Soul/ funk/disco legends The Fatback band will be heading to Australia for the first time this December for shows in Sydney and Melbourne including an appearance at Meredith Music Festival.
For those uninitiated The Fatback Band embodies the imaginative spirit of street music and free expression and was first formed in 1970 by veteran drummer Bill Curtis in New York City. At that time, he had already been playing for 20 years, both as an in-demand session musician and as a drummer touring the country with celebrated acts such as Sil Austin, Red Prysock, Big Maybelle, Bill Doggett, Paul Williams, Clyde McPhatter and the 33rd Army Band and 7th Army Special Services.
Often these days referred to as the last of the great dance bands, the Fatback sound and influence can be clearly heard re-energized by the modern artistry of Bruno Mars, John Legend, and Busta Rhymes. The “Fatback” concept emerged from Curtis’ quest to invent a new groove by merging the “fatback” jazz beat of New Orleans with vivid West Indie and Caribbean rhythms, a novel sound that became the basis for the first disco beat.
To celebrate their visit and upcoming shows, the band have put together a mixtape guide some of their funkiest tracks. Check it (and is accompanying commentary) below.
A Groovy Kind of Day
Holds a special place in my heart because it was one of the early change of pace for Fatback. What I mean by that is, we started in a different direction. It featured one of my close friends, the late Don Pullum, from a previous group I was in which was a jazz trio. My friend came in as a guest artist and the tune created kind of set a new genre known as Jazz funk.
Going Home to See My Baby
This tune opened all the doors for Fatback. I can say we had a very hard time getting this tune played because during the time the tune came out, radio was in high Fidelity. This particular tune didn’t fit this format and they wouldn’t play it. A DJ by the name of Frankie Croacker ran across the record and he was one of the hottest DJ’s in New York during this time. He told his audience that he ran across one of the funkiest, raggedy sounding, greasiest sound he ever heard and he started playing the music. That was the beginning of Fatback and the first so called house music. In this record you will hear the first disco and the Bill Curtis Fatback beat in case you didn’t know.
Bus Stop
This is considered the beginning of the line dances but it really wasn’t. I got this idea from the Gripping Brothers, which is group back in the early 40’s. I can’t think of the tune but they had a hit. The title was created because the bass player was leaving and we had just finished recording and he said he was going to party all the way to the bus stop and that’s how I got the title to this song. This tune was a hit in England first.
Spanish Hustle
This tune was written by my co-partner and producer Jerry Thomas. It is an all time favorite of mine because it was so popular during the time of disco.
Got To Get My Hands On Some Money
Was one of the hardest tunes to record because it is one of those crazy Bill Curtis songs.
Backstrok’n
Took us one month and four studios to make this song. Why did it take so long? It only took us 30 min. to record it but it took us one month and four studios to mix because the engineers couldn’t get the sound I had in my head. We went to Richmond and I spent three days in Richmond just mixing and that is when we finally got it together.
I found Lovin’
This tune was made popular in the UK and was in the top five. It was 3 years later when it was back on charts again in the top five. This tune didn’t become popular in the US until 8 years after we recorded. It is a disco anthem in both the UK and the US.
Headline Shows
Thursday 10th December 2015
Oxford Art Factory, Sydney NSW
www.oxfordartfactory.com
Friday 11th December 2015
Corner Hotel, Melbourne VIC
www.cornerhotel.com
