Milton Wright was the brother of Betty Wright, the much more famous Soul singer. Although his career was nothing like as stratospheric as hers, he…
Funk
25/06/2019: “Ashley’s Roachclip” by The Soul Searchers
“Ashley’s Roachclip” contains one of the big drum breaks. It’s a break which has been sampled in so many songs as to make it an…
19/06/2019: “Piani” by Jo Tongo
This track isn’t an invitation to move. It’s a command to boogie! Jo Tongo was born in Cameroon, but moved to France to study Pharmaceuticals….
11/06/2019: “Maria Tambien” by Khruangbin
I had no idea where Khruangbin where from until I looked it up. Their song names tend to be in Spanish, whereas the name seems…
09/06/2019: “Pick Up The Pieces” by Average White Band
This band’s moniker was picked up when somebody remarked that the music they played was “too much for the average white man”. Certainly, it was…
08/06/2019: “Lagos Sisi” by Bola Johnson
Bola Johnson is associated with the Nigerian highlife and afrobeats scenes. He was a bandleader, but his true skill was with the trumpet. At this…
03/06/2019: “Easin’ In” by Edwin Starr
This one is smooth as glass. The way the instruments jam off the back of each other to create the melody is very cool! From…
12/05/2019: “Avi-Vo” by Lafayette Afro Rock Band
Lafayette Afro Rock Band are considered one of the most significant funk groups of the 70s. That said, they weren’t particularly well known at the…
10/05/2019: “Backstrokin'” by The Fatback Band
The Fatback Band are masters of locking into a groove and just rolling with it. Their songs flow effortlessly; like a torrent of funk, their…
19/04/2019: “Mama Matotoya” by The Mombasa Vikings
The Mombasa Vikings were the house band of the Mombasa Reef Hotel in the 70s, so called because of the location and due to a…