Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Found this variety of descriptions but no gig?

New! stuff...
The Staples Singers - "WHY? (Am I Treated So Bad)" (Epic)
OK, what else can ever be said about the greatness of the Staples Singers and of course one of souls greatest voices, Mavis. This track from their Epic catalog is downright Funky. Not necessarily in the same way the Stax material is funky but almost a James Brown produced female vocal track.

Lee Dorsey - "On Your Way Down" (Polydor)
Slow groove almost funky blues track from New Orleans most distinct voice, and considering the greatness out of N'Olans that is saying sumtin'.

Food Songs, Animal Songs Space songs...
"Slurp... The Wildest...The Kookiest...The Grooviest...The Slurpiest" (7 Eleven)
I was told about this long before "Brainfreeze" during a discussion about food songs. I started to seek it out and never came across one. After "Brainfreeze" the price of this stupid novelty record went through the roof. "A Rose by any other name...," but put a spin on that and there'll be snowball fights down below. Regardless, I love stuff like this. I'll file this between my Sears 45 and "Aint No Chicken In Harlem"

James Brown's Funky People...
James Brown - "Give It Up Or TurnIt A Loose" b/w "I'll Lose My Mind" (King) This is easily in my top 10 favorite grooves of all time. This version is just 2:45 and it still kicks ass.

Maceo & The Macks - "Doing It To Death" b/w "I Can Play For (Just You & Me) (People)
HOW ARE WE DOING IT!

Marva Whitney - "It's My Thing (You Can't Tell Me Who To Sock It To)" b/w "Ball Of Fire"
"It's Your Thing" with a James Brown production and an amazing Marva Whitney performance. Similar to Lee Perry putting his name on "The Popcorn" James and Marva take credit for The Brothers masterpiece. A true masterpiece as well.

A.C. Reed - "Boogaloo - Tramp" (Nike)

Moon People - "Land of Love" (Speed)
One of the finest Latin Lounge grooves.

Blue Note
Bobby Hutcherson "Brother Rap" b/w Gerald Wilson "California Soul"
I can't remember which comp this came with FREE but it was one of those 90's UK Blue Note packages. Two nice "big band" funky jazz grooves. Hutcherson takes on James Brown's "Brother Rap" and comes out a winner as well as Gerald Wilson's brilliant version of "California Soul."

Some LPs I'll be bringing...
Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - "Clear Spot" (Reprise Records)
One of the many perfect records from a true original and a damn fin artist as well.

Can - "Ege Bamyasi" (United Artists)
This is probably number one on my all time favorite LPs. I have been thinking of the whole concept of "Desert Island Discs" recently (a ridiculous concept if there ever was) and this would be in my backpack. Why I wouldn't take first aid and provisions of sorts I don't know but I guess the cover and inner sleeve are edible. If my brother doesn't show up to do his hour set I might play this and the Beefheart through.

Enoch Light Presents Free Design - "Stars/Time/bubbles/Love" (Project 3 Total Sound Stereo)
True insipid crap. The current craze about "Free Design" can only be explained in a similar way as the trucker hat craze. Lemmings! Bought this many years ago because of the unbelievable funky organ intro (about 1 1/2 minutes) to "Tomorrow Is The First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life." Too bad nothing else comes close. My 18 month old thinks this stuff is sugary and childish.

Ocho - "What are You Doing The Rest of Your Life?" (UA LAtino)
Mix this 2 minute intro with the above and you have a great little Funk and Latin set for a very short party!

The Animated Egg - "Alshire Presents..." (Alshire Records)
One of the rock bands behind the "101 Strings" series when things called for Rock or a little Funk. Great Psyche instrumentals.

101 Strings "Sounds Of Today - The Sound Of Magnificence" (Alshire Records)
Fom the back cover liner notes - "Sounds of Today... played by the world's largest orchestra. Hit songs from the era of Soul, Psychedelia and The New Generation - over 130 Players "Turned On" with songs and sounds of today - The most astounding "trip" ever to be taped."

Henry Mancini - "The Party" (RCA Victor)
Peter Sellers rockin' the Sitar! Doesn't get any better than this. Hollywood drops acid and Jack Davis makes one of his best movie posters ever.

Leonard Nimoy Presents Mr. Spock's Music From Outer Space - "Music To Watch Space Girls By" - (Dot)
Something tells me this is most likely Lalo Schifrin. Recorded around the time of his Dot label solo LP and the inclusion of a great version of "Mission Impossible." A little spoken word and words of wisdom from the pointed ear guy from "In Search of..."

Quincy Jones and His Big Band - "Big Band Bossa Nova" (Mercury)
"Soul Bossa Nova" was made famous as the Austin Powers Theme in the first Austin Powers movie. This is a great LP from start to finish and if Mike Myers is responsible for turning some folks onto some great music more power to him, Austin.

Jerry Goldsmith - "Our Man Flint" (20th Century-Fox Records)
James Coburn and a cast of beautiful woman with a fantastic loungy soundtrack. Done.

Three that need no explanation...
Al Caiola...Sounds For Spies and Private Eyes (United Artists)
Basie Meets Bond - Count Basie and His Orchestra - Thunderball and Other Themes From The James Bond Movies (United Artists)
Ray Barretto - Senor 007 (United Artists)

The Sensational Guitars of Dan and Dale - "Batman and Robin" (Tifton Audio Series)
Long one of my favorite Batman LPs I was ecstatic when I heard the band was Sun Ra. Great LP.