Julio 11, 2009 a 10:14 pm (Disco)
Journey To The Light [1978]
Brainstorm was well known in Southeast Michigan as a very hot club act formed in the early 70s by Chuck Overton(leader, tenor and alto sax, vocals, writing), Treaty Womack Treaty (congas, flute, vocals, and writing) and Belita Woods (vocals extraordinaire, and writing). Other members were Bob Ross (keyboards and writing), Larry Sims (trumpet and writing), Eugene Lamont Johnson (bass guitar, vocals and writing), Renell Gonsalves (drums and writing), and David Myles (guitar) Gerald Kent (lead & rhythm guitar). The band was discovered by industry icon Clarence Avant, and recorded a demo locally. This led to a contract with Clarence’s TABU label and recording sessions at Total Experience studios in Los Angeles, and later United Sound in Detroit, with Jerry Peters producing. Bob Ross left the band in 1976 and William Lloyd Wooten, of the Dramatics, joined the group.
Second LP Journey to the light was completed in 1977 and published in 1978. There was reason to believe that Brainstorm might go on to become huge, but regrettably, this sophomore effort, was a commercial disappointment. The LP didn’t provide any major hits, and the only people who bought it were Brainstorm’s hardcore followers. Regardless, Journey to the Light is generally excellent. Brainstorm had a gem of a lead singer in Belita Woods, who really soars on tunes that range from Stevie Wonder’s funky “Every Time I See You, I Go Wild!” to the quite storm pearl “If You Ever Need to Cry” and the jazzy, Roy Ayers-ish “Brand New Day.” Nor are the lead vocals of Trenita Womack (who is featured on the slow jam “Loving Just You”) and Deon Estus anything to complain about. One can speculate on the reasons why Journey to the Light wasn’t as commercially successful as Stormin’ — some would argue that none of the songs had as much disco and dancefloor appeal as “Lovin’ Is Really My Game.” At any rate, this is an album that should have done a lot better. Brainstorm went on tour with Marvin Gaye, the Isley’s , Johnny Guitar Watson , Rose Royce and many other artists. In early 1978, they shared stage in Washington DC with an up-and-comer named Peabo Bryson . Singers Delbert Nelson and Misty Love joined the tour, adding wonderful vocals.(www.discomusic.com)
Tracks:
1. We’re on Our Way Home, Pt. 1
2. Loving Just You
3. Every Time I See You, I Go Wild!
4. Brand New Day
5. Journey to the Light
6. If You Ever Need to Cry
7. We’re on Our Way Home, Pt. 2
8. Positive Thinking
Bonus
9. Journey To The Light (Disco Version)
**Listen**
Gracias a kunio por este album
1 Comments
Julio 11, 2009 a 7:07 pm (Funky)
Orgasm: The Very Best of the Westbound Years [(1972-1973) 1993]
The majority of music fans are familiar with the legendary Ohio Players through such mid- to late-’70s pop-funk hits as “Love Rollercoaster,” “Fire,” and “Fopp.” What many don’t realize is that the band had been around since the ’60s, and released a trilogy of hard funk records from 1972-1973 on the Westbound label — Pain, Pleasure, and Ecstasy — that were easily comparable to the early-’70s classics by their rival Westbound labelmates, Funkadelic. And since the albums have been out-of-print for some time, the European import Orgasm: The Very Best of the Westbound Years is a solid collection of tracks from this era. Included is the 1972 novelty hit “Funky Worm,” as well as all the sizzling title tracks from the three albums. A pair of songs from outside the trilogy is added, “Climax” (one of the collection’s best tracks) and a cover of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” both from 1974. A previously unissued track, “Ain’t That Lovin’ You (For More Reasons Than One),” is tacked on the end, making Orgasm an excellent anthology of the Ohio Players’ early years, before they achieved mass mainstream success. (AMG)
Tracks
1. Pain
2. Pleasure
3. Ecstasy
4. Climax
5. Funky Worm
6. Player’s Balling (Players Doin’ Their Own Thing)
7. Varee Is Love
8. Sleep Talk
9. Walt’s First Trip
10. Laid It
11. What’s Going On
12. Singing in the Morning
13. Food Stamps Y’all
14. I Want to Hear (From You)
15. Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)
**Listen**
2 Comments
Julio 11, 2009 a 6:14 pm (Funk, Funk Jazz)
Blackbyrds/Flying Start [ (1973 - 1974) - 1996]
2 incredible albums from The Blackbyrds — back to back on a single CD! First up is the self-titled Blackbyrds record — a funky jazz treasure, and the band’s landmark first album! The Blackbyrds were a legendary 70s combo that were discovered by Donald Byrd while he was teaching at Howard University — and they had a tight style that mixed raw funk influences with smoother jazz playing, creating a sound that was different from many of their contemporaries, and which pushed funk and soul into a whole new level. Byrd’s work with the band was as groundbreaking as Larry Mizell’s work on his own Blue Note albums — and coincidentally, Larry Mizzell’s Sky High Productions handles the studio chores for the set — but in a way that’s much more sharply funky than his albums with Byrd! Titles include the tight choppy funk tracks “Do It, Fluid” and “Funky Junkie”, plus other nice groovers like “Summer Love”, “Gut Level”, and “The Runaway”. Flying Start has a beautifully put-together feel — tight enough to crossover somewhat big with a larger audience than the group’s previous effort — but still filled with the kind of righteous energy that first got them going, a sublime mix of jazzy rhythms and soulful elements, all held together tightly by production from Donald Byrd. Tracks include the big hit “Walking In Rhythm”, which was an oft-spun 45 back in the day — plus some great funk moments, like the tasty “Spaced Out”, the choppy “The Baby”, and the captivating “Blackbyrds Theme”. Other cuts include “Future Children Future Hopes”, “I Need You”, and “April Showers”. (DGA, Inc)
Tracks:
1. Do It Fluid
2. Gut Level
3. Reggins
4. Runaway
5. Funkie Junkie
6. Summer Love
7. Life Styles
8. Hot Day Today
9. I Need You
10. Baby
11. Love Is Love
12. Blackbyrd’s Theme
13. Walking in Rhythm
14. Future Children Future Ho
15. April Showers
16. Spaced Out
**Listen**
1 Comments
Julio 10, 2009 a 11:28 pm (Modern Funk)
Rhythm & Business (1997)
Tower Of Power: Brent Carter (vocals); Emilio Castillo (vocals, tenor saxophone); Jeff Tamelier (guitar, background vocals); John Scarpulla (alto & tenor saxophones); Stephen “Doc” Kupka (baritone saxophone); Bill Churchville, Barry Danielian (trumpet, flugelhorn); Nick Milo (keyboards); Francis Rocco Prestia (bass); Herman Matthews (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: Mic Gillette (baritone horn, trumpet); Dave Eskridge (trumpet). Emilio Castillo, Francis Rocco Prestia, “Doc” Kupka and the boys are back for another session of family- style funk. As in their formative years, Tower of Power lays it down with the idea that more is better. Perhaps as a result of maintaining the same personnel for so many years, the sound here is tight, clean and hard-hitting. Often utilizing groups of singers, and a full horn section, many of the songs transcend the usual “get down and party” message of most funk bands. “Unconditional Love” is about finally growing up enough to love, “Rhythm and Business” about trying. (shopping.com)
John Scarpulla is the lead sax, and Gillette returned for a few tracks. As usual, though, the quality of the compositions is more important than the personnel, and the compositions are good: there’s plenty of funk with group vocals (title track; “Crazy For You”) though some of lyrical concepts are obvious (”You Do The Math”; “The More You Know”). “What’s Your Trip?” goes for a different type of nostalgia, with the horns supporting a nasty 80s-style synth hook. “Unconditional Love” is one of the band’s more memorable ballads, though the melody is uncomfortably close to The Captain & Tenille’s “Do That To Me One More Time,” and “Don’t Knock Me Down” is better. (warr.org)
Tracks:
1. So I Got To Groove
2. Crazy For You
3. East Bay Way
4. Unconditional Love
5. You Do The Math
6. The More You Know
7. Recapture The Magic
8. What’s Your Trip
9. Rhythm and Business
10. Don’t Knock Me Down
11. That Was Then And This Is Now
12. It Really Doesn’t Matter
13. Spank-A-Dang
**Listen**
2 Comments
Julio 10, 2009 a 9:23 pm (Funk Jazz)
Street Life (1979)
Although the Crusaders could not have known it at the time, their recording of “Street Life” (which features a memorable vocal by Randy Crawford) was a last hurrah for the 20-year old group. Their recordings of the next few years would decline in interest until the band gradually faded away in the ’80s. However this particular set is well worth picking up for the 11-minute title cut and there is good playing by the three original members (Wilton Felder on tenor, soprano and electric bass, keyboardist Joe Sample and drummer Stix Hooper) along with guitarist Barry Finnerty; horn and string sections, plus additional guitarists are utilized on Sample’s commercial but listenable arrangements (AMG).
Tracks:
1. Street Life
2. My Lady
3. Rodeo Drive (High Steppin’)
4. Carnival Of The Night
5. The Hustler
6. Night Faces
**Listen**
1 Comments
Julio 10, 2009 a 7:41 pm (Funk, Funk Jazz)
The Best Of Pleasure (1992)
They were all born in Portland, Oregon, and had known each other since they were kids. The band had been playing together since early 1972 and were discovered at a club in Portland by Wayne Henderson (Trombonist, writer and producer of Crusaders, The) who brought them to Fantasy Records in 1974.This was the beginning of a six year relationship with the label and a four year relationship with Wayne Henderson who, through his own production company “At Home Productions”, was the band’s producer and mentor. (Discogs)
Jazz fusion pleasures drawn from the band’s six Fantasy albums. Pleasure played on bills with BB King, Roberta Flack, played opening act for bands like Earth Wind & Fire, Tower Of Power, Natalie Cole, Maze and KC & The Sunshine Band, and headlined their own shows. Along the way, members of the band did session work with artistes like Side Effect, Gabor Szabo, Ronnie Laws and Willie Bobo. The band wrote their own material as a collective and so prolific were they that only one track, Maria Muldaur’s Midnight At The Oasis, is an actual cover (four other tracks have various additional writers). Fusion was the name of the game and jazz, rock, soul, funk and R&B were all mixed up into a distinctive, funky, danceable genre all their own.(acerecords.co.uk)
Pleasure is a good word to describe the effects of their music. They closed the gap between, say, The Crusaders and Earth, Wind & Fire. The only criticism is the limitation of one CD. This band devised more than 72 minutes of great music. But that’s as far as the whining goes. The 15 songs of the compilation are now strung together, making a fancy pearl necklace. It’s the original mixes from their first five albums, but without the usual cracking noises of the dear yet exhausted vinyls. (rateyourmusic)
Tracks:
1. Bouncy Lady
2. Straight Ahead
3. Sassafras Girl
4. Let Me Be The One
5. 2 For 1
6. Tune In
7. Foxy Lady
8. Ghettos Of The Mind
9. Joyous
10. Glide
11. Strong Love
12. Ladies Night Out
13. Pleasure For Your Pleasure
14. No Matter What
15. Selim
**Listen**
1 Comments
Julio 9, 2009 a 12:35 am (Funk, Jazz, Jazz Fusion)
Up All Night (2003)
1. Over the years John Scofield’s been getting increasingly funkier and with ‘Up all night’ he hits the bullseye with just about the funkiest grooves since James Brown’s heyday. Not sure whether this album should be filed under ‘Jazz’ in the shops as it’s more like funk with a twist of jazz. Jazz purists will probably turn their noses up at this but for for fans of P-Funk, James Brown etc this is the business. DJ’s would do well to buy this and drop several of the tracks into their sets because the grooves are just wicked.(Amazon)
2. Quite simply, Up All Night is a masterclass in cutting-edge ensemble playing. Adam Deitch’s muscular drums and Andy Hess’s bass complement Scofield’s guitar perfectly as he simultaneously reinvents himself, embracing new technology for the first time with loops, samples and sequences.
With enough of Scofield’s signature altered-dominant adventures to please the fans, there’s still plenty of accessible melodies within. New listeners should probably start with Whatcha see is Whatcha get (the only non-Scofield penned tune here), with it’s tight, crisp guitar lines and supple horns.
The musical range of this album is vast, from the hip-hop breaks in Philiopiety, the world music detours of Thikhathali, the dark mystique of Creeper, the funky riffing of Freakin’ Disco and Every Night is Ladies Night, to the Frisell-like gossamer guitar of Like the Moon. (Amazon)
Personnel
John Scofield – Electric Guitar, Guitar samples
Avi Bortnick – Rhythm Guitar, Samples, Loops
Andy Hess – Bass
Adam Deitch – Drums
With Horn section 1, 4 6, &, 8 & 11
Craig Handy – Tenor, Flute, Bass Clarinet
Earl Garner – Trumpet
Gary Smulyan – Baritone
Jim Pugh – Trombone
Samson Olawale – Percussion Sample 6
Tracks:
1. Philiopiety
2. Watch Out for Po-Po
3. Creeper
4. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get
5. I’m Listening
6. Thikhathali
7. Four on the Floor
8. Like the Moon
9. Freakin’ Disco
10. Born in Troubled Times
11. Every Night Is Ladies Night
**Listen**
2 Comments
Julio 8, 2009 a 10:55 pm (Funk, Jazz, Jazz Fusion)
Drum ‘N’ Voice: All That Groove (2002)
Electric studio project with Billy Cobham and group of Italian musicians with guest appearances by Michael and Randy Brecker, Eddie Gomez, and even Gregg Brown from Osibisa-(remember them?!). Billy lays down a solid groove and the musicians solo over and around the beat, through instrumental and vocal tracks. The group perform original jazz/funk/fusion material, and a new version of Billy Cobham’s ‘Red Baron’ with vocals. Lino Nicolosi, Frank Malanga, guitar; Pino Nicolosi, keys; Fabrizio Bosso, Amik Guerra, trumpet; Emanuele Cisi, sax; Leonardo Govin, trombone; Emanuele Cisi, sax; Giorgio Molteni., violin; Lorenzo Ravazzani, viola; Luca De Muro, cello; Rossana Nicolosi, bass; Riccardo Fioravanti, double bass; Billy Cobham, drums; and Marco Fadda, percussion. Guests: Michael Brecker, sax; Randy Brecker, trumpet; Eddie Gomez, bass-(one track each); Gregg Brown (from Osibisa), Ricky Bailey (from Delegation), Dora Nicolosi (from Novecentro), Troy Parrish, vocals-(two tracks each). Note: Billy Cobham fans also see John McLaughlin-Mahavishnu (www.audiophileimports.com)
Tracks:
1. Africa’s Sounds
2. Shadow
3. Red Baron
4. Okky Dokky
5. Jah Spirit
6. I Want You Back
7. Sensations
8. Leaving Now
9. Hands Up!
10. Now That You’ve Gone
**Listen**
2 Comments
Julio 8, 2009 a 7:51 pm (Funk Disco, R&B)
Wanting You (1981)
Massive work from Starpoint — the kind of all-great record that few other groups of their era could hope to match! The set’s got way more going on than usual the usual 80s groove (although that’s very firmly in place too) — and steps out with a tightness and sense of presence that makes the whole thing sparkle from start to finish! By the time of this set, Starpoint had really gotten their groove down — and work here as a key link between the bassier groups of the boogie era and some of the hipper ensemble funk combos of the mid 70s scene. The Phillips brothers and Kayode Adeyemo provide impeccable instrumentation throughout — and as before, the lead vocals of Renee Diggs do a tremendous job of pulling the whole album together! Titles include “Wanting You”, “Try Me”, “Shake It Out”, “Do What You Wanna Do”, “Angel”, “Last Night”, and “Starnite You Nite” (DGA, Inc)
Tracks:
1. Wanting You
2. Do What You Wanna Do
3. Angel
4. Last Night
5. Try Me
6. Shake It Out
7. Break Up To Make Up
8. Starnite Your Night
**Listen**
1 Comments
Julio 8, 2009 a 7:06 pm (Funk)
Now Appearing (1982) (CD Rip)
This is LA. Connection, a rare group from the early 80s. As far as I know, this is LA. Connection’s only album which was released in 1982, entitled Now Appearing from the MCA record label. This album was produced by Don and Larry Blackman of Cameo(another well known funk assemble from the 70s & 80s). Now Appearing is a highly recommended album to have if you are a collector like myself. Come Into My Heart, Shake, and Burn Me Up are songs that really stand out on this album as far as old school funk. Don and Larry Blackman definitely put their stamp on this record. Now Appearing is a classic album and it is definitely one worth the pursuit of funkiness.
Personnel
Backing Vocals – Sparkling Brown Sugar, Tomi Jenkins, Wayne Cooper
Bass, Backing Vocals – Charles Richardson
Drums, Percussion – Michael Caesar
Engineer – Tom Race
Engineer [Assistant] – Ted Kallman
Guitar – Otis Redding Jr., Webster Jackson
Keyboards – Morris Ogletree
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Charles Singleton, James Wilson
Mixed By – Larry Blackmon, Tom Race
Music By – Cameo
Photography – Glenn Peterson
Producer, Backing Vocals – Larry Blackmon
Trombone – Lloyd Oby
Trumpet – Walter Perry
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Backing Vocals – Stacy Cole
Vocals, Backing Vocals – Roger Harris, Warren Taylor
Woodwind, Backing Vocals – Wilbert Richardson
Tracks:
1. Get It Up
2. Shake It
3. Come Into My Heart
4. Burn Me Up
5. Jealousy
6. I’ll Find A Way
7. Promise Me
**Listen**
12 Comments
Julio 7, 2009 a 9:59 pm (Pop, R&B)
Chinesse Wall (1984)
At the time Philip Bailey persuaded Phil Collins to produce his second solo album, Chinese Wall, Collins was among the hottest pop stars in the world. The advantage to that, of course, is the exposure it affords, and after the merely modest success of his debut solo album, Continuation, Bailey needed the reflected glory. On the other band, it’s hard to shine yourself in such a glare, and although Bailey’s name was on the gold-selling hit single “Easy Lover,” a duet with Collins that helped the album take off, it’s Collins’ singing and drumming that one remembers. Elsewhere, tunes like “Photogenic Memory” and “Walking On The Chinese Wall” better represent Bailey’s ability to handle a variety of material from ballads to techno dance tracks with his elastic falsetto. Still, Chinese Wall was a gold-selling standoff that made Bailey a solo hitmaker without really establishing him on his own. (AMG)
Tracks:
1. Photogenic Memory
2. I Go Crazy
3. Walking on the Chinese Wall
4. For Every Heart That’s Been Broken
5. Go
6. Easy Lover
7. Show You the Way to Love
8. Time Is a Woman
9. Woman
10. Children of the Ghetto
**Listen**
1 Comments
Julio 7, 2009 a 9:57 pm (R&B)
Plush (1982)
Àngela Winbush is a “three-hyphen” musician – producer- arranger-composer-performer – who had a big impact on Urban Contemporary charts in the late 80s, originally as part of the duo René and Àngela, and is still around today. She creates enveloping tracks (either moody and introspective or lively and bouncy) with layers of keyboards, gorgeous melodic hooks and lush vocals. She has a powerful voice, an exceptional range and a unique style – she started out as a backup singer for Stevie Wonder among others. Lyrically, she writes nothing but love songs, but with real feeling and originality, never trite. She’s one of a handful of women in her generation – along with Patrice Rushen and Brenda Russell – who produced not only their own material but also other artists’, working extensively with, among others, the Isley Brothers (she was married to Ronald Isley for most of the 90s).
Watson, Moore and Winbush produced the debut for this group, sort of a Shalamar clone made up of Siedah Garrett, Tony Phillips and Ambrose Price II. Rene & Angela didn’t push themselves too hard for new material: “Free And Easy” and “Strangers Again” are recycled from their own debut album. Two songs were written by band members, “Gonna Get Ya” and “Living For Your Love.” Generally it’s midtempo grooves, soothing and not particularly distinctive (”I Don’t Know”; “We Got The Love” – both Garrett leads), occasionally showing the buzzing synths that would be more prominent on future releases (”Burnin’ Love,” the single). The same year, the team also produced half of Janet Jackson’s debut.(www.warr.com)
Tracks:
1. Burnin’ Love
2. We’ve Got The Love
3. Free And Easy
4. Coast To Coast
5. Gonna Get Ya
6. Lovin’ For Your Love
7. Strangers Again
8. I Don’t Know (Where Loves Comes From)
**Listen**
3 Comments
Julio 7, 2009 a 2:39 am (Funk, Rap)
Sugar Hill ‘The Sound Of The Street’ Vol.2 (1998)
Rhino – Warner Music (1998).
Tracks:
01. The Birthday Party – Grandmaster Flash & The Fourious Five
02. The Adventure Of Grandmaster Flash – Grandmaster Flash
03. Let’s Dance (Make Your Body Move) – Web Street Mob
04. Apache – The SugarHill Gang
05. Sing A Simple Song – Web Street Mob
06. Whip It – The Treacherous Three
07. Ooh Baby – Web Street Mob
08. Message II (Survival) – Melle Mel & Duke Bootee
09. The Word Is Out – The Sugarhill Gang
10. White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It) – Grandmaster & Melle MEL
**Listen**
3 Comments
Julio 7, 2009 a 2:22 am (Funk, Rap)
Sugar Hill “The Sound Of The Street” Rhino-Warner Music (1998).
Tracks:
1. Rapper’s Delight – Sugarhill Gang
2. Funk You Up – The Sequence
3. Super-Wolf Can Do It – SuperWolf
4. Freedom – Grandmaster Flash & The Furoius 5
5. Monster Jam – Spoonie Gee Meets The sequence
6. People get On Up – Positive Force
7. 8th Wonder – The Sugarhill Gang
8. That’s The Joing – Funky 4+1
**Listen**
1 Comments
Julio 5, 2009 a 10:11 pm (Funk)
Love & Understanding (1976)
Following on the heels of their 1975 smash Spirit of the Boogie, Kool & the Gang hit the road to tour the album and record new material. One tumultuous show, at London’s Rainbow Theatre, became the core of Love & Understanding. Three live tracks, “Hollywood Swinging,” “Summer Madness,” and a dreamily mellow “Universal Sound,” are all excellent reminders of just how good this band could sound when they found the vibe and had the funk firmly in hand. But as good as this stuff is, there are ominous glimmers among the goods, of musical moves the band were contemplating — heard most markedly in the bland “Sugar” and “Do It Right Now.” For, despite the sureness with which they were creating driving funk, they were also struggling with the oncoming disco explosion. That push-pull was duly reflected in the album. The studio tracks are the most uneven. At their best, they are dominated by the opening title track and its near-instrumental twin shadow “Come Together,” which closes. Both songs are horn heavy, an insistent call for unity, love, and peace. The rest of the album is sandwiched between this jazzy cacophony but, despite the rocky moments, Love and Understanding remains a remarkable album, recorded at a time when the band was still reveling in the grip of pure funk, uncorrupted by the mainstream. (AMG)
Tracks:
1. Love and Understanding (Come Together)
2. Sugar
3. Do It Right Now
4. Cosmic Energy
5. Hollywood Swinging (Live)
6. Summer Madness (Live)
7. Universal Sound (Live)
8. Come Together
**Listen**
*Gracias a Leshafunk por tan magnifico aporte
2 Comments
Julio 5, 2009 a 10:09 pm (Funk)
Spirit Of The Boogie (1975)
Discussing Kool & the Gang in the early ’70s, James Brown enthused, “They’re the second-baddest out there…They make such bad records that you got to be careful when you play a new tape on the way home from the record store. Their groove is so strong you could wreck.” And that really says it all. Kool & the Gang were funk’s kings in 1975, and Spirit of the Boogie was the finest album they ever recorded — the staggering climax of their development thus far. The record-buying public thought so too — the album gave the band their first Top Five R&B hit. Spirit of the Boogie may have been first and foremost a funk masterpiece, but it was also so much more. From the African art on the foldout sleeve to the spiritual and musical purity of many of the songs, this album not only bound the band’s reverence for their roots to a blistering, street-smart funk, but also demonstrated a keen awareness of their own role in their musical odyssey. “Ancestral Ceremony” pays homage by quoting from Kool’s earlier songs, while “Jungle Jazz” tracks back to the original pounding jams that imbibed 1973’s “Jungle Boogie.” The title track, meanwhile, is quintessential Kool & the Gang — fiery funk which is kept in check by rhythm and chant. It gave the band a springtime number one on the R&B charts — their third. This is a phenomenal set, a superlative album. And because the grooves are so strong, it’s easy to forgive weak moments — most especially the mawkish “Sunshine and Love.” Kool & the Gang were outstanding during this period, before they caught the disco bug. Spirit of the Boogie remains a proud achievement. (AMG)
Tracks:
1. Spirit of the Boogie
2. Ride the Rhythm
3. Jungle Jazz
4. Sunshine and Love
5. Ancestral Ceremony
6. Mother Earth
7. Winter Sadness
8. Caribbean Festival
Bonus
9. Caribbean Festival (Disco Version)
**Listen**
3 Comments
Julio 5, 2009 a 10:07 pm (Funk)
My Feel Love (1983)
New Yorker Vaughan Mason’s claim to fame is the spectacular disco/funk single “Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll,” credited to Vaughan Mason & Crew. That song, released on Brunswick, hit the top five of the U.S. R&B chart in 1980 and became the title track of the group’s first and only album. The single also became sample fodder for several rap songs, including Digital Underground’s “Doowutchyalike,” Heavy D’s “Black Coffee,” De La Soul’s “Cool Breeze on the Rocks,” and Redman’s “Slide and Rock On.” Two other singles from Vaughan Mason & Crew (”Roller Skate” and “Jammin’ Big Guitar”) followed for Brunswick, though neither fared hardly as well as the first. Later on, Mason teamed up with Butch Dayo for a pair of Salsoul singles — “You Can Do It” and “Party on the Corner” — both of which stiffed. (AMG)
Tracks:
1. Oh, Love
2. Rollalong Songs
3. Feel My Love
4. Party On The Corner
5. You Can Do I
**Listen**
*Gracias a nuestro fiel colaborador, Kunio
2 Comments
Julio 5, 2009 a 8:53 pm (R&B, Soul)
Makings Of A Dream (1977)
At the heigth of 70’s R&B and soul came Crackin’. An undiscovered and underrated rock and soul band that were way ahead of their time. Lester Abrams keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist was co-writer of “Minute by Minute” the Doobie Bros. hit and his writing on this record/CD is just as impressive. The tunes are a hybrid of soul, gospel, and pop. The playing is awesome and the singing is remarkable. Two of the singers are the driving backgrounds on Ricky Lee Jones’ first record including “Chuck E’s in Love”. While the production may hint at the band’s limited budget the performance and vibe are wonderful. Why Warner Bros let this band fall by the wayside after three really strong albums is a mystery and a sin. The greater sin is why they are all unavailable. Another great soul band lost in the Disco landslide.(Amazon)
Tracks:
1. Feel Alright
2. Take Me To The Bridge
3. Beautiful Day
4. I Want To Sing It To You
5. Well And Good
6. Who You Want Me To Be
7. What Goes Around Comes Around
8. You’re Winning
9. (There’s A) Better Way
**Listen**
*Gracias a kunio nuevamente
1 Comments
Julio 5, 2009 a 8:47 pm (R&B, Soul)
Crackin’ (1977)
Crackin’ is a legendary group of Peter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff featuring Leslie Smith. Their 1st album “Crackin’” was released in 1975 without Peter Bunetta. Then Peter jined the band and released three albums in 1977 and 1978. This 4th album, the last album of the group was produced by Michael Omartian and featuring Ernie Watts and Jay Graydon. And you may be aware of the name of R. Dupris… Yes, he is Robbie Dupree. After the group disbanded, Peter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff made so many productions in early 80’s, including Robbie Dupree’s albums.(www.wcmusic.info)
Tracks:
1. It Just Takes A While
2. The Force Is Watching You
3. Fallen Dancer
4. I Know You Can
5. Do You Need More Time
6. Don’t You Wish You Could Be There
7. You Know Where I Am
8. The World’s A Fool For You
9. You’ll Feel Bette
**Listen**
*Agradecimientos a Kunio por otro aporte
2 Comments
Julio 5, 2009 a 12:15 am (Disco, Funk, R&B, Soul)
Vol.4 (2009).
Four massive albums from Average White Band — served up in one 2CD package! Feel No Fret is a great set that showcases the group’s best second suit — their smooth compressed late 70s soul sound — a great evolution of their earlier groove, and one that showed them as a great mainstream soul act! The tunes are a bit mellower overall, but still have a lot of crackle and warmth — and Hamish Stuart’s lost none of his vocal charm, and in fact may even sound better in a more laidback, less funky heavy setting! With the great break track “Stop The Rain” — and the cuts “When Will You Be Mine”, “Please Don’t Fall In Love”, “Walk On By”, “Feel No Fret”, “Atlantic Avenue”, “Ace Of Hearts”, “Too Late To Cry” and “Fire Burning”. Volume VIII is something of a greatest hits record by the group — one that bore the original tag “This album gives the listener a rare opportunity to taste the past and present of the Average White Band.” What does that mean? Well, it means that the band only came up with 4 new songs for the record — including “Kiss Me”, “Love Won’t Get In The Way”, “Love Gives Love Takes Away”, and “Growing Pains” — all good numbers, though, and expanded here with the bonus track “Miss Sun”. Shine features great later grooves from Average White Band — a real gem from the point when the group was settling nicely into a mellow soul vein! By this point, the combo wisely realized that they couldn’t keep things going forever as a funky group — so they laid back and fell into their second strongest suit — the kind of mellow stepping rhythms that sparkled nicely between the bigger cuts on earlier records, produced to perfection here with a shimmeringly soulful feel! The album’s got a mature feel, and the lyrics are often understated and well-balanced — no easy crossover soul or adult contemporary cliches — just the kind of warmth the band was always known best for. Titles include “Into The Night”, “Our Time Has Come”, “Catch Me”, “For You For Love”, “Help is On The Way”, “If Love Only Lasts For One Night”, and “Shine”. Also features bonus tracks “Wasn’t I Your Friend” and “Let’s Go Round Again (12″ version)”. Cupid’s In Fashion is from the early 80s, but still totally great — a record that has the Average White Band stepping along in smooth jazzy style — still with all their best 70s roots intact! The group are tight, yet still far from commercial — beautifully suited to the warmly soulful sounds they’d reached by this point — less of the hard funk of before, but in its place a mature groove that’s totally great. Titles include “You Wanna Belong”, “Cupid’s In Fashion”, “You’re My Number One”, “Love’s A Heartache”, “I Believe”, and “Easier Said Than Done”.(Dusty Groove Inc.)
Tracks:
CD 1.
Feel Not Fret:
01. When Will You Be Mine
02. Please Don’t Fall In Love
03. Walk On By
04. Feel Not Fret
05. Stop The Rain
06. Atlantic Avenue
07. Ace Of Hearts
08. Too Late To Cry
09. Fire Burning
Volume VIII:
10. Kiss Me
11. Love Gives, Love Takes Away
12. Growins Pains
13. Love Won’t Get In The Way
Bonus:
14. Miss Mun (Bonus)
Shine (Part.1):
15. Our Time Has Come
16. For You, For Love
17. Let’s Go’Round Again
18. Watcha Gonna Do For Me?
CD 2.
Shine (Part.2):
01. Into The Night
02. Catch Me (Before I Have To Testify)
03. Help Is On The Way
04. If Love Only Lasts For One Night
05. Shine
Bonus Tracks:
06. Wasn’t I Your Friend
07. Let’s Go’ Round Again (12″ version)
Cupid’s In Fashion:
08. You’re My Number One
09. Easier Said Than One
10. You Wanna Belong
11. Cupid’s In Fashion
12. Theatre Of Excess
13. I Believe
14. Is It Love That You’re Running From
15. Reach Out (I’ll Be There)
16. Isn’t It Strange
17. Love’s A Heartache
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