Blues Historian: Tweed Funk, Love Is

Tweed Funk's latest release, Love Is,  is more than just funky goodness.  This is truly an eclectic collection of songs.  Yes, Tweed Funk can play funk, and they are damn good at it, but they can also do what I like to call a Memphis shuffle like no other.  They have a great southern soul sound that can only be found south of Kansas City and Memphis.  The band is very tight, and I can guarantee that they probably fill the dance floors wherever they play live, cause if they don't then the people in the bar are dead.  These guys grove like some of the best southern soul bands I have ever seen years ago in KC.  For the most part they do original music.  however their versions of Real Mother For Ya, and Sex machine rock. To buy their CD from the band directly Click HERE.

Michael Jackson RIP

Today is one of those days that you will remember for the rest of your life. You will remember where you were, and what you were doing when Michael Jackson died. Much like Elvis, Lennon, or some of you older folks, JFK. This is one of those days that is burned into your memory banks. Michael Jackson for all his problems was still an outstanding artist. He was a man that had his childhood stolen, and spent most of his adult life trying to find it again. In many ways a tragic figure, but perhaps that inner demon that propelled his personal life also created some amazing pop music.

From the blues perspective his later work is way too out there to fit here, but soulful funky music from the Jackson Five certainly fits the broad pallet here at Blues Historian. However, I feel guilty tonight posting his early work as a child, knowing how he was treated and knowing how that kid with the bright eyes and all that talent never had a childhood, never got a chance to grow up, and I bet if he had to do it again he might give up all the fame and money just to have a chance to be a kid again.

On a positive note the Jackson Five transcended race. I remember in 2nd grade my elementary school had desegregated. African American students from inner city Des Moines came north to my elementary school. It was an amazing experience because as children we had no preconceive ideas about race. However, we had a strange voting experience on who was the best band. The choices were The Jackson Five, or the Osmond Brothers. Now I know what you are thinking, the white kids voted for the Osmonds, and the African American kids voted for the Jackson Five. WRONG! The boys voted for the Jackson Five, and the girls voted for the Osmonds! Even now Donny Osmond makes me cringe:-) (sorry Donny:-) However, the Jacksons were cool.

God Bless you Micheal. I hope you finally can have the childhood you so richly deserve. We will always have your music, and hopefully tonight you are jamming with the best damn band in heaven.

Tramps: Disco Inferno

The original post of this song was from a reunion gig of the Tramps. This is the original video of Disco Inferno.

Okay, guilty pleasure night:-) I am sure that the strings, the bridge in the middle of the song, and the prominent snare drum make this disco, but if you had to pick one cool disco song this is it:-)

Trammps - Disco Inferno
Uploaded by GGG40

Billy Preston: Nothing From Nothing

Great clip of the late Billy Preston. I think it is probably a TV appearance from Europe.

Billy preston "nothing from nothing"
Uploaded by richardanthony

Otis Redding, Eric Burdon And Chris Farlow: Shake

Cool video of Otis Redding in England with a couple british blues singers. Eric Burdon who was the singer for the Animals, and Chris Farlow who had a huge hit in Britain with T-Bone Walker's Stormy Monday. Of course Otis steals the show:-)

Otis Redding Shake with Eric Burdon and Chris Farlowe
Uploaded by moriganne

Wild Cherry: Play That Funky Music

Hmmmmmmmm, I must be slipping. I thought I posted this one too:-) I guess I should post the original song too!

Taylor Hicks: Play That Funky Music

I thought I posted this gem a long time ago, but I looked through my posts and couldn't find it, so HERE IT IS:-)

Taylor Hicks - Play That Funky Music
Uploaded by Candy31

Blues Traveler: Hook

Blues Traveler live! Popper is one of the greatest harp players regardless of the style of music.

James Brown: Sex Machine

I looked and looked for a blues band video from House Of Blues. Now I am sure someone has something somewhere! All of those House Of Blues, and no blues???? James Brown is as close as I could find, so enjoy the Godfather of soul at the House Of Blues.

The Tramps: Disco Inferno

This is soul music. Yeah, I know a lot of you will refuse to watch, because of some sort of disco phobia, and rightly so, because disco like the Bee Gees, was nauseating, but this really is soul music. I say listen to it, give it a try, and I bet you will like it:-)

Stevie Wonder: Superstition

Here is another classic song covered by Stevie Ray Vaughn, but written by someone else. Superstition by Stevie Wonder.

Stevie Wonder - Superstition (VIDEO Live
Uploaded by thieum91