FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 2

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about a Particular Classic Soul/Funk Album from the 60's 70's and 80's

The one's that stand out in my Mind, as The Best Soul/Funk/Jazz/R&B Albums ever Released. All of them, I would have purchased as Vinyl many Years ago and also I have many of them on CD today.

You may have a Differing view (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!

# NUMBER TWO


STEVE ARRINGTON'S HALL OF FAME * 
POSITIVE POWER

This is probably my Favorite Funk Album of all time, it was Released in 1984 on the Atlantic Record Label. It was Co-Produced by Slave Producer, 
Jimmy Douglass and Steve Arrington. Check out the Personnel involved in the making of the Album, most of them had somewhere in the Past been connected with Slave!

I saw Steve Arrington in Concert around 1985, but none of this Album's Music or the Previous Album "One" was included in the Concert (which was a pity!), it was all from the "Dancing In The Key Of Life" Album. This was when he first Discovered God!

Back to "Positive Power" what a Great Album that was and still is! I would probably think apart from certain Al Green Tracks, this is my Most Ever Listened to Album, there was not one dud Track on the Album.

First off "15 Rounds" Great Bass contained in this Track, Buddy Hankerson, who also was in Young & Co, next up is "Money On It"  a Great start to this Track, how many times in different Tracks does Steve Arrington say "Sugar Momma"  not to Worry, I'm not Complaining!

Next Track "Sugar Momma" see what I said! A Great Ballad this is, I think Steve Arrington's Voice is suited to both the slower Soul Songs and Funk Tracks!


Finishing off Side one is "What do you want From Me" once again a Great Bass, its my Favorite Sound in Soul/Funk Music!


Side Two starts with "Young & Ready" Great Keyboards in this Track!  The second Track "Mellow as a Cello" what a Great Title for the Track! its got a Great Intro, which fools you into believing a Ballad is coming, then straight into a Thumping track!

Then up next, my Favorite Track "Hump to the Bump" this has to  be one of my Favorite All Time Tracks, my Favorite section is the 30 Secs Keyboard Solo, from around 2.30 mins of the Track, I presume that is Steve Arrington, do you know any different!

The Final Track and Album Title "Positive Power" is a Great way to finish off, Great Bass again! 


As I said, this is a Great Funk Album and one of the Best!  Checkout and Listen to all Tracks, Below!


Check out Steve Arrington's Website!


Album Tracks:

A1  15 Rounds 5:30
  Written-By - Steve Arrington

A2  Money On It 4:33
  Written-By - Charles Carter , Steve Arrington

A3  Sugar Momma Baby 5:16
  Written-By - Charles Carter , Steve Arrington

A4  What Do You Want From Me 5:17
  Written-By - Buddy Hankerson , Roger Parker (2) , Sam Carter , Steve Arrington

B1  Young And Ready 5:28
  Written-By - Steve Arrington

B2 Mellow As A Cello 5:30
  Written-By - Charles Carter , Gary Jackson , Steve Arrington

B3  Hump To The Bump 6:39
  Written-By - Buddy Hankerson , Charles Carter , Steve Arrington

B4  Positive Power 5:25
  Written-By - Steve Arrington


Album Personnel:

Producer - Jimmy Douglass , Steve Arrington
Co-producer - Charles Carter
Bass, Guitar, Backing Vocals - Buddy Hankerson
Drums - Roger Parker (2)
Guitar, Keyboards - Arthur "Butch" Rhames*
Keyboards - Paul Chaplin
Keyboards, Backing Vocals - Charles Carter , Sam Carter
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards - 
Steve Arrington
Percussion, Backing Vocals - Gary Jackson

		Download Album

To hear all the Album Tracks, Press below!

THE 75th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 75th Mix for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by The Vertical Group, there's some classic Funk and Dance  Tracks on here, Its called Funkit 2011

Its features (The Kings of Funk) Slave, Cameo, O'Bryan, Roy Ayers, The Jackson's,Third World and Raw Silk!

Check Out Web Page For Track Listing.

FUNKIT 2011 from THE VERTICAL GROUP at Letsmix.com.

ROLLS ROYCE AND RICHARD "DIMPLES" FIELDS

Around March of 1982, I got the Job, I had applied for, this was different from your normal Hotel work, as I said previously the Hotel and Restaurant was not going to open for about 3 Months.


So most days when we went into work we were getting the Kitchen ready and when we had done that, it was helping out in different parts of the Hotel, they were having a Complete Re-fit as I remember, new Carpets Windows, Bedroom Furniture, all new Reception Area  Fittings, not to mention most things new in the Kitchen, the Chap who owned the Hotel, also had another Hotel about 1 mile away!

He was a Decent down-to-earth bloke, he drove a Rolls-Royce, so he must of had a bit of Money. I remember one day, after knocking off work, walking out through the Reception Area, (this was before the Hotel had opened) and he was outside unloading some stuff he had brought from the Cash and Carry, he shouted out "give me 5 minutes and I'll give you a lift home" at that time of my life, I had a  Bike, so I don't know where that was that day, anyway I got a lift home in the Roller!


That was the first and last time, I have ever been in a Rolls-Royce! as I said he was a Decent Boss!

I remember one particular day, helping out the Hotel Handy Man, his name was I think "Dave" I knew him previously, as he was a "Ice Cream Van Salesman" anyway I had to help him doing something with one of the Bedroom Windows, he was hanging out of the Window on the Hotel Roof, doing something with the Roof Tiles, I had to make sure he didn't fall out!


One of the Main Reasons I went for this Job was (as I said I knew the Head Chef), I was Promised when we Finally Opened the Hotel in the Early Summer, I would be working the Early Shifts, which was fine with me! I had been Working in Butchery for a few years, so no late nights, so to work as a Chef and work no nights, would have been Great!

This never ended up like this and this was to cause trouble further down the line!  


As for music around this Period, The Debut Album from "Richard "Dimples" Fields (Mr look So good) would be Released later that year, but one of the  Singles off the Album was the Number One Soul Single in April of 82, it was called "If It Aint One Thing, its Another"  this was to be his one of his Highest placed Singles!


During his Career R.D.F would Release about 6 Albums and several Singles, he Died from a Stroke in 2000.


Download Album, Press Download Button then the Purple Button!

THE 74th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 74th Mix for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by FullRange, its a Tribute Mix to Jose James, Its called Tribute Selections!

These are either Jose James Tracks or "Featuring" Jose James. His style of Music, I suppose you would say Contemporary Jazz! 

I have only just heard of this Artist, through this Mix, but he's a Great Singer, listen to the 2nd Track, sounds a lot like Gil Scott-Heron! 

Apart from John Legend, I'm stuck back in the 60's 70's and 80's, Musical Wise! 

Check Out Web Page For Track Listing and Download.

Jose James - Tribute Selections by Fullrange on Mixcloud

FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 1

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about a Particular Classic Soul/Funk Album from the 60's 70's and 80's


The one's that stand out in my Mind, as The Best Soul/Funk/Jazz/R&B Albums ever Released. All of them, I would have purchased as Vinyl many Years ago and also I have many of them on CD today.


You may have a Differing view (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!


# NUMBER ONE


ARTIST..........THE INTRUDERS
ALBUM..........ENERGY OF LOVE
YEAR OF RELEASE..........1974
RECORD LABEL..........T.S.O.P
Tracklisting:

A1  Energy Of Love (3:33) 
A2  Rainy Days And Mondays (6:28) 
A3  A Nice Girl Like You (3:30) 
A4  Jan (4:35) 
A5  Be Thankful For What You Got (3:13) 

B1  What's Easy For Two Is So Hard For One (2:23) 
B2  Lonely Lonely (3:30) 
B3  Everyone's A Star (5:42) 
B4  Plain Ol' Fashioned Girl (2:50) 
B5  Be On Time (4:54)

The First Track "Energy of Love" is my Favorite, what a Great Track that is!


The Album contained a Couple of Great Remakes from other Artists, including:


Rainy Days and Mondays, a Carpenters Original from 1971. A Great Remake, but I liked the other Remake even more, the Great Track, Be Thankful For What You're Got, written by (and a Hit for) William DeVaughan ( I dont know which Version is the Best!).

The other 3 Tracks I used to play all the Time back then and Now on CD (in the House and Car) are "A Nice Girl" Whats Easy For Two" and "Everyones a Star" 


Incidentally, do think, like me that "Everyones a Star" is very Similar to "Be Thankful"


All and All, this is a Great Album, I'm still Playing it some 37 Years later, so it must have Something!


The Album had 3 Single releases, they were Tracks A.3, A.2 and A.1 in that order.

The Intruders Originally formed in 1960 as a Doo-Wop Group, by around 1966 they had linked up with Songwriters and Producers, Gamble and Huff, during the 60's they had several Tracks Released on the Gamble Record Label.


They later moved to Gamble and Huff's more Successful Record Labels, "Philadelphia International" and "T.S.O.P"


During their time "The Intruders" had several Different Line-Up changes, and in 1975 they Disbanded after about a 6 Album Career, when they Re-Formed in 1984, with a Release on a British Record Label, non of the Original Members were Present!   

DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM