Like a teenager with a new weird haircut, every so often I go through a new phase. Mine doesn’t centre around angst and rebellion though, I’m just talking food. Lately I’ve been all about Middle-Eastern flavours.  I find myself craving allspice and cinnamon every day,...

It’s spring, so what better time for a funky worm. Back in 1972, the Ohio Players put out this goofy two and a half minute tune, showing off both their sense of humour and sense of cool funk groove.   That soaring synth sound in the song has been sampled by hip hop artists many times...

Alexandra’s lunch.  A chicken club sandwich with fries.   I used the America’s Test Kitchen method for fries which basically involves placing the soaked-and-drained pototoes in cold oil, then bringing it up to temperature to brown.  This produces a fry that is comparable to a...

Wah wah. One of the great things about 70s funk was the fantastic, unapologetic use of the wah wah guitar.  Although it might seem a bit dated to that time, it still sends a chill up the spine of any proper funk fan. Here’s a great example of it from Bobby Marchan, a singer that was...

It’s Your Thing! You’ve heard the tune countless times on the radio and in TV commercials among other places but rest of The Isley Brothers catalog is well worth a look. The trio of brothers had a number of hits in the 60s and 70s with memorable tunes like “Shout!” and...