Maceo Parker (born February 14, 1943) – Soul Power '74 (1974)
From Parker's 1974 solo LP, this funk anthem featuring Fred Wesley and Bootsy Collins was actually recorded in 1971 and one of the first songs to sample MLK's speeches.
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The great saxophonist Maceo Parker is a living a funk legend who today celebrates his 80th birthday. He has played with James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Prince, appeared on countless records as a sideman with other artists, and enjoyed a long solo career.
Born in the small town of Kinston, North Carolina, Parker grew up in a musical family. He and his brother Melvin, who played drums, joined James Brown's band in 1964. Brown later claimed that he initially only wanted Melvin to come on board as his drummer, but agreed to take Maceo too. They played with Brown on most of his famous 60s hits, which prominently featured Maceo’s sax solos, including “I Got You (I Feel Good)” (1965), “Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud” (1969), and “Get Up I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine” (1970).
In 1970, Maceo and Melvin along with several of the other original J.B.’s left Brown’s band. The two brothers toured as Maceo & All the King's Men and released two albums on small labels. During this period, Parker wrote the very funky “The Better Half” (1972) for Funk, Inc., released on their Chicken Lickin’ LP. He re-joined Brown in 1973, and played on more of his classic albums including The Payback (1973).
In 1973, billed as leader of Maceo & The Macks, Parker released the single “Parrty – Part I" on Brown’s People Records label. Written, arranged, and produced by Brown, the song made it to #71 on the Billboard Hot 100. The following year, another single from Maceo & The Macks came out on People.
The blistering funk anthem “Soul Power ‘74” had actually been recorded in 1971, but remained unreleased for three years.
It contained an excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.’s final speech, delivered on April 3, 1968, the night before he was assassinated in Memphis, and was one of the first notable tracks to sample MLK in this way.
Both singles were included on Maceo’s first true solo album, Us, released later in 1974. Personnel included Parker on alto sax and vocals, Fred Wesley on trombone, William “Bootsy” Collins on bass, Phelps “Catfish” Collins and Bobby Roach on guitars, Bobby Byrd on organ, Clayton “Chicken” Gunnels and Darryl “Hasaan” Jamison on trumpets, John "Jabo" Starks on drums, Johnny Griggs on congas, and Bob Both on percussion and vocals.
In 1988, Parker and his band recorded this high-energy, live performance of “Soul Power ‘74” for a music show on Italian television.
Happy 80th Birthday to Maceo!
#funk #soul #JamesBrown #FredWesley #BootsyCollins #MaceoParker