Sweater Funk and Cloud Funk

Hey here in San Francisco, it seems like we can get as much funk as we want as far as gigs. Tonight (7/25) is the 2nd year anniversary of Sweater Funk at the Li Po Lounge; apparently its a funk party not to be missed. Well I guess I’m grinding too much since they are already on their 2nd year anniversary and I’ve never been, and I don’t know what a ’sweater’ funk is .. I just funk. Regardless, the Sweater Funk team though put up a mix you can get here to give you an idea of the boogie funk sound they get into.

Meanwhile, I’m tethered to the desk between my first job, my second, and my third – but I wouldn’t want to neglect putting some funk for y’all up into the clouds.

First up, I’ve wanted to do this post on Albert King’s post Stax Records, kinda ‘funk’ years that occurred on Tomato Records. I haven’t had time to really getting the writing together though. In the interim period of doing some Albert King research, I found this amazing Albert King soul guitar gem, called ‘I’m Doin Fine’ and the lyrics kinda of fit where I’m at with ‘accepting thangs’ .. #TRUTH:

I can remember the times I used to cry – and then I saw a man one day who didn’t have no eyes – You see I’m doin fine. I’m doin fine, fine, fine after all.
The police gave me a ticket, made me mad as hell – When I went to pay the fine, a man got six months in jail. I’m doin fine. Lord I’m doin fine, fine, fine after all

Albert King – I’m Doin Fine

‘I’m Doin Fine’ comes from Albert King’s 1977 album ‘The Pinch’ which was his last official LP for Stax Records before he jumped to Tomato Records. I’ll get more into the amazing years Albert King enjoyed with the label in a further post.

READ ON FOR MORE CLOUD FUNKIN ….

Regarding King’s Tomato Records years, let me at least share one boogie jam from that era before I whip out the extended post. I was surprised to hear from my New Orleans based DJ friend and overall funk savant DJ Soul Sister that she hadn’t heard King’s 1979 New Orleans funk overture, ‘New Orleans Heat’ which was produced by Allen Toussaint and even featured Meters guiarist Leo Nocentell. So I share – Here’s one of the few jamming originals from that album:

Albert King (with Allen Toussaint and Leo Nocentelli) – We All Wanna Boogie

Ok more cloud funkin.

I’m a Leo, ok? From Cannonball Adderley’s ‘Love Sex and the Zodiac’ …

Cannonball Adderley – Leo

And more Adderley and more info on Leo’s – another, different cut about the same sign from another record just titled the ‘Soul Zodiac’ … more cerebral

I shared a lot of George Clinton this week over on our Earfuzz Facebook page – http://facebook.com/earfuzz - and that’s because it was George’s 69th birthday on July 22nd. Happy Birthday Leo/Cancer George!

Here’s one I didn’t share on our page – a live George Clinton and Garry Shider (rest in power) vamp called ‘Skip to My Loo’ – I think from a 1979 tour. Even baritone Ray Davis (rest in power) comes in at the end and helps out.

Parliament-Funkadelic (Live) – Skip to My Loo

Ok I’m back to grinding and I’ll see y’all SF peoples out at Sweater Funk