Rating: ** (2 stars)
Title: Funky
Company: Date
Catalog: TS 4021
Year: 1971
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: cut corner top left
Available: 1
Price: $65.00
Following the release of 1968's "With Their New Faces On" the band underwent another personnel shuffle with keyboardist Hardin and drummer York tendering their resignations in order to form the cleverly named Hardin and York (see separate entry). Bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson were quickly recruited as replacements.
Spencer and the new line up quickly returned to the studio to record a new set with former Van Morrison associate Lou Merrenstein producing. Interestingly, with Fenwick handled lead vocals, provided lead guitar and penning all ten selections, 1969's "Funky" could have easily been a Fenwick solo effort. Musically the LP marked another changed in direction. Long gone were the band's original R&B roots, or it's latter stage stabs at British psychedelia. In it's place Fenwick and company offered up a competent, if largely undistinguished set that bounced between country-rock ("I Met a Woman" and "I Guess I'm Wasting My Timer") and more conventional AOR ("Letters from Edit" and the bluesy "Poor Misguided Woman"). Fenwick had a decent voice and most of the ten tracks were at least mildly catchy, though with the possible exception of the poppy "Magical Day", nothing here is overwhelming. Citing the dreaded 'unspecified contractual reasons' excuse the LP was promptly shelved. In 1971 Date Records released the set in the States, but it was quickly withdrawn, making copies extremely rare.
"Funky" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) I Met a Woman (Ray Fenwick) - 2:54
2.) Letters from Edith (Ray Fenwick) - 3:31
3.) Raintree River (Ray Fenwick) - 3:52
4.) What a Way To Die (Ray Fenwick) - 3:00
5.) Funky (instrumental) (Ray Fenwick) - 6:50
(side 2)
1.) Magical Day (Ray Fenwick) - 3:25
2.) I Guess I'm Wasting My Time (Ray Fenwick) - 2:17
3.) Poor Misguided Woman (Ray Fenwick) - 5:35
4.) And the Gods Came Down (Ray Fenwick) - 6:57
5.) New Jersey Turnpike (Ray Fenwick) - 3:18
Shortly after the set was released Davis called it quits, embarking on a brief solo career.