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.
Got To Be Enough
Con Funk Shun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I do for no one else
The things I give to you
Usually keep them for myself
Every chance I take with you
'Cause my luck is on the one
Your tricks, your treat, they can't be beat
I got to be enough, girl
(Think about it, don't you doubt it)
I wanna be your stuff, girl
(Think about it, don't you doubt it)
I got to be enough, girl
(Think about it, don't you doubt it)
Until you get enough, girl, why don't you
(Think about it, don't you doubt it)
Places that you wanna go
I'll take you anytime
Cash to buy you pretty things
I'm working overtime
You take all the lovin', baby
That my body has to give
Run with my affections, girl
As long as you may live
I got to be enough, girl
(Think about it, don't you doubt it)
I wanna be your stuff, girl
(Think about it) Ooh, ooh (Don't you doubt it)
I got to be enough, girl
(Think about it) Hey, hey (Don't you doubt it)
Until you get enough, girl, why don't you
(Think about it, don't you doubt it)
Get funky with me, child
Don't you see, oh, you're
Sweet to me, sweet baby
Get funky with me, child
Don't you see, oh, you're
Sweet to me, pretty baby
Get funky with me, child
Don't you see, oh, you're sweet to me
Get funky with me, child
Don't you see, oh, you're sweet to me
Get funky with me, child
Don't you see, oh, you're
Sweet to me, yeah, hey
Get funky with me, child
Don't you see, oh, you're sweet to me
I got to be enough, girl, oh
(Think about it, don't you doubt it)
I wanna be your stuff, girl, oh
(Think about it) Ooh, ooh (Don't you doubt it)
I got to be enough, girl, oh, oh
(Think about it) Come on (Don't you doubt it)
Until you get enough, girl, why don't you
(Think about it, don't you doubt it)
In Con Funk Shun's "Got To Be Enough," the singer expresses their love and devotion for someone special. The lyrics speak of the things that they do for this individual that they wouldn't do for anyone else, showing the depth of their feelings. The singer also mentions giving things to this person that they typically would keep for themselves, highlighting their selflessness.
The chorus of the song is where the singer makes their plea to be enough for this special someone. Telling them to "think about it" and "not doubt it," the singer wants the person they love to see that they are all they need. The verses continue to highlight the singer's willingness to do anything for this person, including taking them anywhere they want to go and working overtime to buy them pretty things.
The bridge of the song brings in a call to action for the listener to "get funky" with the singer. They express how sweet and special this person is to them and urge them to let loose and have some fun.
Overall, "Got To Be Enough" is a love song about giving your all to someone and hoping that it will be enough to keep them around.
Line by Line Meaning
The things I do for you
I do things for you that I don't do for anyone else
I do for no one else
I only do these things for you, not for anyone else
The things I give to you
I give you things that I usually keep for myself
Usually keep them for myself
I don't usually give these things to anyone, but I give them to you
Every chance I take with you
I take risks with you because I believe in our relationship
'Cause my luck is on the one
I feel lucky when I'm with you
Your tricks, your treat, they can't be beat
You are amazing and I can't resist you
They keep me on the run
I'm always chasing after you
I got to be enough, girl
I want to be enough for you
(Think about it, don't you doubt it)
Don't doubt my commitment to you
I wanna be your stuff, girl
I want to be everything you need
Until you get enough, girl, why don't you
Let me be there for you until you're satisfied
Places that you wanna go
I'll take you anywhere you want to go
I'll take you anytime
I'm always available for you
Cash to buy you pretty things
I'll work hard and make money to buy you nice things
I'm working overtime
I'm putting in extra effort for you
You take all the lovin', baby
I give you all my love and affection
That my body has to give
I give you everything I have to offer
Run with my affections, girl
Take my love and cherish it always
As long as you may live
For as long as you live, I will love you
Get funky with me, child
Let's have fun and dance together
Don't you see, oh, you're
You're amazing
Sweet to me, sweet baby
You're sweet and I love you
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kelinaayers295
NOW THIS IS MY FAVORITE SONG THAT'S MISSING FROM MY
MUSIC LIBRARY I HAVEN'T HEARD IN MANY YEARS, GREAT SONG,
MUSIC, FABULOUS BEATS & RYTHYM IS TRULY AMAZING,
WOW WHAT MORE CAN I SAY
I RATE THEM #1--100%
TO THE MAX.
@kimbronson3520
Loving this throwback in 2022. I'm playing this nonstop like it's a NEW HIT!!
@shirleybutler2623
OMG Kim You just hit a homerun with those comments 👌I grew up on this magical sound so grateful to have lived through this era of beautiful music this kind of music will never go out of style 💯👌This beautiful classic just moves one's soul in the right direction 💃💃💃Kim the lyrics that yank ur heartstrings for decades 💃💃💃💕💕💕Do U Agree??? This is what true talented sounds like 💯🔥 A trip down memory lane good ode days I was in my twenties carefree 😛😛💃💃💃💃👌Still listening how about March 18 2022
@xboxproductions657
@Shirley Butler I believe both of you are 110% correct I’m jamming to this like it’s 1980! But I’m only 20 so unfortunately I wasn’t around then!
@bunnylee9202
DAMN RIGHT AND ALWAYS WILL
@gorgeous814
Me too! 😁
@goodvibesonly476
Same here! 💯🔥
@kenholloway631
40 years later, MC & Con Funk Shun have stood the test of time. At 60, this jam still gets this old man movin! 👍
@DaisyAnnabelle6
Ken Holloway I’m 62 and still dancing in my living room thinking I’m a young lady at the club at Fort Ord, California in 1982.
@kenholloway631
Kitt katt Age is nothing but a number! Never stop being that “young lady”. 👍
@charlesalford2262
Right on brother 👊