This week’s Big Ups takes us to the Left Coast with DJ Platurn. The 45 Sessions and Oakland Faders DJ and producer has been rocking the Bay Area for more than a minute. It is our pleasure to have him in this installment of the Big Ups series.
Check out more information about DJ Platurn on his site.
A decade old mix Flea Market Treats by Spair and DJ Platurn that still bangs!
Keep Diggin’!
A while back I put out the 45 shirt design, but just couldn’t get a collaboration that was quite right. However, as like minded individuals seem to always get together, the collaboration between Flea Market Funk and Listen Clothing begins. I have been a fan and supporting this company since their inception, and when I was on tour a few years back, my man Renz sent me a box of Listen stuff that has been worn on countless gigs, tours, and the like. Listen Clothing has been preserving the music, culture, and quality artists for over 10 years through their clothing and accessory lines. I am proud to announce the first (of many hopefully) Limited Edition tee shirt collaborations between Flea Market Funk and Listen: The 45 shirt.
Here’s a shirt that all you 45 heads have been fiending for: a nod to graphic design and typography combined with some great Funk and Soul 45 bands. There are some easy finds on here as well as some Holy Grails. We all have some of them, we all want some of them, but the bottom line is that these records are appreciated. I wanted to help preserve these artists in one of the most creative ways I could think of, the tee. We’re also working on some limited edition prints as well. After all, it’s “The Way We Live”.
Stay tuned for more details about buying this design in shirt and print form.
Click here to enlarge the graphic.
Keep Diggin’!
I am starting up the Guest Mix Series again over here at FMF. Last time I had a great bunch of mixes from everyone from Funky 16 Corners to the artist COOP to Jason Perlmutter to Supreme La Rock and more. This time I’ve reached out to some different DJs to put together a mix of whatever they like, not necessarily Funk and Soul. I’m doing this for two reasons: one, I want to have some Big Ups people give you some great mixes, and two, I wanted to start a sort of pledge drive here at FMF. I do not make money on FMF, everything is out of pocket and done for the love of the music. However, as my server costs are rising, it’s getting more expensive on the monthly. I’m asking you, the FMF readers, the faithful who have been here since the beginning, to donate.
You can donate by clicking this link and following the instructions on the page. Any little bit helps. Thank you for your continued support on FMF!
That being said, the first mix is from my man DJ Andy Smith out of London. Known for his genre smashing classic Document mix series as well as label specific vault digging mixes (Greensleeves, Trojan) and let’s not forget his Jam Up Twist party that plays all over the UK, Andy took some time to make a mix that will be up on FMF for a month exclusively before going public. It changes styles like Son of Bazerk, it’s fresh, and I’m hoping you are going to dig it as much as I did. More Guest Mixes to come. Stay tuned.
DJ Andy Smith Many Styles Mix
1) Let’s Rock – Feel (Vista Sounds)
2) Dyin’ To Be Dancin – Empress (Prelude)
3) Chill Out – Free expression (Vanguard)
4) The Art Of Drums – Macattack (Baad!)
5) Brooklyns In The House – Cut Master D.C (Be Bop & Fresh)
6) One For The Treble (Fresh) – Davy DMX (CBS/Tuff City)
7) The Party Scene – The Russell Brothers (Portrait)
8) Oily – Juggy (Sue)
9) Tutti Fruiti – Lee Austin (Polydor)
10) Egg Roll – (Unknown artist) – (Funk 45)
11) Move To Something Funky – BLVD Mosse (Scorpio)
12) Paper Chase – Krown Rulers (Soo Deff/Warlock)
13) I Aint Wid Dat (Inst) – Funk Master Wizzard Wiz (Tuff City)
14) Soupy – Maggie Threat (Dyno Voice)
15) Hard To Road To Hoe – Otis Lee (Soul Magic)
16) You Got To Have Money – The Exits (Gemini)
17) I Got A Woman – Ray Charles (Atlantic)
18) You Had A Woman – Geneva Vallier(Cash)
19) Love Bandit – The Cadets (Modern)
20) Bloodshot Eyes – Wynonie Harris (King)
21) Soon You’ll Be Gone – The Blues Busters (BRA)
Download or Listen To DJ Andy Smith Many Styles Mix from the FMF Guest Series
Keep Diggin’!
I told you I was upping the ante this year, and if you thought last week’s Big Ups was dope, then you’re in for another treat. This week we have one of the hardest working DJs/ producers out there, Uncle NU, aka DJ Nu-Mark. Uncle Nu is known for not just being a dope DJ, but a producer and solo artist who pushes the envelope in his live shows. His last tour experimented with toys and toy instruments, and he constructed a live set around these toys. Always innovating and forging new trails as a DJ, we’re stoked to have DJ Nu-Mark in this week’s Big Ups.
More on Uncle Nu here.
Follow DJ Nu-Mark on twitter.
Keep Diggin’!
Funky Bijou – Funky Bijou Anthem, the video
Straight out of Rennes, France comes Stereophonk Records. Headed up by DJ Deheb and DJ Marrrtin, this French label is releasing some scorching Funk, Soul, and Hip Hop 45s. Funky Bijou’s “Funky Bijou Anthem” is their first, with a run of 800 which sold out immediately. I can completely understand why. A perfect B-Boy anthem: a sad guitar loop, some tabla and Indian percussion, funky flute, plus some drums of death which make this rocker complete that keeps all the dancers uprocking all night long. These guys have a facebook page where you can check out more videos and information on the Stereophonk posse. This particular track has been adopted as a B-Boy anthem, recently played at the Redbull BC One in Moscow in 2011:
It’s a scorcher, reminiscent of “The Baden Persuader” from Starla Records and one of my favorite sitar break records, “Mather” by the Dave Pike Set. They’ve also got some pretty great remixes too, a funk filled remix of “Ooh Baby” from Smokey Robinson , and Patti Drew’s “Tell Him” (for the romantic B-Boy in you!). The promo videos they have created for each track are a great collage and just like putting sliced truffles under the skin of game fowl, it’s a nice pairing to say the least. They’re tagline at Stereophonk is: French Groove Recordings, and they more than live up to their name. Keep an eye and ear out from this crew, as they will stay on your radar after you hear some of these sides and remixes.
Funky Bijou – Funky Bijou Anthem
Keep Diggin’!
I woke up yesterday shocked to hear of the passing of Soul Train legend Don Cornelius. Even more shocked that it was from a self inflicted gun shot wound, an apparent suicide. Seriously? Very sad indeed. Don Cornelius introduced me to so many different artists as a child. I mean, I watched the damn show with my family, and continued to check it out always as I was growing up. I watched it for the music, not the fashion (although quite funny) and of course that Soul Train line. As I got older and started digging, I always came across the Soul Train compilations, which were important to an up and coming DJ like myself. Highlighting people I was familiar with: Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, The Spinners and the Dells (my dad’s favorite), I also got exposed to bands like the Natural Four, Bobby Blue Bland, and The Moments. This video highlights a lot of the great artists I got exposed to. Check out James Gadsen on the drums behind Bill Withers, and a gang of other great Funk, Soul, and Hip Hop artists that graced the Soul Train stage. Even Rosie Perez makes an appearance on the Soul Train line if you don’t blink.
Quest Love has spoken out on the passing of Don Cornelius. This is a really great, heartfelt article from a talented musician/ music historian. I am very sad that we’ve lost this legend. It seems like we’re losing a lot of them these days: Etta James, Jimmy Castor, and now Don Cornelius. A true innovator of television, human rights, and a music revolutionary. He changed the way we see music on tv, and exposed the world to some of the best artists we have ever known. We may not have Don Cornelius anymore, but we still have the thousands of clips all over the net of past episodes of Soul Train. You can also get a Soul Train like experience when you go to a Hot Peas and Butta DJ night, as Skeme Richards and company not only replicate the music, but play loads of Soul Train footage behind you as you dance the night away. Rest In Power Don, Peace and Soul forever.
Keep Diggin’!
The greatest thing about music, especially unreleased music, is that eventually someone finds it. Whether it’s some private press 45 in the trash, an acetate that was found at a garage sale, or as we found out this week from Jazzman Gerald, a lost master tape in a box in Texas, what one does with it is the important thing. Sites like mine and others that share these lost records help bring attention to the forgotten artists. Record labels like Minneapolis’ Secret Stash, go a step further. They not only find this forgotten and sometimes unreleased music, they put it out on vinyl. So far they have close to two dozen releases that range from African music to Russian and Peruvian Funk to Reggae interpretations of Miles Davis to lost Blaxploitation Soundtracks to Gospel Funk and more. The do it up right, give the Lp packaging the special deluxe treatment, and point blank put out good product.
“ We are dedicated to one thing, releasing great music in great collectible LP packages. ”
Their latest release is from Mickey Murray. Murray did his time on the Chitlin’ Circuit, as well as playing with Dyke and the Blazers, Wilson Picket, Staple Singers, and Aretha Franklin among others. Known for his hit single, the Otis Redding cover of “Shout Bamalama” from 1967, this Georgia native was slated to be the next James Brown. He released a record on King, People Are Together that never saw the light of day in proper retail stores. You know the rest. Fading again into obscurity, Murray has been out of the business for sometime. These days, singing at low key church functions and the like make up his schedule, as opposed to backing up the day’s best Soul singers and groups. Secret Stash have reissued this gem of a record, helping to resurrect the Soul legend’s career once again. The overall response for the record so far was overwhelming, and it’s first run with a bonus 45 has sold out already. It’s exactly the kind of stuff we like to see here at FMF. Reissues done properly, artists being taken care of, and lost music preserved. The secret is out, and you will most certainly hear from Secret Stash Records again in the future.
Stay tuned for an upcoming Big Ups interview with Secret Stash owner Eric Foss.
Check out Secret Stash on the web.
Secret Stash social media: twitter, facebook, myspace, and You Tube.
Check out Mickey Murray’s record release party photos from last week in MPLS.
Secret Stash stops at KFAI to talk about their Mickey Murray release.
Keep Diggin’!
I promote a bunch of East Coast Funk and Soul and music events on these pages, but I need to give a shout to the left coast. I have been a fan of this series of different music nights for a long time. When it was the Root Down, I would try and get my friends in LA to send me the promo flyers because they were so dope. I know I have a few around somewhere. Funky Sole has definitely evolved in the past eleven years. They have had a who’s who of guests at all incarnations of the party (Keb Darge, J-Rocc, Adrian Younge, DJ Nu-Mark, Quantic, Chairman Mao, DJ Shadow, Skeme Richards(among others) and official DJs Clifton, Music Man Miles, DJ Chico, the gang of DJs known as the Soul Travelers, a rotating cast of LA DJs, and unofficial residents Cut Chemist and Egon who have blessed the turntables while opening people’s minds to all kinds of new, funky music from all over the world. Not commercial music. Not radio music. REAL MUSIC. The best part about it? It’s free, every week, and right smack in the middle of all the action.
“It wasn’t like Cut Chemist playing hits, or Egon playing hits, we were experimenting with different types of stuff. It wasn’t just Deep Funk, it was Ethiopian Soul, Psychedelic, Ghanaian, Salsa, Cumbia, Funk, Old School Hip Hop and obscure Cosmic Disco, twisted, dusted, psychedelia. Whatever we wanted to play. ”
I definitely wanted to shout out Miles and the Funky Sole crew, as they have been doing parties the way they should be done since day one. They do it and do it well. If you are out in LA and haven’t been to this party, I urge you to get there and get turned on to a whole different vibe. Miles describes the party itself as “A dance party where we celebrate mostly 60′s to early 70′s Funk Soul music, whether it’s instrumental or vocal. If it’s funky and it moves people on the dance floor, that’s what works at Funky Sole. And vinyl.” Sounds like my kind of place. Hit ‘em up when you’re in the LA area.
Funky Sole
Every Saturday
The Echo
1822 Sunset Blvd
LA, CA
Weekly Special Guests and Surprises
Funky Sole 11th Year Anniversary video directed and edited by Giovanni Solis
Keep Diggin’!
Follow Funky Soul on twitter.
This week we have a special treat. Our Big Ups is none other than Jefferson Mao, aka Chairman Mao, co-founder of ego trip. If you have been living under a rock for the last 18 years, ego trip was the go to Hip Hop culture magazine in the 90′s. I think I may have shed a tear the day they stopped publishing it. Luckily, there is egotripland, your daily fix of the best Hip Hop music culture you will read, and I back that up 100%. Chairman Mao is a well known DJ, crate digger, writer, and all around good guy who knows his shit. We’re happy to have him aboard on FMF and Big Ups.
Check Out Chairmqan Mao’s radio show Across 135th St. on RBMA Radio.
Check out egotripland.
Keep Diggin’!
It is with great sadness that I report the death of another great from this music game, Johnny Otis. He lived a long life, and at 90 years young, Mr. Otis was a huge contributor to Funk, Soul, early Rock ‘N Roll and R & B music. Read more from the LA Times. Otis is another in the list of deaths here in 2012. Saxophone player and band leader, Jimmy Castor, the E-Man, Mr. It’s Just Begun, and creator of The Bertha Butt Boogie passed away last week. These two legends in the record game were key players and contributors to this life we call Hip Hop. Castor’s B-Boy anthem “It’s Just Begun” has been rocking dance floors for decades, while Otis’ contribution to the LA music scene as well as radio industry is giant. Here are two posts I did on Otis: The Watts Breakaway and Country Girl.
Rest In Power to these two giants. B-Boys, DJs, Diggers, and producers all over the world give both of you a huge Salut!
Keep Diggin’!
Check out DJ Gu mixes every Wednesday from 10pm til midnight (cet) over here.
More info about DJ Gu here.
DJ Gu co-owns Our Label Records. Don’t Sleep!
2011 has been a banner year here at Flea Market Funk. I’ve got a lot to be thankful for, and I wanted to go over a few highlights this year and shout out the people who have motivated me to keep doing what I’m doing, as well as pushing me to be better as a writer, DJ, and a person.
Flea Market Funk made the switch from Asbury Park, NJ to Brooklyn NY in early 2011. I need to thank my wife, first and foremost for getting me up to NYC, and for always pushing me harder to do more creative things and be a better person. Without her, this site would not have shaped up the way it has. She encouraged me, when I wanted to change the format and add my love of Hip Hop culture (sampling, producing, mixes, DJ culture and the like) to the site to just “go for it”. I believe that this added a whole new dimension to FMF. For that I thank you my dear, you are my best friend, and the best wife I could have ever asked for. This past year I started my most successful venture besides my mixes, the Big Ups interview series. I wanted to showcase the people I respect in this music game, and thank everyone who participated in it. I’ve got a great line up to start 2012, so please stay tuned for that. 2011 also brought my collaboration with Mr. Skeme Richards, The Nostalgia King, and the Hot Peas and Butta Crew. Skeme and I made the hook up, I DJ’d one of their events, and what can I say, he’s my brother from another mother. Look out for some HP&B x FMF collaborations in 2012. Salut! to one of the originators. This past year brought my successful residency over at the Ace Hotel here in NYC. I want to shout out the Friday night staff and booker for always making me feel at home, welcoming my creativity and choice of music throughout the Fridays. Whether I was playing Jay Dilla or Dawn Penn, or a Dre remix of the Rolling Stones, you all supported the night and promoted the hell out of it. I am looking forward to doing more with all of you in this upcoming year. I’d also like to shout out Richard Smith aka Spice of Slice-of-Spice Records, who is one of the hardest working men in the game I know. Churning out releases faster than Gareth Bale scores goals (and he’s a Spurs supporter), looking to hook up with some SOS in the ’12. I again wanted to thank the one and only Heavy Soul Brutha Dave, who has been a huge supporter of FMF as well as my mixes, and has promoted the shit out of me through his site, and Mixcloud. Looking forward to getting together with you in the future over a beer and talking music. Shout out to Terry Cole over at Colemine Records, for keeping the Funk flowing like they used to out in the Midwest. 2011 saw FMF get a shout out (and a link to) on BBC, for an article I wrote on Gilles Peterson and David Rodigan’s Sound Clash (and a retweet by Daddy Rodigan). There were also mentions by Dilla’s mother Maureen Yauncey, who promoted one of my mixes that featured her son, talk about honored! New connections were made with artists like Small Pro out of Philly, Jet Tricks of of the UK, The gang over at Our Label Records in Germany, and the great Jim Thompson from Brooklyn’s own Electric Cowbell Records. A huge thanks to Brett and the people at Nixon, who have kept me fresh dipped in Nixon gear, as well as their new line of headphones, which are top notch. If 2012 is anything like 2011 was, I’m going to be busy. I’ll be busy anyway, as my wife and I are expecting a son in February. I’m looking forward to teaching the little youth all about the music, which will be my best accomplishment yet.
Finally, I’d like to shout out all my DJ people: Larry Grogan, DJ Prime Mundo, DJ Bluewater, Devil Dick, mFasis, Rob None, DJ Andy Smith, DJ Shawn Francis, Neil Nice, and anyone else I have missed. Thank you all for the support, and for driving me to find these records and get them out there. Trying to get an AP 45 Sessions reunion up here in BK or NYC, so let’s make it happen. Lots of projects in 2012, including a second guest mix series, a pledge drive, and lots more. Bring it on! Have a soulful and funky New Year, and I will see you in the ’12.
Keep Diggin’!
As I close out 2011 with the last Big Ups of the year, I saved a special one for you. DJ Un-G, my DJ potna’ since the late 90′s, has been one of the biggest influences on me as a DJ. As a DJ duo we taught each other about different music, but simultaneously made each other better. Un-G , a talented musician and turntablist showed me the finer side of mixing, and talked me into using Serato as a professional DJ when I wanted to stay carrying tons of record boxes every week. This didn’t stop me at digging for vinyl, don’t get it twisted, but rather Gary showed me how to mature as a DJ. We have played countless parties and nights, opened for our heroes (Bad Brains), rocked unrehearsed 4 turntable parties where people gave up the dance floor to climb on bars and tables to shake it, ducked bottles, glass ash trays, and whatever else was hurled our direction in a basement bar in the LES, and spent countless hours mixing different genres and holding it down while mean mugging thugs stood an inch away from our turntables while we were doing our thing. He’s an accomplished MC, musician (drummer, guitar, ukelele), producer, film and graphics whiz. A member of the 10+ year old band/crew known as P.I.C., he now holds it down in Los Angeles, CA, rocking the 1′s and 2′s weekly on the Left Coast. I am proud to call him my homie.
Check Out P.I.C. here.
Hear some mixes, blends, and more on Un-G’s My Space page.
Keep Diggin’!
As the year draws to a close, my Ace Hotel Live Mix series has come up to volume 13. Drawing inspiration from one of the best 70′s car flicks Vanishing Point, On Point: The Ace Hotel Live Mix 13 is a culmination of songs that I’d love top have blasting if I was driving a super charged muscle car from SLC to SF, hopped up on goofballs and being led by a blind Soul DJ who knows just what to say. There are some Funk treats from the De Wolfe Librarie, Badder Than Evil, Rudy Ray Moore, plus a quick nod to Ralph MacDONALD, good Hip Hop from Damu the Fudgemonk, classic Pete Rock and CL Smooth remixed, funky Soul from the Pazant Brothers, The Mighty Ryders and Philly’s own Monica, a Bob James Cover from Taggy Matcher , a few Action Bronson original samples from Dry Bread (a Numero Group reissue) and Anglo Saxon Brown, smooth tunes from Tommy McCook, and the Menehan Street Band, fellow left coast Ace Hotel DJ/producer DJ Day from 2007, and some reissued mid 70′s sophisticated Soul from Jerline and Friends. A perfect Soundtrack to get charged up and then wind down to. Enjoy!
Vanishing Point Intro
De Wolfe Librarie – Silver Thrust
Damu The Fudgemunk – Faster Rhyme For Self
Badder Than Evil – Hot Wheels (The Chase)
Taggy Matcher – Nautilus
Pete Rock and CL Smooth – The Creator (Slide To The Side Remix)
DJ Day – Gone Bad
Monica – Chauffeur
Rudy Ray Moore – The Hitman
Pazant Brothers – Groovin’
Mighty Ryders – Evil Vibrations
Ralph MacDONALD – Jam On the Groove
Dry Bread – Words To My Song
DJ Shadow – This Time (suonho Now Is The Time Mix)
Renegades of Jazz – Seaside Suicide
Tommy McCook – Heatwave
Menahan Street Band – Make the Road By Walking
Galt MacDermot – Ripped Open By Metal Explosions
Anglo Saxon Brown – Call On Me
Jerline & Friends – Joy Trip Part 1
On Point Outro
Get On Point: The Ace Hotel Live Mix 13 from my Mixcloud page.
Enjoy!
In 2005, DJ Gu and Brother Tom decided to form their own record label. Gu, a DJ since age 12 had discovered that he loved rare Funk, Soul, and Jazz sometime in the mid 1990′s. His involvement with Urban Jazz Groove in Bremen, Germany (his hometown) put him on the international DJ circuit. One of his stops was in London, with Keb Darge and his Legendary Deep Funk night. Gu decided that in order to be more well recognized as a DJ (as well as a producer and composer), the two would start a record label. With intentions on bringing new and unheard Funk and Soul to the masses, Gu wrote a song, which was performed by the Leeds, UK band The New Mastersounds. The result, after a two hour studio session was a mobile recorded “Give Me A Minute Part 1″. The brothers describe the end result in their words: “… and all of a sudden we were on the train from Leeds to London with a very rough recording of The New Mastersounds on an old mobile.” Our Label Records was born.
“ When Our Label Records releases the Funk, I take note ”-Professor Groove, WEFUNK
Six years and six releases later, Our Label Records have absolutely made a name in the Funk world. Case in point: the first Osaka Monaurail 7″ and two exclusive Keb Darge productions sold out quickly. After a two year hiatus, Our Label Records is back, and they return with a new side: “ABX”, by Swiss multi-instrumentalist Sir Ali Bengali released in November, as well as four new releases slated for 2012. They have also parted ways with Unique Records who handled their distribution, to take over it themselves. This two year hiatus was used to get back to grassroots and will ensure that they will be able to oversee the whole operation, ensuring better international delivery and distribution and gain full control of the business. Their international artist roster so far has bands from the UK, Japan, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, Canada, Italy and is growing.
Their stable of artists is very strong, the aforementioned Osaka Monaurail, The Magnificent Freedom (which is a great record btw), The Inmates, Wake and Bake!, as well as The New Mastersounds, and the addition of Sir Ali Bengali no doubt will raise eyebrows throughout the Funk and Soul community, if not the rest of the world. Our Label Records is another great example of a label that is putting out great music, even if it’s a bit under the radar. If you’re in the Funk and Soul community, most likely you have heard of these guys. I’ve featured releases on past FMF mixes, and they have gotten considerable airplay in the UK, Europe and Japan. If you’re not in the know, get familiar. It seems that the time out revamped the whole company, the philosophy, and expect to hear a lot from Our Label Records in 2012.
Check out Our Label Records Soundcloud Page.
For Updates, Merchandise, and more info, visit their web site.
Follow these funky brothers from Germany on Twitter.
Snippet of the latest release from Our Label Records, Sir Ali Bengali – ABX
If you like what you hear, sign up for the Our Label Records news letter.
Keep Diggin’!
