Body English / I Really Love You
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Album Summary
King Floyd's 'Body English / I Really Love You' came sliding out of the Cotillion Records stable in 1976, a year when Southern soul was still holding its ground against the disco tidal wave threatening to sweep everything off the dance floor. Floyd, the man who had already laid his mark down with the swampy, irresistible grooves that made his name, brought his signature vocal warmth and that deep Louisiana soul sensibility to this release. The production carried the hallmarks of the mid-1970s soul-funk aesthetic — lush arrangements that honored the church-rooted tradition of classic soul while leaning into the rhythmic punch that funk had introduced to the conversation. Cotillion, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records, provided the platform, and Floyd delivered two sides of music that showed a seasoned artist who knew exactly who he was and what he had to say.
Reception
- The album found its footing on the R&B charts, reflecting the loyal following King Floyd had cultivated among soul music devotees throughout the mid-1970s.
- Within soul and funk circles, critical reception honored Floyd's vocal authenticity and the craftsmanship of the musicianship supporting him on both tracks.
Significance
- This release stands as a document of mid-1970s Southern soul at a crossroads moment — funk rhythms pushing in from one side, disco pressure from the other, and King Floyd holding the soulful center with grace and conviction.
- King Floyd's vocal delivery across these two tracks reinforced his standing as a genuine soul artist of substance, a man whose instrument carried real emotional weight beyond any single moment of commercial recognition.
- The record captures the Cotillion Records sound of the era, representing the label's ongoing commitment to nurturing deep soul artists even as the broader music industry began chasing shinier, newer trends.
Tracklist
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A Body English 117
3:10
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B I Really Love You 107
3:02
Artist Details
King Floyd was a smooth soul brother out of New Orleans, Louisiana, who came up in the early 1970s and laid down one of the deepest cuts of the era with his 1970 smash hit "Groove Me," a slow-burning, hypnotic slice of swamp soul that climbed all the way to number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit number one on the R&B charts. Recorded at Malaco Studios in Jackson, Mississippi — the same hallowed ground that birthed so many Southern soul gems — Floyd's silky, understated vocal style perfectly captured that warm, late-night bayou feeling that set him apart from the harder funk coming out of James Brown's camp. Though he never quite broke through to superstardom, King Floyd's work stands as a cornerstone of Southern soul and swamp funk, and "Groove Me" remains one of those timeless records that still sounds like pure heaven when the needle drops.
