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)