10 of my favourite FUNK tracks........the Soundtrack to my life

Good afternoon disciples....it's that time again.....time for The Soul Guru to share his experience,strength and knowledge of his favourite subject......FUNK !
So what is Funk ?
Funk is a feel....a vibe...a lifestyle...a reason to believe....but mostly it's a GROOVE that makes us MOVE ! !
FUNK ....James Brown,The JB's, Kool & The Gang ......the best party music ever...but much more importantly an evocation of the 70's.....a decade when Black Music came to symbolise and represent the rise of Black People in the US of A where racism was still rife and segregation still in effect South of the Macon - Dixie line
Funk and Soul were the music of social protest ....from James Brown's  " King Heroin " to Gil Scott-Heron's " The Bottle " ......then rappers came along and took over.....
Funk has soundtracked my life..I couldn't comprehend a life without it...I've listened to FUNK,danced to FUNK,laughed to FUNK and made love to FUNK.....FUNK is part of my SOUL...and my SOUL is ME

So here,in no particular order , are 10 of my favourite FUNK tunes.....

James Brown....Sex Machine...THE definitive FUNK track...no question
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajzpd-ONOdo

Kool & The Gang........" Funky Stuff "...the title says it all
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umVRh0Rpi14

James Brown... Payback.....what can I say that James can't say better ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=istJXUJ

Lyn Collins...Rock Me Again and Again and Again and Again....one of the greatest records ever made
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB5KgOXHcxc

Maceo Parker ...Soul Power '74....the best sax solo you will ever hear....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V1Pg8JfZs8

BT Express....Do It Til You're Satisfied........GENIUS......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FViY4--5nY

The JBs.....Giving Up food For Funk......the title says it all....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW7Qz59PX8w

Fred Wesley ....House Party.....Tuuuuuuuuuuuuuune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZlYzMehohQ

Lyn Collins...Think....this is FUNK ! ! !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTdOcumz0wY

Tom Browne.....Funkin For Jamaica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuUy2ShGLyo


These are just some my favourites but there are so many more......
Thank God for FUNK...

The Soul Guru Loves YOU
X

Music,the Music Business and the Business of Music..........Part 1

Greetings disciples........
I've been spending a lot of time thinking about Music ...as usual....the Music Business ...and the Business of Music...and how they work...or don't...today....
First of all let's make it clear...it's the MUSIC Business....with no MUSIC there is no BUSINESS...but sadly I think that in the last decade something has got lost in translation and for many people it's become the Music BUSINESS....and that's why things are so fucked-up .
 I worked for major labels for over 20 years and LOVED every minute....I left when my boss and mentor Richard Griffiths got fired from BMG as I was burnt-out and very unhappy....I started a small label that went broke because of my arrogance and stupidity......it's easy to go on about all my success but I've made a Helluva  of mistakes too !
 So....as George Best was famously asked as he lay in bed with Miss World " Where did it all go wrong ? "
I cannot think of another business that has destroyed itself as spectacularly as the business I love...the MUSIC Business.....how can it be that ,to the majority of people , music has no value ? A quantity to be downloaded for free.....artists being forced to " give " their music away to try to make a living...how does that work ? ? ?
I would like to walk into Prada and take 3 suits,3 shirts and some ties for nothing...but sadly I have to pay for them......yet U2 " give " their album away to half a billion people for free...regardless of whether they want it or not...what message does that send out to the public ? I fucking hate Bono and U2 so much....and I hate them even more now for the damage they have done to new artists ..if one of the biggest bands on the planet " give " their music away how can any young band hope to get people to buy their music ?
The more I think the angrier I get...I LOVE music....TREASURE it....I buy loads every week....it's part of my LIFE...I could not live without it....yet it has no value ? ? ?
This is going to be a long series...a polemic about how the Music BUSINESS is killing the MUSIC Business.....
The patient is in a critical condition in intensive care............but The Soul Guru can make it get up off its bed and walk......trust me....I'm a GURU after all ;-)
If you can't fight .....wear a big hat
The Soul Guru LOVES you
XX

Rag N Bone Man

Greetings friends......it's unusual for me to post on a Saturday as I'm usually on my prayer mat facing Southampton and praying for a good result......

HOWEVER...thanks to my great friend,and lifelong Tiger ( sorry about last week ) Julian Palmer I have been listening to Rag N Bone Man's album " Wolves " ( available as a free download on his site ) all week

It's brilliant,astonishing, Soulful...I've run out of superlatives.....LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN...it will make your life better ...BELIEVE me

The Soul Guru loves YOU 

On the 6th Day God created Marvin Gaye

On the 7th God rested...and listened to " What's Going On "....and it was good
God blessed us with Marvin Gaye.....my hero...my idol...my inspiration.....

This is what The Soul Guru is listening to...Outstanding New Music That You Should Hear......

Hi Friends ...so after my EXCEPTIONAL recent posts about A&R it's time to get back to what I love the best...introducing you to GREAT new music that I think is worthy of your time
As regular readers will know my ares of expertise are : Soul,Hip-Hop,Electronic,Reggae,Dance Music
I have no knowledge ,interest or understanding of : Rubbish Urban music,EDM, Heavy Metal or Country & Western

That's not a judgment on these particular genres......I'm just not interested...so don''t write in to complain that I haven't included Dolly Parton or Skrillex ;-)

OK ,with no more ado......

The Soul Guru loves a CLARK for obvious reasons ........ so at the top of my list is :
 1) CLARK by CLARK just out on Warp Records..top quality electronic music with Soul , passion and beauty.....HIGHLY recommended !

2) Rag N Bone Man " Wolves " album...available as a free download ...signed to Columbia by Julian Palmer ( a GREAT A&R ) Rag N Bone man comes from the Brighton Hip-Hop scene...he's appearing at Komedia on November 26th...NOT to be missed
This guy is amazing,incredible,brilliant...one of the best new artists I've heard this year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI1-E6Bm-70........here's the video to Lay My Body Down....

3) Bloom Twins.....I was introduced to these Ukrainian twin's music following my lecture on A&R and Artist Development at westminster University as one of the students discovered them and is developing them
Their other-worldly music reminds mo Bjork.....I'm a MASSIVE fan

Here's the video to their last track " Blue "...nothing released yet but 2015 will be a BIG year for them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHJwGWv3C8k

4) Louise Connell....nothing released...she's demoing with Stuart McLeod but all I can say is...if you like Joni Mitchell you're gonna love this artist

5 ) Mezzowave " Who Are You " ...a fantastic album featuring Angie Brown,Alison David ( from Red Snapper ) and a host of others this album is OUTSTANDING and I urge you to listen to it ASAP

6) Raury...17 years old from Atlanta Georgia..signed to Columbia USA.....this guy is,quite simply,FUCKING AWESOME......17 ? ? ? How does he get to be so good .......

Here's the video to his first single " God's Whisper "...I am truly not worthy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPt0LkdM8Bc

7 ) COMPILATION of the YEAR so far ....Hyperdub 10.4

Hyperdub is one of the GREAT labels and this compilation released to celebrate 10 years of innovative,original music includes all the usual suspects :
Burial
Kode 9
Martyn
Ikonika
Kode 9 & Spaceape

Just buy it.....

FINALLY.....one from the Vaults

Smith & Mighty " Walk On By "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt_G7PO093Y


The Soul Guru Loves ......YOU
X