Evoking The Spirit Of Atlanta

Spirit of Atlanta: Freddie's Alive & Well and Auburn Avenue
From: The Burning of Atlanta [Buddah, 1973]

It's been a while since I dropped some straight down the line no frills funk so by the way of an apology and geed up by G147's post up of DJ Pump's disco fire, here's some hip shaking knee quaking funky goodness from the Spirit of Atlanta. A group put together by Tommy Stewart and featuring the drummer behind the legendary Amen break, G.C. Coleman, this band were only ever going to offer something you could shake your tailfeather to and they do not disappoint.

Caught in the blissful period between the end of straight funk and the dawning of disco the band combine the oncoming dancefloor positive vibes of disco with the gritty grooves of funk to stellar effect featuring a fiery mix of vocal and instrumental workouts.

Freddie's Alive & Well manages to have it's cake and eat it too by having a vocal and instrumental song in one. I can only assume that the subject matter is an answer song to Mayfield's Freddie's Dead but you can pretty much ignore the content of the vocals and instead concentrate on the foot stomping music. Featuring lots of wicky wicky wah wah guitar, strung out organ chords and an elongated drum breakdown this is a great example of what disco funk could achieve when put in the right hands.

Auburn Avenue is a strange mix of social commentary and sleaze as the narrator guides his honey through the rough streets with one eye firmly focused on his bedroom. Stewart's hand is very much in evidence with the organ led groove that runs throughout the track alongside heavy horns. As with many of the great dancefloor tracks the band save for the best till last as the many elements slide into place for the last rousing come on. i'd be very impressed if she still said no.........