By emaceo (152.163.252.68) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 08:47 pm:

I just want to start by saying that this site is GREAT! I just discovered it while checking out the links on the Funk Brothers site. I don't know if it has been covered on another forum, but what does anyone know about the group, "Bobby Franklin's Insanity"? They were hot stuff back in the early 70's.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 08:58 pm:

Welcome to the forum Emaceo. I'm sure someone will come up with an answer for you.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 09:07 pm:

HEY EMACEO!!!...I CAN TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT BOBBY FRANKLIN!!!...I ATTENDED MUMFORD HIGH SCHOOL WITH BOBBY...AND IN FACT...ONE OF THE FIRST BANDS I ORGANIZED...WHEN I WAS ABOUT 14 OR 15 YEARS OLD WAS WITH THE VERY TALENTED BOBBY FRANKLIN!!!...BOBBY'S DAD WAS A JAZZ DRUMMER...AND BOBBY AT THE TIME WAS MOSTLY PLAYING VIBES...ALTHOUGH HE COULD PLAY THE SKINS OFF A SET OF DRUMS!!!...I LOST CONTACT WITH BOBBY...UNTIL HE STARTED HIS "INSANITY THING"...THEN RAN INTO HIM A COUPLE OF TIMES AROUND TOWN!!!...I KNOW OF ONE PROJECT THEY DID...BUT COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GROUP!!!...I CAN TELL YOU...THAT BOBBY WAS ONE TALENTED 14 YEAR OLD MUSICIAN!!!...ONE FUNNY STORY...WE PLAYED AT A PARTY AT AN EXCLUSIVE COUNTRY CLUB...AND DURING OUR BREAK...THEY FED US!!!...THE MEAT WAS TENDER AND RARE...BUT BOBBY REFUSED TO EAT IT...CAUSE HE SAID THAT DAMN PIECE OF MEAT WAS STILL BLEEDING!!!...STUBASS

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 01:54 pm:

emaceo:
Bobby Franklin's Insanity recorded for Eddie Thomas' label in the late 1960s (Thomas Records). They released two singles, "Bring It On Down To Me" (Part 1 & 2) and "Paradise".

I spoke with Bobby two years ago - he lives in either Detroit or Chicago (I have to find his phone number). He was in good spirits and we talked about the possibility of reissuing his music.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 02:16 pm:

HEY KEV!!!...IF YOU TALK TO BOBBY...PLEASE SEND ALONG MY BEST!!!...ALSO...COULD YOU INQUIRE ABOUT SOME OF THE GUYS WE USED TO KNOW...JAMES CHEERS...EDDIE GOOCH (PLAYED TROMBONE FOR MOTOWN AND PLAYED IN THE SITSOM FILM)...BARRY MURKISON...AND TRUMPETER'S RICKEY FERRETTE AND STANLEY LOVE!!!...THANKS...STU

By emaceo (152.163.252.68) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 04:36 pm:

Thanks for the update! He also had a song called "Sexplot" and me and my girlfriend used to go at it!!!(on the dance floor, that is!) I thought that he was very talented and that he would go far in the music world.

By Ian W (194.75.129.2) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 07:20 am:

There's a great track of his on the Fee label - 'Lady's Choice'. Great vibes - watch out Mr. Ashford! This was played to death at the Blackpool Mecca Highland Room in the 70s.

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.192.49) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 09:31 am:

IanW
JUST BEAT ME TO IT MATE,
I REMEMBER THAT AT THE MECCA.
mel.

By Ian W (194.75.129.2) on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 08:02 am:

Mel, that was a great venue eh! Better than Wigan for me! And they forked out for free coaches too! You don't hear the track played now though.

Ian

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.194.58) on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 09:21 am:

Ian
records wise you couldnt beat the Mecca.
Yeah and coaches laid on for everyone.
Jesus Ian
those were most certainly the days allright.

I always remember those bouncers all checking you had your shirt and tie on then once inside hit the Highland room then off with the ties etc and into something a lot easier to hit the floor to.
I could tell you some stories regards the Mecca as I am sure you can mate.

First records I ever heard there were
Billy Prophet's
'what can I do'
on Sue Records(no.133)
and
George Blackwell's
'cant lose my head'
on Smoke Records(no.200)

Then afterwards onto an all-nighter.
great days indeed.

regards
mel.

ps
your right about not hearing 'Ladies Choice' anymore
plus so many other tracks as well.
Were showing our age mate.

By Ian W (194.75.129.2) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 08:00 am:

Ah! you can reminisce can't you! I once got chucked out by the bouncers (sounds painful) for not having a tie and was readmitted after making one out of two handkerchiefs.

The cameraderie in the Highland Room was second to none. As a teenager I used to suffer from the occasional nose-bleed (psychiatrists take note) and a guy in the Mecca toilets offered to flatten my 'assailant' for me.

Remember the pressings being sold by the bucketload. The best memory I have is hearing Bob Relf's 'Blowing My Mind To Pieces' being played and running up the stairs to get on the dance floor before it had finished. At that time hair could stand up on the back of my neck. You didn't need drugs with records like that!

Ian

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.77) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 09:30 am:

Ian
I have a tape recorded in the Highland room from 1972
its great to sit back and listen to those magic days.
Pressings
to right I remember them.
Especially those selecta-disc ones like the Verve stuff that looked pretty good in those days.
Always remember Colin Curtis with his hair as long as hell.
Ah great days
now wheres my Brice Colefield
or my Sweet Things demo.
Keep on Keeping on Ian
mel.