Calvin Arnold's late 60s recordings for Venture collected on Funky Way comp

The 13-track Funky Way LP boasts five previously unissued work-outs by soul singer/songwriter Calvin Arnold – it's out Friday!

Here's the scoop...

This is the first album of Mickey Stevenson’s Venture material. ‘Funky Way’ was the label’s first release and a hit in 1967, despite limited airplay due to having the word “funky” in the title. It went on to become an early funk classic, covered by Rufus Thomas for Stax, Tommy Strand for Fame, Jimmy Bee for Kent, Ray Johnson and others.

Though mainly recorded in Los Angeles, Calvin Arnold was a southern soul singer from Atlanta, Georgia and the material is in that vein – there are Mighty Hannibal produced tracks, recorded in Atlanta. Apart from the eight released sides, Mickey Stevenson’s tapes have provided five previously unreleased numbers including the up-tempo mover ‘Your Love Is Too Much’ and the superb southern funk grooves of ‘Trying To Fly My Kite (In Rainy Weather)’ and ‘Fool Me Baby’.

The package features never before seen photos and a 5,000-word biography of the revered singer from Atlanta musicologist Brian Poust. 

Writes Poust: "I’ve been wanting to write about Calvin Arnold for a number of years now. I met Calvin through his brother Napoleon, somewhat randomly back in 2007 or so, and that story will have to wait for another time."

"Calvin’s recordings and productions are more vast and varied than one might expect at first glance, but Ace has taken a step that once seemed like it might not ever happen, by securing the rights to the Mickey Stevenson label, Venture Records. I’m really proud to have been asked to hand over too many words about Calvin, which Ace then had to edit down to a digestible size, bless their hearts." 

"Anyway, the record is out soon and, obviously, I think you need to buy a copy or three. Buy it for Calvin’s music (including FIVE previously unreleased songs!) and then roll your eyes at my writing therein. Thanks to eagle-eyed Jason Stone for telling me that they are advertising it, and to Ady Croasdell for trusting me to tell the story. Hopefully I’ve done well by Calvin."

The LP and CD have the same tracks, the CD is chronologically ordered by release, whereas the LP is programmed for optimum listening pleasure for that format. Funky Way: Venture Recordings 1967-1969 is out on Friday (January 26). Get a copy from Ace Records right here. Check out Calvin's 1967 "Funky Way" single and the flip "Snatchin' Back" along with a few of his other Venture floor-fillers below.