Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Professor, What's Another Word For "Pirate Treasure"?

Willie Henderson - Loose Booty

Willie Henderson was a producer/arranger/conductor for the Chicago soul powerhouse Brunswick/Dakar in the late '60s and early '70s, producing Tyrone Davis' first hits and working on many other songs for other artists. On a few occasions, Henderson and the Brunswick house band recorded funky instrumentals and novelties, hitting the R&B charts initially with 1970's "Funky Chicken." He recorded two albums for Brunswick, "Funky Chicken" (under the name "Willie Henderson and The Soul Explosions") and 1974's "The Dance Master." The latter album had several tasty tracks, including the title track (of which I am not sure if it is the same tune that would be a hit for Henderson on the Playboy label) and today's selection.

Henderson was no great singer, to be sure, but on "Loose Booty" the good-time dance lyrics are met with his enthusiastic singing and some very good chick chorus work. Any deficiencies in the vocals are overcome by the song's great chugging groove. The Beastie Boys made use of the humorous intro, the beginning of which is the subject line of this post.

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