RIBS TPTD: Con Funk Shun, Black Ivory, The Dramatics…

While piecing together this week’s Triple Play Thurs-Day mix and reviewing the playlists from the past month the following thought struck me, “where have all of the groups gone?” I mean we used to be awash in soul and/or funk groups with five, six, seven or more members like Kool & The Gang, Ohio Players, The Commodores; or vocal groups like The Dells, The Temptations, Blue Magic with three, four or five members putting out great harmonies, ballads and dance tunes. Today’s music scene seems pretty barren as far as these types of groups are concerned.

Even with the revival currently underway with Soul music these days, it seems a lot of the new music coming out is by single artists as opposed to groups. Now I’m sure there are some multi-member groups out there on the scene putting down some “sweet, soul music”, but it’s just not like is was before. Who are/were the BIG soul groups from the past 5-6 years? Destiny’s Child (they’ve since disbanded), En Vogue, TLC, Boyz II Men, Outkast. These are the one’s that come to mind off the top of my head. Who else is/was out there? AAMOF, why should anyone have to think this hard to come up with some names. That’s my point.

Throughout the 70’s, 80’s and into the 90’s we would have rattled off about 2 dozen or more groups by now that not only had been together for 10 years or more, but also had a string of hits, both funk tunes and ballads, that were required listening if you called yourself a soul music fan. And another thing (while I’m mildly ranting here {smile}), where has the “tambourine” gone? Check out the Black Ivory cut “Surrender”, it’s in there. You used to hear the sound of a tambourine in a lot of the old soul recordings, but not that much anymore (if at all). {sigh} Where have all of the Soul groups (and the tambourine!) gone?

Anyway, while we try to find and/or think of some good groups on the current music scene today, we still have the abundant legacy of music of the great Soul groups from the past to keep us satisfied. And as “evidence” as my good friend wzjn (of Got The Fever fame) would say, we present to you this week:

1. the funky soul and beautiful harmonies of: Con Funk Shun
2. a group firmly embedded in “The Soundtrack Of My Life”: Black Ivory
3. never a “supergroup”, but a fine example of classic soul: The Dramatics

Sorry, no “Double Triple” this week (there’ll be another one again soon, although it would have been nice to do it with this trio) but we do “funk ya up” in the early part of the mix, let you catch your breath with a taste of the mellow side of these groups and some mid-tempo numbers, and then float you out on a black satin cloud of sweet, sensual sound starting with my favorite CFS ballad, “Love’s Train”, and ending with the classic, “In The Rain” by The Dramatics.

Enjoy!

RIBS TPTD: Con Funk Shun-Black Ivory-The Dramatics
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Playlist:

1. The Dramatics - Gimme Some (Good Soul Music)
2. Con Funk Shun - Chase Me
3. Black Ivory - Mainline
4. The Dramatics - All Because Of You
5. Con Funk Shun - Ffun
6. Black Ivory - Surrender
7. The Dramatics - Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get
8. Con Funk Shun - Let Me Put Love On Your Mind
9. Black Ivory - Time Is Love
10. The Dramatics  - Fall In Love, Lady Love
11. Con Funk Shun - California 1
12. Black Ivory - I’ll Find A Way
13. The Dramatics - Hot Pants In The Summertime
14. Con Funk Shun - Love’s Train
15. Black Ivory - Don’t Turn Around
16. The Dramatics - I Can’t Get Over You
17. Con Funk Shun - All Up To You
18. Black Ivory - You And I
19. The Dramatics - In The Rain

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