Funk Yeah! Soul and Disco

"I love a lot of old disco because it’s aerodynamic, smooth, and very seductive. Every time I go out..."

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 01:11:40 -0400

“I love a lot of old disco because it’s aerodynamic, smooth, and very seductive. Every time I go out dancing these days, there’s always music playing that’s like, ‘You have to dance right now, or I’m going to beat the shit out of you!’ There was a song on Swedish radio a few years ago that translates to: ‘He Who Doesn’t Dance Is a Rapist’! But when I DJ, I try to think of the opposite of that— more like, ‘It’s all right if you don’t want to dance, but just try to resist this!’”

- Jens Lekman talks to us about non-threatening dance music and his forthcoming album, I Know What Love Isn’t. (via pitchfork)

Gal Costa was a singer involved in the Brazilian Tropicalismo...

Thu, 31 May 2012 03:08:20 -0400

Gal Costa was a singer involved in the Brazilian Tropicalismo movement of the 60s and 70s, producing some of the must psychedelic and warm tracks ever to come out of Brazil. Her 1969 album Gal is essential listening for any fan of Brazilian rock/pop and any fan of psychedelic music, especially hard soul and rock. Using sampled sounds, vocal processing, and Gal’s effervescent but intense delivery make for a trip you will never forget. The instrumental playing is stellar, frequently featuring virtuosic playing wrapped in deft studio multitracking and arrangements by producer Rogerio Duprat. You can hear the Philly Soul and harder sounds of American funk burst through in the bombastic horns and bumping melodic bass lines. Phillips 1969.

pitchfork: With “Share My Love”, Kells comes through with a...

Mon, 14 May 2012 06:30:10 -0400

pitchfork:

With “Share My Love”, Kells comes through with a Friday-ready disco-soul jam that recalls Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra.

Extended version of Yelle’s poppin’ “Safari...

Thu, 10 May 2012 19:55:10 -0400

Extended version of Yelle’s poppin’ “Safari Disco Club”, the title track off their killer 2011 album Safari Disco Club! Barclay 2011.

And to follow up on my last video post of local San Francisco...

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:06:00 -0400

And to follow up on my last video post of local San Francisco band Still Flyin’, here is the glorious album artwork from their first album Never Gonna Touch the Ground. One point of interest in the scene is Personal’s Pizzas, no doubt a reference to another local SF band who play the New Jersey personas of Personal & the Pizzas (they have a pizza delivered in the middle of their shows too)! They are releasing their follow up album On A Bedroom Wall in mid-May!

Still Flyin’ are a local San Francisco band here in the...

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:00:16 -0400

Still Flyin’ are a local San Francisco band here in the bay area! They put their own unique spin on reggae mixing it with indie pop and DIY communitarian good vibes. In their own words, hammjamm “when a good time gets better.” They have members from a wide variety of varsity and junior varsity indie pop bands such as The Aisler Set, Architecture in Helsinki, Red Pony Clock, #poundsign#, Masters of the Hemisphere, Je Suis France, The Lucksmiths, and Dear Nora. This is a B-side from their first single entitled “Rope Burn”. This song is later referenced on their first album Never Gonna Touch the Ground. 2009 Antenna Farm Records.

Flavor’s In Good Taste was a slice of late 70s soul funk...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:43:29 -0400

Flavor’s In Good Taste was a slice of late 70s soul funk released by Ju-Par Records (and distributed by Motown) determined to stir the dancefloor as well as melt the heart with 3 part harmonies and smooth stylings. 1976 Ju-Par Records.

Here is an addendum to the last post about Elvis...

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:00:03 -0500

Here is an addendum to the last post about Elvis Presley’s “A Little Less Conversation” from the movei Live a Little, Love a Little. 1969.

The second half of our double play will consist of two videos....

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:57:13 -0500

The second half of our double play will consist of two videos. This first clip is a groovy ole Elvis Presley tune called “A Little Less Conversation”. It was written by Billy Strange, a member of the legendary association of studio musicians called The Wrecking Crew, who recorded on many of the greatest pop and rock albums of the 60s. The song was recorded for a movie Elvis sang in, but its catchiness also got it released as a single in 1969.

This is the first of a double post today! It’s finally...

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:45:28 -0500

This is the first of a double post today! It’s finally Friday and that means I finished my midterms for the week, so to celebrate here is a great track from Love and Kisses. Alec R. Constandinos has a bevy of studio work under his belt by the end of the 70s, and beyond his own albums, movie soundtracks, Sphinx, and Jefferson Starship, he had his hands full. He released 3 albums and a few singles with his studio group Love and Kisses, but their most famous song was the theme and titled track for the, second best, disco movie, “Thank God It’s Friday”. Here we have a live performance, I hope you enjoy your Friday! Casablanca 1978.

Thy Unveiling

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:01:33 -0500

ijiandseashoes:

http://ijiiji.bandcamp.com/album/yerself

Now is the time.

Here is a feel good jam for your Saturday night! This is The...

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:00:30 -0500

Here is a feel good jam for your Saturday night! This is The Commodores with “Brick House”. Motown 1977.

RAPTURE RANDOMNESS: "House" Ten Year Anniversary

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:52:07 -0500

RAPTURE RANDOMNESS: "House" Ten Year Anniversary:

The Rapture - “House of jealous Lovers”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HP04nfUi4g

rapturerandomness:

Watching Money Ball for the third time on the flight home from South America, I couldn’t help reflecting on the similarities of the Oakland A’s, Billy Bean and my band The Rapture. We succeeded in everything I ever wanted back in 2002 but like Bean, I didn’t realize it. Because “House of Jealous…

For my 100th post I figured I would wait and do something...

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:58:19 -0500

For my 100th post I figured I would wait and do something special like a mix. But I don’t want to be supplying large amounts of files over the internet in the way of Megaupload and (thankfully tabled) SOPA/PIPA.
Instead, I’m gonna post some HIP HOP that samples some old school funk. Now, unfortunately I don’t know what Terror X Crew sampled but I do know a bit about this unique group. ”Η Μέθοδος Του Προκρούστη” is a track from this Greek hip hop group’s 1999 album. The song title translates as The Methods of Procrustes, the son of Poseidon. Learn more at Wikipedia. FM Records 1999.

Here is a rather scruffy Al Green belting out his self-penned...

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:26:06 -0500

Here is a rather scruffy Al Green belting out his self-penned hit song that Rolling Stone ranked #293 on it’s greatest songs of all time list! “Tired of Being Alone” is a heartwrenching ballad, originally slated to be recorded for his Green is Blues album but wasn’t released until his 1971 album Al Green Gets Next To You was recorded. Hi 1971.

ijiandseashoes: My cover of “Rainbow Connection” from the...

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:57:46 -0500

ijiandseashoes:

My cover of “Rainbow Connection” from the Muppets Movie, created for the Arizona Salutes Jim Henson Compilation, out later this year. This recording is not only my first Muppets Cover, but also is my first journey into the world of Slap Bass. Get Ready.

Some funky DIY smooth soul from Seattle based IJI, which is the project of Arizona native Zach Burba. He released a cassette under the pseudonym Zachary David Jammin of smooth 80s inspired DIY funk called Welcome to My Snack Bar that you should definitely check out, its a bit twee as well!Self Released 2011.

LCD Soundsystem was the project of James Murphy, the head of the...

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:39:56 -0500

LCD Soundsystem was the project of James Murphy, the head of the always awesome DFA Records. Despite breaking up, they will remain massively important to dance-able indie music loosely classified, along with other luminaries like !!!, as Dancepunk. The influence of post-punk is definitely felt and Pat Mahoney’s drumming sounds even better than a 80s new-wave drum machine. “No Love Lost” is off a tour 7” single, and the B-side features the Arcade Fire’s “Poupee de Cire/Poupee de Son”. 2007.

“My children learned just the same as yours As long as...

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:39:00 -0500

“My children learned just the same as yours
As long as nobody tries to close the door
They cry with pain when the knife cuts deep
They even close their eyes when they wanna sleep

We must all have Identity,

That’s the only way we can be free.

Now peace, you say
is all that you ask
But self-respect is a separate task

You may be sitting up there
in your ivory tower
60 stories tall

I know that you may have checked out at least one ghetto
But I wonder have you lived there at all?”
-Marlena Shaw “Woman of the Ghetto”. Cadet 1969.

Ever heard funky oboes? Ever heard funky oboes in harmony? Now...

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 08:29:00 -0500

Ever heard funky oboes? Ever heard funky oboes in harmony? Now you have thanks to Marvin Gaye’s “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever” from his “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” album. Motown/Tamla 1968.

Taking a Break

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:23:37 -0400

I hate to have to do this but many circumstances have led me to need a break from Funk Yeah! Soul and Disco. First off, my computer was stolen, and it contained the resources to dredge up material from a broad spectrum of musical genres. Intense musicological and anthropological work relating to hip hop freestyling, and english folk music studies will be taking up a significant amount of time as I plan a class for next fall about English Folk Music. Check out another blog I will continue to run: http://www.folkyeahfolkrock.tumblr.com

I’ll be back before the end of the year when I dig up some good old records. I will definitely have some holiday music so stay tuned for that near the end of November.