Instant Funk [Bonus Tracks] (CD - 1979)

Instant Funk includes: James Carmichael (vocals, percussion); Kim Miller, George Bell (guitar); Johnny Onderline (alto & tenor saxophones); Larry Davis (trumpet); Eric Huff (trombone); Raymond Earl (bass); Scotty Miller (drums).

Additional personnel: Mike Ray (trumpet); Bunny Sigler (piano); Jimmy Sigler (organ); Fred Bahler (synthesizer); Charles Williams (congas); Patricia Perkins, Ike Perkins (background vocals).

Engineers include: Dirk Devlin, Jim Gallagher, Jay Mark.

Recorded at Alpha International Recording Studios, Sigma Sound Studios, and Philadelphia Music Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Personnel: Instant Funk (background vocals); Carmichael (vocals, background vocals); Kim Miller, George Bell (guitar); Johnny Onderlinde (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Larry Davis, Michael Ray (trumpet); Eric Huff (trombone); Dennis Richardson, Bunny Sigler (piano); Jimmy Sigler (organ); Frederick C. Bahler (synthesizer); Scotty Miller (drums); Charles Williams (congas); Ike Perkins (background vocals).

Recording information: Alpha International Recording Studios, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia and Alpha International Recording Studios; Philadelphia Music Works, Philadelphia, PA; Sigma Sound Studios; Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, PA.

Unknown Contributor Role: Carmichael.

Instant Funk, the nine-piece funk unit discovered by Bunny Sigler, created a stir in 1979 when Salsoul released the single "I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)." Swirling, screaming horns announce the chorus; hand claps, tambourines and a maniacal rhythm guitar battle the heavy bottom; and a woman delivers erotic lines for added impact. Salsoul followed the number 20 pop and number one R&B (for three weeks) hit with "Crying," a race horse whose relentless beat only subsides near the fade; Carmichael's vocal is passionate, almost deranged. "Never Let Me Go Away," a rare Instant Funk ballad, was so overblown the melody got buried. Spooky voices and haunted-house sounds wallpaper "Dark Vader"'s comic-book lyrics and funky hooks. Rolling horns pump "I'll Be Doggone" (not the Marvin Gaye hit), a cooker that rolls for seven minutes. Four of the eight tracks are killers; a pretty good average for a disco/funk group. ~ Andrew Hamilton

Instant Funk was a nine-piece funk unit discovered by Bunny Sigler. The members included Raymond Earl (bass), Kim Miller (guitar), Scotty Miller (drums), Dennis Richardson (piano), James Carmichael (lead and background vocals), Larry Davis (trumpet), Johnny Onderlinde (tenor and alto saxes), Eric Huff (trombone), and George Bell (guitar). The Trenton, NJ, natives created a stir locally as "the T.N.J.'s". Fireworks exploded when Salsoul released "I Got My Mind Made Up." Swirling, screaming horns announce the chorus; hand claps, tambourines and a maniacal rhythm guitar battle the heavy bottom; a woman delivers erotic lines for added impact. Salsoul followed the number 20 pop and number one (for three weeks) R&B hit with "Crying," a race horse whose relentless beat only subsides near the fade; Carmichael's vocal is passionate, almost deranged. "Never Let Me Go Away," a rare Instant Funk ballad, was so overblown, the melody got buried. Spooky voices and haunted house sounds wallpaper "Dark Vader"'s comic book lyrics and funky hooks. Rolling horns pump "I'll Be Doggone" (not the Marvin Gaye hit), a cooker that rolls for seven minutes. Four of the eight tracks are killers; the other four should have been killed. [The 1993 reissue adds a remix and a different version of "I Got My Mind Made Up."] ~ Andrew Hamilton minimize