10 September 2015, No. 124, Stevie Wonder, ‘Superstition’
The open drums intro to end them all. I’m not superstitious, but when I hear those shuffling little sixteenth notes, I know something good is coming. Lonely drum patterns aren’t always portentous of funky songs, but this one always is. Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” starts a little faster than all of the songs before it, and so it’s taken as long as No. 124 to come through on the list, even though it’s one of the most popular tunes thereon.
9 September 2015, No. 123, Archie Bell and the Drells, ‘Strategy’
We’ve covered an edit of “Strategy” by Archie Bell and the Drells on this list, but the edit is fully three beats per minute slower than the original, which comes in at No. 123. I’ve got a jones for you, so give it a listen.
5 September 2015, No. 122, The Soul Searchers, ‘If It Ain’t Funky’
I’m always pleased when the group behind an iconic break turns out to have other great tunes. And I wish there were more tunes like this on this list; we’ll take funky jazz burners with sparse and repetitive vocals all day. “If It Ain’t Funky” don’t you know we can’t use it now? The Soul Searchers, led by the godfather of go-go Chuck Brown, lay it down at No. 122.
4 September 2015, No. 121, Slave, ‘Funken Town’
“The funk has been known to cure all illnesses. Get ready.” Slave, at No. 121 bringing us “Funken Town,” was the first band with which Steve Arrington recorded, though this tune is from the last record he cut with them.
3 September 2015, No. 120, Pleasure, ‘Dance to the Music’
Simple and joyous. Two things I like in a song lyric. Check out “Dance to the Music” from Pleasure. It bounces around at No. 120 on our list.
2 September 2015, No. 119, James K-Nine, ‘Live It Up’
I like this Eddie Bo-penned number better than yesterday’s. It’s an instrumental joint, which makes me happy, and the boogie woogie New Orleans piano keeps the whole thing going. No. 119, James K-Nine, “Live It Up.” And when you’re done living it up, get down.
1 September 2015, No. 118, Explosions with Juanita Brooks, ‘Garden of Four Trees’
Today and tomorrow we’re doing a couple more Eddie Bo productions that made it onto the list mostly for their highly loopable intros. At No. 118 we’ve got Explosions with Juanita Brooks doing “Garden of Four Trees.” I’ve listened several times in a row, and the lyrics still aren’t coming through, but who cares? Pull it back and listen to those open drums and bongos in the intro again. Mm. Satisfying.