1.10.2007

New Orleans Funk : The Original Sound Of Funk 1960-75



This is a definitive collection of New Orleans Funk featuring acknowledged masters of funk next to some of the earlier artists who shaped the meaning of funk. The album is also filled with many rare, sought after and undiscovered funk tracks. It covers the period from the emergence of New Orleans Funk in the early 1960's through to the mid-seventies.

The record is an essential part of anyone in any way interested in Funk's record collection. It has some vital ingredients in it that you can't find elsewhere. With the sound of the New Orleans Funeral March Bands, Mardi Gras Indian Tribes and Saturday Night Fish Fries all as inspiration New Orleans Funk developed into a unique sound.

New Orleans is a port town. Originally owned by the French, this was where many slaves were brought from the West Indies. Many of these slaves came from Haiti and brought with them the religion of Voodoo and its drums and music. It became one of the first parts of America to develop a strong African-American culture leading to the invention of Jazz in the early 1900s. A main feature of Jazz in New Orleans were the Jazz Funeral Marching bands. Solemn Brass bands accompanying a coffin would, on burial, be joined by a second line of drummers and dancers which would turn the event into a celebration of the spirit cutting free from earth. This African tradition is strong in New Orleans and still goes on to this day. The backline drums play a syncopated style that is neither on the beat nor the off-beat. It is these rhythms that are the basis of New Orleans Funk. The album comes with a booklet presenting a historical explanation to how and why this music came about, and with lots of information about the people involved.


1 Meters, The Handclapping Song (2:53)
2 Explosions, The Hip Drop (2:35)
3 Lee Dorsey Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further (3:02)
4 Gentleman June Gardner It's Gonna Rain (2:16)
5 Eddie Bo Check Your Bucket (2:38)
6 Professor Longhair Big Chief (2:07)
7 Huey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns Free, Single And Disengaged (2:10)
8 Chuck Carbo Can I Be Your Squeeze (2:28)
9 Aaron Neville Hercules (4:11)
10 Mary Jane Hooper I've Got Reasons (2:31)
11 Gaturs, The Gator Bait (2:42)
12 Allen Toussaint Get Out Of My Life Woman (2:57)
13 Cyril Neville Tell Me What's On Your Mind (2:06)
14 Bo Dollis & The Wild Magnolia Mardi Gras Indian Band Handa Wanda
15 Lee Dorsey & Betty Harris Love Lots Of Lovin (2:58)
16 Explosions, The Garden Of Four Trees (2:40)
17 Ernie & The Top Notes Dap Walk (3:07)
18 Meters, The Just Kissed My Baby (4:38)
19 Marilyn Barbarin Reborn (2:24)
20 Dr. John Mama Roux (2:56)
21 Danny White (2) Natural Soul Brother (2:19)
22 Eddie Bo Hook 'N' Sling (Part II) (2:18)
23 Ernie K-Doe Here Come The Girls (3:03)
24 Robert Parker Hip-Huggin (2:42)

The Original Sound Of Funk

pass: mud

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow, i might check out some of the artists on this disk - i have various types of funk in my collection: herbie hancock style jazz funk, disco funk (not so sure of it ..), but i like the meters best. The whole disk may be a bit much, but this is a useful resource to find other artists with the same feel as the meters. thanks

Anonymous said...

that is one ROCKIN' LIST of Great Music! MARDI GRAS is comin' it won't be long!