Have we had Country Funk as a genre before or is it the
latest creation to shift neglected back catalogue by marrying two together? I think we've had it previously (even a band called it) but thankfully we haven't now gone down the route of joining parts of the words together to
make Counk or Funktry. (Hmm, I quite like the sound of Funktry). It’s the job of
record companies to make their product marketable so credit to the ever-reliable Light In The
Attic Records in pulling together a solid compilation that unearths some surprises and is worth the money.
The artists come from range of backgrounds yet hit a similar low-down groove, not ever considering what it would be
called and often different to the style they’re best associated with. This
isn’t James Brown funk, and it’s not pedal-steel country either, more a funky
kinda attitude, but more suede than sequins. Dale Hawkins’s opener, “L.A,
Memphis, Tyler Texas” is a perfect example of meshing styles together: stabbing
soul stew horns and southern style vocals. Bobby Darin’s lazy sounding drawl on
the shuffling “Light Blue” is light years from “Mac The Knife” and is driven by
a fat bass line reminiscent of Aaron Neville’s “Hercules” or something from Superfly. Link Wray’s incredible gospel shouter
“Fire and Brimstone” sounds nothing like the guitar rumble than made his name
and as I’ve said before I can’t hear it without imaging Bobby Gillespie
flapping his outstretched arms in ecstasy.
The drumming on Tony Joe White’s “Studspider” is
breakbeat material with Tony even a one point coming close to turning into a
human beat box. “Piledriver” by Dennis The Fox is taken from the same stream
with Dennis coming on like a baggy Lee Hazlewood. Johnny Jenkins “I Walk On
Gilded Splinters” is familiar but “Hawg Frog” by Gray Fox takes the gumbo further.
Out of sixteen tracks there isn’t one that needs skipping.
Not all are essential but they make for repeated listening and if there’s a
volume two I’m riding in quicker than a horse in a star-spangled rodeo.
Country Funk
1969-1975 is released by Light In The Attic Records.
I MUST get this! You've completely piqued my interest in this.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard the band Country Funk? You can probably find them on YouTube, but Beck sampled one of their tracks early on.
Also, several years back, there was a great comp out called 'Country Got Soul' that had a good mix of country-ish acts touching on soul sounds: Eddie Hinton, Razzy, Bobby Hatfield, etc. Worth picking up.
Thanks for posting this!
Good stuff, that's the idea.
ReplyDeleteMust confess to have only seen the Country Funk (band) record/CD but haven't heard them. Should have a listen.
The Country Got Soul LPs were pretty good - and turning that on its head Kent Records have just released "Behind Closed Doors - Where Country Meets Soul" - which is basically soul acts doing either out and out country songs (Al Green singing Hank Williams) or country tinged songs. It's not bad but of all the bunch I record this Country Funk one is the best.
Another one for the list (if only to hear if "Studspider" can live up to its' title!).
ReplyDeleteTotally agree on the Country Got Soul comps as well.
"Studspider" does sound like you'd hope!
ReplyDelete