Walter ‘Junie’ Morrison released his third solo LP, Suzie Super Groupie, in 1976 and is yet another essential album reissue from Be With Records this month. The killer Suzie Thundertussy is a favourite of taste makers like DJ Harvey, Theo Parrish and was brilliantly sampled by Madlib for Kanye West’s No More Parties In LA. The track’s groove laden synth combines Junie’s storytelling abilities and sounds immediately like beat-junky fodder or an MPC producer’s wet dream. In late 2016, Solange’s A Seat At The Table featured a track called Junie, one of many fitting tributes produced or exclaimed by artists at some point (including Prince).
Junie made his name as the lead singer and keyboardist of the Ohio Players. As the mastermind behind Pain, Pleasure, Ecstasy, and the often-sampled Funky Worm, he was beloved by countless musicians and is an inspiring figure. As co-writer of some of Funkadelic’s seminal works – One Nation Under A Groove, (Not Just) Knee Deep – his standing as one of the fathers of funk is undisputed.
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,” the label proudly states.
There’s a link here to see some online shorts about Kanye and Madlib’s work together (click here). To pre-order, click below:
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