Originally named Project Soul, the group became a backup band for the Stax Records artists The Soul Children in the early 1970s Renaming themselves Confunkshun, the group moved to Memphis, Tennessee and became one of the label's most sought-after studio bands. They supported themselves by performing throughout the mid-South and Japan at clubs and colleges, along with such bands as, Brief Encounter, Chocolate Funk, Brick, The Dazz Band, and The Mighty Majors. They came to the attention of Estelle Axton and recorded an album and several singles on her Fretone Records label.
By 1976, Con Funk Shun, was one of the most popular groups in the South but still had not secured a major recording deal. That all changed in July 1976 when Mercury Records A&R man Jud Phillips finally signed the group to a major recording contract. By that time, drummer Louis McCall's wife, publicist/songwriter Linda Lou McCall, had "tweaked" the spelling of the band's name (originally "Confunkshun"), and their first album, "Con Funk Shun", was released later that year.
The band's second album Secrets was released in 1977 to critical and commercial success. Their first hit single was "Ffun", written by Michael Cooper rose swiftly up the charts and landed at "#1 With A Bullet" on Billboard magazine's Top Soul Singles chart in July 1977. Over the course of 10 years, Con Funk Shun recorded 11 albums with Mercury, with five of them achieving "Gold album" status (selling in excess of 500,000 units). The band performed to sold-out coliseums all over the country. They had numerous Top 40 hits including "Chase Me", "Love's Train", "Straight From The Heart", and "Shake & Dance With Me". They recorded their milestone album, "7" in 1981, the seventh album for seven bandmembers who had been together since their teens. It included "California 1", "Straight From The Heart", "Body Lovers" and the Billboard Top 20 Soul Single, "Bad Lady".
In the early 1980s, sagging sales and poor support from their record company was beginning to cause tension between the boyhood friends. In addition, lead singer/songwriters Michael V. Cooper and Felton Pilate began to try to assert more control over the band. Co-founders McCall and Cooper were often at odds with each other. Cooper, an excellent musician and writer, had always resented McCall's business acumen and negotiating skills (McCall and his wife, Linda Lou McCall, were responsible for booking the band's first major tour in 1977, which resulted in the group's national success and the first of their numerous gold albums). While McCall usually deferred to Cooper on artistic issues, he did not get the same support from Cooper on business decisions. McCall had frequently been voted group leader by the other members, each time causing the chasm between Cooper and the other members to grow wider. Pilate often sided with Cooper but since the band operated on the quorum principle of "participatory democracy", their suggestions were often out-voted by the other members.
"Burning Love", Con Funk Shun's last album with Mercury, was recorded without lead singer/songwriter, Felton Pilate, who left the group in 1986 after a physical altercation with McCall. Melvin Carter, a frequent collaborator of Con Funk Shun, replaced Felton for their final album, "Burning Love". The same year, the original group was essentially disbanded with Michael V. Cooper leaving for a solo career. Louis McCall also left to become a consultant and event producer with clients such as M.C. Hammer, Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte, and to join his wife in marketing such contemporary artists as Eminem, Puff Daddy (now "Diddy"), Mya, and the Black Eyed Peas. Con Funk Shun officially disbanded after their last album with Mercury in late 1986. Cooper went on to release a few solo albums with Warner Bros. Sales were disappointing but he did manage to have a few hits with "Prove My Love" and "Shoop Shoop". One of the first musicians ever to have a home studio, Felton Pilate went on to become a successful producer and musical director for rap phenom, M.C. Hammer. He was later nominated in 1991 for a Grammy for co-producing Hammer's hit record "U Can't Touch This" and an Oscar in 1992 for "Addams Groove" on the ""Addams Family"" soundtrack. He, too, made several attempts at solo projects which went nowhere. However, he is still sought out as a producer and consultant.
In the 1990s, lead singers Michael Cooper and Felton Pilate began performing under the group's name with sidemen in place of their former bandmates. They often include original members on brass, Paul Harrell (sax and flute) and Karl Fuller (trumpet). Although missing the tightness of its legendary rhythm section of McCall (drums), Thomas (keyboards), and Martin (bass), the reconstituted group still performs at "old school" concerts and festivals throughout the country under the moniker "Con Funk Shun, featuring Michael Cooper & Felton Pilate", making no mention of long-time bandmates Harrell and Fuller. The original band's music can still be heard in such recent films as "Gone In 60 Seconds", "Next Friday", and "American Pimp", which was featured at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. Ironically, one of the memorable characters in "American Pimp" was John "Rosebudd" Dickson, a childhood friend of drummer, Louis A. McCall. They played in the Vallejo High School band together and remained friends for life.
Tragically, co-founder/drummer McCall was murdered on June 25, 1997 in Stone Mountain, Georgia in a home invasion robbery. The case is still unsolved. With the exception of Felton, all of the other members of Con Funk Shun still reside in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Baby I'm Hooked
Con Funk Shun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
BABY, I′M HOOKED (RIGHT INTO YOUR LOVE)
Baby, I'm hooked right into your love
Are you ready for mine?
Look what I got
Good loving so hot
1st. Verse
There are no words that can express
The way I feel now
And I want you to know
I need you in my life, ooh, baby
I want you, baby, I really do
My love is true
I need you in my life, in my life, baby
Course
Baby, I′m hooked right into your love
Are you ready for mine?
Look what I got
Good loving so hot
Are you ready for mine?
Baby, I'm hooked right into your love
Come on, let me show you
There are no words that can express
The way I feel now
And I want you to know
I need you in my life
I want you, baby, I really do
My love is true
I need you in my life
I want you, baby, I really do
My love is true
I want you, I need you
I want you, baby, I really do
My love is true
I want you, I need you, girl
I want you, baby, I really do
My love is true
I need you in my life.
The lyrics of Con Funk Shun's song "Baby I'm Hooked (Right into Your Love)" describes the strong emotional connection that the singer has with his lover. He is completely hooked and cannot find the right words to express how he feels. He expresses his love for his partner by stating that his love is "true" and he is "hooked right into [her] love." The singer wants his love interest to know that he needs her in his life, and that his love is so powerful that he cannot live without her.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the passion and intensity of his love. He expresses that he has "good loving so hot," and he invites his lover to come and experience it for herself. The first verse describes how the singer's emotions are so strong that there are no words that can express how he feels. In the chorus, he asks his lover if she is ready for his love, which is described as being so hot that it's like a drug.
Overall, the song's lyrics are about surrendering oneself to love and giving oneself completely to another person. The singer's message is that he is fully committed and deeply in love, and he wants his lover to know that she means everything to him.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, I'm hooked right into your love
I am completely enamored with your love and devoted to you
Are you ready for mine?
Do you reciprocate and feel ready to love me back?
Look what I got
I have so much love and affection to offer you
Good loving so hot
My love is passionate and intense
Come on, let me show you
I want to demonstrate and prove my love for you
There are no words that can express
I struggle to articulate just how strongly I feel for you
The way I feel now
My emotions are overwhelming and consuming
And I want you to know
I need to express my love to you
I need you in my life, ooh, baby
I cannot imagine my life without you
I want you, baby, I really do
My desire for you is authentic and sincere
My love is true
My feelings for you are genuine and deep
I need you in my life, in my life, baby
I want you to be a constant presence and partner in my life
I want you, I need you
I crave your love and companionship
I need you in my life
You are an essential part of my life and happiness
Writer(s): MARTIN CEDRIC, REDDING VAN ROSS
Contributed by Dylan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@johngarrett9418
Maaan they just don't make love songs like this anymore. This new age trash can go somewhere. Con Funk Shun brung it with this 83 classic. A true love song. Timeless.
@debmays622
I love this song. Wish groups would sing like this now. So much meaning and love in this song.
@cynthiaward4512
Me Too..❤❤❤❤❤
@kirkodems8224
Confunkshun was one of the greatest soul, r&b, and funk bands during the 1970's & 1980's.
@tracysullivan3715
Yup, them, EW&F, The Gap Band, and so much more I ❤️! I prefer old school soul, r&b, and funk music over anything and in just 2 days, it’s “Happy 2021”
@jessyepittman69
Yes..Indeed!!
@elleanderson563
Music like this is timeless. Love set to music is a beautiful thing!
@otisroseboro5613
I can play this song over & over, that's how much I love this great song, classic
@deborahbynum7253
I just pulled this song up last night and fell in love with this song. Now, I can’t stop listening to it. I am single, but this song does something to me. I was brought up on old school music. Great job Con Funk Shun.
@deedeelinn
Heard this today brought back good memories. I love this song. Still renembered the word too.. Love it