Hello Y'all,
Not sure why but it feels like forever since I last wrote one of these. Maybe it has been all the diggin' I've been doin'. I have made my way through some of the usual haunts. Favorites like Big City records and, through the magic of the interwebs, Dusty Groove. But then there have been more finds in less obvious places and ones I am not at the liberty to mention. Honestly, obsessed, record collecting, vinyl thirsty, Pat is one angry 300 lb. monster and he would snap my neck for snitching... at least for now. Other releases have traveled from afar to make their way to the fine shores of Jersey City. Jaycees Records from the land down under have two new releases that arrived the other day. One from label regulars, Birdwave, and one from Natural Rhythm. Both are loaded with dynamic covers of some of the best songs that have spilled from the over flowing cup of Funk. On my last trip in to Big City I brought my side kicked who enjoyed reading and listening to the music. That was until I played him "Cookies" by Brother Soul. If it is possible to say one can learn all the words to an instrumental he has. He mouths the intro and then runs with the lighthearted banter throughout. That's right people, obsession starts in the home. Music is just a gateway drug. Soon he'll be drumming along to the records or worse yet, the most heinous crime ever committed... SINGING DRUMMER! OK, you know the routine, Bill and I spin some extra special selections while Larry The Hunter serves you your poison. You pretend to enjoy what Bill and I are putting down and you treat Larry generously for what he is putting down as well as putting up with.
- pat.
Primitive Sound System
VINYL RULES!
"Audio Visual Triumphs and Disasters" - http://primitivesoundsystem.blogspot.com
Bill Dolan and Primitive Sound System - Thursday October 1st - 9PM to Closing
D.C.'s Tavern
505 8th Street
Between Jefferson and Madison
BACK IN BACK
Hoboken, New Jersey
PH: 201-792-5550
http://www.dcstavern.com
http://myspace.com/dcstavern
Grow your own cookies and poo-poo in Babylon, next to Boogaloosa or you'll be singing a sad song and she'll be sorry:
Small Faces - "Grow Your Own" (Decca cat. F 12317)
The instrumental. I don't crave sweets. Never have. I do crave vinyl records. And what I really, really crave and truly feel I couldn't live without is a screaming, banging, thumping, dirty, no words allowed, grinding and grooving instrumental. Small Faces are easily (and by far) one of the best bands to have traveled across the surface (and through the atmosphere) of the planet we call home. Some people needed proof of the Small Faces greatness and a CD box set from a few years back unequivocally proved their dominance beyond a shadow of a doubt. I have been on the look out for a copy of this divine selection for some time and was quite happy to finally score one in such great shape and for a very reasonable price. A short burst of guitar jumps out only slightly ahead of the pack on this organ driven madness. The drums are perfectly primitive and get the whole body moving. Some beats bob the head, others shake the shoulders but this is a full body attack and you would be wise not to resist. The song is by no means complex, it is raw and aggressive and somehow the band seem to be showing off. Check this shit out, UH! Despite the absence of words they are coaxing you to action and inviting you to hit the dance floor. They certainly do succeed but did you expect anything less?
Brother Soul - "Cookies" b/w "Do it Good" (Leo Mini cat. LS - 105)
Mmmmm, cookies and Funk! Cookies and Funk! But wait one minute, it is not all fun and dunking in the world of cookies and funk. Something dark and evil has gone on here... "WHO TOOK THE COOKIE FROM THE COOKIE JAR!" Growing up with Sesame Street we all learned that greed is bad and sharing is good. Cookie Monster's unbridled passion for those baked little delights was behavior we were all told was unacceptable. So here we have greed, gluttony and stealing in one Funky little 45 and I can't help but point fingers at that blue fur monster all covered in crumbs. The recipe here is mid-tempo bass, drums and guitars sprinkled with horns and the occasionally banter and sound effects are also stirred into the mix. Let's face it, a lot of Funk can follow the same old recipe and come up tasting like every other store bought brand of sugar coated cardboard. This cookie is different and is a definite stand out. The band embraces the humor in what they are doing but also understands you gotta be able to get down with the crumbs. Speaking of doing it right, Brother Soul know exactly how to "Do It Good." The flip is heavier with a little more bite to the drums, bass and guitar. The horns follow their previous performance with a similar minded peppering of blasts but with more balls and less humor. I love the immediacy of the sound and it is as if the band tossed this off in one take after baking. Baking "Cookies" of course. Brother Soul do the do and they "Do It Good." This bad little two sider will be heard from quite often.
Maurice McKennies and The Champions - "Sock-A-Poo-Poo '69, Part I & II" (Black and Proud Records (Dist. By Atco) cat. 45-10000 (Whit Lbl Promo))
Holy shit! I can't believe I have never heard this before. This is one of the rawest records that has ever blasted a hole through my head. Side One even drops out as if the studio engineer was certain this was NOT the sound the band really wanted. Not only is it exactly the sound they wanted but this is apparently a second release of this essential piece of perfection. This gritty little ditty did so well locally Atco picked it up for distribution!?*%#! Remember how the music press embraced the stripped down raw sounds of Pussy Galore, The White Stripes or The Black Keys as if it had never been done before? Don't get me wrong, I love all those bands but FUCK YOU music press. Anytime I come across a major distributed track like this it saddens me how short the memories of the public and the press really are. I don't believe this went to number one with a bullet but it WAS picked up by a major. Somebody at Atlantic was listening and I thank them. The band pounds away as if there is concern the sounds are not making it to tape. They are giving it their all as Maurice McKennie narrates the rocket fueled action. The organ, guitar and drums are as out front in the mix as Mr. McKennie's voice but all these sounds are clouded by the recording quality. This, is of course a huge compliment. I once read that Gerry Rosalie, of The Sonics, unspooled their recordings onto the floor of the studio dragging them through the dirt and stepping on them. This was in an effort to achieve the sound he believed his recordings deserved. It is a sound we all deserve to be exposed to. Side Two "cleans" up the sound enough that is is noticeable. Side Two is it for me. What makes it so appealing is that McKennie convinces the drummer to "SQUEEZE IT REAL TIGHT!" Some how the drummer understands this request and begins to toss off some breaks and send a groove up your spine. The drummer is joined by thick as crude bass and they begin to Funk things up. The guitar and organ are next in the pairings and the whole thing is finished off nicely by the horns. This is going to be my personal soundtrack for a while. Excuse me while I shake my poo-poo.
Buddy Terry - "Babylon" b/w "Stealin` Gold" (Mainstream 5511 (White Lbl Promo))
Talk about versatile. Buddy Terry has done it all. Traditional Jazz, R&B / Soul / Funk, Spiritual Jazz, etc. His sound is throaty and full. This 7-inch features songs I never knew were available on 45. The LP consists of extended tracks that wouldn't seem suited for a 7-inch. BUT... "Babylon" works incredibly well, that is for sure. The track bursts right from the moment the needle meets the groove. The band is extremely tight and allows the guitar and horns to express themselves without clutter or confusion. The guitar is extremely soulful despite being rather talkative. There are some really creative moments in the playing and more than just the standard sounds of Soul Jazz guitar are experimented with. The groove is deep and leans heavily to a Soul Jazz or Funk track rather than a Spiritual Jazz track which is a genre Mr. Terry explored quite deeply and with great success during this time period. Our guitarist steps aside as Buddy Terry lets his instrument speak for him while stepping out front. There is a brief conversation with the trumpet but Buddy can humble even the best player so you best step aside and let him do his thing. Side two gives us "Stealin' Gold" which is far more relaxed. Calling it sweet would not be an insult. Flute stands out for the opening creating a sense of calm and fills a very peaceful environment. Mr. Terry picks up the pace with some aggressive improvisation but again it somehow compliments the existing sounds. "Babylon" is hands down the track to play out but "Stealin' Gold" can become a popular Summer theme for me.
Brenton Wood - "Boogaloosa, Louisian' " b/w "Need Your Love So Bad" (Double Shot Records cat. #150)
Everybody is familiar with Brenton Woods "Oogum Boogum Song." It is a stone cold Soul classic. There is an underlying illusion to the possibility of something a little more forceful. the song is full of attitude but it is almost all warm hugs, cool breezes and birds chirping. To say I was not very schooled on Mr. Woods output would be an understatement. But, if there is one thing I have come to expect from music is that you must trust nothing, nothing that is except your own ears (see The Osmonds "Crazy Horses" for an obvious case in point). So, imagine my delightful surprise as the drums came cracking out of the speakers just seconds into "Boogaloosa." When I think Brenton Woods I think smooth and Soulful. "Boogaloosa, Louisian" is anything but, but somehow remains incredibly pleasing very Funky. I know that intro drum beat from somewhere but I can't place it? The song is pulled around the track by Mr. Woods and the power comes from the kickin" beat that does not stop for even a second.
The Unforgettables - "Sad Song" b/w "Too Much Trouble" (Loadstone cat. 3954)
So the Unforgettables are anything but. I love this track as much as the singer loves his baby. Take my word for it, he loves her lots. The band is loose, almost as if they are creating this as they are playing. There are moments that would hint at the possibilities that they may have played this before but the beauty of the track is how simply heavy and urgent it is. Everything jumps in as the needle drops and off we go. Congas and drums lay the foundation but
the wah guitar is making sure we hear his message. He takes an extended solo more than half the way through but the singer can't sit in the side lines. He needs to tell it to who ever will listen. He is confused and hurt. Why would you want to make him sing those sad songs? Can't we just all get along? "Too Much Trouble" is just as loose and raw. There are some actual parts and at one point every thing just shifts like the earth getting knocked off its axis. Amazing stuff. Hopefully there is more Unforgettables in my future.
Gloria Gaynor - "She'll Be Sorry" b/w Let Me Go Baby" (Jocida cat. J-300)
Female vocals always sound so great over a forceful backing. James Brown was no dummy when he surrounded himself with some of the greatest female vocals he could find. Because of this I have always sought Female R&B, Soul and Funk tracks. The New Funk bands have discovered this and by far the better tracks are those song by the ladies. Diggin' around in Big City Records in NYC I came across this amazing two-sider. Yes, this is Gloria Gaynor, the woman who brought you the Disco anthem, "I Will Survive." Miss Gaynor's voice is a very powerful one. At times husky but at all times it is pure Soul. If more of the Motown sides were this in your face I'd be a much bigger fan of the label. The band is treated as an equal on the recording and this may be why it sounds like there is more attack to the playing. Attack or not Ms. Gaynor belts out this tale of an unfaithful boyfriend as if she has no equal. The infidelity doesn't seem to matter much to her. She has drawn a line in the sand and with a simple phrase, "She'll Be Sorry," she is prepared to do whatever it takes to keep the unwanted woman he is spending time with away. She is a force to be reckoned with. By the end Ms. Gaynor drives home her point and expresses just how serious she is by changing the phrase ever so slightly, "You'll be sorry!" LOOK OUT! Go get 'em Gloria! But no matter what we know you will... survive. Oh come on, how could I resist. You would have said it as well. this will see a lot of time on the turntable in the coming months.
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MORE FINDS AS SUMMER COMES TO A CLOSE:
The WhatNauts - "Please Make The Love Go Away" b/w "Souling With The WahtNauts" (Stang cat. ST 5014)
Whatnauts - "Blues Fly Away" b/w "Try Me" (Stang cat. ST 5037)
The Bill Mersey Band - "Soul Kick" b/w The Bill Mersey Band featuring Carol Williams "Shake (It Easy)" (Zoo York Records cat. WS9 02887)
Jackey Beavers - Singing A Funky Song (For My Baby)" b/w "Hey Girl (I can't Stand To See You Go)" (Sound Stage 7 cat. ZS7 1506 (Radio Station Copy / Nor For Sale))
Brothers Soul - "Cookies" b/w "Do It Good" (Leo Mini cat. LS - 105)
The James Young Blues Band - "Funky Booty" b/w Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson - "Was It Worth It All?" (Jet Stream cat. 812)
"Lil" Willie & The Rockin' Imperials - "A Man Don't Last Too Long" b/w "Tell Me Why" (Golden - Records cat. G No. 117)
The Poindexter Bros. - "The Booga Man" b/w "Ride, Ride, Ride" (Tuff Records cat. 404 (DJ Copy / Sample))
Maurice McKennies and The Champions - "Sock-A-Poo-Poo '69, Part I & II" (Black and Proud Records (Dist. By Atco) cat. 45-10000 (Whit Lbl Promo))
Gloria Gaynor - "She'll Be Sorry" b/w Let Me Go Baby" (Jocida cat. J-300)
The Soul Ensemble - "Melon Jelly" b/w "Move Out" (Prix Records / Harmonic Sounds Inc. cat. HSI - 69002)
The Unforgettables - "Sad Song" b/w "Too Much Trouble" (Loadstone cat. 3954)
Annakonda - "Sonic Boom" b/w Wheedle's Groove" (BXI Records cat. 3113)
El Gran Combo - "Cinnamon" b/w "Good Night My Love" (Gema Records cat. 1627)
Orq. Flamboyan Con Frankie Dante - "Paz" b/w Pa Guaynabo" (Cotique cat. C 210)
Joe Bataan - "Latin Strut" b/w "Peace, Friendship and Solidarity" (Mericanna Records cat. M-7157)
Cortijo Y Kako - "Chiviriquiton" b/w "Yo no Bailo Con Juana" (Ansonia cat. 45-6750)
Mario Allison - "Louie Louie" b/w "Bamba Cure" (J. & G. Recordings cat. J & G 8063)
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The Webs - "This Thing Called Love" b/w "Tomorrow" (Popside cat. 4593)
Jimmy Lewis - "I'm Stepping Out" b/w "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off" (Tangerine Records cat. TRC 994)
Bobby Lewis - "What A Walk" b/w "Cry No More" (Beltone cat. 45-1015)
Titus Turner - "Cool Down" b/w "Get Up Betty Jean" (Glover Records cat. Record No. 206)
Sheb Wooley (Orchestra Under The Direction of Neely Plumb) - Monkey Jive" b/w "The Chase" (M-G-M Records cat. K12704)
Ohio Express - "The Race (That Took Place)" b/w "Cowboy Convention" (Buddah Records cat. BDA 147)
The Peels - "Fun" b/w "Juanita Banana" (Karate Records cat. 45-5228)
The Seeds - "Can't Seem To Make You Mine" b/w "I Tell Myself" (GNP Crescendo cat. GNP - 354 S)
Morgen - "Of Dreams" b/w "She's The Nitetime" (ABC / Command / Probe cat. CP 474 (Not For Sale))
? & The Mysterians - "I Need Somebody" b/w " "8" Teen" (Cameo cat. C-441)
The Yellow Payges - "The Two Of Us" b/w "Never Put Away My Love For You" (UNI cat. 55107)
Chilly Charlie - "Crisis At Ole Miss" Part 1 and 2 (Band Box Records cat. #329)
Jim Carroll Band - "People Who Died" b/w "I Want The Angel" (Atco cat. 7314)
Queen - " Bicycle Race" b/w Fat Bottom Girls" (Elektra cat. E-45541 (Pic Sleeve))
Billy Mure's Super Sonic Guitars in Hi-Fi - "Super Sonic," "Miserlou" b/w "Malaguena," "My Little Grass Shack in Hi-Fi" (RCA Victor cat. EPA 1-1536 (Pic Sleeve))
Jimmy McCracklin - "Beulah" b/w "My Answer" (Imperial Records cat. 66147 (White Lbl Promo - Audition Record))
Junior Parker - "The Outside Man" b/w "Darling Depend On Me" (Capitol cat. 2857)
Brenton Wood - "Boogaloosa, Louisian' " b/w "Need Your Love So Bad" (Double Shot Records cat. #150)
Travis Wammack - "Shotgun Woman" b/w "(Shu-Doo-Poo-Poop) Love Being Your Fool" (Capricorn Records cat. CPS 0239)
Ram Jam - "Black Betty" b/w "I Should Have Known" (Epic cat. 8-50357 (Demonstration - Not For Sale))
Racing Cars - "Four Wheel Drive" b/w "They Shoot Horses Don't They" (Chysalis cat. CHS-2129)
Lalo Schifrin - "Ape Shuffle ("Them From The Planet of The Apes") b/w "Escape From Tomorrow" (20th Century Records cat. TC - 2150)
Lectric Woods - "Time Of The Season" b/w "A.L.L. (Apollo Lunar Landing)" (ABC Records / APT cat. 26005 (Promotional Copy / Not For Sale))
Paul Quinichette - "The Heat's Off" b/w "Mine" (Decca cat. Record No. 9-28921)
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Big Boss Man - "Party 7" b/w "Kelvin Stardust" (Blow Up Records cat. BU37)
Euro Cinema - "Brooklyn Groove" b/w "Brother Lou" (Hammond Beat cat. HB7-09)
Sven Hammond Soul - "Lookin Up, Turnin Round" b/w "Moet Jij Wete" (Hammond Beat cat. HB7-10)
Anthony Joseph & The Spasm Band - Bird Head Son
Gizelle Smith - Gizelle Smith & The Mighty Mocambos
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Birdwave - "Hard Times" b/w "Break It Down" (Jaycees Records International cat. JCR-005)
Natural Rhythm - "Let's Groove Some Mo" b/w "Salted Popcorn" (Jaycees Records International cat. JCR-006)
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The Impressions - Soulfully - "Woman's Got Soul," "Meeting Over Yonder" b/w "People Get Ready," "You've Been Cheatin'" (E.M.I. Records / His Masters Voice cat. 7EG 8954)
Jimmy Smith - "Sag' Shootin' His Arrow" b/w "For Everyone Under the Sun" (Verve cat. VK10672 (Special Disc Jockey Record))
