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.
By Your Side
Con Funk Shun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love's in no hurry
Just take your time
Love's by your side
Ooh, you're wandering free
Searchin' for love that you really need
Don't look no further
Just wanna touch
Let me feel your light
Ooh, means so much, yeah...
I want you to touch me
Let me be your light
Don't let love slip, baby, why don't you stay
There's no need to worry, no, baby
Love's in no hurry
Just take your time
Love's by your side
No...oh...oh...
Just wanna touch
Let me feel your light
Ooh, means so much, yeah...
I want you to touch me
Let me be your light
Don't let love slip, baby, why don't you stay
There's no need to worry, no, baby
Love's in no hurry
Just take your time
Love's by your side
Oh...oh...yeah...
The lyrics to Con Funk Shun's song "By Your Side" convey a message about love being present and patient. The first verse states "no need to worry, love's in no hurry, just take your time, love's by your side." This suggests that the person being sung to is searching for love but there is no need to rush because love is already present and waiting for them. The chorus also emphasizes this by stating that love is patient and that the person being sung to should take their time.
The second verse suggests that the person being sung to is possibly lost and searching for something they need. The lyrics state "ooh, you're wandering free, searchin' for love that you really need, don't look no further, love's by your side." This implies that the person being sung to has been searching for love but has not found it, yet love has been with them all along. The chorus is then repeated with the same message about love being patient and present.
The last verse has the lyrics "just wanna touch, let me feel your light, I want you to touch me, let me be your light," which suggests an intimate connection between the two people where they want to feel and connect with each other's "light." The final repetition of the chorus reinforces that love is always present and there is no need to hurry.
Line by Line Meaning
No need to worry
No need for concern, everything is fine
Love's in no hurry
Love doesn't need to be rushed; it will happen at its own pace
Just take your time
Don't feel like you have to rush into anything; take things slow
Love's by your side
Love is always there for you, supporting you and being with you
Ooh, you're wandering free
You're exploring your options, trying to find the love you need
Searchin' for love that you really need
Looking for a meaningful, deep connection with someone
Don't look no further
You don't need to keep searching; love is right there with you
Just wanna touch
I just want to feel your presence
Let me feel your light
Let me experience your positive energy and love
Ooh, means so much, yeah...
It's incredibly important to me and has a deep emotional significance
I want you to touch me
I want to feel your presence and affection
Let me be your light
Allow me to bring positivity and happiness into your life
Don't let love slip, baby, why don't you stay
Don't let the opportunity for love pass you by; stay here with me
There's no need to worry, no, baby
Again, no need to be concerned; everything is alright
Oh...oh...oh...
Vocalization to add emphasis and feeling to the music
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: FELTON PILATE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chyna Doll
One of my favorite songs by ConFunkShunThere's no need to worry
Love's in no hurry
Just take your time
Love's by your side
Ooh, you're wandering free
Searchin' for love that you really need
Don't look no further
Love's by your side
Just wanna touch you
Let me feel your light
Ooh, means so much to me, yeah
I want you to touch me
Let me be your light
Don't let love slip away, baby
Why don't you stay?
There's no need to worry, no, baby
Love's in no hurry
Just take your time
Love's by your side
No, oh, oh
Just wanna touch you
Let me feel your light
Ooh, means so much to me, yeah
I want you to touch me
Let me be your light
Don't let love slip away, baby
Why don't you stay?
There's no need to worry, no, baby
Love's in no hurry
Just take your time
Love's by your side
Oh, oh, yeah
Y'z Gent
This is as smooth as it gets. The music arrangement in and of itself is instrumentally incredible. True Classic!
The Fellowship Room with Positive Praise Promoter
This song took me to a place of no worries ✌🏾🥂
mr kool him self mr kool him self
Amen to that 🎶👍
Shirley Butler
OMG I know that's right this beautiful classic just move your soul in the right direction do you agree? A trip down memory lane 4SURE!!Still listenin how about April 15 2019
Raul Green
Con Funk Shun deserves the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame . Just as the same as Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly.
Dennis Armstrong
Con funk snun
Garret Jones
I said the same thing.
William Taylor
LARRY PARKER x
Leon Guisburg
The RRHOF probably hasn't heard of Confunkshun or Maze. It's a juvenile popularity contest. We need a hall of fame for mature serious music. I wouldn't want to be in the company of Madonna or Cindy Lauper types
choneyb54
YES INDEED THE BOTH!!