Con Funk Shun [1980] - By Your Side [Mercury #76066]

Another one for the steppers! Don't be fooled by the band's name Con Funk Shun, they weren't an out and out funk band and released some nice mellow stuff as well, including this mellow stepper from 1980.

The group was formed in 1969 as Project Soul.  In 1971 they changed their name to Con-Funk-Shun (after a Nite-Liters track of the same name). Originally from California (Bay Area), the group relocated to Memphis in 1973 and were hired as backup band for The Soul Children. Whilst in Memphis they recorded 2 albums on Fretone in 1973 before changing their name again by removing the hyphens. They also released 2 45s on Freton in 1974, both of which were released on UK Contempo (owned by Blues & Soul editor John E. Abbey). One was an 'unrecognisable' funk cover of Bob Dylan's Tambourine Man. In 1976 they signed to Mercury and released 11 albums until they disbanded in 1986.

The group included Michael Cooper who went solo with Warner Bros. after they disbanded.  In 2015 they got back together to released an album ('More Than Love') on Shanachie and 3 of the original members (including Copper) continued touring as Con Funk Shun.

If, like me, you've steered clear of Con Funk Shun because of the implication in the name (i.e. Funk) then you, like me, have been missing out on some of their great recordings.  You could say that it's a bit of a marketing 'faux pas' as it could have limited their appeal - it certainly did in my case as I wouldn't pick up any of their albums blind, assuming that it was full of funk tracks.  So I've trawled through all their singles (A/B sides) and albums to bring you a collection of their better non funk sides.  Its' a mix of modern soul, steppers, slow jams, sweet soul ballads and even a few jazz flavoured instrumentals, no funk in sight!  Rather than clutter this post with links I've created a YouTube playlist of the selected tracks. The list is in chronical order starting with singles and then album only tracks. There's 64 tracks so a good few hours entertainment! Just let it play and enjoy!

Boz Scaggs [1980] - JoJo [Columbia #1-11281]

Another 'left-fielder' to add the to the 80s Hidden Gems. Boz Scaggs with 'JoJo' which reached #17 US R&B and coincidentally #17 Hot 100 in 1980 which, surprisingly, is much higher than 'What Can I Say' which got to #68 / #42 and was his highest entry in UK Pop chart #10 in 1977. The only other release from him that entered the R&B charts was of course 'Lowdown' #4 / #3 in 1976.

JoJo did get a UK release, but I don't recall ever hearing it at the time (and I was DJing in clubs back then), so must have gone under the radar. It didn't bother the UK chart but what a great little stepper this is!

William DeVaughn [1980] - Figures Can't Calculate / Hold On To Love [Tec #TEC 767]

Will you find a much better 45 for under a fiver? A good double-sider with a silky smooth soul ballad/stepper from William DeVaughn taken from his second album of the same name, backed with Hold On To Love, nice mid-tempo modern soul.

William DeVaughn [1980] - Figures Can't Calculate [Tec #TEC 767]

William DeVaughn [1980] - Hold On To Love [Tec #TEC 767]

Isley Brothers [1980] - Here We Go Again [T-Neck #ZS9 2291]

I have generally considered the Isley's as a legendary Motown act ... but it surprised me to discover that they actually only released 2 albums and 4 singles on Tamla (that charted - I think they released about 8 singles in total) between 1966-68 and only one of these was a Top 20 pop hit (in US) - the classic 'This Old Heart Of Mine'.  Their singles were more popular in UK than US as all of them reached higher chart positions (2 Top 10 and 2 Top 20).  

Many of their Motown records are revered in Northern Soul circles, especially 'Tell Me It's Just A Rumour' never released as a 45 in US but released in UK in 1973 (but recorded in 1967) due to NS demand. Another, more recent, previously unreleased track, surfaced from a 1972 budget LP 'Tamla Motown Presents The Isley Brothers' - 'My Love Is Your Love (Forever)' written by Stevie wonder and Ivy Joe Hunter.

They were formed in the early 50s. Their first recording was in 1957 and their first hit was the legendary 'Twist And Shout' 1962,  which was originally recorded by The Top Notes in 1961 and of course a #1 for The Beatles in 1964. 

From 1969 through to 1983 they released material on their own T-Neck label (although it was established in 1963 prior to signing with Motown).

They were still recording in July 2017 with the release of a collaborative album with Carlos Santana 'Power Of Peace' - an unbelievable 7 decades after their first recording!

Featured in this post is a track completely overlooked in the UK at the time although it did reach #11 US R&B but did not appear on Billboard 100. It was possibly overlooked by radio stations due to the 4:14 length of Part 1 but to appreciate fully you need to play the full album version (Go All The Way) 7:34. It was only released on 12" as a promo and even then it was split over 2 sides with same running times as the 45 release.  

This is a timeless gem still sounding fresh 40 years on!

The track has been given a new lease of life by the current UK soul chart entry by Jack Tyson Charles (son of Craig Charles) sampling it on his latest release 'Something'.

David Hudson [1987] - Let's Get Back Together / Just A Feelin' [Waylo #WAYLO 3008]

A terrific double-sider by David Hudson from 1987 to add the 80s Hidden Gems. On Willie Mitchell's Waylo label. 

David Hudson [1987] - Let's Get Back Together [Waylo #WAYLO 3008]

I've flipped the titles around above so as to start with the flip side 'Let's Get Back Together' which is a superb deep southern soul tune reminiscent of Al Green's - Let's Stay Together (perhaps it's an answer song?) which Hudson co- wrote with Willie Mitchell.

David Hudson [1987] - Just A Feelin' [Waylo #WAYLO 3008]

A good modern soul tune co-written by Willie Mitchell and Earl Randle.  A book could be written about Willie Mitchell's contribution to soul music so i won't even start, but Earl Randle is credited with around 200 songs. I assume at some point he must have been located in Chicago as he wrote many songs for Chicago based artists such as Syl Johnson, Natural Four, The Radiants and Nate Evans as well as southern soul artists such as Ann Peebles, Otis Clay, O.V. Wright, Willie Clayton, Denise LaSalle, Al Green, Jean Plum, Lynn White, Latimore and many others!  To give you a flavour some of the better known songs he wrote here are some of his gems: Nate Evans - Main Squeeze, Ann Peebles - I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down / If This Is Heaven, Jean Plum - Look At The Boy / Here I Go Again

Windy City [1980] - I Still Love You [Kelli-Arts #KA-4501/ KA-1981]

Still in the 80s vibe.  A superb deep soul ballad from the underrated and overlooked Windy City.  I'm not able to find any information on the group except the names of the 5 members Carl Winbush, Darryl Butler, Morris Butler, Raymond Bennett, Samuel Beasley. They don't even have a Wiki page!

No doubt (and no prizes for guessing) they originate from Chicago and released a solitary album 'Let Me Ride' on Chi Sound in 1977.  The album was recorded at Chicago Record Company and produced by Carl Davis and Otis Leavill with music director Sonny Sanders and arrangers James Mack and Tom Tom 84.  It has just been repressed on vinyl (2020) in UK by Demon and is also been reissued (for the 4th time!) on Japanese CD by P-Vine - an original on vinyl could set you back as much as £80. 

They released 2 45s prior to the album. Their first in 1974 on Innovation II / Warner Brothers If By Chance (Ballad that features on the album) / Hey It's Over (mid tempo modern soul 45 only) which is quite an in demand item selling for anything up to £75.

The next outing in 1975 on Innovation II was a superb Sam Dees song Good Guys Don't Always Win c/w We Party Heavy Up In Heah (45 only) an uptempo modern soul number.  This one also currently sells for between £40-£60.

This was followed in 1977 with 2 45s on Chi Sound. The first contained tracks taken from the album, Fool Or Your Man a pleasant, Sam Dees penned, modern soul dancer backed with the funky Gimme Some written by band member Raymond Bennett.  This is a cheapie (£5-£10) but well worth it for the Sam Dees track. 

The next 45 consisted of funky number Spank (45 only) and the title track from the album Let It Ride a smooth soulful ballad.

Then in 1980 comes the featured side 'I Still Love You' which was issued twice on Kelli-Arts, the first time with Let Me Ride on the flip and on the second issue it was the flip to Just For You.  The letter is in demand owing to it being a great double-sider as 'Just For You' is a nice mellow stepper and you'll have to shell out around £40-£50 for a copy as neither side is on the album (although I Still Love You is a bonus track on a digital reissue of the album). You need to make sure you get an issue and not promo as promo has Just For You on both sides.

It was 8 years later before another release materialised on a Chi Sound 12" 'Can You Feel It' (Vocal/Inst.) - a jazz flavoured stepper.

For completeness here's a track list for the album with links to album only tracks (not linked above).

Introduction: Windy City Theme (Modern Soul)

(So You Think) Somethin's Missin' (Funky Modern Soul)

Win Or Lose (Soulful Ballad/Stepper)

Gimme Some

Feeling Like I Don't Belong (Ballad)

Let Me Ride

Learnin' (Funky Modern Soul)

Good Guys Don't Always Win

Fool Or Your Man

I've Got Mine (Uptempo ModernSoul)

If By Chance

Hamilton Bohannon Feat. Liz Lands [1980] - Baby I'm For Real [Mercury 76054]

Continuing the 'under the radar' 80s Hidden Gems theme, here's a well known Marvin Gaye penned song made famous by The Originals in 1969/70 but possibly not as well known is this version from Hamilton Bohannon from 'Music In The Air' album 1980 but also escaped on Mercury 45.

Elizabeth (Liz) Lands is credited as lead on 6 of the 8 tracks on the 'Music In The Air' album including this track. She also featured on the follow up album 'One Step Ahead' (on April My Love (Part 1)) in 1980 and was backing vocalist on much of 'Alive' in 1981 but most obvious on You're The One which is a nice jazzy swinger.

I can't just leave this post at that, so here's a little bit of information about Liz Lands.

Liz Lands' godmother was the extraordinary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and, needless to say, her roots too were in gospel.  She had an incredible 5 octave vocal range.

Her very first release was an album on Mercury in 1959 'Untamed'. She was then signed to Motown by Berry Gordy, originally for his gospel imprint Divinity on which she released just one 45, and was then switched to Gordy for her next 3 singles in 1963 and 1964.  The first being We Shall Overcome on the flip side to Dr. Martin Luther King I Have A Dream speech (she was a member of SCLS (Southern Christian Leadership Conference)), followed by a tribute to the recently assassinated president JKF, the finally 'Midnight Johnny', which gets spins on UK's Northern Soul scene, had The Temptations on backing vocals.

She is also acclaimed for her backing vocals on Mary Wells' Oh Little Boy (What Did You Do To Me) which was on the B side to My Guy.

She then formed her own label T&L with husband Tommy Brown and released a further 5 singles in 1965. 

In 1967 she had a one-off release on One-derful (One Man's Poison with the superb Don't Shut Me Out on the flip).

Ian Levine sought her out in 1990 and released a Hi-NRG track called  Starting All Over Again on his Motorcity label (which I'm not familiar with and can find no clip - but suspect is not the best vehicle for her incredible vocal range?). I guess she probably did loads of other work with him. I know of at least 2 duets she did with Levine: Johnny Bristol - Someday We'll Be Together and Hang On In There Baby and covers of Edwin Starr's Headline News and Holland Dozier Holland's How Sweet It Is (not sure who first recorded this - probably Marvin Gaye in 1964?).

Here's an interview (her last) she held in Feb 2011 with Kehinde Akomolede-Thompson, two years before she died. At 14:40 she 'attacks' Ian Levine and claims she's owed hundreds  of thousands of dollars (16:50) - she only released one single on his Motorcity label and several other tracks that appeared on compilations, but I can't imagine a lot of money was made by Levine on these projects - certainly not enough to justify the amount she claims in royalties - but who knows?

I found this post on SoulfulDetroit listing all her recordings (have copied it in case it becomes unavailable). I've added links to tracks found:

Untamed! (1959)

1. Ol' Man River

2. Snow White Gown

3. Ku Ku Ba

4. Plain Gold Ring

5. Have A Child

6. From The Womb To The Tomb

7. Summertime .. I can't find this but I'd love to hear it ... anyone?

8. Friday The Thirteenth

9. Mr. Mountain

10. The Children

11. The Mighty One

12. Walk Softly Children

13. We Shall Overcome (1963)

14. Trouble In This Land

15. May What He Lived For Live

16. He's Got The Whole World In His Hands

17. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning

18. Oh Little Boy (w/MARY WELLS) (1964)

19. Midnight Johnny (w/The Temptations)

20. Keep Me (w/The Temptations)

21. I Wish You Love (1965)

22. One Man's Poison (1967)

23. Don't Shut Me Out

24. Come In The Room

25. Somebody Bigger Than You And I – duet with ?

26. Silent Night (Part 1) w/Paul Mitchell Trio

27. Silent Night (Part 2) w/Paul Mitchell Trio

1. Echo In The Background (Of My Broken Heart) (1968)

2. Qualify For My Love

3. Cotton Fields

4. Let It Be Me

5. Since I Met You Baby

6. Baby I'm For Real (w/Bohannon) (1980)

7. The Hammer (w/Bohannon)

8. Thoughts And Wishes (w/Bohannon) NB not sure if this is the same version as released on Music In The Air?

9. The Funk Walk (w/Bohannon)

10. The Funk Walk (Fast Version) w/Bohannon

11. April My Love (Part 1) w/Bohannon

13. You're The One (w/Bohannon)

14. Starting All Over Again (1990)

15. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)

16. Like A Raging Fire

17. Further Than Ever

18. Headline News

19. Walk The City Streets (w/MARY WELLS)

20. Hang On In There Baby (w/JOHNNY BRISTOL)

21. Someday We'll Be Together (w/JOHNNY BRISTOL)

22. Starting All Over Again (12")

Here's a few more not on the list as released after it was originally posted (in 2013).

On a 2013 Ace compilation: Finders Keepers: Motown Girls 1961-67 Is:

I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues

A couple of previously unreleased tracks on One-derful! which came out on Secret Stash compilation The One-derful! Collection in 2014

Seventh Hour

I'm Guilty

Presumably a previously unreleased Motown track from Oct 1964. It is on an Ace compilation CD from 2018: Baby I've Got It! More Motown Girls, written by Frank Wilson.

It's Crazy Baby

It is alleged that there is a lot more unreleased Liz Lands material in the Motown vaults including two live albums but apparently it is jazz/MOR material.

Yvonne Gage [1981] - Garden Of Eve / Tonight (I Wanna Love You) [Atlantic #3869]

Another '80s Hidden Gem' which I found by accident whilst looking for something else.

A great double-sider from Yvonne Gage and her debut outing on Atlantic in 1981.  The only other material I knew from her was the dreadful 'Doin' It In The Haunted House' from her debut album 'Virginity' released a couple of years later (1983) on Chycago International on the cover of which she is scantily clad holding a white fur coat.  There is nothing special 'soul wise' on the whole album (unless you like the synthesised electro boogie sound!), but the debut single on Atlantic is special.

I can find no evidence that this record charted even on the US R&B chart.  Her only chart entry was the aforementioned 'Haunted' which only reached #78 US R&B but fared better in UK with a Pop chart position of #45 in June 1984.

I believe she was predominantly a session singer and had about half a dozen sporadic releases between 1984 and 2018 and released a self-titled album  in 2004 which has a few decent cuts on it.  Her latest release from 2018 First Touch & Yvonne Gage ‎– Tonight's The Night / You Can Have It All is one of her better releases.

Yvonne Gage [1981] - Garden Of Eve [Atlantic #3869]

Rare Groove / Modern Soul Boogie - I've been trying to think what this track reminds me of and think I detect hints (rhythmically) of Change's - Glow Of Love which was released a year earlier and certainly elements of a Chic bassline in there.

Some nice live footage of her performing this track.

Yvonne Gage [1981] - Tonight (I Wanna Love You) [Atlantic #3869]

Superb rare groove stepper on the flip.

Silk [1980] - I Can't Stop (Turning You On) [PIR#ZS9 3730]

I'm in the process of trawling the 80s looking for lesser known or unknown top tunes.  I have to say it's hard work as musical style changed significantly throughout the decade as musicians were replaced by synthesisers and computers and funk and boogie and bland MOR ballads seemed to dominate.  However, I know of many diamonds in the rough, and hopefully will find some more.

I'll tag them as '80's Hidden Gems' so that they can be group together on the side bar links.

To kick things off here's one of only three 45s (all on Philadelphia International) released by Silk.  

Silk are a reincarnation of Ujima formed in 1972 in Richmond, VA who in 1976 became Anglo Saxon Brown.  As Silk they released a solitary album (Midnight Dancer) and 3 45s on Philadelphia International in 1979.  

The female lead, Debra Henry, released a couple of duets with Jerry Butler in 1980.  Nothing else was released by the group so I presume they split up in 1979/80 perhaps because Debra Henry wanted to go solo or perhaps she went solo because the group split, but other than the couple of releases with Jerry Butler I can find nothing else from her.

The version posted here is the slightly longer (4:00) album version reissued on 12" in 2003.