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.
If You're In Need Of Love
Con Funk Shun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All alone again
What do you do, when you're in need of love?
Do you wait, do you cry?
Do you let life pass you by?
What do you do, when you're in need of love?
Oh, if you're in need
Don't you know that if you're in need
I'll give you everything you're searching for
All your words go unspoken
There's no one to reply
What do you say, when you're in need of love?
Why don't you put your mind at ease?
'Cause I know what you need, yeah
And I'll show you right
'Cause you're in need of love
Oh, if you're in need
I can give you everything
Don't you know that if you're in need
I've got everything
Everything you're searching for
Oh, if you're in need
Baby, I can give you everything
Don't you know that if you're in need
I'll give you everything you're searching for
Everything you're searching for
(Searching)
If you're in need of love
I can you everything you're searching
Oh, oh, oh
Whoa-oh, if you're in need
I can give you everything
If you're in need
I've got everything
Everything you're searching for
Oh, if you're in need of love
Baby, I can give you everything
If you're in need, you know that
I can you everything you're searching for
Oh, oh, oh
If you're in need
Baby, I can give you everything
Don't you know that if you're in need
I'll give you everything you're searching for
Everything you're searching for
(Searching)
I can give you all my lovin'
I can give you all my love
I can you everything you're searching
Oh, oh, oh
The opening lines of the song, "So it seems that you've found yourself all alone again, what do you do, when you're in need of love?" introduces the singer who is dealing with loneliness and heartache. The lyrics poignantly highlight the feeling of emptiness that one feels when they are not loved, and it makes them question the course of their life. The chorus, "Oh, if you're in need, I can give you everything, don't you know that if you're in need, I'll give you everything you're searching for" is a declaration by the singer that they are here to help the singer through this hard time. The song's message is that if you're experiencing loneliness or heartbreak, you shouldn't isolate yourself or let life pass you by; instead, you should allow people to be there for you and remember that there is always someone who cares.
The song continues with the lyrics, "All your words go unspoken, there's no one to reply, what do you say when you're in need of love?" Here, the singer is highlighting the importance of communication in relationships. The lack of response from a loved one makes the singer feel hurt and misunderstood. The singer encourages the singer to speak their mind and put their mind at ease. The lines "I know what you need, and I'll show you right, 'cause you're in need of love" indicate that the singer has an understanding of the singer's situation and is willing to show them how to deal with the situation.
Overall, the song If You're In Need of Love is a message of hope and encouragement to those who are going through a hard time. The lyrics emphasize the importance of communication and not isolating oneself when experiencing loneliness or heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
So it seems that you've found yourself
It seems to me that you are in a situation where you are by yourself.
All alone again
Without anyone around, just like before.
What do you do, when you're in need of love?
What actions do you take when you have an urgent desire for affection?
Do you wait, do you cry?
Do you hold off and hope for better times, or do you let your emotions out?
Do you let life pass you by?
Do you let time flow without fulfilling your desires?
Oh, if you're in need
If you have a need that is not being met
I can give you everything
I am capable of providing you with all of your desires
Don't you know that if you're in need
Are you not aware that if you require assistance
I've got everything
I have everything necessary to fulfill your needs
All your words go unspoken
You say nothing, and nobody responds to you
There's no one to reply
Nobody is there to respond to your inquiries.
What do you say, when you're in need of love?
What should you convey when you have a desire for affection?
Why don't you put your mind at ease?
Why don't you calm down and relax?
'Cause I know what you need, yeah
Because I am aware of what you require
And I'll show you right
I will guide you.
'Cause you're in need of love
Because you are yearning for affection.
Baby, I can give you everything
Darling, I have the ability to grant you all of your wishes
Everything you're searching for
Whatever it is you're looking for, I can provide
If you're in need of love
If you're feeling unloved
I can you everything you're searching
I am capable of granting all your desires.
Whoa-oh, if you're in need
Oh wow, if you require assistance,
If you're in need
If you are in dire need
Don't you know that if you're in need
Are you not aware that if you lack something,
Everything you're searching for
Everything you require to be happy and cared for
I can give you all my lovin'
I can offer you my love wholeheartedly
I can give you all my love
All the love I possess, I can provide to you.
Contributed by Nathaniel I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
James Winston
These dudes could come funky or with some silky smooth ballads, not to mention great musicians
Henry Hawkins
Riding around bumping this in a 95 Lexus LS 400 a month ago. Several youngsters asked me who sang it, I told them Confunkshun. A week later they were riding around bumping this song. 😁Just goes to show you, old skool never die. And these kids deserve to be exposed to REAL MUSIC.
K Joneś
Yeah! This day and age they don’t know anything about music! They have these ratchet artists who stick their tongue out and belt a grunt, and they have the AUDACITY to call it music! What an INSULT!!
Armchairwoman Mao
Perfection from first to last note. Contemporary music NEEDS to be like this again.
Jamie Jam
Michael Cooper and Felton Pilotes voices were the formula to go with the FUNK!!
henry Williams
This music will never die! REAL REAL TALENT!!
Aam 1999
👌👌👌
Spentheman
I just LOVE Con Funk Shun's music, particularly this song
Kelly Lucas
Con Funk shun had a way of captivating your body and soul when they mixed the beat, bass, brass, and heart felt vocals with Michael Cooper and Felton Pilate. They were good alone, but awesome together. I remember many a night driving home to songs on 7.
Leonore G
I can hear this song all day!