Funky Friday - It's A Blog Swap!

Yes a blog swap! I'm over at Mr Double Down's thumpingly funky Hook And Sling site with a brand new bespoke mix 'Dial M For Mondo'
(Which you can taste test below with this two minute teaser trailer...)

While MR DD pushes the buttons and plays a royal flush of funky aces right here ...

Mr Double Down Presents Funky Friday (The Hook And Sling Meets Planet Mondo)

Hello, my name is Mr Double Down and I am one part of The Hook And Sling, a monthly 100% funk and soul night in London’s West End with The Popcorn King and Hoppin’ John . We also run the same titled Podcast / Blog over on Podbean.com. I’m really honoured to be invited over here by Dave to contribute to the ongoing ‘Funky Friday’ section of his fantastic Blog..

The old saying “All good things come in threes” couldn’t ring truer here today as I have the pleasure of sharing three of my favourite 45’s with you, they have all really been doing the business at our night lately! Its ’Funky Friday’!, so loosen that collar because the week-end’s just beginning!

Curtis Mayfield – Mother’s Son (Curtom)

Download Curtis Mayfield – 'Mother’s Son' here

First up is an artist most of you will (should!!) be familiar with. Curtis Mayfield, legendary singer, writer and producer from the 70’s. This cut, ‘Mother’s Son’ is perhaps a little less well known, but popularity should never affect quality, and it certainly doesn’t here! Taken from his own Curtom label, this is a 45 that Hoppin’ John has been hammering since our nights humble beginnings on the south coast of England – and justifiably so. What a record!! Definitely one for the bass heads out there!

The B.B.K. Expedition – For The Love Of Money (Dynamite Soul)

Download The B.B.K. Expedition – For The Love Of Money here

Dynamite Soul is a relatively new record label in the grand scheme of things. Lately they’ve been resurrecting all sorts of forgotten funk, soul and reggae gems from the 60’s and 70’s and issuing them on 45 again.
The B.B.K. Expedition’s cover of ‘For The Love Of Money’, a track originally by The O’Jays, was taken from an unreleased album called ‘Upships Creek’. The B.B.K’s version here is certainly the rougher and rawer of the two, and if the horn break at the end of the cut doesn’t do it for you , then give up now! This version also always manages to turn heads at our night! As a small Brucie bonus, here’s a great live version of the original by the O’Jays from 1974!

Tony Bowens And The Soul Choppers – Boilin’ Water (Tony Bowens)


Download Tony Bowens And The Soul Choppers – 'Boilin’ Water' here

I first heard this several years ago at Keb Darge’s ‘Legendary Deep Funk’ night in Soho. It’s an absolute funk monster and on the account that its as rare as hens teeth, it doesn’t come up for sale too often for anything less than 3 figures (I told you all good things came in 3’s). I caught my copy a few years back after a manic bidding frenzy on the Bay, and it was worth every single penny! For those that don’t dabble in the practise of shelling out ‘silly money’ on vinyl, it was recently comped by Will Quantic for Jazzman Records and was also put out on a French re-issue 45 under the name of The Soul Choppers. I don’t know all that much about the 45, other than that Tony Bowen’s hailed from New York and put the record out independently, probably due to monetary constraints. I think in this case the music says all that needs to be said!

I’d like to thank Dave once more for allowing me to contribute over here. You can find him holding the reigns over at The Hook And Sling where he is currently dropping his ‘Dial M for Mondo’ Mix as part of our continuing Guest Mix Series. I hope you enjoyed my selections today and for those of you who are in the London area, you can catch us at The Hook And Sling every second Saturday of the month at The Brown Sugar Bar in High Holborn. All the dates and details can be found HERE

Mr Double Down
http://thehookandsling.podbean.com