The Peppers – Pinch of Salt from the Event 45

Here we are on Friday, and I had a few choices for today, but this one won out. Now don’t get me wrong, they’re all winners, this particular side just won out earlier than the others. Before I get into this treat to start your weekend off, I want to give a shout out to Maceo, Lafayette, Raymus and Mannases, the 4 Brothers Beats. These cats have been generating a lot of hits for me, and I want to say thanks. So check these guys out, they have a lot of knowledge in the record game. Tell ’em Flea Market Funk sent you. Also Truth and Soul Records started a blog, it looks pretty cool so far, swing on over and check them out. Everyone knows I’m a sucker for the Hammond already, and I’m not going to turn away a good Moog on any day either. This next record has lots of it, and we’re going to have to travel over to France and check out this French trio. This record is on the Polydor distributed Event Records Inc. label from 1973. Check out The Peppers with “Pinch of Salt”.

When I first checked out this side, it was in a lot of records I hauled in one Saturday morning. I was familiar with the label, grabbing some Fatback Band 45s when ever they became available. This looked interesting, and it could have really turned out to be a tepid turd, however, it definitely did not. Compared a bit to the band Hot Butter, (You remember “Popcorn”, and you know you loved it), the Peppers were definitely more on the funkier side, and could have definitely found their way on some sort of Blaxploitation film soundtrack had the need arisen, despite an early electronic sound. The band originally started out doing music for TV commercials. Producer Roger Tokarz, who believed that the band had some commercial potential, held back some of their studio creations from their then corporate client. These tunes would become the basis of their full length release entitled Pepper Box. Musicians Mat Camison (Keyboards), Pierre-Alain Dahan (Drums), and Tonio Rubio (Bass) made up this funky Moog dominated band. This guys when not playing in a band named after vegetables, were off making library records. You know the kind, the ones you can’t find at the local thrift or Salvation Army, but the ones you’ll pay two month’s rent for. They recorded this record at Bagatelle Studios, and I’m wondering if the French duo Air may have borrowed a bit from the Peppers. Their Premiers Symptomes is a great record that compiles B-Sides and other funky electronica from the band’s career, who may have been influenced a bit by these guys, among others. The Bagatelle Studios was home to the publishers of Serge Gainsbourg, and some how I suppose the dreamy sound from one of the best known French grandfathers of electronic sounds might have snuck in there as well. What I do know is that there is an organ that you will dig, as well as a nice groove to make the kids move throughout. It may sound a bit on the Euro Pop side, but remember these cats were making music for TV commercials and library records, so this is par for the course. They were definitely no slouches, this side is a Funk filled groover. Enjoy an organ filled funky ride from the Peppers. Keep Diggin’!