The Counts
The Counts were an American soul and funk band originally formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1968 as The Fabulous Counts. They gained local acclaim as an instrumental group and backing band before shortening their name and releasing key albums on multiple labels.
The group started as a teenage instrumental ensemble led by organist Mose Davis, guitarist Leroy Emmanuel, saxophonist Demo Cates (also known as Demetrius "Demo" Gates), along with early members like Jim White on tenor sax, Raoul Keith Mangrum on percussion, and drummer Andrew T. Gibson. Managed by former boxer Fred McClure, they backed acts like the Metros and built a reputation jamming locally.
Key Members...
Fabulous Counts (1968) Mose Davis, Leroy Emmanuel, Demo Cates, Jim White, Raoul Keith Mangrum, Andrew Gibson Keyboards, guitar, saxes, tenor sax, percussion, drums
The Counts (1971–1976) Mose Davis, Leroy Emmanuel, Demo Cates, Jimmy Jackson, Jimmy Brown Keyboards/vocals, guitar/vocals, saxes/vocals, drums/vocals, saxes/vocals
In 1968, producer Richard "Popcorn" Wylie helped them record their debut single "Jan, Jan" on Moira Records, which nearly charted on the US R&B list; it later became their Cotillion album. They signed with Westbound Records, dropping "Fabulous," and released their 1971 debut LP What's Up Front That Counts, which hit No. 193 on the US charts, plus singles under pseudonyms like Lunar Funk's "Mr. Penguin Pt. 1" (#29 R&B).
Frustrated at Westbound, core members relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1973, signing with Aware Records under Michael Thevis. They issued Love Sign (1973) and Funk Pump (1975), both charting successfully with funky, horn-driven tracks.
The band effectively split in 1976 as members pursued other paths, though they reunited in 2009 with the 1976 lineup: Mose Davis (Hammond organ/vocals), Leroy Emmanuel (guitar/vocals), Demo Cates (saxes/vocals), Jimmy "Junebug" Jackson (drums/vocals), and Jimmy Brown (saxes/vocals).
Jan Jan
Written-By – Betty Jean Newsom, James Brown 3:59
A2 Simple Song
Written-By – Sylvester Stewart 3:00
A3 Hey Jude
Written-By – John Lennon-Paul McCartney 3:35
A4 The Bite
Written-By – King Floyd 2:47
A5 Soulful Strut
Written-By – Eugene Record, William Sanders 2:28
B1 Dirty Red
Written-By – Leroy Emmanuel 2:17
B2 Who's Making Love
Written-By – Betty Crutcher, Donald Davis, Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson 2:20
B3 Scrambled Eggs
Written-By – Mose Davis 2:31
B4 The Other Thing
Written-By – Mose Davis 2:39
B5 Girl From Kenya
Written-By – Popcorn Wylie, Tony Hester 2:57
B6 Jan Jan
Written-By – Mose Davis 2:15
Label: Cotillion – SD 9011
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Sixties Soul, Funk
The Fabulous Counts' Jan Jan album (1969) is a highly-regarded, gritty instrumental funk/soul record praised for its raw, dirty, yet slick Motor City sound, blending tight grooves with jazz/soul influences (Booker T., early Funk Brothers) and strong covers (James Brown, Sly Stone, Beatles) with solid originals, featuring prominent organ and horns, foreshadowing their later funk success as The Counts.
It's considered a classic of early funk, capturing a specific, soulful Detroit sound before the band went fully funky.
Influences: Strong nods to Booker T. & the M.G.'s, early Bar-Kays, James Brown, Sly & the Family Stone, and jazz-funk.
Instrumentation: Features tight organ (Mose Davis), crisp sax, and a solid rhythm section, with the organ often carrying the melody.
Content: A mix of sharp, short tracks (2-3 mins) and covers of contemporary hits alongside originals.
Standout Tracks: The title track "Jan Jan" (a hit), "The Bite," "Dirty Red," and covers like "It's a Man's World" and "Hey Jude".
Critical Reception:
"Delicious Funky Detroit Soul": Praised for its irresistible grooves and tight musicianship, serving up "a fat slice of funky Detroit soul".
"Low down gritty, sweaty, dirty but slick": Described as a perfect blend of raw energy and polished musicianship.
"A Funk Classic": Considered a strong debut and a definitive moment in early funk.
In essence, Jan Jan captures a specific, soulful moment in Detroit music history, showcasing The Fabulous Counts' talent for crafting infectious, instrumentally rich funk that was both gritty and sophisticated.
Love Sign
Written-By – Leroy Emmanuel
7:52
A2 Too Bad (You Don't Love Me)
Written-By – Leroy Emmanuel
3:35
A3 Just You, Just Me
Written-By – Mose Davis
6:58
B1 Riding High
Written-By – Mose Davis
5:40
B2 Sacrifice
Written-By – Demo Cates
3:20
B3 Counts Medley (Play It Again, Far Out, Counts Blues)
Written-By – Andreau Gibson, Demo Cates, Leroy Emmanuel, Mose Davis
9:35
Label: Aware – AA 2002
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Seventies Soul, Jazz-Funk
The Counts’ 1973 album Love Sign (Westbound Records) is a funk-soul, spacey jazz-groove record that shifts from their earlier, heavier 1971 sound. It features a dreamy, instrumental-focused atmosphere reminiscent of Lonnie Liston Smith, including the 9-minute "+Counts Medley+".
The album moves away from raw funk toward a more laid-back, "cosmic" jazz-funk fusion.
The title track "Love Sign" is described as ethereal and languid, while the album also contains the instrumental jam "+Counts Medley+".
The original LP featured a notable gatefold cover with a velvet-like illustration of Adam & Eve.
Love Sign is generally regarded as a solid, atmospheric entry in the Westbound funk catalog, often noted for its mellower, expansive instrumental jams.
Modern reviewers often call it a "brilliant" and overlooked gem, noting that original pressings—which featured a distinctive velvet-textured gatefold cover—are highly sought after by vinyl enthusiasts. The album has seen several reissues, including a 2021 Japanese remaster and digital versions available on platforms like Amazon Music.