News & Updates — '70s Funk Rock

This entry into the series may well stand as one of the controversial ones, given not only some of the cheese that Les Baxter was involved with, but also for his role in the 1950's phenomenon of the white man's interpretation of "Jungle Drums", etc...as well as (unsubstantiated, and seemingly likely untrue when looking at it deeply) claims of compositional theft made by his understudies. But since it is my piece to write here, I am not going to flinch on calling myself a fan of Baxter's wacky arrangements, particularly in the field of "exotica" and exploito-film scores. Regardless of...

Johnny Jenkins was an underrated guitarist and singer out of Macon, Georgia. Left-handed, he built a home-made "guitar" from a matchbox and rubber bands and he played it upside down (not unlike Jimi Hendrix, who was certainly inspired by Jenkins). He finally got a real guitar and hit the Southern circuit as a flamboyant showman. His early '60s band, The Pinetoppers, gave Otis Redding an early job (singer and driver). Otis used extra Jenkins studio time to cut "These Arms Of Mine" (with Jenkins on guitar) in '62 and the rest is history for Otis. Jenkins was asked to join...

It's the return of the '70s Funk Rock party! For those that like their rock funky and their funk rocking. It's a Mothership connection and long-hairs are welcome. Come to The Rendezvous, Wednesday March 1 to hear Peace & Rhythm DJs (Andujar, Studebaker Hawk & Bongohead) selecting groovy cuts all from vinyl. Spanning the late '60s to the early '80s we'll be spinning funk rock & heavy funk in all its glory: popular and obscure cuts, psycofunkadelia, the funkiest classic rock, danceable post-punk, groovy psych from around the world, Latin-rock, Afro-rock, native rock, hard rock breaks, fusion and more. Funkadelic,...

One of the funkiest was Rick James, the wild funk-rock genius of "Super Freak". Buffalo-born, he escaped to Canada as a draft-dodger and played in the Mynah Birds with Neil Young and Bruce Palmer until he was busted and thrown in the clink. He played on the amazing psych record by Bruce Palmer (The Cycle Is Complete) as Rick Matthews, before transforming into the larger-than-life funk god. And the rest is dirty history. From 1981's Street Songs:

The much loved R&B icon Etta James sang classics like "Tell Mama", "I'd Rather Go Blind", "At Last", "Seven Day Fool", the funky "All The Way Down" and many more. A Los Angeles native, she started singing in the church as a child. She got an early jump when Johnny Otis helped nurture her young career before she signed with Chess in 1960, her label for many years. She dated BB King, sang with Chuck Berry, toured with the Rolling Stones and her music covered doo-wop, gospel, ballads, R&B, blues, jazz, soul, funk & rock. Dig one of my faves...