot!

For what feels like an August day in June, Summer has rolled in quickly. I was out at the Spot at 7:30, and between the haze and the heat, I didn’t want to stick around too much. I just wanted to go through some vinyl and get the hell out of Dodge. I ran into Jack the Ripper, Hell Bob, Psyche Dave, and my favorite pest Egg Beard in the same crates Johnny No Change has been lugging around for a month. If you like Polka music, these crates are all yours. I’ve cleaned them out pretty much of anything worthwhile. We moved around a bit, but this week The Old Man was not holding. The Pisane had a few pieces, but you know, the heat was brutal. I noticed an extra amount of religious garb, and even some hand written messages on paper in a clear plastic frame. People will sell anything, and I mean anything. As we were leaving, we saw Egg Beard in his little import car high tailing it out. For that guy to leave at 8:45am, there has to be something wrong. It wasn’t all a failure though, as I got out of The Spot without losing my shirt, and picked up a few little pieces that I’m happy showed up. I need to finish another podcast, as I probably have enough for about ten right now. Hopefully next weekend I’ll be able to get one out. Don’t forget the Guest Mix Series on Monday with the one and only Devil Dick. Here’s the scores for today if you’re counting:

45′s:

First Man on the Moon Commemorative 45
Roger Collins – She’s Looking Good/ Galaxy
Mad Dog & the Pups – Funkey Monkey/ Magic City

Lps/ 12″

Sandy Nelson – Super Drums/ Imperial
Ramsey Lewis – Wade in the Water/ Cadet
Odetta – Sometimes I Feel Like Crying/ RCA
Digital Underground – Humpty Dance/ Tommy Boy
Snow – Informer/ East West
Fugees – The Score/ Columbia

Keep Diggin’!

Karl Hector & the Malcouns – Sahara Swing

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Karl Hector & the Malcouns – Sahara Swing from the upcoming Now-Again Records release Sahara Swing

Here we are at the end of another hectic week at FMF. No matter how hectic it gets, I know I have to keep getting the music out there, so when Havana Joe over at Stones Throw hit me off with an upcoming release, you know I have to come correct and bring the music to the masses. Most of the time here at FMF we focus on the old, keeping the best music never heard alive. That’s not to say that there aren’t people today making great music that sounds like it should have been for the years 1967-1974. That’s excitement to me, and I’m happy to bring some great stuff to you today. Here’s Karl Hector & the Malcouns with “Sahara Swing” on Now-Again/ Stones Throw Records, from the upcoming release of the same name. It hits the streets on 07.08.08.

Karl Hector & the Malcouns are a super group of musicians made up of Funk Pilots leader Karl Hector and Jay Whitefield (guitarist for the Whitefield Brothers and the Poets of Rhythm), and Malcouns founders Zdenko Curlija and Thomas Myland. Whitefield was also involved in previously in the now defunct Hotpie and Candy Records label. With Bo Baral ( of “Funky Sex Machine” and POR fame) on percussion, Wolfi Schick, ( sax, flute and bass clarinet), Ben Abarbanel-Wolff (tenor, baritone sax), Stu Krause (trumpet, valve trombone), and the aforementioned Whitefield (guitar) and Curlija and Myland (drum/ percussion and organ/ bass respectively) they were able to come up with a blazing full length. Their sound is rooted in Afro Funk, that along the way taps into sounds of Ethiopia, but doesn’t forget pieces of American Funk, African drums (on the Cymande tip), and many influences they all have picked up along their musical journeys.

This record is more proof why Stones Throw Records and it’s family of labels is a much needed shot of freshness in this otherwise stale music industry. Heavily flavored with the Afro sound , but filled with plenty of chunky Funk guitar, spooky organ, and a blazing back beat, “Sahara Swing” will keep you bumping whether you’re riding a camel in the desert reading some Paul Bowles (yeah we read here at FMF), or chilling out on a Summer night with your feet up and a cold beer in your hand. This track definitely contains elements of Kraut Rock and the spirit of Fela Kuti and Mulatu Astatke, as well the Godfather of Soul. Karl Hector & the Malcouns let go a steaming mixture of music for all that can appreciate rhythm. This is music the way it used to sound, the way it should sound today, and the way we will always serve it up here at Flea Market Funk. Please stay tuned for more Stones Throw Records releases in upcoming posts. We dig the sound, whether it’s East Coast Daptone or West Coast Stones Throw, this kind of music needs to be out there. I’m not forgetting the Midwest or even the Japanese, Australian, UK or European cats holding it down. If you have the music with the sound, and you know what sound I’m referring to, get it to me, and let’s keep all this music alive and kicking. See you Monday with another Guest DJ Series, this time my man Devil Dick will be holding it down with an all Psych mix here, and a sister mix to go along with it on The Devil’s Music. Keep Diggin’!