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PrintableFuNkeNsteiN said: SoulAlive said: I'm surprised that people in Finland even know what funk is  (just kidding)  Unfortunately, most don't. There are some of us around but like 80% of the population listen to metal music How did you become such a big (and very knowledgable) funk fan? Aren't you only 19 years old?! | |
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I just listened to their Gold compilation on my iTunes... dayum...
We All Know Who We Are, followed by Insane, followed by I Just Want To Be 12''...   
To quote Wayne Cooper... "I'm in heaaaveeen" It is not known why FuNkeNsteiN capitalizes his name as he does, though some speculate sunlight deficiency caused by the most pimpified white guy afro in Nordic history.
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SoulAlive said: FuNkeNsteiN said: Unfortunately, most don't. There are some of us around but like 80% of the population listen to metal music How did you become such a big (and very knowledgable) funk fan? Aren't you only 19 years old?! Yea, I'm 19. Well, I started listening to Michael Jackson back when I was like 7 or 8 and then saw The Most Beautiful Girl In The World on MTV, and got hooked on Prince. After that I just sorta started branching out, finding bands by surfing allmusic.com and prince.org, talking to the guy who used to work at my local record store (which sort of went out of business  ) and reading books about the subject (Funk: The Music, The People and The Rhythm Of The One and Funk by Dave Thompson).It is not known why FuNkeNsteiN capitalizes his name as he does, though some speculate sunlight deficiency caused by the most pimpified white guy afro in Nordic history.
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I have that 2-CD compilation too.I listen to it all the time in my car The version I have is titled 'Cameo Anthology'.Same tracks as the 'Cameo Gold' set.
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SoulAlive said: I have that 2-CD compilation too.I listen to it all the time in my car
The version I have is titled 'Cameo Anthology'.Same tracks as the 'Cameo Gold' set.
Great comp  It is not known why FuNkeNsteiN capitalizes his name as he does, though some speculate sunlight deficiency caused by the most pimpified white guy afro in Nordic history.
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FuNkeNsteiN said: SoulAlive said: I have that 2-CD compilation too.I listen to it all the time in my car
The version I have is titled 'Cameo Anthology'.Same tracks as the 'Cameo Gold' set.
Great comp  All the hits are accounted for,except for maybe one or two. | |
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CFunk fan for life. I'm finna' hit the media player and start this morning off with "We All Know Who We Are".  National Funk League✮✮ | |
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Cameo...One of the few '70s acts that was able to make a brilliant transition into the '80s...Larry Blackmon doesn't get enough credit as a producer...Very underrated act... | |
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I'm sorry but "Word Up" definitely has some merits. And what's wrong with crossing over to the pop mainstream? I'd say they were ready for it after being around all those years. But I don't think that commercial success diminishes the fact that "Word Up" was funky. I mean, Prince was popular too, but he was still funky.
However, it was their later albums like "Machismo" and "Real Men Wear Black" that are questionable. I know they were trying to get further into the New Jack/Hip-Hop thang, but I don't think it really worked out for them. But you know what's funny, when I listened to The Gap Band's late 80's foray int o the New Jack Swing I thought their songs weren't that bad. NEW WAVE FOREVER: SLAVE TO THE WAVE FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE. | |
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murph said: Cameo...One of the few '70s acts that was able to make a brilliant transition into the '80s...Larry Blackmon doesn't get enough credit as a producer...Very underrated act...
He wrote and produce Bobby Brown's Girl Next Door  | |
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FuNkeNsteiN said: SoulAlive said: How did you become such a big (and very knowledgable) funk fan? Aren't you only 19 years old?! reading books about the subject (Funk: The Music, The People and The Rhythm Of The One and Funk by Dave Thompson). 
I have both of those books....a must-have if you're a funk fan [Edited 3/30/07 7:04am] | |
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SoulAlive said: FuNkeNsteiN said: reading books about the subject (Funk: The Music, The People and The Rhythm Of The One and Funk by Dave Thompson).
I have both of those books....a must-have if you're a funk fan
It is not known why FuNkeNsteiN capitalizes his name as he does, though some speculate sunlight deficiency caused by the most pimpified white guy afro in Nordic history.
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SoulAlive said: FuNkeNsteiN said: Come to think of it, neither have I. It's almost never mentioned anywhere... heck, I've probably never even seen the album cover. It seems to be a rare,forgotten album.Does anyone know what the singles were (besides the title track)? I wonder why it didn't get as much attention as the album that came before it ('Alligator Woman') and the album that came after it ('She's Strange'). Does it continue the synth-New Wave-styled funk of 'Alligator Woman'? I didn't buy the "Style" album, I only bought the 45. The very next thing I rememeber hearing on the radio afterwards was "You're Talking Out The Side Of Your Neck" (which I didn't care for so didn't even attempt to buy). I don't know if that one is on "Style" or "She's Strange". After the "Alligator Woman" album, I only bought Cameo 45s or 12 Inches of particular songs I like because Cameo's music seemed to be getting weaker. The next full album of their's that I bought was "Machismo". I loved "You Make Me Work" but didn't care much for the rest of the album. I also bought their 1990s albums "Emotional Violence" and "In The Face Of Funk". It was the 1990s then and singles were scarce....especially from a funk group. I had no choice but to buy the albums. . . [Edited 3/30/07 9:05am] Andy is a four letter word. | |
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Yes!, CAMEO! I was in Jr High at the time. A bunch of us were outside playing Basketball at the park, This dude came with a Boom-Box, Turned it on, And "Shake Your Pants" started playing. Dude with the ball stopped the game and said "That Song is BAAAAAD!! "Who's this By?" "CAMEO". That was my introduction to the band. I love the bassline to "CAMEOSIS" whoever played bass on that track, Tore it up! | |
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ThePunisher said: Yes!, CAMEO! I was in Jr High at the time. A bunch of us were outside playing Basketball at the park, This dude came with a Boom-Box, Turned it on, And "Shake Your Pants" started playing. Dude with the ball stopped the game and said "That Song is BAAAAAD!! "Who's this By?" "CAMEO". That was my introduction to the band. I love the bassline to "CAMEOSIS" whoever played bass on that track, Tore it up!
It's either Larry Blackmon or Aaron Mills  [Edited 3/30/07 9:21am] It is not known why FuNkeNsteiN capitalizes his name as he does, though some speculate sunlight deficiency caused by the most pimpified white guy afro in Nordic history.
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funkpill said: murph said: Cameo...One of the few '70s acts that was able to make a brilliant transition into the '80s...Larry Blackmon doesn't get enough credit as a producer...Very underrated act...
He wrote and produce Bobby Brown's Girl Next Door Some more of his signature production for other artist.   
Cashflow: Cashflow, *Big Money (Atlanta Artist, 1986,*1988) Charles Earland: Earland's Jam (CBS, 1982) Eddie Murphy: So Happy (Columbia, 1989) George Howard: Personal (MCA, 1989) LA. Connection: Connection feat. Cameo (MCA, 1982) Mantra: Mantra (Casablanca, 1981) Miki Howard: Miki Howard (Atlantic, 1989) Reddings: If Looks Could Kill (Polydor, 1985) Tomi Jenkins: Tomi (Atlanta Artists, 1989) National Funk League✮✮ | |
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SoulAlive said: There is one Cameo album that I've never heard...their 1983 'Style' album.This is a mysterious album that came and went.In my area,the title track got a little airplay but I never heard anything else from this album.Is it any good? Anybody recommend this album? What are the standout tracks?
I recommend this album. I would rank it behind alligator woman,knights of the sound table, and cameosis. Very underrated album. The standout tracks were style, this life is not for me, you're a winner which was soulful and bluesy like you don't love me like you say from she's strange,heaven knows, and the elvis pressley remake can't help falling in love which was the second single from the album, and the funky opening track aphrodisiac. Funkateers should like that one. Cameo throws down on aphrodisiac. I would strongly recommend this album if anyone can find it. Due to it's obscurity, it won't be found on cd. That is why i will definitely hang on to my vinyl copy. Don't laugh at my funk
This funk is a serious joint | |
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funkpill said: murph said: Cameo...One of the few '70s acts that was able to make a brilliant transition into the '80s...Larry Blackmon doesn't get enough credit as a producer...Very underrated act...
He wrote and produce Bobby Brown's Girl Next Door LOL...Funny...But I was talking about as Cameo's producer and creative engine... | |
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vainandy said: I didn't buy the "Style" album, I only bought the 45. The very next thing I rememeber hearing on the radio afterwards was "You're Talking Out The Side Of Your Neck" (which I didn't care for so didn't even attempt to buy). I don't know if that one is on "Style" or "She's Strange". After the "Alligator Woman" album, I only bought Cameo 45s or 12 Inches of particular songs I like because Cameo's music seemed to be getting weaker. The next full album of their's that I bought was "Machismo". I loved "You Make Me Work" but didn't care much for the rest of the album. I also bought their 1990s albums "Emotional Violence" and "In The Face Of Funk". It was the 1990s then and singles were scarce....especially from a funk group. I had no choice but to buy the albums. . . [Edited 3/30/07 9:05am] Talkin out the side of your neck was from she's strange. Style album was very good. My favorite from machismo was skin i'm in and in the night with miles davis. Did not like you make me work. The next album was real men wear black which only had two good tracks close quarters and i want it now. When they came out with emotional violence i was like yeah the title track was real funky then i bought the cd and was disappointed and took it back. In the face of funk only had the good slave cover of slide. 2000's sweet sexy thing fared a little better with the funky track you make me crazy which they currently perform live. Like you said though albums and singles today are scarce from a funk band like cameo. [Edited 3/31/07 18:04pm] Don't laugh at my funk
This funk is a serious joint | |
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murph said: funkpill said: He wrote and produce Bobby Brown's Girl Next Door LOL...Funny...But I was talking about as Cameo's producer and creative engine... oh
he's a very talented person | |
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Classic! Are they coming to Minneapolis? That would be a fun show to see! | |
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Maybe I should replay the Cameo show I did last year...had an extensive interview with Tomi Jenkins as well...THEE baddest band live.....
http://www.emancipationra...isten.html I sooo love my job  Why You Jive Turkey You.... | |
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phunkdaddy said: I know for a fact larry blackmon had been complaining about the lack of commercial success after the single life album so maybe he and the record company had a lot to do with promoting the album to pop radio.
Even if word up had not received the commercial success it did i still think most fans would still agree the album was stale compared to earlier stuff. Even the single life album was not that great. Side one of that album was the shit. But side two of that album sucked hard. The reality is that outside of "Alligator Woman," most of Cameo's albums had no more than two or three good songs on an album. So I'm not quite getting the complaint about "Word Up!," which had three strong songs (something Cameo never boasted before or since on an album) -- the title track, "Candy" and "Back and Forth." I'm also not quite getting "the lack of commercial success" comment, because Cameo consistently had gold albums before "Word Up!" No, the group never had a pop hit before then, but I'm not seeing some of these comments about the act watering down its sound. THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! |
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SoulAlive said: There is one Cameo album that I've never heard...their 1983 'Style' album.This is a mysterious album that came and went.In my area,the title track got a little airplay but I never heard anything else from this album.Is it any good? Anybody recommend this album? What are the standout tracks?
"Style" was mostly a replay of the "Alligator Woman" album. The title track was the lead single (a top 20 R&B hit) that was a clone of "Be Yourself." The album also had Cameo making a cover of the Elvis Presley ballad, "Can't Help Falling in Love with You" and a jazz-influenced midtempo song "Aphrodisiac" (basically a a melodic chorus singing a la "Flirt" and in feel a precursor to the song "She's Strange." I personally don't feel you're missing anything here if you have never heard it. [Edited 4/1/07 20:10pm] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! |
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vainandy said: I didn't buy the "Style" album, I only bought the 45. The very next thing I rememeber hearing on the radio afterwards was "You're Talking Out The Side Of Your Neck" (which I didn't care for so didn't even attempt to buy). I don't know if that one is on "Style" or "She's Strange".
"Talking Out the Side of Your Neck" was the second single of the "She's Strange" album, which meant you missed the run of the title track (Cameo's first No. 1 single). THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! |
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phunkdaddy said: I wouldn't say we are hating on word up because it was commercially successful on the pop charts. It was just plastic funk. It was okay but overrated compared to their earlier stuff. Songs like keep it hot, shake your pants, soul army, be yourself,freaky dancing,style,i just wanna be were just funkier and raw. As for larry downsizing the band to obtain commercial success or whatever as someone earlier stated, ewf or kook & the gang obtained that same success without downsizing. The band was tighter before they downsized but still okay during their word up era.
Most of the songs you named were pre-"Alligator Woman" Cameo songs, save for "Style" and "Soul Army." By that time, Cameo had long ditched the brass-laden style of music it made with "I Just Want to Be," "Shake Your Pants" and "Keep It Hot." I can't see how "Word Up!" is "plastic" and songs like "Soul Army" and "Style" (which IMO are inferior to "Word Up!") are not. Larry Blackmon downsized Cameo because economically it didn't make sense to have a 13-member band when he could replicate the same concept with fewer members (not to mention it made financial sense). He kept the four members that contributed the most to the sound -- Nathan Leftenant, Tomi Jenkins (who reportedly also owned a piece of the Cameo name), relative newcomer Charlie Singleton and keyboardist Greg Johnson (who was dismissed after the "Alligator Woman" album). As for Earth, Wind & Fire and Kool & the Gang, both bands did downsize. When EWF reformed for its "System of Survival" album in 1987, founder Maurice White reduced the group to five members. Kool & the Gang downsized by its 1986 "Victory" album and in several videos before that were only showing a handful of members as its band. [Edited 4/1/07 20:04pm] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! |
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double post. [Edited 4/1/07 20:09pm] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! |
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and keyboardist Greg Johnson (who was dismissed after the "Alligator Woman" album).
Wondered what happen??? 
He was in the band since day one... | |
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funkpill said: "Wondered what happen???
He was in the band since day one..." I remember in a Cameo interview, Blackmon addressed dismissing Gregory Johnson because he said he had gotten to the point where he wasn't contributing anything musically to the group. THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! |
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SoulAlive said: FuNkeNsteiN said: reading books about the subject (Funk: The Music, The People and The Rhythm Of The One and Funk by Dave Thompson).
I have both of those books....a must-have if you're a funk fan
I think I stole this book from my high school libray about 2 years ago. PRINCE: Always and Forever
MICHAEL JACKSON: Always and Forever ----- Live Your Life How U Wanna Live It | |
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