Synthetic Fonk Across the Ages

Edwin Starr: Get Up Whirlpool
Taken from the 12″ on 20th Century (1980)

Ripple: I Don’t Know What It Is (But It Sure Is Funky)
Taken from the self-titled LP on GRC (1973)

Sun: Fall Out On The Dancefloor
Taken from the album Eclipse on Air City Records (1984)

Jim: I’m A Baller and How Do You Like It
Taken from the album Long Time Comin’ (2007)

Today we indulge in some guilty pleasures of synthesizer-imbued fonkery. A few notes on the selections:

The Edwinn Starr joint I recently came upon and fell in love with instantly. Though the song never really blossoms beyond the riff and the tranced-out vocal, I can make certain allowances. You can’t get too mad at the guy who wrote “War”.

Doesn’t really fall into the “synthetic” realm per se, but the Ripple jam is an absolute classic. You should own this record. Oh-la oh-la-ay, suckas.

“Fallout” is taken off the last record that Sun recorded before sadly biting the dust. After repeated attempts with various labels and even despite having enlisted the support of the Ohio Players, who are credited on the back of this LP, the Daytonians called it quits in the year of my birth… but not before leaving us with this gem. Also, this LP ranks very high on my current list of favorite album art. Check out that magic!

Lastly, and certainly not leastly, Jim. A random find and a truly guilty pleasure (listen to the lyrics on “How Do U Want It” and you’ll see what I mean). But I get gushy like an girlscout at the first intimation of voice-box-ery and these songs go no-holds-barred in that department. (Don’t know the difference between a Voice Box, a Vocoder and Pitch Correction? Ask the Captain. He explained it all to me.) . Plus, I love the idea of the guy (JIM! What a name!) sitting in his basement, not in 1982 but last year, finally getting around to paying homage to Roger Troutman. Been a long time comin’, indeed.

And don’t forget: TONIGHT IS BOOGALOO!