Flow #13
Clarence Reid – Don’t Be A Fool
Second marrow trembler of the day but this time it’s from the opposite end of America and ‘The Outskirts Of Deep City’, (Miami), this is Southern Soul at it’s DEEPEST and finest courtesy of Clarence Reid. Yet another Highlight from the Numero connoisseurs. What a tune…
Flow #12
(The Harptones – A Sunday Kind Of Love)
Sitting here this morning preparing for the trip to NYC, (and the Brooklyn Soul Festival) listening to Doo Wop and I just realised that I should be sharing it with youse Cats & Kittens so here it is…SUPREME harmony from Willie Winfield, Billy Brown, Claudie “Nicky” Clark, William Dempsey, William “Dicey” Galloway and last but certainly not least Raoul Cita.
Simply BEAUTIFUL. Listen this F****N’ Tune and weep.
Flow #11
(Kool & The Gang – This Is You, This Is Me)
Tried to lay this one down yesterday but my service provider wasn’t responding to my calls for internet freedom so was stuck behind the bullshit. Circumnavigated it though so here it is…prime slice of 1973 funk from Kool and The Gangs top ranking LP ‘Wild And Peaceful’. Some BIG tunes on the album and this is one of them.
Special mention goes out to Tony Blue who, (along with Stevie Marriott), had to make a quick exit from a New York club in the early 80’s with members of Kool & The Gang on the warpath sporting weapons of mass destruction..(Shotgun). Every time I hear their music it reminds me of it.
Flow #10
Leon Ware – That’s Why I Came To California
Final cut of today’s 3 course ‘meal’ is one of my all time ‘Boogie’ favourites from a musicologist whose name should be known far and wide but sadly isn’t. Singer, song writer, producer, arranger who songs have been recorded by MANY a legend, Marvin Gaye, Bobby Womack, Minnie Ripperton, Donny Hathaway, Marlena Shaw, Quincy Jones and the list goes on..this one is from 1982. BIG tune…vocal duties shared and co written by Janis Siegel of Manhattan Transfer fame..
Flow #9
Gil Scott Heron – Shut Um Down
Werner Herzog is quoted to have said: “The poet must not avert his eyes” and this mod/ern/ist poet has continued to tell it like it is regardless of whether Cats and Kittens want to hear it or not…today’s piece was one of a few delivered in response to the 3 Mile Island Nucleur Energy disaster in America in 1979. This cut is borrowed from his ‘1980’ Set…Gil Scott Heron step up and ‘speak’
“Did you feel that rumble? did you hear that sound,
Well It wasn’t no earthquake but it shook the ground,
Made me think about power like it or not,
Got to work for Earth for what it’s worth,
Cause it’s the only Earth we’ve got,
Shut ’em down
if that’s the only way to keep them from melting down,
Shut ’em down
if that’s the only way to keep them from melting down,
I heard a lot about safety and human error,
A few dials and gauges is just a wing and a prayer,
If you need perfection and that’s what it takes,
Then you don’t need people, can’t use people,
You know people make mistakes,
Shut ’em down
if that’s the only way to keep them from melting down,
Shut ’em down
if that’s the only way to keep them from melting down
Did you feel that rumble? did you hear that sound,
Well It wasn’t no earthquake but it shook the ground,
Made me think about power like it or not,
Got to work for Earth for what it’s worth,
Cause it’s the only Earth we’ve got,
Shut ’em down
if that’s the only way to keep them from melting down,
Shut ’em down
if that’s the only way to keep them from melting down..”
Flow #8
Doreen Schaffer & the Brentford Disco Set – This Love
I feel like I have shortchanged all you musicologists out there and not delivered enough Soul food recently so today I’m going to lay a three course meal on you in an effort to fill your musical plates with enough cuts to keep them ‘belly full’. I have been locked into preparing sets over the last few days and as a result have unearthed some gems from deep within the vaults.
For starters we have a musicologist favourite from what, (for me), was one of Sir Coxsone’s most harmonious periods, a little window sometime in the mid 1970’s where the Studio 1 team recorded and released some of the finest music ever recorded. The vocalist is none other than Doreen Schaffer who begun singing for Downbeat at the birth of his studio in the early 60’s. Best known for her duets with Jackie Opel this one never fails to tremble my marrow. The perfect balance between Soul, Reggae and available studio technology. Had to mix in the dub..haunting. I hope you’ll find it to your taste..
Scratchy on the intro but to be honest all the best tunes are because they have been well and truly RINSED..
Flow #7
(Desmond Dekker & The Aces – Young Generation)
Out of yesterdays, (at least for me), Inspirational slice of the Black Ark pie and straight into this sublime piece of Rocksteady from Desmond Dekker and The Aces..
LIsten Tune..
Flow #6
(Bunny Clarke – Move Out Of My Way)
So…following on from the inspirational Terry Callier it has to be a BIG tune and for themusicologist they don’t come much bigger than today’s cut. ESSENTIAL ‘steppers’ selection from the depths of Lee Perry’s Black Ark…Sonic bomb featuring the majestic William ‘Bunny Rugs’ Clark on the M.I.C who was brought into the Ark by Glen Adams in 1974. A couple of years before he became lead singer of the equally majestic Third World.
“MOOOOVE out of my waaaaaaaaay…..”
Flow #5
(Terry Callier – What About Me (What You Gonna Do About Me)
So…Terry Callier last night at the Pigalle..what words can I use to try and explain? none do it justice…one of the highlights of my year so far. To see someone perform in such intimate surroundings….it was truly a night to remember. It put me in mind of Curtis, (Mayfied), Live at the Bitter End. Unfortunately I wasn’t there in 1971 but I know the LP inside out having listened to, (and learned from), it for almost 40 years. Scandalously last nights promotion was a joke so as a result there were no more than 50? people there but that didn’t deter Don Callier and full crew, (Bosco De Oliveira, Chris Kibble, Dave Barnard, Gary Plumley, Jim Mullen, Nic France), from delivering almost two hours of pure joy.
I don’t know who was meant to be promoting it but they FAILED miserably. Hopefully the North, (Edinburgh/ Kendal/ Manchester), will be out in full force to give them the support they DESERVE.
Today’s cut was one they well and truly rinsed last night..Listen to the lyrics and understand WHY, for me, Terry Callier is a prophet, (even though he disagrees), 1994 release borrowed from his ‘Looking Out’ set.
Flow #4
(Terry Callier – The Hood I Left Behind)
Last time I looked it was Thursday !! what happened? time passed and ran…ran and passed. So before I lose track of it again hold this cut from MASTER Terry Callier whose music has not only been a source of inspiration but has been a GREAT help to me through some of my DARKEST days and nights. Already featured heavily on themusicologist last year. I’m off to see him perform in person tonight at the Pigalle in My home town, (London), so I would like to pay tribute here in honour of the man and his lyrical genius. Borrowed from his most recent (2009) set ‘Hidden Conversation’.
SPECIAL request to all the Cats and Kittens who for whatever reason left the hood behind. gone but NEVER forgotten…this one’s all yours. Listen Tune…
Flow #3
(Dennis Brown – Changing Times)
Changing times indeed..and as we ride them into the unknown hold this ESSENTIAL 1972 cut from the crown prince Dennis Emmanuel Brown. backed by the Crystalites and produced by, (for me), one of Jamaica’s greatest musicologists…Derrick ‘One Stop’ Harriott. Bear in mind that Dennis Brown was FIFTEEN when he waxed this !!
Flow #2
(Don Carlos – Mr Sun)
Sticking with the sweet sounds of Jamaica and this 1982 slice from the unmistakable vocal chords of Ervin Spencer, (AKA Don Carlos), produced by Winston ‘Niney The Observer’ Holness.
Flow #1
(Augustus Pablo – Islington Rock)
Thinking about a name for this theme I came to a conclusion that what really interests me is sharing what I believe are slices of prime musicology. Themes are fine but when they interrupt the flow it’s a problem that needs solving so with that in mind hold this selection of tunes that have no thematic, (or any other), restrictions.
First up is a piece from one of Jamaica’s premier musicologists Horace Swaby, (AKA Augustus Pablo), with a version of the Lee Perry produced Gatherers cut ‘Words Of My Mouth’ recorded at The Gorgon’s Black Ark.
mOareEssentials #4
(Cedric Im Brooks – Mun Dun Gu)
Been a long time coming but I feel the fog is clearing. Troubled mind can be a living hell. In my world change happens, isn’t forced so I find myself riding the downs same way as the ups…for all their worth. Too often over the past few years I’ve been hanging on by my shredded and torn fingertips, knuckles white as winter snow. Bwoyyyyyy it’s been a long dance but the music’s changed and it’s time to step to a new beat.
Hold this next entry courtesy of the MAJESTIC Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks. Studio 1 in all it’s glory..Second time round on themusicologist having featured it when I laid it down on the BBC back in the day. Slipped it into my set at the weekend..to me it communicates a message of a new day dawning..
mOareEssentials #2
(Bill Withers – Lonely Town, Lonely Street)
Round 2 of the mOare selection and I’m slipping and sliding out of the Reverend and into this marrow trembler from the magnificent Bill Withers who has always been, (and continues to be), a BIG influence on themusicologist’s heart and mind. Always a pleasure, (at least for me), to hear Bill Withers loud and whenever the opportunity arises to play one ‘out’ I like to grab it with both hands..
1972 release borrowed from his ‘Still Bill’ Set featuring the combined talents of Bobbye Hall, Benorce Blackmon, Melvin Dunlap, James Gadson, Raymond Jackson.
“You can life your life in a crowded city,
You can walk along a crowded street,
But the city really ain’t no bigger,
Than the friendly people, friendly people that you meet,
You might be a sweet young, sweet young pretty pretty,
At the dances you can’t keep your seat,
But if dances don’t lead to romances,
You might as well be born, be born with two left feet,
You might be a sweet toned sure nuff high class talker,
You might be a stone, stone expert at kissing,
But it don’t do too much good to be talkin,
Brother when there ain’t no, ain’t nobody listening,
And if you are shy just not much of a talker,
Don’t impress the people that you meet,
Might as well be a lonely walker,
In a lonely town on a lonely street….”
mOareESSENTIALS #1
(Al Green – All Because)
Back in themusicologist saddle after attending and playing at the mOare music festival over the weekend. Quality music, good crowd, excellent hosts. Met some quality people..Hamish, Claire, Cath, Paul, Owen, Ashley, (to name a few)…musical highlight had to be Hamish and his daughter Emma performing together on stage. Brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye. Can only imagine how proud he was to share a stage with her.
What did I play? ESSENTIALS. Mainly Soul and Funk but I managed to slip some Studio 1 in there too !! Festivals can be a bit tricky for the DJ as he/she is not who the crowd come to hear but I really enjoyed this one so in honour of the event I’m going to lay a weeks worth of the cuts I spun..
The first song I played was this superb slice of Funk by ‘the Reverend’ Al Green. Released, (on Capitol), in 1971..produced by urban musicologist Willie Mitchell and almost certainly featuring one of the greatest drummers to have graced the stoll the legendary Al Jackson Jr….
Listen Tune..
Essential Cuts #7
(Fela Kuti – Kalakuta Show)
Today’s ESSENTIAL cut comes courtesy of, (for me), one of the ALL time greats none other than Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Genuine Virtuoso and giant of a man who stood for Freedom utilising the Universal language to highlight the injustice of politricks. Hold this 1976 cut..14 minutes of the hardest hitting musicology ever recorded that surely holds the power to wake the dead. Special mention must go out to MASTER Tony Allen…drummer supreme.
Listen Tuuuuuuune
Essential Cuts #6
(New Mastersounds Feat Dionne Charles – I Mean It So)
Small dilemma..not sure whether to revisit the preceeding 3 years of musicology and repost all the cuts or start again? hmmmm.
Anyway…while I’m pondering hold this ESSENTIAL mod/ern/ist Funk cut courtesy of The New Master Sounds, (Eddie Roberts, Pete Shand, Simon Allen, Joe Tatton), featuring Dionne Charles on the M.I.C
2008 release from their Plug & Play set.
Essential Cuts #5
(Little Esther Phillips – Mojo Hannah)
Fuck the words…hold this ESSENTIAL, (1964), Rhythm & Blues cut from one of the GREAT female vocalists.
Essential Cuts #4
(Nina Soul – Sleeping Trees)
Sticking with the Sir Coxsone selection with an ESSENTIAL cut by Nina Soul.
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