Artiste: Rufus Thomas
Album: The Funkiest Man – The Stax Funk Sessions 1967-1975
Spotlight Track: Rock Me Back aka Rock Back
Label: Ace Records
With the recent F1 Grand Prix happening on our shores, and spotting a number of funky mamas out and about, I’ve been inspired to review some ol’skool raw funk material for this week’s Zao Gng. Guess there’s also no better time than to introduce one of the purveyors of that era, the ultimate funkster and grand-daddy of the Stax imprint, Mr. Rufus Thomas.
By the time Stax got the legendary Rufus Thomas into the studio to record these sessions, the funky chicken himself was 50 years old. Although an aging R&B star, Rufus turned out one monster funk workout after another and laid some heavy jivin’ on radio stations all across America. The Funkiest Man album featured here is a sound compilation of all these heavy grooves and comes highly recommended for all you funk enthusiasts :)
Stax called this funky ah pek in with the idea of pumping up his sound and adding on some newer styles with his rough and raw styled vocals. So basically what amounted were heaps of classics which includes “Funkiest Man Alive”, “Itch & Scratch”, “Funky Hot Grits”, “Sophisticated Sissy”, “Funky Mississippi”, “Push & Pull (part 1)”, “Funky Robot (part 1)”, “Funky Bird” and the spotlight track “Rock Me Back aka Rock Back”.
The funk-filled spotlight today articulates the joys to be found doing the ‘rock back’ – a dance move of his own imagination! Hahaha! Damn nonsense! Anyway, the song was cut sometime around 1971 but was never released and basically almost forgotten. So in 1997 when Rufus heard the track again, his exact words were “Let that one come on out of there! That is out of sight!”
Although ‘Rock Back’ is not your usual funk stormer, the vibe here is undeniably groovin’ and plenty ‘easy-livin’. The drum parts, the b-line, the horns and the funky wah guitars are all laid down swee swee bo chow chwee. Look out for the coldblooded female vocals during the chorus parts here folks, really puts the cherry on the overall groove. Shiok!
Before I end off, I’ld like to point you to have a read and get some insight on this funk legend. Grab a hold of his stuff! It’s great funkin’ for those fried chicken afternoons aiightzzzzzzz ;)
Tangkap This!!!
-Crispian
