Funkees, The – “Dancing Time” – [Soundway Records]

Killer Migerian afro-rock from 1973-1977. Lived and heavily influenced the music scene of Eastern Nigeria, where the primary sound was traditional Yoruba music, after the end the the Nigerian-Biafran War. The Funkees formed during the closing of that war, and played primarily “copywrite” songs, which meant they just covered songs by bands like The Rolling Stones and James Brown. After deciding to write their own music, recording some 45′s released only in Nigeria, they took off. First gaining notoriety in their home country, and then packing up and leaving for London in 1973

They recorded albums in London and eventually broke up, from what appears to be normal inter-band related BS… but what they came out with was amazing. Awesome funky, soulful grooves, harnessing some of the psychadelic energy that was going on at that time. Bitchin’ guitar and sax solos on a few tracks. Wah, reverb, almost surfy. Lots to love, and a few to not love so much. I think the tracks recorded in Nigeria (A&B sides) tend to be a bit better, only because the songs with lyrics in English (C&D sides) lose their authenticity. Better throw this on the turntable now, fool…