Funky Super Fly

Mr Bongo reissue Bobby Williams’ coveted deep funk rarity Funky Super Fly from 1974 Rich in raw, gritty, from-the-heart grooves, the influence of James Brown is strong, yet the tracks are distinctly Bobby. Oozing style and substance, the album is full of fiery horn sections, strutting guitars and infectious basslines tracked by plenty of prime breakbeats. Front to back stacked with highlights, cuts from the album have been famously sampled by DJ Shadow, Coldcut, and more. For years Funky Super Fly has been a funk aficionado favourite. It’s a sensational set of recordings from vocalist and bandleader Bobby Williams, with plenty of cherished raw-funk heaters in the mix. ‘Funky Superfly’, ‘Soul Brother Party’, and ‘Let’s Jam’, are three standouts that have all the ingredients to ignite even the most subdued of dancefloors. The unprocessed natural energy in these songs speaks to your very soul – Bobby grooving over his captivating funk- fuelled band with dynamism and class. Both ‘Funky Superfly’ and ‘Soul Brother Party’ appear on the album as one continuous track, whereas on the 7″ versions they were cut into parts 1 and 2.Alongside the uptempo dancers on the album, Bobby goes deep on the soul ballad ‘Morning Of Love’, which simmers with intensity and heartache. The album’s closing instrumental track, ‘Fair Trade,’ has a wah- wah guitar- driven Blaxploitation film soundtrack sensibility, and is a slept-on gem off the album nestled amongst the big hitters. The use of Bobby’s music has been sampled decades later, immortalising him for a new audience of record collectors and sample hunters. The pulsating title track ‘Funky Superfly’ was used as a sample source for DJ Shadow’s ‘The Number Song’ off his iconic Endtroducing….. album in 1996. In addition, ‘Soul Brother Party’ was used a year later on Coldcut’s fantastic More Beats and Pieces album. This turned a whole new audience onto the magnetism of Bobby Williams’ music and added to the frenzy of hungry DJs in the ’90s looking to unearth obscure funk 45s.Funky Super Fly is for those who like their funk and soul at its purest. It’s no-nonsense, electrifying and one of the jewels of ’70s funk, perfect for fans of James Brown and Charles Bradley.