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Following the
release of 1968's "With Their New Faces On" the band underwent
another personnel shuffle with keyboardist Hardin and drummer York tendering
their resignations in order to form the cleverly named Hardin and York (see
separate entry). Bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson were
quickly recruited as replacements.
Spencer and the
new line up quickly returned to the studio to record a new set with former
Van Morrison associate Lou Merrenstein producing. Interestingly, with
Fenwick handled lead vocals, provided lead guitar and penning all ten
selections, 1969's "Funky"
could have easily been a Fenwick solo effort. Musically the LP marked
another changed in direction. Long gone were the band's original
R&B roots, or it's latter stage stabs at British psychedelia. In
it's place Fenwick and company offered up a competent, if largely
undistinguished set that bounced between country-rock ("I Met a
Woman" and "I Guess I'm
Wasting My Timer") and more conventional AOR ("Letters
from Edit" and the bluesy "Poor Misguided
Woman"). Fenwick had a decent voice and most
of the ten tracks were at least mildly catchy, though with the possible
exception of the poppy "Magical
Day", nothing here is
overwhelming. Citing the dreaded 'unspecified contractual reasons'
excuse the LP was promptly shelved. In 1971 Date Records released the
set in the States, but it was quickly withdrawn, making copies extremely
rare.
"Funky"
track listing:
(side
1)
1.) I Met a
Woman (Ray Fenwick) - 2:54
2.) Letters from
Edith (Ray Fenwick) - 3:31
3.) Raintree
River (Ray Fenwick) - 3:52
4.) What a Way To
Die (Ray Fenwick) - 3:00
5.)
Funky (instrumental) (Ray Fenwick) - 6:50
(side
2)
1.) Magical
Day (Ray Fenwick) - 3:25
2.) I Guess I'm
Wasting My Time (Ray Fenwick) - 2:17
3.) Poor Misguided
Woman (Ray Fenwick) - 5:35
4.) And the Gods
Came Down (Ray Fenwick) - 6:57
5.) New Jersey
Turnpike (Ray Fenwick) - 3:18
Shortly after the set was
released Davis called it quits, embarking on a brief solo
career.
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