CALVIN ARNOLD - Funky Way CALVIN ARNOLD

LP - Black Vinyl

This is the first album of Mickey Stevenson’s Venture material. Funky Way was the label’s first release and a hit in 1967, despite limited airplay due to having the word “funky” in the title. It went on to become an early funk classic, covered by Rufus Thomas for Stax, Tommy Strand for Fame, Jimmy Bee for Kent, Ray Johnson and others.

Though mainly recorded in Los Angeles, Calvin Arnold was a southern soul singer from Atlanta, Georgia and the material is in that vein – there are Mighty Hannibal produced tracks, recorded in Atlanta. Apart from the eight released sides, Mickey Stevenson’s tapes have provided five previously unreleased numbers including the up-tempo mover ‘Your Love Is Too Much’ and the superb southern funk grooves of ‘Trying To Fly My Kite (In Rainy Weather)’ and ‘Fool Me Baby’.