ChristmasComing #7
Sugar Minott – Christmas Jamboree
ESSENTIAL christmas selection from the recently departed but NEVER forgotten Lincoln Barrington ‘Sugar’ Minott. Ride on Sugar and rest in peace in the knowledge that your musicology will continue to guide and soothe around the world.
ChristmasComing #6
Gatemouth Moore – Christmas Blues
Today’s cut is courtesy of little known prewar blues icon, powerhouse singer and influential composer Arnold Dwight “Gatemouth” Moore, who turned his back on the world of ‘popular’ music in the late 40’s to serve as a minister, (preceeding the host of Gospel singers who went the ‘other way’ in the years that followed). Superb downtempo festive cut from the man whose nom de plume was a reference to the strength of his voice.
ChristmasComing #5
The Cats & The Fiddle – Hep Cats Holiday
sticking with the pre war selection hold this piece from early vocal group the Cats & The Fiddle…
ChristmasComing #4
Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters – Jingle Bells
This year I’m keeping a bit quiet on the verbosity and leaving it to the music to do the talking I am VERY busy at the moment and, believe it or not, the musicologist takes up a LOT of my time. Not that I’m complaining as sharing the music that I, genuinely, love is a pleasure for me so I have decided that rather than not lay a cut down due to my responsibilities and commitments to the project, my focus should, at least, be delivering on the music front which, after all, is where the real value is and what satisfies my need, want and desire to communicate and connect by utilising the universal language.
Phew..after all that…today’s cut is courtesy of musicologys answer to Father Christmas none other than Bing Crosby backed in great style by the Andrews Sisters..(yet another one of themusicologists most prized slices of the christmas pie..
ChristmasComing #3
The Silvertones – Bling Bling Christmas
Part three of themusicologist’s christmas jamboree finds one of my favourite Jamaican vocal groups the Silvertones in the mood…harmonising over the Studio 1 produced Heptone’s cut ‘I Shall Be Released’…
ChristmasComing #2
(Horace Andy – Christmas Time)
Round two of the Christmas selection…..Horace Hinds step up to the M.I.C and serve us up a slice of the Christmas pie..
ChristmasComing #1
(Jimmy Smith – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
Shame on themusicologist…almost a month has passed without an entry..such is 21st Century life.
Anyway time done passed and today is the 1st December which, (in themusicologist’s dwelling), means one thing…The Christmas music begins. For the next 25 days it’s nothing but the festive sounds that get flung down and bearing in mind that access to the preceding years musicology has been, (temporarily), interrupted this year I have the whole 500+ Christmas cuts from the vaults at my disposal without fear of repeating myself..so listen the ride as I grab my reindeer, hook em up to themusicology sleigh and ride out into the snow spreading the sounds of Christmas in my wake.
First up is a cut highlighted from the 1964 Verve album Christmas Cookin’ by Jimmy Smith
Blues’N’Rhythm #2
Joe Turner & Pete Johnson – Roll ‘Em Pete
As important as Sam Cooke was to Soul, Big Joe took Jump, Boogie Woogie, Blues and Rhythm rolled them all up into a package and fathered Rock & Roll. Of course there were others who contributed, (Louis Jordan, Count Basie, Amos Milburn, Wynonnie Harris to name but 4), and as with all ‘Popular’ music no one person was responsible but as Doc Pomus is quoted to have said “Rock & Roll would never have happened without him…and as previously mentioned on themusicologist the dynamic duo’s late 40’s cut ‘Rocket 88 Boogie’ was the ‘inspiration’ behind Ike Turner’s seminal ‘Rocket 88’, a tune that has long been canonised into Rock and Roll history..
Today’s cut was recorded in the Big Apple on December 30th 1938…I’ll repeat that 1938 and released on a Columbia 78, which I was planning on laying down here but in truth it’s a piece scratchy !! so instead it’s the (top quality 24 bit), remastered version that certainly does the original justice….I can only imagine what it would have been like to witness these two in action back in Kansas City in the 1930’s a musical hotbed that kicked every bit as hard as Chicago, New Orleans and New York…Roll ‘Em Pete….
Blues’N’Rhythm #1
Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell – Bobo Stomp
Sliding out of the Cool Ruler tribute, (farewell Don Gregory gone but NEVER forgotten), into a new selection..
Don’t know how many of you are aware of the two Cats on this recording? but one in particular, (pianist, vocalist and songwriter Leroy Carr), almost originated the sophisticated Urban Blues style which in turn led to Rhythm & Blues.
Many a Rhythm & Blues legend such as Count Basie, Charles Brown, Ray Charles, Muddy Waters, Amos Milburn, T-Bone Walker, (to name a few), paid tribute to Leroy Carr.
Before Leroy, blues was distinctly ‘Country’…raw, rough and ready. Jazz was the ‘Urban’ sound for obvious reasons but it was, (predominantly), Leroy Carr who made the change and inspired all the Big Town Playboy’s who followed in his footsteps..from the Slick suits to the conversational, laid back style of singing and playing it begins with Leroy Carr in 1928 with his recording of ‘How Long, How Long Blues’ who epitomised ‘Urban Slick’. Today’s cut was recorded with his partner and friend Francis ‘Scrapper’ Blackwell in New York City on August 16th 1934 and released as a 78 on Vocalion. Leroy Carr died at the tender age of 30 less than a year later but his legacy is plain for all to hear.
The Cool Ruler Rides Out Of Town #6
Gregory Isaacs – Rude Boy Bawl
Ranking slice of 1994 dancehall from the Rude Boy General recorded for and released on Junior Reids JR Productions label..Reminds me of Thursdays spent down at Dub Vendor on Ladroke Grove…soundmen, (and boys), lined up at the counter about to do battle for the best cuts..You had to be first to raise the finger and if you were ‘on the firm’ ‘Red’, (or ‘Face’), would look in your direction for the ‘one of them’ signal…be it a nod, wink, or a raised finger and it would be added to your pile..good times…
“Down a remand centre rude boy a chill out yeah,
And a wait pon trial…lord, lord, lord,
Him just a bust a small sweat yeah believe me,
Cause them a case there kinda crucial,
Him charge fe 3 murder and 4 armed robbery,
And illegal firearms,
So him sit down pon him bunk and him take a big bible,
Start to chant 2 psalms…”
The Cool Ruler Rides Out Of Town #5
Gregory Issacs – I Am Sorry
Coming down the home straight of the Cool Ruler tribute with one of my ALL time favourites from the Cool Ruler. As far as I’m concerned NO ‘Lonely Lover’ tribute would be complete without this cut. Epitomises why Gregory was and will always be the Denham Town DON. Going out to all the men whose foolish pride restricts them from speaking from the heart and to all the women who deserve an apology from them….
LISTEN TUNE
“If I am wrong then I am sorry, I didn’t mean to make her blue,
If I am wrong then I am sorry…deep in my heart I know It’s true….”
The Cool Ruler Rides Out Of Town #4
Gregory Isaacs – Surrender
Day 4 of the Cool Ruler Tribute and today it’s a cut from a period in Gregory’s career that for me stands as tall as anything that he delivered during his 40 year career at the TOP of the tree. BOSS selection from 1998 on the aptly titled ‘Incredible Music’ label. Anyone who knows should agree that as far as Reggae is concerned it’s more about the 45’s than the LP’s and this is no exception…
Listen Tune…
The Cool Ruler Rides Out Of Town #3
Gregory Isaacs – Philistines
Day 3 of the tribute to Gregory and today’s cut has the fondest of memories for themusicologist as it was the first, (of many), 45’s of the Don’s that I had the pleasure of owning…1976 release on the Black Wax label. Ride on Don Gregory..
Listen Tune..
The Cool Ruler Rides Out Of Town #2
The Concords – Buttoo
Day two of the Cool Ruler tribute and this one is from the Don’s earliest days as a member of the Concords. A group where Denham Towns finest harmonised with two local, (West Kingston), cats, (one being Penro Bramwell). Recorded for and released on Rupie Edward’s Success label.. JA ‘spotters’ may notice that it’s the rhythm track from an instrumental called Promoters Grouse. 1969 selection released in England on Blue Cat.
The Cool Ruler Rides Out Of Town #1
Gregory Issacs – Border
This week it HAS to be all about Legendary Jamaican vocalist, producer and all round DON GORGON..Gregory ‘The Cool Ruler’ Issacs who today ‘Crossed The Border’ and passed on.
Among other things Gregory epitomised Authenticity and I could easily fill a month of daily cuts of PURE top ranking musicology from the Don.
One thing’s for sure..even though The Ruler is physically no longer walking the earth his music will continue to inspire and guide for generations to come.
Kicking off with this one..Alvin Ranglin production on the GG’s Label.
“If I could reach the border then I would step across
So please take me to the border no matter what it cost…
I’m a leaving outta Babylon, leaving outta Rome…..”
Flow #18
The Showmen – The Owl Sees You
Today’s cut is In memory of another Soul man who has left us…General Norman Johnson..whose voice rose to prominence first as Lead for the Showmen and then Chairman Of The Board. This was one of their, (unreleased), demo’s sent to Joe Banashak whose Minit label ranks high on themusicologist’s list of supreme Rhythm & Blues/Soul labels. Why this marrow trembler went unreleased is beyond me…Norman Johnson Rest In Peace…gone but never forgotten.
Flow #17
Alva Lewis – Hurry Home
Back on home turf..good times in New York..much to reflect on…the ‘project’ is life and the soundtrack is never ending so with that in mind i’ll keep on flowing as I slip, slide, rock and roll through it…really feeling the previous cut from the Brooklyn Funk Essentials look out for more from them in the future…in the mean time hold this marrow trembling slice of ESSENTIAL Rock Steady from Alva Lewis..
Cuts like this sure don’t grow on trees…Sir Errol and all lovers of TOP RANKING music this one’s yours.
Flow #16
Brooklyn Funk Essentials -For A Few Dollars More
Last day of the New York excursion…and signing out from the Big A with a cut from The Brooklyn Funk Essentials. Highly rate this collective of musicologists..proper 21st Century soundtrack..borrowed from their 2008 set ‘Watcha Playin’
LISTEN TUNE..
Flow #15
Tony Allen – Nite Owl
5:30am New York Time….Today’s slice fits themusicologist like a glove…3 Nights in New York so far and 3 nights i’ve been the Nite Owl..wicked piece of 50’s vocal group action on Art Rupe’s Specialty label..
Flow #14
Coasters – Shoppin’ For Clothes
Should have laid this down yesterday but didn’t make the time so before we hit the streets of Brooklyn today….here it is. All day yesterday I had this song running through my head mainly because we ended up on Madison Ave in gentlemens outfitters due to Sir Errol’s lack of clothes as a result of his luggage being redirected and not showing up !!
The day began with themusicologist getting my haircut in the excellent Tommy Guns on Ludlow St on the Lower East Side. If you’re in NYC and need a TOP RANKING cut, I would highly recommend it. Then it was over to the Deadly Dragon record shop where 3 hours slipped away before we realised that Sir E had to outfit himself for the upcoming night’s entertainment..
The first night of the Brooklyn Soul Festival was excellent..performances from Eli paperboy Reed, Vernon Garrett, Don Gardener, Roscoe Robinson, Tammi Lyn, Lee Fields and a few others that filled in for Barbara Lynn, whose names have slipped my mind…
Have to go now…the ‘Brooklyn Flea‘ is calling my name.
So hold this one from probably the longest serving Vocal group of all time.
themusicologist 