themusicologist

musicology #573

Essential Cuts #3

(Jerry Jones – Still Waters)

Didn’t manage to lay a cut yesterday..BIG night Friday and as a result I floated through yesterday in a bit of a bubble. That’s one of the things about BIG nights out..sleep deprivation..Worth it though. Music was excellent, company too. Met some good people, (all genuine music lovers), which is always a real pleasure. In fact it was a proper gathering of musicologists. The Filthy Six were excellent and by a strange serendipitous, (having already laid it down on themusicologist a few hours earlier) quirk had included Sookie, Sookie in their set. If any of you cats and/or kittens get the opprtunity to catch them live…take it. If not then second best is to buy their self titled set available on Acid Jazz.

Part of what I, (Sir Errol too judging from his recent comment), enjoy about music is the voyage of ‘discovery’ and on the night Corinna Greyson and Noel McKoy were both welcome additions to my list of noteworthy vocalists. I can’t lay an example of Corrina’s vocals on you as I don’t have any to pass on but I bought 2 copies of Noel’s latest CD, (Brighter Day), on the night so hopefully, (if/when I confirm with him that it’s ok), I’ll lay down an example on themusicologist.

So on with the Essentials…(all cuts that, for me, ‘stand’ at the top of the musical mountain). Today’s cut is another from the number one Jamaican sound ‘Sir’ Coxsone ‘Downbeat The Ruler’s Studio 1. Absoulte marrow trembler released 1970 in the UK on the Bamboo label….Jerry Jones’s version of the Four Tops scorcher.

Listen Tune.

musicology 572

Essential Cuts #2

(Grant Green Sextet – Sookie Sookie)

Can’t linger too long in the semantic forest so I’ll just lay this Majestic Jazz/Funk/Rhythm&Soul cut down to get me in the mood for tonight’s excursion to see the Filthy Six, (among others), throw down at Soul, Soul, Soul. I choose this Live cut because for me it illustrates perfectly what a collective, (in both cases a sextet), are capable of when in perfect harmony, six sounds become one..anyone who knows me will testify that I’ve been banging on about the ‘Six since catching them at Vintage so I’m looking forward to seeing them weave the musicology again.

Recorded live at the Cliche Lounge in Newark on August 15th 1970 featuring not only the maestro, (Grant Green), but also the supreme talents of Idris Muhammad, Claude Bartee, Ronnie Foster, Joseph Armstrong, Neal Creque and William Rivens. The song was originally recorded by Don Covay in 1966.

musicology #571

EssentialCuts #1

(Justin Hinds – Say Me Say)

Stop, start, start stop…themusicologist has writers block..you know it’s like that when the words don’t come easy but on the other hand it should come as no surprise to me as, (at least for the last few days/weeks/months), words are, (in my opinion), devoid of universal meaning so don’t really have much value? Where am I going with this? F**k knows so I’ll leave it there and just hitch a ride on the musicology train before I disappear into a semantic void.

First up is this Essential slice of the RockSteady pie from the Great Justin Hinds…

musicology #570

BigGirlNow #1

(Dennis Brown – If I Had The World)

“To be a parent is to have undying faith in ones child”

Happy Birthday..Beautiful and precious Angel. Thank you for choosing me to be your dad.

“If I had the world, I’d give it to you girl….”

musicology #568

Down The Road A Piece #4

(Leroy Hutson – Love The Feeling)

Saturday night at Vintage was B.I.G. The Soul Casino was rocking..Andy Weatherall threw down at the ‘Warehouse’ and the company kept was SUPERB. I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to make it through to see Leroy Hutson on Sunday night? but it was one of the main reasons for attending so I thought that if I stumbled around the festival into the early evening then I had a chance…

Why is Leroy such a legend?, (other than his musical genius), for those of us who had the pleasure to be ‘on the, (Rare Groove), scene’ back in the day (85-87), Leroy Hutson was one of the primary artists. His ‘Hutson II’ LP was IN DEMAND to say the least. If you were there you know what I’m talking about and to hear him perform today’s slice of the musicology pie Live and Direct was an experience never to be forgotten.

The legend wasn’t due on until 9pm so it was touch and go but I managed it, (due in part to Craig Charles who was on fire for the two and a half hours leading up to Leroy coming on). As soon as he walked on though I was buzzing and immediately found my second wind. The man proceeded to tear it up and wove his magic leaving the crowd screaming for more especially when he enticed a call and response session on today’s slice the Rare Groove classic ‘Love The Feeling’ getting the Kittens to sing “Love I Love I Love” and the Cats to sing “The way you make me feel” was as good as it gets and anyone who was there knows what I’m talking about. For me it will always be a cherished memory..Recorded for and released on Curtis Mayfield’s Curtom label in 1976.

musicology #567

Down The Road Apiece #3

(The Filthy Six – Get Carter)

Continuing with the Vintage @ Goodwood story…(can’t believe it was a week ago !!), Saturday morning after a few hours kip, (had the breakfast call at 8:30), I crept back up to the site at around 11am and drifted around on my ‘jacks’ without much purpose until I caught a mesmerising sound floating on the breeze that compelled me to investigate further. The music was so tightly woven together it was almost like one sound…harmony. Not blowing my own trumpet but I have heard a LOT of what I consider to be superb, and I try not to use that, (or any other), word lightly, music over the years and this was no exception. The location was the ‘Soul Stage’, (curated by Eddie Piller), the scene of much of the weekends entertainment as far as I was concerned and, as is often the case I allowed my ears to be my guide….The band on stage were playing what I like to call a blend of ‘Rhythm & Jazz’ in the mould of such luminaries as Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Eddie Harris etc. My initial interest was in the guitar playing and my intention was to just give it a listen and then float off and take in the rest of the festival but the ‘Six were SO good that I couldn’t leave until the end of their set.

Quality music does that for me..once It starts I just can’t walk away until it’s finished.  It was truly inspirational made even better in that I wasn’t expecting it. Basically it set the tone for the rest of the weekend which just got better and better. To finish the story later in the day I caught up with Eddie and raved about what I had just witnessed and found out that he had just released their set on his Acid Jazz Label. I kid you not ‘The Filthy Six’ are Quality with a capital Q. So in memory of my ‘discovery’ I’m laying this one on you which KICKS from start to finish.

The Tune is a rendition of the theme tune from seminal, cult English film ‘Get Carter’ which is particularly serendipitous for me as it was the first film I composed an alternative soundtrack for many moons ago when cutting and pasting film dialogue and combining it with alternative musicology was NOT done on the computer…since then I have composed alternative soundtracks for The Good Bad & The Ugly, Quadrophenia, 12 Angry Man and The Hustler and it’s about time I got another one together…

The Filthy Six are Nick Etwell, Mark Brown, Nigel Price, Pete Whittaker, Dean Drury and Graham Fox and I’m looking forward to catching them at Soul, Soul, Soul a G Spot event next week, (Sep 3rd), at ‘home’ in Soho, (London)

Listen Tune…..

musicology #566

Down The Road A Piece #2

(Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum & Durr – Your Love Keeps Drawing Me Closer)

Allow me tell you a story….

Last weekend I was in East Sussex attending a new and unique festival ‘Vintage’ deep in the, (beautiful), English countryside, (Sussex), having been lucky enough to procure an invitation and wristband from brother Sean Rowley (and of course the angel that is Miss G.T), who was laying down some music on the main stage in between acts. I arrived a bit later than planned on the Friday evening and the weather was awful..’raining cats and dogs’ but not enough to dampen my enthusiasm for the weekend’s activities. After a quick cup of tea and a, (completely impractical), change of attire, (the vintage Gucci loafers took one hell of a beating), at the Bed and Breakfast I jumped into the Vintage Merc’ and made my way to the event. Sean was on the main stage warming up the crowd for the newly reformed ‘Faces’ so I slipped up there and showed mine.

…before I gets to ramblin’ and let too many cats out of the bag let’s just say that it was an excellent night made even better by hooking up with Brothers Cheeba, Deano and Sister Amanda at the Soul Casino to dance the night away along with my afore mentioned compadres. Rolled out of there at the close of play around 2:30 ? and slipped back to the B&B for a well earned kip…Tomorrow was another day….

Today’s cut is in honour of that first night at Vintage..a 60’s Soul cut that although wasn’t played on the night would have fitted the bill perfectly. B side of  the in demand ‘You Can’t Blame Me’ featuring the harmonious talents of Virgil Johnson, Al Dawson, Willie Tatum & Norris Durr. Recorded for and released on Bill Moss’s superb Capsoul label.

musicology #565

Down The Road A Piece #1

(Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee – My Fathers Words)

Where has themusicologist been for the last week?, (or the last 12 months come to think of it !!)
Lost and looking, Scheming and dreaming..for/about what? not sure but along the way much has transpired and it feels like I have walked backwards, forwards and round in circles…my poor shoes are worn and pants bottom torn but I’m still in the ring dancing, bobbing and weaving to the rhythm of life.

Sometimes it’s been blow after blow, (all landing square on me jaw), and the knees have almost gone but I’m still living and still learning hour after hour, day after day..

What I am trying to say is that I feel that themusicologist needs to change so I’m planning a new strategy that I’m working on. I’m not going to reveal it right now but hold tight and buckle up..it’s coming…

Until then I’ll just keep rolling with the ‘one tune’ in an effort to build up some consistency. After all ‘A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss’ so with that out the way hold this cut from the MAGNIFICENT Saunders ‘Sonny Terry’ Terrell and Walter Brown ‘Brownie’ McGhee. Bluesmen supreme who ‘climbed mountains’ to deliver some of the finest musicology ever recorded.

Hopefully you’ll listen, (and read), these poetic words of wisdom delivered by two Cats who knew exactly what the Blues, (and life), was all about…

My father, my father said these words,
Followed me down through the years,
Yes, yes, yes believe half you see son and nothing that you hear,
There’s a many broken hearts son that never sheds no tear,

It takes a rocks, takes a rocks and gravel,
To make wha? to make a solid road,
Yes, yes, yes everything that shines boy I declare it can’t be gold,
Well the brave old secret son that will never be told, (wooooh),
He said the longer, the longer the road,
The short, short, shorter the turn,
Yes, yes, yes listen my son you’ll never grow too old to learn,
I said why?
Because old coals will kindle light up and begin to burn,

He said the taller, the taller the tree,
The deeper, the deeper the roots yes, yes, yes
Blacker the berries well sweeter the juice,
Well with every rose son, there is some thorns too,

He said if you want if you want to be loved,
Here’s what you got, got to do,
Yes, yes you got to love somebody want someone to love you,
Well don’t let your right hand, know what your left hand do,

He said well a man well a man oh a man..man ain’t nothing but a man,
Yes, yes, yes..whole lot a things you’ll never understand,
Why?, so many people happy you catching as catch can
Go ahead Sonny Boy……

One more time now….

He said a man well a man oh a man..a man ain’t nothing but a man,
Yes, yes, yes..whole lot a things son you’ll never understand,
So many people happy you catching as catch can,

My fathers words…..

musicology #564

Tales From The Underground #6

Solomon Burke – Words

Locked into the Soul/Rhythm&Blues  selection at the moment so rolling with this superb slice of 1963 musicology from Singer supreme, Preacher and ‘King Of Rock and Soul’, Solomon Burke. Soul pioneer who began recording in 1956 for New York’s famed Apollo label before moving to Atlantic in 1961 whereapoun he recorded some of the most enduring cuts of the early Soul period. A Cat whose culinary skills are as legendary as his singing. Today’s cut was recorded for and released on Atlantic in 1963.

musicology #563

Tales From The Underground #5

Googie Rene Combo – Smokey Joe’s La La

Superb 1966 Rhythm & Blues instrumental and well known mod stomper from West Coast cats The Googie Rene Combo. Son of songwriter Leon Rene, Rafael Leon ‘Googie’ Rene was a suberb instrumentalist who led a combo full of legendary musicians that at various times included Plas Johnson, Rene Hall, Johnny Guitar Watson and Earl Palmer…

Special request to ‘Jumbo’…Hold tight.

musicology #562

Tales From The Underground #4

Baba Brooks Band – Hard Time

Slipping and sliding into an appropriate slice of Jamaican musicology from Trumpet maestro and Band leader Oswald ‘Baba’ Brooks featuring vocalist Count Alert as well as the majestic Lynn Tait plucking strings.

musicology #561

Tales From The Underground #3

The Soul Stirrers – Jesus Wash Away My Troubles

When ‘the Lion’ roars you have to listen..Sam Cooke..the greatest singer ever to record. Rarely equaled NEVER bettered. Listen Tune…

“Jesus wash away my, my troubles,
While I’m traveling here below,
For I’ve, I’ve got enemies..lord you know,
And Jesus wash away my, my burdens,
For they’re so, they’re so hard to bear
But I know there’s consellation,
As long as I know you’re there,
Yes it is, yes it is,
You know Sometimes I feel I feel like a motherless child,
I’m a long way from home,
You know Sometimes I feel, I feel like I’m almost gone
Still I’m a long ways from home
But Jesus take me on to glory lord when I, when I die
For I know that day is coming, It’s coming by and by
Wooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhh.”

musicology #560

Tales From The Underground #2

(Barbara & The Browns – In My Heart)

Today’s cut is courtesy of the Brown family, (Barbara, Roberta, Betty and Maurice), with a 1964 Southern Soul cut on the Stax label. Co written by the prolific Steve Cropper and Deanie Parker.

Just like to add that for themusicologist it’s always been about the music and not the format. I know that may be controversial but the truth is that when I first started collecting, (back in the late 70’s), vinyl was the only format but media has moved on and so have I. Now days I have a Vestax VCI 300 console which is connected to my Macbook Pro and a harddrive which is far more suitable for storing, transporting and playing the music that I love. Don’t get me wrong I still buy, enjoy and collect the shiny black stuff but, (for me), the quest is for musical satisfaction and NOT nostalgia.

Finally I would really appreciate some feedback both on the tune itself and the new method of consumption, (the player)..doesn’t require a comment but just a click, (in complete anonymity), on the ‘stars’ above the tune to let me know whether you’re feeling it or not. That said actual dialogue is always highly valued. Respect is due to the cats and kittens who take/make the time to connect.

musicology #559

Tales From The Underground #1

Charles Bradley – The World, (Is Going Up In Flames)

Dipping my musical toe back in the water with this cut from Charles Bradley and The majestic Menahan Street Band who I had the pleasure of seeing live a few months back supporting Lee Fields. Ranking piece of Mod/ernist Soul/Funk from the Daptone stable on the Dunham Label.

Listen Tune…..

Frontline News

After three years on the frontline of the war against musical banality themusicologist is forced to make a change in how to deliver the Sonic bombs. The Boxnet Widget has been playing up for too long, caused me problems that I don’t need, seriously affected the flow and my patience has run out. So for now the audio player will be embedded in the post probably underneath the title of the day’s slice of musical action. Just like to add my appreciation for the continued support. I intend to reward you with some marrow trembling musicology as I climb back, (once more !!), into the saddle and ride off down the road on the eternal quest for musical satisfaction.

Buckle Up and watch/listen the ride….

p.s in the short term that means that the 500+ archive of musical biscuits that I have laid down are, (for the moment) unavailable to enjoy. I’m working on a solution but “Honey, Rome wasn’t built in a day”….

musicology #558

Shake It Up & Go #5

(The Valentinos – Lookin’ For A Love)

Penultimate cut of the Shake selection featuring the superb Womack Brothers, (Bobby, Cecil, Harry, Friendly and Curtis), with a 1962 cut on Sam Cooke’s groundbreaking Sar label.  Bobby Womack was a major influence on themusicologist throughout my formative years of the early Seventies. One of the ‘Big 3’ that also included Curtis Mayfield and Bill Withers. Of course there were others but these 3 were the main players.

musicology #557

Shake It Up & Go #4

(Inez & Charlie Foxx – Hurt By Love)

Continuing with the Shake selection that I threw down last weekend. 1964, (New York), cut on Juggy Murray’s Symbol label.

musicology #556

Shake It Up & Go #3

(Tony Clarke – Ain’t Love Good Ain’t Love Proud)

Massive Rhythm &Blues cut from the majestic Tony Clark. 1964 cut on the US Chess Label. He who feels it knows it. Authentic love is hard to find..if it comes knocking make sure you open the door and let it walk right in.

Now it’s a big, bright world when a guy meets a girl,
Don’t you know when a their lips meet,
Don’t you know that they taste so sweet,
Don’t you know it’s a good, good feeling,
That sets your heart a reeling,
Everybody now clap your hands come on children, stomp your feet,
Come on now..hail out loud,
Ain’t love good ain’t love proud,
Ain’t love good ain’t love proud,
Play the song now,

Now it’s a sheer delight,
To have your heart on fire,
‘Cause the pretty young thing,
Say’s your her one desire,
Don’t you know that it,
Makes you move, it makes you get on the groove,
Everybody now clap them hands,
Come on children, stomp them feet,
Come on ya’ll hail out loud,
Ain’t love good ain’t love proud,

It’s a big, bright world when a guy meets a girl,
Don’t you know when a their lips meet,
Don’t you know that they got to taste so sweet,
Don’t you know it’s a good, good feeling,
And it starts your heart a reeling,
Everybody now clap them hands come on children, stomp your feet,
Come on now..hail out loud,
Ain’t love good ain’t love proud,
Ain’t love good ain’t love proud,
Come on now,
Play the music…

musicology #555

Shake It Up & Go #2

(Ike & Tina Turner – Tina’s Dilemma)

Part two of the ‘Shake’ selection that I played on Saturday night. Big Rhythm & Blues cut courtesy of the Trailblazing Ike Turner, featuring Tina on vocals and, I imagine, the Iketttes on backup.

I remember when I laid down a tribute to Ike on themusicologist to mark his passing I found myself in dialogue with some who felt it was their duty to remind me of his treatment of Tina and pour scorn on the man for his behaviour. I replied that themusicologist is a page for honouring music and passing judgement on peoples ‘business’ holds absolutely no interest for me. Personally I have never laid a hand on a woman or bullied anyone but I have seen the results of it for myself and knew the couple very well and I remember asking her, (as I found it impossible to comprehend), why she stayed to which she replied wholeheartedly that she loved him….who was I to argue.

45 on Juggy Murray’s Sue Label released in the pivotal year of 1962, (important year for mod/ernists)

Listen Tune…

musicology #554

Shake It Up & Go #1

(Deon Jackson – Love Takes A Long Time Growing)

Inspired by Saturday night’s function (‘Shake’) this theme features a selection of cuts, (all dancers), spun by themusicologist on the night as well as a few that I had in the rocket box that I didn’t manage to fit in to my ‘set’. Excellent night. Pucker music…good crowd…Great company..ALL good.

First up is a piece of great beauty and authentic sincerity that never fails to move me in every way from Soul singer, (with a capital S), Deon Jackson on the Carla label that says it all for me about a word we have all heard MANY times.

LISTEN TUNE and watch the ride..