Super Funky Miami 45 From Warren Thompson!

• Listen to this song on youtube: You Can’t Hinder Me
• Listen to these 45s in a Spotify playlist here with other 45s from the blog (though note, spotify doesn’t have all / many of the songs featured on the site so some playlists may be incomplete or feature slightly different versions than the original 45s I’m referring to here.
• Download the songs by clicking the titles above

One of the great joys and a major reason I love 45′s is they are, in some sense, meant to stand alone. Before the full length album became the standard bearer, the single was the way a song ventured off into the great expanse. Along with the artist and song title the record usually had the publishing information, rights holders, label name, sometimes the mailing address and year right there on the label.  These little nuggets were sent out into the world like beacons in the night signaling to listeners: here’s our music, hope you enjoy!

With the costs of production, art and recording (only need two songs!) so much lower the traditional barriers for access to market were greatly reduced and allowed for all kinds of unique, unpredictable and amazing music to make its way into communities, radio stations and regional juke boxes.  As such, when you’re out in the field digging for records you learn to identify the tell tale signs of something a little off on a 45, a record that maybe has something unique to offer.  Often these features can be subtle, scroll back at the blog and you’ll see lots of examples; a beloved producer, a crudely drawn label  logo, explicit black power messages or any number of details that catch the eye.

Other times, specifically when travelling abroad (Europe loves pictures sleeves!) as I was in the case of today’s 45 someone goes as far out of their way as possible to make you want to listen to a record.  The amazing illustration gives you 1.) SOUL EXPLOSION as a descriptor 2.) a drawing of an exquisitely dressed funkateer 3.) Identification that the record has that “Miami Sound” and to top it all off the A side is a Jimmy Hendrix cover.  

But today I want to talk about the B Side of this amazing 45.  Despite the almost goofy sounding intro the song is remarkably confident and funky with a sparse opening.  We’re treated to some great, slightly fuzzy lead guitar work and Warren’s vocals.  The ultra tight bridge with the back and forth guitar work makes my head spin and has been the subject of a million rewinds.

Originally released on the Blue Candle label out of Hialeah, FL (which is basically Miami) a funky subsidiary of Henry Stone and Steve Alaimo’s TK records there isn’t much I’ve been able to find in the way of production information other than it was produced by The Albert Brothers Ron and Howard.  The Blue Candle label had a lot of intermingling of talent with lots of TK studio musicians putting out records including Betty Wright’s touring band, ‘Snoopy’ Dean who played on a lot of the Gwen and George McCrae albums and members of KC’s Sunshine band.

Before this solo single Warren was the guitarist for The Kinfolk (who cover James Brown’s Mashed Potato Pop Corn and were covered on this blog. After Kinfolk Warren became the guitarist in the unofficial house band for TK’s releases. This grouping also put out some releases under the name Miami / The Notorious Miami Band including the Thompson penned “Kill That Roach” which led to his nickname henceforth, Roach.  Though we only have this solo 45 you can hear a lot of Thompson’s killer guitar work all over the amazing records coming out of South Florida around this time.

Until our next Musical Episode,

-George / Snack Attack

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