WanDerinG in WonDerlanD

by GUIllaUME aK a wIlDST ylE GUy

« Ladies and gentlemen, there are 7 acknowledged wonders of the world. you are about to witness the 8th. Standing in the spotlight on showcase are 12 young men who have given you such tunes as The Grunt, Pass The Peas, Gimme Some More… Ladies and gentlemen, without no doubt, these are The J.B.’s ! »

Without no doubt, these are the words of Danny Ray, James Brown’s cape man and faithful sidekick. He met the Godfather of Soul at the Apollo in 1960 and toured with Mr. Dynamite ’til his death in 2006, even draped a cape over his open casket. World famous for the cape routine on Please Please Please and for his funky introductions live on stage, he used to be Soul Brother Number One’s valet before becoming his master of ceremony.

As Ray told The Augusta Chronicle in 2011: « The first time I ever did a live show, it scared me to death. It was up in Maryland. The guy who usually came out to do the show, he didn’t show up. So James asked me, ‘Have you ever been on stage ?’ I said, ‘Naw, man.’ He said, ‘Well, uh, tonight’s your night,’ I said, ‘What do you mean tonight’s my night?’

Next thing I know, he had me doing live albums for his stage show. »

Donny Ray was the second hardest working man in show business. Unfortunately in this wonderful world, history only remembers number ones. But we love beautiful losers. So as a tribute to this legendary MC who passed away in 2021, let’s review some of the musical wonders our world has to offer.

Wonder #1

Will never forget the only time my wife and I saw Gil Scott-Heron live in Brussels in May 2010. Can’t forget his voice, his tired and yet so powerful voice. Can’t forget his deadpan sense of humor, like when he explained he had been sampled multiple times but that never hurt.

Halfway between a concert and a stan - dup. When I want to travel back to this night to remember, I listen to a live re - cording dated July 2010 of We Almost Lost Detroit from Vienna’s Superfly radio station 98.3 FM. It’s an anonymous white label 7inch titled Smoab Session with just a hype sticker on cover. No credit no information, just the man, his voice and his Fender Rhodes. Gil was full of life, but a few months later he was gone. The video is also available on youTube, with one comment I’d like to quote: « How will we ever get over losing Gil Scott-Heron ? »

Wonder #2

Every now and then I hear Al Foster Band’s Night Of The Wolf and I think of Keb Darge. The Scottish DJ is the one who brought this record to my attention (not just mine) thanks to his selection for the 1999 comp Jazz Spectrum on BBE. I remember the first time I saw him in Belgium in 2005 with The New Mastersounds, I was hoping he’d play this banger… and right when I was in the men’s room he opened his set with this special one, I almost piss my pants rushing to dancefloor ! Immediately had to put my hands on the 7inch released in 1975 by Roulette. Later I found out that this was actually a re-release for the American market of a 1973 tune called Tema Del Lupo released by Italian musicians Ivano Alberto Fossati and Oscar Prudente on their Poco Prima Dell’Aurora LP. I remember when we used to start a cypher and how Keb would come and dance with us b-boys. These were the days of deep funk at Madame Jojo’s in London !

Wonder #3

How about a French cover of Funky 4 + 1 That’s The Joint ? Check King Size.B That’s The Joy ! Of course, not anyone can rap like Sha-Rock or KK Rockwell, so this version is not as fresh but still cute enough with its Frenglish touch. And it’s a good example of the many French translations of American or English standards. There’s vorite song. But after all, That’s The Joint itself comes from A Taste Of Honey Rescue Me… so why not ? That’s what The Rolling Stones used to do. Covers usually can’t compete but sometimes it’s a welcomed breath of fresh air. For a soulful French cover that’s worth it, check Nino Ferrer’s 1966 version of James Brown It’s a Man’s World called Si Tu M’aimes Encore.

Wonder #4

Check the one dollar bin and you might find this Japanse 45 released by Toshiba Records in 1972: Koi No Tsuiseki (aka Love no clue that this one is based on the 1980 crowd pleaser from Sugarhill records, you just don’t know until you listen and that’s a nice surprise. Besides, it’s dedicated to the Toulouse Breakers Street… never heard of ’em but it’s cool. Thank God most fans will never self-release a DyI version of their fa -

Chase) sung by Taiwanese pop singer Ouyang Fei Fei. And just when you start to think it’s pretty funky for a one dollar note, you notice there’s another version by Japanese singer Linda yamamoto also released in 1972… I’m lost in translation, which one is the original ? That’s one of those songs where I don’t understand the lyrics but I don’t care (just hope it doesn’t talk about my Mom). I guess this must have been quite popular back then as there’s (at least) a third version by Japanese drummer Jimmy Takeuchi. That’s the one for b-boys and b-girls… it’s a powerful instrumental take (forget the lyrics here) coming straight out the Love Chase LP from his Drum Drum Drum series, also released by Toshiba Records in 1972.

Wonder #5

I probably should pick a Stevie Wonder song but can’t go on without Quincy Jones. I remember seeing him in 2019 in Paris where he used to live in the late 50s, he had invited a whole bunch of friends on stage including jazz player Ibrahim Maalouf for a magical version of Human Nature. One of my favorite Q productions is called Midnight Soul Patrol, just the name itself s awesome. A few years ago I found a nice alternative version of Dennis Coffey Theme From The Black Belt Jones called Theme From Black Belt by The Horton Band. Danny Hoctor was a professional tap dancer and dance teacher who had his own record label and his own band, specialized in cover versions (some cool some not so cool). The title Midnight Soul Patrol seemed interesting, and it sounded nice but not that nice… then I noticed the Quincy Jones credit.

So I listened to Q’s original version that’s available on his 1976 LP I Heard That !! and oh I did hear that !! Incredible dream team right here: Quincy himself on ARP String Ensemble, Dave Grusin on Moog synth, George Duke on Fender Rhodes and Moog synth, Louis Johnson (from Brothers Johnson) on guitar and Fender bass, Stanley Clarke on piccolo bass, Alphonso Johnson on fretless bass, Billy Cobham on drums and synth drums, Snooky young on trumpet, Jerome Richardson on flute, Jerry Hey on trumpet, Bruce Howler on trombone, Larry Williams on tenor sax and Kim Hutchcroft on baritone sax… to be complete !

Wonder #6

Now if we talk about Quincy Jones we might as well talk about his friend Michel Legrand, world famous conductor, composer and jazz pianist. In Paris they were both students of Nadia Boulanger who had conducted the London, Boston and New york orchestras and was considered as the greatest music teacher in the world. The movie theme Le Messager aka The Go Between was released in 1972. It came back to light in 2001 when it was sampled by RJD2 for Shot In The Dark on his first LP Deadringer. But in France, it’s well known since the year 2000 for being the end theme for a crime TV show called Faites Entrer L’accusé that is still aired today (the whole soundtrack created by Raphaël Tidas & JeanMarie Leau is great and probably helped success). It’s such a melancholic and mysterious theme… and yet it’s so funky it hurts. Hats off to you Monsieur Legrand.

Wonder #7

I don’t know much about James Cobbin & Prime Cut. Their only release is dated 1984 on Tuckwood Records from Hollywood California, a shortlived record company that also signed Mr. DJ by The Concept in 1985.

Caught In The Middle on side A is a catchy tune (would deserve a remix imho) but what you really want, is the B side that’s only available on this 7inch record with reference TW-101: It’s Music. James Cobbin will probably only be remembered for this record, but that’s already a lot. I discovered this boogie gem in 2013 thanks to French DJ and producer Breakbot from EdBanger Records, through his funky mixtape Blue Wheels Journey. Merci beaucoup. Now 7 wonders is not enough, I’d be more comfortable with 7,000 memories to share. But hey 7 wonders x 7 inches = 49… and that’s the age of hip-hop culture today. As a matter of fact hip-hop will celebrate its 50h anniversary in a few days (me too by the way) so hip-hop hooray on August 11th !

Wonder #8

And last but not least, the 8th wonder of the world. As summarized by Wikipedia: « The J.B.’s were formed in March 1970 after most of the members of Brown’s previous band walked out on him over a pay dispute. (…) The initial lineup included bassist Boosty Collins and his brother guitarist Catfish Collins, Bobby Byrd (founding member of The Famous Flames), drummer Jabo Starks (…) The version of the J.B.’s played on some of James Brown’s most intense funk recordings, including Sex Machine, Super Bad, Soul Power, Talkin’ Loud… They also accompanied Brown on a European tour (during which they recorded the long-delayed live album Love Power Peace), performed on the Sex Machine double LP, and released two instrumental singles the much sampled The Grunt and These Are the J.B.’s (…) In December 1970, trombonist Fred Wesley rejoined James Brown’s organization to lead the J.B.’s. Other former Brown sidemen, including Ma - in 1975. Brown continued to bill his backing band as the J.B.’s into the mid-1980s, when he changed their name to the Soul Generals, or Soul G’s. »

James Brown had many hits and many names, and so did his entourage. The J.B.’s also went by the names The new J.B.’s, Fred Wesley & The J.B.’s, The James Brown Soul Train, The Hustlers, The Sons of Funk… etc. but my favorite is A.A.B.B. meaning Above Average Black Band. Cause the band was definitely above the average backing band with its talent factory and its heavily-sampled catalogue on King Records and People. Even Danny Ray’s rhymes were sampled by the hip-hop generation (Arrested Development, Jungle Brothers…). Its unique release Pick Up The Pieces One By One is James Brown’s answer to Average White Band’s Pick Up The Pieces that reached no.1 in 1975 with its bass line supposedly borrowed from Hot Pants Road.

I was too young to see The J.B.’s live at their top. I did see later some of them on stage like Maceo Parker or Fred Wesley. Even saw James Brown once, in Brussels in 1995, in a huge (and free) outdoor festival. Probably not the best time nor the best place… I was too far to really enjoy. I slept on many further occasions but in summer 2006 I was supposed to catch up in Brussels, but then I thought I’d wait for a better venue… and so I missed my last chance as by Christmas the Minister of New New Super Heavy Funk was gone. Luckily his famous flame is eternal, go online watch The J.B.’s live performance recorded in Rome on April 24, 1971 for the Italian TV… 15 minutes of goosebumps ! Of course the final lines are from and for Mr. Danny Ray himself, just let the words flow and feel the funk: « Right about now, it’s star time ! Are you ready for star time ? yes ! Introducing, ladies and gentlemen, the man who has given the world over 44 golden soul classics, tunes that will never die. Tunes like Try Me, Please Please Please, I Feel Good, Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag, Sex Machine, Big Payback, Get Up Offa That Thang, Don’t Be A Dropout and Say It Loud, I’m Black And I’m Proud ! I introduce you to the hardest-working man in show biz, ladies and gentlemen, the Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown ! » ceo Parker and St-Clair Pinckney, eventually followed his lead, while the Collins brothers and most of the rest of the “original” J.B.’s left Brown to join George Clinton’s Parliament / Funkadelic collective. Wesley and Parker left

Guillaume aka Wildstyle Guy IG : wildstyleguy_collection