Banbarra ~ Shack Up 1975 Funky Purrfection Version

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Banbarra is one of those groups that have one really great single and then disappear without a trace. The hard rockin funk band was composed of Joseph "Bunny" Carter and Moe Daniels (née Moses McDaniel). McDaniel had this instrumental track called "Boogie On The Other Side Of Town" and then Carter wrote some lyrics changing the name to "Shack Up" making the tune an urgent plea to forego the marriage ceremony. Using studio session players John Cannon on drums, Lance Quinn on guitar and Steve Moody playing that funky ass bass, they brought that song to life. Once Carter's vocals were done, the producers took charge and decided to use another vocalist, Wesley Adylett instead of Carter, who they felt was not up to the longterm commitment of being in a group. Carter's vocals were scrubbed and Adylett did his take. The finished song was then split into two parts and released on United Artists as a single. Unable to resolve what had happened, Carter quit and took the soul of the band with him. The single was released, and there are claims that it peaked at #4 on the Billboard Club Play Chart, and the Banbarra single is not noted at all in Joel Whitburn's "Hot Dance/Disco 1974 - 2003". The single was forgotten until UK new wave band A Certain Ratio heard it and recorded their version of "Shack Up" in 1981 that peaked at #46 disco. It was nowhere near the steamy funk of Banbarra. Somebody open a window!