Junie: Suzie Super Groupie

Walter Junie Morrison released his third solo LP Suzie Super Groupie in 1976. A slick smooth and soulful record its a genre-melting tour de force with rich elements of proto-boogie funk and jazz. In short this is yet another essential album reissue from Be With. The sublime Suzie Thundertussy is a favourite of Harvey and Theo and was brilliantly sampled by Madlib for Kanye Wests No More Parties In LA. The track opens with a sinuous synth and combines Junies storytelling abilities with an emphatic vocal style and funky arrangements. The powerful bass and sinister chords create an undeniable groove and the explosive chorus is full of ambition and joy. If You Love Him is a great mid-tempo soul song. With a swinging jazz-infused middle-eight it demonstrates Junie was much more than a mercurial funkateer. The laconic groove of What Am I Gonna Do recalls Fresh-era Sly Stone whilst the frantic Super Groupie showcases his sharp imagination and sense of fun. The lyrics range from humorous to dirty all fuelled by an infectious groove and tight horn arrangements. The P-Funk of B-side opener Surrender bounces and sparkles with a strutting Junie backed by great harmony vocals and joyous horns. Suzie is a sleek softer affair albeit with a disco pulse a beautiful combination of bright funky horns fluid basslines and vigorous rhythms. Stone Face Joe is another character song this time one that chugs along on a sweet boogie rhythm. The winner for us however is the closing piece. An extended funk-rock jam Spirit has a heart-rending spoken-word intro and as a nod to Jimi Hendrix creates a live concert sound complete with screaming crowd and fuzzy vocals. Junie made his name as the lead singer and keyboardist of the Ohio Players. As the mastermind behind Pain Pleasure Ecstasy and the oft-sampled Funky Worm he was beloved by countless musicians not least Prince. As co-writer of some of Funkadelics seminal works - One Nation Under A Groove Not Just Knee Deep - his standing as one of the structural fathers of funk is undisputed. In late 2016 Solanges A Seat At The Table featured a track called Junie a tribute to the freedom he created in music. His work continues to be as relavent and inspiring as it was when it was first recorded. In February 2017 Junie died aged just 62. With records as mighty as Suzie Super Groupie his legacy will live forever and Be With is proud to be able to do our bit to make this LP accessible again on vinyl.

1.1 June III
1.2 Suzie Thundertussy
1.3 If You Love Him
1.4 What Am I Gonna Do
1.5 Super Groupie
1.6 Surrender
1.7 Suzie
1.8 Stone Face Joe
1.9 Spirit


H 0.21
W 12.19
L 12.24