The bald man with gray sideburns slumped in a T-shirt on the again of the album cowl appears bushed, and, sure, kinda outdated. He’s apparently asleep. However wait. Ain’t {that a} crown on his head? Isn’t there nonetheless some regal bearing on this mature chap, regardless of his state of consciousness? Higher take a look at the entrance, folks, as a result of then we’ll be watching his leather-based soles whereas he springs within the air, likely doing the Soar Again. He’s Rufus Thomas, “Crown Prince Of Dance,” and followers of soul are all his topics. He’s been doing this since earlier than there was soul music, earlier than there was rock’n’roll; possibly even earlier than anybody bothered to place an “R” in entrance of “B.”
Take heed to Crown Prince Of Dance proper now.
Working up a cool lather
Launched in 1973, Crown Prince Of Dance was Rufus’ sixth and closing album for the Stax label and his fifth album of the 70s. He was 53 on the time.
Is the album funky? Does low-cost Parmesan stink? 5 of the primary six cuts are whole funk, with Thomas’ hoarse tones telling you to “Git On Up And Do It” on a guitar-riff-driven rhythm just a little like Parliament circa 1967; introducing you to your newest, fairly mechanical dancing companion, the “Funky Robot”; and remodeling Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti” right into a effervescent groover.
“I Wanna Sang” has Rufus moaning that he needs to train his vocal cords fairly than dance – however he nonetheless works it into a cool lather. The thudding “Funkiest Man Alive” has a heavy really feel, and if the title declaration wears just a little skinny after the very best a part of eight minutes, it gave the people time to get down. “I’m Still In Love With You,” co-written with Sir Mack Rice (“Mustang Sally,” et al) might be a Stax tune from the traditional 60s soul period but it surely too stands on the One beat. And there’s “The Funky Bird,” a modest soul chart hit that pecks from the identical feeder as Rufus’ extra celebrated avian ditties “The Funky Penguin” and “Funky Chicken.”
Now cling on a minute there: Stax albums are supposed to embody some straight soul, ain’t they? Worry not, as a result of the Crown Prince Of Dance needed to relaxation these blistered ft each on occasion. So he brings us “Baby It’s Real,” a deliciously downbeat plea to be taken critically as a lover. It’s a clone of “Bring It On Home To Me,” which figures, because it’s written by Sam Cooke’s mentor, JW Alexander. “Steal A Little” is a “Dark End Of The Street”/”Steal Away”-styled story with regretful Rufus discovering love on the aspect irresistible and crucial, as a result of the identical is being executed to him. Although it was recorded with the Hello rhythm part fairly than Stax’s normal crew, that is no Al Inexperienced groove; it matches the remainder of the document completely. And there’s a New Orleans-styled lower of Barbara George’s R&B normal “I Know You Don’t Want Me No More,” which may have come from just about any interval in Rufus’ recording profession.
The groove was right here
OK, it’s not the form of funk Ohio Gamers would have set the charts alight with within the 70s and it definitely ain’t James Brown’s “The Payback.” That is grits and gravy, not a revolution of the thoughts. However all the identical, tracks from Crown Prince Of Dance had been sampled by the likes of Public Enemy, Large Daddy Kane, and Ghostface Killah, as a result of the groove was right here.
Whereas Rufus could have been extra an entertainer than a soldier, he nonetheless spoke of brothers and sisters’ struggles to seek out happiness, love, and a fair break – and did it with a smile that’s infectious. And don’t go pondering you’ll be able to sneak that crown proper off his head whereas he’s having his nap: he’s extra alert than you notice. Asleep? This soul sovereign is simply resting his peepers and people aching ft earlier than the “Funkiest Man Alive” tears up the stage yet again.
Crown Prince Of Dance will be purchased right here.
