Voodoo Frank Coming to Funky Sole May 19th

Tags

afrofunk, bboy, breakestra, dj, echopark, funk, funk45, losangeles, nothernsoul, softtouch, soul, sunsetblvd, theecho, vinyl

Funky Sole’s uk funk vinyl excavator in residence Greg Belson

Greg Belson pka Dj Hogwash is a Heavy durty funky soul, RnB, gospel vinyl fanatic transplant from London. Mr. Belson was at one time a resident selector at Keb Darge’s Legendary Deep Funk night at the one of a kind Madame jojo’s club in London’s Soho area. A must visit on a friday or saturday night as the music is usually on point whether it be Dj Snowboy or Andy Smith with his latest old RnB & northern soul sounds.

Greg has been out here in El Lay for  a good many years now digging up local vinyl treasures some of us are too lazy (or preocupied) to go out and excavate. He’s been sharing his funk sounds with folks almost monthly for about 2 years now at our Weekly Funky Sole party out at the echo on saturdays.

I first met the humble mighty Mr. Belson when he dropped by a very dead little westside bar i was spinning at years ago & kindly said hello & we hit it off from there. Though i had no clue how heavy a funky soul/rhythm & blues lover & collector /selector he was, eventually he did the right thing & let me know what was up leading him to come bless Funky Sole & flip our wigs with the heavy mainly  US 60’s funk sounds, many of which we had no clue about (though i do not claim to be an expert). There is never a time he comes through & does not have a heavy durty new find for the folks on the dancefloor

In additoon to Greg’s (already one year old) Divine chord gospel show, he has recently started  another funky soul/R n B show on dublab.com called 45s of fury that is sure to scorch the ear drums. Here’s one of his mixes to school ya & Kool ya.

:http://www.mixcloud.com/gregbelson/45s-of-fury/

Greg Will be joining Funky Sole this Saturday April 18th at our weekly home, the echo & here’s just one of my personal  faves he his spins by the Frisco Singers “my girl’s a waiting” which is in fact produced and backed by Miami soul legend Frank Williams & the Rocketeers no doubt with Willie “little beaver” Hale on guitar.

soulful singer & drummer Levon Helm Passes (1940- 2012)

An American musical treasure, Levon Helm passed away peacefully at the age of 71 a few days ago. He was best known as the main singer & drummer of The Band. His deep southern soulful voice & funky drumming was the centerpiece of their American roots music gumbo sound. I had the good fortune of seeing Levon play live with his dirt farmer revue a couple years ago & his singing & drumming was as soulful & in the pocket as could be. My father Fred Tackett ( a big Levon fan) who happened to sit in with him at a show two weeks ago related that Levon’s last words to him while walking off stage were “It doesn’t get any better than this”.

Fitting for record store day, here we have the laid back swamp funk & down home story of “Up on Cripple Creek” from the Band’s first 1969 self titled lp featuring Levon’s voice & back beat which incidentally was sampled by Dj Premier on Gangstarr’s “Beyond Comprehension”.

Here’s the early pre Band Rhythm & blues of Levon & the Hawk’s “He don’t love you & he’ll break your heart” from 1965 written by a very young Robbie Robertson & featuring fellow band mate Richard Manuel on the vocals.

Just for the funk of it here’s Aretha’s lowdown version of the Band classic “The Weight” which Levon originally sang back in 1969. ooooh wee!

Record Store Day

This Saturday, the Funky Sole Travellers celebrate Record Store Day with two of the finest DJs/store owners in Los Angeles. Scott Craig from Records LA (on West Adams in LA and also The Last Bookstore in DTLA) and Adrian Younge (The Art Form Studio in DTLA and the band, Venice Dawn) are our special guests for our celebration of the vinyl we hold so dear. Be sure to check out their shops and support record stores by picking up a couple LPs, 45s, etc.

Sole Babies

New to the Sole family, one by James “mr. fish” Preston- “keep your soul movin” from deep down in Texas.

Funky Sole’s Miles & Clifton doing it out in the desert Wed April 18th

Funky Sole’s Miles & Clifton will be spinning funk sounds this Wednesday, April 18 out in the desert at the Moon Block Party Desert Daze. They will be in the mix before and after a live set from Miles’ band Breakestra at 8 pm on an outside stage + a bunch of other bands before & after.
Going down at Dillon’s Roadhouse -64647 Dillon road, north palm springs, cal, 92258

http://www.facebook.com/events/359654390733445/

Eye Candy

Timeless images by my friend Julian Hayr for Fred Perry.

Garland Hilton – Instead Of Just A Friend

Dont know a thing about this record other than it’s rare and from New Orleans. Please leave a comment if you have details.

Ray Frazier & The Shades of Madness

Ray Frazier & The Shades of Madness are a Holy Grail California funk band because of “I Who Have Nothing” but if you don’t have a $1000 to spend on a 45 then check out “Gonna Get Your Love” on Chess Records. Equally as funky and perhaps more soulful than it’s more expensive cousin, “Gonna Get Your Love” slowly builds up into a gut wrenching cry for love that makes me wipe the sweat from my brow every time I listen to it. Most copies that I have seen have a mono mix on them but here is the stereo version, which sounds like an all-together different take than the mono version.

Braun SK 6

If you are going to listen to vinyl you might as well do it in style.