The sexy, soulful Brides of Funkenstein blow up the stage with a killer performance of their song "Birdie" from a 1979 concert in Houston. I was jazzed to find this clip of the original Brides (Lynn Mabry and Dawn Silva) performing live, especially on such a great track. In their concerts, the duo proved that they were the real deal and not some studio creation who couldn't cut it live. Their vocals sound just as powerful as they did on the original recording of the song. The band is also on-point, keeping things nice and funky. P-Funk guitarist DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight delivers a blistering solo, and Rodney "Skeet" Curtis lays down some super-funky bass thumpin'. Also, Dennis Chambers displays his superb drumming skills here, and the horns are holdin' it down.
It's fortunate that this great live performance of the original Brides was recorded, because the musical partnership of Mabry and Silva would soon come to an abrupt end when Mabry left the group that same year. Upon Mabry's depature, the Brides were quickly reformed, with new members Sheila Horne and Jeanette McGruder joining Silva to make it a trio. The two were previously P-Funk backup singers, the Bridesmaids. They were solid replacements, but it just wasn't the same without Mabry. Silva and Mabry made an amazing vocal duo. Their strong, distinctive voices meshed so well together. The reformed Brides released Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy in November of '79. The album was well-received by fans and critics alike.
It's fortunate that this great live performance of the original Brides was recorded, because the musical partnership of Mabry and Silva would soon come to an abrupt end when Mabry left the group that same year. Upon Mabry's depature, the Brides were quickly reformed, with new members Sheila Horne and Jeanette McGruder joining Silva to make it a trio. The two were previously P-Funk backup singers, the Bridesmaids. They were solid replacements, but it just wasn't the same without Mabry. Silva and Mabry made an amazing vocal duo. Their strong, distinctive voices meshed so well together. The reformed Brides released Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy in November of '79. The album was well-received by fans and critics alike.
"Birdie" is another great track from the Brides of Funkenstein's excellent debut album Funk or Walk (1978), a pretty underrated album in my view. The song was written by George Clinton, Garry "Starchild" Shider and Rodney "Skeet" Curtis.
They took the clip of the Brides performing "Birdie" live down at Youtube, but fortunately someone else recently uploaded the entire concert. If you just want to check out the "Birdie" segment, it begins at 7:53 and ends at 14:17.
Related blog entry: "Disco To Go" By The Brides of Funkenstein: Jumbo-Sized Funk
Purchase Funk Or Walk CD at Amazon
They took the clip of the Brides performing "Birdie" live down at Youtube, but fortunately someone else recently uploaded the entire concert. If you just want to check out the "Birdie" segment, it begins at 7:53 and ends at 14:17.
Related blog entry: "Disco To Go" By The Brides of Funkenstein: Jumbo-Sized Funk
Purchase Funk Or Walk CD at Amazon
No comments:
Post a Comment