5 on Friday -- Set 209

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

For anyone who wants to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

It's February, and time for my newest feature for 5 on Friday -- The Hit Makers.

Once a month I'm going to feature the songs that launched careers. I'll be looking at different musical styles and the groups or singers from those styles who I love the best.

This month, let's get our groove on with funk. 

  

1 - I Got You (I Feel Good) -- James Brown -- 1965

James Brown is credited with actually starting the new genre of funk with this tune.

2 - Everyday People -- Sly and the Family Stone -- 1968

This group is much funkier than this song. Yet it was their big-selling hit which brought them to the greatest public attention. 

3 - I Can't Get Next to You -- The Temptations -- 1969

Although The Temptations were already a success in the rhythm-and-blues and soul categories, this song launched them as funk artists with a change in line-up and a new producer.

4 - Move On Up -- Curtis Mayfield -- 1971

An innovative Renaissance man, Mayfield was a soundtrack composer (Super Fly,) a multi-instrumentalist and a civil rights activist. 

5 - Shining Star -- Earth, Wind and Fire -- 1974

This song is the funkiest song in the set, as by 1974 the public appetite for true funk had warmed to a song like Shining Star.

5 on Friday - Set 154

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

This week, it's time to get your groove on. Let's get funky.

1 - Funkytown - Lipps Inc.

I'm including a few disco tracks in this set, because disco is basically a popular off-shoot of hard-core funk.

2 -Love Rollercoaster - The Ohio Players



3 -Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wind and Fire featuring The Emotions

This one first appeared on 5 on Friday in Set 106 in February of 2012.

4 - Brick House - The Commodores

5 - Tower of Power - Loves to Do It

Poetry Monday - 70 - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)

It's Thanksgiving here in the Great White North (referring to snow, of course, which actually fell in southern Saskatchewan this weekend. A lot of it! Yikes. We've got a gentle rain falling today here in the Maritimes. The grey sky only makes the fall colours more intense for me. They're absolutely heart-achingly beautiful. I took the picture above in my woodland garden yesterday.


Here's one taken in the side yard.




This one's looking into the woodland garden from my apartment entrance at the back of the house.




Which brings us to my Thanksgiving Poetry Monday. This is Sly and The Family Stone in all their autumn funk finery. They're a groovy fave of mine, and I particularly love this song and its sentiments. This band featured black and white musicians in the late 60's, which was almost like a racially mixed marriage. Not only that, but their drummer was white - proving white men do have rhythm, baby - and their trumpet player was a woman. Definitely not the norm. And their choice of apparel - what could be better than leopard print widelegs and matching vest? Or as you'll see in the clip, shiny fringed pants to make the bass player's gettin' down even groovier?

In my world, I cherish acceptance and tolerance above most other things. This song and this group says this with exuberant joy and gratitude.

Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)


Looking at the devil
Grinning at his gun
Fingers start shaking
I begin to run
Bullets start chasing
I begin to stop
We begin to wrestle
I was on the top

I want to thank you for letting me be myself again
I want to thank you for letting me be myself again

Step off'n the collar
Slugged me in the face
Chit chat chatter trying
Shoved me in the place
Thank you for the party
But I could never stay
Many things are on my mind
The way

I want to thank you for letting me be myself again
I want to thank you for letting me be myself again

Dance to the music
All night long
Everyday people
Sing their simple song
Mama's so happy
Mama starts to cry
Papa's still singing
You can make it if you try

I want to thank you for letting me be myself again
I want to thank you for letting me be myself again

- Sly Stone, 1969

And here it is, in all its trippy, funky glory. Get down. And have a glorious Thanksgiving.