Buy FUNKY THING PTS 1 & 2 by LARRY ELLIS & THE BLACK HAMMER on FUNK 45 for £4.99 at Scenario Records

This recording came about by accident. Larry Ellis and his Black Hammer band were in their clapped-out van on their way to the recording studio in upstate New York. The van broke down on the way and cost them a few hours, but they managed to limp their way to the studio before it closed. They’d booked a long session, but by the time they got there, there was only 30 minutes left to record! Larry plugged in his B3 and the guys set to work. They launched into ‘Funky Thing’, their regular warm-up tune, but no sooner had they finished than the studio engineer called it a day… luckily he had the tapes rolling, and this record is the result! But really, this record is no warm-up. It’s hotter than jalapeno peppers fried in jalapeno oil in Death Valley on a summers’ day on Pam Grier’s ass. Warm up your dance floor and watch the dancers sweat – play Larry Ellis!