Instant Funk started life as Bunny Sigler’s backup band, who recommended them to Philadelphia International; they recorded one album for the label ‘Get Down With The Philly Jump’, which is a rarity on CD.

The band then made a quick but smart move to Salsoul Records where they instantly delivered their #1 R&B Single and Anthem ‘I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)’ which topped the chart for three weeks.

If you missed out on Instant Funk the first time around and loved the music from that era, then this package is for you; 65 funk-fueled dance tracks, that bring the disco era of the late ’70s and early ’80s vividly back to life.

This incredible 5CD box set of the complete album releases by soul, funk and disco band Instant Funk includes bonus tracks of 12” and 7” versions of key repertoires along with the albums ‘Get Down With The Philly Jump’, ‘Instant Funk’, ‘Witch Doctor’, ‘The Funk Is On’, ‘Looks So Fine’, ‘V’ and ‘Kinky’.

Featuring all of the big floor fillers including ‘I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)’, ‘It Ain’t Reggae (But It’s Funky)’, ‘Philly Jump’, ‘Witch Doctor’, ‘No Stoppin’ That Rockin’’, ‘Bodyshine’ plus many, many more it also comes with comprehensive sleeve notes by Charles Waring who writes for MOJO and Record Collector magazines.

CD 1: Get Down With The Philly Jump
1. It Ain’t Reggae (But It’s Funky)
2. The Mack Is Back
3. Philly Jump
4. Give Me Your Love
5. I Know Where You’re Coming From
6. Hup Two, Hup Two (Get in Line, Say Get in Line)
7. So Glad I’m the One
8. Funky Africa
9. We Can Work It Out
10. Go for Yourself
11. Float Like a Butterfly, Part I [Bonus Track]
12. Float Like a Butterfly, Part II [Bonus Track]
13. It Ain’t Reggae (But It’s Funky) – 7″ Version [Bonus Track]

When Instant Funk’s debut album, Get Down With the Philly Jump, came out in 1976, those who heard the LP agreed that the Philadelphian’s had a very recognizable and distinctive sound. In truth, Instant Funk had one foot in the sophisticated Philly soul/disco sound and the other in the gritty, down-and-dirty funk of pre-J.T. Taylor Kool & the Gang - put those things together, and you have a group that was certainly unique and risk-taking.

Although Bunny Sigler produced Get Down with the Philly Jump at Philly’s famous Sigma Sound Studios, this LP isn’t as strong as Instant Funk’s subsequent releases would be. So yeah, the album is uneven, nonetheless, the material is generally decent; one can hear Instant Funk’s potential on infectious tracks like I Know Where You’re Coming From, Hup Two, Hup Two (Get in Line, Say Get in Line) and the titular Philly Jump.

CD 2: Instant Funk
1. I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl) 2. Crying
3. Never Let It Go Away
4. Don’t You Wanna Party
5. Wide World Of Sports
6. Dark Vader
7. You Say You Want Me To Stay
8. I’ll Be Doggone
9. I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl) (7″ Version) [Bonus Track]
10. Crying (7″ Version) [Bonus Track]
11. I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl) (Special 12″ Disco Version) [Bonus Track]

Instant Funk then 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 and spooky voices and haunted-house sounds wallpaper Dark Vader’s comic-book lyrics and funky hooks.

CD 3: Witch Doctor
1. Slap, Slap, Lickedy Lap
2. Witch Doctor
3. I Had A Dream
4. Bodyshine
5. It’s Your Love On My Mind
6. I Want To Love You
7. Scream And Shout
8. Slap, Slap, Lickedy Lap (7″ Version) [Bonus Track]
9. Witch Doctor (7″ Version) [Bonus Track]
10. Bodyshine (7″ Version) [Bonus Track]

When Instant Funk moved from Philadelphia International’s TSOP label to Salsoul, all of the pieces fell into place for the band - both commercially and creatively. While its first album, Get Down With the Philly Jump, was decent but uneven, its second and third albums were generally excellent.

For Instant Funk, switching labels didn’t mean switching producers - the Philadelphian’s worked with Bunny Sigler at TSOP and continued to work with him at Salsoul. Sigler was the ideal producer for Instant Funk because he really understood what the band was going for: an unorthodox blend of Philly soul/disco and the type of hardcore funk that other cities were better known for.

Sigler is a major asset here on Witch Doctor, which was Instant Funk’s second album for Salsoul and its third album overall. From the sweaty funk of Bodyshine (a major hit), Slap, Slap Lickedy Lap, and the titular Witch Doctor, to the smooth ballad I Had a Dream, Sigler does right by Instant Funk on this solid effort.

CD 4: The Funk Is On & Looks So Fine
The Funk Is On
1. The Funk Is On
2. Everybody
3. You Want My Love
4. Funk-N-Roll
5. It’s Cool
6. What Can I Do For You
7. Can You See Where I’m Coming From
8. You’re Not Getting Older

The Funk Is On, Philly soul band Instant Funk shows an acute pop music sensibility, but funk fans need not worry, this album lives up to its title; the band still funks. The title track single, written by Brass Construction’s Randy Muller, is pure, unadulterated funk.

The same could be said for the gritty You Want My Love, where as the second single, Everybody, has a serious bounce groove along the lines of Zapp’s More Bounce to the Ounce or Vaughn Mason’s Bounce, Skate, Rock, Roll.

Looks So Fine
9. Looks So Fine
10. Why Don’t You Think About Me
11. Slam Dunk The Funk
12. Gotta Like That
13. Jumpin’ To Conclusions
14. Give It To You Baby
15. Punk Rockin’

On their fourth Salsoul album, Looks So Fine, Instant Funk showcased their precise, step-lock rhythm on the first single, Why Don’t You Think About Me, remixed by top talent François Kevorkian.

The Philly soul band backs a number of guest singers. The sister trio Direct Current sings soaring vocals on the seriously funky title track. Other standouts are the skaters favorite Gotta Like That, the O’Jays-like ballad Smack Dab in the Middle, which is a duet between producer Bunny Sigler and the band’s lead singer James Carmichael, and the NBA tribute Slam Dunk the Funk.

CD 5: V & Kinky
V
1. No Stoppin’ That Rockin’
2. Who Took Away The Funk
3. Hard Days Night
4. You’re Gonna Get Yours
5. Easy Come Easy Go
6. Smack Dab In The Middle
7. Blazin’
8. I’ll Be Good To You

Reduced to a quintet by 1983, Instant Funk was then comprised of Scotty Miller (drums, background vocals), Kim Miller (guitar, background vocals), Raymond Earl (bass, background vocals), Dennis Richardson (keyboards, background vocals), and James Carmichael (lead vocals); five additional rhythm players, a five-piece horn section, and additional backing vocalists augmented the band.

Tom Moulton mixed two bouncers in the form of both No Stoppin’ That Rockin’, a groovy techno-funk piece, and Who Took Away the Funk, a low groove with P-Funk-style vocals. Smack Dab in the Middle is a tender ballad with a winsome, heartfelt chorus, but my personal favorite is a quite brilliant remake of A Hard Day’s Night features punchy horns, choppy rhythms, rock guitar, and energetic vocals.

Kinky
9. (Just Because) You’ll Be Mine
10. Tonight We’re Gonna Make Love
11. Kinky
12. Don’t Call Me Brother
13. Let’s Make Love
14. Passion
15. Keep It Up
16. Funkiest Party In The World

Instant Funk’s final Salsoul album, Kinky, found them reunited with the TNJ’s vocal group, who were prominently heard on producer/singer Bunny Sigler’s slow, churchy hit cover of the O’Jays’ million seller, Love Train.

The lead vocal spot was given to TNJ’s member Elijah E.J. Jones because his smooth tenor seemed to fit, and rightly so, in with the group’s sound. The first single, (Just Because) You’ll Be Mine, was remixed by Shep Pettibone (who did the same for Madonna’s 1990 two-million seller Vogue), and was a huge dance club hit, albeit sounded similar to their 1979 gold single I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl).

Other standouts are the sexy slow jams Passion and Keep It Up, the two hip-hop flavored cuts Let’s Make Love and The Funkiest Party in the World, and the popular album track Don’t Call Me Brother, itself a remake of an O’Jays LP track from their Ship Ahoy album.

Official 5CD Purchase Link