1975

musicology #483

SoulBoy#2

(Curtis Mayfield – Billy Jack)

So…after yesterday’s introduction to the musicology of Soul it’s time to turn up the heat with a cut from the 70’s..not to say that yesterday’s piece from the Miracles wasn’t ‘hotter than ten fire side’ as, for me, it most certainly is but as is often the case at the dawn of things, (the birth of Soul in this instance), it’s not always as accessible until the context is expanded and the horizon widened…

Significantly it was today’s artist that first touched both my conscious and unconscious in equal amounts beginning an appreciation for the man and his ‘language’ that started from babe in arms due, in part, to my dad who is a BIG Curtis Mayfiled, (and the Impressions), fan. One of the first LP’s that I can remember in fine detail is Curtis Live, (and it’s counterpart ‘Curtis’ you know the one with the man himself on the cover in them flared strides looking of into the sunset. I have featured and wrote about Curtis many times over the past three years so excuse me if I don’t repeat what I have already written for the sake of ‘information’.

Simply put….for me Curtis is Soul personified and his message has inspired me MANY, MANY times along the ‘way’…

Highlighted from his eponymous and hard hitting 1975 social commentary set ‘There’s No Place Like America Today’…..

Just out Monday
Run into a friend
Down the street, down the street
Where I live
Ahh ahh sad things begin
I could feel from within
From the message
From the message
He had to give

‘Bout a buddy of mine
Running out of time
His life run out of time
Somebody past noon
Shot across the room
And now the man no longer lives

Too bad about him
Too sad about him
Don’t get me wrong
The man is gone
But it’s a wonder he lived this so long

Up in the city they called him Boss Jack
But down home he was a alley cat
Ah! didn’t care nothing about being black
Ah! Billy Jack

Ahh can’t be no fun, can’t be no fun
To be shot, shot with a hand gun
Body sprawled out, you without a doubt
Running people out, there on the floor

Ah, ah bad bloody mess
Shot all up in his chest
Shot in the chest
One sided duel, gun and a fool
What a way to go

Up in the city they called him Boss Jack
But down home he was a alley cat
Ah Didn’t care nothin’ bout being black
Ah Billy Jack

musicology #408

Catharsis #6

(Bill Withers – I Wish You Well)

final cut of the Catharsis and what better way to end the theme than with another slice from one of my primary guides on the journey…William Harrison Withers Jnr with a piece of sentiment from the deepest depths of my heart. Released in 1975, borrowed from his ‘Making Music’ set.

“I wish you flowers, sunshine and smiles,
I wish you children that grow to make make you proud,
I wish you…pretty things to wear…sweet things to smell,

I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),

I wish you good friends that always treat you fair,
Wanna wish you ribbons to tie round your hair,
I wish you…truck loads of cheer,
Many happy years,

I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),

Wanna wish you freedom to do all the things you love,
Wanna wish you blesssings and kindness from above,
Wanna wish you sunlight through the clouds,
Hope you laugh out loud,

I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
Oh now I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
Lord now, I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well)”

musicology #246

birthdaybashsoul&funk #1

(The Meters – Love Slip Apoun Ya)

little run down of a selection of slices served up by themusicologist on saturday night at our joint birthdaybash down at the 3BlindMice. Played two sets one of which was the ‘rare groove’ which, musically, is anything from the late 60’s up to the closing of the seventies. The Rare Groove scene on the other hand sprung up in London sometime in 1985 when the ‘Boogie’ became mainstream and began to lose it’s edge.

Again, Soho was involved in the scene’s birth, (especially the ‘Wag’) but a bigger part was played by large scale ‘Blues’ parties. (unlicensed gatherings), organised in disused commercial properties, (especially in and around Camden and Kings Cross), where serious money could be, (and was), made charging ‘tenners’ on the door. Many a career was launched from the proceeds of such ‘warehouse parties’ as well as it being a hotbed of creativity style and flair. It went on to play a HUGE part in the development of fashion introducing ‘vintage’ as a lifestyle choice rather than ‘second-hand’ as a matter of neccesity.

Anyone who was there knows it’s global legacy both in fashion and music and the next seven, (count ’em), slices were ALL played, regularly, by anyone who was lucky enough to own them, (in the days before CD’s and EBay of course).

The band responsible for this majestic piece are none other than New Orleans musicologists the Legendary Meters, one of the premier funk outfits of all time. The original line up, (formed in 1965),  of Art Neville, Leo Noncentelli, Joseph Modeliste and George Porter Junior, (joined by Art’s brother Cyril in 1975), were responsible for delivering some of the cream of the genre and are second to none in the funk lexicon.

Taken from their album, Fire On The Bayou, produced by the musical genius Allen Toussaint and recorded at his, (and Marshall Seahorn’s), Sea Saint Studio. For me it doesn’t get funkier than this.

musicology #97

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #20

(Curtis Mayfield – Hard Times)

one of the tunes that convinced me to ‘play-out’ back in London’s Rare Groove days of 1985/6, utilising Curtis as messenger for how it felt growing up on the streets of London at the time.

back then Curtis didn’t figure too tough on the capitals wheels of steel, James Brown, (and related), was the DJ’s choice, (along with a host of others), Curtis didn’t get much of a look in as he wasn’t considered danceable..obviously he was very highly regarded but was mainly enjoyed at home in moments of contemplation.

taken from his 1975 critique ‘There’s No Place Like America Today’

the spoken intro has been added by themusicologist to provide an insight on and from the man himself.

musicology #89

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #12

(Humble Pie Feat Steve Marriott – I Need A Star In My Life)

final cut from brother Steve Marriott…difficult choice to make. luckily the man was prolific so there’s enough to choose from but still…tough.

I’m going for a cut taken from the posthumously released and highly recommended ‘Scrubbers Sessions’ released by Tim Hinkley in tribute to Steve. signing off this weeks six/six/six with with a quote from Tim..

“I came back from Steve’s funeral with Bobby Tench, I told him I had this album in my tape storage room..we put it on and it sounded great, it was then that I realised this album really should come out…this record was very special to Steve and if nothing else, it stands as a tribute to his enormous talent”.

lyrics Don Stevie … lyrics …