Machine Gun Funk

Now I know that many readers of this blog will not need reminding of the sheer genius that is Mr Lionel Richie, and indeed the Commodores.

However, there remain many out there who, thanks to classic ballad cuts such as Easy or Three Times A Lady, have dismissed them out of hand as lightweight, and in doing so missed out on the fact that the Commodores were quite simply one of the funkiest bands of the 70s funk era. Mad as it may seem even their signature tune, the incredible Brick House, does not do their funkiness full justice. For even earlier than that was the release of the pure funk manifesto that is debut album Machine Gun.

The last ever Motown album to be recorded at the legendary Hitsville USA studios in Detroit, Machine Gun was released in 1974 (despite being ready for release since 1972). The Commodores had been signed by Motown to provide the label with a sound to rival the Ohio Players and Earth, Wind and Fire, and the group of musicians from the dirty south of Tuskegee, Alabama were just the ticket. They are certified heavy funk hitters, and this album catches it all in its purest essence. Of course you'll recognise some of the samples, notably the drum pattern from The Assembly Line, but less obvious is Richie's work on saxophone rather than vocals (though he is one of three vocalists int he group), the amazing keyboards of Milan Williams, or singing drummer Walter "Clyde"Orange. And when you've done with that, try follow-up LP Caught In The Act, perhaps even better. But want to know the best thing about Machine Gun. The title track, while a relatively big hit in the US, was absolutely huge in Nigeria. So much so that national television stations would play it daily after the Nigerian national anthem to close down transmission. Now tell me that isn't too damn funky!