Bobby Williams didn't exactly go out of his way to disguise the fact that he was "feelin' James." What he and a bunch of cats did though was create this canon of JB influenced work that folks like me could chase down years later.
Bobby was a local legend in Orlando, Florida packing them in at places like the Elks Club, the Everyday and the Quaterback club, with his full on JB inspired stylings. The thing that makes these records so special for me, is that for all the conviction they are made with, they fall short of actually duplicating the James Brown sound. They aren't nearly as polished and professional as the JB records..in fact these Bobby Williams sides from 1974 sound a lot like the James Brown influenced records that came from Nigeria around this time. Very raw, very funky. Their imperfect recording perhaps eliminating them from "hit" potential at the time, but refreshing blasts of fresh air today.
I won't trouble you with Bobby's stabs at JB-styled slow songs, but please feel his funk here and in comments. Have a good weekend.
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Bobby Williams -Funky Superfly -Part 2
Bobby Williams - Lets Jam
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reminds me of one of the first mog posts I remember reading (was it Fisty?) about Miami's local funk legend. The name escapes me but the guy had a blonde JB style doo, and I think I remember it not being too bad.
I love these small "history of" things that pop up all over the net. Their always so interesting. I'm digging all these recolections of small Punk scenes all over the place.
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You must be speaking of Mr. Wayne Cochran. Small history is a gas for me.
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Yep. That's it! Maybe it was your post. Post a little of that blonde bouffant! Lemme hear you cout it off...1...2..3!
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'twasn't me posting Wayne, I see popeye pete in the lounge..I do have one instrumental from him though, Chopper 70
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Bobby may not attack with JB's crispness, but I like the thickness of his sound - funk soup!
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Swampy indeed..welcome to bouffant central, Bill.
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Hmm, maybe it's just congealed hairspray....
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Hairspray R Us..
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Great sides here from Bobby & Wayne. The sound they're joining is compelling enough to make their copying not a big problem. The second album shows that nuclear weapons can be useful for something. That portrait of Wayne is hilarious but admirable. Why would audiences pay money to see something ordinary?
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Sho' you right,Spike!
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Man I can't listen to this one. Red dot is on the fritz. Ill try to come back when the stars are all lined up.