musicology #418

AfterTheStorm #3

(Ludovico Einaudi – Ora)

Deeply profound slice of the universal language from communicator supreme Ludovico Einaudi.
Words could never do it justice so i’ll leave it to the man to ’speak’

musicology #416

AfterTheStorm #1

(Mulatu Astatqe – Tezeta)

Day one..
Beautiful piece of musicology that has always felt to me like bathing in sunlight at the break of day.
‘Son’..this one’s for you.

musicology #403

Catharsis #1

(Lord Creator – I’m Wasting Time)

Still struggling to find direction on themusicologist. It’s not inspiration that’s the problem, (music always delivers), or that I don’t have themes in mind maybe it’s a simple matter of the fallout from the metamorphosis that I am in the middle of. Want it straight?

My partner, (and mother of our children), has, after twenty years, called time on our relationship for the second, (and final), time in 12 months. Why am I laying this out here on themusicologist? ’cause it’s distracting, painful and needs exorcising and where better to get some therapy than here through the form that for me has always delivered catharsis.

Don’t worry though as I’m certainly not going to let the black cloud descend. Nietzsche once wrote, (in The Genealogy Of Morals)

“All instincts which do not find a vent outside oneself turn inwards” and that in a sentance sums up what themusicologist is for me…a vent for my instincts.

First up is a piece from Kendrick Patrick a.k.a Lord Creator who has already featured on themusicologist with his majestic 1968 cut Such Is Life. Produced by Vincent Chin and released on his Top Ranking Randy’s label in the first half of the 1960’s.

musicology #397

Sound&Fury #1

(The Poets Of Rhythm – Guiding Resolution)

“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. – William Shakespere -

I am utilising this quote NOT because that is my belief regarding the journey but because this theme, (unlike some), signifies nothing so my advice, (if needed), is “don’t waste time looking under rocks for scorpions”. There’s nothing deep about this theme other than the music.

First up is a majestic piece of musicology from German born, (and raised), hipsters ‘The Poets Of Rhythm’ who in the 90’s began their journey to redifine the parameters of Authentic ‘Funk’ with their fantasic sound. This cut is from their 2001 set Discern/Define. Anyone who knows, (as well as those who don’t), will, I hope, agree that this groove is as good as ‘it’, (the genre), gets. Soul and Funk was my entry into the world of clubbing and DeeJaying in 1985 on London’s  ‘Rare Groove’ scene and I can assure you that had this been around then it would have been well and truly rinsed..

musicology #367

SuchIsLife #1

(Lord Creator – Such Is Life)

As promised, new theme kicks off today concerning musical wisdom as laid down by various Cats from across the musical spectrum, inspired by today’s slice of incredible musicology from Trinidadian singer, songwriter and sufferer,Kentrick Patrick, (A.K.A Lord Creator), who penned this unbelievable 1968 marrow trembler while down on his luck living in a tree!! in Jamaica having found himself ‘on the floor’ after a career stretching back to the dawn of Ska recording for the likes of Sir Coxsone and more prominently the producer Vincent ‘Randy’ Chin. In answer to his downturn in fortunes..Creator had this pearl of wisdom to say

“That is in my days of suffereation and alcohol, when I had nothing, when I could not pay rent, when I could not find food for me and my children to eat. While sleeping up in a plum tree with a pregnant woman, I put together a melody, and that is how I recorded the song called, ‘Such Is Life’. It was not a hit, it did not get much airplay, but it meant a lot to me”

For me this cut sums up the essence of music’s incredible power to communicate emotions..Respect is due to Alan from musical storeroom Honest Jon’s who brought me in on this one a few weeks back after a dialogue concerning music and the ‘Project’. I am eternally greatful..

“One day you got plenty money yeah…such is life, such is life,
Sometimes you ain’t got a penny no, such is life, such is life…..

musicology #345

AlternativeSoundtrack4 #12

(Tito Puente – Dance Of The Headhunters)

On today’s piece of dialogue we hear the return of George C Scott, (Bert the Headhunter). Having stormed out of Sarah’s apartment Eddie finds and sits down at a poker table where he loses 20 bucks, he leaves and happens apoun ‘Bert’ in a local bar. The ‘Headhunter’ buys him a drink and proceeds to tell him in no uncertain terms where he went wrong the other night and offers Eddie a chance to take another shot at Minnesota Fats…. But this time with him as the backer. Eddie refuses due to Bert’s percentage demand and gets an ominous warning to be careful where he tries the Hustle…

The music is courtesy of Ernesto Antonio, ‘Tito’ Puente, Jr aka ‘El Ray’, (The King), prolific Latin Jazz/Mambo percussionist and extraordinary Timbales player who is credited with bringing the music of South America into the ‘mainstream’. This one is taken from his 1960 album Tamba and also features, (among others), Ray Barretto.

musicology #318

SongsOf Protest&Freedom#4

(Fela Kuti – Colonial Mentality)

Utilising the universal language to communicate protest is not as easy as it sounds as there are many forces at work that try to silence the minstrel from speaking the truth and for themusicologist no one signifies this more than musicologist and freedom fighter supreme..Fela Anikulapo Kuti who was a constant thorn in the Nigerian, (and other African ’state’), Government’s side.

Third time featured on themusicologist for a Cat who certainly walked it like he talked it. Fortunately someone out there has translated and transcribed the lyrics for this 1977, (borrowed from the LP Sorrow, Tears & Blood), cut otherwise It would be hard for many of us to follow, (although not to understand), and for that I am extremely grateful.

LISTEN TUNE…

musicology #305

Live&Direct#2

(Fela Kuti – Mistake – Live)

Day two of the theme has an element of synchronicity for me as the performance was recorded in Berlin…what has that got to do with anything I hear you say? well not only does one of my most valued ‘brethren’ live there but the woman in my life is there today working on/at the film festival. Couldn’t resist or pass up this ‘oppo’ to throw down a second piece on themusicologist by the legend that is, Fela Kuti.

Recorded in 1978 a year after his Kalakuta Republic had been destroyed by a thousand soldiers during which horror his elderly mother had been thrown out of a window suffering fatal injuries with Fela almost being beaten to death for his non-stop scathing critique of Nigerian politics. Word has it that after the tour most of the band left him as he intended to use all the proceeds to fund his election campaign.

Perhaps THE most political musician of all time Fela was his own project and an ‘Existentialist’ in the truest sense. NEVER allowing anyone to deny him the freedom to say and do what he thought right. The hugely influential philosopher Martin Heidegger spoke about Authenticity in relation to one’s life and for themusicologist Fela lived life in a way that, (among others), Heidegger would have been proud of.

musicology #292

JamaicanVocalGroupAction #3

(Kingstonians – Singer Man)

Going back to what I wrote on day one of the theme about the sweet sounds of Jamaica being inspirational and lifting my sometimes troubled Soul. This cut produced by one of my favourite producers and foundation Jamaican musicologists Derrick ‘One Stop’ Harriott ranks high for themusicologist. Quality piece of late Sixties Reggae that many a young suedehead of all colours and flavours has and does skank to.

musicology #290

JamaicanVocalGroupAction #1

(Johnny & The Attractions – Young Wings Can Fly)

New theme on themusicologist featuring some of the cream of the Island’s musicologists. The music of Jamaica has been a feature of my musical education from my earliest days thanks, especially to two of my uncles, Dell and ‘Johnny One Stop’. Like many a youngblood growing up on the streets of London through the Seventies and Eighties Jamaican music loomed large. Starting in the early Seventies with groups like the Wailers and the Heptones, (both will be featured), and evolving backwards with the inner sanctum of Rocksteady and Roots as the Seventies moved into the Eighties Reggae has always been close to my heart. I learnt a lot about life through the sounds of the Groups, Artists and Producers whose music touched my soul with their authentic cries of ‘the struggle’ for survival and freedom.

Many’s the time I have turned to and found solace in the sounds of Jamaica, from Independence Ska all the way through to ‘Computerised’. So this week is a tribute to a small selection of the Cats who have shaped my life with their ‘weeping and a wailing’

First up is one from the second half of the sixties, released in the UK on Doctor Bird during 1968. Produced by Sonia Pottingers Gayfeet team delivered in a Rock Steady style by a group called Johnny & The Attractions….doesn’t get much better than this as far as I’m concerned.

musicology #284

twolegendsclash #7

(The Haitian Orchestra – Meringue D’Amour)

Day seven of the twolegends…two more uptempo cuts and then it’s downtempo until Saturday. Today’s cut features Sidney Bechet blowing Soprano, (the instrument he single handedly introduced to modern music), as well as piano legend Willie ‘ The Lion ‘ Smith keeping time, Olin Alderhold plucking bass, Leo Warney on the drums and Kenneth Roane on the trumpet. Recorded in New York on November 22nd 1939. Maybe not as technical or improvisational as many of the other Bechet recordings but, for me, one of the most infectious…I can’t get enough of this one. BIG tune down themusicologist way.

musicology #267

sleighbellsring #15

(Owen Gray – Collins Greetings)

Was just about to lay down a doo wop slice of the christmas pie until this one floated out of the speakers…

Instinctively I would say it’s a Duke Reid piece of Rocksteady, I have it by someone else.., (I think it’s a cut of ‘People Get Ready’ by Alton Ellis ), but as it’s Owen Gray it could also be a Coxsone production. Whoever produced it…well done and thank you.

musicology #262

sleighbellsring #10

(The Mighty Sparrow – Winter Wonderland)

Slipping and sliding, (on the ice and snow), out of the sufferers and into some classics…First up is a 1964 cut from none other than the Mighty Sparrow..whose voice, timing and all round vocal dexterity is as good as it gets. Known universally as the ‘Calypso King Of The World’ the Sparrow deserves to be known beyond the confines of genre. Expect To hear more from this Cat in 2009..until then hold this one.

musicology #249

birthdaybashsoul&funk #4

(The Equals – Funky Like A Train)

you know what … life is sweet like sugar at the moment and I’m enjoying it to the max. I would even go so far as to say it’s all good. I’ve got my mind right and it’s time for action. Over the past few weeks things and time have been synchronising harmoniously and ‘opportunity’ has been knocking hard on my door.

Iv’e let the kid in, we have sat down and reasoned, allowed our’self’ to let go and moved on, together, to face the dawning of the new day…where the sun is shining.

Today’s cut is courtesy of another London based group, The Equals, whose original members came from as far afield as Jamaica and Guyana but also included two local kids from Holloway and Islington, (hence the name ‘Equals’) . Hooking up in 1965 they tasted success in 1968 with a pop tune ‘Baby Come Back’, (about as far away from today’s cut as could be imagined).

Another BIG tune on the Rare Groove scene that was, for a while, one of the most sought after pieces of the day changing hands for around £50 which was a lot of money 20 odd years ago. themusicologist unearthed a copy of the 7″ in a ‘Junk-Shop’ in London’s ’salubrious’ New Cross for the princely sum of 10 pence !!! and rinsed it for the next couple of years. Can’t remember if it was ever on a LP and like I said this was LONG before the days of CD’s, Ebay and of course MP3’s so to find a copy was true to the genre’s name, RARE.

Can’t remember exactly but from memory I think that the year of release was 1976 maybe even 1974.

musicology #248

birthdaybashsoul&funk #3

(Cymande – The Message)

Today’s slice from the ‘birthdaybash’ pie was one of the ‘Rare Groove’ anthems that NEVER failed to shake London’s floors in the mid 80’s. If themusicologist was compiling a top ten of cuts that were the soundtrack to them days this would definately be one. HEAVY funk from a London based collective of West Indian players who blended all the musical flavours of the day to deliver an almost unique sound.

Apparently discovered rehearsing in a Soho club, (there’s that place again!!), by producer John Schroeder who obviously knew quality when he heard it and signed them immediately. This was their first recording, released on the Janus, (Chess), label in 1972.

Players:

Ray King – Vocals/Percussion
Joey Dee – Vocals/Percussion
Steve Scipio – Bass
Sam Kelly – Drums
Derek Gibbs – Soprano/Alto Sax
Pablo Gonsales – Congas
Peter Serreo – Tenor Sax
Mike Rose – Alto/Flute/Bongos
Patrick Patterson – Guitar

musicology #242

soul&boogie #3

(Change – Paradise)

For themusicologist one of the many benefits of listening to and learning from the ‘boogie’ is the genre’s optimism. At the time, (certainly in England), the outlook was BLEAK. Margaret Thatcher, (and crew), had torn the heart out of the country and begun to establish their ideology on the nation.

Free Market, ‘Entrepenurial’, State backed Capitalism where the individual was more important than the collective. I’m not about to go ‘into one’ on the political philosophy of the times all I will say is that as an 11 year old in 1979 just about to start secondary school it certainly had a huge impact on me. Greed became the order of the day which in my opinion had a negative impact on society at large. The boogie on the other hand had a positive effect bringing people together ‘under a groove’.

The group in today’s spotlight were formed in 1979, (in Bologna), by Italian producers Jacques Fred Petrus and Mauro Malavasi and with their first album ‘The Glow Of Love’ enjoyed instant success. Obviously Luther Vandross as lead singer played a part but more than that the group had ’style’ and so even after Luther’s one album contribution they managed to evolve and continue to deliver.

The importance of ‘Boogie’ to the development of what became known as ‘House’ is unquestionable and this cut from their second album, (Miracles), is a 5 minute slice of Boogie, with a capital B.
Tight drums, pucker bass line, excellent production and the perfect vocal from Diva Gray as the cherry on the cake.

musicology #226

communication #4

(Alton Ellis – Breaking Up)

today’s slice of the communication pie is a 1968 cut credited to Tommy McCook and the Supersonics, (The Treasure Isle musical backbone), with no mention of the singer anywhere on the label. It is, of course, delivered in finest style by the unmistakeable voice of the Godfather of ‘Rock Steady’, Alton Nehemiah Ellis who, as some of you know, passed away this month.

Probably better known for his Studio1 version, this is the one he cut for Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid’s, (The Trojan), musical powerhouse, Treasure Isle. Released on an early, (Orange label), Trojan 45. . such a top ranking early reggae classic that it’s ‘easy’ to pass over due to it’s familiarity but there’s a chance that some of you may not have heard it and more than that the message cuts especially deep for themusicologist at this time so it had to be flung down.

Alton, come in brother man and let the people know what you’re talking about.

“when you turn and you walk through the door…(ahhh ahhh)”

musicology #168

malevocals2 #6

(Fela Kuti – Sorrow, Tears & Blood)

didn’t throw one down yesterday…late night Friday and then headed straight out of ‘the smoke’ for some country air…slept for most of the day and be the time we returned it was too late.

this last cut of the malevocals is a song that has been getting a lot of exposure over the last few weeks and even though the cat in question may not be especially well known for his singing it was as a vocalist that he began his career.

as far as legends go ‘Fela’ stood as tall as anyone. almost singlehandedly inventing, (along with drummer Tony Allen), the genre known as ‘AfroBeat’. the life and times of Fela Kuti are well documented so i’ll leave it down to the music to provide an insight into the man.

taken from his 1977 album ‘Sorrow, Tears & Blood’ this is the title track about political conditions in his homeland. to say that Fela was an activist and thorn in the side of the government is an understatement for a man who was beaten to within an inch of his life, imprisoned on trumped up charges and hounded at every turn. but it never stopped him making powerful, immortal slices of music that communicated on many levels.

Fela was and still is an example of how music is the most effective form of communicating the message and is, as far as I’m concerned, the only ‘language’ that transcends all ‘boundries’

“Everybody run, run, run
everybody scatter, scatter….”

musicology #164

malevocals2 #2

(Amsterdam – Jacques Brel)

stepping outside of the sounds of Jamaica and blazing new ground with a singer from Belgium who themusicologist came across by pure chance one night when I fell asleep on the sofa with the ‘Ned Kelly’ on and was woken from my slumber not only by this cats voice, but just as importantly his passionate delivery.

I must admit I was blown away and having never listened to a song sung in French I vowed to dig some of Jacques Brel’s work up and aquaint myself with it. I can’t translate a word of it but after watching and listening to this live performance of his on the documentary it brought tears to my eyes and sent a shiver up my spine…in other words I felt it.

apparently he was a huge star in France and obviously Belgium and I can hear why. He pulled no punches and was known and well loved for his ‘protest’ songs as much as his songs of love…

it was this 1964 cut that woke me from my slumber. it’s a song about Amsterdam, sailors on shore leave and the so called dregs of society about whom Brel was a passionate defender.

David Bowie is a big fan of Brel’s, (and this song in particular), recording it first in 1970 for a John Peel session live at the BBC.