Love me some Lack of Afro, always on form

Craig Charles

Yes - it's back! The boom bappest, fattest & funkiest collection of sounds made for soul searching sore ears -The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club returns!

Since the release of Volume 1 in 2012, Craig has barely had a chance to change his socks, presenting his massively popular radio show on BBC 6 Music and having been on an almost constant DJ tour - dragging his Trunk Of Funk far and wide to play for increasingly large audiences, including kicking off the Glastonbury Festival with a 4 hour set, causing all manner of musical mayhem at WOMAD 2013, tearing the roof off the Soundwave festival in Croatia - as well as hosting his regular club nights at Manchester's Band On The Wall - with block rocking live shows from names like US funk legend Lee Fields, Spain's Sweet Vandals and Australia's toughest raw funk collective Deep Street Soul amongst many others.

And so - the man, the myth, the legend, the not-so-tall, the not-so-dark, the not-so-handsome Craig Charles has hand picked fresh and classic nuggets from the very best soul, funk & dance floor grooves around for Volume 2 of his top selling compilations series.

This edition contains some 100% completely brand new exclusive tracks not heard anywhere before, including Dr Rubberfunk's 'Creek Walk', Emma Beatson and The Hawkmen's track 'Do It', and Lack Of Afro's 'The Outsider - Part 2' which was recorded specifically for this album.

You have to hear Cookin' On 3 Burners Hammond funk version of Gary Numan's Cars, you will flip your lid twice when you hear funk royalty Fred Wesley & Anthony Joseph join forces on Mops Mop's Run Around, and your ears will buy you flowers in gratitude once you have treated them to The Hot 8 Brass Bands version of The Specials Ghost Town and the original acid jazz troubadours James Taylor Quartets debut 1987 single Blow Up!

Of his second selection for Freestyle Craig says: "Whilst my 6 Music radio show features much of the music from the golden age of American soul & funk music, my compilations for Freestyle are a showcase for the contemporary bands that are all part of the worldwide response to the original pioneers and innovators of that sound - all the artists featured are doing their funky thing now - this is no history lesson!"

There are indeed living legends featured, not only Jocelyn Brown featuring on Jessica Lauren's funking gospel style stomper Happiness Train, but two appearances from the recently honoured Omar LyeFook MBE - who not only guests on Lack Of Afro's remix of The Hidden Jazz Quartett's High Heels, but also as impressively on the brand new version of his massive early 90's hit There's Nothing Like This - which features bass player to the gods Pino Palladino.

The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club Vol 2 is the gift that just keeps on giving - it's like having Craig himself DJ-ing in your house. This selection is his greatest yet - and if you don't wear out your carpet getting down to these tracks - you should check your pulse - as you may already be dead!

And don't forget - there's no sleep till bedtime!

02 Lack Of Afro - The Outsider (Part 2) [clip]

Check out a preview of our forthcoming track 'As We Do Our Thing' which got a world exclusive on The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show﻿. 

Taken from the Calling The Shots EP, out on Goodgroove Records in late Feb and available from Juno. 


Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show 'As We Do Our Thing' Preview

i-sha feels through a deeply personal session of emotional resonance and cathartic intensity for this week’s Fact Mix.

https://www.factmag.com/2023/04/03/fact-mix-i-sha/

Fact Mixes

Fact Mix 902: i-sha (Apr '23)

The Mighty Craig Charles Playing our little monster ons his Funk & Soul show:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b01hz2dy

Craig Charles playing Little Hurricane 2012-05-19

Craig Charles plays Mr. Confuse "Boogie Down featuring Benjie" on his show on BBC6 and reads the liner notes he had written for the album "Do You Realize"! 

Liner notes of Craig Charles from the Mr. Confuse album "Do You Realize":

     It has been a while since I have heard what Mr Confuse has been up to, but the time has obviously not been wasted, this is simply a marvellous follow up to what was already a cracking debut set in the shape of “Feel The Fire”.

    I have to say that what I really admire about this set is how much he has moved away from the sample driven jams that were the trademark of his debut set and into songwriting proper. Given that and his perfect ear for a groove and his seemingly insatiable thirst for influences from across the globe from The Balkans to Asia to Memphis, this album was always going to promise a lot and it certainly delivers.

    And above all this is a labour of love. You do not undertake the Herculean task of assembling 23 musicians together unless you have a clear vision and belief in your sound and that is evident in every single track on the album. The sound is HUGE and very very addictive!

Special mention has to go to his reworking of the Man Parrish electro anthem “Boogie Down (Bronx)”. It takes a man of real vision and courage to take this well-loved tune down Nigeria-way and transform into an Afro-Funk monster. If you liked his version of “Planet Rock” when he was part of the Breakout crew then you are in for a real treat, because this is massive.

Congratulations Mr Confuse, once again you have stepped up to the challenge of finding your own path and passed with flying colours."

Craig Charles,
The Craig Charles Funk And Soul Show, BBC 6 Music
http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/funk_soul/


Mr. Confuse - Boogie Down played @ The Craig Charles Funk And Soul Show - 09.06.2012

This is a portion of a Johnny "Hammond" Smith song entitled "Dreams." Johnny is on piano and Grover Washington Jr. is on saxophone. This is just a sample from the song for the purpose of this remix contest. Enjoy.

Dreams-remix

Kicking off the show in fine style...even had Craig singing along...

Now available also on Bandcamp here:

http://mrbird.bandcamp.com/track/salthill-sugar

BUY IT HERE

Mr Bird on Craig Charles F&SS Show Jan 2013

The single 'Heartbreaker' taken from our debut EP getting some air time love from 6 Music's Craig Charles. 

Special thanks to Craig, Rob Da Bank and everyone else who has supported the EP. 

Craig Charles Soul & Funk Show 26:02:13

Releasing the best in funk, jazz, soul, reggae & more since 2003

02 Lack Of Afro - The Outsider (Part 2) [clip]

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