Sweet Funky Machine: 14" of funk both old and new.

Papa's Got A Brand New Bag - Sweet Vandals
from 7" (with "Charlie Love") on Unique Records (2007).

I Can't Help Myself - Funky Music Machine
from 7" on Black Top Records (196?/7?) re-released on Truth & Soul Records (2006).

Two funky covers up today for your pleasure and through provocation. The first is from one of the latest entries into the retro-soul/retro-funk world, namely The Sweet Vandals. After the pioneering work of Poets of Rhythm and the recent success of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings and Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators, this subgenre is starting to get populated with releases. Populated but far from crowded. I am loving this infusion of funky good tunes with a stridently old style and sound. It is almost unfortunate hubris to cover such a well-known James Brown track for your first single and album. I say almost because despite the faithfulness of the cover and the unapproachable nature of the original, vocalist Mayka Edjo twists things up just enough to give everything her own spin. Additionally, drummer Javier Gomez channels Bernard Purdie and really shines. The rest of the band is Carlos Coupe on Hammond organ, Santi Martin on bass, and Jose Angel Herranz on guitar and they form a very tight and promising combo (see cartoon rendition of them above). Their self-titled album isn't available in the states yet, but if you're feeling the single I'd recommend it as a decently priced import

Conversely to the tight, in the pocket quality of the Vandals, is the delightfully sloppy cover of the Four Tops's "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" by Funky Music Machine. Tyrone Ashley is the vocalist here with his band FMM, but Ashley is (only slightly) better known as Sammy Campbell (pictured above right) who lead the Del Larks in the 50s-60s. He also released at least one record as Black Velvet before officially recording as the FMM. Truth and Soul has uncovered his old recordings (many never released) and have started to get these out over three decades later. In Ashley/Campbell's hands and voice the cutesy baked-goods selling "I Can't Help Myself" gets a great big bottom end and a lot more vocal edge. It still makes me want some Duncan Hines brownies, but now I will boogie to the kitchen for them.

PS...Sweet Vandals reminds me that I had at one point decided that if I ever got a Puff Daddy complex and had to start a girl pop-vocal group I'd name them The Pretty Thieves and their first album would be Pretty Larceny.