Hunt’s Determination Band – No. 1 Lady
Hunt’s Determination Band – Get Your Act Together
Hunt’s Determination Band – Thinking Of You
Today would have been Matthew Africa’s 51st Birthday and every year around this time we pay tribute to Matthew, a singular influence on my musical sensibilities, here on Melting Pot. This one is one of the handful of albums that I own that originally came from Matthew’s collection, but it first got put on my radar after MKA shared “No. 1 Lady” on his own blog back in 2009.
There’s not really a lot of information I’ve got on Hunt’s Determination Band. I know they hailed from Detroit and released two records in quick succession in ’77 & ’78, both of which feature “No. 1 Lady,” but in very different versions. Having heard them both, I feel like this one is the superior of the two, mostly because of the addition of clavinet and also because of what I call the “No. 1” breakdown that just hits better in this version.
When I heard it back then (and every time I hear it now) I loved absolutely everything about the song, and when he posted it I noted that I was going to play it in LA to bring “a little Africa to the people,” to which Matthew responded how he wished he could bring it live and direct. My gigs became few and far between in the immediately ensuing years, and I don’t think Matthew ever came down to DJ before his passing. Reading those messages between us, ten years after his passing was quite a trip.
But what really tripped me out, going back to his original post (which I am so very thankful is still available on the internets) was that it came exactly one day before I launched my own website! I wasn’t able to get every album of Matthew’s that I wanted when his collection was sold off, but the few records I did get I cherish, and listening to this one (as well as the additional tunes I’ve put up from this album) reminds me that the next time I get to play some funk for the people, I’ll definitely have to play this one…for MKA, always. Peace be with you brother…