Instant Funk, the nine-piece funk unit discovered by
Bunny Sigler, created a stir in 1979 when
Salsoul released the single
"I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)." Swirling, screaming horns announce the chorus; hand claps, tambourines and a maniacal rhythm guitar battle the heavy bottom; and a woman delivers erotic lines for added impact.
Salsoul followed the number 20 pop and number one R&B (for three weeks) 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; a pretty good average for a disco/funk group. ~ Andrew Hamilton
