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Baker's Dozen

Getting Hypnotised: John Robb Finds The Funk In Unusual Places
Julian Marszalek , July 12th, 2017 08:35

How did it take us nearly a decade to ask Brother John Robb for his Baker's Dozen choices? The Membranes frontman sits down with Julian Marszalek to discuss 13 favourite records where over the years he's dug out the most funk

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Stevie Wonder - Superstition
This is full of the sticky stuff. When you think of funk you think of words like "sexy", "sweaty" and "sticky" and those are great words. If you're going to talk about funk then you're going to have to use those words. And this track has all of that in there, doesn't it?

Stevie Wonder's a virtuoso. He can play pretty much every instrument and in every style, and these are the kind of people that can also do stuff that will miss you by a mile. You know, 'Happy Birthday' is a great pop record but one that I could do without hearing ever again, but 'Superstition' I could listen to endlessly.

It's a pop record but it's really funky and loose and it has that perfect swing to it.

When you play in a band, regardless of genre, and you all hit that groove, it's a sweet moment. Obviously, the Membranes aren't a funk band but there is an underlying funkiness when we let it all go. Led Zeppelin were really funky. On one level they're a fantastically heavy band but when they do the funk they have that groove down so perfectly.