Funky Sounds Nurtured in the Fertile Soil of Memphis That Smell of Rock is an album by Eric Mercury. Released in 1971, it contains the hit single, "I Can Smell That Funky Music". The album was successful, registering on the RPM 100 Albums chart in Canada.

Background The album was arranged and produced by Steve Cropper. It was released on Enterprise ENS-1020 in August / September 1971.Record World, September 4, 1971 – Page 8 ALBUM PRODUCT, FUNKY SOUNDS NURTURED IN THE FERTILE SOIL OF MEMPHIS THAT SMELL OF ROCK ERIC MERCURY-Enterprise ENS 1020x (Stax)Both Sides Now Publications – Enterprise Album Discography by David Edwards and Mike Callahan, ENS-1020 – Funky Sounds – Eric Mercury (1971)

The title printed on the album's original record label is Funky... Rock. Sometimes it is also referred to as Funky SoundsRPM Weekly, Volume 16 No. 18 December 18, 1971 – Page 14 RPM100 ALBUMS December 18, 1971, This week 95, 1 week Ago ..., 2 weeks ago ..., FUNKY SOUNDS... Eric Mercury-Enterprise-ENS1020-Q or Funky Rock.Record World, September 4, 1971 – Page 24 THE FM AIRPLAY REPORT, WBUS-FM/MIAMI, FUNKY ROCK-Eric Mercury-Enterprise

Reception In the 4 September 1971 issue of Record World, the reviewer believes Mercury "should have no trouble going that much further when word of the album gets around."Record World, September 4, 1971 – Page 8 ALBUM PRODUCT, FUNKY SOUNDS NURTURED IN THE FERTILE SOIL OF MEMPHIS THAT SMELL OF ROCK ERIC MERCURY-Enterprise ENS 1020x (Stax)

In the 4 December 1971 issue of RPM Weekly, the reviewer wrote that Mercury's voice is much improved and soulful and thought the album would "smash his way up the charts with no trouble".RPM Weekly, Volume 16. No. 16 December 4, 1971 – Page 10 NEW ALBUMS, FUNKY SOUNDS NURTURED IN THE FERTILE SOIL OF MEMPHIS THAT SMELL OF ROCK – Eric Mercury (Enterprise) ENS 1020-Q It was also written in the same issue that was proving his point with his Enterprise single and album.RPM Weekly, Volume 16. No. 16 December 4, 1971 – Page 17 Eric Mercury, described as the "originator of Canadian soul" is proving his point with new Enterprise single and album.

According to the 11 March 1972 issue of RPM Weekly, Stax-Enterprise artist, Eric Mercury's album had favorable reviews throughout the United States. There were now plans for Mercury and Steve Cropper to produce a second album for the label in Toronto, and he would be the first Stax act to do this.RPM Weekly, Volume 17 No. 4 March 11, 1972 – Page 31 ERIC MERCURY STIRS LOS ANGELES PRESS

Airplay It was reported by Record World in the magazine's 4 September issue that the album was getting airplay at four FM stations.Record World, September 4, 1971 – Page 24 THE FM AIRPLAY REPORT

It was reported in the 18 December 1971 issue of RPM Weekly that with the single "I Can Smell That Funky Music" experiencing a national breakout in Canada, Eric Mercury and Allan Katz, the national advertising chief for Polydor, the distributor for Enterprise Records had just completed their trip through Central & Western Canada. In addition to success of the single, the album was getting heavy air play from several progressive FM stations.RPM Weekly, Volume 16 No. 18 December 18, 1971 – Page 10 MERCURY'S "FUNKY MUSIC" A NATIONAL BREAKOUT

Charts For the week of 18 December 1971, Funky Sounds debuted at No. 95 in the RPM Weekly RPM 100 Albums chart.RPM Weekly, Volume 16 No. 18 December 18, 1971 – Page 14 RPM100 ALBUMS December 18, 1971, This week 95, 1 week Ago ..., 2 weeks ago ..., FUNKY SOUNDS... Eric Mercury-Enterprise-ENS1020-Q The album peaked at No. 58 for the week of 26 February 1972.RPM Weekly, Volume 17 No. 2 February 26, 1972 – Pages 17 – 18 RPM100 ALBUMS February 26, 1972, This week 58, 1 week ago 67, 2 weeks ago 70, FUNKY SOUNDS Eric Mercury-Enterprise-ENS1020-QRPM Weekly, Volume 17 No. 3 March 4, 1972 – Pages 17 – 18 RPM100 ALBUMS March 4, 1972, This week 75, 1 week ago 58, 2 weeks ago 67 FUNKY SOUNDS Eric Mercury-Enterprise-ENS1020-Q It was still in the chart for the week of 11 March.RPM Weekly, Volume 17 No. 4 March 11, 1972 – Pages 17 – 18 RPM100 ALBUMS March 11, 1972, This week 89, 1 week ago 75, 2 weeks ago 58 FUNKY SOUNDS Eric Mercury-Enterprise-ENS1020-Q

Tracks Side A "I Can Smell That Funky Music" (Eddie Floyd, Mack Rice, Steve Cropper) – 3:49 "Like It Should Be" (William Smith) – 3:37 "Stop Looking Down" (Mary Williams, Cropper) – 3:00 "It's Time for Me to Love You" (Eric Mercury, Cropper) – 9:23

Side B "Don't Stop the Feeling" (Mack Rice, Cropper, Tommy Tate) – 3:07 "Wrap Me in a Map" (Mercury, Cropper) – 3:53 "Listen With Your Eyes" (Carson Whitsett, Mercury) – 3:18 "A Gift to You" (Williams, Rice, Cropper) – 3:43 "Over In Arkansas" (Mercury, Williams, Cropper) – 4:24

Personnel Eric Mercury – lead vocals Jim Johnson – bass Richie Simpson – drums Paul Cannon – guitar Steve Cropper – guitar Jay Spell – piano, organ William "Smitty" Smith – organ TMI staff – backing vocals

References

External links Discogs – Eric Mercury – Funky Sounds Nurtured In The Fertile Soil Of Memphis That Smell Of Rock