musicology #592
05 Oct 2010 2 Comments
in America, Funk, themusicologist Tags: 1973, funk mp3, Kool and The Gang mp3, Steve Marriott, themusicologist, This Is You This Is Me mp3, Wild and Peaceful mp3
Flow #11
(Kool & The Gang – This Is You, This Is Me)
Tried to lay this one down yesterday but my service provider wasn’t responding to my calls for internet freedom so was stuck behind the bullshit. Circumnavigated it though so here it is…prime slice of 1973 funk from Kool and The Gangs top ranking LP ‘Wild And Peaceful’. Some BIG tunes on the album and this is one of them.
Special mention goes out to Tony Blue who, (along with Stevie Marriott), had to make a quick exit from a New York club in the early 80′s with members of Kool & The Gang on the warpath sporting weapons of mass destruction..(Shotgun). Every time I hear their music it reminds me of it.
musicology #591
03 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
in 80's Boogie, America, duets, Funk, JazzFunk, mod/ern/ist, Rare Groove, themusicologist Tags: bobby womack, Boogie mp3, donny hathaway, Janis Siegel, Leon Ware mp3, Manhattan Transfer, Marlena Shaw, marvin gaye, Minnie Ripperton, quincy jones, themusicologist
Flow #10
Leon Ware – That’s Why I Came To California
Final cut of today’s 3 course ‘meal’ is one of my all time ‘Boogie’ favourites from a musicologist whose name should be known far and wide but sadly isn’t. Singer, song writer, producer, arranger who songs have been recorded by MANY a legend, Marvin Gaye, Bobby Womack, Minnie Ripperton, Donny Hathaway, Marlena Shaw, Quincy Jones and the list goes on..this one is from 1982. BIG tune…vocal duties shared and co written by Janis Siegel of Manhattan Transfer fame..
musicology #0579
14 Sep 2010 3 Comments
in America, Funk, Lyrics, Soul, themusicologist Tags: 1972 Funk mp3, Benorce Blackmon, Bill Withers mp3, Bobbye Hall, James Gadson, Melvin Dunlap, mOare music festival, Raymond Jackson, Still Bill, themusicologist
mOareEssentials #2
(Bill Withers – Lonely Town, Lonely Street)
Round 2 of the mOare selection and I’m slipping and sliding out of the Reverend and into this marrow trembler from the magnificent Bill Withers who has always been, (and continues to be), a BIG influence on themusicologist’s heart and mind. Always a pleasure, (at least for me), to hear Bill Withers loud and whenever the opportunity arises to play one ‘out’ I like to grab it with both hands..
1972 release borrowed from his ‘Still Bill’ Set featuring the combined talents of Bobbye Hall, Benorce Blackmon, Melvin Dunlap, James Gadson, Raymond Jackson.
“You can life your life in a crowded city,
You can walk along a crowded street,
But the city really ain’t no bigger,
Than the friendly people, friendly people that you meet,
You might be a sweet young, sweet young pretty pretty,
At the dances you can’t keep your seat,
But if dances don’t lead to romances,
You might as well be born, be born with two left feet,
You might be a sweet toned sure nuff high class talker,
You might be a stone, stone expert at kissing,
But it don’t do too much good to be talkin,
Brother when there ain’t no, ain’t nobody listening,
And if you are shy just not much of a talker,
Don’t impress the people that you meet,
Might as well be a lonely walker,
In a lonely town on a lonely street….”
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musicology #578
13 Sep 2010 Leave a Comment
in America, Funk, Soul, themusicologist Tags: 1971, al green mp3, All Because mp3, funk mp3, Hamish Stuart, mOare music, themusicologist, Willie Mitchell
mOareESSENTIALS #1
(Al Green – All Because)
Back in themusicologist saddle after attending and playing at the mOare music festival over the weekend. Quality music, good crowd, excellent hosts. Met some quality people..Hamish, Claire, Cath, Paul, Owen, Ashley, (to name a few)…musical highlight had to be Hamish and his daughter Emma performing together on stage. Brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye. Can only imagine how proud he was to share a stage with her.
What did I play? ESSENTIALS. Mainly Soul and Funk but I managed to slip some Studio 1 in there too !! Festivals can be a bit tricky for the DJ as he/she is not who the crowd come to hear but I really enjoyed this one so in honour of the event I’m going to lay a weeks worth of the cuts I spun..
The first song I played was this superb slice of Funk by ‘the Reverend’ Al Green. Released, (on Capitol), in 1971..produced by urban musicologist Willie Mitchell and almost certainly featuring one of the greatest drummers to have graced the stoll the legendary Al Jackson Jr….
Listen Tune..
musicology #568
23 Aug 2010 5 Comments
in America, Curtis Mayfield, Funk, mod/ern/ist, Soul, themusicologist Tags: 1976, curtis mayfield, curtom, funk mp3, Hutson II, leroy hutson mp3, Love The Feeling mp3, rare groove mp3, soul mp3, themusicologist, Vintage Goodwood
Down The Road A Piece #4
(Leroy Hutson – Love The Feeling)
Saturday night at Vintage was B.I.G. The Soul Casino was rocking..Andy Weatherall threw down at the ‘Warehouse’ and the company kept was SUPERB. I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to make it through to see Leroy Hutson on Sunday night? but it was one of the main reasons for attending so I thought that if I stumbled around the festival into the early evening then I had a chance…
Why is Leroy such a legend?, (other than his musical genius), for those of us who had the pleasure to be ‘on the, (Rare Groove), scene’ back in the day (85-87), Leroy Hutson was one of the primary artists. His ‘Hutson II’ LP was IN DEMAND to say the least. If you were there you know what I’m talking about and to hear him perform today’s slice of the musicology pie Live and Direct was an experience never to be forgotten.
The legend wasn’t due on until 9pm so it was touch and go but I managed it, (due in part to Craig Charles who was on fire for the two and a half hours leading up to Leroy coming on). As soon as he walked on though I was buzzing and immediately found my second wind. The man proceeded to tear it up and wove his magic leaving the crowd screaming for more especially when he enticed a call and response session on today’s slice the Rare Groove classic ‘Love The Feeling’ getting the Kittens to sing “Love I Love I Love” and the Cats to sing “The way you make me feel” was as good as it gets and anyone who was there knows what I’m talking about. For me it will always be a cherished memory..Recorded for and released on Curtis Mayfield’s Curtom label in 1976.
musicology #567
22 Aug 2010 4 Comments
in Funk, instrumental, Jazz, Rhythm and Jazz, Rhythm&Blues, themusicologist, UKPressure Tags: Acid Jazz, Dean Drury, Eddie Harris, Eddie Piller, G-Spot, George Benson, Get Carter mp3, Graham Fox, Grant Green, Mark Brown, Nick Etwell, Nigel Price, Pete Whittaker, The Filthy Six mp3, themusicologist, Vintage Goodwood, Wes Montgomery
Down The Road Apiece #3
(The Filthy Six – Get Carter)
Continuing with the Vintage @ Goodwood story…(can’t believe it was a week ago !!), Saturday morning after a few hours kip, (had the breakfast call at 8:30), I crept back up to the site at around 11am and drifted around on my ‘jacks’ without much purpose until I caught a mesmerising sound floating on the breeze that compelled me to investigate further. The music was so tightly woven together it was almost like one sound…harmony. Not blowing my own trumpet but I have heard a LOT of what I consider to be superb, and I try not to use that, (or any other), word lightly, music over the years and this was no exception. The location was the ‘Soul Stage’, (curated by Eddie Piller), the scene of much of the weekends entertainment as far as I was concerned and, as is often the case I allowed my ears to be my guide….The band on stage were playing what I like to call a blend of ‘Rhythm & Jazz’ in the mould of such luminaries as Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Eddie Harris etc. My initial interest was in the guitar playing and my intention was to just give it a listen and then float off and take in the rest of the festival but the ‘Six were SO good that I couldn’t leave until the end of their set.
Quality music does that for me..once It starts I just can’t walk away until it’s finished. It was truly inspirational made even better in that I wasn’t expecting it. Basically it set the tone for the rest of the weekend which just got better and better. To finish the story later in the day I caught up with Eddie and raved about what I had just witnessed and found out that he had just released their set on his Acid Jazz Label. I kid you not ‘The Filthy Six’ are Quality with a capital Q. So in memory of my ‘discovery’ I’m laying this one on you which KICKS from start to finish.
The Tune is a rendition of the theme tune from seminal, cult English film ‘Get Carter’ which is particularly serendipitous for me as it was the first film I composed an alternative soundtrack for many moons ago when cutting and pasting film dialogue and combining it with alternative musicology was NOT done on the computer…since then I have composed alternative soundtracks for The Good Bad & The Ugly, Quadrophenia, 12 Angry Man and The Hustler and it’s about time I got another one together…
The Filthy Six are Nick Etwell, Mark Brown, Nigel Price, Pete Whittaker, Dean Drury and Graham Fox and I’m looking forward to catching them at Soul, Soul, Soul a G Spot event next week, (Sep 3rd), at ‘home’ in Soho, (London)
Listen Tune…..
musicology #516
13 Mar 2010 3 Comments
in America, duets, Funk, Soul Tags: 70's Funk mp3, bobby womack, Rufus and Chaka Khan, themusicologist, Vicki Anderson and Bobby Byrd mp3
Duets2 #6
(Vicki Anderson and Bobby Byrd)
Day six of the duets and the cat’s got my tongue again. So without delay I’ll just lay the cut down. Had it lined up as a possible for the recent covers theme but didn’t happen…so here it is. Love the Bobby Womack original and of course the Rufus and Chaka Khan version but husband and wife duo Bobby Byrd and Vicki Anderson work this one in perfect harmony.
musicology #514
11 Mar 2010 1 Comment
in Allen Toussaint, America, duets, Funk, Soul Tags: 1968, Allen Toussaint, early funk mp3, Lee Dorsey and Betty Harris mp3, Marshall Sehorn, New Orleans Soul mp3, Sansu Label, The Meters, themusicologist
Duets2 #4
(Lee Dorsey and Betty Harris – Love Lots of Lovin’)
Slipping out of Jamaica and back to America with this 1968 piece of New Orleans Soul courtesy of Deep Soul songstress Betty Harris in harmony with Crescent City native and Mod/ernist favourite Lee Dorsey. Produced by a man who has featured many times on themusicologist; Mr New Orleans….Allen Toussaint and released on his and Marshall Sehorn’s Sansu label. I’ll take an educated guess and say that it’s The Meters providing the funk but one thing is for sure and that is the contribution Allen Toussaint made to delivering some of the cream of Crescent City musicology throughout the 60′s and into the 70′s. Respect is always due.
musicology #505
02 Mar 2010 5 Comments
in America, Funk, instrumental, Jazz Tags: 1974, Bad Benson mp3, communication, cover version, Dialogue, ego, George Benson mp3, JazzFunk mp3, Paul Desmond, Take 5 mp3, themusicologist
CoversWeek2 #2
(George Benson – Take 5)
Been a long time coming but after 8 months of trials and tribulations it feels like themusicologist is back in the saddle. To be honest there have been times over the past few months when I’ve asked myself whether I should continue to invest so much time and effort in the brave new world of the hyper-real as the ‘return on investment’ is almost impossible to quantify but as the months have rolled by and this new chapter in the book of life gets written I realise how essential it is, (for me at least), to have a soundtrack as well as how much the world is changing in relation to investment. As far as I can see the only life worth living is the one you want to live and not the one forced apoun us by fear, capitalism and politricks. I live and breathe music, (always have), and without it existence would be half of what it is..communication would be even more of a struggle and the continuing and ever more valuable dialogue I find myself engaging in would feel more like a monologue.
Music facilitates learning as it challenges the I to participate and question rather than just observe and obey whereas chasing financial success at the expense of all else is a fools quest..Something I have learnt along the way is that money ain’t worth the paper it’s printed on and the pursuit of it may leave you cold, bitter and empty whereas the pursuit of success as a human being opens up the possibilities to express your self and through that connect with others who are also crawling, walking or running along the road to freedom. I say fuck the money and let’s explore the love.
Today’s cut from master Guitarist George Benson, (a Cat who begun his career at the age of EIGHT playing in an unlicensed nightclub), says it all in two words.
Selected from his 1974 set ‘Bad Benson’
musicology #484
29 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
in America, Boogie, Funk, Soul, themusicologist Tags: 1981, 80's boogie mp3, 80's soul mp3, D-Train mp3, Disco, Hubert Eaves III, James "D Train" Williams, Mtume, themusicologist, You're The One For Me mp3
SoulBoy#3
(D-Train – You’re The One For Me)
for the next 3 days, (starting today), themusicologist is going AWOL so the SoulBoy posts are going to be short but, at least as far as the music is concerned, sweet. Truth is I am starting a foundation course today and I’ll be busy with it until Sunday night so with that in mind…
Today’s cut is a classic piece of Soul from the early 1980′s. BIG on the Jazz Funk scene that rocked London’s underground towards the end of the 70′s, (in reaction to the commercialisation of Disco), and lasted right up until the mid 80′s, (before Rare Groove took up the batton)
One of my favourite cuts from the period, D-Train consisted of James “D Train” Williams on lead vocals and Hubert Eaves III, (former member of funk and soul outfit Mtume), as instrumentalist. This was the version that moved the crowd mainly due to the introduction..
“With the love I have inside of me we can turn this world around,
we can live through all eternity and we’ll never touch the ground,
We’ll take a chance to ride apoun a star to a place that’s far away,
The light of love will shine on us forever and a day….”
Soul Weekender Crew…all yours..
musicology #483
27 Jan 2010 4 Comments
in America, Curtis Mayfield, Funk, Lyrics, Mod, Social Commentary, Soul, themusicologist Tags: 1975, Billy Jack Lyrics, Billy Jack mp3, curtis mayfield mp3, funk mp3, soul mp3, themusicologist, there's no place like america today
SoulBoy#2
(Curtis Mayfield – Billy Jack)
So…after yesterday’s introduction to the musicology of Soul it’s time to turn up the heat with a cut from the 70′s..not to say that yesterday’s piece from the Miracles wasn’t ‘hotter than ten fire side’ as, for me, it most certainly is but as is often the case at the dawn of things, (the birth of Soul in this instance), it’s not always as accessible until the context is expanded and the horizon widened…
Significantly it was today’s artist that first touched both my conscious and unconscious in equal amounts beginning an appreciation for the man and his ‘language’ that started from babe in arms due, in part, to my dad who is a BIG Curtis Mayfiled, (and the Impressions), fan. One of the first LP’s that I can remember in fine detail is Curtis Live, (and it’s counterpart ‘Curtis’ you know the one with the man himself on the cover in them flared strides looking of into the sunset. I have featured and wrote about Curtis many times over the past three years so excuse me if I don’t repeat what I have already written for the sake of ‘information’.
Simply put….for me Curtis is Soul personified and his message has inspired me MANY, MANY times along the ‘way’…
Highlighted from his eponymous and hard hitting 1975 social commentary set ‘There’s No Place Like America Today’…..
Just out Monday
Run into a friend
Down the street, down the street
Where I live
Ahh ahh sad things begin
I could feel from within
From the message
From the message
He had to give
‘Bout a buddy of mine
Running out of time
His life run out of time
Somebody past noon
Shot across the room
And now the man no longer lives
Too bad about him
Too sad about him
Don’t get me wrong
The man is gone
But it’s a wonder he lived this so long
Up in the city they called him Boss Jack
But down home he was a alley cat
Ah! didn’t care nothing about being black
Ah! Billy Jack
Ahh can’t be no fun, can’t be no fun
To be shot, shot with a hand gun
Body sprawled out, you without a doubt
Running people out, there on the floor
Ah, ah bad bloody mess
Shot all up in his chest
Shot in the chest
One sided duel, gun and a fool
What a way to go
Up in the city they called him Boss Jack
But down home he was a alley cat
Ah Didn’t care nothin’ bout being black
Ah Billy Jack
musicology #0597
11 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
by themusicologist in America, Funk, mod/ern/ist, Social Commentary, Soul Tags: 2008, Brooklyn Funk Essentials mp3, For A Few Dollars More mp3, Modernist mp3, Social Commentary mp3, themusicologist, Watcha Playin mp3
Flow #16
Brooklyn Funk Essentials -For A Few Dollars More
Last day of the New York excursion…and signing out from the Big A with a cut from The Brooklyn Funk Essentials. Highly rate this collective of musicologists..proper 21st Century soundtrack..borrowed from their 2008 set ‘Watcha Playin’
LISTEN TUNE..
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