Thursday 30 October 2008

Holy Thursday!


An expermentation in fusing jazz and rock sounds, David Axelrod's 1968 album "Song Of Innocense" is a very early example of the sound that would come to be known as jazz fusion. Producer, arranger, and engineer Axelrod made his mark with Cannonball Adderley, Lou Rawls, and the Electric Prunes. Song of Innocence made critics turn their heads in its day, regarding it as a visionary curiosity piece; today it's simply a great, timeless work of jazz rock art that continues to inspire over three decades after its initial release.....Classic!

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Monday 27 October 2008

The Time For Change!



This Docu-film Zeitgeist: Addendum, attempts to locate the root causes of the pervasive social corruption inflicting the planet , while offering a solution. This solution is not based on politics, morality, laws, or any other "establishment" notions of human affairs,but rather on a modern, non-superstitious based understanding of what we are and how we align with nature, to which we are a part. The work advocates a new social system which is updated to present day knowledge, highly influenced by the life long work of Jacque Fresco and The Venus Project.

Think for yourself!!






Saturday 25 October 2008

"The Way Of The Dub" Vol.2


Because of the very positive feedback from my previous DJ mix, "The Way Of The Dub" Vol. 1, I was encouraged to select a second offering...So here it is Vol. 2.... We`re coming from a different angle this time, but always keeping the faith with the true originators....feedback is always welcome!

Hope ya all enjoy!





Tracklist
line up - johny osbourne.
two bulls - 10 ft ganja plant
king of the empire - cornell campbell
i`m a jungalist - congo natty
red alert - artikal
jehoviah dub - jah shaka v fatman
under mi sensi - congo natty
kunte kinte - jah shaka
jumping master - mikey dread
natty dread nar run - barry brown
blood danza dub - scientist
Ites green and gold - johnny clarke

Thursday 23 October 2008

Covers: "Les Fleurs"


Here is a little series we can explore, of the great tunes that have been covered by various artists . First up is "Les Fleurs" An outstanding vocal track by Minnie Riperton on her first solo album after leaving the band Rotary Connection. Written by her husband Richard Rudolph and Charles Stepney. A shimmering soulful tune with beautiful strings, horny horns, jazzy piano, A cross between Burt Bacharach and Marvin Gaye.

Minnie Riperton - "Les Fleurs"


Here is 4hero`s version a musical journey with buildups and comedowns that just make your hair stand on end.

4hero - "Les Fleur" featuring Carina Anderson.



Tuesday 21 October 2008

"Gimme That Funk" # 6



From the 1971 "New Generation" LP, here are the Chambers Brothers and "Funky." Sampled by Schoolly D on "Your Worst Nightmare" and A Tribe Called Quest on "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo." Enjoy!

Chambers Brothers - "Funky"



Chambers Brothers - "funky" (download)

Saturday 18 October 2008

Tribute: Levi Stubbs R.I.P.

The Four Tops - from left to right: Renaldo 'Obie' Benson, Lawrence Payton, Abdul 'Duke' Fakir and Levi Stubbs. Photograph: Harry Goodwin/Rex Features

Another sad day in mytea@om world as we hear of Levi Stubbs, lead singer of the Four Tops and the voice of Motown hits including "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" and "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)", has died aged 72. He died in his sleep at the Detroit house he shared with his wife of 48 years, Cliniece. He had not performed in recent years because of illness.
With Stubbs in the lead, the Four Tops sold millions of records and performed for more than four decades without a change in personnel. Former Motown labelmate Smokey Robinson said: "Levi Stubbs was one of the great voices of all times. He was very near and dear to my heart."

The group signed with Motown Records in 1963 and produced 20 Top-40 hits over the next decade. Their biggest hits were recorded between 1964 and 1967 with I Can't Help Myself and Reach Out reaching No 1 on the Billboard pop chart.
Barry Gordy, who founded Motown, said: "It is not only a tremendous personal loss for me but for the Motown family, and people all over the world who were touched by his rare voice and remarkable spirit."
Stubbs "fits right up there with all the icons of Motown," said Audley Smith, of the Motown Historical Museum. "His voice was as unique as Marvin [Gaye's] or as Smokey's or as Stevie [Wonder's]."
Stubbs once told the LA Times: "I don't really even have a style; I just come by the way I sing naturally. When I learn a song, I try to live it as best I can."


Friday 17 October 2008

"Bubbles"


A housing bubble, a mortgage bubble, an equity bubble, a bond bubble, a credit bubble, a commodity bubble, a private equity bubble and a hedge funds bubble are all now bursting simultaneously. Do you really think this economic disaster was unplanned? What might the objectives be? And who, as always, is pulling the strings? Qui bono? To whose benefit is this happening?

"In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way."
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Wah Wah Watson - "Bubbles"



Wednesday 15 October 2008

Artist Review: Gil Scott-Heron.


A musical hero of mine while growing up in 70`s London. His music resonated so much with me, right at the time i myself was becoming politicised. His brand of African American militant poetry sat prefectly with the UK in the throes of racial unrest. Best known for his poem and song "The Revolution will not be Televised"; and for writing "Home is Where The Hatred Is" an eerie account of drug use that was a hit for R&B singer Esther Phillips in 1972 and would later on in his life cause himself so many problems.



I had the great pleasure to meet the brilliantly gifted man at the Jazz Cafe in Camden Town in the mid 9o`s, where he performed without his long time partner Brian Jackson. I had gone there on my own and ascended to the top bar overlooking the stage from the right side. The show was outstanding as was to be expected, after he came up to the bar which is close to the artists dressing rooms and had a drink with the punters assembled....A great memory. The very first album i bought was "Bridges" in 1977 from Groove records and it is still my favorite LP.



In 1979, Scott-Heron played at the No Nukes concerts at New York`s Madison Sq Garden. The concerts were organized by Musicians United For Safe Energy to protest the use of Nuclear Energy following the Three Mile Island accident in 1979. (It was the most significant accident in the history of the American commercial nuclear power generating industry). Scott-Heron's song "We Almost Lost Detroit", written about a previous accident at a nuclear facility, was included on the No Nukes album.



Scott-Heron is known in many circles as "the godfather of rap" and is widely considered to be one of the genre's founding fathers. Given the political consciousness that lies at the foundation of his work. Gil played with some outstanding musicians in his time, Eddie Knowles and Charlie Saunders on conga and David Barnes on percussion on the 1970 LP "Small Talk at 125th & Lenox"
On the 1971 LP "Pieces of a Man" He was joined by Johnny Pate (conductor), Brian Jackson (piano and electric piano), Ron Carter (bass and electric bass), The great drummer, Bernand "Pretty" Pudie, Burt Jones (electric guitar), and Hubert Laws (flute and saxophone). Scott-Heron's third album "Free Will", was released in 1972 with Jackson, Purdie, Laws, Knowles, and Saunders all returning to play and were joined byJerry Jemmott (bass) and David Spinozza (guitar),Horace Ott (arranger and conductor). In 1974 saw another LP collaboration with Brian Jackson, the critically acclaimed "Winter in America", with Bob Adams (drums) and Danny Bowens (bass).
Scott-Heron and Jackson also released together "The First Minute of a New Day" in `75, "Its your World" in `76, "Bridges" in `77, "Secrets" in 1978, "1980" in the same year as well as "Real Eyes", "Reflections" in `81 and "Moving Target" in `82.

Monday 13 October 2008

It`s Monday!

"Living in the city going nowhere fast
Trying to see my future
Working hard every day
Trying to find me a better way.”




A great story to the re-discovery of this 1979 LP.

download

Sunday 12 October 2008

Tribute: Alton Ellis R.I.P.

1st September 1940 - 10th October 2008

Another sad day in the music world as we hear the passing of probably the greatest ever singer in Jamaican music.

Reggae star Alton Ellis, known as "The Godfather Of Rocksteady", has died at the age of 68.

The Jamaican-born singer, who moved to Britain in the 1970s, achieved fame with a number of hits, including "I'm Still in Love" and "I'm Just a Guy". He was a leading pioneer of the more laid-back "rocksteady" sound, which came out of Jamaica in the 1960`s. Ellis was still performing until August this year, when he collapsed after a concert in central London.
His manager and agent Trish De Rosa described him as "my guiding star and my inspiration". "His life was the music and the stage," she said. "He was getting a tremendous amount of work right up to the end - it was very difficult to get him to slow down."The Jamaican authorities are considering giving Ellis a state funeral, Ms De Rosa added.
The prolific singer, who began his career in the 1950`s and fronted vocal group The Flames, was diagnosed with cancer in 2007. Ellis underwent chemotherapy before returning to the stage, but died in London's Hammersmith hospital on Friday night.
He leaves more than 20 children!!!.

Alton Ellis - "Rocksteady"


Saturday 11 October 2008

Sounds of Unity and Love.


I feel like 2 posts today, so hope you enjoy this little Gem... you know with all the turmoil going on around the world and not just in the financial sector, we can sometimes lose our focus on what really matters in life and what really matters to me is Peace of Mind in whatever i do in my life..The title of this track is emphasising just that.......S.O.U.L means Sounds of Unity and Love and they are telling you that ya "gotta have peace of mind"
Originally Released in 1972 by Musicor Records it was the second album by the band the first being "What Is It" released a year earlier. There is great energy in this tune..
Enjoy!


"Gimme That Funk" # 5


Wayne Henderson of Jazz Crusaders fame heard ERFC and decided to produce the group's first album. “Reach For It” released in 1973 with Henderson playing trombone in the ERFC horn section. The LA Funk scene found ERFC warming-up for the likes of Curtis Mayfield, New Birth, The Grass Roots, Doby Gray, The Whispers and The Commodores.Originally hailing from Indianapolis with Guitarist Lloyd Thomas, Keyboardists Michael Woods and George Dennie, Bassist Lester Johnson, and Drummer Dwayne Gavin backed by Vocalists Pamela Tanner and Tony Roberts.

This track is from that debut 1973 album on the Uni label. Rare gem and highly in demand LP.

Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign - "Get It On"



Tuesday 7 October 2008

"The Strategy Of Manufactured Chaos"

For the love of money people will do just about anything for that Almighty Dollar... Money can buy you lots of things, but two things money can't buy you and that is your happiness and it can't give you peace of mind.

See previous post





Saturday 4 October 2008

"Nippon Nights".


A little tune for all my Japanese friends for their weekend. Quite rare now this 12" on defunkt UK label "Bluebird Records" A version of the 70/80's, UK band Light of The World track they called.....'London Town'
Respect to Tatsuki-san @ Space, Tomo @ Magia,DJ Mac-Key & Sayuri....go girl!!, Ma-chan, Kenji and the Audio Sutra Crew in Tokyo. Not forgetting Mi-chan in Scotland, Junko, Jez & Miho and the kids.

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu.

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Thursday 2 October 2008

"Gimme That Funk " # 4


Carrying on in the series of funky nuggets comes a Big time favorite of mine.
The Modulations worked with MFSB (Mother Father Sister Brother) who were the backbone of Gamble and Huff's "Philly Sound." It's Rough Out Here LP was released in 1975 on Buddah and features MFSB backing. What a tune this is...Enjoy the little Gem!