The Highlighters Band - Poppin' Pop Corn b/w The Funky Sixteen Corners

Year Released: 2000 (first released in 1969 on Three Diamonds records and RoJam)
Label: Stones Throw Records
Genre: Funk / Soul / Instrumental

Description:
The 2000 Stones Throw Records reissue of “Poppin’ Pop Corn / The Funky Sixteen Corners” brings renewed attention to The Highlighters Band, a mid-1960s funk ensemble whose tight grooves and punchy horn arrangements epitomize early funk and soul.

“Poppin’ Pop Corn” is a rhythm-driven instrumental featuring lively horns, crisp drum grooves, and a propulsive bassline, making it a quintessential example of vintage funk energy. The B-side, “The Funky Sixteen Corners,” delivers high-energy riffs, syncopated rhythms, and dynamic horn stabs, demonstrating the band’s mastery of dancefloor-ready funk.

Collectors take note: original 1969 pressings of The Funky Sixteen Corners in near-mint condition can fetch upwards of €1000, while Poppin’ Pop Corn in similar condition commands around €300. The Stones Throw reissue preserves the analog warmth and tight live-band energy, making these tracks accessible to new audiences while honoring their rare-groove legacy.

Both sides remain staples in DJ sets and rare-groove collections, bridging the past and present with timeless funk rhythms.