Ben - I Would Have To Be a Fool

This kinda ended up being a regular spin at Sweaterfunk. I don't know how it got into my crates but once it did, it was a staple. Rather nice record to have because it has the regular vocal version, and right after it the instrumental version. Even stranger that it's one sided 12 inch. We clearly needed another side from this guy. I don't know anything about Ben, but this record appears to be from the L.A. area. lol. Its just darn good quality indie-soul and this track is a classy boogie jam.
It somehow made it's way into Jon Blunck's crates as well, and played on the regular. With the two of us having it, that meant it was played a lot. I was just reminiscing about SF and how I haven't been able to make it in ages. Jon just recently assured me my membership was 'fo life' and after getting jumped in there's no escaping. I'm not going to push the subject any farther than that. After all, Jon is from Los Angeles, and dresses like a gang banger and I probably don't want to play around.. might end up in the bay with cement shoes on.

This track was just released on 'Under The Influence' number 3 compiled by the homie James Glass. Shit, I've known James for something like 20-25 years. We've gone from bugging out over Dorothy Ashby LP's to wigging out on Willie Wood and the Willie Wood Crew. He's been into disco much, MUCH, longer than I, but we've met in the middle somewhere called boogie. Good chap he is, and a deep digger with a lethal collection. Known for only holding stone cold mint copies of things, he also shows with this comp, his tastes are immaculate as well.

Enjoy this Ben track..


Ben - I Would Have To Be a Fool

Father's Children - Hollywood Dreaming

This song has been a huge tune for us at Sweaterfunk over the last several years. It's also been a tune that's evolved the Sweaterfunk crew toward the directions of steppers or two step songs. That's been a growing undercurrent for us in recent years. For me, alot of the intense 'boogie fever' that I've had has subsided yet only to be replaced for the love for the smooth slower tempos of two step. Even from our first 'mid-tempo' themed night with Dam Funk (which you can find a recording of right here on SB) we've known the direction of the smoother slower jams would win us over. Our 'Steppers' themed nights have been our version of Funkmosphere's 'mid-tempo' nights. It a place for us to really branch out and steer away from the usual throbbing disco beats, and fall back in the car seat and just ride.

Our annual MLK 'Steppers' Sunday this year was our third installment and as epic as ever. I'm quickly feeling like this direction into stepper land is soon to be the only direction I'm passionate about. Playing tunes to a packed house, a 3 day weekend crowd, and dropping nothing but unknown soul gems is a dream come true for us. It's what we live for.

This all on the heels of an excellent Father's Children release by the Numero Group folks. Beautifully packaged up like they always do including an extra 45 and 3 press photos. So we've found yet another musical group with a huge catalog and much needed exposure and appreciation...Father's Children is that one indeed.


Father's Children - Hollywood Dreaming

Stroer - Don't Stay Till Breakfast

SWEATERFUNK NEW YEARS EVE

Its Friday the 23rd of December. Um.. despite the inaccurate date on the top of this page. Don't know what the hell is going with the blogger's dating order! But, the entire year is just about gone. It went by at an astonishing speed. I've come across some truly fantastic records this year and am currently amassing a list of goodies for next year. It'll be a good year for the blog.

Some amazing things have happened. I've released the first official vinyl 45 on the 'Sound Boutique' record label, kick started a Record Shop with Fernando, taken the next leap with my business, and seen my Sweaterfunk family grow and evolve in epic ways. We're hosting a New Years Eve Party at SOM Bar with Opolopo and Amalia for NYE. We've been gigging with ONRA, Dam-Funk, Steve Arrington, K-Maxx, B. Bravo And Starship Connection, The Pendletons, Dj Spinna, and now are welcoming Opolopo and Amalia for a U.S. debut.

It's been a fantabulous year, and now we're gonna top it off. More of our family of future funkers and extended brethren of Space Soul aficionados. It's gonna be another epic night of Sweater Funkin'


COME JOIN US!
Saturday December 31, 2011
NEW YEARS EVE WITH SWEATER FUNK & LIVE performance from
OPOLOPO & AMALIA [Sweden]
keys. vocoder. efx. apc. vox.
@ SOM
2925 16th St.
www.som-bar.com
$20 Presale / $30 Door
9 PM til 3 AM
21+  Buy tickets here! http://opoloponye.eventbrite.com/

Stroer Self Titled LP from 1979

I've decided to share a rare German electro tune from Stroer, of which I have to thank Randy Ellis for turning me on to. This tune is light years ahead of it's time and I haven't posted anything quite as genre breaking as this since way back when I posted Supersempfft's 'Let's Beam Him Up', which you should definitely check out. It's really hard to imagine this was made in 1979. Also this is quite similar to Supermax, another favorite of this whacked out genre. More Germans obsessed with synths and seemingly unaware of any marketable tendencies. Like true mavericks, dancing themselves right out of the spotlight.

This self titled album is at times folksy and other times funky rock. This 'Breakfast' tune is laying down the foundation for electro, house and techno. Still it does so with a cool calm soft rock approach, I could even imagine the singer in a white blazer and some top-siders. From what I can gather Stroer was a group of two brothers, Ernst and Hans Peter Ströer (often referred to as Hansi), and on later albums adapted to the name The Stroer Duo. They continued after this LP to record a few albums, journeying into experimental, 'out' and fusion. They eventually developed some notoriety for composing film music. They are also still active and have newer releases from 2008 and a re-issue of a 1985 album in 2010. This tune was also featured on the Elaste Vol. 2 LP.

The Stroer Duo c. 1985 - Stroer Brothers with Howard Fine

Hats off to Randy for pointing me to this one, and PLEASE come funk with us on New Years Eve in San Francisco!! We guarantee the usual formula of obscure and mind blowing boogie and modern soul. As always nothing but friendly vibes. And, we're hoping to detour all NYE amateurs!!!
So, join us...stay with us til late. And, unlike the song says...please... stick around and join us for breakfast!!

Get your tickets here.


Stroer - Don't Stay Till Breakfast

Skye - Ain't No Need

The Last time I heard Cool Chris play out he spun this treasure. I simply love this tune, and speaking of anthems mentioned in the last post here's another one. Again, excellent modern soul. All killer no filler. The night was the Sweater Funk B-day Bash for Jon Blunck. Cool Chris was the guest and played an amazing set. It was similar to his previous Sweater Funk appearance but nearly a year later with a far more developed crowd. The house was packed, the mood was right and the soul crowd was in attendance. Chris' set bounced all over the place yet came together perfectly. From playing with him many, many years ago, it has always been a pleasure to hear him out. 

Anyways, onwards with the music. This release on the Ananda label has two versions, the regular and the dance mix. I really dig both and badly need a remix with both mixed together, but the regular version has more of a song structure to it. There are more build ups and verse, bridge and chorus separation. I believe the 'dance' version is just the loop of the last few minutes of the regular song, and was marketed towards the disco crowd. It works, but the true winner here is the a side, the regular version. Here it is for you to enjoy in it's original form. One of the greatest soul tunes ever, and a strong favorite of mine. Big thanks to Cool Chris for bringing it out. 

P.S. I think there is also a 12" version of this release.. anyone have it? 

Skye - Ain't No Need