Monthly Archives: December 2009

FMF Vol. 35: Downtown: Raw Funk & Soul 45′s

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It looks like 2009 is coming to a close, it came so fast, I really can’t believe it. It’s been a great year of digging, traveling, and making moves here at FMF. From the killer Asbury Park 45 Sessions with the AP 45 Crew, to record digging in the UK with DJ Andy Smith, drinking whiskey with the legendary Keb Darge, doing a 4 turntable, no practice, 4 hour show with DJ Un-G here in AP, opening up for the Budos Band in BK and Joss Stone here in AP, the all 45 gig at the Ace Hotel in NYC, hanging with really cool peeps like photographer Eilon Paz and one of the best collectors around Pat James Longo (who spun at the 45 Sessions and killed it!), to meeting a ton of new faces on here and out at live shows. I’m proud at what Flea Market Funk has become. It’s unbelievable that we’re approaching our third anniversary here in March, but we are. So, in honor of a good year, I figured why the hell not put out a mix as a tribute to 2009. You’ll notice that the cover is a dilapidated building. In fact, it’s one of my favorite buildings in Asbury Park. It’s been abandoned for years, and is now slated to get razed any day. It’s one of the remaining original downtown buildings in the center of town on Cookman Avenue. It’s been many things throughout the years, but has always stuck in my mind as a bar because of the giant LIQUOR sign up top. The photo reminds me of how these records can be abandoned and forgotten just like this building. It’s up the you and I to keep this music alive, ya dig? This mix has a bunch of stuff I dug up in the UK and in Asbury Park, at the Spot, and a few reissues and redits that I really enjoy and haven’t included on a mix yet. The mix starts off with a Modern Funk monster from Australia, and has everything from UK Library music, Disco Soul, Northern Soul, gritty Funk, and some Sweet Soul to round it off. You may recognize some voices on there as well in between tracks, I dug up a few oldies from some guest mixes I did years ago. Please enjoy this mix, and if you dig it, pass it on. It clocks in around 42 minutes.

FMF Vol. 35: Downtown: Raw Funk & Soul 45′s Tracklist
Intro
The Putbacks – Diamond Cutter/ Hope Street
Albert Jones – Vida Blue/ Tri-City Recording Company
Eddie Bo – If It’s Good To You (It’s Good For You)/ Scram
Jo Ann Garrett – I’m A Now Girl (Do It Now)/ Duo Records
Little Carl Carlton – Competition Ain’t Nothin’/ Back Beat
Herbie Hancock – Bringing Down the Birds (B-Boy Edit)/ MGM
Studio G’s Beat Group – Movin’/ Licorice Soul
LJ Waiters & the Electrifiers – If You Ain’t Gettin’ Your Thing/ La Shawn
Barbara St. Clair – Teacherman/ Soul 7
Willie Gresham and the Free Food Ticket – Step By Step/ Majesty
Sarah Webster Fabio – Sweet Songs/ Tramp Records
The Highlighters – Lulu/ Chess
Mayer Hawthorne and the County – Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out/ Stones Throw
The Messengers – California Soul/ Soul
Outro by Mike G of the Jungle Brothers

Download or Listen to FMF Vol. 35: Downtown: Raw Funk & Soul 45′s

Thank You for all your support of Flea Market Funk in 2009, and I’ll be back in 2010 even better. Most importantly, Keep Diggin’!

Gloria Taylor – Grounded

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Download or Listen To Gloria Taylor – Grounded Part 1 from the Silver Fox 45

Ahh the Holidays. Time off from work, a little rest and relaxation, and well, time to get back to the business of some writing. December left me a bit slack, so before the end of the year, I hope to throw a few more gems your way. I’ve got a stockpile of 45′s in my queue to review, and decided to get cracking once again tonight. Once again, before I get into this record, I just want to say a huge THANKS to all of the FMF extended family for checking out my ramblings for diggin’ what I have been doing for the last almost, gulp, three years. So without any further delay, here’s Gloria Taylor with “Grounded” from 1969 on Silver Fox Records.

There isn’t a lot to dig up on Gloria Taylor, and it seems like my random record pick has been written about by the likes of Oliver Wang and DJ Matthew Africa as of late (by late I mean 2009). Although they are talking about a record she did, “The World That’s Not Real” on Selector Sound ( which coincidentally KILLS it )from sometimes in the 70′s, I am talking particularly this time on an upbeat Soul 45. Apparently Taylor went by Gloria Ann Taylor as well, and floated around the music business, recording for such labels as Silver Fox, King Soul, Glowhiz, Whizenglo, Mercury, Columbia, Houseguests, and more. A common thread on her records was husband/ producer Walt Whisenhunt. Apparently his ventures with her into Disco and Disco Soul turn up in the later 70′s as well. I have had some good luck playing this tune out and about, and believe a bought it off the Old Man in a pile of 7″s a good while ago. What I did dig up was that Gloria Taylor is somebody’s aunt (via a YouTube) video comment, so if you’re reading me, get in touch, I’d love to know more about the life of Gloria Taylor. Keep Diggin’!

Curtis Mayfield – (Don’t Worry) If There’s A Hell Below, We’re All Going Go

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Listen to or Download Curtis Mayfield – (Don’t Worry) If There’s A Hell Below, We’re All Going Go

At times here at FMF, I tend to focus on much of the obscure. In fact, I try to stay away from a lot of the popular stuff because every one in the blogosphere has done it. Not to say that people have done it wrong, or that the music is not good. On the contrary, the music is good, I just always wanted to establish my own style and own way of relating the FMF gospel to anyone who was reading this. What started out as a small group, has most definitely grown into a huge family, which I’m very thankful for. So I figured I’d go back to an artist I quite admire, and love to listen to any time. Here’s Curtis Mayfield with “(Don’t Worry) If There’s A Hell Below, We’re All Going Go”on Curtom Records from 1970.

Curtis Mayfield has been there for me many times in my life, in many circumstances. Whether it be my own struggles with life, or just driving down the street with my car windows down blasting one of the greatest producers and performers, Curtis was always around. As the leader of the Impressions, Mayfield not only performed, but wrote and produced the music, something that wasn’t exactly normal for that day. This move would go on to influence many artists in the years to come. As a solo artist, he was a pioneering face of Funk, while simultaneously illustrating the struggles in the Black Community, and promoting Black Pride. Some say that Super Fly was his best achievement (and I would agree), and that after that, Mayfield was always chasing that point in his career. A time he’d never get back to. Songs like “Kung Fu” speak to me in the same way as anything off of SF did, and when I hear “Move On Up”, I can’t help to smile when I hear those horns in the beginning. Mayfield’s music brings up a lot of emotions to me: sadness, struggle, confusion, but also happiness. I can’t help to reflect back to a time, when a talented drummer I knew, Justin Cox, had a photo of Curtis after he was paralyzed on his wall. I was just getting into Curtis more, and the look on his face in that photo was that of despair. As I listened to more and more of his music, and dug deeper and deeper into his catalog out in the field, I began to understand that struggle a little more, and appreciate Curtis Mayfield as not just an artist, but an incredible person. So, in light of me picking up this side recently, I figured I’d throw in some Curtis before the year ends here at FMF. Enjoy your Monday, shovel your car out in you’re in the Northeast of the US, and definitely Keep Diggin’!

Boris Gardiner – Love’s Been Good To Me

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Boris Gardiner as a member of the Upsetters.


Download or Listen to Boris Gardiner – Love’s Been Good To Me from the Dynamic Records Lp Soulful Experience

Todays’ record is a rainy day record for sure. Hot out of some crates at the Asbury Park Record Show, I figured I’d give this guy a little shine. It’s not Funk, like you may have thought from his record with The Boris Gardner Happening. It is Boris Gardiner, backed by the Happening, but playing some Sweet type Soul with “Love’s Been Good To Me” on Dynamic Records.

Boris Gardiner was born in 1943 in Kingston, Jamaica. He was a founding member of the teen group The Rhythm Aces, The Broncos (home base The Bronco Club), Kes Chin & The Souvenirs, and a member of Byron Lee’s Dragonaires, as well as Carl Malcolm and the Afro Caribs, playing the tourist and cruise circuit during the 1960′s. He’s also known for being a studio bass player, playing with such notables as The Aggrovators, The Upsetters, and the Crystallites. When he was still sessioning, he went on to release a record in 1970, “Elizabethan Reggae”. Mistakenly credited to his Byron Lee (who really produced it) for the first month, Gardiner finally got his credit after that. He has lent his name to many records, most notably not his own, the Upsetters Roast Fish, Collie Weed, & Corn Bread . He has recorded for Dynamic, Trojan, Duke, Water Lily, Revue and many others. While his first record made a bit of a splash in the UK, he has had more success in Jamaica more than anywhere. He had a comeback in 1986 with a cover of Mac Davis’s 1986 song “I Want To Wake Up With You”. His funkier sides include “Ghetto Funk” on Leal, and a cover of “Melting Pot”. Highly recommended and a bit different from this Soul side I have here today.

While Gardiner has held his roots firmly in Reggae music, this record is a bit Johnny Nash like, some crossover Soul. Not true Soul, but very Soulful. This record contains some great playing (The Happening were just that, happening!). Boris on the Bass and Lead Vocals, Peter Ashbourne on Electric Piano, Keith Sterling on Organ, Wallace Wilson on Guitar, Steve Laws helping out on Bass, Paul Douglas on Drums, Larry McDonald on Percussion, and Camille and Margaret Lewis and Majorie Whylie lending some Back Up Voices. These are some slow burning tunes people, perfect for a rainy day. This record was reissued on CD in 2004 by Vampisoul with a bunch of bonus tracks. Like I said, this is some rainy day, Soul for you, I hope you enjoy it and stay dry. Keep Diggin’!

Asbury Lanes Record Swap

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Out of the depths of this shitty weather, comes a shining light.  It was the Asbury Lanes Record Show and Garage Sale.  I had forgotten that it was going to pop up, and this one I didn’t want to miss.  I’ve missed a few over the last several times, and since Liverpool were playing Arsenal (what a shite result, let’s not speak on it), I figured I’d go after for a Sunday dig.  The weather was dreadful, and surprisingly, there were a lot of record vendors set up for business.  The usual suspects were around (DJ Prime Mundo had hung out for the first half of the L’pool match then hit the show, and DJ Jack the Ripper was also selling): Hell Bob and Silent G, plus Reggae LaMar, and bunch of new people.  For the most part, the new vendors didn’t really get me that excited (bins of Prog Rock and 80′s hits on 45 I can easily pass up).  Just when I thought it might be a dud show, I ripped into a few crates that yielded some good scores.  It was nice to catch up with some old friends, get a few bits of vinyl, as well as hook up with a Studio 1 shirt. It didn’t really help that there was some Hippy Phil Lesh fest going on at the Convention Center, but I was able to push pass the patchoili oil and get down to business. Small digging is better than NO diggin! Here are the scores for the day:

Lp’s:

Multiplication Rock – OST/ Capitol
Shirley Scott – The Soul Is Willing/ Prestige
Gil Scott-Heron – Pieces of A Man/ Flying Dutchman
Boris Gardiner – Soulful Experience/ Dynamic
Massive Attack – Any Love/ Massive Attack Record 12″

45′s

The Honey Comb – Want Ads/ Hot Wax
The Sylvers – Fool’s Paradise/ Pride
Etta James – Out On the Street Again/ Chess
The Messengers – California Soul/ Soul

The Putbacks – Diamond Cutter

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Listen to or Download The Putbacks “Diamond Cutter” on Hope Recordings

After a long weekend and the beginning of an even longer week, I bring you something new. I get a lot of mail here at Flea Market Funk. A lot is putting it lightly. In fact, I get so much if I do not respond to you quickly, it’s not because I don’t like you. It’s because my mail pile (and mailbox) are more than full, and I’m trying to juggle a crazy life and this site. That being said, have no fear, I will get back to all of you. I promise. Ok, this record is a new release I like to get some Modern stuff once in a while, and I’m pretty excited about this bad boy. Let’s get into The Putbacks on Hope Street Recordings with “Diamond Cutter”.

From their MySpace page: “The PutBacks are known for their deep funky groove and their dirty, raw and melodic sound. After years as a backing band for vocalists such as Kate Ceberano and Nat Dunn, the PutBacks began peddling their own brand of raw instrumental funk in 2007.”

“The PutBacks lay down a groove exactly how I want to hear it: With super-heavy authentic tones, attitude and feel…” – Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos/Lanu)

Hope Recordings is based out of Victoria, Australia, and their studio is an abandoned textile mill and karate school in Brunswick. How cool is that? This record was a split 7″ with Chantal Mitvalsky. The Putbacks are made up of Tom Martin on guitar, Mick Meagher on bass, Rory McDouggall on drums, and Steve Teakle on organ. As if Austrailia’s Bamboos weren’t stirring up enough of the Funk pot Down under, The Putbacks “put yo’ back” into some mighty fine grooves on this one. Originally released in March ’09, I just got a hold of this thing. Late pass! The beginning organ breaks into a JB’s-esque groove and then rips right open. If the JB’s had their own monorail, the Putbacks have a steam train that runs right from Australia directly to every record player in the world. A superb opening effort from these guys. This is exactly what FMF likes to see and hear. This is what Funk music is all about. Keep Diggin’!

RIP Monty Stark

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Monty Stark all the way on the far right.

I was saddened yesterday, when I logged on to my Facebook and saw this:

“To All Concerned. It is with great sadness that I inform you of Monty’s passing. Monty left us all in the early evening of Thanksgiving, November 26, 2009. Monty courageously battled Cancer on his own terms, seeking not to endure the pain of the usual therapy, but went his own way at Hospice of the Valley in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he lived out his last several weeks. I was honored to be his friend.”

Condolences were posted by Monty’s friend, Dennis Sexton, Phoenix, AZ.

I put a call into the Stones Throw publicists office, but got no return call. It was confirmed on Soul Strut later that afternoon. For those of you who didn’t know, Monty was part of a band called The Stark Reality with members Phil Morrison, John Abercrombie, and Vinnie Johnson. Beatheads and crate digger’s remember him as the kick ass vibes player sampled by Large Professor, J-Live, Madlib, Main Source and Black Eyed Peas. His music was rediscovered and brought back to life by Stones Throw Records in present times. I did not know Monty, but had seen many conversations with him on the Strut. From what I saw he was a kind man, who was happy to talk about the old days, sampling, and his music career. I was really sad, even though I was not close to him. He seemed like a guy who lived by his own rules and made everyone around him happy. Rest in Peace Monty Stark, may your music and legacy live on. Keep Diggin’!

I plan on doing a review of the Stark Reality in the very near future.

Eivets Rednow – Grazing In the Grass

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Listen to or Download Eivets Rednow – Grazing In the Grass from the Gordy Lp of the same name

It’s midweek here at FMF, and I wanted to throw out a cool side that I had forgotten I picked up a while ago. Originally I had seen it in Minneapolis when I was on tour, and when I went back to pick it up, it was gone. Fast forward a few years later and I picked up a beat up copy for half a buck at the Spot. It’s a cool little record, and some streetwear company (I believe it could have been Soul Rebel) put out the exact lettering on a black tee in the 90′s. Here’s Eivets Rednow with “Grazing In the Grass” from 1968 on Gordy Records.

Some of you may have figured it out by now, but if you haven’t, Eivets Rednow is really Stevie Wonder. Since he made his start blowing on the harmonica, it is no surprise that he released this record. However, there is some speculation that it was a secret record, released on Gordy instead of Motown because he was an up and coming star. Same company yeah, but who knows what the reception he would have been met with if he released this thing next to singles like “Uptight” or “Fingertips”? What’s really cool is the selection of songs on the record, and the fact that it’s all instrumental, with no vocals at all. This is no Stevie Wonder Songs In the Key of Life heat here people, but something a little off the beaten path. Stevie plays harmonica, drums, and clavinet while Benny Benjamin plays drums, and the master, James Jamerson is on the bass. Now before you get all Soul Strut on me and dismiss this as a “tepid terd”, remember that it is Stevie Wonder, and experimental albums are not uncommon. Unfortunately my copy of this record is pretty beat up, so I apologize if Stevie’s version of “Grazing In the Grass” is a bit mashed. I dig it, and I hope you will dig this little off the beaten path gem. I will see all of you soon. Keep Diggin’!

Two Shows To Check Out This Week

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Granola Funk Express


Eric Krasno & Chapter 2

I got a shout out from Julia over at the Creative Entertainment Group and she wanted to let me know that there were a few shows you might be interested in if you’re in the NYC area this week. This Thursday Dec. 3rd, Granola Funk Express and DJ Equal come through BB King’s. “Touring since 1997, GFE creates a live-wire party whenever they drop the beat! GFE’s musicconsists of positive hip-hop rhymes over a fusion of funk based jams which expand into reggae, rock, metal, blues and soul. With over 100 songs, GFE creates a musical collage of modern day pop-culture. They are an extravaganza of artistry; with five musicians, three emcee’s and a vocalist, the shows are Guaranteed Fresh Every time. GFE has a large and growing cross-country fan base who travels to see them play. Word of mouth advertising has been packing venues the band has only played one or two times. The band runs their own label called Akashic Records. ” More info on the show here.

On Friday Dec. 4th, Eric Krasno & Chapter 2 hit the Canal Room. “Eric Krasno has emerged as one of the leading guitarists on the scene today– he’s anywhere and everywhere at the same time. After establishing himself with the Lettuce crew, a fateful sit-in brought Eric to the Evans brothers and birthed Soulive in 1999. While touring steadily with Soulive, Krasno has involved himself in countless side projects, including production team Fyre Dept with collaborator Adam Deitch. The duo’s production credits span a variety of artists including Talib Kweli and 50 Cent. Eric is frequently found sharing a stage with today’s top musicians, from Stevie Wonder to Dave Matthews, Joshua Redman and John Scofield.” More info on that show here.

Both shows look great, so if you’re in the Big Apple, check them out! Keep Diggin’!