Tags: instrumental

Stepping away from Texas artists for a moment (as noted with last weeks post), I felt like posting up this funky psych-tinged instrumental from legendary soul drummer Paul Humphrey, recorded with his Cool Aid Chemists for the L.A.-based Lizard label. But there’s a reason behind this week’s 45 display (outside of just being way rad), and it’s because this song seems to have lodged it’s drum-heavy anthemic melody within my psyche’s jukebox, stuck on repeat, and I HAVE to get it out. Admittedly, it’s super catchy, and has a certain ‘bounce’ to it, specifically within the first 40 seconds with the enormous drum fills that seem to have been made by God Himself. But there is just something to really admire about the punchy snare and kick drum featured prominently on this particular recording that I just can’t get over, simply put it’s just got a lot o’ balls and it’s got major funk snap. Additionally, this 45 is not on a ‘rare’/'endangered species’ list, I actually have a couple of copies in my collection that I’ve found locally, at the oddest of places nonetheless. And these 45s seem to have sold well in its day, there are usually a few copies for sell on the electronic bay, it’s the full-length from which this single came (Cool-Aid) that’s a bit tougher to come by.

Lending his drumming chops to everyone from Marvin Gaye (Let’s Get It On, anyone?) to Steely Dan to Lawrence Welk (yes, THAT Lawrence Welk), Paul Humphrey was no stranger to recording studios in L.A. in his busy session activity in the 60s and 70s. Mr. Humphrey was also featured on Frank Zappa’s Hot Rats masterpiece, performing on “Son of Mr. Green Genes” and “The Gumbo Variations”. Born and raised in the Motor City (hence the name-check), Mr. Humphrey soon moved out west to fill in as a recording session player in L.A’s burgeoning music production scene, and you can hear his chops on a mountain of soul, jazz, and pop records from the era. So revered in fact, that none other than DJ and programmer extraordinaire Josh Davis with colleague B+ produced a meeting of the minds featurette, with some of L.A.’s biggest funk n’ soul drum sessioners teaming up with L.A.’s biggest beat producers and turntablists to jam together at L.A’s storied El Rey Theater. It’s called “Keep In Time” (sorry Dan if you’re reading this, I’ll get you back your DVD soon-ish!), and you can check out some youtube clips right o’er HERE and check out the magic.

Wish I could find more info on Lizard Records, but alas, not too much info on their origins or history outside of the fact that they were located on some obscure commercial strip in downtown L.A (8913 Sunset Blvd to be precise). Interesting side note, Gabriel Mekler was credited as producer on the LP, who also pens production credit on a slew of L.A.’s most well-known jazz, pop, and psychedelic records from the 60s and early 70s (Steppenwolf, Janis Joplin, Etta James, to name a few). If anyone should have some more info on the label, please feel free to send it this way. Lastly, I want to give proper daps to DJ Prestige over at Flea Market Funk for some background info and photo credit, you can check out his fine vinyl blog over here. I am close to getting a new camera so I’ll be back and running my own pictures, but this’ll have to do in the meantime. Hope you enjoy today’s post, here is Paul Humphrey and His Cool Aid Chemists funky homage to their hometown (included with traffic ambiance and all).

LISTEN: Paul Humphrey & His Cool Aid Chemists-Detroit

Today’s menu: Face-melting ghetto funk from the most musical of American cities, the big ol’ Crescent City aka New Orleans, Louisiana. To step out of my recent coverage of Texas artists and records, I wanted to shed some attention on Mr. James K-Nine and his little ditty, “Live It Up” on Federal Records. Originally released on the local Nawlins-based Hot Hit Records in 1973, it was later picked up by Federal for regional distribution. Admittedly, not much information on James or of his recording catalog, but I can tell you in fine print under the song title reads the name “Bocage”. ‘Nuff said. Bocage, known to most others as the one and only Eddie Bo (R.I.P.), the pianist/composer/recording artist/producer, carries writing and production credit to this here 45 single. Mr. Bo often doubled as producer and arranger for a host of recording groups, putting his magic touch on ryththm and blues standards by incorporating funky backbeats, psych-tinged guitar licks and rockin’ piano chords, effectively reinventing the sounds of the Crescent City throughout his thorough recording career.

I caught this song in a dj mix I heard sometime ago, unbeknownst to me that it was part of the elusive and far-reaching catalog of Eddie Bo, I was immediately drawn to the overall tightness and impeccable in-the-pocket funk drumming in the rhythm. Good Gawd! Like many of Mr. Bo’s funkier side of things, the drums have a special warm and crispy attribute, accompanied by the bubbly thick low-end bass creating that uniquely ‘Bo’ sound. Vampisoul has an excellent reissue of Eddie Bo’s catalog and production credits, you can check out “In The Pocket With Eddie Bo” here, and check out Funky 16 Corners great homage to Mr. Bo here. Overall it’s a pretty simple track, I don’t generally get to play it out all too often, but I was ecstatic when I was came across this record recently at the Austin Record Convention. Since I couldn’t find any photos of James K-Nine, I’ll give photo props to producer/arranger Eddie Bo.

LISTEN: James K-Nine-Live It Up