Primitive Sound System at D.C.'s Tavern Thursday Nov 4th from 9PM to Closing

Hello Y'all,
WOOOO HOOOO! The FMU Record Fair is always a blast. For about fifteen years now I make a beeline for a dealer I like to call the The Dollar Guys. This year I went on Friday night from 7-10PM and Saturday morning from 10AM - 1PM and walked away with about 80 records. Some I needed, some I needed to get a cleaner copy of and some that are just too fun to pass up (Twisted Sister - "We're Not Going To Take It" 45 in a picture sleeve). I added two more Tony Joe White 45's to the collection and three more James Brown 45's to the already overflowing James Brown box including a copy of "King Heroin" with a picture sleeve. There were bizarro records like Welcome To Our Circle Of Friends "Tips On Service And Warranty 1975," which is a two-sided 45 explaining how to maintain your new car. Um, AWESOME! Thank you snippets Gods! And yet another moon landing related record - First Anniversary - Man On The Moon - The Log Of Man's Lunar Landing - "From Liftoff To Lunar Landing" b/w "Man Walks On The Moon" (Luna Records cat. A-11) that has some nice trippy background music. There were a couple of Hot Rod and Drinking songs and the usual stacks of Instrumental and Jazz 45's. I am definitely happy with this years haul.

This Thursday I will be back at D.C.'s Tavern and going it alone. My dear sweet Bronco Billy is once again on the left coast and I must struggle through my separation anxiety as I cue each record. Who will wildly pump their fist as I go from Duke Ellington to The Fabulous Continentals? Who will randomly shout, "YEAH!" throughout the night for me? Not the Hunter. No, he just looks at me like I am boarding the short bus with a portable record player and protective headgear. And now that Rockstar Johnny looks more like J. than J. looks like J., well that's just frightening and I am not going to try and think about it. I'll be spinning from 10PM to closing and desperately trying to figure out how I can make silly lady parts by only sticking my two hands together… see I miss Bill already. IT DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT ANOTHER PAIR OF HANDS! Please tip the Hunter so he'll stop laughing at my selections and don't even look at Johnny because I think he has started throwing people out for asking for mixed drinks.

- pat.
Primitive Sound System
VINYL RULES!
"Audio Visual Triumphs and Disasters" - http://primitivesoundsystem.blogspot.com

Primitive Sound System - Thursday November 4th - 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

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THE 45's:

Bad Medicine - "Animal Assistance" b/w "She's Taken All My Money" (Orbit Records cat. 45-100)
One of my favorite 45s is "Trespasser" by Bad Medicine. It is one of the most Progressive records that gets lumped in with the Funk 45 genre. Sadly it is hard to hear what was to come just a couple of years later but "Animal Assistance" (sometimes referred to as "Bulldog") is an adequate Rock track and not the raw Funk beginnings I was hoping for. There is a groove dying to push its way out but the band stays comfortably in a mid-tempo stride with horns begging to be heard in the background. It sounds like the track could have been made up on the spot and recorded after only a few run throughs. Towards the end the band does let loose a bit and the guitarist attacks the song but that is the only real excitement and it comes much too late. Don't get me wrong, this is raw and pretty damn good but knowing this is the same band that unleashed "Trespasser" onto the world it is hard to not be overly critical. Sadly the B-side looks like it was exposed to a heat source so it does not play but from what I can play it is a pretty standard attempt of a Rock band playing the Blues (read between the lines if you must). I was extremely excited to see this buried in a box of dollar records (it cost a whole $4) and I know I will play this in almost every 70's Rock set from here on out but maybe somewhere there is one more mighty 45 from the band called Bad Medicine. (BTW I resisted ALL cheap "Bad Medicine" or drug related criticisms so you should thank me.)

James Luke and the Prophets - "Night Train" b/w "Hot Pastrami" (Capital City cat. Q 50811)
I know I am not supposed to use the word retarded as an adjective by wow… James Luke and the Prophets spew out the most retard-tastic version of "Hot Pastrami" I have ever heard. I am pretty sure no one in the group knows how to play their instruments. It would appear they won a contest and first prize was to record to songs in a shed while pummeling equipment. Cavemen listen to this and scream, "THAT'S PRIMITIVE!" The vocalist did learn the very complicated lyrics to Hot Pastrami so the engineer pushed the faders way up. Good thing the singer had just ate shards of glass otherwise he may have been unbearable to listen to. Is it possible for a song under three minutes to sound like it has gone on too long? YEAH, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,yeah, yeah…. The A-side of this completely amazing 7-inch is a version of the oft cover never to be destroyed so beautifully, "Night Train." Here the "band" (for lack of a better word), actually have the nerve to count in this wreck. 1-2-3-4… now every go in completely different directions. If a train leaves Greater Harrisburg Pennsylvania for parts unknown on several different tracks will we ever arrive at any logical destination? At one point it sounds like everyone but the drummer and guitarist get derailed. About hallway through the guitarist actually develops chops and luckily the drummer never does anything but crush the snare drum into the floor with his manic one-two beat. In the distance we do hear the organ weeping crawling from the wreck. Perfect. This one moves immediately to the favorite 7-inches of All Time box. Thank you James Luke, and of course thank you The Prophets for you have truly been touched and delivered your divine message to us.

Jackie Edwards & Soulmaker's (sic) (Arranged J. Venable, Producer J. Shelton Jr.) - "The Vamp" b/w "Let Me Love You" (Daran Record Co. cat. D-0108)
I have written about Mr. Edwards previously. His amazing track "Che Che" is where Soul genuinely meets Jazz. Like a meeting of the Stax and Black Jazz record labels. "The Vamp" is similar but this time instead of the subtle smoothness of "Che Che" here Mr. Edwards and band sound like Wes Montgomery fronting a young New Funk band. The beats and organ are really raw but the guitar work is elegant and aggressive all at once. As before, I can only assume Mr. Edwards is the guitarist since this track (like "Che Che") features the fantastic guitar playing way out front. The guitar is not disconnected from the other players but it is featured in the mix quite favorably. I love the loose snare head sound, which gives it a slight amateur or Garage feel regardless of the drummer’s obvious skills. The organ also has a Garage sound to it that adds to the New (Modern) Funk Band sound. I could see this coming out on a label like Tramp and raising the discussion if it was a new track or old. "Let Me Love You'" is the ultimate Lounge track. If this isn't Murph and the Magictones I don't know what is. "Thanks folks, please stick around for our next set, and remember…"Don't You Go Changin'." *hiccup…*

Bill Parker - "Gonna Put My Foot Down" b/w "I Waited In The Rain" (Anla Records cat. AN1-125)
I probably paid a little too much for this but man I had to have it. I love Electric Blues and have never heard this before and that saddened me. So I did what any well-respected vinyl junkie would do with 20 bucks clenched in his (or her) hand… I laid my money down and hug this little gem and gave it a new home. Bill Parker sings his lines about one eighth of the speed of the tempo. I assume it is Mr. Parker also playing guitar, which he plays like a man possessed. The drums and rhythm guitar are beautifully simple but the lead is wildly fuzzy and raw. Electric, in every sense of the word. I never stuck a paper clip into an outlet but I assume this is the sound you make. The guitar screams and accentuates every slow, deep voiced threat Mr. Parker makes and he makes it very, very slowly, "P U T M Y F O O T D O W N…" When the track opens the intro cannot prepare you for how sparse and matter of fact the vocals are going to be. Weirdly they are not distracting, actually I found myself anxiously waiting for what he would say next, "Never will be the same old me….” It is like he is reading haiku but is distracted by his own wild playing. Let's just be happy they didn't do enough takes for him to be able to play and sing at the same time because to me this is a flawless take.

Cannonball Adderley - "Soul Zodiac" Narrated by Rick Holmes The Nat Adderley Sextet - Pisces" b/w "Virgo" (Capitol cat. P-3410 (Not For Sale / Promotional Record))
So I am born in February and that makes me a Pisces. I ONLY picked this up because I thought it would be funny. Despite Cannonball Adderley and David Axelrod being two of my favorites who worked together brilliantly many many times I have NEVER been able to make through this whole LP. In the words of Peter Griffin, "It insists upon you." I probably will not play this record out ever but it will make great mixed tape fodder. I know nothing of Astrology and everything everyone has every told me makes me think it is no better than any other organized religion. It does have an element of science to it so maybe it can be in the sequel to this book this guy gave me called "Dioretix: The Science of Matter over Mind." My favorite thing about the record is that barely anything they say about Pisces is true about myself or anyone else I know born in February. I can only imagine that ever sign has elements of personality traits that can apply to everyone. Eww, let me guess your age while I am at it. I will say that Rick Holmes has a voice that just flows and moves like water over the spacey backing.

Bobby Peterson Quintet - "The Hunch" b/w "Love You Pretty Baby" (V-Tone Records cat. 205)
OK, so this is everything I look for in an instrumental. The intro has some nicely beating drums and the other players build up around his groove. The bass is nice and heavy matching the intensity and focus of the beat. The sax bursts onto the scene and takes center stage honking, blasting and soloing from beginning to the end. The piano does a nice job of keeping things balanced and even gets to take a solo without disrupting the beat. I can hear bongos in the back and it would have been nice to hear them up in the mix but all in all this one great track. Piano / Sax instrumentals are as good as Guitar or Organ instrumentals but they always seem to have an older feel. Since this sounds like it is from the late 50's possibly the very early 60's it can be said that Piano / Sax instrumentals are the Godfathers of Organ Instrumentals.

Fabulous Continentals - "Undertow" b/w "Return To Me" (C B Records cat. 5003)
Nothing is better than an instrumental and Surf Instrumentals rarely disappoint. The Fabulous Continentals know the game and they play it straight. Surf beat, plunky - plinky guitar and weird breaks dropped in, in an attempt to make each song "sound" different. Oh yeah, the obligatory "Cha-Cha-Cha ending. Done. You guys are…FABULOUS! Check it out, "Return To Me" follows the same pattern and even grabs the "My Bonnie" riff like it was "Shortnin' Bread" or something. Two for two, you kids are all right.

David Rose - "The Blowup" b/w "Theme From Hombre" (Capitol Records cat. P 5837 (Promotion Record / Not For Sale))
Another great David Axelrod production. Isn't David Rose the guy who did "The Stripper?" This track sounds like it could have been the theme song for a love story starring The Munsters. Fuzzed up guitar and pounding drums are layered with strings, horns and a flute. The whole thing sways gently while also stomping forward like a hulking figure pushing on in a storm and high winds. I couldn't find any info about a movie that this was recorded for and I know it was not part of the Antonioni film by the same name. The inclusion of Jack Nitzsche makes it even more intriguing. Intrigue and curiosity make this one of the better Spy themes that never was or hopefully I'll find out was and there are more great tracks. In the mean time enjoy the mystery.

THE LONE LP:

Lightnin' Rod - "Hustler's Convention" (United Artists Records / Douglas Collection cat. UA-LA156-F)
About a year ago I picked up a few copies of Sir Charles Hughes' "Your Love Sho Nuff Dynamite" 7-inches. I have not been able to stop playing it ever since. The song was used as the running theme in the movie Black Dynamite and honestly they could not have found a more perfect song. A friend, DJ and collector who goes by the name Monk-One tipped me off to the song so I made sure he got a copy from my short stack. I do trade records occasionally but I prefer buying. Trades never seem to work out well for me. At the FMU record fair I usually get to catch up with people I haven't seen in a while. Some who I only get to talk to through the Internet. Robbie Busch is an artist, writer, DJ and collector that I obviously have a few things in common with. I stopped to talk to him and realized if there was anyone who would like a copy it would be him. Although he did already have the Sir Charles Hughes' LP (OK this guy has some crazy rare records) he did need a copy of the 7-inch so I went through his sale box. That was one of the deepest boxes of 45's I have looked through in a while. Rare record after rare record and at really good prices… but far too rich for my blood (I had just spent two days digging the Dollar Guys bins so I was tapped). I then flipped his LP's and stumbled upon one of the cleanest copies of "Hustler's Convention" I have ever seen AND it has the insert. My copy was a non-gate edition from the 80's and I am not sure why I never went looking for an original but I had not. We made a deal and there couldn't be a more perfect trade for the theme for Black Dynamite. Hustler's Convention is always a regular play while I am working in my studio and somehow the OG sounds even better. Thanks Robbie!

Bill Dolan and Primitive Sound System - D.C.'s Tavern Thursday February 7th from 9PM to Closing

Hello Y'all,
For over a month I didn't have an internet connection so I have a shit-load of records to write about. Also, if Leap Year isn't weird enough the weather has proven to be extremely confusing. First its hot than its cold... I think the worst thing about Global Warming so far is the inconsistency. Is that wrong? This past Tuesday was of course Fat Tuesday so that means I'll be bringing some of the Bayou to Back-N-Back. So amongst that load will be some very new records, old favorites and of course the aforementioned New Orleans platters. New Orleans is truly one of the most unique sounding cities in the world and some of my favorite Soul and Funk records call it home.

Last month Bill and I hit D.C.'s hard and all those not paying attention paid dearly. Pay attention kids or you run the risk of being double teamed from the top ropes! We've done it before and we are not afraid to do it again... just dare us. Hopefully you can make it out and remember we only seek our prey the old fashioned way... we target the weak. Hey and looky there it's me brother Mike slinging ales along with the hard stuff. See you there... I SAID SEE YOU THERE!

ALSO:
Iris Records is open this week Fri/Sat from Noon until 7PM.
114 Brunswick Street in Jersey City
(between first and second...not far from Grove Street)
Call 609-468-0885 for more information and directions.


- pat.

Primitive Sound System
VINYL RULES!

All the past email are here and they are searchable - "Audio Visual Triumphs and Disasters" - http://primitivesoundsystem.blogspot.com

Primitive Sound System, Bill Dolan and Joe Raaen (Maybe? I haven't heard if Joe will be joining us)
Thursday December 7th 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

The Records:
Lack Of Afro - "When The Sun Goes Down" (Freestyle cat. FSR7039)
I love being dragged into a Big Funky Drum Beat by a guitar lick ready for a Girl Group ballad. That is exactly how we are treated here. Lack Of Afro don't have a 100% unique sound but that is no slight as they have learned to take a lot more than just one from column A and one from column B. The drum sound is tight but extremely alive. The guitars loop and wah-wah throughout. A beautifully lifting flute breaks out but stays to the end pushing as hard as the rest of the band. The drums are way out front but never step on the players. Brilliantly they restate the guitar lick from the opening.

The Fantastics! - "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose" (Modern Funk cat. FSR7040)
If you noticed there is an exclamation point at the end of The Fantastics! name. These boys are fantastic and they know it. Opening with the traditional guitar intro they hit James Brown's classic hard and soon very original. The intro feels like it is just telling us, yes, this is a classic but wake the hell up, get your ass up and listen up because we have something to say. Hell, we all know that they have been listening to the Godfather of Soul forever so why play it straight. There is almost a hint of Afro-Beat to their groove just like an unexpected shot of Hot Sauce. Creeping out of the darkness comes the sax and it is going for broke. He bends, he twists and he breaks. The organ pushes and the sax teases back. We are treated to a brief but altogether refreshing organ groove that sets up the sax one more time. (Is it an alto first and then a tenor? Could be. Or maybe the sax is just blowing that much more? It is subtle but I do hear a difference.) You would assume this leads up to an outro but hell NO! Remember these motherfuckers are "FANTASTIC!" with a bolded exclamation. Congas pop out the break and bring up the drums. Raw and hard is the recipe here with a full bass and guitar attack on the senses. The band loosens up a bit and really begins to burn right before things fall apart they show restraint and professionalism and stop on a dime. BANG! FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC! Indeed.

Quantic featuring Spanky Wilson - "When You're Through" (Modern Funk cat. FSR7041)
I can never say a bad thing about Spanky Wilson and the same goes for the stellar Will Holland and his Quantic Soul Orchestra. A long building intro almost leads you to believe that this may be an instrumental affair when about a minute and a half in Ms. Wilson slides in to take control. Her performance is both pleading and alluring. In the world of New Funk credibility is everything so finding players and vocalists who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the originals is very important. It doesn't get any more real than the classy Ms. Wilson and The Quantic Soul Orchestra show a level of sophistication that most bands can only dream of. The beat hops throughout accentuated by baritone sax, piano, and guitar.

Bobby Blackbird and The Blue Jays - "What You Wanna Do" b/w "The Blue Jays Theme" (Cardboard City Records cat. CCR-002)
I stumbled across this while searching for something else. Dumb luck. There is a very similar sound to Little Barrie here and I would love to know if there is any connection but as of right now I have no idea. These guys combine Rock and Soul perfectly. Mr. Blackbird (I assume) has a voice that is raspy and snotty and when he speaks you listen. The band is small and tight and the recording is simple and raw. Drums, guitar, bass and vocals; that is it. Once again proving that most Rock bands really suck and if they spent just five seconds listening to the sounds their instruments produce they could save us all the pain we endure suffering their crap. These guys have listened and they know less is more. "LET IT GO! CAUSE I WANT TO!" "...be on your side... when it's good...?" Now that is some good shit. Short and perfectly ended. They back this beauty up with a theme song, aptly titled "The Blue Jays Theme." I like this for a bunch of reasons but especially since our vocalist got top billing on side one and it is nice to let the band grab the stage for their time under the lights. They play it as rough and raw as the first side so it is going to be difficult to choose which side will land up, down on the decks.

Funk Shone - "Purification Pt 2" (Skyline Recordings cat. SL4503)
This bursts of the vinyl with a very club feel to it. The Percussion and Drums challenge each other and hit hard enough to destroy their equipment. Horns jump on top of the Drums, Percussion and Bass mix just long enough to state a theme. It is so good they repeat it before allowing the flute to solo and cut the band. The sax joins in and they play off each other anticipating each players next move. The song goes out on a heavy ass break and it makes me want to start it all over again, and I think I will.

Lucky Brown - "Don't Go Away" b/w "The Fresh One" (Tramp Records cat. Tr-1012)
The sound on this gives it a flavor of authenticity. One of the other things that helps it to ring more true than most is the repeated title / chorus right after the intro. The vocals are hurried but rushed with a touch of anxiety. The band seems to playing with a similar heart and the whole thing blends nicely. Drums crash, guitars chug and the horns have a conversation throughout. The soloist of choice here is the flute and solo it does. You can pick up a hint of flute behind the chorus / vocals about midway and then off it goes. I have been a fan of the flute as an aggressive addition to any band and especially like it in the funk genre. Over analyzing a New Funk track kills it. Listen, move but DON'T GO AWAY! Side two kicks open with one of my favorite intros in a very long time. At first it sounds like a series of false starts and then slams up against a Free Jazz sax run that does what ever it wants over this very strong groove. Happily the flute is back and tries to match the expressiveness of the sax but honestly it falls a little short only because it grooves sweetly and too close to the rhythm. The false starts are back and this time they act as a chorus of skipping records while the drums take a shot at improvisation. Here keeping the beat close to the main groove works well as the band continues to skip right to the end. Easily one of the most creative entries on the New Funk scene and one that may give it legs as a stand out track.

Lefties Soul Connection - "Fais Do-Do" b/w "Mood Mix" (Melting Pot Music cat. MPM-038)
This is as heavy and aggressive as The Meters have ever gotten. Lefties Soul Connection are one of the few bands that I buy their 45's and LP's without ever hearing one note. They never disappoint. Swirling organ and picked guitar kick open the door of the massive instrumental known as "Fais Do-Do." The drums skip, smash, bang and POW! all the while the guitar strums out one of the more interesting lines found on any Funk 45. After a brief pause bridged with the beautiful thumping bass the organ gets down and dirty. You can sway, nod, bob, pogo or just brawl to this little ditty. After a steady soloing of the drums the guitar shows the organ that it is not the only instrument that can get down and dirty at this dance. All in all, a sweaty affair to say the least and I can't imagine anyone trying to put the kids to sleep while it is still kicking around the cage aux chiens.

FROM LAST MONTHS EMAIL THAT NEVER GOT SENT:

Plum - (15th Anniversary 200th release box set) (Thrill Jockey Records cat. THRILL 200)
I still get excited like a 4 year old on Christmas morning when it comes to records. I have a four year old so I can tell you that is pretty fucking exciting. I got an email from Thrill Jockey announcing the box and the proceeded to check their site everyday until it was released. Then I asked Santa for it and couldn't wait until Christmas morning. Well this was worth the excitement and the wait. The Box is adorned with the fuzzy image of a plum and the scrawled word plum in shaky script. Each sleeve has a selection of botanicals featuring plums. The usual suspects are all here including Tortoise, Sea And Cake, Freakwater, Mouse On Mars, Califone, Pit Er Pat, etc, etc. All put in stellar performances and even in this tribute to their own label the bands push themselves and the boundaries a bit.

Javier R. Rodrigez - "Rumble" b/w "Up The Hill" (Raw-Wax Records cat. rw-008)
I have said it about a million times and I will say it again. A band is ONLY as good as their drummer. Time and time again this is true. If the drummer is not as good or at least a cut above the other players the band suffers. The drummer gracing the throne on this mad piece of Modern Funk is just explosive and tight as a duck's ass. He is kicking hard and putting back, shoulders and wrists into every hit. "LET'S GET READY TO...RUMBLE!" There is beautifully thought out percussion throughout that compliments every stroke the drummer takes. BUT, but, but let's not take a way from the rest of the folks giving it there all. The organ stabs, slides and pushes through the whole song sometimes sounding like the theme to a Spaghetti Western and at others the soundtrack to a Space adventure. The bass is moving and solid. With all the wonderful sounds and shifts going on around it, the bass holds everything together with expressive heavy notes and perfect little pauses that hang there allowing a beat or two to jump out and pin your shoulders back. The guitar tosses off super clean rhythmic jabs but then also covers everything up with wild amounts of fuzz and some crazy effects making the guitar sound like a clavinet. No need to ask because you already know the answer... YES, there is a cow bell and a beat heavy break. It is anything but a struggle to get "Up the Hill". The beauty of this single is that if you heard 50 tracks from this genre you would be able to spot the Javier R. Rodrigez tracks. There is a certain quality to the tracks and especially the way the drums are handled. Have you ever played with the balance while listening to Edwin Starr's "25 Miles?" If you have never done this and have the 7-inch I'll wait while you try.... Back? Pretty cool right? There is a similar sound to these tracks. The drums don't necessarily live in one channel or the other but there is a sense that the drums are offset from the band. Not so much as to be "out front" but just off to the side and allowed to really go for it and stretch out. The band really seems to enjoy playing with each other and on this track each musician compliments the others quite nicely. The drums lead the charge but this time the keyboards and bass grab equal amounts of space. The keys have the same spooky soundtrack meets lounge scene sound they had on the first side but they are always downright solid and Funky. The composition is nicely varied and allows the players to display their abilities. Woe, woe, woe what the hell is this! There is the most INCREDIBLE simple vibe pattern about half way through. The band takes the pace up to double time and the vibes drop gears and take it extremely slow. Echoey and masterfully handled but weirdly amateurish and the same time. Simple beauty? Child-like innocence? This all has the effect of watching a simulation of a space craft in orbit. You know it is moving at 18,000 MPH but it looks like it is floating. Thank you Javier R. Rodrigez and Raw-Wax you have made me and my turntable very happy. Now leave me be as I load up the needle and get lost....