Deep Groove Encyclopedia - The (Fabulous) Counts

(Fabulous) Counts

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Click below for a Counts sample:

Coming outta Detroit, the Fabulous Counts caused a funk sensation with their rare 45s "Jan Jan" and "Get Down People," lean and mean grooves that will cost you deep pockets should you ever find an original copy. Switching labels to the hometeam Westbound, they dropped the "Fabulous" and recorded the classic What's Up Front That Counts, loaded with so much tightness that high demand forced a reissue well before obscure funk records became all the rage.

What happened to them next remains a mystery because nothing they did remotely matched that album. Maybe they took too kindly to the slowed down pace of life in Atlanta and it negatively affected their musical approach. Love Sign fared poorly and after Funk Pump (which was anything but), they split. Guitarist Leroy Mannuel joined Bohannon's cadre of string pluckers and probably enjoyed the most successful career of any of the Counts. Mose Davis went into production, including Ripple.

Fabulous Counts' Deepest Grooves

"Jan Jan" b/w "Girl From Kenya" (Mora, 1969)

"Get Down People" b/w "Lunar Funk" (Mora, 1970)

It's What's Up That Counts (Westbound, 1971)
Proved to be a one shot effort, but they dropped enough bombs here to ensure classic status. "Thinking Single," "Pack of Lies," and "Rhythm Changes" have kept funk fiends satisfied for years.

Love Sign (Aware, 1973)

Funk Pump (Aware, 1975)

Golden Classics (Collectables, 1990s)
Culls the best of the Aware albums for your enjoyment. For hardcore Counts fans only.