Now-Again Records

An Apple A Day Keeps Bad Funk Away

Yesterday was a glorious one at Now-Again’s L.A. headquarters: Edward “Apple” Nelson – he of Apple and Three Oranges fame – came down to our spot and held court with Egon and Cut Chemist. Now-Again affiliate Henoch Moore filmed the proceedings. The three discussed the New Orleans-born drummer’s life work (did you know he’s the one who originally laid the pattern James Gadson mimicked on Dyke and The Blazer’s “Let A Woman Be A Woman Be A Woman” single?) and listened to a series of his recordings in the original 45 rpm format. Cut Chemist even broke out his original copy of “Curse Upon The World” for the occasion.

An Apple and Three Oranges anthology is forthcoming on Now-Again; in the meantime, catch your Apple-funk on California Funk, out now.

Download L.A.’s own Apple and Three Oranges’ “Curse Upon The World” here.
Buy California Funk at Rappcats Webstore.

04.20.10: California Funk Out Today (And we’re still giving away a free mp3…)

Our version of the California Funk CD – packaged as a “mini-LP” in a thick, “paste-on” gatefold cardboard sleeve with a 24 page full color booklet with full liner notes, annotation, and never-before-seen photos – is out everywhere good music is sold today.

If you haven’t already:

Download L.A.’s own Apple and Three Oranges’ “Curse Upon The World” here.
Buy California Funk at Rappcats.

California Funk

The Jazzman/Now-Again Funk series has offered surveys as broad as they are deep: Midwest Funk, Texas Funk, Florida Funk, Carolina Funk. Yet this might be the most important trawl of all: California Funk. Over a decade in the making, this – from compilers Malcolm Catto and Gerald “Jazzman” Short – is the Funk masterpiece. This anthology examines what happened to the independent ensembles who gigged during Sly and the Family Stone’s Bay-area renaissance. It delves into the stories sidemen who worked alongside LA’s Charles Wright and the Watt’s 103rd Street Rhythm Bands and offers answers to elusive questions. At the same time, it offers thunderous drums, fuzzy wah-wah, fat basslines, blistering horns and exhortations akin to James Brown and his many disciples over its 21 track selection.

This official reissue was licensed by the lost bandleaders, bass players, drummers, label owners and studio-vets – independents, all, lost to history no more. This CD is packaged as a “mini-LP” in a thick, “paste-on” gatefold cardboard sleeve Now-Again’s issue of California Funk also comes with a 24 page full color booklet with full liner notes, annotation, and never-before-seen photos of these most impressive organizations.

Download a representative track L.A.’s own Apple and Three Oranges’ “Curse Upon The World” here.

Various – California Funk: Rare Funk 45s From The Golden State

Tracklist:

01. All Bundled Into One Water Color
02. Cruising Down Sunset 4th Coming
03. Curse Upon The World Apple and 3 Oranges
04. Super Cool Brother LA Bare Faxx
05. What Goes Around Arthur Monday
06. Turn It Over Chucky Thurmon
07. WB 302 California Gold Notes
08. I Who Have Nothing Ray Frazier
09. Get It Right Ron Silva
10. Al’s Place Enrique Olivarez Y Sus Vampiros
11. North Richmond Breakaway JD & The New Breed
12. Talking About My Baby Johnny Heartsman
13. Political Rag King Solomon
14. Funky Fire Billy Larkin
15. Farm Song Leon Gardner
16. Cold Heat Lil’ Lavair
17. Honeydripper Delores Ealy
18. Arriba Tip Enrique Olivarez Y Sus Vampiros
19. Bones Winter
20. Smokin’ Tidbits Edwards Generation
21. What’s Going On Mr. Clean

Compilation produced, annotated and researched by: Gerald Short and Malcolm Catto.
North American edition produced for release by Egon.
Art direction for North American edition by Matthew Boyd

Gatefold “Mini-LP” CD. 2010. NA 5063.