Search - Con Funk Shun :: Loveshine / Candy

A MUST HAVE FOR FANS OF CON FUNK SHUN

Bambi Shangri-La | Phoenix, AZ USA | 05/27/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As the widow of Louis A. McCall, Con Funk Shun's founder and drummer, as well as having being either production assistant, project coodinator and/or songwriter on both of these albums, please allow me to give a professionally objective review about their work. These CDs are a good pairing of the third and fourth of the 11 albums recorded while under contract with Mercury Records, since neither of these two works is strong enough to stand on their own. Grammy award winner Clarence "Skip" Scarborough (Earth Wind & Fire, L.T.D., Bill Withers, Patti LaBelle, Emotions, Anita Baker) produced all of the group's RIAA-certified gold albums ("Secrets", "Loveshine", "Candy" and "Spirit of Love"). Frankly, "Loveshine" is the better of the set, balancing out the weaker "Candy", which was co-produced by Con Funk Shun, a critical flaw in the group's artistic direction, as they had not developed the skills to oversee their own projects at that point. (Their first effort at total production control on their 6th Mercury album, "Touch", really showed their inexperience to the extent that the record label insisted they bring Skip back for their seventh album "7" which, unfortunately for them, was the group's last collaboration with him.) On "Loveshine" the standout cuts are the dance tune "Shake & Dance With Me", the moderate "So Easy" and the ballad "Make It Last" (I don't even care for my own song "I Think I Found The Answer", my first ever attempt at songwriting). The "Candy" LP's best offering is "Chase Me", which can be heard on feature films "Gone In 60 Second" and "Next Friday", and "Let Me Put Love On Your Mind", both showcasing the group's lead vocalists' very different talents. Michael Cooper's was the master of the band's funk/dance tunes while Felton Pilate handled the ballads with his mellow falsetto. Put that together with the tight rhythm section (Cedric Martin on bass, Danny Thomas on keyboards, Louis McCall on drums, Cooper on lead guitar) and the hot brass sound of the horns (Karl Fuller-trumpet, Paul Harrell on sax and flute, Pilate on trombone) with all the guys providing well-harmonized background vocals, and you have the perfect combination for funky dance tunes and romantic love ballads. I look forward to other releases of the group's albums on CD.



From the bottom of our hearts, we thank everyone here for their continued support of Con Funk Shun."

THE BOMB IT'S ABOUT TIME

DOUG-F.P.V.-BPT | 03/16/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"IT IS ABOUT TIME I HAVE ALL THE CONFUNSHUN LPS ITS JUST GOOD TO HAVE THE CDS I CANT WAIT UNTIL MY ORDER ARRIVES THEY NEED TO PUT ALL THE 70'S GROUPS TOGETHER SO WE CAN ALL ENJOY THEM,LIKE SUN,MASS PRODUCTION,PLEASURE,OZONE,VOLTAGE BROTHERS OHIO PLAYERS HEATWAVE SLAVE, BRASS CONSTRUCTION,FAZE-O,OSIRIS.ETC. YOU GUYS NO WHAT I MEAN. THATS WHEN MUSIC WAS MUSIC."

Kings of Funk

musicfanatic 2 | Markham, IL USA | 04/07/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These 2 albums - Loveshine and Candy have moved to the #1 spot on my IPod. I remember having these on LP's. Michael Cooper and the crew throwing down! I miss the funk bands of the 70's, but can relive hearing them whenever I want."