Dig Deep…For Matthew Africa: The Ponderosa Twins Plus One – 2 + 2 + 1 = – Horoscope (1971)

The Ponderosa Twins Plus One – Bound
The Ponderosa Twins Plus One – Turn Around You Fool
The Ponderosa Twins – I Remember You

Today would have been Matthew Africa’s 48th birthday. No matter what is going on in my life, I always take this time to reflect on my dearly departed friend and his influence on me and how I hear music. This album is actually from Matthew Africa’s collection and something that a lot of people know because of Kanye sampling “Bound.” Well before then, I had heard the song on a “Twee Funk” mix that he had created for Fader Magazine and their Vinyl Archeology column. The whole mix is full of a litany of kid/teen groups that emerged in the wake of the mega-success of the Jackson 5, which would definitely include the Ponderosa Twins Plus One.

Aptly named, as they were comprised of two sets of twins, plus an additional 5th singer, The Ponderosa Twins really should have been more well known. “Bound” is almost unbelievably good, from the guitar lines to vocal harmonies, it’s a near perfect Sweet Soul song. Some of that high quality must have been due to Bobby Massey, who was a founding member of The Ojays. I don’t know what musicians played on this session, but the playing is really something else, elevating the childish vocals from the group.

If you’ve never heard the Twee Funk mix where I originally heard “Bound” you can find it below. Here are a few of the words Matthew used to describe this mix. “In part, I chose this style because I love the way kids sing. There’s a sweetness, purity and exuberance in their voices that you really don’t hear from grown folks. But I also chose Twee Funk as my subject because it gave me a reason to prepare a mix of a lot of great music I don’t otherwise get to play.”

“…never be another, he was my brother.” RIP MKA

Matthew Africa – Twee Funk Mix

Matthew Africa – Twee Funk – Playlist:
The Jackson 5: “2, 4, 6, 8”
Promise: “I’m Not Ready for Love”
The Voices of East Harlem: “Can You Feel It”
Starborn: “Funky Piper”
The Young Gents: “Big Things Come in Small Packages”
Starborn: “Real Real Thing”
The Nation Survivers (sic): “Get Down”
The Posse: “Come Out and Play”
Wee Three: “Get on Board”
Jackson Sisters: “I Believe in Miracles”
Family Plann: “Come On Let’s Do the Breakdown”
Greer Bros.: “We Don’t Dig No Busing”
Reginald Milton & the Soul Jets: “Clap Your Hands”
The Eight Minutes: “I Can’t Get No Higher”
The Voices of East Harlem: “So Rare”
The Sylvers: “We Can Make It”
The Sylvers: “I Don’t Need to Prove Myself”
Foster Sylvers: “Misdemeanor”
The Sylvers: “Don’t Give Up the Good Life”
The Sylvers: “I Aim to Please”
The Sylvers: “Stay Away from Me”
The Sylvers: “Fool’s Paradise”
The Sylvers: “I Know Myself”
The Sylvers: “Only One Can Win”
Foster Sylvers: “Big Things Come In Small Packages”
The Eight Minutes: “Find the One Who Loves You”
Ponderosa Twins Plus One: “Bound”
Family Circle: “It Doesn’t Make Sense”