This week , I have been perusing through old copies of music based publications , as I do , ( usually Blues & Soul ) , when I came across an article on a ' group ' that I had completely fogotten about .....

Linda & The Funky Boys .

All over like a bad rash in 1977 , hailed as " Germany's answer to Shirley & Co " , it seemed like they were playing / booked in at every venue in the U.K. during that year ; and I seem to recall that , due to the plays that their mediocre 45 release , " Climbing The Stairs Of Love " got on the scene , they were on at virtually all Northern Soul venues .....

Did they fall from grace after their brief flirtation with fame , or are they still with us in another guise ?

With regard to " CTSOL " , no - it is not time for a reactivation .......

Malc Burton

Malc, loads of stuff on them via GOOGLE https://www.answers.com/topic/linda-carr

Malc, loads of stuff on them via GOOGLE https://www.answers.com/topic/linda-carr

Must admit I didn't know it was Linda Carr - or must have forgoten it if I did know it. I had always assumed they were a creation of Leviathan Quite liked the record at the time, but then I also liked Tommy Hunt "Loving on the losing side" on the same label. I always thought it was a good record in it's own right.

I think that information is wrong, I had the misfortune to see Linda & The Funky Boys at Wigan and I swear the singer was white and I thought they were a Dutch group anyway!

I think that information is wrong, I had the misfortune to see Linda & The Funky Boys at Wigan and I swear the singer was white and I thought they were a Dutch group anyway!

...That info IS wrong (not yours, Pete, the other). In my 'pub disco residency' days L & the FBs did a PA at one of the venues I worked regularly, miming to and signing copies of their woeful single "Sold My Rock And Roll, Gave It For Funky Soul". Linda may have been a Linda Carr, but she was definitely not 'our' Linda Carr, being somewhat pale faced and flat chested, unlike the "Highwire" gal who was very definitely neither...

...That info IS wrong (not yours, Pete, the other). In my 'pub disco residency' days L & the FBs did a PA at one of the venues I worked regularly, miming to and signing copies of their woeful single "Sold My Rock And Roll, Gave It For Funky Soul". Linda may have been a Linda Carr, but she was definitely not 'our' Linda Carr, being somewhat pale faced and flat chested, unlike the "Highwire" gal who was very definitely neither...

Thanks for clearing that up Tone I was starting to worry about an early onset of Alzheimer's ever since I saw the link to Linda Carr.

Thanks for clearing that up Tone I was starting to worry about an early onset of Alzheimer's ever since I saw the link to Linda Carr.

The girl who was " Linda " - according to the article in B & S - was called Linda , and came from Henderson , North Carolina ......

The group came from Hamburg , Germany .

Malc Burton

Linda & The Funky Boys .

they were on at virtually all Northern Soul venues .....

Remember seeing them at Baily's all dayer in Sheffield... ok, okay, okeh

I have a 45 on US RCA from 1975 by The Funky Boys, titles Solid Ground/Out And About.

Both sides are average toe tapping funk in a Pick Up The Pieces/Early Olympic Runners style.

One of the writers is Detlef Peterson, certainly a German sounding first name.

Is this the same group ?

Thanks, Martin Snow

I have a 45 on US RCA from 1975 by The Funky Boys, titles Solid Ground/Out And About.

Both sides are average toe tapping funk in a Pick Up The Pieces/Early Olympic Runners style.

One of the writers is Detlef Peterson, certainly a German sounding first name.

Is this the same group ?

Thanks, Martin Snow

It is very likely that The Funky Boys became TFB in L & TFB .

According to the article in Blues & Soul , the group's management in Hamburg , Germany , were looking to make a european cover version of Shirley & Company's " Shame Shame Shame " , and need a girl singer with a good voice to make the version , hence drafting in U.S. born Linda Fields .

Malc Burton

Obituary Notice

The Corner Pocket , Mexborough , South Yorkshire

2000 - 2007

RIP

Edited April 22, 200718 yr by Malc Burton

I have a 45 on US RCA from 1975 by The Funky Boys, titles Solid Ground/Out And About.

Both sides are average toe tapping funk in a Pick Up The Pieces/Early Olympic Runners style.

One of the writers is Detlef Peterson, certainly a German sounding first name.

Is this the same group ?

Thanks, Martin Snow

Well have a look at these picks - there's the RCA connection for you.

Maybe she left and was replaced by a white Linda by the time of the Spark 45. This Linda is Linda Fields and is or was involved with a band called Fritz Brause. Don't know anything about them.

Godz

Well have a look at these picks - there's the RCA connection for you.

Maybe she left and was replaced by a white Linda by the time of the Spark 45. This Linda is Linda Fields and is or was involved with a band called Fritz Brause. Don't know anything about them.

Godz

This is definitely not the same girl that Spark sent round to do those initial PA's. Possibly this was a ploy similar to the '5000 Volts' scenario, where Tina Charles sang on their first hit "I'm On Fire" and Philips sent round some page three girl to mime to Tina's vocals. The girl in these pix and on the record sleeves is probably the 'real' Linda who sang on the records. If you can call it singing

I have a 45 on US RCA from 1975 by The Funky Boys, titles Solid Ground/Out And About.

Both sides are average toe tapping funk in a Pick Up The Pieces/Early Olympic Runners style.

One of the writers is Detlef Peterson, certainly a German sounding first name.

Is this the same group ?

Thanks, Martin Snow

Martin - a minor point but it was 'Solid Funk' , I think it might of got a Mecca spin!

Mike

This is definitely not the same girl that Spark sent round to do those initial PA's. Possibly this was a ploy similar to the '5000 Volts' scenario, where Tina Charles sang on their first hit "I'm On Fire" and Philips sent round some page three girl to mime to Tina's vocals. The girl in these pix and on the record sleeves is probably the 'real' Linda who sang on the records. If you can call it singing

Come on Tone, not just "some page 3 girl", that was the very busty and attractive to a 14 year old at the time Luan Peters who also turned up in an episode of Fawlty Towers (as the Australian guest who Sybil thinks Basil is trying it on with).

Edited April 22, 200718 yr by Pete-S

Come on Tone, not just "some page 3 girl", that was the very busty and attractive to a 14 year old at the time Luan Peters who also turned up in an episode of Fawlty Towers (as the Australian guest who Sybil thinks Basil is trying it on with).

Yes, of course, you're right - although somwhere in the attic I have a French Phillips pic sleeve copy (I think it's French, anyway), with a different page 3 girl on the cover, so that's what through me off there.

I think that the singer on their only other UK hit "Doctor Kiss Kiss" was Linda Taylor, later of "You And Me Just Started" 'fame'.

Luan was quite nice - and very good, as you say, in that episode of FT - but I was always more your Jackie Jones man myself...

Martin - a minor point but it was 'Solid Funk' , I think it might of got a Mecca spin!

Mike

Woops, thanks for noticing my slight error there Mike, thats the one anyhow. Must say thanks to all those who made a contribution to my questions, altho it appears we're still not 100% sure. Has anyone got the LP, if it exists, with Solid Funk/Out and about on it ?

Martin Snow

I think that the singer on their only other UK hit "Doctor Kiss Kiss" was Linda Taylor, later of "You And Me Just Started" 'fame'.

If the musicians or producers are Gonzalez related then its possible. Linda was one of the lead singers in Gonzalez in the late 70's. What year would the track you have in question be ?

If the musicians or producers are Gonzalez related then its possible. Linda was one of the lead singers in Gonzalez in the late 70's. What year would the track you have in question be ?

Think it was also 1976 or 1977.

Think it was also 1976 or 1977.

I'm pretty sure it was late 76 Tony.