Paul Humphrey and The Cool Aid Chemists: Detroit and Funky L.A.
Taken from the album Paul Humphrey and The Cool Aid Chemists on Lizard (1971)

MURPHY’S NOTE: Check out Loose Tape for live mixes from the VIA CREW. Also, leave us some feeback, y’all. We don’t do this for nothing but the love. Show love back. Peace.

Now…

With Jay Dee’s death last week, Detroit lost one of the great syncopators it had produced in a very long time. A truly original sound. The father of that hard, soulful boom-bap that became his trademark. In fact, it is possible to say that not since Paul Humphrey had a single artist contributed so much to the rythmic identity of Motor City.

Humphrey, like Dilla, was truly a master of his craft. One of the great session drummers of the sixties and seventies, he worked with everyone from Marvin Gaye to Frank Zappa, Bobby Hutcherson to Steely Dan— the man was everywhere. Motown, Blue Note, it goes on and on. I couldn’t access a single comprehensive listing of his studio work online, mainly because I think it would have crashed my computer.

In these tracks you can begin to see why the man was in such high demand. Hard, fast, crisp like a Vermont morning and, my god, what precision! You can almost hear the metranome asking him to take it easy. As a solo artist he only ever hit the charts with one single, “Cool Aid” (taken from the same album as these), before falling back into the relative obscurity as a background player.

He continued doing studio work through the eighties without too much fanfare, but it wasn’t until just a few years ago that his eminent talent would be highlighted once again (along with James Gadson and Earl Palmer) by the Keeping Time documentary and accompanying discs.

I had prodded and pushed, begged and pleaded, and finally I had given up. But, to my surprise, freshly returned from his trip to South America, here comes… GUEST POST FROM DJ BUSQUELO! Now I’m gonna have to start pushing all over again for another one…

Harold : Busque el Gato
taken from the 7″ single put out by Eveready Batteries (197?)

It feels fitting that my first (and overdue) introduction to the loyal readership of the Captain’s Crate should be a namesake nugget of esoteric fire. Picture this: somewhere between Panama and Venezuela, Union Carbide commissions a guy named Harold to write a little jingle to remind a tropical nation, better known for kidnapping and drug trafficking than for its magnificent birds and friendly people, how to identify their line of Eveready Batteries. Just Look For The Cat (eveready logo has a cat doesn’t it?). 30 or so years later, Harold’s “Gato” makes its way into my trembling paws, and further proves my theorem that the Quest is its own Reward.

Foster Sylvers: Misdemeanor and Hey, Little Girl and Swooperman
Taken from the self-titled album on Pride (1973)

First thing first: I got a brand spankin’ new mix now available to stream or download as you please. Talk about some dangerously suggestive soul music–dig Stone Cold Soul. Find it here.

I got truckloads of love for M.J., even in spite of his–ahem–character deficiencies. But in 1973, in a head to head battle of the mini-titans of soul-pop, I’d have put my bankroll on Foster Sylvers, ten to one… Break beat for break beat, baby afro to baby afro, prepubescent wail to prepubescent wail, Foster delivered the goods time and time again. And while he and his clan never achieved the commercial successes of The Jacksons, the tremendous value of their early body of work is incontrovertible.

These cuts are taken from young Foster’s first solo release, largely written and arranged by his older siblings. “Misdemeanor” is a classic sampler’s delight, used to great effect on D.O.C.’s “It’s Funky Enough”. The steel drum over the break on “Hey, Little Girl” made me giggle like an eight year old with two fruit roll-ups: happy stuff. And my personal jam, “Swooperman”.

Word to M.J.: Don’t mess with F.S.

Henderson & Whitfield : Dancin’ To The Beat
taken from the 12″ on Park Place (1981)

J.R. Funk and The Love Machine : Feel Good, Party Time
taken from the 12″ on Brass (1980)

Ever heard of Henderson & Whitfield? What about J.R. Funk? Didn’t think so. Not many have. Those who, at one point in time (probably 20 years ago), knew these names (and perhaps even loved them?), have now undoubtedly discarded almost all the remnants of importance once dedicated to these groove aficionados. A brief moment of exuberant hedonistic brilliance, and then once again into the ether of the mundane. Maybe J.R. is turning 50 this year, saving up for a trip to the Bahamas. Wherever you are, lost samurai of the skating rinks, we thank you. Your funk is not forgotten.

I may be exaggerating a bit about the obscurity factor, clearly cats as notable as Joey Negro are still down. But in the grand scheme, a spot on a comp is merely a blip on the pop-life screen. This Henderson & Whitfield 12″ is a catch. Gotta love those flying disco space laser sounds: shooting stars above that sticky liquid slap bass groove. The obligatory claps and whistles pierce just as they should, the horn stabs, bongos and clavinet building the overall sound to something that approaches frenzy, but never loses its cool.

As for J.R. Funk, I guess there was another single and an album to accompany “Feel Good”, but definitely he didn’t leave much of a legacy behind. A man of the SYNTH, his sensibilities have definitely come back in style – what with Sa-Ra, Spacek, Outkast, Pharrel and other cats doing their George Clinton appreciation thang. Perhaps we can help him live on in the future by freaking the fat open drum breaks that were captured during his shortlived glimpse at stardom.

BIG NEWS! Do not sleep on the new mix from regular Crate contributor Murphy’s Law: it’s called “Stone Cold Soul” and it’s up in the Loose Tapes section right now! All that new shiz that we love right now plus some oldies, re-edits and remixes for your DOME!

Lou Courtney: Shing-A-Ling
Taken from the album Skate Now on Riverside (1967)

Gloria Jones: Tainted Love
Taken from the 7″ on Champion (1964)

King Floyd: Groov-A-Lin
Taken from the album A Man In Love on Pulsar (1965)

Soul Vibrations: Find A Way
Taken from the 7″ on Vibrant (1973)

Welcome to The Land of 1000 Dances! The late Wilson Pickett, who died last week, pretty much nailed the mood of the mid-sixties with that song title. Everybody had a dance. If you didn’t, you probably weren’t selling many records. The Bump. The Cool Shake. The Lurch. The Loop de Loop. And yes, the Shing-A-Ling.

Included in todays post are few choice dance selections from that golden age of the up-tempo stomper, as well as two other Northern Soul gems, the absolutely essential “Tainted Love” and “Find A Way” (which probably doesn’t technically qualify as a N.S. tune, but honestly, who cares?!).

I am still trying, tooth and nail, to get a 60’s soul night going here in L.A. But, big suprise, L.A. is too cool for earth-shakin’ soul tunes. So I will share them with you. Enjoy…

Victor Rice : Monster Sound and Portu-Bomb
Captain’s Crate EXCLUSIVES! Recorded live a couple of months ago at Studio BPM in Brooklyn

Last night marked the monthly return of DUB NIGHT at Studio BPM, one of the illest underground venues in BK. Dr. Israel alongside the Dub Nomads with my boy DRM spinning 45’s (just back from his first national tour). The custom crates delivered massive bass, and I decided I definitely need one of these for my next live performance.

These songs I’m putting up today come from the live sessions with dub guru Victor Rice that took place during Dub Night a few months back. Victor set up his reel to reel, his mixing board, and proceeded to mix live dubs direct from reels of music that were recorded with reggae bands around the world. “Portu-Bomb” features a Brazilian combo (I believe from Sao Paulo), grooving about as hard as I’ve ever heard from any South American reggae stylists. Victor has done production and engineering for the likes of The Slackers and the Toasters among many others, and definitely knows how to hold an enourmous spliff in his lips while freaking the mixing board. I actually don’t know the names of the songs or the bands who made the sounds, but I figure that’s not really as important in the land of VERSIONS. You can also hear the occaisional vocals from dee jay Treasure Don (I’m pretty sure that’s his name).

Nice it up, and check back here for info on the next DUB NIGHT – night – night -night – night…

Turntable Lab picked up The Gumbo Funk E.P. -JEAH! cop that shiz and help support your everloving Captain.

Also, the mix I made for Futureboogie.com is finally up in our Loose Tapes section. It’s called the Radio Freedom Mix. ill vibes.