From 1971 to the present day, Chocolate Buttermilk Band has been a prolific band proficient in funk, rock, and soul alike. Founder Larry Akles formed the group after honing his chops in an Air Force ensemble, applying skills gleaned there to support legends ranging from Earth, Wind & Fire to Funkadelic.
Aside from playing behind others, Chocolate Buttermilk Band developed a following in Fayetteville, North Carolina, as a cover band to be reckoned with—and released a handful of 45’s and 12” singles in the 1980s on its own label. While none were distributed widely enough to generate national chart action, each and every one—including the fiery R&B jam “Can’t Let Go” and electro-funk banger “Freaking”—went on to become cherished collector’s items highly revered by modern soul enthusiasts.
From 1971 to the present day, Chocolate Buttermilk Band has been a prolific band proficient in funk, rock, and soul alike. Founder Larry Akles formed the group after honing his chops in an Air Force ensemble, applying skills gleaned there to support legends ranging from Earth, Wind & Fire to Funkadelic.
Aside from playing behind others, Chocolate Buttermilk Band developed a following in Fayetteville, North Carolina, as a cover band to be reckoned with—and released a handful of 45’s and 12” singles in the 1980s on its own label. While none were distributed widely enough to generate national chart action, each and every one—including the fiery R&B jam “Can’t Let Go” and electro-funk banger “Freaking”—went on to become cherished collector’s items highly revered by modern soul enthusiasts.
Chicago-based Past Due Records has been unearthing soulful musical treasures for over a decade and bringing them to light for appreciative listeners beyond the scope of their original release scales. A compilation of Chocolate Buttermilk Band’s indie releases entitled Head Games arrived in 2019, and now the label is following it up with the first new recording from the act in several decades.
“No Money - No Honey” is an electrically charged synth-R&B banger fueled by snazzy keyboard strokes and horn fills alongside a sparse but driving beat topped with earthily resonating lead vocals and a quickly engaging hook. Over the duration of the track, Akles and company strike a sizzling match of raw early-‘80s energy and up-to-the-minute finesse that has the potential to draw fans of the funk of all ages to the dance floor in droves.
“No Money - No Honey” arrives on digital platforms and a strictly limited 7” vinyl pressing on May 6. Take a funky First Listen to the joint below, and let us know how the Chocolate Buttermilk Band moves ya’!
Chocolate Buttermilk Band
“No Money – No Honey”