Calvin Arnold - Funky Way: Venture Recordings 1967-1969 - Import CD

Credits:

Calvin Arnold

Description:

Calvin Arnold was a journeyman R&B artist from Georgia who enjoyed his greatest success as a behind-the-scenes guy, racking up plenty of credits as a songwriter, producer, engineer, and instrumentalist. Arnold didnt fare as well as a performer, though it wasnt for lack of talent -- his best-known song, "Funky Way," is a pointed, witty meditation on various human failings that suggests the sort of life lessons Joe Tex made his trademark, powered by a taut, elemental groove and some tough, scrappy guitar work from Arnold. If more people in radio had decided "funky" wasnt a dirty word in 1967 (and if his label had a better promotions staff), "Funky Way" probably would have charted higher than number 22 on the R&B singles charts, and number 72 on the pop survey, still a respectable showing for a debut artist. Arnold cut four singles for Venture Records (an R&B-oriented branch of MGM Records) in the late 60s, and all eight of those tracks appear on 2024s Funky Way: Venture Recordings 1967-1969, along with five additional songs from his time at Venture that were never released. "Funky Way" was the hit here, but the other material shows Arnold could have been a bigger star if hed had better luck. Arnold is a strong vocalist who knows how to engage the listener, the songs match satisfying grooves with street-smart lyrics, and this is great Southern soul thats flavorful and well-crafted, with a no-nonsense rhythm section and punchy horn charts. (Clarence Paul produced or co-produced most of these tracks, though the Mighty Hannibal was at the controls for "Just a Matter of Time" and "Youve Got to Live for Yourself.") Its anyones guess why the five bonus tracks were shelved, beyond the financial troubles that led to Ventures early demise, but theyre as good as the stuff that did make it to record shops, and Brian Prousts liner notes deliver a concise, compelling history of Arnolds salad days. He never got to make an album during his years as a headliner, and its too bad some of his later singles for Sonday and IX Chains couldnt have been included, but Funky Way is a long-overdue tribute to a talent that deserved wider exposure. ~ Mark Deming

Tracklisting:

1.FUNKY WAY
2.SNATCHIN' BACK
3.LOVELY WAY TO GO
4.SCOOBIE DOO
5.MAMA-IN-LAW
6.MINI SKIRT
7.YOU GOT TO LIVE FOR YOURSELF
8.JUST A MATTER OF TIME
9.TRYIN' TO FLY MY KITE (IN RAINY WEATHER)
10.YOUR LOVE IS TOO MUCH
11.FOOL ME BABY
12.MESSIN' WITH THE OLD FOLKS HOME
13.MO JO HANNAH