Instant Funk

Instant Funk was a nine-piece funk unit discovered by Bunny Sigler. The members included Raymond Earl (bass), Kim Miller (guitar), Scotty Miller (drums), Dennis Richardson (piano), James Carmichael (lead and background vocals), Larry Davis (trumpet), Johnny Onderlinde (tenor and alto saxes), Eric Huff (trombone), and George Bell (guitar). The Trenton, NJ, natives created a stir locally as "the T.N.J.'s". Fireworks exploded when Salsoul released "I Got My Mind Made Up." Swirling, screaming horns announce the chorus; hand claps, tambourines and a maniacal rhythm guitar battle the heavy bottom; a woman delivers erotic lines for added impact. Salsoul followed the number 20 pop and number one (for three weeks) R&B hit with "Crying," a race horse whose relentless beat only subsides near the fade; Carmichael's vocal is passionate, almost deranged. "Never Let Me Go Away," a rare Instant Funk ballad, was so overblown, the melody got buried. Spooky voices and haunted house sounds wallpaper "Dark Vader"'s comic book lyrics and funky hooks. Rolling horns pump "I'll Be Doggone" (not the Marvin Gaye hit), a cooker that rolls for seven minutes. Four of the eight tracks are killers; the other four should have been killed. [The 1993 reissue adds a remix and a different version of "I Got My Mind Made Up."] ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide