May 2007

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Earth Wind & Fire - 1970 - Earth Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire's first album -- recorded at a time when the group recently had ties to the Chicago soul and jazz scenes, and a range of experience that ran the gamut from work with Sun Ra, the Artistic Heritage Ensemble, The Pharoahs, Ramsey Lewis, and countless other influential groups. Headed up by Maurice White on drums and percussion, the group forged an amazing blend of all these influences, creating a future soul sound that pushed black music to the next level -- taking a wealth of previously underground modes of expression, and fusing them into a soaring sound that would soon put them at the top of the charts. This album's a lot looser and freer than their Columbia albums -- with plenty of raw funk and some nice off-beat jazz soling. Includes the classic break track "C'Mon Children", plus "Fan The Fire", "Bad Tune", and "Moment Of Truth".

Tracks

Help Somebody (3:37)
Moment of Truth (3:08)
Love Is Life (5:02)
Fan the Fire (4:59)
C'mon Children (3:08)
This World Today (3:33)
Bad Tune (4:31)

The debut for the nine-member Earth, Wind & Fire was as assured as that of any rock band from the '60s and early '70s. Already fluent with the close harmonies of the classiest soul groups, the deep funk of James Brown, and the progressive social concerns and multiple vocal features of Sly & the Family Stone, the group added (courtesy of auteur Maurice White) a set of freewheeling arrangements, heavy on the horns, that made Earth Wind and Fire one of their finest albums -- the artistic equal of their later hits, if not on the same level commercially. Unlike the work of most early funk bands, the songwriting was as strong and focused as the musicianship; the record boasts a set of unerringly positive compositions, reflecting the influence of the civil rights movement with nearly every song urging love, community, and knowledge as alternatives to the increasing hopelessness plaguing American society. The stop-start opener "Help Somebody," the deep funk extravaganza "Moment of Truth," and the sweet ballad "Love Is Life" were unified in their pursuit of positivity, while even the potentially incendiary title "Fan the Fire" was revealed in a peaceful context: "The flame of love is about to die/Somebody fan the fire." And the instrumental closer, "Bad Tune," is hardly a cast-off; the furious kalimba work of Maurice White and wordless backing vocals combine to create an excellent piece of impressionist funk.

Download Link :

earth_wind_and_fire-1970-earth_wind_and_fire.rar

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Margie Joseph - 1971 - Makes A New Impression

Frequently compared to Aretha Franklin, singer Margie Joseph earned neither the fame nor the critical success lavished upon the Queen of Soul, but a series of excellent records for Atlantic during the 1970s nevertheless won her a spot in the pantheon of soul cult favorites.
A great second generation southern soul singer who really helped the label find a new sound in the 70s! Margie got her start on Stax, but she sounds even better here -- a bit more mature, slightly more urban.

Producer Freddy Briggs took the helm for Joseph's , "Your Sweet Loving"; released in the summer of 1970, the single proved a minor RB chart hit. The following year, she cracked the RB Top 40 with a cover of the Supremes' classic "Stop In the Name of Love," boosting sales of her fine debut LP, Margie Joseph Makes a New Impression, in the process.

Tracks
1. Monologue: Women Talk
2. Stop! In the Name of Love
3. Punish Me
4. Medicine Bend
5. Come Tomorrow
6. Sweeter Tomorrow
7. Same Thing
8. How Beautiful the Rain
9. I'm Fed Up
10. Make Me Believe You'll Stay
11. Temptation's About to Take Your Love

Like some of Stax's product from this era, there's a Stax-meets-Motown air to much of the material. Although Margie Joseph Makes a New Impression was cut in Memphis and Muscle Shoals, some orchestral and vocal overdubs were done in Detroit, perhaps accounting for some of the Motown feel. Makes a New Impression was actually a fair seller, making number 67 on the pop charts and number seven on the soul listings, and containing an extended cover of "Stop! In the Name of Love" that was a small R&B hit.

Briggs transforms "Stop . . . Love," from a whining plea to an awesome deep soul demand, introduced by a no nonsense woman to her man rap; it stretches out ala Issac Hayes into a heart stopping arrangement filled with passionate singing by Joseph, and the backing voices.

Other selections are typical deep soul selections elevated by Joseph's sincere, earthy singing. A rare commodity, Margie's a soul singer that never over sings, or embellish lyrics with vocal tricks. If I could only afford to buy one Margie Joseph album, this would be it, her later sides on Atlantic, and other labels are slicker and not as raw as these tracks. Though, a collaboration she did with Blue Magic "Whats Comes Over Me," rates with anything here.

Download Link :

margie_joseph-_makes_a_new_impression_1971_.rar

Monday, May 28, 2007

Joe Simon - 1972 - Drowning In The Sea Of Love

Joe Simon's Drowning in the Sea of Love is still a classic to me. I still love that title song and its lazy feel in the groove.

Some other surprises I love are the dramatic, bluesy, The Mirror Don't Lie, the funky Ole Night Owl and the gorgeous Something You Can Do Today. This is really Joe Simon's best album to me and could rival any of Otis Redding's albums for the male soul singer title. It is addictive, catchy, musical, and wonderfully performed. Simon sings like he's lived it in these songs, as if he wrote the songs himself! One of my all-time favorite albums!

Tracks

1. Drowining In The Sea Of Love
2. Glad To Be Your Lover
3. Something You Can Do Today
4. I Found My Dad
5. The Mirror Don't Lie
6. Ole Night Owl
7. You Are Everything
8. If
9. Let Me Be The One (The One Who Loves You)
10. Pool Of Bad Luck

In his impressive career, Simon began by crooning honey-touched ballads, went on to help establish the genre of country-soul (and remains one of the few true, great country-soul singers), segued over into R&B, and then saw his career descend too quickly after a groundbreaking (but ill-fated) movement to disco.
"Drowning in the Sea of Love" was Simon's most cohesive album, though still very eclectic in presentation. The title track was pure Philly sound, an early Gamble-Huff production that paid off with a #3 spot on the Billboard R&B charts. "I Found My Dad" is an interesting deaprture from the rest of the album, and it remains catchy and rousing. "Pool of Bad Luck" continues the quintessential funky groove, and on "If", Simon's plaintive baritone soars. However, my personal favorite track is Simon's cover of the Stylistics' (smash from the year before) "You Are Everything". Simon's version features a dramatically different arrangement, and what you are left with is the song stripped bare, and Simon's voice, low and contained early on, building to an eruption of longing and passion. The song is imbued with such feeling that I cannot listen to it without getting caught up. And let's just say I've listened to it many, many times...
if you want to hear an solid album by one of the best (and sadly overlooked) R&B singers while at his peak, pick up "Drowning in the Sea of Love".

Download Link :

joe_simon-_drowning_in_the_sea_of_love.rar

As a bonus

here is another classic collection of Joe Simon

Download Link :
joe_simon_-_1973_-_the_power_of.rar

Thursday, May 24, 2007

The Delfonics - 1968 - La La (Means I Love You)

A landmark album in harmony soul!

Thinking back on the early 70s east coast sound, it's hard to come up with a more quintessential cut than "La La Means I Love You" - the lasting legacy of the group's interaction with producer/arranger Thom Bell, and his groundbreaking style of soul music. Bell's genius is firmly in place here -- as he contributed the songs "Losing You", "Can You Remember", "You're Gone", "I'm Sorry", and "Break Your Promise", as well as the title cut. Great stuff all around and with a really heavenly sound!

Tracks

1 I'm Sorry 2:49
2 Break Your Promise 3:04
3 The Shadow of Your Smile 3:24
4 Hurt So Bad 2:04
5 Losing You 2:32
6 Alfie 2:49
7 La-La (Means I Love You) 3:20
8 You're Gone 2:37
9 The Look of Love 3:18
10 Can You Remember 3:02
11 A Lover's Concerto 2:14

While La La Means I Love You is the trio's debut LP, they had actually been working with Bell as far back as their 1966 single "He Don't Really Love You." By the time this album was cut, Bell had begun to establish a core of key Philadelphia musicians who would later become internationally recognized as MFSB. This conglomerate further enhances the already mellifluous vocal blend of the original Delfonics, which included brothers William Hart, Wilbert Hart, and Randy Cain. The multi-task role that Bell plays in the success of the Delfonics — as well as most every other Philly-based group fortunate enough to have been guided by his discernible ears — included producing and arranging as well as co-writing over half of the original material on the album. Among them are the Top 40 hits "I'm Sorry" and "Break Your Promise," as well as the title track, which would become one of the group's signature tunes. The sublime smooth grooves seemingly inherent in these arrangements practically define the distinction between the Philly soul scene and those more established in Detroit (Motown), Memphis (Stax), or Chicago (Chess). Bell's trademark easy and languid rhythms, when married to the trio's lush vocal harmonies, add new hues to the sonic soul music pallet of the late '60s and early '70s. The effectiveness of Bell's innovative arrangements is perhaps most evident on the cover tunes. Astute listeners will inevitably note the influence of another highly regarded and successful songwriting/arranging team. The inclusion of two Bacharach/David classics — "The Look of Love" and "Alfie" — gives listeners more than just a hint at where much of Bell's fresh and distinct ideas may have taken root. Additionally, the Delfonics' cover of "Hurt So Bad" should not be missed, as it bests, or at the very least updates, Little Anthony & the Imperials' more familiar version

Download Link :
the_delfonics_-__68__la_la_means_i_love_you.rar

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

The Isley Brothers - 1973 - 3 + 3

The Isley Brothers at the top of their game. Classic tracks suchas Who's That Lady and Summer Breeze blend effortlessly with moody heartfelt numbers like Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight and The Highways of My Life.

Listen again and again. It's great!!

Tracks
1 That Lady, Pts. 1 & 2 (5:34)
2 Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight (4:02)
3 If You Were There (3:23)
4 You Walk Your Way (3:05)
5 Listen to the Music (4:05)
6 What It Comes Down To (3:54)
7 Sunshine (Go Away Today) (4:22)
8 Summer Breeze (6:13)
9 Highways of My Life (4:17)

The Reviews

1
Recorded in 1973, 3 + 3 was a major turning point for the Isley Brothers. With this album, the Isleys moved their T-Neck label from Buddah to Epic/CBS (which became Epic/Sony in the early '90s), and it was at Epic that they unveiled their new lineup. Lead singer Ronald Isley and his siblings O'Kelly and Rudolph remained, but the Isleys became a sextet instead of a trio when cousin Chris Jasper and younger brothers Ernie and Marvin were added. This new lineup was called 3 + 3, and the addition of Jasper on keyboards, Ernie on guitar, and Marvin on bass added exciting new elements to the Isleys' sound. One of finest R&B bassists of the 1970s, the ever-so-funky Marvin is in a class with heavyweights like Larry Graham and Louis Johnson -- and Ernie is a stunning guitarist who is heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix but has a distinctive style of his own. The Isleys had always been lovers of rock, but with the addition of Ernie, their sound became even more overtly rock-influenced. Nonetheless, the rock and pop elements didn't alienate R&B audiences, which ate this album up. The single "That Lady" (which is based on an Impressions-like gem they had recorded in 1964) was a major hit, and the Isleys are equally captivating on soul interpretations of Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze," James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," and the Doobie Brothers' "Listen to the Music." With this superb album, the Isley Brothers sounded better than ever -- and they gained a lot of new fans without sacrificing the old ones.

2
After their contract with Buddha expired in 1973, the Isleys were offered a long-term contract with Epic Records. Taking their T-Neck imprint with them, the brothers quickly went into the studio but this time as a sextet. That year, original members O'Kelly, Jr., Rudolph and Ronald decided to put Ernie, Marvin and Jasper into the forefront turning the original vocal trio into a band. The result of this transformation resulted in their groundbreaking album that year, 3 + 3, which featured their Top 10 pop smash "That Lady, Pt. 1 & 2", their top five R&B follow-up, "What It Comes Down To" and their seminal cover of Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze". Certified platinum, it was the brothers' first of a string of gold and platinum records the band would score throughout a ten-year tenure. Along the way, they not only did funk anthems and rock covers but also quiet storm slow songs and disco club hits.

Download Link :
the_isley_brothers_-_3___3.rar

The Headhunters - 1975 - Survival Of The Fittest

The Headhunters - 1975 - Survival Of The Fittest
[arista]

Tracks
01 God Make Me Funky (9:40)
02 Mugic (3:34)
03 Here And Now (7:06)
04 Daffy's Dance (6:10)
05 Rima (8:14)
06 If You've Got It, You'll Get It (6:28)

Review :
In 1975, Herbie Hancock's group the Headhunters, which brought him immense success at the time, released their first solo album. Produced by Hancock, but without his participation, the lineup features the Thrust group of Mike Clark on drums, Paul Jackson on bass, Bill Summers on percussion, and Bennie Maupin on various reeds, plus new guitarist DeWayne "Blackbird" McKnight, who toured with Hancock and performed on the Man-Child and Flood albums. They added a few guests: three further percussionists (Zak Diouf, Baba Duru Oshun and Harvey Mason Sr. -- the latter was the first Headhunters drummer) and flutist Joyce Jackson. While the thought of a Hancock-less Headhunters might puzzle some listeners, the group did extremely well without him -- in fact, Survival of the Fittest may be the ultimate space-funk album. The interplay between all musicians is tighter than tight, especially in the rhythm section of Jackson-Clark-Summers, who can effortlessly make everything groove and move. The first track, "God Make Me Funky," marks Jackson's debut as a lead vocalist -- a role he unfortunately wouldn't reprise too often. While his singing is a bit off-key, his vocals owe much to the blues tradition and carry great urgency and authenticity. At the end of the song, his voice is quite reminiscent of Ray Charles. The track starts off as a funky R&B number (the beginning bears close resemblance to their earlier "Palm Grease"), with background vocals being provided by the Pointer Sisters; it then turns into a fast chase with an intense, frantic Bennie Maupin solo which borders on the atonal. "Mugic" starts off like the funk version of "Watermelon Man," and turns out to be a showcase for Bill Summers' various percussion instruments. "Here and Now" starts aimlessly, develops into a lopey groove, and gains speed as Maupin delivers another excellent solo, accompanied by ethereal guitar sounds. "Daffy's Dance" is in a similar vein, though it's rhythmically more consistent and has a rather funny melody. "Rima" is extremely spacy -- McKnight's guitar serves as a substitute for keyboards and produces lots of freaky sounds; Joyce Jackson's echoey alto flute provides a good counterpart for Maupin's bass clarinet; Summers adds atmospheric percussion, and the groove is very subdued. The last track, "If You've Got It, You'll Get It," returns to a funk/R&B mode, featuring a catchy bass riff and a singalong chant, though this time McKnight steps into the solo spotlight. Survival of the Fittest is consistently interesting and features lots of great performances by excellent musicians -- and it never forgets to groove. Unfortunately, the album is out of print and was only issued on CD in Japan.
~ Chris Genzel, All Music Guide

Biography :
The Headhunters represented a major turning point for Herbie Hancock, whose approach to fusion became slicker and more commercial (though not without substance or integrity) with the formation of this popular band in 1973. Before that, the chameleonic pianist/keyboardist had been leading a daring unit called the Sextant, which fused jazz, R&B and rock with world music and took more than its share of chances. But regrettably, the Sextant's three albums for Warner Bros. were modest sellers at best, so in 1973, he disbanded the Sextant and formed the Headhunters. Employing saxman/clarinetist Bennie Maupin (a holdover from the Sextant), bassist Paul Jackson, Jr., drummer Harvey Mason and percussionist Bill Summers, Hancock made a point of being more accessible when he unveiled the Headhunters with his 1973 Columbia date Head Hunters. Fusing jazz with funk and rock, the album sold over a million copies and attracted many R&B and rock fans. In fact, Head Hunters even outsold Miles Davis' popular Bitches Brew. Defined by the catchy "Chameleon" (which was interpreted by jazz singer Eddie Jefferson in 1976 and sampled by various rappers in the 1980s and 1990s) and a funky remake of his 1962 boogaloo "Watermelon Man," Headhunters set the tone for subsequent Columbia projects with the Headhunters, including Thrust (1974), Man-Child (1975), Secrets (1976) and Sunlight (1977). By the end of the decade, the Headhunters were no more, and Hancock was turning his attention to everything from outright R&B to standards and acoustic post-bop. In the 1990s, Sony's Legacy label reissued most of the Headhunters' work on CD, and in 1998 the group reunited to record Return of the Headhunters!
~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Download Link @256
http://rapidshare.com/Headhunters.rar

Monday, May 21, 2007

Marvin Gaye - 1971 - What's Going On

I won't write any review of this album.

it is very simple.

This is the greatest soul record of all time.

Tracks

1. What's Going On
2. What's Happening Brother
3. Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky)
4. Save the Children
5. God Is Love
6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
7. Right On
8. Wholy Holy
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

But i will write a few notes

Sly & The Family Stone might have psychedelicized soul music, but Marvin Gaye personalized it. Although the powers-that-were Motown didn't even want to release the record, the unexpected success of What's Going On, issued in 1971, inspired Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, and just about every other black artist on the planet to take greater responsibility for their music and its meaning. Gaye co-wrote the songs and produced the album, flavoring it with layer upon layer of his own multi-tracked vocals, oceans of hand percussion, strings, flutes, and jazzy horn solos. Spacey and loose as a spliff-fueled Sunday afternoon jam in the park, the nine songs all played like a hit single.

Get it here (320@ + original artwork) complete
Marvin_gaye__1971__what_s_going_on.rar

08-Wholy_Holy.rar

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Roberta Flack - 1971 - Quiet Fire

Roberta Flack is as always incomparable but this one is just absolutely amazing. And I loved both of her earlier albums and thought that each of them was pretty close to perfect. But without question this album is the pinnacle of her talent and emotion.

For those quiet moments....Roberta's voice will soothe and amaze you. Timeless and evocative, this album has soul and heart to spare.

Tracks

1 Go up Moses (5:20)
2 Bridge over Troubled Water (7:13)
3 Sunday and Sister Jones (4:48)
4 See You Then (3:40)
5 Will You Love Me Tomorrow (3:59)
6 To Love Somebody (6:41)
7 Let Them Talk (3:50)
8 Sweet Bitter Love (6:06)

Quiet Fire", Roberta Flack's third solo album, has been unfairly overshadowed by the incandescent "First Take" and its masterful follow up, "Chapter Two". Unfairly because it is in every way an equal partner to its two luminous predecessors in constituting the third instalment of a triumvirate of great Roberta Flack albums. Significantly, even its immediate successor, the excellent "Killing Me Softly", doesn't quite measure up artistically with anything she did before that. Just as "Chapter Two" surprised with inspired covers of familiar standards, "Quiet Fire" serves up majestic versions of Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Goffin & King's "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and the Gibb brothers' "To Love Somebody" which Nina Simone had a huge UK hit with in 1969. Unlike Aretha Franklin whose penchant for turning melodies inside out is legendary, Roberta's approach with a song is more conservative. She may slow it down a tad but always tries to preserve the melody and the cadence of the song. What she does is use her peerless phrasing and majestic performance to transform a song into something precious and personal. Listening to Roberta's voice build and rise above the piano is akin to a religious experience and it can't get more seriously churchy than "Go Up Moses", the opening track, which has Roberta feverishly incanting over a racuous rhythmn. Continuing in the same vein is "Sunday and Sister Jones", featuring the album's most powerful moments and a tour de force performance from Roberta that has to be heard to be believed. Winding up are sensitive treatments of "Let Them Talk" and the Dinah Washington standard "Sweet Bitter Love" which are at least equal, in my opinion, to the best versions ever recorded, including Aretha's in the case of the latter song. "Quiet Fire" is indeed the middle name of Roberta Flack and the sound of velvet melting...

Download Link :

Roberta_Flack_-_1971_quiet_fire.rar

Friday, May 18, 2007

Sly and The Family Stone - 1971 - There's A Riot Goin' On

One of the best albums ever recorded in any kind of music

Ranked #99 in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time"

Great dark soul album with layered drums, electric piano and forbodding bass sounds. The vocals, mostly by Sly, are full of despair and emotion, as are much of the lyrics. "Family Affair" is a major classic with some really druggy vocals from Sly. "Africa Talks to You" is a bit lengthy, but has some good guitar in addition to the driving bass and funky piano. "You Caught Me Smilin" is a really great, more mellow song while "Spaced Cowboy" has a bit of a country vibe with some good harmonica work. "Runnin' Away" is a much lighter and poppier than anything else on the album, and it even has some good horns also.

Tracks
A1 Luv n' Haight 4:01
A2 Just Like a Baby 5:11
A3 Poet 3:01
A4 Family Affair 3:04
A5 Africa Talks to You "The Asphalt Jungle" 8:45
B1 Brave and Strong 3:29
B2 (You Caught Me) Smilin' 2:54
B3 Time 3:01
B4 Spaced Cowboy 3:59
B5 Runnin' Away 2:56
B6 Thank You for Talkin' to Me Africa 7:12

Bonus Tracks
Runnin' Away [single version]
My Gorilla Is My Butler
Do You Know What
That's Pretty Clean

The Reviews

1

A wonderful album from Sly and crew -- moving way past the straight funk approach of earlier records, into a complicated crossover soul style that's filled with warmth and righteousness! Despite the political tone implied by the "riot" in the title and the co-option of the American flag on the cover, the album's strongest suit is its warmth and personal soul message -- sometimes filled with politics, sure, but always sounding like a sexy love song, no matter how hard it tries to get righteous! The flow is wonderful throughout -- a very well-thought out album that shows that Sly was singing way past the singles scene -- and the record's filled with great cuts like "Family Affair", "Luv N Haight", "Brave & Strong", "You Caught Me Smilin”.

2

It's easy to write off There's a Riot Goin' On as one of two things — Sly Stone's disgusted social commentary or the beginning of his slow descent into addiction. It's both of these things, of course, but pigeonholing it as either winds up dismissing the album as a whole, since it is so bloody hard to categorize. What's certain is that Riot is unlike any of Sly & the Family Stone's other albums, stripped of the effervescence that flowed through even such politically aware records as Stand! This is idealism soured, as hope is slowly replaced by cynicism, joy by skepticism, enthusiasm by weariness, sex by pornography, thrills by narcotics. Joy isn't entirely gone — it creeps through the cracks every once and awhile and, more disturbing, Sly revels in his stoned decadence. What makes Riot so remarkable is that it's hard not to get drawn in with him, as you're seduced by the narcotic grooves, seductive vocals slurs, leering electric pianos, and crawling guitars. As the themes surface, it's hard not to nod in agreement, but it's a junkie nod, induced by the comforting coma of the music. And damn if this music isn't funk at its deepest and most impenetrable — this is dense music, nearly impenetrable, but not from its deep grooves, but its utter weariness. Sly's songwriting remains remarkably sharp, but only when he wants to write — the foreboding opener "Luv N' Haight," the scarily resigned "Family Affair," the cracked cynical blues "Time," and "(You Caught Me) Smilin'." Ultimately, the music is the message, and while it's dark music, it's not alienating — it's seductive despair, and that's the scariest thing about it.

Download Links @320

Sly_and_the_Family_stone_-_1971_-_there_s_a_riot_goin__on_1.rar

Sly_and_the_family_stone_-_1971_-_there_s_a_riot_goin__on_2.rar

Thursday, May 17, 2007

V.A. - What It Is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves

V.A. - What It Is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves (1967-1977)

Ninety-one tracks deep and five hours long.
This may be the desert island comp for funk and soul fans. From the New Orleans ' R&B of Allen Trousie Toussaint," to the funk universalism of Earth, Wind and Fire, this comp touches nearly all the bases.

There are seminal jams such as Bay Key's "Soul Finger," but much of this focuses on rare gems from many of soul's biggest names. Perhaps the disk's greatest virtue, though, is the attention paid to lesser known acts, which makes this collection as much a beginning as it is an end.

Track Lists:

Disc 1
01. Spreadin" Honey -- Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band
02. Soul Finger -- Bar-Kays
03. The Shadow Of Your Smile -- Brother Jack McDuff
04. Gangster Of Love (Parts 1 and 2) -- Jimmy Norman
05. The Memphis Train -- Rufus Thomas
06. Get Out Of My Life Woman -- Grassella Oliphant
07. Live Right Now -- Eddie Harris
08. Pig Snoots, Part 1 -- Natural Bridge Bunch
09. Soul Sound System -- The Freedom Sounds featuring Wayne Henderson
10. Snatching It Back -- Clarence Carter
11. Stoned Soul -- Artie Christopher
12. Getting The Corners -- The T.S.U. Tornadoes
13. Sexy Coffee Pot -- Tony Alvon & The Belairs
14. Don't Come Around Here Anymore -- Mark Putney
15. Keep On Dancing -- The Commodores
16. Right On Brother--Part 1 -- The Southshore Commission
17. Pop, Popcorn Children -- Eldridge Holmes
18. It's Your Thing -- Cold Grits
19. It's All In Your Mind -- Soul Angels
20. Funky John -- Johnny Cameron & The Camerons
21. Help Me Make Up My Mind -- Joyce Jones
22. Rock Me Baby -- Lou Johnson
23. Sing A Simple Song -- The Noble Knights
24. Do You Dig It -- Titus Turner
25. Funky Canyon -- Phil Moore Jr.
26. Jan Jan -- The Fabulous Counts
27. Tampin -- The Rhine Oaks

V.A._-_What_It_Is_1.part1.rar
V.A._-_What_It_Is_1.part2.rar

Disc 2
01. Gossip -- Cyril Neville
02. Somebody In The World For You -- The Mighty Hannibal
03. Stanga -- Little Sister
04. Jumpin" Jack Flash -- Ananda Shankar
05. The Deacon -- Brute Force
06. Sookie Sookie -- Don Covay & The Jefferson Lemon Blues Band
07. Right On -- Clarence Wheeler & The Enforcers
08. (Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below We're All Going To Go -- Curtis Mayfield
09. Stepping Stones -- Johnny Harris
10. I'm Just Like You -- 6ix
11. Funky Thing--Part 1 -- The Unemployed
12. Messie Bessie -- Shirley Scott
13. Fairchild -- Willie West
14. Cold Bear -- The Gaturs
15. I Can't Get Next To You -- Mongo Santamaria
16. Feelin" Alright -- Lulu
17. Soul Bowl -- Memphis Horns
18. Tuane -- Hammer
19. Take It Off--Part 2 -- Johnny Tolbert & De Thangs
20. Seeds Of Life -- Harlem River Drive featuring Eddie Palmieri & Jimmy Norman
21. Engine Number 9 -- Wilson Pickett

V.A._-_What_It_Is_2.part1.rar
V.A._-_What_It_Is_2.part2.rar

Disc 3
01. Hard Times -- Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters
02. What So Never The Dance--Pt. 1 & 2 -- Houseguests
03. Headless Heroes -- Eugene McDaniels
04. Spinning Wheel -- Wade Marcus
05. Bad Tune -- Earth, Wind & Fire
06. Mr. Cool -- Rasputin's Stash
07. Don't Cha Hear Me Callin" To Ya -- Junior Mance
08. Hang On In There -- The Stovall Sisters
09. Funky Nassau (Part 2) -- The Beginning Of The End
10. Whatever's Fair -- Mark Holder & The Positives
11. Face It -- Ed Robinson
12. Wah Wah Man -- Young-Holt Unlimited
13. Rock Steady (alternate mix) -- Aretha Franklin
14. Won't Nobody Listen -- Black Haze Express
15. Goin" Down -- Allen Toussaint
16. Suavecito -- Malo
17. You Gotta Know Whatcha Doin" -- Charles Wright
18. Mo Jo Hanna -- Tami Lynn
19. Ridin" Thumb -- King Curtis
20. Almendra -- Macondo
21. Nuki Suki -- Little Richard

V.A._-_What_It_Is_3.part1.rar
V.A._-_What_It_Is_3.part2.rar

Disc 4
01. Getting Uptown (To Get Down) -- United 8
02. 8 Days On The Road -- Howard Tate
03. Moon Shadow -- Labelle
04. Let It Crawl -- Society's Bag
05. Wanaoh -- Black Heat
06. If It Was Good Enough For Daddy -- Clarence Reid
07. Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky -- Claudia Lennear
08. Cosmic Sea -- The Mystic Moods
09. Kissing My Love -- Cold Blood
10. Flute Thing -- Seatrain
11. Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug (Push N" Shove) Part 2 -- The Meters
12. Funky To The Bone -- Freddi/Henchi & The Soul Setters
13. Try It Again -- Bobby Byrd
14. . Teasin" -- Cornell Dupree
15. (Everybody Wanna Get Rich) Rite Away -- Dr. John
16. Chicken Heads -- Oscar Brown Jr.
17. Rien Ne Va Plus -- Funk Factory
18. Cajun Moon -- Herbie Mann
19. Improve -- Darrow Fletcher
20. Riding High -- Faze-O
21. Four Play -- Fred Wesley & The Horny Horns
22. California Dreamin" -- Eddie Hazel

V.A._-_What_It_Is_4.part1.rar
V.A._-_What_It_Is_4.part2.rar


Preview of What It Is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves (1967-1977)

The fine people of Rhino put together another fine compilation with What It Is! From the Vaults of Atlantic, Atco & Warner Bros. Records, four discs of awesome soul and funk music. It's jammed back with all the obscure tunes that artists like the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, DJ Shadow, Tupac and Biggie sample from. I got the advance and haven't taken it out of my messenger bag or portable CD player since. I guess I've been going on soul and funk kick lately with my regular listening of Mr. Fine Wine on WFMU's Downtown Soulville show and following the progress of The Dansettes in the local music scene.

You could pretty much put any disc in and feel like a funk soul brother or sister. It's all up-tempo music that you can your groove on.

There's a few recognizable names in this mix. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a novice when it comes to 60s-70s funk/soul music, but it's not a necessity to know the history behind some of these bands to get down with it. I recognize Earth, Wind & Fire, The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band (because they were on the Jackie Brown soundtrack), The Commodores, Wilson Pickett, Curtis Mayfield, Aretha Franklin (a rare alternative mix to "Rock Steady"), Allen Toussaint, Charles Wright and Little Richard (performing a dirty sex song called "Nuki Suki").

@320 Enjoy !!!

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

The Stylistics - 1974 - Let's Put It All Together

Wow! They sure don't make music like this anymore. The Stylistics were an incredible group, and they released some of the most romantic (and heartbreaking) songs ever recorded.

"You Make Me Feel Brand New" is one of those slow jams that can make even the hardest of hearts believe in love, while
“Let’s put it all together” still sounds gorgeous after all these years.
Fans of the old school won't need my recommendation to get this disc, and younger listeners should definitely pick this one up.

Tracks

1. Let's Put It All Together

2. I Got A Letter

3. We Can Make It Happen Again

4. Keepin My Fingers Crossed

5. You Make Me Feel Brand New

6. I Got Time On My Hands

7. Doin' The Streets

8. I Take It Out On You

9. Love Is The Answer (vocal)

10. Love Is The Answer (instrumental)

After the Spinners and the O'Jays, the Stylistics were the leading Philly soul group produced by Thom Bell. During the early '70s, the band had 12 straight Top Ten hits, including "You Are Everything," "Betcha by Golly, Wow," "I'm Stone in Love With You," "Break Up to Make Up," and "You Make Me Feel Brand New." Of all their peers, the Stylistics were one of the smoothest and sweetest soul groups of their era. All of their hits were ballads, graced by the soaring falsetto of Russell Thompkins, Jr. and the lush yet graceful productions of Bell, which helped make the Stylistics one of the most successful soul groups of the first half of the '70s.

At their peak, the Stylistics were perhaps the most consistent hitmakers in Soul Music. They had the best producer in the business in Thom Bell, some of the most infectious material of the early 70s and perhaps the smoothest falsetto lead vocalist in Russell Thompkins, Jr.

Their finest album, the Stylistics climbed the "sweet" soul mountain in 1974. "You Make Me Feel Brand New" and the title cut were among the year's prime love/romance numbers, and Russell Tompkins, Jr. had nudged past Blue Magic's Ted Mills and the Delfonics' Hart brothers as the falsetto voice of choice among female fans. Their run on Avco was one of the greatest in modern soul annals.

A must for any soul music fun.

Download Link :
the_stylistics_-___lets_put_it_all_together.rar

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Norman Feels - 1974 - Where Or When

Genius work from Norman Feels -- a virtually unknown mellow soul singer from the 70s, but one who should have been huge! Norman sings with this sweetly crackling style that we loved the moment we first heard it -- a sound that's somewhere in territory covered by Marvin Gaye or Leroy Hutson at the time, but which has a personality and intimacy that's Norman's own. Arrangements on the set are by David Van De Pitte -- who manages to use full backings, but keep things nice and upfront never covering over Norman's voice, and allowing the singer to dominate the set with his mellow-grooving charm!

Track Listings
1. Shame
2. Movie
3. I'll Show You The Way
4. Till You Come Back To Me
5. You Made Me Feel Better
6. I'll Always Love Just You
7. You Can't Stop My Love
8. Where Or When
9. Johnny Get Your Gun
10. Mr. Wanna Be

@192

Enjoy !!!

where_or_when__just_sunshine___-_1974.rar

Monday, May 14, 2007

The O'Jays - 1973 - Ship Ahoy

An absolute masterpiece and a peak in 70's soul-music. "For The love Of Money" is a definite track of the period and a good example of how ambitious the architects behind the so-called Philly Sound actually were. The title track is a hair-rasising account of the ships that brought over the slaves from West Africa and it is definitely another carer high.

One of the most important albums of its era.

That's an undeniable Philly classic! The record was the third that the band cut for the Philly International label -- but it was really the first one that pushed their strong righteous soul agenda, sort of a mix of message-oriented lyrics and heavy soul (ala The Temptations), fused with the warmer more sophisticated styles of the Philly sound.

Tracks

1 Put Your Hands Together (4:06)
2 Ship Ahoy (9:39)
3 This Air I Breathe (3:52)
4 You Got Your Hooks in Me (5:34)
5 For the Love of Money (7:19)
6 Now That We Found Love (4:41)
7 Don't Call Me Brother (8:57)
8 People Keep Tellin' Me (4.00)

The Reviews

1
The "other" O'Jays album masterpiece, Ship Ahoy combined shattering message tracks and stunning love songs in a fashion matched only by Curtis Mayfield's finest material. From the album cover showing a slave ship to the memorable title song and incredible "For the Love of Money," Gamble and Huff addressed every social ill from envy to racism and greed. Eddie Levert's leads were consistently magnificent, as were the harmonies, production and arrangements. "Put Your Hands Together" and "You Got Your Hooks In Me" would be good album cuts, but on Ship Ahoy they were merely icing on the cake.

2

This album has always been a favorite of mine. Not only have i always dug&respected the O'Jays but this album really hits home.it deals with slavery.it's a very underrated classic.while other albums over the same time period get all kinds of respect&props this album gets forgotten way to often.& i have to wonder is it because of the honesty that it deals with?put your hands together is a very uptempo song.the O'Jays together with the great genius producer team of Gamble&Huff make this ground breaking classic.ship ahoy takes us all back to the slave ships.the air i breathe is very deep.what makes this album so tight is that the music is danceable but you still can really listen to the message.i always respect albums that are saying something&this one certainly does.

3

Probably the group's high point. Two more Top Ten hits: "Put Your Hands Together" is another Four Tops imitation, but "For The Love Of Money" is phenomenal funk, with compelling group vocals and an unforgettable phased bass line played by Anthony Jackson. Then there's the anthem "Now That We've Found Love," which was later recorded by Martha Reeves and still later became a smash hit for Heavy D. And though they're still copying Norm Whitfield's epic production style (in turn copied from Isaac Hayes), Gamble and Huff tackle an overlooked subject with the title track, a sound effect-laden meditation on the Middle Passage which brought Africans to the New World - a powerful if low-key mood piece that puts its ten-minute running time to good use. On the other hand, the nine minutes allotted to the bluesy "Don't Call Me Brother" is just excessive. Even the negligible tunes have nice touches: "People Keep Tellin' Me" has a propulsive bass line; the soulful "You Got Your Hooks In Me" is spiced with blues guitar licks. Mostly arranged by Bobby Martin; Norman Harris arranged two tracks and Lenny Pakula arranged the Latin-tinged "This Air I Breathe."

Download Link :

o_jays_-_1972_-_ship_ahoy.rar

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Tom Brock - 1974 - I Love You More & More

This is a trully amazing album.

Rare but strong 70's soul.

Produced by the Walrus of Love, Barry White....so it includes a lot beautiful orchestration with all the expected violins and such..but it includes also up-tempo funky soul.....

Tracks

1. Have A Nice Week End Baby

2. The Love We Share Is The Greatest Of Them All

3. there's nothing in this world that can stop me from loving you

4. I love You more & more

5. Naked as the day I was born

6. That's the Reason Why

7. Shake Me, Wake Me

8. If We Don't Make it, Nobody Can

The Reviews

1
Brilliant work from this long-lost Barry White protege! Tom Brock was one of the leading lights in Barry's stable of sweet mid 70s soul talents -- a great writer who contributed songs to the legendary Gloria Scott album, and a heck of a great mellow soul singer on his own -- with a style that's right up there with work by Leon Ware, Leroy Hutson, and some of our favorite 70s soul heroes! This album's the only one that Brock ever recorded -- a great blend of mellow soul tunes, ballads, and a few tracks that have a nicely kicking Barry White-styled funk sound to them. White produced and arranged with Gene Page -- and the whole album's great -- the kind of mellow soul treasure you'll play again and again and again over the years! Includes the massive "I Love You More & More".

2

I was really blown away by this album. I was introduced to Tom Brock by listening to Jay-Z's song 'Girls, Girls, Girls' on his 'Blueprint' album. I always loved the tune to the song and wondered who sung it first. I'm glad I've got the album because its truly brilliant. My favourite songs are 'There is Nothing in this World that Can Stop Me', 'Have A Nice Weekend Baby' and 'Shake me, Wake me' but all the songs are amazing and I can listen to the whole album straight through. Brock has an amazingly soulful voice and it shines whether he sings ballads or uptempo tracks.

Download Link :

tom_brock_-_i_love_you_more___more_1974_.rar

Thursday, May 10, 2007

The Natural Four - 1975 - Heaven Right Here On Earth

Some excellent soul/sweet soul songs are harbored on this, the reissue of the group's 2nd album "Heaven Right Here On Earth"! The album, released in 1975, out of Curtis Mayfield's "Curtom" studios, this vocal harmony group had the benefit of being produced by Leroy Hutson on this album.

An excellent, quality, harmony and soul lp

Tracks
1 Heaven Right Here (On Earth) (4:15)
2 Love's So Wonderful (3:25)
3 Count on Me (4:05)
4 Baby Come On (3:40)
5 What Do You Do? (2:53)
6 Give This Love a Try (3:43)
7 What's Happening Here? (4:32)
8 While You're Away (3:15)

Leroy Hutson, the first replacement for Curtis Mayfield in the Impressions, produced the Natural Four on Curtom for several promising releases, but four flops followed during 1975-1976: "Heaven Right Here on Earth," "Love's So Wonderful," "It's the Music," and "Free." Curtom released three LPs by the Natural Four: The Natural Four, Heaven Right Here on Earth, and Nightchaser. The Natural Four certainly deserved better; they had a crisp, smooth lead singer in Chris James, who had a tenor similar to the Spinners' Bobbie Smith but heavier and more melodious. The group had no writers of substance though, and were usually at the mercy of producers and songwriters. Still, the Natural Four voiced some of the sweetest harmony ever laid down.

The heavenly soul group that was one of Chicago's best harmony acts of the 70s! Like a lot of Curtom material from this period, this album experiments a little with an uptempo sound -- and it mixes that with some mellower tracks that are in the vein of their incredible work on the first LP.

Download Link :
natural_four_-_1975_-_heaven_right_here_on_earth.rar

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Chocolate Milk - 1975 - Action Speaks Louder Than Words

A killer album of 70s New Orleans funk!

A New Orleans funk and soul ensemble who enjoyed moderate success in the mid-'70s, Chocolate Milk recorded for RCA from 1975 to 1983. Chocolate Milk was lucky enough to have worked with Allen Toussaint who produced their albums for Sansu Enterprises.

Their best songs were up-tempo and/or light dance/novelty numbers such as "Action Speaks Louder Than Words" in 1975, "Girl Callin" in 1978, and "Blue Jeans" in 1981. All were Top 20 R&B hits.

Tracks

A1. Action Speaks Louder Than Words (3:24)
A2. Time Machine (4:32)
A3. My Mind Is Hazy (4:42)
A4. Confusion (4:12)
A5. Pretty Pimpin' Willie (4:00)

B1. Tin Man* (3:21)
B2. Chocolate Pleasure (3:36)
B3. People (2:54)
B4. Ain't Nothin' But a Thing (2:59)
B5. Out Among the Stars (5:35)

Chocolate Milk were an amazing funk group in their best moments -- and this album is certainly one of those moments -- a blistering batch of tracks that set a whole new style for the Crescent City scene, and which showed that producers Allen Toussaint and Marshall Sehorn could easily hit the hipper notes of the 70s! There's a tight rhythmic sound at the core of most numbers, but expanded instrumentation over the top -- bits of spacey electrics or jazzier electronics that never would have shown up in Sansu records of years back, but which show that with the right group, New Orleans funk could easily take on the hippest styles going down on both coasts! The title cut, "Action Speaks Louder Than Words", is a slow funk classic -- and the record also includes the incredible electronic-tinged "Time Machine", a perpetual favorite these days. Other nice tracks include "Pretty Pimpin' Willie" and "Ain't Nothin' But a Thing". Arguably the band's best album ever!

Download Link :
chocolate_milk_-__1975__action_speaks_louder_than_words.rar

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Shirley Brown - 1975 - Woman to Woman

This is one of those great albums which sound ever-green.

All the songs on the album are great. "Woman to Woman" is perhaps the best-known number on the album, but other memorable offerings include "It Ain't No Fun", "As Long As You Love Me," and "Passion". I truly believe that one has only to listen once to this album to become a Shirley Brown fan.

Another 70's pearl.

Woman to Woman is Shirley Brown's first album and finds the singer settling in nicely to a set of slow ballads, all soaked with an ache that the singer seems born to convey. The title track is the song most associated with the singer and one of the great love-triangle melodramas of the '70s, sparking a series of answer songs, the best of which is Barbara Mason's "From His Woman to You." While not a song cycle like Millie Jackson's Caught Up, which took the cheating subgenre to its extreme, Woman to Woman does create an insular feeling, wrapping the listener in a string of indirectly related emotional contexts. From the intimacy of "So Glad to Have You" to the more direct "Between You and Me" and all points between, Woman to Woman displays all the good and bad complexities that soul singers found at the dark end of the street.

Download Link :

shirley_brown_-_1975_-_woman_to_woman.rar

Saturday, May 5, 2007

V.A. - Searching For Soul

V.A. - Searching For Soul
(Rare & Classic Soul, Funk & Jazz from Michigan 1968 to 1980)

01. Give & Take - Tommy McGhee
02. I Stayed Away Too Long - Manuel B. Holcolm
03. Rap It Together - The Detroit Sex Machines
04. Alcohol Pt. I - Robert Jay
05. Farewell To The Welfare Pt. I - Wendell Harrison
06. Let's Get On Down - Black Aces Of Soul & The Eyes Of Ebony
07. Searching For Soul Pt. I - Jack Wade & The Soul Searchers
08. Be Mine Tonight - Lloyd Williams
09. Back To Funk - Robert Lowe
10. Deal With That (I Can) - Dee Edwards
11. Do It Right - El Riot
12. Why She Had To Go - Burning Desire
13. Trust Me - Aged In Harmony
14. Take Time Out - Wendell Harrison

Searching for Soul? You just hit the jackpot in this killer set that's filled with Michigan-recorded gems that go way beyond the shadows of Motown!

The sound here is madly tripped out throughout. A blend of funky 45 rhythms with more interesting influences from the spreading sprawl of the Michigan soul underground of the 60s and 70s. Groups who recorded not just in Detroit, but also other cities that were taking the motor city groove and turning it on in whole new ways.

Overall, there's an approach here that reminds us of Westbound Funk at its best. A blend of psychedelic influences, jazz phrasing, and deeper soul that echo nicely together in most of the collection's tracks. Filled with great tunes we'd never heard before.

More info Here

Enjoy !!!

Friday, May 4, 2007

Brainstorm - 1977 - Strormin'

A very rare Soul Disco Funk album. I always enjoy listen to it,
very difficult to find it. Never released on CD.
A must have.

Great stuff from this super, but frequently forgotten, modern soul funk disco group. The record's a nice mix of mellow tracks with more up tempo ones and in its best moments, the production by Jerry Peters hits a nice spacey edge. Includes the singles "Wake Up & Be Somebody" and "Loving You Is Really My Game"

Tracks

Side A
1. Lovin' Is Really My Game 4:59
2. Waiting For Someone 6:13
3. This Must Be Heaven 6:35
4. Easy Thangs 4:48

Side B
1. Prelude :51
2. Wake Up and Be Somebody 6:25
3. Stormin' 4:20
4. We Know A Place 4:22
5. Hangin' On 4:06

This nine-member R&B band's debut album release for Tabu features some upbeat, dance-oriented numbers. The energetic, soulful vocals of Belita Woods stand supreme. The two single releases were the socially uplifting "Wake Up and Be Somebody" and the incessantly groovin' "Lovin' Is Really My Game." The former has some Latin undertones on top of atypical R&B rhythms, and the latter is more disco-seasoned. The vocal prowess of Woods is admirable as she unleashes the lyric with her urgent vocal appeal. The expedient numbers clipped the R&B charts at number 48 and number 14, respectively. The irony of this project is that the most popular song on it was never released. "This Must Be Heaven" is a highly sought-after composition, as is this album. Set in a romantic, utopian mood, the ballad gracefully builds to a jovial climax. This song is a quiet storm classic.

A Detroit '70s funk band, Brainstorm recorded for Tabu in the late '70s. They started in 1976, and one of their members, Renell Gonsalves, was the son of longtime Ellington sax great Paul Gonsalves. They made a good inspirational/message track in 1977, "Wake Up and Be Somebody," but enjoyed their biggest hit later that year in "Lovin' Is Really My Game." It reached number 14 on the R&B charts.

This is my favorite album by this great soulfunk group. It starts with a really classic dancefloor hit "lovin' is really my game", a superb slow soul number "this must be heaven" is another of many highlights.

A forgotten gem of soul!

Download Link :

brainstorm_-_stormin___1977_.rar

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Ann Peebles - 1972 - Straight From The Heart

One of the greatest soul records of the 70's by a woman.

A diminutive singer with a powerful voice and an even stronger attitude, Ann Peebles was one of the artists who defined Willie Mitchell's legendary Memphis soul label Hi Records, along with Al Green and, later, O.V. Wright. Easily the best female singer in the Hi stable, Peebles ranked among the finest deep Southern soul singers of the decade.

Tracks

Side 1

Slipped, Tripped And Fell In Love

Trouble, Heartaches & Sadness

What You Laid On Me

How Strong Is A Woman

Somebody’s On Your Case

Side 2

I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home Tonight

I’ve Been There Before

I Pity The Fool

99 Pounds

I Take What I Want

The Reviews

1

A lean, tough set that was not only a triumph for Peebles, but illustrated how the Hi label had surpassed its crosstown Stax rival for quality Memphis soul in the early '70s. The guitars are spare, funky, and bluesy, the horn section punchy, and the material far earthier and down-home than the increasingly formulaic grooves at Stax. There were three modest R&B hits on the album ("Slipped, Tripped and Fell in Love," "I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home," "Somebody's on Your Case"), much of which was penned by Peebles or her husband Don Bryant. Peebles' vocals were convincingly biting, and she never, unlike many other singers of the era, tried too hard for her own good.

2

I was blessed with a copy of this. The album features the same Hodges Bros./Hi-Rhythm Section that was behind Al Green, various other Hi-Records recording artists, and even recently the indie act, Cat Power. Ann Peebles voice, while complemeted immensely by the Hodges Bros. tight and thick 70's funk/soul soundings, offers up an album as strong as any Al Green album released around the same period. Definitely a missing "must have" among the many exhaustive lists of "must haves," "Straight From the Heart" reveals the power of an awesome rhythm section when pushed and challenged by an accomplished singer. While this album is relatively short by today's album standards, it satisfies none the less.

Download Link :

ann_Peebles_-_1972_-__straight_from_the_heart.rar

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Caetano Veloso - 1969 - Caetano Veloso

Caetano Veloso - 1969 - Caetano Veloso

Track List :
1. Irene
2. Empty Boat
3. Marinheiro Só
4. Lost in the Paradise
5. Atrás Do Trio Elétrico
6. Os Argonautas
7. Carolina
8. Cambalache
9. Não Identificado
10. Chuvas de Verão
11. Acrilírico
12. Alfõmega

This second Caetano Veloso solo LP was recorded in June 1969, when Veloso and Gilberto Gil were behind the bars of the military dictatorship. The albums (Gil also recorded his own) were devised in part to provide them with a connection to the outside world through which authorities would be discouraged of attempting some violence against them. The voices were unsophisticatedly recorded with the sole backing of their own violões and a metronome, and the arrangements were added later in the studio, which was an indigenous and competent subversion of the basics of production, especially if you take into consideration the available technology at that time. The general tone of this album is coherent with the depressing moment Veloso and the rest of the country were going through. The English lyrics of his "The Empty Boat" have several strong images of desperation and sadness, and "Irene" has been largely misunderstood -- especially the verse "quero ver Irene rir" (I want to see Irene laughing). "Irene" was the "name" of a machine gun owned by Tenório Cavalcanti (a robber somewhat celebrated by leftists at the time). His fado "Os Argonautas" represents implicitly the aspiration that, as Portugal had got ridden of Salazar (in the precedent year by a stroke), Brazil could also got rid of its dictatorship. The superbly modern arrangements of Rogério Duprat and the songs "Não Identificado," "Acrilírico," and "Marcianita," on the other hand, contribute to the anarchic, chaotic, and psychedelic setting of Tropicalia in which make part the rustic fuzzed-out guitars. But maybe the most important thing here is the evident artistic sincerity felt throughout the album: it is when the listener feels himself as a voyeur, peeping through the artist's deepest emotions. ~Alvaro Neder, All Music Guide

This fantastic album continues down the musical path of the Tropicalism movement, begun on his first eponymous solo release and on the collective album "Tropicália - Ou Panis Et Circensis." After the passing of the institutional act n.5 at the end of 1968, artistic freedom in Brazil became very limited. The radical ideas presented in Tropicalism resulted in the arrest of Caetano and Gilberto Gil for allegedly disrespecting the Brazilian flag and national anthem. While in confinement in Salvador, Caetano recorded the guitar and vocal parts of this album and then sent them to São Paulo for Rogério Duprat to make the arrangements. Released in 1969, it is the only album to not have Caetano's picture (his characteristic head of hair was shaved by the military after the arrest), featuring instead his signature on an all-white cover. The tracks display a wide range of styles, from traditional Brazilian rhythms to tango to Beatles-inspired psychedelia. This album still sounds amazingly fresh today, and should appeal to fans of other genre-mixing acts such as Beck, Frank Zappa, David Byrne, and Ween. With the recent renewed interest in fellow Tropicalists like Os Mutantes and Tom Zé, hopefully we will eventually see Caetano's early Brazilian releases become more widely available here in the states. In the meantime, treat yourself to this disc and experience one of the most innovative Brazilian artists in perhaps his most creative period.~Reviewer:Michael Sean (Seattle, WA - US)