Function at the Junction

A great Motown recording that cramped on the charts and inexplicably never reached rungs it should have easily obtained. This is a sheer energy production by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier written by Shorty Long and Holland-Dozier-Holland that Motown's promotion crew lost in the shuffle in 1966; its chart numbers were embarrassing low for such a tour de force (number 97 pop and number 42 R&B). Limited promotional appearances by Long didn't help matters, but was this Long's or Motown's doing? The cookout favorite finds Shorty barking about a big bash, a function at the junction, where everyone comes to have a good time. Its pounding, relentless beat and good-time feeling has made it a popular remake item that includes renditions by Otis Day, Little Richard, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Huey Lewis, and Ramsey Lewis.