Funky Yo Yo

One of the most obscure albums Don Covay cut, Funky Yo Yo slipped out in 1977 on the tiny Versatile label, with such little notice that it's even escaped getting listed in some discographies. It's a strange record, too, with production so sparse (and some dull muffle to the sound fidelity, though it's not a serious impediment) that one suspects these might be demos, or perhaps not even 1977 recordings. Yet, in a way, that very rootsy and stripped-down feel makes it appealing, particularly as it was appearing at a time when many fellow soul greats of Covay's generation were issuing bloated, hopeless attempts to jump on the disco bandwagon. Far from emulating Barry White, Covay sounds rather like Van Morrison on much of this material, though the similarity's probably coincidental. Particularly on the more bare-bones arrangements, these actually have a cool intimate feel, as if they're songwriter demos intended for pitches to '60s Atlantic recording artists. Indeed, "I Don't Think I Can Make It" is very much like hearing Van Morrison trying to write/sing a song in the style of Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman." To stretch the Morrison comparisons further, "Your Love Has Got to Me" comes off like the ultimate cross between Morrison and Sam Cooke. Covay's one concession, perhaps, to more modern trends was the two-part "Yo Yo," which has a funky party feel, complete with encouraging female shouts in the background. While it's true you'd never place this album among Covay's most essential work, overall it's far better than you'd expect, and worth seeking if you're a serious fan of the singer. The 2006 CD reissue on RPM adds historical liner notes and five bonus tracks, all of which originally appeared on the 1971 album Different Strokes for Different Folks. All five of those cuts have a far more produced (though not over-produced), more conventional early-'70s soul feel, with some rolling funky blues and singer/songwriter influences as well. If you're collecting Covay on CD, note that all of the other material from Different Strokes for Different Folks was used as bonus tracks on RPM's CD reissue of another album by the singer, Super Dude. ~ Richie Unterberger|