LP Reviews for Con Funk Shun's Early Years (1973-1976)
My deep dive into Con Funk Shun’s discography begins with their time in Memphis. The band recorded several songs in that Tennessee city back in 1973, but none were released contemporaneously. It wasn’t until 1978 and 1980 that those songs were released by two minor labels looking to cash in on Con Funk Shun’s then-current success with Mercury Records.
Those two failed cash-grabs are the first LPs reviewed on this page. The third and final album surveyed will be their eponymous debut on Mercury from 1976. Although that final LP didn’t do much commercially, it placed Con Funk Shun on the precipice of success that finally arrived in 1977.
Organized Con Funk Shun
Recorded: 1973
Released: 1978
LP Charts: nada
Right from the jump this band had chops to lay down effective grooves. Given when these songs were recorded there is a sloppier production than on their more famous material from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, so folks who think they know Con Funk Shun may be a bit taken aback by the relatively raggedy execution here.
For example, there is a bluesy electric guitar on “Time,” which also has a trombone solo. Despite the sloppiness, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, you can hear their way with a dance groove already thumping through. Featuring prominent clavinet, “Get Down With It” is a prime example of their club funk and doesn’t disappoint its title. “Sho' Feels Good to Me” is another nice funk jam, while “Funky Things On Your Mind” tries too hard to funk and thus undermines itself.
Now here’s a fun game I’ll be playing throughout all of Con Funk Shun’s albums: noting when co-lead singer and principal songwriter Felton Pilate has dull ballads that drag down the pacing of the LP.
So here we go…
It wouldn’t be a Con Funk Shun album without slow and boring Pilate ballads. This album’s entry in that collection is “Do You Really Know What Love Is For”.
Not every Pilate ballad stinks, though. “Love In Me” has some pep to it which leads directly into the vast, jazzy instrumental “Seascape” which has copious horn solos. “Seascape” isn’t the best piece of music Con Funk Shun ever recorded, but it’s definitely the most ambitious. And at over 8 minutes, definitely the longest. I really like that track and overall this is a solid album for early ‘70s funk fans.
ALBUM GRADE: C+
Song Scores
Time: 6/10
Get Down With It: 7/10
Do You Really Know What Love Is For: 5/10
Sho' Feels Good to Me: 6.5/10
Love In Me: 6/10
Seascape: 7.5/10
Funky Things On Your Mind: 4/10
The Memphis Sessions
Recorded: 1973
Released: 1980
LP Charts: nada
Unfortunately, I have not heard the entirety of this album (just 5 of the 8 tracks), so I can’t give it a full grade, but it largely follows the mode of Organized Con Funk Shun. Not particularly surprising since all the tracks were cut around the same time.
“Funk (Do It for Yourself)” is the best song I’ve heard on this album. A very good groove supplemented with intermittent horn and flute solos. “Discovery” is completely instrumental funk, but it’s a clear step (or two) below “Funk (Do It for Yourself)” On the slow song front, there’s a sultry cover of Marvin Gaye’s “You Sure Love to Ball” plus “Without Your Love”, which has a routine gritty R&B ballad sound ruined by a wretched lead vocal.
And it wouldn’t be a Con Funk Shun album without slow and boring Pilate ballads. This album’s entry in that collection is “Another World”.
ALBUM GRADE: Incomplete
Song Scores
Con-Funk-Shun: ?/10
Funk (Do It for Yourself): 7.5/10
Lonesome Highway: ?/10
Another World: 4/10
The Way It Should Be (Felton's Song): ?/10
You Sure Love to Ball: 6/10
Without Your Love: 4/10
Discovery: 5/10
Con Funk Shun
Released: 1976
LP Charts: nada
Con Funk Shun’s first album to see the light of day, Con Funk Shun has them with a much smoother (but still funky) sound than the preceding material. The opening instrumental “Music is the Way” is a bit too happy with the slap bass, but I got no complaints about “Tell Me That You Like It” that manages to be both chunky and smooth at the same time.
“Owe It To Myself” has Con Funk Shun doing their first Earth, Wind & Fire impersonation. Michael Cooper vocalizes just like Maurice White, the rest of the band employs angelic EWF-like backing vocals, and there’s a rhythm guitar chicking away like the great Al McKay.
Anyhoo, there’s plenty of other solid material here: the instrumental “Foley Park” (which would work great as a game show theme); the disco-lite pop of “Nothing to Lose By Trying”; and the funky R&B of “Forever Just Ain't Long Enough”.
And it wouldn’t be a Con Funk Shun album without slow and boring Pilate ballads. This album’s entry in that collection is “Never Be The Same”. A remake of their earlier boring ballad “Another World” isn’t much better.
All in all, this is actually a pretty decent album for funk fans, outside the two terrible/boring ballads.
ALBUM GRADE: C+
Song Scores
Music is the Way: 6/10
Tell Me That You Like It: 7/10
Never Be The Same: 3/10
Owe It To Myself: 6.5/10
Foley Park: 7/10
Nothing to Lose By Trying: 6/10
Forever Just Ain't Long Enough: 6.5/10
Another World: 4/10
Sure Feels Good To Me: 6.5/10