English singer-songwriter Joss Stone transformed the White Stripes’ garage-rock classic “Fell In Love With a Girl” into a sensual, soul-drenched funk burner on this amazing 2004 cover. The then 16-year-old artist switched the genders in the title and brought her own unique flavor to this anthem of youthful infatuation, desire, and romance. She infuses her vocals with tons of sultry soul and attitude. And she’s backed by acclaimed hip-hop/neo-soul band the Roots. Questlove anchors the groove with a powerful beat, and Adam Blackstone delivers a wickedly funky bass line. His bass is hooked up to a MoogerFooger Bass MuRF pedal, giving it a slippery, seductive feel. And guitarist “Captain” Kirk Douglas accentuates the groove with some tasty licks. This track proved a perfect fit for Stone’s soulful vocal style, and it was a great way to introduce the talented young singer to the world.
“Fell In Love With a Boy” was the lead single from Stone’s multi-platinum debut album TheSoul Sessions, released September 16, 2003, on S-Curve Records. The song was produced by Questlove, Betty Wright, Michael Mangini, and Steve Greenberg. It was released in the U.S. on January 12, 2004, and in the UK on January 26, 2004. It debuted and peaked at #18 on the UK Singles Chart. It also saw significant chart action in New Zealand (#23), the Netherlands (#2), Italy (#36), Scotland (#18), and Belgium (#16).
The single received mainly high marks from music critics who praised its authentic retro soul and funk production and Stone’s strong vocal performance. The song’s writer, Jack White, gave it his glowing stamp of approval. “He told me he loved it and that when he plays it live, he plays my version rather than his own!” said Stone in a 2007 interview with Q magazine. “How’s that for approval! Cool bloke, Jack White!”
Following the release of The Soul Confessions, Stone’s star steadily continued to rise. Her second album, Mind Body & Soul (released September 15, 2004), also went multi-platinum, receiving love from fans and critics. Most of her subsequent albums have been well-received by both the public and critics. She has established herself as a significant voice in classic soul and R&B music, garnering numerous accolades and awards for her work, including a Grammy and two Brit Awards. The artist has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide and has performed alongside esteemed music legends such as James Brown, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Sting, and Van Morrison. Her dynamic sound encompasses soul, reggae, R&B, funk, pop, blues, and world music.
Stone’s 2026 “Less Is More” tour kicks off on February 3 at the historic Balboa Theatre in San Diego, California. For more tour info, visit her official site.
"Joss Stone" performing "Fell In Love With a Boy" on the series VH1 Divas 2004
Renowned singer-songwriter Edwin Starr expresses his love for funk music on the explosive 1971 single “Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On.” This release was particularly timely, as funk truly came into its own in the 1970s, becoming an integral part of popular music and laying the groundwork for genres such as disco, hip-hop, go-go, and electronic dance music, among many others. In the mid-1960s, funk innovator James Brown ignited the spark that would become a full-blown conflagration by the time the ‘70s rolled around.
This exhilarating groove anthem celebrates funk as a powerful and liberating mode of expression. Starr sings about how funk resonates with him on a spiritual and physical level, moving both his soul and body. He infuses his soul-stirring vocal performance with fire and conviction. Legendary Motown session band, the Funk Brothers, keep the funk at maximum level with their supertight playing. The track features an earth-shaking beat, nasty rhythm guitar licks, a furious bass line, and soulful piano. And it also boasts a mighty chorus and some wicked harmonica.
“Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On” was written by the famed songwriting/production team of Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield. It was released on Gordy Records, a primary subsidiary of Motown, in 1971. It peaked at #6 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart and #64 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was included on Starr's fifth studio album Involved (1971), which was produced by Whitfield.
The track was sampled on two Public Enemy songs, “You Can’t Truss It” (1991) and “War at 33⅓” (1990).” And musician and hip-hop emcee Justin Warfield sampled it on his 1993 song “K Sera Sera.” It has been covered by prominent music artists such as Patti LaBelle and the Temptations.
Starr's “Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On” was featured in an episode of the acclaimed Emmy-winning medical procedural drama The Pitt (season 1, episode 1, originally aired January 9, 2025, on HBO Max). It was also featured on the soundtracks of the films Nobody (2021) and Day Shift (2022).
Starr enjoyed a highly successful recording career during the 1960s and '70s, landing several hits on the R&B and pop charts, including “Twenty-Five Miles” and "Agent Double-O-Soul." He is best known for his iconic rendition of the blistering anti-war protest anthem “War,” released in June 1970. He was posthumously inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2017. His recording of “War” earned him a Grammy nomination in 1971 for Best R&B Male Vocal Performance, and the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
Bassist, singer, songwriter, and producer Tyrone Brunson landed his biggest hit with the seminal electro-funk track “The Smurf,” released in late 1982. This electrifying instrumental had a significant impact on funk, hip-hop, and electronic music. It’s widely recognized for bridging traditional funk with emerging electronic sounds of the 1980s, such as LinnDrums and synthesizers. The track was pivotal in the evolution of electro-funk, which defined the sound of early ‘80s hip-hop, as well as laying the groundwork for other dance music genres, such as techno, house, and go-go.
The synth-heavy groove has a funky, mechanized feel with percolating drum-machine beats and powerful synth stabs. Brunson brings his formidable bass skills to the mix with some supertight thumpin’ and pluckin’, significantly heightening the song's groove factor. It became a defining track of that period's street dance culture and a favorite among breakdancers and pop lockers, evolving into a full-fledged hip-hop anthem. Club DJs began spinning it regularly, and it even found its way across the pond into UK clubs.
“The Smurf” was named after a dance craze that was blowing up in NYC clubs in the early 1980s. Brunson’s hit further popularized the dance, causing it to quickly spread across the U.S. and abroad. The dance got its name from its resemblance to the arm movements of the little blue Smurf characters from the famous Belgian comic and cartoon series.
“The Smurf” was written by singer, guitarist, and songwriter Otis Redding III, son of soul legend Otis Redding. It was the lead single from Brunson's debut album Sticky Situation (1983). The song peaked at #14 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart and #35 on Billboard’s Dance Club chart. And it rose to #52 on the UK singles chart, remaining on the chart for five weeks. Brunson produced Sticky Situation, and Russell Timmons Jr. is listed as the album’s executive producer.
“The Smurf” has been sampled on 24 songs, including 2 Live Crew’s 1989 track “Dirty Nursery Rhymes.” And it’s featured on the soundtrack of the highly popular 2002 action-adventure video game “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.”
Here’s the full personnel for “The Smurf”: Tyrone Brunson (bass), Louis Oxley (synthesizer), and Bashiri Johnson (percussion).
Here's a cool clip from the 1984 film Beat Street set to "The Smurf." (The actual song played in the film sequence was "Beat Street Strut" by Juicy.)
In the mid-1970s, Hadley Murrell, a veteran DJ and producer, established HDM Records, a Los Angeles-based imprint specializing in soul, R&B, and disco music. Amherst Records initially distributed HDM before the label switched to TK Productions. Under HDM, Murrell assembled a roster of talented songwriters and performers. One of HDM’s most notable acts was Black Ice, a five-member LA-bred R&B/soul outfit. The vocal quintet released two albums on the label: Black Ice (1977) and I Judge The Funk (1979). They released their third and final album, Black Ice (1982), on Montage Records. Murrell produced all three of Black Ice's albums.
Singer Cleveland Jones formed Black Ice in the 1960s with his friends, brothers Ronald and Donald Haynes, in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. The group was originally called the Soul Sonics. (Murrell had the group change their name to Black Ice after they signed to HDM Records in 1976.) They modeled themselves after legendary vocal groups like the Temptations, who were known for their rich, soulful harmonies and smooth, synchronized choreography. When Ronald and Donald went off to college, Cleveland held numerous auditions to recruit new group members. This resulted in Antone Curtis, Frank Willis, Gerald Bell, and Ralph Lars joining the group. This was the group lineup for their first and second album.
Black Ice’s second album, IJudge The Funk, is an impressive collection of funk, disco, and R&B tracks. Murrell brought in some of the best session musicians available to play on the album, and Ray Jackson handled all the song arrangements. An album highlight is the infectious title track. The funky feel-good groove features a bumpin’ bass line, wicked synths, soulful vocals, and a smooth piano riff. Another standout track is “Play More Latin Music,” a fantastic high-energy fusion of soul, Latin, and funk designed to heat up any dance floor. And it boasts a marvelous vocal arrangement that’s flawlessly performed by the group. The collection also features great mellow jams, such as the soothing and sumptuous “Postcard Love Affair.” The track is exquisitely arranged, and the vocals are silky smooth. Another powerful track from the collection is the majestic “You’re Always On My Mind,” which features a sensational falsetto-laced lead vocal performance. “My Fantasy” is a captivating disco cut, boasting an elegant string arrangement, tight horns, and superb bass work. The track also features a dynamic beat that’s accentuated by hot congas, and the vocals are top-flight. “Push” is a lively, irresistible groove that has a kickin’ bass line, dope guitar licks, and a cool horn arrangement. The group mellows things out again for the mesmerizing ballad "Fantasize," which features incredible vocals.
Dwight Emile, Eddie Horan, and Hadley Murrell wrote seven of the album's eight tracks. All five Black Ice members, along with the album’s assistant engineer Ronald Bell, wrote “Fantasize.”
I Judge The Funk failed to crack Billboard’s album charts, and none of its singles charted. However, it’s considered a great work in funk and soul music circles. The collection showcases the group's inspired blend of funk, Philly soul, Latin, disco, and R&B, and it has been a go-to source for many music acts that followed. And it’s also highly regarded among fans of the golden era of soul and R&B music of the 1960s and '70s.
Acclaimed R&B artist Ari Lennox sampled “Postcard Love Affair” for her 2018 single “Pedigree,” and modern funk band Calumet recorded a great cover of “I Judge The Funk” in 2021.
To learn more about this super-talented but sorely underappreciated group, check out the 2022 documentary Behind The Groove: The Black Ice Documentary, currently streaming on Tubi. It provides a comprehensive and absorbing exploration of Black Ice and its history.
