Good God! Born Again Funk

Description

Good God! Born Again Funk is a multi-artist compilation released on Numero Group in January 2010. The album is a follow-up to Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal released in 2006.

Unofficially the third entry in our Good God! series of ecstatic worship, Born Again Funk picks up where A Gospel Funk Hymnal leaves off. Yes, the prodigal sons of Thomas Dorsey arrived in there multitudes, only some of them toting fuzzboxes and Fender amps. These are the most devout songs, but done up amid the hot, sweaty, earthy moonshine rhythms downed by any blues singer thumbing his way up north from the Mississippi delta. Born Again Funk hones in on wholly modern vulgarity brought to a joyful strain of American composition, and performers unafraid of expressing their devotion with both inspiration and invention. They were acolytes faithful to a spirit, but never to an ordained sound. [Numero Group promo]

Already taken with the pun-tastic title, I expected great things from this compilation of born again funk, a collection of gospel funk oldies – many of amazing obscurity – compiled largely from singles released on small Chicago-based record labels during the 1960s and ’70s. The album covers a lot of ground, from the bluesy «Troubles Of The World» by Brother Samuel Cheatham to the straight-ahead four-on-the-floor groove of «Pray A Little Longer» by Lucy “Sister Soul” Rodgers. I was particularly impressed with the inclusion of liner notes which provided fascinating titbits of trivia for each track together with rare photos and even reproductions of some of the original release record labels. Such sleeve notes reveal that the viciously funky «If Jesus Came Today» by the Gospel Soul Revivals was apparently improvised entirely on the spot. Although some of the recordings are raw and you will occasionally encounter an out of tune guitar or a lead vocalist demonstrating more passion than musicality, the overall impression here is of grassroots gospel talent joyfully grabbing their moment of recording studio exposure. So even though you may not have heard of Pastor T L Barrett & The Youth For Christ Choir, the Sensational Five, the Chicago Travellers or Andrew Wartts & The Gospel Storytellers and don’t mind a slightly muddy sound this is a fantastic collection of rare groove, that perfectly encapsulates the gospel message within a shell of gritty, funk-tinged gospel. [Gareth Hills, Cross Rhythms, June 2010]

After the Numero imprint’s classic Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal in 2006, the label’s intrepid detective team decided to further explore the connection between the music of the church and the music of the street; what they unearth here is mind-blowing. Many of the records collected on the 18-track Good God! Born Again Funk, though no less inspired and devoted to the divine, were also originally recorded with an ear toward what else was happening in black music on the radio and in clubs between 1969 and the mid-’80s. A classic example is the 1971 «Like a Ship» by Mount Zion Church Pastor T.L. Barrett & Youth for Christ Choir. (The church held among its membership at various times Maurice White, Donny Hathaway, and Phil Cohran.) Beginning with a gritty Rhodes piano and a deep funk bassline, the Young Voices guided by Barrett were aided in production by Chess Records’ Gene Barge and Richard Evans (it’s his bass on the track) with guitarist Phil Upchurch! Another highlight is the following cut, «I’m Drunk & Real High (On God)», by Detroit beautician and spirit-filled gospel singer Ada Richards, with Ray Charles-styled piano line, blues-drenched guitar line, and Fortune Record-influenced drum breaks from 1970, it’s all killer, no filler. «Packing a Grip» by the Golden Echoes contains a bassline worthy of post-punk group E.S.T.! Dig the funky clavinet and rubbery bassline on «Pray a Little Longer» by Lucy “Soul Sister” Rodgers from 1976. The James Brown-esque breakdown on 1975’s «Somebody’s Watching You» by the Sacred Four is backbone-slipping infectious. The Jordan Travelers’ «God Will Answer» from 1976 pairs five-part harmony, wah-wah guitar and a bassline Bootsy Collins would rubberize. The sound quality on this volume is generally better than its predecessor due to higher-quality recording facilities and more advanced production techniques, but none of this music is slick. It’s raw, inspired, and full of invention. This makes an excellent complement to the first volume in the series, but is essential for any fan of funk all on its own. [Thom Jurek, AMG]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/good-god-born-again-funk/719187168)

CD tracklist:

01. Pastor T.L. Barrett & The Youth For Christ Choir – Like A Ship – 4:36
02. Ada Richards – I’m Drunk And Real High (In The Spirit Of God) – 3:06
03. Gospel Comforters – Yes God Is Real – 3:17
04. Golden Echoes – Packing A Grip – 3:34
05. Lucy “Sister Soul” Rodgers – Pray A Little Longer – 3:47
06. Gospel Soul Revivals – If Jesus Came Today – 4:47
07. Brother Samuel Cheatham – Troubles Of The World – 3:18
08. Victory Travelers – I Know I’ve Been Changed – 2:57
09. Jordan Travelers – God Will Answer – 2:57
10. Inspirational Gospel Singers – Same Thing It Took – 3:20
11. Sacred Four – Somebody Watching You – 2:22
12. Andrew Wartts & The Gospel Storytellers – Peter And John – 2:52
13. Holy Disciples Of Chicago, Ill. – I Know Him – 2:52
14. Sensational Five Singing Sons – Share Your Love (With The Master) – 3:21
15. Little Chris & The Righteous Singers – I Thank You Lord – 3:37
16. Sensational Five – Coming On Strong, Staying Long – 2:56
17. Chicago Travelers – Been Trying – 3:04
18. James Austin & The St. Luke Cogil Youth Choir – I’ll Take Jesus For Mine – 3:35

Note: Also released by Numero Group ‎as a 12-inch vinyl double LP.