Music
Press
His fans have been waiting nearly four decades for Bobby Franklin to tell his musical story, and Mr. Insanity is his vehicle for delivery. It summarizes compositions and recordings that span a variety of styles and years. With a Curtis Mayfield-influenced falsetto, he runs through a fine 70s ballad like "Sweeter Love" and then credibly follows it with the funky "Booty In Da House" and the electronic dance number "Don't Drop the Bomb." Most of the album is an eclectic collection of P-Funk style cuts, often with interesting political undertones. It's both nostalgic and relevant in a current context, and makes for a surprisingly good listen.
CR
- Chris Rizik
CD BABY: the best independent music from the cutest little record store on the web. A fun, easy place for you to hear and buy great new music. ... a little bit of everythang. The ladies can shake dat a$$ and ... CD offers the discerning music lover a choice package ... hop at its finest. BOBBY FRANKLIN INSANITY: Mr. Insanity ... - CD BABY
(An Excerpt from BM Magazine January 1975 by Tony Cummings writer.)
Few discs played in the Northern discos when BM’s first “Northern Soul” feature appeared in June “74” Boby Franklin’s “The Ladies Choice is one of the few-in-fact its popularity is greater than ever, and now the vocal as well as the backing track are packing the floor at The Backpost, Mecca and other clubs.
Boby (that’s how he spells it) is a Detroit based soul artist who emerged on the recording scene in 1969. Ironically, his style was as far removed from what is traditionally dubbed “Northern Soul” as possible. His music was in the same wah-wah funk eclectic direction as that into which Sly Stone had pushed black music. His first discs were cut in Chicago in 1969 when Boby fronted an extraordinary group who fused Henrixonia guitar (played by Mike Anthony), Sly influences and a compulsive rhythmic feel. But despite “Bring It On Down To Me, Pt. 1 & 2” being a local hit, Boby Franklin’s Insanity didn’t make it with Thomas Records. A second 45 on the label, “Paradise”, sunk without a trace. The group then recorded in Detroit where, in 1970, they cut one of the great funky wah wah discs of the decade. It’s appeal somehow didn’t make it a DJ spinner. In Brittain Pye, even considered releasing the record, the Johnny Terry (formerly of the Drifters) composition “Don’t Lose What You Got (Trying To Get Back What You Had)” despite its inexplicable US sales failure but somehow it never happened. Today the disc has still to be discovered (by the funk discos possibly?) The strange way the song suddenly shudders into a girl chorus straight out of the old Motown era and then reverts back to the baadst of baad funk riffs, was and is a concept of startling originality.
In 1972, Boby Franklin and Friends had “This Is The Place” out on Lakeside Records but the disc’s localized distribution hampered any sales, and the same can be said of Franklin’s newest release “The Lady’s Choice”. It was cut for the tiny independent Fee Records and although given a kind of “national” distribution (when the master was picked up by Paramount Records) neither label’s version had appeared in particularly large quantities. Hopefully Pye will Disco Demand it (though surely more British labels must have now awoken to the Northern scenes commercial potential!), in the meantime, the dancers move to the haunting, undulating beat of a record driven by the coolest vibes heard since the demise of Fred Smith.
If the disco did “go over ground” Franklin, with management handled by the Detroit Emeralds-who bought the original copy of The Lady’s Choice” to Britain which started the disco exposure-could whip a true great unknown into the country. Now wouldn’t that be a gas…
TONY CUMMINGS
- BM Magazine
Discography
Bobby is
A veteran of the music industry and has recorded and toured with many of the music industry stars such as:
The Dramatics
The Drifters
The Contours
The Impressions
Curtis Mayfield
Michael Henderson
Eddie Robinson
Bobby Franklin’s Insanity
Bobby Franklin (partial) DISCOGRAPHY
Bring It On Down 2 Me----------Curtom Records (Produced by Curtis Mayfield, Chicago, IL)
Muthas Love-----------------------CBS Records, New York, NY
Whatever Your Sign--------------Babylon Records, New York, NY
Ladies Choice---------------------Fee/ABC Records, Detroit, MI, Los Angeles, CA
Hit It and Quit It-----------------Westbound Records, Detroit, MI
Don’t Lose What You Got----- Westbound Records, Detroit, MI
This is The Place-----------------Thomas Associates Records, Chicago, IL
Sexplot-----------------------------Westbound Records, Detroit, MI
Don’t Drop the Bomb------------Campo Records, Detroit, MI
Booty In Da House---------------Worldnet Music Records, Detroit, MI
Mr. Insanity CD----------------Worldnet Music Records, Detroit, MI
A few recordings with other artists
Wide Receiver--------------------Michael Henderson, Arista Records (musician)
Do It All----------------------------Michael Henderson, Arista Records (musician)
What Would I Do----------------Tessie Hill, ABC Records (musician)
He Keeps On Doing Great Things---------Tessie Hill, ABC Records (musician)
All The Way------------------------------------TFO, FEE Records, Venture, (writer)
Whatever Your Sign--------------------------Floaters, ABC Records (writer)
Here I Go Again-------------------------------Tessie Hill, PPM Records (musician)
Livin In The Sun------------------------------Lemon James, Foxy Records (producer, musician)
Thank You Father----------------------------Eddie Robinson, ABC Records (musician)
Tracks that have radio airplay on the internet, radio broadcast and compilation albums are:
Bring It On Down To Me
Hit It and Quit It
What Ever Your Sign
Don't Lose What You Got
Ladies Choice
Photos
Bio
My music is best described as old skoole. With a new skoole flava. My influences are many, such as musicians like Milt Jackson on the vibes, Jimi Hendrix on the guitar, James Brown funk and the class of Frank Sinatra. I also have been influenced by wonderful writers like Curtis Mayfield, Smokey Robinson, Burt Bacarach and Carol King. This is what I feel that sets me apart from other artists and bands. In one word, is DIVERSITY. On musical terms VARIETY. My Story is one of love for the music (which is why I founded the Bobby Franklin Music Preservation Foundation) and respect for the people that spend their hard earned money to come out and have a good time. It's my job to be the CROWD PLEASER!
With the current surge of interest in old school music in this new age and new century. Bobby Franklin decided to re-create, re-activate and re-invigorate his musical concept of Bobby Franklin Insanity, which was originally established in 1969, with his first hit recording "Bring It On Down 2 Me" produced by Curtis Mayfield on the Curtom Label.
Bobby Franklin has a undying love and commitment to the music because he is truly
"KRAZY BOUT THE MUSIC".
He plays all of the instruments in the rhythm section. Guitar, drums, vibes, keyboard and bass. In fact, when he performs as a single, he sings and plays along with sequenced music arranged and performed by him. He is sometimes known as "The 1 Man Band".
A Veteran of the music industry, Bobby is a seasoned studio musician playing on many "Gold" and "Platinum" recording sessions, including "Wide Receiver", with Michael Henderson, Gospel Gold on "Keeps On Doing Great Things for Me", Tessie Hill, and did the actual demo with Ed Robinson for the Dramatics platinum selling "Shake It Well".
Bobby has toured with major artist and groups like Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions, The Floaters, and The Drifters.
Bobby has also worked with a countless number of singers, bands, songwriters and record producers. In the Spring of 2006 Bobby released the CD Mr. Insanity, Bobby Franklin’s Insanity on Worldnet Music Records.
Through the years Bobby has developed a unique vocal style where he blends (3) different signature vocal sounds starting with (1) his natural voice a bluesy – Ballsy baritone with flavors of Lou Rawls, Barry White and old blue eyes, Frank Sinatra. Also, (2) a soft smooth soulful falsetto voice like Curtis Mayfield (his mentor), Eddie Kendricks and Smokey Robinson both legends of the Motown Sound and finally (3) a killer monotone voice like Hendrix, Dylan, Jagger and many other rockers and rappers, who are raw and real.
Bobby Does play several different instruments but his primary ones are drums, guitar and vibes. Drums is Bobby's original instrument. He started playing drums at the age of three. He learned to play drums from his father who was a great jazz drummer in the 50's & 60's. Bobby continued to play drums and has played in every type of music venue, from the U.S. Navy Band to making gold records in the studio. His style of drumming is a combination of Motown Funk, Detroit Rock, and hard driving Jazz. His guitar influences are many from BB King, Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, Curtis Mayfield and many other greats; too many to mention. On the vibes his style is smooth and jazzy a mixture of Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton and Roy Ayers.
The combination of all these music masters contribute to Bobby's original and authentic expert interpretations where you get more than expected because Bobby puts his own personal touch to every song and arrangement that he performs and makes his connection with the audience through his music and we all know Bobby is …
………………………………."KRAZY BOUT THE MUSIC."
Instrumentation
Bobby Franklin plays jazz vibes, blues guitar, arrangements on keyboard, drums, and bass. I do also use sidemen and singers when it is appropriate to the engagement.
Discography
Bobby is
A veteran of the music industry and has recorded and toured with many of the music industry stars such as:
The Dramatics
The Drifters
The Contours
The Impressions
Curtis Mayfield
Michael Henderson
Eddie Robinson
Bobby Franklin's Insanity
Bobby Franklin (partial) DISCOGRAPHY
Bring It On Down 2 Me----------Curtom Records (Produced by Curtis Mayfield, Chicago, IL)
Muthas Love-----------------------CBS Records, New York, NY
Whatever Your Sign--------------Babylon Records, New York, NY
Ladies Choice---------------------Fee/ABC Records, Detroit, MI, Los Angeles, CA
Hit It and Quit It-----------------Westbound Records, Detroit, MI
Don't Lose What You Got----- Westbound Records, Detroit, MI
This is The Place-----------------Thomas Associates Records, Chicago, IL
Sexplot-----------------------------Westbound Records, Detroit, MI
Don't Drop the Bomb------------Campo Records, Detroit, MI
Booty In Da House---------------Worldnet Music Records, Detroit, MI
Mr. Insanity CD----------------Worldnet Music Records, Detroi
Links
