Yorktown: Music

• MP3 play whole song, hi-fi (broadband)

If you haven't seen the documentary movie called "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" then do yourself a favor and rent it!!!! It is about the most under-rated and supremely talented bands of the 60's The Funk Brothers! These cats played on every studio Motown hit ever created and are still widely unheard of . . . .it is shameful!

Anyway, this song is all about the bassist of that legendary hit making machine, the late, great James Jameson. He was as much of a character as he had talent and believe me that is saying a train load full. He absolutely revolutionized the style of playing bass, and he only used one finger on his right hand to pluck the strings . . . . his FUNKFINGER of course!!!! 

Funkfinger - James York

A cool, black cat against a full moon's glow
A legendary rock of rhythm, blues and soul
He had the finger
He had the Funkfinger

On the Bottom-end boogie you know he wrote the book
Ain't much for fishin' but he had the hook
I mean the finger
He had the Funkfinger

CHORUS: It's got nothin' to do with how you pop or point
                You gotta be born with that extra joint 
                To have the finger
                To have the Funkfinger

In the Carolina woods he staked his claim in the sand
And made those ants dance with a rubber band
And his finger
The funky Funkfinger

The Motown scene had discovered his groove
Makin' Little Stevie and Martha move
With one finger
He used the Funkfinger

CHORUS: It's got nothin' to do with how you point or pop
                 You gotta be born with those Detroit chops
                 To get the finger
                 To get the Funkfinger 

I got my first listen from my Uncle Che
When I was learnin' how to strut in The Meter's way
Oh, I wish I could hear my Funk Brother James play
And I have faith that someday . . . . 

He had the funky finger
He had the funky vibe
He had it all together
Kept the funk alive

He had the funky finger
He had the funky vibe
He had it all together 
Ain't no funky jive