My Own Biggest Fan

The Month of New Music ended long ago, but listening to this album feels like a continuation of my futile exorcise in listening . I’m a big fan of Sly Stone, The Spinners, etc. — I like the funk. I’m probably an unlikely funk fan, considering how whitebread my upbringing was and also my nature in general. I’m pretty sure that anyone who hangs out with me for a moderate amount of time would consider me completely unfunky. (my good friends know just how unapologetically off my music tastes divert sometimes, into territory that many of them find embarassing)

I received this album from Mark Hamilton, main man in Woodpigeon. A man as unlikely as any to feel the funk. He was trimming his collection and he told me to take this album in particular. (considering he was giving away this album tells us that he probably isn’t a closet funkmeister) If there’s one thing I trust Mark on, it’s his musical advice. He recommends things that he thinks I’ll like, not the things he does. I’m grateful for this recommendation especially, this is at least as good as Sly and the Family Stone’s earlier albums like A Whole New Thing or Life. I’ve only listened to it once through, (¾ of the way as of writing this sentence) but I’m certain that on relistening there will be stand out tracks.

One song in particular grabbed me, “I Have Changed” and it’s one fun fricking funk anthem. Coincidentally it started just as I was considering what I was going to say before writing this paragraph. It’s the lone survivor of this album within the digital milieu because it was put on the compilation Super Cool California Soul 2. Hence, it’s singular availability. Something else I learned while researching this post, HP Riot has auspicious beginnings that speak to me directly. Here’s an excerpt from the informative blog post found here.

Despite several attempts to uncover details about the band and the recording session, this LP remains one of the most mysterious in my entire collection. The band (known as H.P. Riot) was named after its San Francisco home neighbourhood that was marred by race riots in 1966. The band has often been confused as being Canadian because they spent much of their time touring western Canada. Concept Records was based in Regina, Saskatchewan – not exactly a funk music hotbed. It almost appears like this band signed a record deal while on tour.

I’m originally from Regina and the fact that a funk band from San Francisco, a REALLY good funk band, could come out to western Canada and feel at home (one member even stayed in Edmonton after playing in H.P. Riot) says something to me. What that is, I’ve no idea, but it borders curiosity, pride and amusement. Anyway, go over to The Basement Rug and download the album if you are so inclined. If you at all like Sly Stone, James Brown, The Spinners, even early Stevie Wonder, you’ll probably enjoy H.P. Riot.