Vinyl 45

themusicologist #0768

Renewal #3

Everton Blender – Dem Fight I

Around 1993 themusicologist was once again focused on the sounds coming out of Jam Down after a 5-6 year sabbatical spent soaking up the sounds of London, Chi’, The Motor City, NYC and Europa.

For me the years between 1992 – 1998 were a ‘golden age’ for the Reggae. SO many top drawer, conscious, deep cuts emerged with the new wave of ‘computerised’.

Not that Jamaica didn’t embrace the ‘digital’ many years before. Everyone who knows can point to cuts [especially those from the hands of the mighty Prince Jammy] that tore up the dance a decade before but the 90’s cuts coming out of labels like exterminator, penthouse, harmony house, Digital B, How Yuh Fi Say That and MANY more one and two shot labels drew not only on the global musical landscape but also and MOST importantly the ‘democratisation’ of music production that had emerged.

Some MASSIVE works were waxed during them years and themusicologist was on them cuts like a rash back then. Consuming box after box after box, week after week, month after month, year after year.

A Few cuts on this Rhythm. This is one of my favourites. Reminds me of them days.

 

 

musicology#0733

Nubag #2 (a year in the life)

It’s My Baby – Paul Kelly

Day 2 .. Moving onto a piece of Mid 60’s, (1965 to be exact), Soul from South Florida’s ‘Deep City’ (Miami) featuring the vocal skills of Paul Laurence Dunbar Kelly.

I could go to town on the history and connect the (narrative) dots as to who owned what label, played on/wrote what song, what they went on to do and how influential they were in the development of soul/Rhythm and Blues/funk etc but to be honest it’s far too time consuming so I’ll just name check the cats responsible for EACH tune. In this case it’s Johnny Pearsall, Willie Clarke and Arnold Albury. (writers, producers, musicians, urbanemusicologists)

Released on the ‘Lloyd Records’ label in 1965.

AUTHENTIC music.

 

musicology #0679

aSongforCon #18

Gregory Issacs – It’s True

“Can’t begin to understand,

I look the same but I’m a different man,

And inside I’m hurting So,

Loneliness it just won’t go,

Since you been gone,

Haven’t been myself,

This must be a dream,

Strange as it seems,

I never thought that this could ever be,

My friends don’t come around in sympathy,

But NOTHING they say or do could ease the pain,

Though I’m trying to work it out,  it’s all in vain”

musicology #0655 Daddy Woo Woo

Tribute to DON Pedro #5

the Vibrations – Daddy Woo Woo

sliding out of the Ska and into the 60’s Rhythm and Blues with this cut from the Vibrations. A vocal group who first appeared on the scene as the Jay Hawks in 1956 and had a ‘hit’ with; Stranded in the Jungle, (remind me to dig it out from the vaults and lay it down), as well as notable early ‘Soul’ cuts Oh Cindy, Since I Fell For You, the Watusi, Peanut Butter and the classic My Girl Sloopy.

Don Pedro shares a West Coast connection with these cats who hail from the City Of Angels in California. the Don took up residency there for many years after deciding it was time to leave the auld Country and head out West to stroll the Boulevards.

Back in the day the Don and I used to be found frequenting ‘Mod’ hang outs. I had become disillusioned with the rare Funk clique and was in between scenes and even though it was my second time, (once a mod/ern/ist always a mod/ern/ist), the scene had evolved, (or maybe it was us who had evolved??), anyway we had some memorable times together and it was there that my love and respect for the Don was born…again I digress so i’ll leave it there. Suffice it to say that the music connects us and i Know that he will enjoy this one… recorded for and released on Atlantic in 1964.

musicology #295

JamaicanVocalGroupAction #6

(Dion Cameron & The Three Tops – Get Ready)

Today’s 1966 cut is one from themusicologist’s Ska box courtesy of the almost unknown Dion Cameron & The Three Tops who are perhaps better known for the few slices released on Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle label, This one is An ‘Olive Branch’? production released in the UK on the Rio label. Can’t tell you much more about it other than it was one of my earliest purchases back in the early 80’s.. Ranking Saxaphone break on this one.

musicology #220

12AngryMen #15 (alternativesoundtrack #3)

(The Marquees – Wyatt Earp)

end of the 12 angry road. the not guilty count is now 11-1. last man standing is Lee J Cobb whose personal vendetta against juveniles is obviously related to how he feels about his own son which, is not enough of a reason to send a teengaer to the ‘chair’ when all the evidence has been shot down in flames.

this last piece of the musicology pie is another from the OKeh label featuring a young drummer by the name of Marvin Pentz Gay whose recording career begun on this piece. signed to the label by Bo Diddley the record was a commercial failure so Bo introduced them to Rhythm& Blues legend Harvey Fuqua who incorporated them into his New Moonglows in 1957.

around 1958/9 Fuqua moved to Detroit, married Gwen Gordy, set up a couple of his own labels and when Berry Gordy convinced him to be an influential part of Motown introduced Marvin to the fold. and the rest, as they say, is history.

musicology #201

teachings of billionaire YenTzu #11

(Ernest Wilson – Undying Love)

penultimate cut of the Yen Tzu selection…

Kissing The Scorpion (following your true nature)

‘This will be ideal for my meditations,’ thought a wandering  sage, seeking a cave in the wilderness. Upon entering it, however, he noticed the skeletal remains of many human corpses.  Unconcerned, he sat down on a rock to rest from his travels.

‘How you answer will seal your fate!’ boomed a voice, and turning the sage saw that before him was a gigantic scorpion, the size of a large man.

‘As your questions have undoubtedly sealed yours,’ replied the sage calmly.

‘What manner of Man are you to be without trace of fear?’ demanded the giant scorpion. ‘For the nature of Man is to be afraid.’

‘Not so,’ answered the sage. ‘For in truth the nature of Man is to be in balance, and such a state comes when he has no fear of what life may confront him with, because he is in love with the true meaning of life. As my thoughts and actions have led me to this place, how can I fear it? To do so is to fear myself, which I do not, for I have only love for the person that I am.’

‘Then you are rare indeed,’ said the scorpion, ‘for the men who have come before you have been escaping from themselves, as one seeks to leave another within a loveless relationship.’

‘You speak as one who has experienced such,’ said the sage intuitively, ‘for your visage is not strong enough to hide the pain, frustration and indeed anger that you exude.’

‘It would seem that truthful perception is yours to command,’ answered the fearsome creature. ‘Because in truth I was as a man once, long ago, until my ruthlessness attracted a demon seeking a disciple. My resistance to it resulted in having my current condition cast upon me. But because what was left of my original nature was able to resist, the demon was compelled to allow my situation a reversal. Though little use it has been. For of all those who have approached my lair these past long years, none have caused the spell to be reversed.’

‘Because no doubt they must answer of their own accord and without direction,’ said the sage. ‘An accord distorted by their fear.’

‘Exactly so! and now you will forgive me if I become impatient to address the riddle I must ask of you!’ said the scorpion. ‘If you refuse to answer, cannot or your answer is wrong, then I thank you in advance for our debate, for afterwards it will be too late.’

‘Proceed as you wish,’ the sage said, ‘for it is of little consequence.’

‘Take heed though,’ advised the scorpion ‘that immediately after I have incanted my words I will be rendered helpless in order to allow you to make your choice. Although you are weaponless, there are many swords around you that are sharp enough to enable even the weakest of arms to slice off my deadly tail. And so:

‘When you embrace the most deadly, you overcome your worst fears;
When you act the least likely, there can be nothing but tears;
When you act from the heart and engage worthy might,
Then to the end from the start, you have held to what’s right;
Your balance to death will be as it is for your life,
To do one over the other, can bring sorrow and strife;
when you act as you do because you are as you be,
You will know if a kiss or a strike is the key.

‘Quickly!’ added the now motionless scorpion looking menacingly into the eyes of the sage. ‘You have the opportunity to strike me.’

‘My answer is as my action,’ said the sage and calmly outstretched his arms and kissed the creature on it’s evil-looking head. Immediately the scorpion was transformed and it was now a man that stood before him. With the spell broken, tears flowed freely down the large man’s cheeks and he fell at the feet of the sage in gratitude. As the sage helped him up, the large man said,

‘You chose correctly, yet why were you so sure, when the nature of a scorpion is to strike when face to face with it’s adversary?’

‘Because deep down you were still a man,’ said the sage, ‘and it is the true-nature of a man to love, not strike. And as the riddle implied, transforming you back into a man is the greatest risk to overcome, because Man can be more deadly than any scorpion. Acting in the least likely way of not seemingly protecting myself could only release your tears. Those tears a man has prior to his transformation and the tears of happiness that follow it. Furthermore because I am in a state of balance I can but only act in a right manner.’

‘I am indeed fortunate to have found such a natural individual to release me from my predicament,’ said the man.

‘Fortune has nothing to do with it,’ replied the sage with finality. ‘It was your own need to return to your true vocation that attracted you to me, and it was my own thoughts to test my own vocation that led me to you. All of us are interdependent of others whether we are aware of it or not. As such, all of us are both teachers and students, appearing as appropriate to one another when each is ready. That is how we can fulfil our true vocation. Learning how to express it effectively requires a state of balance. For only in such a state can we act as our true nature intended.’

musicology #199

teachings of billionaire YenTzu #9

(Bobby Bland – Share Your Love With Me)

Seeing The Snake (raising awareness and concentration)

After twenty years in the service of a provincial overlord, a loyal soldier was rewarded. With enough money now to buy some acres of land, he was excited at being able to realise his dream of building his own home. For three whole months the soldier totally absorbed himself in preparing the land, clearing it of boulders and levelling the ground. He made sure that any wild bushes and neglected growth removed were replaced with trees and flowers. The work was long and hard but the soldier felt richly rewarded by thinking how pleasent his home would be.

While engrossed in what he was doing, a man came up to him and introduced himself as the land agent in the service of the local registrar.

‘What so,’ said the soldier taking the opportunity to rest, ‘How can I be of service to you. All is well I trust?’

‘I’m not sure,’ said the man looking puzzled. ‘Might I please enquire as to who has employed you on such obvious land improvement?’

‘I am now in the service of my own,’ replied the soldier proudly. ‘I am the owner of this land and I am preparing it for building.’

‘There seems to have been some mistake,’ said the land agent holding out some papers with some consternation. ‘This is not your land, i’m afraid. Your land comprises the acres actually adjoining this.’

‘Ah,’ sighed the soldier. ‘So despite my endeavours I have not done a single thing to improve my own property.’ And with that he immediately set to gathering his tools. The soldier took the mistake in good spirits and after making sure that he was on his own land, he once more earnestly set about making his dream come true.

musicology #182

soulsearching #4

(Little Roy – Hard Fighter)

today’s 1971 slice of the soulsearching pie comes from the island of Jamaica. first heard by themusicologist in the early 80’s courtesty of one of the corner stones of my musical education, Uncle Johnny. uplifting selection and one of the tunes that opened my ears to the sweet sounds of JA.

original 45 on the UK Punch Label. produced by Lloyd ‘Matador’ Daley

musicology#181

soulsearching #3

(Joe Quarterman & Free Soul – I Got So Much Trouble In My Mind Pt1)

‘rare groove’ funk screamer heard, played and thrown shapes to by themusicologist for more than twenty years. always been one of my personal favourites. being blessed/cursed with a troubled mind this is one of them cuts that often plays in the jukebox of my thoughts in times like these.

a 1972 New York release on the GSF label produced by Bill Tate, Cotter Wells and Cory Pearson.

musicology #176

alternativesoundtrack2..Quadrophenia #8

(The Tams – Take Away)

strange how themusicologist seems to be drawn to art that reinforces one’s own predicament…maybe we all are?. not going into the details but lets just say I know how Jimmy feels.

this is the section after he has packed his job in and turns up at the Cafe to find all his ‘friends’. his so called best mate, (Dave), really takes the piss and the less said about young ‘tart’ Steph the better.

still, people are funny that way you trust them with your heart and 999 times out of a 1000 they’ll let you down but as Alan Watts said at the start of musicology #10

“that risk still has to be taken”

the musical accompaniment is a Mod screamer courtesy of Soul vocal group The Tams. I know for sure this was big on, (and in), the Scene that year and I must confess to taking a little bit of artistic license as it may have been released after the brief period in which the film was set. Couldn’t resist it though as it’s not only perfect for the alternative soundtrack it is perfect for me too.

p.s that ‘Glasgow kiss’ that he gives Dave after the ‘alleyway’ comment is quality and well deserved.

musicology #175

alternativesoundtrack2..Quadrophenia #7

(The Blenders – Everybody’s Got A Right)

day seven and just to make things worse Jimmy has been dragged in to be patronised by his boss on how he should ‘count his lucky stars’ for having such an illustrious job, (especially considering his working class status !!)

this was, (and in many ways still is), how the establishment expects us to behave, that we should be happy with the ‘crumbs off the top table’. Elitism is very much alive today as is ‘class’, even though successive governments, whatever their persuasion, have tried over the past 30 years to convince us of the opposite.

money isn’t the issue. it’s all about ‘mind-set’ and this piece of dialogue has always been one of my favourites in the film. great piece of acting by Phil Daniels…full of emotion and pathos, (you tell him Jim)

the music is courtesy of foundation Soul vocal group The Blenders with what might not sound like a revolutionary piece of social commentary but when you consider the year (1963), is.

a 45 on the Witch label.

Listen tune

musicology #154

duets2 #3

(Jackie & Doreen – Welcome Home)

the boxnet audio widget is not working as well as I would have hoped so I’m going to have to make
some changes and find a more effective way to digest the music.

for now though I’m sticking with the duets and another one from Jamaica but this time it’s a 1965 Ska classic from one of Jamaican music’s foundation vocalists, Jackie Opel about whom Alton Ellis once said:

“to see Jackie Opel was a life affirming event – he was a performer in the style of young Jackie Wilson whose act was a predominate influence. Opel would spin and fall to the ground in a crescendo of legs drooping and flailing arms, a small man in stature but a big man in heart and personality”

and from the pen of music critic Al Gilkes:

“On stage Jackie forced his way into the hearts of his audience to make them share his experience. His tears were their tears, his joy theirs …….. Jackie was a prodigy, a rare blend of pure, raw voice and composing ability … what captured you about his singing was its utter savagery: the apparent unlimited range to his voice: … when he sang, every word that came out seemed to come from deep inside with an eternity of pain which life forever bought him ……”

partnered on this one by Doreen Schaffer and to top it all…backed by the mighty Skatalites..an early Studio1 production from right out of the top drawer. a UK release on the top ranking R&B label

watch the ride…