Originally recorded in 1969, Jimi Hendrix playing a blinder on the bass as well as definately not faking the funk on guitar. Buddy Miles from Hendrix’s other outfit The Band Of Gypsy’s is the percussionist on this recording.
Jalal Nuridden from the influential New York militant rappers The Last Poets is in the guise of Lightnin’ Rod. A small time street hustler looking at the big dollars and trying to get a piece of the action.
This track led to the release in 1973 of a full length LP entitled ‘Hustlers Convention’ by Lightnin’ Rod with more tales of seedy street hustling amongst the hookers and junkies in New York City.
Jimi Hendrix of course was not around when this 1973 LP was recorded and released. Kool And The Gang however were, so they backed up Jalal with some top notch funk cuts.
Get a earful of the LP which is available on CD via Charly Records I think…If you like your proto funk rap then it is worth searching out. If you get the original vinyl on Douglas Records then don’t part with it until you are offered proper money for it!
Andus
October 12, 2008 at 8:49 amJIMI !! My brother saw him play at the Isle of Wight festival.
Graham Burnett
October 13, 2008 at 12:31 amJust been watching ‘our Jim’ on some BBC guitar documentary, blinding! Confession time, Last night I went see Penny Rimbaud playing with the wondrful Japanther at the raindance Film festival in Rupert Street, Soho, on the way home popped into HMV where the sale was on and picked up the DVD of Song Remains The Same dead cheap, so spent a thoroughly indulgent Sunday morning watching Led Zeppelin circa 1973 blasting out the guitar solos and mending our settee at the same time (I was, not the Zep) whilst my wife moaned about the racket….
Nic
October 13, 2008 at 8:27 amHow was the Japanther concert, Graham?
I’ve really enjoyed their previous recordings…
Nic
October 13, 2008 at 8:54 amBy the way – thanks for this Penguin: great record…
Graham Burnett
October 14, 2008 at 10:21 amJapanther were great, reminded me of a sort of noise-rock cross between Jonathon Richman, Captain Beefheart and the Ramones, but it was a weird kind of venue as everyone was sitting politely in cinema seats, somewhat at odds with the film they showed of them playing live in some club in New York which looked pretty chaotic and more in keeping. I think the film is online as well. Heres a bit of footage I found;
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-5yMJnbvDnU&feature=related
Chris
October 14, 2008 at 4:19 pmFuck! the tune in that clip is really good. I was gonna go, but thought they might be one of those shitty fashion rock hardcore type bands who i have seen there before, surrounded by a crowd of indolent wanks. In fact, would probably have popped along if I’d known you’d be there Graham as I couldn’t persuade anyone else and didn’t want to “do a Dennis Nilsen” by going along on my own.
Anyone know any Japanther CDs they can advise?
PS: and what IS Penny’s involvement with them, by the way?
baron von zubb
October 21, 2008 at 9:56 amI got here at last.
He’s the only reason, well along with the velvets, that i regret having been born when i was.
Dont care what anyone says and its a huge cliche, he’s the best.
He invented ‘rock’ , changing the face of popular music as he went.