Yes, it's a song from the band Funkadelic, a great track, but the version that I particularly know, is the one from the band RH Factor.
It's a Neo Soul band from the 00's, with the band leader Roy Hargrove, that was very successful in France, and Europe throughout the jazz & Soul world, he is a true genius.
I had the chance to see the band a few times, one particular time at "Le Jardin des Plantes" in Paris, the band was so good, just the best of the American Soul, hip hop & jazz scene at the beginning of the millennium.
Members
Roy Hargrove (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals), Keith Anderson (saxophone), Willie Jones III (drums), Charles McCampbell (keyboards), Daniel Moreno (percussion), Renée Neufville (vocals, keyboards), David "Fathead" Newman (saxophone, flute), Pino Palladino (bass), Todd Parsnow (guitar), James Poyser (keyboards), Jacques Schwarz-Bart (tenor saxophone), Spanky (guitar), Bobby Sparks (keyboards), Lenny Stalworth (bass), Jason "JT" Thomas (drums), Reggie Washington (bass), Dontae Winslow (drum programming), Bernard Wright (keyboards)
You will recognize some of these names, I also had the chance to watch Reggie Washington as a solo act with the son of John Coltrane; Rabbie Coltrane.
Of course, some of you guys will know Pino Palladino, another monster on the list.
Young me was impressed by these giants, it's really cool the way jazz had a revival in late 90s, with a lot of incredible musicians emerging to the scene.
I think it's probably a style that had the most influence on my music, my voice, and what still moves me today.
When I think about my music, the closest style would be Neo Soul at its core.
Apparently, it's be "proven" that the music you listen during your teenage years, will have the biggest impact on your life, and determine your tastes in music.
That's kind of coincide for me with the birth of Neo Soul in 1999, and throughout the whole first decade of the millennia.
The artist that had the biggest impact for me, was and always will be D'Angelo.
His second album, "Voodoo", has had up to that day, the biggest impact on my music, my career, and the way I perceive music. In fact, I've always put D'Angelo on a pedestal, above Prince, Stevie Wonder, or Donny Hathaway.
Maybe it's because he really made evolve soul music, that faded a little bit in the 80s.
A stripped beat, a bass, clean guitar, Hammond organ, Fender Roades, trumpets, second solo guitar.
Everything is syncopated in such a way, that the beat on its on isn't much, it's just a "boom" & a "chack", a hit hat doing "tss tss" on the after - beat.
The kick is supposed to be on the 1 of the first bar, but it slightly "off", almost off balance. The only drummer that can play that style, is ?uestLove.
When the bass gets in, then the guitar, it all makes sense. But at the time, it was unheard of. It took from 1996 to 1999 to understand how to play the style.
Now it's weird because it feels like not much has evolved in the style. Maybe this genre isn't meant to evolve too much.
I love listening to Hargrove's bluesy solos, when he is trying hard not to put too much notes, keep it tight and heartfelt.
Everyone that has watched him live, was always so impressed by his versatility, and his vibrato.
That was a track we often jammed with different combinations of musicians in Paris, at the opening of the jam session that we organized, around 2007 & 2008.
There is a lot of space for soloing, the album version has a great guitar solo, bending those notes...
Back to the song, I think the lyrics are very...Different!
I'll stay
For she'll be coming back
You know her head went out to play
She'll get over that
I know that my reward
When she returns
Woo-woo!
Keeps me hanging on
I'll stay
I'll stay
Though friends they ridicule
You know for her there is no substitute
Talk I can endure (I must endure)
But that's alright, mother says "Son"
Know my reward
When she returns (whoo-whoo)
She'll still come home, whoaah
Keeps me hanging on
I'll stay
Ba ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba doo-whoo whoo-whoo
Ba ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba doo-whoo whoo-whoo
Ba ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba doo-whoo whoo-whoo
{continues to end}
You know her head went out to play
That's all right
The girl will get over that
Lord, my reward is gonna be much greater
Every night, lord, is gonna replace her
And if another girl decides she wants to go home
Wait right there
Wait right here
Wait right here
I ain't goin' nowhere
Wait right here
Wait right here
I'm gonna stand right here
On this ground and wait
Hey hey hey hey
I preferred to record inside this time around, just to have a little bit more precision, especially with the beatbox. I think I am going to get another loop station, to make some loops like I was doing back in the days!
