Funk my Soul

While a lot of you are away on vacations or enjoy the summertime,  it’s time for another fine musical offering by Mr.Moo, the ultra rare awesome soul album from a sub Motown label : “Stop the World -We Wanna Get Off” by Hearts Of Stone.

An excellent and obscure group soul record - the group’s only full LP, recorded in 1970 for the Motown subsidiary VIP! The general feel is a mix of pop and soul - but with arrangements by Wade Marcus, Paul Riser, and Henry Crosby, the groove is nice and strong, and the band’s tight vocal style makes the record work where you’d least expect! The sound is a bit harder than the usual Motown effort - more rough edges and a deeper vocal approach overall, a bit like The Originals, but not as smoothly harmonic.  Also contains some nice covers such as “Thank You Fallettinme Be Mice Elf Again” and “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”.

This is @320 vinyl rip of the original VIP LP including covers

Tracks
A1 It’s A Lonesome Road (2:34)
A2 If I Could Give You The World (2:57)
A3 Would You Take A Dime From A Poor Man (2:33)
A4 Rainy Night In Georgia (4:05)
A5 You Gotta Sacrifice (We Gotta Sacrifice) (2:34)
A6 What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) (2:59)
B1 Yesterday’s Love Is Over (2:54)
B2 “Thank You” Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin (3:45)
B3 He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (4:05)
B4 You’ve Made Me So Very Happy (3:25)
B5 One Day (2:52)

Some info from AMG

The Hearts of Stone popped up unexpectedly on Motown’s VIP label in 1970 with the album Stop the World: We Wanna Get Off. Surprising, since artists like the Velvelettes, Carolyn Crawford, Barbara Randolph, the Satintones, Kim Weston, and others hadn’t been honored with album releases, yet this unknown group gets one produced by Henry Cosby. The album wasn’t Motown and sounds as if it would have fared better in the late ’50s or early ’60s than 1970. The members were John Myers, Lindsey Griffin, Floyd Lawson, and Carl Cutler.

Myers had been around, first with the Five Pennies on Savoy on “Mr.. Moon” b/w “Let It Rain” (1955), “My Heart Trembles” b/w “Money” (1956), and unreleased tracks on the Herald label; the Chimes, with Freddie Scott on Arrow Records, who made “Please Call” b/w “The Letter Comes This Morning” and “Lovin’ Baby” b/w “A Faded Memory” both in 1957; the Four Jokers “Written in the Stars” b/w “The Runaround” on Sue in 1958; and the Four Pennies “You Have No Time to Lose” b/w “You’re a Gas With Your Trash,” on Brunswick in 1964. The Five Pennies consisted of Clifford Curry, Constance Holloway, Benjamin Washington, and Herbet Myers, John’s brother. The Five Pennies backed Big Miller on his 1955 Savoy release “All Is Well” b/w “Try to Understand.” Herbert also sang with James in the Four Jokers.

VIP Records issued two singles by the Hearts of Stone from their album: “It’s a Lonesome Road” a fast upbeat number with a gospel flavor and secular lyrics, and “If I Could Give You the World” (1971), a mid-tempo song with a sluggish beat that came out ten years too late. It’s unclear what happened to the group after their stint with Motown, but it’s believed that John Myers drifted into gospel music.

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Background info (prior Hearts Of Stone era) here.

John Myers on MySpace

Floyd Lawson on MySpace -  Floyd Lawson & The Hearts Of Stone recorded a second album titled ‘Coming Out’ in 1976 on Lawson’ private press label (FLO-89) which was reissued in 2007 on the Afro-Kats Reocrds label (Canada).

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Buy the CD Japanese 2002 exclusive reissue, on Amazon for 49,99$. The only vinyl copy on Ebay costs 99,98$ but you can also have a chance on Discogs for a VG copy (35€) and a NM copy (70€).

Before you head for the music, listen up the classic “If I could give you the world”

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Props to Mr.Moo for the contribution and the listening experience. It’s a great privilege to be part of the FMS family.  I’ll be away on vacations for two weeks. Trakbuv is currently working on one of our favorites 80’s albums, to be posted next week. Meanwhile, enjoy the music! There’s a lot of great stuff in our back pages you might miss. I will be back very soon with : The Dutch Rythm Steel and Show Band and more.

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Well, that’s a real surprise!

Raphy promised to send gems that never have been posted to other blogs and here’s a group that most of us never heard of them before. The last few days Trakbuv and I, tried to find any information about the group or the album but nothing important showed up.

(The) Love Machine was a 70’s female disco/soul group, released a lot of 7″ and Lp’s most of them in Europe. Trying to find their discography i got confused but must be the same group on a 1973 live album released in France (see here). After this 1975 LP released by Phillips in Nederlands,  there’s another one  - with the same title - released in  Italy, Nederlands and France,  (see here) in 1977 and in USA by Buddah (see here) in 1978 which includes what i suspect was their biggest hit “Desperately”

Enjoy this rare album with short reviews by Raphy and Trakbuv along with some nice covers of their albums.

This is a @320 vinyl rip of the original Phillips LP including covers.

Tracks
A1 Poor Side Of Town 3.00
A2 It Only Happens (When I Look At You) 2.58
A3 Brickyard Blues 3.02
A4 You’re The Song 3.01
A5 Laughter In The Rain 4.54
A6 In The Mood 2.10
B1 That’s My Style 3.43
B2 Shoot Your Best Shot 3.16
B3 City In The Sky 3.24
B4 You Wanna Make It To The Top Of The Mountain 2.32
B5 I’ve Got The Music In Me 5.11

Review by Raphy

Love Machine, What a funny name for a bevy of talented Ladies…I think to myself. So, as usual I consult my greatest advisor, ‘Google’ to tell me more about these beauties>>>>and again Google Failed to surprise me by revealing…NOTHING!

Apparently, I found a place on the net that is selling the single For HUGE Bucks….that means I have something of great value, I smirked to myself.

So folks, this will be a very short review only if it can be expanded by our proficient writers, Nikos, Trakbuv or Groovy Emmanuel.

This LP provided some technical challenges while I was doing the editing.. So it’s not as clean as I would like…but it pass by my standard.

If You like to dance, This is the LP for you…From the first track to the last your speakers will be pulsating with Disco beats, Up tempo tunes, Lively Jazz.

So folks, my advice is to chill out with a glass of bourbon or scotch on the rocks……and for those ‘like me’ that can’t afford those liquor…WATER on the ‘ROCKS’ will suffice. But very importantly, constantly look on the album cover…..and I promise you will be transported to a very good place!

As for me, I am dancing with the LP a breath away.

Review by Trakbuv

Well, I for one am impressed by an LP that appears to have materialized from nowhere in Raphy’s magic music box.  The only information I have managed to turn up is regarding another LP I strongly suspect to be by the same band dating from, just to confuse matters, the same year - ‘The Love Machine’ by THE Love Machine - featuring the 7 lovelies silhouetted against a picture of a tiger.  That LP was released on Ducale (PD 340) in Europe (France and Italy).  The LP has a different tracklist of 10 titles composed again of several cover versions, but also some originals by Curtis Nolan & Raymond Crossley (of Nolan & Crossley fame).  I have also found another source suggesting the LP may also have been titled ‘Feel My Love’ (see the video clip below).

Love Machine comprised of Bernice, Kathy, Mary, Paulette, Renee, Sandy & Sheila, all of whom were capable of handling lead vocals – itself an impressive achievement.  The ‘Stars & Stripes’ theme also appeared to feature heavily in the band’s image .  On this wonderful LP that Raphy has provided, there are some very nice cover versions - most notably Neil Sedaka’s ‘Laughter in the rain’, The Staples ‘City in the Sky’, Kiki Dee’s ‘I’ve got the music’, Aretha/Jackie Wilson’s ‘It only happens’, and Glenn Miller’s ‘In the mood’ (?).  And yes indeed - this is a quality boogie joint, but I would personally like to draw special attention to ‘You’re the song’, an unbelievably awesome rare groove lilter that will have UK DJ’s kicking themselves for not having discovered it and then falling over themselves to correct that mistake !  Definitely my style.  As is the lovely ballad ‘That’s my style’ - no not the Main Ingredient number, but a similarly glorious plodder showcasing the elegance of the girls.  Raphy – a truly remarkable surprise, my Caribbean friend.

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Never released on CD.  Buy those LP’s on Groove collector and Discogs and listen up the wonderful “Desperately”

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Waiting for your replies on the album or the post, especially if you got any more information about the group. Finally do not forget to thank Raphy for sharing another rare find of his amazing vinyl collection.

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Bonus

“Love Machine” 1978

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It’s time I tried to buy this album I failed! I’ve been after a near mint copy for years. This sought after LP is not often seen and I hope soon to get it. Check here for vinyl prices.

So I couldn’t resist (while I can not rip any of my vinyl at the moment due to house renovation)  when i found a good rip of the scarce Funk/Disco/ Soul LP from 1979 produced by Wayne Henderson. It’s an essential album that will please everybody from boogie funk lovers to modern soul fans - incl the classic “Hollywood Dreaming” and the dance floor shaker “You Can Get It” plus many other wonderful tunes.

This is a @320 vinyl rip of the original Mercury LP.

Tracks
A1. Shine On 4:00
A2. Hollywood Dreaming 4:44
A3. Dance Do It 3:26
A4. Wild Woman 5:35
A5. Music Use It 3:31
B1. Got to Get Away 4:34
B2. Gone Bad 3:36
B3. My Grandma 4:25
B4. Music for Your Mind 2:38
B5. You Can Get It 4:10

Dusty Groove Review

A lost classic from Father’s Children - the group’s only album ever, but an impeccably produced set - thanks to the efforts of Wayne Henderson’s At Home Productions team! The groove here is similar to that forged by Henderson over at Fantasy - soul, but inflected with plenty of jazzy fusion touches - instrumentation that steps out riffing with a really great edge, and fleshes out the sound with a lot more creativity and imagination than mainstream soul at the time. The best grooves here have a midtempo boogie flavor - with plenty of righteous jazzy touches alongside the richer harmonies that flow out warmly on the lyrics! Titles include their landmark track “Hollywood Dreaming”, plus other nice ones like “Got To Get Away”, “Gone Bad”, “You Can Get It”, “Music For Your Mind”, and “Shine On”.

All Music Guide Review

It’s hard to believe that an album Wayne Henderson produced could be a total flop commercially. But then again, worthwhile albums fall through the cracks all the time. That’s exactly what happened with this self-titled debut album by Father’s Children, a little known Washington DC, band that Henderson produced in 1979. The music on this out of print LP is essentially soul and funk, but with jazz overtones — and, occasionally, Father’s Children incorporates elements of reggae and Afro-Caribbean music. Think of the jazzier funk of the 1970s, and you will know where the eight-man band is coming from on tracks like “You Can Get It,” “Dance Do It,” and “Shine On.” Pleasure, the Blackbyrds, and Karma are valid comparisons, and one can also hear similarities between Father’s Children and some of the more jazz-influenced offerings of the Ohio Players and the pre-J.T. Taylor Kool & the Gang. Father’s Children also hints at Side Effect on some of the songs, which isn’t surprising because Side Effect leader Augie Johnson serves as a co-producer and background vocalist. Some of the material is excellent, and some of it is merely decent - this LP isn’t perfect, although Father’s Children deserves credit for taking chances. One hears a lot of potential on this record, but, regrettably, the band’s first album also turned out to be its last.

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Never released on CD. You can buy the vinyl reissue for a decent price and the original vinyl from 60 $ to 100$ on Groove Collector. Listen up the wonderful groove “Hollywood Dreaming”.

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Bill Withers comes across as someone you’d pass everyday without paying much mind - a humble, yet very perceptive gentleman. Originally from a small coal-mining town in West Virginia, he served 9 years in the US Navy before taking his music abilities more seriously. Bill Withers is probably best known for his wonderful hit, ‘Lovely Day’ – somehow capturing the laziness of a hot summer afternoon perfectly. Of equal measure is the exquisite ‘Ain’t no sunshine’, a song that was given a scintillating rendition by a certain 14 year old wannabe (Michael Jackson, RIP). Even after recording ‘Ain’t no sunshine’, Bill refused to give up his job making aeroplane toilet seats, citing the music industry as fickle. Here we have Bill consolidating the success of that song and his debut, ‘Just as I am’, with arguably his finest long-player.

This is a 320@ CD rip (supplied by Trakbuv), including original gatefold covers

Tracks
A1   Lonely Town, Lonely Street (3:44)
A2   Let Me In Your Life (2:39)
A3   Who Is He (What Is He To You) (3:12)
A4  Use Me (3:46)
A5   Lean On Me (4:17)
B1  Kissing My Love (3:49)
B2   I Don’t Know (3:05)
B3   Another Day To Run (4:38)
B4   I Don’t Want You On My Mind (4:35)
B5   Take It All In & Check It All Out (2:40)

Review by Trakbuv

I’ve read a few comments in light of the passing of Michael Jackson that have questioned his (and others past and present) status as a legend as some sort of open debate. Hero worship is a funny thing – it is a human failing to seek someone as a refuge or guide for our dreams and failings. It can be a good thing, but can also drive man against fellow man. The reality of course is that it is ultimately subjective. Just because someone has had the most number ones ever doesn’t mean you have to personally hail them as a legend, or even like them. Of course, in the case of Michael there is no objective dispute as to this status. But it is the need to compare others, living or dead, as some sort of hierarchy that goes beyond playful fantasy that I find disturbing. It made me wonder at how fame can mould a person’s career and their music, and hence notoriety, in defining an iconic legacy.

What would superstardom have done with Mr Bill Withers, for example ? The title of this album ‘Still Bill’ says it all really. Even having had two huge hits in ‘Grandma’s hands’ and ‘Ain’t no sunshine’ (the latter reaching no.3 on the Billboard Pop Charts and receiving a Grammy Award), and a well-received debut LP, ‘Just As I Am’, it was still just Bill. His whole charisma reeked of this guy sat on his porch banging out melodies from a worldly-wise tongue, surrounded by a glazed audience humming among the fireflies. His songs are uncomplicated, simple themes given a wondrous lease of colour and virtuosity that beguiles the senses. And here on ‘Still Bill’, the master really delivers both as songer and singwriter.

‘Lonely town, lonely street’ – a real corker to kick the dust off, Bill takes no prisoners in his aggressive take on the vacuous trappings of the bright lights – and one of my many all-time Bill favourites. Once you’ve picked yourself up from that physical bashing, he pleads with the softest of strokes on ‘Let me in your life’. One of my favourite Bill slowies, its all-too brief sweetness only serves to accentuate the yearning. Goosebumps. Next up is the classic ‘Who is he’, from which I would sing ‘doggarnit’ to anything I begrudgingly had to do as a kid ! Everything that Bill Withers stands for is right here - simple repetitive refrain, a biting chorus that almost makes a verse redundant, and a spitting message that fails to hit no-one. Ditto for the moog-led ‘Use me’, another popular Withers number that has the man in vitriolic mode. Do not mess !

‘Lean on me’. Let’s take some time out for what is probably his most majestic song. The arrangement on this is unbelievable ! We start with what is essentially a hum-with-words – creating an amazing meandering melancholy that is broken so spectacularly with ‘lean on me’ in the most earnest call you could ever wish for. And that unorthodox hand-clap rhythm in the chorus (5/4 time ?) is inspirational. And that echo of ‘call me’ on the fade-out sounding like a phone ringing from the one you love. This is planet Genius with honours deservedly capturing the no.1 spot in the US on July 8^th, 1972 – almost exactly 37 years ago ! Another BIG fave is ‘Kissing my love’, sounding a little like The Meters, Bill gets down and I tell ya’ll - my sway cannot get away when this booms. The jazzy breeziness of ‘I don’t know’ perfectly paves the joyful skip of the lyrics, oh, I’d forgotten just how good the next track is. At over 4.5 minutes, ‘Another day to run’ is Bill getting into opus territory, and what he manages to sneak into those meagre minutes is a burglar’s dream. Astounding message and delivery. On ‘I don’t want you on my mind’, we gets Bill rockin’ that rockin’ chair with the sun glistening off his half empty bottle of rye. Bill does the blues with utmost respect to the blues. That trademark chug of the guitar is sewn through the fabric of ‘Take it all in’, which although a blatant melodic rip-off of ‘Who is he’, the message still stands loud and proud on its own.

There is something so reliably down-to-earth about Bill’s folk-soul – something reassuring and honest. The rarest of talents with an ear for sweet melodies and incisive lyrics - and an endearing and enduring voice that is instantly recognisable. And I think we should have a ‘Bill Withers’ day where everyone takes out 4 minutes and 17 seconds every year to sing ‘Lean on me’. And if any of this is the stuff of legends, then so be it.

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Buy the vinyl and CD from Discogs and enjoy live the essential “Lean on Me”

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Mr.Moo keeps on amazing us. Here is another great album, he generously offering to the visitors of FunkMySoul.

The Detroit Emeralds are rightly regarded as a classic soul/funk combo and here’s one of the reasons why,  their 1973 album I’m In Love With You.  “You’re Getting A Little Too Smart” has been sampled many many times thanks to the opening beats but it’s a great song in it’s own right. It’s got an insanely funky bass riff and strings that could keep your head nodding for ever. I love the way the track breaks down for a moments reflection before kicking back in, it’s a fine example of a track that sounds like it requires no effort at all but is perfectly honed. Great organs as well. Absolutely brilliant and seriously under appreciated.

This is a 320@ vinyl rip (supplied by Mr.Moo) of the original Westbound LP, including covers

Tracks
A1   Shake Your Head (3:01)
A2   So Long (6:03)
A3   You’re Getting A Little Too Smart (3:39)
A4  I Think Of You (4:25)
A5   You Control Me (3:28)
B1  Whatcha Gonna Wear Tomorrow (4:14)
B2   Heaven Couldn’t Be Like That (2:22)
B3   Without You Baby (1:34)
B4   I’m In Love With You (6:39)
B5   My Dreams Have Got The Best Of Me (2:48)

Tracks A4 & A5 and B2, B3 & B4 are combined because they are (flow over) medleys.

Dusty Groove Review

Maybe our favorite album by this Detroit soul group on Westbound. Why? Well maybe it’s because of the great lime-green suits they’re wearing on the cover, but probably because they’ve really got their act together on this one, and lay down a tight set of soul cuts, that have all the great harmonies of yesteryear, mixed with a sweet funky sound that’s right on the Westbound tip! The album features the great break beat track “You’re Getting a Little too Smart”, which begins with some excellent drums - and it also includes the cuts “Shake Your Head”, “You Control Me”, “Without You Baby”, and “Heaven Couldn’t Be Like This”.

Biography from Wikipedia

“The Emeralds” formed as a vocal harmony group in Little Rock, Arkansas, and originally composed of four brothers, Ivory (born 14 September 1941), Abrim (born Abe Tilmon, 12 January 1945 - 6 July 1982), Cleophus and Raymond Tilmon. After Cleophus and Raymond left, the remaining Tilmon brothers were joined by childhood friend James Mitchell. Moving to Detroit, Michigan and expanding their name to the Detroit Emeralds, the then trio had their first R&B chart success on Ric-Tic Records, with “Show Time” in 1968.

In 1970, they joined the Westbound record label. When touring in Memphis, Tennessee, they recorded some demo tracks at the Hi recording studios, run by producer Willie Mitchell, to which they then added vocals and strings back in Detroit. This approach worked and brought them another hit, “If I Lose Your Love”, which was followed by a run of successes, including “Do Me Right”, “You Want It, You Got It” and “Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)” which all made the R&B Top 10 while the latter also reached #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in 1972.

The song for which they are now best remembered, “Feel The Need In Me“, reached #22 R&B in 1973 and a new, much longer version four years later also charted. The original track made the top five in the UK Singles Chart in 1973 and the later production also made the UK chart in 1977 (#12). “You Want It” was re-released in the UK as a follow-up to the initial “Feel The Need In Me”, also reaching the UK Top 20 in 1973. Abe Tilmon wrote all of their hits, while also arranging and producing the tracks.

By 1974, the group was falling apart, and at one point there were two outfits using the name. Abe Tilmon formed one new group with the Detroit Emeralds’ name, while James Mitchell along with Marvin Willis wrote for another group, The Floaters - Charles of the Floaters being James’s brother. “Float On” became one of the fastest-selling singles in the English-speaking world at the time. James Mitchell, Ivory Tilmon and Marvin Willis continued touring with the Detroit Emeralds and their band (Dave Dean on keyboards, Simon Gardner on guitar, Andy Avent on bass and Martin Kautz on drums). They stayed active on the oldies and cabaret circuit for some years.

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Buy the CD (along with “Feel The Need” album) on Amazon or CD Universe. For the vinyl junkies check Music Stuck, there’s plenty of 7″ and LP’s.

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Enjoy 2 more great albums of The Detroit Emeralds, in our back pages here.

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