Funky Funny Four, studio band in 1971

 

The Funky Funny Four, was a rock studio-band formed randomly in the first semester of 1971, to record this album of mostly covers of US hits. It was a project of formerly independent label Young, which now belonged to Fermata do Brasil, called 'The Funky Funny Four play & sing 16 World's Top Hits, for your dance party', USLP 6260.

The sessions for this album were recorded at the Philips studio in São Paulo, at a time when there were enough Brazilian musicians who grew up learning English and playing rock'n'roll. 

Suely Chagas, who were part of O'Seis in 1965, which eventually morphed into progressive rock Os Mutantes in 1966, and 2 years later had a minor hit with 'Que bacana', which won the First Festival Universitario held by TV Tupi in 1968, tells how the whole business started. Even though Suely won the College Festival accompanied by her band, when it came to record 'Que bacana' for Philips she was accompanied by Os Kantikus. 

Suely tells us that 3 years later, in early 1971, she was approached by Liminha (Arnolpho Lima Filho, former Mutantes bass-player) who told her Philips wanted to record an album of recent US hits covers and he was forming a band and producing the record himself. The band remained nameless up to the release date when someone made sure to include  the word 'funk' or 'funky' to cash in on Rio de Janeiro's latest craze which was the proliferation of dancing venues which supposedly played 'funk music' to its patrons. I think the word 'funny' has been misplaced here; the band should have been named the Funky Four; it makes more sense.

Here is the line-up of the Funky Funny Four, besides Suely & Liminha: Lanny Gordin (virtuoso guitarrist who was the darling of stars who wanted to have a rock-sound in their recordings), Dinho Leme (drums, played with Mutantes too), Pedrinho (singer for a band called Codigo 90), Rafael Vilardi, Roberto Loyola, Regis Moreira (piano),Tobéu ; Fernanda, Lineu & Tomás were background singers.   

Most songs were hits in the USA in the previous 12 months (1970-1971). Some are European hits which never entered the Billboard charts. Here are the songs covered by them:

'It don't come easy' (Ringo Starr); 'Here comes that rainy day feeling again' (Fortunes); 'Pickin' up sticks' (not charted on Billboard); 'Put your hand in the hand' (Ocean); 'Sweet Mary' (Wadworth Mansion); 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep' (Middle of the road); 'Rosianna' (Manhattan Transfer); 'Country Sam' (Christie); 'Where are we going?' (Sir Lord Baltimore); 'Never can say goodbye' (Jackson Five); 'Lotti, Lotti' (Blizzard); 'Jodie' (Canadian); 'Sweet and inocent' (Donny Osmond) / 'All you'll ever get from me' (1969 tune by British band The Sweet); 'Cathy, I love you' (Napoleon); 'Treat her like a lady' (Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose); 'What is life?' (George Harrison); 'When you see Jerusalem'. 

Pickin' up sticks - Kasnat & Katz Fighter Squadron (AZ)

Where are we going? Sir Lord Baltimore (a Brooklyn, NY band)

Jodie - Joey Gregorash (Canadian act)

Cathy, I love you - Napoleon's real name: Herbert Clarence Victor Wong;  born in British Guiana; settled in Brazil in the 1950s as a member of the "Calypso Steel Band";

'When you see Jerusalem' (?)

Lanny Gordin (centre) with Paulo Miklos (right). 

clockwise from the left-back: Arnaldo Baptista, Rita Lee, Mogy, ?, Sergio Baptista &.

Suely & the Kanticus in 1968; Lanny Gordin played the guitar and Raphael Villard the...