Con Funk Shun — Organized
From Vallejo, California, Con Funk Shun where a seven-piece band that created a tight and groove-focused mix of funk, R&B, and soul. Organized was the band's fourth album, originally released in 1978 on UK label Pickwick. Here, from Robin Song- one of the Cherry Red family of labels- is a CD reissue of the album.
The origins of the band date back to 1969, when Project Soul was formed by the duo of Louis A. McCall Sr- drums/percussion/vocals and Michael Cooper -rhythm guitar/lead vocals. By 1971, brought into the fold were Cedric Martin- bass, Danny "Sweet Man" Thomas- keyboards, Karl Fuller-trumpet, and Paul "Maceo" Harrell- woodwinds. With the group's classic lineup having been finished off with instrumentalist Felton Pilate- lead vocals/multi-instrumentalist, fairly soon after they switched their name to Con Funk Shun, named after a track by instrumental funk/ R&B band The Nite-Litres.
Between 1973 and 2015, the band released fourteen studio albums, as well as twenty-nine singles, some of which charted quite high in the early to mid 70’s. The band are seemingly still active today, though I’m guessing it’s more of a play ever-so-often live project now.
The album consists of seven tracks in all, with no bonus extra tracks on this reissue. We kick off with “Time”, which is a mix of thick vamp horn work, struttingly taut guitar 'n' bass, soulful male lead vocals, and shouty-to-swooning backing vocals. Moving on, we have a steady-yet-lush soul/ light funk of “Do You Really Know What Love Is” with its layered and smooth male vocals, gentle horn embellishments, and lullingly jaunting organ lines.
Moving into the second half of the album, we have jiving & flare shaking funk disco of “Sure Feels Good To Me” with its mix of tautly strutting guitar ‘n’ bass, falsetto vocal highs & whispered sighs, and sassily sex horn breaks- feeling somewhat like a crossbreed between Cameo and Prince. Though to the instrumental track “Seascape” which moves between blends of steady, slow beats, cascading piano key tinkle, mellow horn touches, and lightly grooving-to-atmospheric synth touches.
Organized is a nicely paced and varied 1970s funk/ soul/ R&B album, which has certainly piqued my interest in looking into more of Con Funk Shun back catalogue.