FUNKY WAY-VENTURE RECORDINGS 1967-1969

Description

“Funky Way” was the first album on Mickey Stevenson’s “Venture” label, also produced by him... and a success in 1967, despite limited airplay because of the presence of the word “funky” in the title. It became one of the first funk classics, covered by Rufus Thomas for Stax, Tommy Strand for Fame, Jimmy Bee for Kent, Ray Johnson and others. Although it was mainly recorded in Los Angeles, Calvin Arnold was a Southern soul singer from Atlanta, Georgia, and the material is in that vein - there are tracks produced by Mighty Hannibal, recorded in Atlanta. In addition to the eight released sides, Mickey Stevenson’s tapes provided five unreleased numbers, including the fast-moving “Your Love Is Too Much” and the superb Southern funk grooves of “Trying To Fly My Kite (In Rainy Weather)” and “Trompe-moi bébé.” The box set includes unpublished photos and a 5,000-word biography of the revered Atlanta singer by musicologist Brian Poust. The LP and CD have the same tracks; the CD is sequenced chronologically by release, while the LP is programmed for optimal listening enjoyment in that format.