The Mighty Dogcatchers: It’s Gonna Be A Mess Pt 1
From: Florida Funk [Now Again, 2007]
The Shades Of Black: Mystery Of Black Pt 1
From: Quantic Presents: The World’s Rarest Funk 45s [Jazzman, 2006]
Carlos Garnett: Mystery Of Ages
From: Cosmos Nucleus [Muse, 1976]
Eddie Henderson: The Kumquat Kids
From: Sunburst [Blue Note, 1975]
Jerome Prister: Say You’ll Be
From: Say You’ll Be 12″ [Tuff City,1989]
Back again today with a selection of music that’s perfect for taking you into the weekend. There is no grand overarching theme to the music that I give you today beyond
a) They’re all tracks I find put me in a Friday mood
b) They’re songs that I’ve been meaning to post up for an age and a half but have always fallen through the cracks.
So, enough of the blah blah blah – on to the music.
I first heard The Mighty Dogcatchers’ It’s Gonna Be A Mess Pt 1 on the excellent Florida Funk collection that came out early this year – my joy was increased when I discovered it had been reissued on 45 and I’ve been playing it out ever since. Starting with a break the track introduces a truly evil bassline, horns and organ to create a rolling groove that just won’t stop.
Mystery Of Black Part 1 by The Shades Of Black is another awesome funk 45 now reissued. Starting with a catchy percussion line what really catches the ear is the instrumental break in place of a chorus – an unexpectedly lush breakdown which works brilliantly.
I’ve been meaning to write up something about Carlos Garnett for quite some time now and sadly still haven’t got round to it. So while I pull my finger out here is his absolutely sublime Mystery Of The Ages from his 1976 LP Cosmos Nucleus. A masterful combination of fearsome vocals and soaring horns make this a standout track for the Soul Jazz genre in my ears.
Eddie Henderson’s The Kumquat Kids off his Sunburst album has a bassline that will make all headhunter fans eagerly clicking repeat as he offers up an electronic groove complete with futuristic swooshes which blends with a jazz funk percussion and horn section to great effect.
I first got introduced to Jerome Prister’s Say You’ll Be by Fuzz contributor Mawhie and was sold as soon as the main beat kicked in and I furiously hunted down the album that Jerome belatedly released a while after this song’s success. In true digging fashion the album turned out to be shit but it still doesn’t detract from Jerome’s achievements on this single -absolutely awesome – why can’t more late eighties soul be like this?
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cool selection
Great selections. The Jerome Prister is a real find. After doing a little Discogs work, I see he was also in Secret Weapon and has writing credits for "Must be the Music", one of my all-time jams. I also noticed Patrick Adams produced "Say You'll Be". This track has got real pedigree. Thanks again.
Hey Matt
Didn't know that the track was graced by Patrick Adams' production – would explain a lot! Yeah forgot to mention his involvement with Secret Weapon, been meaning to feature them on the site for a while now as well.
Nice blog by the way.
Hey Ear Fuzz – love your site. As always, very cool stuff to trove through. Keep up the funky work!
Let me clear something up. FIRST of all, when I was a young keyboard player coming up, Patrick Adams was ALWAYS in the clique right above me. I did some work with Patrick and often criticized him, but he always tried to show me something I didn't see back in the 80's. Looking back in hindsight I HAVE to give Patrick his props because his production skills have lasted the test of time. Lest set the record straight. I played with Secret Weapon during the Must be the Music tour and when we hooked up as Output which was produced by DAVY D. Yes, Say You'll Be was produced under Tuff City by my friend (who later hooked me up with the Kurtis Blow keyboard player gig) DAVY D!!! Lets put this to rest. I've always loved Fonda Rae because of Patricks Productions and I give him ALL the credit he's due, but Output's (formerly Secret Weapon) was produced by DAVY D (Davy DMX). Any questions?