Welcome back to the final approach to the weekend!

There has been a lot of hype and interest surrounding our monthly night at La Havana Bar in and around Chichester of late, especially so in the run up to our next instalment there tomorrow night. Our continuing quest for promoting the night has even seen us reaching the heady heights of appearing in The Chichester Observer yesterday, I fear if things continue in this fashion it will only be a matter time before we’re seen carrying our big heads around in wheelbarrows!!

Thanks as always to Pourang who has been instrumental in helping us push things forward at the venue. As mentioned, we return there tomorrow for another all 45 Funk and Soul excursion, so if you’re in the area make sure you head down for what is shaping up nicely to be another great night.

So, as those amongst you who are, or have been involved in putting on regular events will know, the insatiable quest to turn up new records and keep your sets fresh and interesting is a never ending one! I’m always guilty of a digging splurge in the week or so running up to doing our night. So continuing on from Monday’s post I’ve got not one but two more of my new acquisitions that I wanted to share with you all.

First up is Mighty Joe Young And His Orchestra with ‘Suffering Soul’. A tasty Northern tinged moody cut on the Webcor Record label. Mighty Joe Young hailed from Chicago and was a renowned blues guitarist whose career spanned over three decades. His performing name came about after his manager at the time suggested he upgrade and add ‘Mighty’ to his name in homage to the original version of the film Mighty Joe Young! He played with a long list of artists including Willie Dixon, Albert King and Tyrone Davis, notably his guitar playing features on the Tyrone Davis hit, ‘Can I Change My Mind’ another firm H&S favourite!

The lyrics on ‘Suffering Soul’ are distinctly blues styled with its ‘hard times’ theme. The track is driven along by a chugging bass line and snappy drumbeat and also features some great horn rises. Fantastic female backing vocals round up things here, making this a definite must have 60’s Soul 45. Mighty Joe Young’s playing career was prematurely ended after a trapped nerve prevented him from handling his guitar and he sadly died after complications from surgery to rectify it in 1999.

Mighty Joe Young – Suffering Soul – Webcor Records

Completing today’s brace of new finds is Shirley Wahls and ‘Tell The Truth’ on The Giant Record label from 1970. We’re always partial to a spot of Sister Funk here at The Hook And Sling and this certainly ticks all the boxes and doesn’t disappoint! I first heard this 45 on the guest mix Jamie Coughlan dropped HERE on this very site and I’ve had a massive ‘Jones’ for it ever since, finally persuading him to relinquish it in my direction this week. Happy days!

Shirley Wahls was born in Arkansas but moved to Chicago at an early age where she built up somewhat of a reputation as part of several gospel groups. After making the transition to secular music in the mid sixties, she had several releases across different labels, finally finishing up on Jo Armstead’s Giant label with this, her last solo 45.

‘Tell The Truth’ sees Shirley Wahls firing a warning shot at the man in her life, cautioning him to be honest and not to stray from her. Musically this is, to use a DJ Prestige term, ‘Totally Unfuckable With’!! It’s got the lot, thundering drums, some tasty organ chops and killer guitar. Shirley Wahls totally nails the vocals making this a funk monster I can’t wait to drop on a big sound system on Saturday!

Shirley Wahls – Tell The Truth – Giant Records

That’s it for today sports fans! Hopefully we’ll see you on Saturday with your dancing shoes in tow for what should another great night. As always all the details can be found by clicking the tabs at the top of the page. I’ll be back after the weekend with some more of the ‘Good Stuff’ for you, hopefully including a fantastic guest mix from a brand new contributor! Sit tight and stay safe until then!