Spaced Invaders

Bobby Byrd will probably be best known for his association with James Brown. However, Byrd had many successful years as a solo artist and with other groups. “If You Don’t Work” is one of Byrd’s early tracks that I feel didn’t get the same fame as “Hot Pants.” (After all, “Hot Pants” was sampled by nearly every rap artist in the late 80’s and 90’s.)

“If You Don’t Work” is a superb funk track with a pretty straight forward message. The lyrics aren’t complicated but they hold true even for today. The simple guitar riff throughout the song really keeps your attention and carries the track. The horns give it that classic James Brown/Bobby Byrd flavor. The drums keep your feet moving. Perfect track for Funk Friday.

See more info on the 7″ on Discogs

I’ve been on a slow-mo disco edit tip as of late and wanted to share a little gem that I uncovered digging around the interwebs. This is a great edit from the Super Value crew. The album and track don’t have names to them, but the snippet of music comes from Gabor Szabo’s 1976 mellow track “Keep Smilin’.” This smooth edit is cleverly done by using a simple haunting repeat of the bridge in Szabo’s track. If you can’t tell it sounds very similar to WIlliam DeVaughn’s chorus in “Be Thankful For What You Got.” “Keep Smilin’” is what a disco edit should be. Smooth, mellow, and necessary, especially in a time when disco edits are made to just make them. This track is a perfect slow burner and compliments any summer deck chair lounging.

Buy the 12″ from Juno Records

Unknown Artist - Keep Smilin’

Gabor Szabo - “Keep Smilin”

This was the first track that started playing when I turned on iTunes this morning. This San Francisco based funk band produced an awesome album “This Is The Beginning” and it completely slipped through the cracks. I wouldn’t classify these cats as “funk,” I’d say they are more a psych-soul band sort of like Sly and the Family Stone. This is the Beginning is packed full of horns, drum breaks and acid filled guitar riffs and solos, it’s perfect for those who love good funk music, for DJs who want some good floor heaters, and for the producers looking to sample something. In fact, I’m surprised this whole album wasn’t sampled more. I guess many pressings of this album didn’t get out to the public. Anyway, here is a track from the album entitled Mirage.

I waited to drop this because of both Flatbroke’s and BirdFlu’s love themed casts and I didn’t want to switch the groove up to much. Anyway, here are some dirty, dirty funk breaks that I pulled together for everyone to get down to. Overall, I’m really feeling this podcast and had to dig through a lot of stuff to put it together. Leave some comments and let me know what you think.

DJ Sonar’s - Dirty Breaks
Tracklisting

1. Bloodstone - Traffic Cop
2. Duncan Lamont - Funky Express
3. The Soul Searchers - Funk to the Folks
4. Edwin Starr - I Just Want to do My Thing
5. Little Royal - Razor Blade
6. The Mighty Ryders - Evil Vibrations
7. Oliver Cheatham - Saturday Night
8. Jesse Graham Plus 3 - Shootin the Grease
9. James Brown - Superbad (parts 1 & 2)
10. Skull Snaps - I’m Your Pimp
11. Tickled Pink - Reach Out (And Give Me Your Hand)
12. Louise Freeman - I Can Do It
13. Curtis Mayfield - Radio Drop
14. Earl English & The Apaches - Trying to Make Ends Meet
15. The Undisputed Truth - What It Is
16. Donnie Brown - Funky Mind
17. Earth, Wind, & Fire - Happy Feelin’
18. Mongo Santamaria - I Can’t Get Next To You
19. Sir Guy & The Rocking Cavaliers - Funky Virginia

 

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February 7, 2009
9 PM - Close

The Daily Dose
1622 Highland Ave, Charleston, SC‎
James Island, SC 29412

$5 Door Charge goes to the Boys & Girls Club of the Trident Area – Shaw Unit.

On the first Saturday of every month for the last year, Charleston’s only video turntablist crew “The Spaced Invaders” has broken out some big toys to draw crowds to their monthly party, “The Stone Groove.”  Setting up 15 foot projection screens and massive sound systems powered by turntable controlled laptops has drawn both good and bad attention to the party, easily visible (and audible) from Folly Road.

With the new positive energy flowing through the country, they’ve decided for 2009 its time to use their fan base and unique geek-chic style to benefit a different charity every month – beginning this month with The Trident Area Shaw Unit Boys & Girls Club of America, who has been receiving a lack of funds do to the current financial state of the economy.

Attendees are treated to something very special, a wild visual display of classic music videos, remixed and scratched movies with just plain silly antics combined with the 60’s and 70’s soul songs that were used to create the 90’s hip hop sound that is so rarely heard today.  “I looked up to see 50 people staring at the huge screen, nodding their heads with the music” states VJ Scrunchyface Flatbroke, one of the Spaced Invaders.  “It was the same mesmerizing look you see when you put a toddler in front of a TV!”

“The Stone Groove party at the Daily Dose is like partying with your closest friends in another friends’ back yard…Just with giant video screens and some good mood food,” says, VJ Sonar, another member of the Spaced Invaders. “Now teaming up with local charities, we have something people can look forward to going to, have a good time, and feel good about giving back to the community. It’s really a party with a purpose.”

For more information please contact:
The Spaced Invaders
843-263-3714
get@spacedinvaders.net

Daily Dose
843-225-3367

To donate to the Shaw Unit Boys & Girls Club: 843-577-5545 www.bgclubta.org