Funk Inc. - Hangin' Out / Superfunk (1973/1993)

Indianapolis band led by organist Bobby Watley (ex-Lonnie Smith group) and driven by his funky Jack McDuff-influenced playing. Discovered in March 1971, Funk Inc had sent Bob Porter a demo tape which languished in a pile of other until the producer finally got around to working his way through the whole batch. The band's tape grabbed him as soon as he heard the first notes and the rest, as they say, is history. A quintet, Funk Inc's constituent members were leader Bobby Watley on organ, Eugene Barr on tenor saxophone, Steve Weakley on guitar, Jimmy Munford on drums and Cecil Hunt on congas. Watley, the leader, worked originally as a drummer, with both Winston Walls and Lonnie Smith. He switched to organ in 1969 and was heavily influenced by Jack McDuff. Barr played his first professional gig with Little Milton and then went on to lead his own band prior to joining Funk Inc. Munford worked with artists of the calibre of Etta James, Jerry Butler and James Brown. Hunt had been with The Coasters as well as playing with local California bands. Weakley was one of the (then) new breed of guitarists whose debt owed as much to Jimi Hendrix as Kenny Burrell. These two albums - Hangin' Out and Superfunk - originally Prestige LPs 10059 and 10071 and released in 1973, join the band's two earlier titles, which Ace reissued towards the end of 1992, and are now available on one CD or (by special demand) on two vinyl LPs. Make these albums part of your share portfolio! Join the corporation! Be a part of Funk Inc.!.