Valleys of Neptune

Jimi Hendrix (2010)

By: Howard L. Burchette

Valleys of Neptune is  a new CD released by Experience Hendrix LLC, containing new recording re-mastered by Jimi Hendrix. He sounds as good as ever. Some of the recordings are alternate recordings and some are new material.

            The CD opens up with Stone Free featuring Jimi, Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell. The title track is all Hendrix featuring the same band with the addition of percussionist Juma Sultan.  On Bleeding Heart, they take it up a notch with a fast tempo and add tambourines and maracas. Hear My Train A Comin’ has always been a Hendrix favorite and one of his Blues signature pieces. This is a new nice clean version. One nice piece added to the mix is Sunshine of Your Love, originally done by Cream. It is a wonderful instrumental done by the original Jimi Hendrix Experience with an added percussionist. Old favorites like Fire, Lover Man and Red House are re-done with a new twist.

            The Valleys of Neptune proves that Jimi Hendrix lives!

Style: Rock, R&B, Funk

Steppin’ Out

Larry O. Williams (2007)

By: Howard L. Burchette

Steppin Out is what saxophonist Larry O. Williams has done with his new project. His new CD is bursting with funky soulful Jazzy rhythms, and a who’s who of musical guests that accompany him. Larry has been a featured artist with greats like The Gap Band, Little Richard, BB King, Ike & Tina Turner amongst others  Joining Larry are a few of his musical friends. One is drummer James Gadson, who is best remembered for his role with Charles Wright and The Wyatt’s 103^rd Street Rhythm Band, Dyke & The Blazers, and Bill Withers only to name a few. His horn section include Michael Rahmlee Davis and Michael Harris, both from the Phoenix Horns (The Earth, Wind & Fire horn section). The guitar work is laid down by Calvin Keys, who has played with Jazz greats like Tony Bennett, Pharaoh Saunders, and Sonny Stitt and Marlo Henderson formally of The Buddy Miles Express and Maxayn. Some of the vocal contributions come from Patricia Sylvers Deruso formally of Foster Sylvers featuring Pat and Angie Sylvers and The Sylvers. Steppin Out is produced by Billy Osborne, a Jazz musician, song writer and formally of LTD, who sings and plays the keyboards on the CD.  

Steppin Out includes twelve tracks that range from JW, a bouncy upbeat tune, and on the far side is the Bill Doggett standard Honky Tonk which is down home funk and sassy. Cat Walk Struttin will surely keep your feet taping. Soft romantic moments are present with Song For Soprano, which sets the mood. The dessert from this meal of tasty rhythms is Thank You, which has a spiritual and gospel feel. It is a vocal duet that featuring the voices of Billy Osborne and Patricia Sylvers Deruso.

You will be Steppin Out big time, when you go stepping to the music of maestro Larry O. Williams and friends.

Style: Jazz, R&B, Funk

The Last Gypsy Standing

Billy Cox (2009)

By: Howard L. Burchette

The bassist Billy Cox is a legend. He is most remembered as 1/3 of the black hard rock short lived group; The Band of Gypsies. It was formed by Jimi Hendrix, which featured himself on guitar and vocals, Buddy Miles on drums and vocals and Bill Cox on bass. Both Hendrix and Miles have passed and now Billy Cox is truely the last Gypsy standing! Billy actually was in all of the Hendrix group’s including; The Jimi Hendrix Experience and the short lived band that played Woodstock called Gypsy Sons and Rainbows. Billy is surly one of the pioneers of the Funk. The Funk came out of Black Rock from the early 1970’s which had come out of the Hendrix sound following his death.

Billy sings on this CD. It opens with Star Man which has a modem blues beat. Star Man appears to be a nod to Jimi Hendrix. The title track reminds you of the days when the Band of Gypsies were on stage and creating their original form of rock and R&B. Right To Sing The Blues is exactly what it states, pure blues. This is electric Blues! On Angel Billy slows it down a bit with this re-recording of this Hendrix composition. Any project from a former Band of Gypsy member would not be complete withoutVoodoo Chile. This is a great recording and is well worth seeking out. It is haunting and is a reflection of Hendrix. 

Billy Cox is continuing the legacy as the Last Gypsy Standing. The other work at hand is to get The Band of Gypsy’s into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

… Scuse Me While I Kiss The Sky …

Style: Blues, R&B, Funk, Rock

An All-Star Tribute to MAZE featuring Frankie Beverly

Various (2009)

By: Howard L. Burchette

 Not many artists are honored while they are still alive to enjoy it. This project was created to honor one of the greatest legends in R&B and Pop music; Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. The CD does not include the honorees; but some of their admirers like Mary J. Blige, the Clark Sisters, Mint Condition and Kierra Sheard amongst others.  The CD opens with a smooth groove that creates a haunting image of Marvin Gaye in Silky Soul performed by Musiq Soulchild. Kem performs Golden Time of Day, that demands your attention. Happy Feelings is performed by Ledisi and sounds as good as the original. JoeCan’t Get Over You and adds his own spice of Soul to it. One of my favorites is I Wanna Thank You which is a gospel styled tune. It is performed by J. Moss, Kierra Sheard and the wonderful Clark Sisters. This is a real gem. performs

An All-Star Tribute To Maze featuring Frankie Beverly was produced by his son Anthony Beverly and his wife Heather Beverly.

The music of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly lives on!

Style: R&B, Funk

CD Feature of the Month: More SOUL For Your SOUL!

The Impressions - I'm Coming Home For Christmas

The Impressions have recorded their first Christmas album ever in their 50 year history.  Fred Cash and Sam Gooden are joined by Reggie Torian after a 25 year exodus from The Impressions. It is surprising to think that The Impressions have never recorded an entire Christmas album until now even when Curtis Mayfield was at the helm. The name of the new CD is entitled "I'm Coming Home For Christmas". It is a great project and they are joined by John P. Kee and the New Life Singers on some compositions. One highlight from the CD is a re-recording of The Impressions classic Amen. Many of the traditional Christmas classics are here filled with the smooth voices from the legendary Impressions.  Also some non traditional Christmas songs that you may not normally hear on an R&B holiday album is also present like “Mary Did You Know”, “Go Tell It On The Mountain”, Sweet Little Jesus” and the new “Fred’s Lullaby (Silent Night). I think that you will enjoy this holiday favorite and I am sure that it will around for a long time. 

Fred Cash has been a special guest of Howard Burchette on the Funk Show!

               1. I'm Coming Home (For Christmas)                                     

              2. Winter Wonderland                                                           

              3. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen                                         

              4. This Christmas                                                                 

              5. The Christmas Song                                                       

              6. Christmas Just Ain't Christmas                                           

              7. White Christmas                                                                 

              8. Deck The Halls                                                                

              9. Mary, Did You Know                                                         

            10. Amen                                                                                 

            11. Please Come Home For Christmas                                 

            12. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas                        

            13. Got Tell It On The Mountain                                               

            14. Sweet Little Jesus Boy                                                      

            15. Fred's Lullaby (Silent Night)                                  

The Chestnut Brothers - Retro Soul

The Chestnut Brothers are Al and Ty Chestnut and were raised in Philadelphia. Ty Chestnut released a 45 entitled The Bump in 1969, while Al was in the US Navy. Their first recording together was entitled “Super Lovin” b / w “Goodness Gracious” released in 1972 under the name of The Chestnut Tree. Under the name of The Chestnut Brothers they released “Sweet Loretta” in 1983 and “Whole Lotta You In Me” / “Hey Sweet Lady” in 1990 as Brotherly Love. The late great saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. appeared on the tune “Whole Lotta You In Me”. Other favorites by the brothers is “Traveling On” and “Stop The Violence”. 

The new release by The Chestnut Brothers is entitled “Retro Soul”. Some of the highlights from the CD is “What’s Goin On?” Which is a social awareness tune. Most of the CD has a funky beat or either a slow ballad. The Blues is represented on “Dem Down Home Bluze”. The album also features a re-recording of “Stop The Violence” as a Dirty South Mix. I am sure that you will enjoy this fine CD by the fabulous Chestnut Brothers.

             1. What's Goin' On?                          

              2. Girls                                

              3. Mountain of Love                     

              4. Whole Lotta You in Me (Grown & Sexy)                   

              5. The People                     

              6. My Lovey Dovey                       

              7. Choose Your Desiny                 

              8. Come to Me                   

              9. Dem Down Home Bluze           

            10. Not Ready for Love                              

            11. We've Got Love             

            12. Stop the Violence (Dirty South Remix)                        

            13. Whole Lotta You in Me (Slamm-A-Licous Remix)

Steve Arrington - Pure Thang 

 Steve Arrington began his career at an early age playing drums for an Ohio band called The Young Mystics. After the collapse of The Young Mystics, Steve moved to San Francisco playing Jazz and Latin-Jazz with Pete, Coke & Shelia (Shelia E) Escovedo. By this time the former members of The Young Mystics and another Ohio band called Black Satin Soul merged and were now calling themselves Slave. By 1978 Steve joined Slave as a drummer. He eventually came out front as the lead vocalist on hits like "Just a Touch of Love", "Watching You", and "Wait for Me”. In 1982, Steve formed his own band entitled Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame. The group had hits like "Weak At The Knees" and "Nobody Can Be You But You" and "Feel So Real".

Steve Arrington has returned with an album entitled “Pure Thang”. It is an album with a strong message containing the Funk of Slave and Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame.  One of the main messages from the album is that God is still in control and Jesus is Lord. When you listen to “I’m On Fire”, “Holla” and “The Devil Can’t Sing Amazing Grace”, you will immediately feel the powerful message. Another important moment on the album is “Song For Coretta and Rosa”. This song is homage to Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King. Two of the bright and shinny lights of the civil rights movement. Pure Thang is pure inspiring and pure Funk!

Steve Arrington has been a special guest of Howard Burchette on the Funk Show!

   01. Right Here Right Now                                          

   02. I'm On Fire                                                   

   03. Time To Ride                                                  

   04. Nobody Else                                                   

   05. I Like What You Do                                            

   06. Song For Coretta And Rosa                                     

   07. Coolin                                                        

   08. Right There (Feat. Rev. Brian Coleman)                        

   09. Power                                                         

   10. Holla                                                         

   11. Sunrise                                                       

   12. Tones                                                         

   13. Soul Food                                                     

   14. Pure Thang                                                    

   15. Right On Time                                                 

   16. The Devil Can't Sing Amazing Grace                            

   17. It's True

Sarah Dash - The Seventh Child 

Sarah Dash from Trenton NJ, the seventh of thirteen (13) children, began singing in The Trenton Church of Christ, Young Peoples Choir, in Trenton, New Jersey.  As a pre teen she began singing with a group entitled "The Del Capri's" with Nona Hendryx. Their manager named Bernard Montague merged the two of them with two other girls, Cindy Birdsong and Patricia Holte and called them” The BlueBells". The record company re-named the group as, "Patti LaBelle and The BlueBells." Their first hit song was "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman". Other hits would follow Down The Aisle”, You’ll Never Walk Alone” and a song which Sarah Dash sang the lead on “Danny Boy”. Patti LaBelle and The BlueBells would then release the following albums “The Sweethearts of the Apollo”, “The Bluebelles on Stage “, “Over The Rainbow” and “Dreamer”.  In 1967 Cindy Birdsong left to join The Supremes at Motown reducing the group to a trio. In the early 1970’s the group changed it’s name to Labelle and developed a more funky style. The group scored with hits like “Moonshadow” and "Lady Marmalade ".

    Sarah Dash went solo in 1977 and scored with the hit “Sinner Man”. She has returned with a great spiritual album entitled “The Seventh Child”.  It is a good feel good album that will inspire you. The tune “I’m Pressing On” will keep your feet taping. The tune “The Lord Will Make A Way” is a duet with Teddy Fergunson. The words and music for “Don’t You Know (He’ll Take Care Of You)” is written by Sarah Dash. It is a song about her family. I would have to say that one of the most powerful pieces on the album is the “Lord’s Prayer”.  “This Light Of Mine” is pure gospel and jumping. There is nothing more beautiful than “We need More Love”. It begins with a monologue in-between Sarah Dash and her nephew named Andre. She asks him: Why Do We Need Love? The CD ends with a dance tune and a little Funk!. Now a presentation from a member of Labelle would not be the same without some Funk. The name of the tune is “Something Inside Of Me”. I know that you will like it.

This is a need to have CD from Sarah Dash, one of our great divas.

Sarah Dash was a special guest of Howard Burchette on The Funk Show.

1. I'm Still Here

2. I'm Pressing On

3. The Lord Will Make A Way

4. Don't You Know (He'll Take Care of You)

5. The Lord's Prayer

6. This Light of Mine

7. His Eye Is On The Sparrow

8. We need More Love

9. Something Inside of Me

CD Feature of the Month: The Sirens of Soul!

 In this article we are featuring four great ladies of song. Four classic albums from the 1960's and 1970's by Yvonne Fair, Freda Payne, Chris Clark and Gloria Jones. All re-issued by REEL MUSIC and fully re-mastered.

Yvonne Fair - "The Bitch Is Back"

Yvonne Fair was born in Richmond Virginia. Her career began with The Chantels and also was a part of the James Brown Show. She also recorded with James Brown under the name of Nat Kendricks and the Swans of Henry Stone Music. This classic album "The Bitch Is Back" was recorded during her tenure at Motown. It was produced by Norman Whitfield who was responsible for hits by Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Temptations, Rare Earth, The Undisputed Truth, Edwin Starr as well as Rose Royce. His creation was psychedelic Soul and that is what this album of Yvonne Fair is - Psychedelic Soul or pure Funk. The first track is Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On which features the voice of Marvin Gaye and the second track was a hit entitled It Should Have Been Me. Other notable tracks are Tell Me Something Good from the Rufus featuring Chaka Khan Discography and Let Your Hair Down, a  Norman Whitfield psychedelic soul composition. The musicians accompanying the late great Yvonne Fair were the Motown Funk Brothers.

1.  Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On   

2.  It Should Have Been Me   

3. Stay A Little Longer   

4. It's Bad For Me To See You   

5. Tell Me Something Good   

6.  Let Your Hair Down  

7. Love Ain't No Toy   

8. I Know (You Don't Love me No More)   

9.  Walk Out The Door If You Wanna   

10. You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover

 Freda Payne - "Payne and Pleasure"

   Freda Payne originally from Detroit, began her career signing Jazz. Her first three albums were Jazz albums with the first one released on Impulse Records. Most people will remember Freda Payne from her 1971 monster hit “Band of Gold” released on the Invictus label owned by Holland, Dozier and Holland. Other hits followed at HDH such as “Bring The Boys Home”, “Cherish What Is Dear To You” and Deeper and Deeper”.

            The album Payne & Pleasure was released in 1974 on ABC / Dunhill Records produced by Lamont Dozier and McKinley Jackson. Arrangements and Orchestration was by Gene Page who also worked with Barry White and the Love Unlimited Orchestra. The album produced a charted hit “It’s Yours To Have” and includes a wonderful version of “I Won’t Last A Day Without You”. The Leon Russell classic “A Song For You” is another favorite ballad on the album. This classic album is a must for collectors and especially for Freda Payne fans.

Freda Payne been a guest of Howard Burchette twice on THE FUNK SHOW!

Track Listing: 

1.  It’s Yours To Have  • 

2.  Didn’t I Tell You  •  

3.  I Get Carried Away  • 

4.  Run For Your Life  •  

5.  Don’t Wanna Be Left Out   • 

6.  Shadows On The Wall   • 

7.  I Won’t Last A Day Without You  

8.  The Way We Were   • 

9.  A Song For You

 Chris Clark - "Soul Sounds"

Chris Clark   was a soulful singer whose Motown debut occurred in 1967. The album “Soul Sounds” was filled with songs written by Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Holland Dozier and Holland and Frank Wilson. The album “Soul Sounds” produced four charted singles “Do Right Baby, Do Right”, “Love's Gone Bad”,  “I Want to Go Back There Again” and “From Head to Toe”.  Chris Clark is also responsible for co-writing the screenplay for the Diana Ross vehicle "Lady Sings The Blues”. Chris Clark also became an executive for Motown Productions' film and television division and was one of the main driving forces behind The Jackson Five ‘Going Back To Indiana’ special.

Chris Clark’s “Soul Sounds” is a great album and also a Motown masterpiece. It was apart of the “Sound Of Young America”.

1.  I Want To Go Back There Again
2.  Love's Gone Bad
3.  Born To Love You Baby
4.  If You Should Walk Away
5.  Whisper You Love Me Boy
6.  Got To Get You Into My Life
7.  Day By Day Or Never
8.  From Head To Toe
9.  Do Right Baby, Do Right
10. Until You Love Someone
11. Put Yourself In My Place
12. Sweeter As The Days Go By

Gloria Jones - "Share My Love"

Gloria Jones best know for her 1964 classic “Tainted Love” growing up in the church first began her career in a gospel group called “The Cogic Singers”. That group also included Billy Preston, Andre Crouch, Edna Wright and Blinky.  She would score in 1964 with her first hit "Heartbeat Pts 1 & 2" and then “Tainted Love” a year latter. She is also known as the companion of Marc Bolan who was the leader of the group T-REX. She also recorded and toured with the group. Another part of career was at Motown, both as a songwriter and as a recording artist. At Motown, she wrote and co-wrote many classics for The Four Tops, The Jackson Five, Jermaine Jackson, Eddie Kendricks, The Commodores, Jr. Walker & The All-Stars, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross’s “My Mistake” and the classic Gladys Knight and the Pips "If I Were Your Woman”.

The album “Share My Love” was released in 1973 on Motown. She used non Motown musicians on this project including bassist Willie Weeks, drummer Earl Palmer, guitarist David T. Walker, Jai Winding, Bill Cuomo and Don Menza. The single released from the album was “Baby Don’tcha Know (I’m Bleeding For You) “ and the funky “Tin Can People”.  The CD also includes the Gloria Jones version of "If I Were Your Woman”.  Share My Love by Gloria Jones is a classic and a must have.

Gloria Jones was a guest of Howard Burchette on THE FUNK SHOW.

Track Listing:   

1.  Share My Love 

2.  Why Can’t You Be Mine  

3.  Try Love  

4.  Tin Can People  

5.  Oh Baby  

6.  Old Love, New Love  

7.  So Tired (Of The Way You’re Treating Our Love Baby)  

8.  Baby Don’tcha Know (I’m Bleeding For You)  

9.  What Did I Do To Lose You   plus   Bonus Track 

10.  If I Were Your Woman – Original Demo