New Badu ... New Amerykah

The latest effort from Erykah Badu, New Amerykah: Part 1 (4th World War), hit record stores this week.  The record is part 1 of a supposed 3 part trilogy concept Badu has been developing, in which she promises to take on sociopolitical issues like poverty and 9/11. 

With Madlib and Sa-Ra Creative Partners behind the boards, Badu has found a new place to dwell, shedding the conventional VH1 neo-soul format she helped define, for a more dark and eccentric, stream-of-consciousness vibe.  Badu's quirky vocals fit nicely among the headnodding funky jumble of sounds - she certainly doesn't sound out of place.  However, the starkness and headiness of many of the compositions make this record a much harder listen than her previous ones.  

I've only listened to this record once, but so far I'm really feelin it.  Its very much a step in the new direction soul has been taking - a little less produced a little more contemplative.  On my first listen, I couldn't help but think of the work Georgia Anne Muldrow has produced in recent years for Stones Throw.  I started to think that it may sound a little too derivative, but Muldrow's guest appearance on "Master Teacher" dispels this notion.  

Badu has really shed some skin on this record.  Beyond the 9th wonder produced "Honey" (which I like), Amerykah really has no pop-friendly chart-topping singles - no sign of VH1 at all on this one.  In fact, "Honey" is labeled on the record as "bonus track".  

She's left behind the soulquarian grooves for smoked-out psychedelics.  I really admire the way she challenges her fans to follow her creative impulses.  This record is incredibly daring and still very much Badu.  I'm on board.  Ok, its safe now go buy this record.

Critics Review:  Feelin it.

Erykah Badu - Telephone

       

Erykah Badu - Honey 

People Get Ready ...

The Chambers Brothers - People Get Ready (1965)

Curtis Mayfield wrote this tune in 1964 for the Impressions.  It has since been covered by Bob Dylan, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, The Chambers Brothers, and too many others to name.  Its a gospel song with some of the most moving lyrics I've ever heard.

Mayfield wrote the tune a year after the civil rights March on Washington and JFK's assassination.  It was clearly a song that reflected the turmoil and upheaval of these times.  The song reaches across racial and religious lines to offer a message of redemption and forgiveness.  Mayfield's poignant lyrics demand faith - faith in one's self, in spite of the hardships and struggles.  The train in the song is a chance at redemption - a chance to rise above racism and the hopelessness of despair - ending this cycle of pain.

I get chills when I hear this song.  My favorite version was recorded by the interracial soul group The Chambers Brothers.  The version features a chilling vocal performance that delivers Mayfield's message with such impact.  Rolling Stone magazine named "People Get Ready" the 24th greatest song of all time ... it should be in the top ten.  Enjoy the clip and buy the record.  Respect.

High-Life: Ghana's Funky Sound

High-Life is a musical genre that originated in Ghana and spread to Nigeria and several other West African countries in the 1920s.  It's sound is characterized by jazzy horn sections and multiple guitar leads.  Since the 1920's the High Life sound has acquired more of an uptempo funk-infused synth-driven sound.  

The late 1960s-70s marked a great period for these West African musicians. With foreign monetary support and growing recognition outside their home turf, the sound had established  itself.  But, as governments began to crumble in most of these West African countries, war would ultimately leave these musicians to find other means of living, ending this golden era in African music.

"Kyenken Bi Adi M'Awu" means come back my love.  Produced by James Ofori and performed by Ghanian singer, K. Frimpong, the track is a lover's lament - essentially a blues ballad backed by some super funky accompaniment.    

It's a beautiful piece, that makes me want to dance away the pain. Peep the flute solo and how deep that bass groove is.  Is that a farfisa organ I hear?  Respect!

K. Frimpong & His Cuban Fiestas - Kyenken Bi Adi M'Awu

Tomorrow Never Knows ...

It's oscar night ... that might not mean anything to you ... but it was a great year for film and music in film.  I'm a huge fan of the soundtrack.  Music can really make or break a film for me. I hope to one day supervise the placement of music for a few great films.  In lieu of this,  I'm gonna make an effort to post more film-inspired music.

With that said, I came home early last night and found  Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men on the television - a favorite of mine in '06. I spotted a musical cue underscoring a scene between Clive Owen and Michael Caine that inspired this post .  It was buried deep in the scene, but I could make out the faint guitar chords from Junior Parker's cover of the Beatles tune, "Tomorrow Never Knows".  Its one of those musical cues thats easily overlooked, but I had just found the record a couple months prior at the Sound Library so it was fresh on the brain.  

Its a beautiful piece.  One of the best Beatles covers I've ever heard.  Junior Parker, a blues master, reworks the song into an ominously sweet ballad of uncertainty.  Its included on the film's soundtrack.  Kudos to Cuaron and his music supervisor - excellent little gem.

Junior Parker - Tomorrow Never Knows

How Long do I have to Wait for You?

Internet's been down for a record breaking 5 days ... just got it back after several irate phone calls ... "Some of us do have have blogs to post" ...  Thanks for all the e-mails.  It was wonderful to hear the feedback.  I have set up an emergency blog response plan next time that happens.  So without further ado ... 

Sharon Jones.  My lovely.  If you haven' heard Sharon and her band the Dap Kings, your internet has been down for about five years.  The Sharon Jones/Daptone sound has contributed directly to the success of Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson, and even the jigga, Jay-Z.  Sharon's band members can also be heard in several other notable musical acts such as Antibalas, Budos Band, El Michels Affair, and The Menehan Street Band - to name a few - these guys work.

In 2001 at my old college radio station 88.9 WERS, I had the pleasure of meeting and rapping with the Dap Kings keyboard superstar, Ticklah.  We talked about a lot of that nu-jazz stuff, which was really fresh at the time, Jazzanova and compost.  He also blew me away with his just encyclopedic record knowledge, from reggae to soul this dude knows whats up.  He played every note on that Winehouse record and produced the critically acclaimed reggae ode to Pink Floyd  Dub Side of the Moon and the Radiohead-reggae-rework Radiodread. Google him now!

This is off of the new Scion Daptones Remixed Comp ... 

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - How Long Do I Have to Wait for You (Ticklah remix)

Bullion pets the sounds of Wilson & Dilla ...

UK DJ/Producer, Bullion, made some serious noise in 2007 when he dropped Pet Sounds in the Key of Dee to critical acclaim.  The concept album fused together Brian Wilson's Beach Boys opus with the samples of the legendary J Dilla(RIP), not to mention of course Bullion's very own production (he claims the drums are all him in interviews) ...

I remember when I first read about this ... it came out about 3 or 4 months after Dilla died and I almost felt compelled to boycott a listen ... but then I heard a Gilles Peterson radio broadcast where he shouted bullion out, which meant that I had to check him out (probably hoping to disagree with Gilles - I'm not a fan of all his endorsements) ... The concept reminded me too much of Dangermouse's Grey Album Beatles/Jay-Z record, which I really wasn't a fan of musically and is why I was hesitant about Bullion's record ... 

Much to my surprise ... it was a beautiful pairing, and certainly worthy of its accolades.  Of course you gotta love Wilson and Dilla already, and Bullion impressively channels the emotion of both to create something quite nice, while at the same time paying homage to his sources ... 

I've been playing a couple of these tunes out on that early evening headnod vibe - people always ask me if its a Dillla record ... amazing resemblance though.  Would love to hear more from Bullion.  Enjoy this and try to track down the record online ...

critics rating:  Nice Volley!

Bullion - Don't Talk (Close Your Eyes)

Valentine's Day at the Disco ...

YOU could be my Valentine ... seriously ... now let's boogie

Got some disco heat from the disco queen himself, Sylvester.  Yup, I'm choosing disco's favorite falsetto'd drag superstar to be mine and your valentine.  

This guy is the OG of disco drag and a cult icon in the gay community.  Not to mention he made some of the funkiest boogie/disco/funk records in the 70s early 80s.  His signature falsetto vocal style could rival that of any female disco diva.

Peep the double whammy ... 

Sylvester - I Need Somebody to Love Tonight

Sylvester - I Dig You (Dirty edit)

Chicago Transit Authority ... You know them

Most people know this band as simply Chicago, having changed their groups name after some legal interference in the late 60s.  They wrote some pretty great music that crossed the boundaries of pop & rock.  

This cut is off of their first record and is a cover of the Spencer Davis Group's hit, "I'm a Man".  The combination of the rhythm and guitar sections makes this one so potent.

This edit from New York's own, Rub 'n' Tug, extends the break, adding even more drums to the good ol' fashion bug out.  

Chicago Transit Authority - I'm a Man (Rub n Tug edit)

Snow falls in Brooklyn ...

After two treacherous days of cold ... It's snowing in Brooklyn.  With a horrible two weeks of weather across the country, the snowfall brings a sense of catharsis ... 

Much like the Jazz wizardry of Bill Evans does, on one of his finest recordings, "Nardis".  It doesn't get much better than this.    

Put the kettle on.

 

Bill Evans - Nardis

Top Rankin': Take it Easy

Hopeton Lewis' "Take it Easy" happens to be one of my all-time favorite reggae classics.  From the cautionary wisdom of its lyricis to the swing of that rocksteady rhythm, this tune is a classic - so just take it easy!

Recorded in 1966 by Sam Mitchell & Keith Scott for the Federal Recording Co, this tune marked the beginning of the rocksteady era of reggae music.  Lewis has recorded for the likes of Studio One, Treasure Isles, and Byron Lee's Dynamic sound.   

His recordings are choice ... rewind this one over and over. 

Critics Rating: Cool and Deadly

Hopeton Lewis - Take it Easy (1966)

Swedish Massage: TTA & Taken by Trees

I had one of those headphone moments last night on my walk home from work, where everything around you syncs up to the rhythm and sound of the music in that perfectly cinematic way ... I live for these moments.

I was listening to the Tough Alliance's remix of Taken by Trees "Taken too Young".  A chilling song with a vocal performance by Victoria Bergsman, who sang on Peter Bjorn & John' s "Young Folks" and used to front the Concretes.  

She's got the most amazingly swedish voice.  Add a remix by Sweden's finest electro-pop act the Tough Alliance and now we got a Swedish crush.

Taken by Trees - Taken to Young (TTA remix)

Sunday School: Thank You Gospel House

Two years ago I went to this Larry Levan tribute party in Crown Heights after a long saturday night shift bartending.  I was worried I was gonna roll up to a party that had already seen its peak, considering how early in the morning it was, and on a sunday, but I was determined to honor the disco pioneer. 

I arrived at the said address a bit stunned.  It was in the middle of a residential block and looked to be nothing more than a house party with a basement entrance.  I went on through the basement, got frisked and wrist-banded by some make-shift bouncer-type, who instructed me to go to the backyard.  

Traveling through this dingy basement corridor, I became incredibly anxious as to what I was gonna find ... when I surfaced, I was in a huge backyard with about two hundred of the sweatiest people dancing like they were possessed.  The sound system was booming - I can't believe no neighbors called the cops (of course they were probably there dancing).  

I've never seen an after-hours crowd so jacked-up.  They were all dressed for church too, crazy.  

Exhausted, I found myself in total awe of the human interaction.  The DJ, who they said was Tony Humphries, even though I couldn't really see him, was playing the deepest funkiest churched-out house music I've ever heard.  

He played this song around 8AM and people started to frenzy - like on the evangelical tip ... its from Bebe Winans of the legendary Winans family of gospel singers.  A classic house tune with  Louie Vega and Kenny Dope (MAW) on production.  This is an all-time feel good tune.  The kind of song that gets you cleaning the house and praising Jesus ... 

Bebe Winans - Thank You (MAW Mix)

Champion Edits: Nas vs. the Peddlers

Just whipped this up ... 

been feeling a bit nostalgic lately, thought I'd throw a classic Nas verse over a classic break (The Peddlers - On a Clear Day) ... the break has been used in a few hip hop tunes (Masta Ace - Disposable Arts comes to mind).  

I dropped the original in a recent set a  couple weeks ago (didn't dare let it go for more than one verse/one chorus - gets a bit show-tuney) ... opted to make it a little more dj friendly.   

Reminds me of my college radio days ... shout out to the 88.9WERS/trillion cuts golden years!

  

pq - Nas on a Clear Day

Rare Form ... Mr. Chatterbox 45 re-press

In keeping up with national reggae month and Bob's birthday week ...

This rare gem from the Wailers (circa late 1960s), is the singular production by legendary producer Bunny Lee , and an amazing find for any record fiend.  The re-press features a never-before released instrumental version on the b-side.

This is is a seriously funky tune.  Highly recommended for those serious Marley heads ...  one love!

Bob Marley & the Wailers - Chatterbox

"Life is worth much more than gold ..."

The legendary Bob Marley, would have turned 63 this week.  He is greatly missed, but he continues to live through his influence and music.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, to a poet and prophet.

"truth is the light ... so never give up the fight" 

It's only fitting that his birthday should mark the beginning of national reggae month ... 

Here's a personal favorite ... another song of freedom

Bob Marley & the Wailers - Burnin and Lootin

Top Rankin' #1: Noel Ellis brings the Peace

If you know your reggae, you know this man is the son of the legendary Studio One recording artist Alton Ellis.  

A product of the large migration of Jamaicans to Canada in the lates 60s mid 70s, the self-titled LP was recorded in Toronto (1979) with the super-heavyweight producer, Jerry Brown, for Summer Records (the Canadian answer to Lee Perry's Black Arc imprint and one of Canada's finest exports).  

The record housed a couple of very large tunes in that beautiful Jerry Brown conscious dub fashion.  The politically conscious, Stop You Fighting is a standout.

"Stop the wishing for silver and gold ... No more war on earth ..."

Critics Rating: Dynamite Stix

Noel Ellis - Stop Your Fighting

Monday Night Disco ... the Root of Evil

I'm listening to those phased out hi hats, reading the title, and thinking ...

A self-conscious thief robs the Angolan capital bank to feed his family, eludes police in a wild roof-to-alley chase, makes love to his wife, and quickly thereafter records his band's politically-charged demo, making him a hero and revolutionary icon.

  

"Money is the root of evil ... she was my baby ... money is the root of evil ... "

This song is the funkiest bank robbery you've ever been a part of.

Dan Boadi & the African International - Money is the Root of Evil

Out on the Street, Again . . .

In a neverending attempt to organize and re-organize my music collection, I stumbled upon a recording by a soul favorite, Etta James.  

Mostly known for her iconic 1961 ballad and probably the most frequently used wedding song ever , "At Last", James has a body of recordings way more funky and soul-ed out than the average listener might know.  

 

She toured with Johnny "Guitar" Watson and Otis Redding in the 50's, and later signed with the legendary Chess Records, where she went on to record a slew of quality recordings.  

Including, "Out on the Street, Again", which is a reprise of another James favorite "All the Way Down".  This is the kind of soul number that makes you wanna strut and maybe roll some dice.  Check that rhythm section . . . you're so very welcome.

Etta James - Out on the Street, Again (1974),  Come A Little Closer  [Chess]

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