I’ve mentioned a couple times here how much I appreciate the most recent addition to Los Angeles area diggin’ scene, the aptly titled, Records LA. Since I haven’t done a 45 edition of Dig Deep in a while, it made good sense to feature a few 7”’s I’ve picked up at the store. While there are loads of quality LPs in many genres (that Cactus record was a recent pick-up), it’s the 45s that really set this store above the rest (that and the seemingly regular Saturday BBQ, Beer, Blunts and Breaks extravaganzas that go on here).
Scott, the owner of Records LA, used to be a DJ in the Detroit area and he knows his records. But thankfully his store is not designed solely for deep pocketed collectors, it’s really for everyman DJs, who love a choice funky side. Not all of the 45s will be in tip-top condition, but even some of the very rare ones will be at affordable prices. I’ve picked up several 45s that I know generally go for $75-100 or more for $10, $15 or far less. You’ll find many classics for incredibly reasonable prices, I’ve already mentioned finally tracking down “A Lover Was Born,” I also picked up a decent copy of “Different Strokes” from Syl Johnson for just $2. So, here are a couple of things I’ve dug up there in this special all 45 edition of Dig Deep.
From a conversation with Scott, this is basically the first project put out by his former mates in Detroit. Nice crisp retro-funk style with a nice heavy break at the start and what appear to be mostly improvised lyrics that still ring righteous and true. The flipside is a nice instrumental by Will Sessions, currently the mastermind behind Detroit’s legendary Funk Night. Very limited press on this, highly recommended you getcho copy sooner as opposed to later.
As best I can gather, Bennie Sharp was a musician out of St. Louis, with strong connections to Chicago, as evidenced by Oliver Sain producing this single, and perhaps Syl Johnson co-writing it. This track has a nice clean break at the top (on both sides, which explains the $10 price tag, still way more affordable than other places I’d get it at), and a Sly Stone meets Funkadelic kind of groove to it. Part I & Part 2 are almost identical, Part 1 has a different vocal approach, but much of the same feel as represented in the flipside above.
Here we have a track with a definite Syl Johnson connection. The Deacons were his backing band for a time, even featuring his brother Jimmy. This is more or less a Syl-less version of Johnson’s “Come On And Sock It To Me,” the A-side features a wild atmosphere and vocals from the Sequins, the B-side which is here is the instrumental proper with tasty organ and some soul claps which I can’t resist, especially not for $2.
Bobby Powell was a singer out of Baton Rouge, mostly obscured, but he does have a CD collection of music he recorded from 1966-1971 on the Whit and Jewel record labels. I originally picked this up (also for just $2, though not in the greatest condition) because of the cover of Sly Stone’s “Into My Own Thing,” but actually am much more fond of this side with it’s mid tempo groove and some pretty macktastic lyrics.
Cheers,
Michael