The Commodores: Machine Gun and Gonna Blow Your Mind
From: Machine Gun (Motown, 1974)
Hey, remember when the Commodores were a lean mean funk machine? Shit, me neither, but thanks to the wonder of modern technology I can now bring you the magic of The Commodores first released album, Machine Gun, a quality piece of 70’s funk by a band blissfully ignorant of their ballad strewn future. Seriously, I strongly recommend listening to these tracks before crying out in disgust at my choice of artist.
Formed in a casual manner at the end of the 60’s as a way to pick up girls (surely the number one reason behind starting any band), The Commodores struck gold when they auditioned successfully to be the support group for the Jackson 5’s 1971 tour. Soon after they were signed to Motown records as part of it’s attempt to keep up with the rising trend for funk outfits and the rest, as they say, is history.
Machine Gun was their hit record of the album, introducing the world to their sound. One of those songs that everybody recognizes as soon as it starts but few seem to know who it’s by, it’s perfect for getting in that summertime mood with its skating-extremely-close-to-the-edge-of-cheese keyboards layered over a simple but supremely funky riff. Don’t try to deny how much fun this track is.
Gonna Blow Your Mind is a more serious effort. Less poppy than Machine Gun it’s a choice cut of the kind of dirty funk The Commodores did so well in the early stage of their career. Lots of subtle touches on the production add to the overall flavor and there’s a drum breakdown halfway through that leads to a brilliant headnodder of a second half. Full of squelching bass and synth keyboards, it’s the perfect song to play to anyone questioning the truth that once upon a time the Commodores oozed funk from every pore.
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that's a great post
junior coming through with the hotness
Great lp, and you didn't mention "assembly line" and its great intro and break at the end. I'll go back to this lp as soon as I get back home… Thanks for the post
Ah, those were the days!
"Young Girls Are My Weakness" was my personal top favorite from this record when I began funk-deejaying about 15 years ago. (I was already over twenty then, but it didn't mean I was a pedophile or something…
Yeah both those tracks are quality tunes which definitely need to be rotated more, in fact there really is no excuse for not buying the whole album.
Good choices!
There was something worthwhile on virtually all of their LPs up to about '78, but the balance of funk to their other stuff became less & less. (Rather like Kool & the Gang in this respect. They did what was best for survival.)
I think that they kept funk option open though, as you can witness on "I Like What You Do", for example, off "Flying High" from 1978, an album which, on the other side of the coin, also contained karaoke favourite "Three Times A Lady". Even so, tracks like that are far less raw & gritty as this excellent early material.
Many thanks for putting it out there.
fab..i remember when i was djing in aberdeen how popular machine gun was..lots of funky dancin and rockin out…yeeeha..great to hear it again…maybe will check out some more of this kind of stuff…in amongst ryan adams and the thrills.
Yep ! Some great memories broughth to light especially by machine Gun ..
Cheers IanB @ RetroBabe!
Great album, one of the first soul/funk albums I bought. Pretty much every track a funk gem.
Remember their single "Fancy Dancer" from around the same time? – that was HEAVY.
"Zoom" & "Natural High" are also in my collection and are great albums too, sophisticated music and funky. "Zoom" – the title track – always reminds me of warm summer evenings in the UK back in the day -yes we must of had them!
While we're here, I gotta give Assembly Line a bit of love.
Excellent post as usual.