Boogie Friday

The swinging, slamming, percussive funk music called Go-Go came out of Washington DC in the late 70s and early 80s. Go-Go was basically a throwback to early 70s funk style with big groups playing long, jamming party grooves, but with more horns and lots and lots of percussion (very heavy on the cowbell). The father of Go-Go was Chuck Brown but Trouble Funk were the heavy hitters of the scene and the ones tipped to break out to wider success, they were the first Go-Go act to release a record outside of DC when their debut album "Drop The Bomb" came out on the Sugarhill label in 1982. But though it emerged at the same time as Hip-Hop and came from the same block party culture Go-Go never made the same commercial breakthrough, probably because this sort of loose and raw funk works better in a live or club setting than on Top 40 radio.

"Let's Get Small" is one of Trouble Funk's earlier singles released on the Washington DETT label and shows off all that was great about the band and Go-Go in general: a dynamic and punchy funk workout with big beats and shouty call-and-response vocals. If this doesn't get you moving nothing will. I have no idea what getting small involves but count me in whatever it is.

I took this from the brilliant compilation album "Go-Go Crankin" which came out in England in 1985 and did a lot to spread the Go-Go gospel in that country (and had a fantastic sleeve as you can see above). Sadly it's not in print anymore but the more recent "Meet Me At The Go-Go" fills that hole nicely. If you want some more Trouble Funk (and you do) grab a copy of Droppin' Bombs: The Definitive Trouble Funk when you can.

[Download]
Let's Get Small - Trouble Funk