Motown F.U.N.K.!!!

**marv2** · 03-09-2011, 07:42 PM

Two recent threads got me to thinking [[I know, dangerous huh? LOL)! Motown produced a lot of great hits. It also produced it's share of some really great FUNK music. Granted we all give props to Mr. Rick James and Ms. Teena Marie in the funk dept, but along with them, who else can you name that gave up the funk for Motown

Here's my first nominee: Mandre and "Freakin's Fine"!! This was a killer jam back in the day. Whew!

**motown4ever** · 03-09-2011, 07:56 PM

Marv don't forget the Commodores with their early hit like "Brick House"& others in the 70's.

**marv2** · 03-09-2011, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by motown4ever

Marv don't forget the Commodores with their early hit like "Brick House"& others in the 70's.

That one is in the Hall of Fame of Funk! LOL!!!!

**marv2** · 03-09-2011, 08:15 PM

I know we spoke briefly of them in the old forum, but how about Ozone [[with Teena Marie) and "Gigolette"!

**marv2** · 03-09-2011, 08:21 PM

How can we forget......................................The Dazz Band and "Let It Whip"!!!

**blkfrost** · 03-09-2011, 09:24 PM

Undisputed Truth's "Lil' Red Riding Hood" and "UFO"

**marv2** · 03-09-2011, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by blkfrost

Undisputed Truth's "Lil' Red Riding Hood" and "UFO"

Now I have to go find those. Thanks blkfrost!

pshark · 03-09-2011, 10:31 PM

pshark · 03-09-2011, 10:44 PM

Yo Marv,
you can them bad jams on this collection. Click on the image.

Now if only Harry Weinger would release the original lps to cds

**marv2** · 03-09-2011, 11:05 PM

Hey thanks Pshark buddy. I know you know how to get down! I agree that they should re-release this stuff on CD. Harry, you listening? How about breaking off a piece for us younger Motown Fans? HARRRYYYYY! LOL!

**roger** · 03-10-2011, 06:48 AM

Tut Tut Pshark ..

In my capacity as a member of the "Motown Police" I have to point out that BILLY PRESTON recorded "Outta Space" for A&M before he signed for Motown .. LOL ..

Maybe you were thinking of this one ..

COMMODORES - "Machine Gun" ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubd2uUPT5ww

I always thought they sounded uncannily similar ..

Roger

**soulster** · 03-10-2011, 07:16 AM

P-shark, Billy Preston's "Outta Space" was on the A&M label, not Motown.

uptight · 03-10-2011, 08:37 AM

Wow, roger. They do sound similar. I'm guessing that is the clavinet that they have in common.

**arrr&bee** · 03-10-2011, 11:02 AM

Let's not forget the miracles[love machine].

**blkfrost** · 03-10-2011, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by marv2

Now I have to go find those. Thanks blkfrost!

Marv, you may want to checkout Undisputed Truth's "Poontang"... funky and nasty!

**blkfrost** · 03-10-2011, 11:47 AM

What about the Temptations' "Shakey Ground"?

**tamla617** · 03-10-2011, 01:06 PM

when machine gun came out,the reviewer in blues and soul said it reminded him of outer space.i went out there and then and bought on the strength of that.
also follow the wind by the midnight movers

**soulster** · 03-10-2011, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by blkfrost

What about the Temptations' "Shakey Ground"?

That was the hardest funk i'd ever heard on a Motown label!

**tamla617** · 03-10-2011, 01:13 PM

bottom and co..................... "do a funky thing together"
and................... "do you wanna do a thing"

pshark · 03-10-2011, 02:50 PM

Sorry Officer, please don't send me to Jailtown.
But serious, thanks to you & Soulster for the correction.
Soulster, Shakey Ground has the Funkadelic DNA. Original Funkadelics Eddie Hazel & Billy "Bass" Nelson are 2 of the players, Eddie even co-wrote it

**Drew P. Nads** · 03-10-2011, 03:14 PM

Would 'Standing on the verge [[of getting it on) by Platinum Hook and 'Tailgate' by 21st Creation count?
Dare I even throw in '[[You pulled a) switch by Switch and finish with Yvonne Fair's 'Funky music sho nuff turns me on?

pshark · 03-10-2011, 03:22 PM

^Why not? SOTV was first done by Funkadelic.
I'm just now listening to Tailgate, I would say thats more Disco.

**soulster** · 03-10-2011, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by pshark

Sorry Officer, please don't send me to Jailtown.
But serious, thanks to you & Soulster for the correction.

I've been a record collector since the age of five. I always paid attention to the label a song is on. Billy Preston was on the the Beatles' Apple label first, then went to A&M, then appeared on Motown in 1980 when he did the duet with Syreeta.

Soulster, Shakey Ground has the Funkadelic DNA. Original Funkadelics Eddie Hazel & Billy "Bass" Nelson are 2 of the players, Eddie even co-wrote it

I know! Just think what would have happened if Motown had gone funk instead of trying to go disco in the 70s.

pshark · 03-10-2011, 03:46 PM

Hazel even wrote a song that Diana Ross [[here we go again

) was supposed to put out. Here's my scan of the Warner Bros. trade magazine called WAX PAPER that has that bit of information

**1382hitsville** · 03-10-2011, 04:14 PM

what about the contributions Rick James made?

**roger** · 03-10-2011, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by soulster

I've been a record collector since the age of five. I always paid attention to the label a song is on. Billy Preston was on the the Beatles' Apple label first, then went to A&M, then appeared on Motown in 1980 when he did the duet with Syreeta.

Actually Soulster BILLY PRESTON was on a number of labels before his stint with THE BEATLES at Apple records.

Here is a discography ..

http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/bpreston.htm

And this is a record he made in 1965 for Vee-Jay records called "Billys Bag" which came very near to being a hit in Britain ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaMQWkGEKMU

And here is THE BEATLES video of "Get Back" .. on which Billy played .. he appears in the video on two occasions ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4jCLCFVfNc

Not that either of those tracks were on Motown of course ..

Roger

**blkfrost** · 03-10-2011, 04:50 PM

Jr. Walker's "Whopper Bopper Show Stopper"

pshark · 03-10-2011, 04:54 PM

Preston was in a movie called St Louis Blues. The kid at the end of the clip is him

**tomato tom** · 03-10-2011, 05:15 PM

Yvonne Fair The Bitch Is Black album has some GREAT Funk..........Stone City Band albums are pretty full on with the funk too!!! Gloria Jones Tin Can People hits the mark, but may lean a bit towards rock for some funkers taste....Paulo xxx

**tamla617** · 03-10-2011, 05:27 PM

good call paulo,i forgot about yvonne fair's stuff "love aint no toy" ace! i've got it by stargard too.

**soulster** · 03-10-2011, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by 1382hitsville

what about the contributions Rick James made?

People discussing Motown always forget about him.

**tomato tom** · 03-10-2011, 05:56 PM

I got Stargard too! Not Motown, but hey, its Norman Whitfield right?..Cheers Paulo xxx

**tomato tom** · 03-10-2011, 06:02 PM

Always loved the first side of The Temptations A Song For You album for the Funk drenched jams. Jeffrey Bowen seemed a natural extension from Normans work. However, didnt seem to work so well on the Wings Of Love album. What do you guys think?..Paulo xxx

**tamla617** · 03-10-2011, 07:32 PM

the 2 sides of song for you were dead opposites.i loved the powerhouse side [[side 1)with glasshouse,shakey ground,the prophet and instrumental happy people.
side 2 a "softer" side.
wings of love,i bet i only i've only played it 10 times max.off the top of my head i cant remember what a single track sounds like.and i bought that and "song" when they came out.

**tamla617** · 03-10-2011, 07:34 PM

dont forget the sisters love either

**marv2** · 03-10-2011, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by Drew P. Nads

Would 'Standing on the verge [[of getting it on) by Platinum Hook and 'Tailgate' by 21st Creation count?
Dare I even throw in '[[You pulled a) switch by Switch and finish with Yvonne Fair's 'Funky music sho nuff turns me on?

"Standing on the Verge of Gettin' it On", most definitely qualifies. I am not so sure about the others.

**tomato tom** · 03-11-2011, 02:56 PM

Up the Creek from W

**tomato tom** · 03-11-2011, 03:03 PM

Up the Creek from Wings of Love was about the best. Platinum Hook were good too, Standing on the verge I have on 12". How could I have forgot THE SISTERS LOVE? Mr Fix It Man!!! And YVONNE FAIR You cant judge a book buy its cover, and the rest of the BRILLIANT THE BITCH IS BLACK album. Then Rick James, Teena Marie etal..Paulo xxx

**rovereab** · 03-11-2011, 03:17 PM

Does this classic song count as funk?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeLjT4nrUTQ

**tomato tom** · 03-11-2011, 03:22 PM

rovereab...OH YES! ..PAULO XXX

**tomato tom** · 03-11-2011, 03:33 PM

21st Ccreation is def Disco, NOT funk. Tata Vega came close at times. Ozone, Dr Strut? At times. Paulo xxx

**marv2** · 03-11-2011, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by paulo

I got Stargard too! Not Motown, but hey, its Norman Whitfield right?..Cheers Paulo xxx

Stargard, was too funky..........to be ladies! hehehehehehe! I loved their stuff!

**tomato tom** · 03-11-2011, 05:01 PM

Marv2..Wot you waitin 4

**tomato tom** · 03-11-2011, 05:11 PM

POPCORN WYLIE FUNKY RUBBER BAND?>Great groove, but funk? Slowish jam..me like.yeah FUNKY, FUNKY FUNKY...

**tamla617** · 03-11-2011, 07:03 PM

rovereab
nice one!

**tamla617** · 03-11-2011, 07:12 PM

has anyone mentioned superstition? if that isnt funky i dont know what is

**tomato tom** · 03-11-2011, 07:48 PM

That is FUNK..LUUUURRRRVVE IT!

**marv2** · 03-12-2011, 12:48 AM

Originally Posted by paulo

Marv2..Wot you waitin 4

I'm still waiting to find out ......................."which way is up!!!" LOL! Those women cooked!

**tamla617** · 03-12-2011, 08:31 AM

it isnt "motown" but appeared on motown late 80's the cti/kudu catalogue,grover washington jr mister magic,feels so good. jaz/funk,funky jazz,who cares. it was FUNK
grover's reed seed was a motown record but not funky enough.imo of course!