June 2007

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Melodiya Ensemble - 1974 - Labirinth [Melodiya LP C60 05277]

Rare soviet Jazz-funk/Jazz-rock album by Melodiya Ensemble & Russian jazz maestro George Garanian. Melodiya Ensemble was a background group of the USSR one and only record company "Melodiya record Label" (kinda Funk Brothers for Motown).

This LP was released only once in 1974 (there was no reissues, cause of the political reasons - that kind of music was not published in USSR) and now long sought after by collectors. Four long instrumentals. Mostly the tracks here are the jazz-rock / free-jazz improvisations - but every tune has a groovy segment with cool breaks. Last track - Fiery river is a killer.

Tracklisting:

A1 - Labirinth
A2 - Marina
B1 - Lenkoran
B2 - Fiery River

Melodiya Ensemble - Labirinth '1974 mp3 @320 kbps
http://rapidshare.com/Melodiya_Ensemble_-_Labirinth__MELODIYA_LP_1974.rar

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Sky - 1979 - Sky

A Surprise to all of you!!!!!!!!

This is probably the rarest album ever posted in this blog in the soul - funk area.

If you trust my taste till now, grab it and give me your opinion in the comments section.

I am sure you'll adore it!!

Tracks

A1. Boogie 7.05
A2. Little Darlin' 5.55
A3. Big Willie 5.54

B1. Love Came Alone 4.16
B2. Put some Love In What You Do 8.11
B3. Love Is Forever And For All 5.53

I discovered it, in my mp3 collection about a week ago and i've been listening to it every day since then. I was trying to find any information about the group or the album and i only obtained the followings :

"Nice boogie funky album recorded at chicago but only issued in Europe. This group is not the same as the band named "Skyy" and the guitarist is "Gary Thompson", maybe the guitarist of Funkadelic".

Not a word more than this, anywhere. So it is a mystery!

As we can see in the back cover it is a nine piece group with rhythm and horns section.

And what i can tell you, is tha it is Funky and Groovy with soul and disco feeling..........

If anyone can give us any information for the group or the members or the album please do.

I am glad to share it with you here @256
sky__1979__-_sky.rar

Candido - 1970 - Beautiful

Candido - 1970 - Beautiful

A1 I'm On My Way (3:08)
A2 Tic Tac Toe (4:00)
A3 Hey, Western Union Man (3:25)
A4 Serenade To A Savage (4:31)
A5 New World In The Morning (3:22)
B1 Beautiful (2:50)
B2 I Shouldn't Believe (3:21)
B3 Money Man (5:04)
B4 Ghana Spice (Part One) (3:05)
B5 Ghana Spice (Part Two) (4:19)

Bass [Fender] - Jerry Jemmott , Richard Davis (tracks: A4, B1 to B5)
Congas, Bongos - Candido
Drums - Herbie Lovelle
Guitar - David Spinozza
Piano, Organ - Frank Anderson
Producer, Arranged By - Joe Cain
Saxophone, Flute - Joe Grimm
Trombone - Alan Raph
Trumpet - Bernie Glow , Pat Russo

Featuring his usual touring band, conga master Candido released the funky Beautiful in 1970. His first release for Blue Note -- following his Solid State debut, Man of a Thousand Fingers -- is a dance-oriented project that features lots of go-go-style blues jams propelled along by Candido's high-energy percussion, Richard Davis' electric bass, and Frank Anderson's juicy organ backgrounds.
While jazz improvisation isn't really the point of the music, saxophonist Alan Ralph does get in some nice post-bop and modal-style choruses and the two-part "Ghana Spice" gives Candido a nice chance to stretch out.
Re-released in 2003 as part of Blue Note's Rare Groove Series.
~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide

Download Link @224
http://rapidshare.com/Candido.rar

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Tower Of Power - 1975 - In The Slot

1975's IN THE SLOT finds the Oakland supergroup Tower Of Power with a new voice in the person of Hubert Tubbs. While he doesn't have Lenny Williams' range of expression, Tubbs has a rich gusto that gives Tower Of Power's deeply soulful music a different tone from previous efforts. Overall, the sound of the group is heavier here, with an almost gospel flavor in some moments and a distinct Stevie Wonder quality from Chester Thompson's clavinet work. The band can still throw out some intensely funky grooves, too, like the opening "Just Enough and Too Much" or the incredibly tight "On the Serious Side." There are some groovy ballads here, as usual, with "Treat Me Like Your Man" and "The Soul of a Child" among the standouts. However, it's the Tower Of Power funk that drops in on the instrumental "Ebony Jam" and the raucous "Drop it in the Slot" that's the backbone of this sometimes overlooked gem.

Tracks

A1 Just Enough And Too Much (3:25)
A2 Treat Me Like Your Man (3:08)
A3 If I Play My Cards Right (3:12)
A4 As Surely As I Stand Here (5:15)
A5 Fanfare: Matanuska (0:16)
A6 On The Serious Side (2:51)
B1 Ebony Jam (6:44)
B2 You're So Wonderful, So Marvelous (3:51)
B3 Vuela Por Noche (1:34)
B4 Essence Of Innocence (0:36)
B5 The Soul Of A Child (4:58)
B6 Drop It In The Slot (3:13)

The Reviews

1
Years later, knowing something about music and hearing them again, I was knocked out at how complex and rich their tunes were. Composers Castillo and Kupka were (are) truly musical geniuses who were way ahead of their time. Who else in popular music was using those jazzy chords and licks and screaming horns? I can only think of a few - Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chicago, and Earth, Wind and Fire come to mind.

Sadly, TOP's marketing never matched their musical skill - they should have been a huge nationwide hit group as big as any of the above-named, but most of my East Coast friends have no clue about them (okay, they're mostly white people).

ANYWAY - I had thought "In the Slot" was an average TOP album, but re-listening to gems like the opener, "Just Enough and Too Much," and great ballads "As Surely As I Stand Here" and "The Soul of a Child," I want to put it up near my personal favorite, "Tower of Power" (the 3rd album). These guys just cook, and it's futile trying to describe them to those who haven't heard. I just stick the headphones on their head and let it rip.

2
Let's face it, the REAL reason why I gave this one 4 stars instead of five is because LENNY WILLIAMS IS NOT ON IT, LOL!!! Nothing against Hubert Tubbs or anything of the sort (he does a really admirable job here and certainly wound up having the longest tenure with the group as their frontman for that matter), but Lenny was truly one-of-a-kind and IMHO the ONLY lead vocalist the band ever needed in the first place. With that "minor" quibble out of the way, I must say there's no real letdown from start to finish on 'In The Slot'. The grooves are as tight and muscular as anything found in TOP's previous albums. The ballads are especially well-crafted (in particular Soul Of A Child, now one of my all-time favorites from them) and really show off a side of the band that sometimes gets overlooked amid their trademark horn-driven jams. Whether you're new to the band or a longtime fan, this album is as essential as any of their classic stuff they cut during their highly productive stint on the Warner Bros. label. This being the last studio effort they released for them (a critically-acclaimed live album would follow soon after to opt out of their contract with the label), they certainly went out guns blazin'!

3

This, the last Tower of Power studio album before the disco era 1976-1979, is truly a masterpiece. Including "Ebony Jam", "On The Serious Side", "Just Enough And Too Much" and the ultimate party-disco-funk tune "Drop It In The Slot", this album shows Tower of Power from their very best side... Chester Thompson's clavinet and Hammond-solos, Lenny Picket's tenor sax... the legendary rhythm and horn sections, and the great great Hubie Tubbs on lead vocals.

Download Link

tower_of_power__1975_-__in_the_slot.rar

Various - Arriva la Bomba (1998)

Compiled by Italian DJ Scanna this compilation of Italian funky, easy-listening organ grooves and R&B contains a treasure chest of gems. Kitsch covers--"Il Gato Nero /The In Crowd" by Brian Auger, Deep Purple's "Hush" by I Colours, Spencer Davis' "I'm A Man" covered as "Sono Un Uomo" by Patrick Samson and the Beach Boys' "Surfin' USA" recorded by I Quattro Di Lucca. Funky grooves are a plenty--Johnny Dorelli's "Arriva La Bomba", I Baronetti's "Soul Finger" and Giorgio Moroder's version of "Mah Nah Mah Nah" (this is a man who went on to greater things with Donna Summer. Also included is the extremely rare and much sought-after Ennio Morricone composition "Deep Down" from the soundtrack to Diabolik.

***

Eighteen tracks of groovy Italian lounge pop tracks with a very cool feel to them. Some covers of American pop songs like "123" or "Soul Finger" with Italian lyrics and the cuts are all performed by Italian artists from the late 60’s. The sound is raw, hard, though very groovy. Another big effort from Irma to dig up the best Italian classics from the past.

1) Johnni Dorelli - Arriva la Bomba
2) Brunetta - Baluba Shake
3) I Quattro di Lucca - Lo sai domani che faremo
4) Gloria Paul - Forse mai
5) Patrick Samson - Basta
6) Brian Auger & the Trinity - Il gatto nero
7) Gli Apostoli - Il Giro
8) I Colours - Hush
9) Patrick Samson Set - Sono un Uomo
10) Nino Ferrer - Il Baccalà
11) I Baronetti - Soul Finger
12) Giorgio Moroder - Mah nà mah nà
13) Rinaldo Ebasta - Faru faru
14) Christy - Deep Down
15) Alberto Anelli - Ottovolante
16) Josè Altafini - La Rosa
17) Meri Marabini - Sono Io la Tua donna
18) Natalino Otto - L’apaka

DOWNLOAD

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Zulema - 1972 - Zulema

I finally obtain this vinyl after a long time searching.
This is the debut LP for Sussex records in 1972. Very rare even to find it on mp3. Not to be confused with 1975 RCA album with only her name too.
Even All Music is wrong having 1975 songs in this album’s song list.

One of the most amazing singer/songwriters of the 1970s. Sometimes funky, sometimes sensitive. Zulema's distinct style of soul is always dramatic, passionate and unapologetically in-your-face. This lady doesn't play around! Like her lyrics, her voice is powerful, holding nothing back. At times, her full-blown delivery is similar to the style of Chaka Khan, yet Zulema's fire is distinctly her own.

Tracks

A1. I Leave It Up To You

A2. This Child Of Mine

A3. If I Loved You

A4. Maybe I'm Amazed

A5. If This World Was Mine

B1. Don't Be Afraid

B2. Why Do I Love You

B3. American Fruit, African Roots

B4. Ain't It Sad

B5. I Remember Mama

Like many Soul singers past and present, Zulema had a strong gospel base in her singing. She also was multitalented, playing piano and writing most of her own material. Before releasing this, her first solo album, Zulema was a member of the singing group Faith, Hope and Charity. The 10 songs contained within the album are a mix of ballads and up-tempo Soul songs. This Child of Mine stands out for its moody instrumentation. The versus of If This World Were Mine are in a similar vein, but the song overall is a ballad.

Zulema was a pioneer of sorts in that she was a '70s black R&B singer who wrote much of her own material, and was able to assume some of her own production chores. The records themselves were forerunners of urban contemporary music, occasionally reaching the lower parts of the R&B charts, Zulema's vocals betraying a strong Aretha Franklin influence.


Bio
Born Zulema Cusseaux in Tampa, FL, she was a member of the Lovelles in the late '60s and early '70s. A Van McCoy-produced Lovelles single ("So Much Love") became a Top 20 R&B hit in 1971. She was later a member of Faith Hope & Charity which began recording for Maxwell in 1970, produced by Van McCoy, who wrote their first three singles. Zulema left the group after the "Heavy Love" album, some sources say 1971 but it may have been in '72. Her first solo album was issued
on Sussex while the label was still issuing FHC singles which had been recorded before she left.

She assumed her highest profile with a series of LPs for RCA in the mid-'70s, reaching the middle of the R&B charts in 1975 with "Wanna Be Where You Are." Her recording career ended after an album for LeJoint in the late '70s.


Download Link @320
zulema__1972__-_zulema__sussex_.rar

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Caldera - 1977 - Sky Islands

Caldera - 1977 - Sky Islands

1. Sky Island (6:07)
2. Ancient Source (4:30)
3. It Used To Be (4:56)
4. Pegasus (4:56)
5. Carnavalito (4:51)
6. Seraphim (4:46)
7. Indigo Fire (1:06)
8. Triste (6:50)
9. Pescador (Fisherman) (1:04)

Caldera :
Steve Tavaglione: flute, alto falute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Jorge Strunz: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Mike "Baiano" Azeredo: congas, percussion
Carlos Vega: drums
Dean Cortez: electric bass
Hector Andrade: timbales, congas, percussion
Eduardo del Barrio: acoustic piano, electric piano, synthesizers, Moog, Roland, Oberheim Polyphonic

Guest Musicians :
Larry Dunn: synthesizer, solo on 2
Dianne Reeves: vocals, on 1,2
Chester Thompson: drums, on 4

Classic Latin-tinged fusion on Capitol -- recorded with a smooth soulful style that's right up there with the best of the Capitol Rare generation! Caldera mixes together nice jazzy saxes with guitars, percussion, and some great keyboard work by Eduardo Del Barrio -- all produced by the group with a sweet arching style that's very much in the Brazilian fusion style of the time.


Get it here :
http://rapidshare.com/Caldera_Sky_Islands.rar

Friday, June 22, 2007

Sam Cooke - Live At The Copa

Original Release Date: October 1964

I also agree with the opinion that Sam Cooke is amazing.

This album is a fine example of interaction of artist and audience...

Maybe this live performance should be a lesson for any singer-band..

I simply love it.... respect to Sam....

1. Opening Introduction
2. Best Things in Life Are Free
3. Bill Bailey
4. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
5. Frankie and Johnny
6. Medley: Try a Little Tenderness/(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
7. If I Had a Hammer
8. When I Fall in Love
9. Twistin' the Night Away
10. Band Introductions
11. This Little Light of Mine
12. Blowin' in the Wind
13. Tennessee Waltz

@256

Cooke__Sam_-_live_at_the_copa.rar

Enjoy

"St. Julian Samba Showdown" by J Thyme

Hallo All !!!

We usually don't make this kind of posts...
but this time it's about something really really good !!!

I'm talking about the great series of :
"St. Julian Samba Showdown by J Thyme"

No need to say something more...
Just go to Justin's blog and get those fine comps !!!

(And leave some feedback...
do not just download the albums without comments)

Let me say that this Samba
is very close to the U.S. Soul / Funk scene in many ways.
Why I present it. Fits nicely into the Black Pride & Back to Africa
movements of the late 60's & early 70's.
Serious look at this funky nation.

Justin

Thursday, June 21, 2007

The Meters - 1974 - Rejuvenation

Brilliantly funky!

This is the greatest album they cut for Warner Brothers -- and it's one of the few that ever really approaches the genius of their early work for Josie. The record features the incredible breakbeat cut "Just Kissed My Baby" -- worth the price of the album alone -- plus other nice ones like "Jungle Man", "Africa", "What'cha Say", and the perennial New Orleans favorite "Hey Pocky A Way". Also features the incredible funk jam "It Ain't No Use" -- a monster track that's nearly 12 minutes long!

Rolling Stone (12/11/03, p.128) - Ranked #138 in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time" - "They achieved a perfect balance of funk, rock and Dixie R&B on REJUVENATION gems..." Rolling Stone (8/3/00, p.58) -

4.5 stars out of 5 –

Tracks

1. People Say
2. Love Is For Me
3. Just Kissed My Baby
4. What'cha Say
5. Jungle Man
6. Hey Pocky A-Way
7. It Ain't No Use
8. Loving You Is On My Mind
9. Africa
10. People Say - (single version, bonus track)
11. Hey Pocky A-Way - (single version, bonus track)

The Reviews

1

Not to dis the contributions of other funk masters like Parliament/Funkadelic (who are brilliant in their own right), but NO ONE can make an ass shake like the Meters in their prime. And this is their prime. Actually, every one of their previous releases (which are largely all-instrumental with the exception of "Cabbage Alley") up to this one is a five-star title. After "Rejuvenation," things started to go downhill, even though subsequent albums contained their share of highlights. But, it never got any better than this title. Every song is a winner, and a few are stone-cold classics ("Hey Pocky Way," "Jungle Man," "Just Kissed My Baby"). I've put this on at many a party and have delighted at seeing individuals, seated alone, morose and lonesome in the corner, begin to twitch involuntarily and uncontrollably in response to the rhythms the Meters pour out (this last statement is NOT an exaggeration). This is music which makes people who are not in the know approach you asking, "Who IS this? I gotta get this!" Actually, you may be a bit more familiar with the Meters than you think as a new generation of hip-hop artists has sampled their tracks liberally. Great stuff! Get it, you will not regret it.

2

According to some, the Meters' earlier instrumental stuff is the one and only "classic Meters". I wholeheartedly disagree. This album is about as classic as it gets! It's just very different from their earlier style, so different in fact that you can hardly compare them.
This is a much more mature and sophisticated work, and without dissing the instrumentals in any way - I love them too! - I must say that this is my favorite Meters album. In fact it's my favorite album of all time!
If you are unfamiliar with the funky, funky Meters (possibly the funkiest band of all time? Just listen to the awesome Modeliste/Porter rhythm section!) - this is the place to start. An All-Time Classic from start to finish!

3

The title is a tip-off, as is the garish, blaxploitation-chic photo on the cover — Rejuvenation, the Meters' second album for Reprise, should be seen as a bit of a new beginning for the quintessential New Orleans funk group. It's not a clean beginning, since they were pointing in this direction on Cabbage Alley, but this is where their glistening, clear production, crisp performances, rock influences, and hard-edged funk coalesce into a sound distinct from their Josie recordings — not better, just different. As such, this is the definitive Reprise album from the Meters, not just because the material is stronger (which admittedly is true), but because the performances are continually inspired and the production is professional but hits at a gut level, resulting in a first-class funk album

Download Link @320

the_meters_-_rejuvenation_-__1974_.rar

Bonus tracks and Artwork

Meters_-_Bonus_tracks___covers.rar

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Kool & The Gang - 2 Albums

Formed as a jazz ensemble in the mid-'60s, Kool & the Gang became one of the most inspired and influential funk units during the '70s, and one of the most popular R&B groups of the '80s after their breakout hit "Celebration" in 1979. Just as funky as James Brown or Parliament (and sampled almost as frequently), Kool & the Gang relied on their jazz backgrounds and long friendship to form a tightly knit group with the interplay and improvisation of a jazz outfit, plus the energy and spark of a band with equal ties to soul, R&B, and funk.

Here’s the two best albums of their early period.

Kool & The Gang - 1973 Wild And Peaceful

Tracks

1 Funky Stuff (3:00)
2 More Funky Stuff (2:50)
3 Jungle Boogie (3:03)
4 Heaven at Once (5:01)
5 Hollywood Swinging (4:36)
6 This Is You, This Is Me (5:23)
7 Life Is What You Make It (3:53)
8 Wild and Peaceful (9:26)

Kool & the Gang's fourth studio album was the band's commercial breakout, landing three singles on the Top 40 charts. While two of those tunes, "Funky Stuff" and "Hollywood Swinging," may be best remembered by hardcore fans of old-school funk, the third was the immortal "Jungle Boogie." One of the canonical 1970s funk singles, up there with the best work by Parliament and Barry White, "Jungle Boogie" is a horn-led, jazz-tinged workout with an irresistible beat and a joyous party atmosphere. The rest of the album is nearly as good, culminating in the extended title track, an almost-10-minute hard-fusion jam that will surprise listeners who only know Kool & the Gang's later, more pop-oriented hits. WILD AND PEACEFUL is the balance point between the chart-savvy "Ladies Night" era and Kool & the Gang's wilder early days.

Download Link :

kool___the_gang_1973_-__wild_and_peaceful.rar

Kool & The Gang - 1975 - Spirit Of The Boogie

Tracks

1 Spirit of the Boogie (4:52)
2 Ride the Rhythm (2:55)
3 Jungle Jazz (4:43)
4 Sunshine and Love (3:46)
5 Ancestral Ceremony (3:39)
6 Mother Earth (5:38)
7 Winter Sadness (5:04)
8 Caribbean Festival (9:26)

Discussing Kool & the Gang in the early '70s, James Brown enthused, "They're the second-baddest out there...They make such bad records that you got to be careful when you play a new tape on the way home from the record store. Their groove is so strong you could wreck." And that really says it all. Kool & the Gang were funk's kings in 1975, and Spirit of the Boogie was the finest album they ever recorded — the staggering climax of their development thus far. The record-buying public thought so too — the album gave the band their first Top Five R&B hit. Spirit of the Boogie may have been first and foremost a funk masterpiece, but it was also so much more. From the African art on the foldout sleeve to the spiritual and musical purity of many of the songs, this album not only bound the band's reverence for their roots to a blistering, street-smart funk, but also demonstrated a keen awareness of their own role in their musical odyssey. "Ancestral Ceremony" pays homage by quoting from Kool's earlier songs, while "Jungle Jazz" tracks back to the original pounding jams that imbibed 1973's "Jungle Boogie." The title track, meanwhile, is quintessential Kool & the Gang — fiery funk which is kept in check by rhythm and chant. It gave the band a springtime number one on the R&B charts — their third. This is a phenomenal set, a superlative album. And because the grooves are so strong, it's easy to forgive weak moments — most especially the mawkish "Sunshine and Love." Kool & the Gang were outstanding during this period, before they caught the disco bug. Spirit of the Boogie remains a proud achievement.

Download Link :

Kool___the_Gang_-__1975__spirit_of_the_boogie.rar

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Sam Cooke - Portrait Of A Legend 1951 - 1964

In my opinion, he is the best soul artist of the first period of soul.

Otis, Marvin and Stevie wouldn't be the same without him.

Sam Cooke was the most important soul singer in history — he was also the inventor of soul music, and its most popular and beloved performer in both the black and white communities. Equally important, he was among the first modern black performers and composers to attend to the business side of the music business, and founded both a record label and a publishing company as an extension of his careers as a singer and composer (All Music)

The Reviews

1
It took over 30 years, but there is finally an Sam Cooke anthology that presents a well rounded potrait of this amazing artist's many talents. "Potrait of a Legend" trumps all of it's predecessors by including a great deal of Sam's lesser known work that proves him to be able to "testify" with best singers of his generation including Otis Redding, Ray Charles, and James Brown. Previous anthologies were competent collections of Sam Cooke "lite", his lilting crossover hits with RCA hits. The crossover Cooke was one of the first black entertainers to acheive huge success in selling records in the previous impenetrable white pop music market in the early sixties. Cooke's genius was that he understood the type of music needed to break through and acheive crossover success. The calyso influenced rythyms of his early hits and the winesome quality of his voice was his port of entry into mainstream. These irresistable songs like "Chain Gang", "You Send Me" and "Cupid" are flat-out American classics that paved the way for a generation of country boy singers who embraced the raw testimonial style of blues and gospel singers.

2
Some 46 years after his first pop hit, and 39 years after his death, comes only the second attempt at a comprehensive Sam Cooke collection. Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 eclipses RCA's early-'80s The Man and His Music, going it better in running time but losing some important recordings — "That's Heaven to Me" and "Soothe Me," arguably one of Cooke's most important songs — in the process of summing up his career. From 1951's Soul Stirrers' gospel classic "Touch the Hem of His Garment" through to 1964's "A Change Is Gonna Come" and "Shake," we get highlights of Cooke's career presented in state-of-the-art digital audio; superior in every way possible to the audio quality of The Man and His Music. What's more, this is a hybrid disc with SACD capability, and the sound on that layer is almost as much of a jump above the quality on the CD layer as this remastering is from the old The Man and His Music disc; and either the standard CD or the SACD playback makes that 1980s-issued compilation sound faint and anemic. There's also annotation here — which was totally lacking on the earlier CD — by Peter Guralnick, which delves very effectively into the background of each song. And the producers have taken the trouble to be a little inventive in the programming — it would have been easy enough to follow a strict chronological approach, but instead the disc opens and closes with tracks that reveal Cooke's gospel roots, which is pretty much where his music started and where it ended up, bookending his first hit with songs from his first session ever.

Download Links @320
Sam_cooke_-_portrait_of_a_legend_1951_-_1964_part_1.rar
Sam_cooke_-_portrait_of_a_legend_1951-1964_part_2.rar

Friday, June 15, 2007

Billy Paul - 1972 - 360 Degrees of Billy Paul

1972 was a very important year for Philadelphia International Records. One, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff(The Deans and Founders of the Philly Sound) signed the major distribution deal with CBS Records. Two, this album by Billy Paul was one of the records that took them to another level. Me and Mrs Jones was in worldwide smash breaking the charts for weeks. MFSB and Bobby Eli make the record and what sets the Philly Sound apart from Motown, Stax, and the New Orleans music movement. The follow-up single "Am I Black Enough for You" didn't make the waves like "Me and Mrs. Jones", but this album is a must have if your an avid Sound Of Philly fan.

Tracks

A1 Brown Baby
A2 I'm Just a Prisoner
A3 It's Too Late
A4 Me & Mrs. Jones
B1 Am I Black Enough for You
B2 Let's Stay Together
B3 Your Song
B4 I'm Gonna Make It This Time

Paul's first album for Philadelphia International was straight club jazz -- sales were slow. This time, Gamble Huff gave Paul material strong enough to make his sophomore release a viable commercial entity. "Brown Baby" speaks of people of color making their parents and others proud, and the message is positive and correct. "I'm Just a Prisoner" is real but would have been better served without the string section. It's a stark depiction of a man who has served five years and is contemplating his future. It is about the unsettling fact that he's just a prisoner. Its chilling chorus tells it all -- "The cell is cold as hell/you'll never get use to the smell/my bed is hard as wood/I got to fight to keep my manhood." The riveting saga doesn't just end -- the fade is lengthy and features a dejected Paul woefully mourning about the conditions, the situation, and the turmoil of prison life. He sounds believable and frustrated belting "Me Mrs. Jones," a classic that many relate to, and those who don't have no problem being down with the passionate singing and clawing lyrics describing the unapologetic infidelity. His "It's Too Late" is a fine rendition of Carole King's classic. You might not recognize "Let's Stay Together," popularized by Al Green. Paul does it MOR/jazz style, with a lot of improvising before crooning the original lyrics. It shows versatility, but people who bought "Jones" probably didn't appreciate it. A version of Elton John's "Your Song" introduced the Britisher to fans of soul music. Vince Montana's magical vibes punctuate the rhythm, which turns into a lightweight gospel revival. "Am I Black Enough for You" fit in with the times of overt black consciousness, a social message moved along by a perky bongo and clavinet-dominated beat and well-spaced, brassy horn hits. A too staid "I'm Gonna Make It This Time," co-written by Bunny Sigler, marked Paul's second adventure in urban, club jazz on 360 Degrees; this one has bite, and Paul sings it with fire.

Download Link @224 with covers
billy_paul_-_1972_-_360_degrees_of.rar

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Gwen McCrae - 1975 - Rockin' Chair

One of Gwen McCrae's best-ever albums, with a mix of raw soul and smoother Miami production that captures Gwen's talents perfectly. Gwen's voice is perfect on the record, and it works extremely well with the deep soulful arrangements by Mike Lewis. Lots of great keyboards from Latimore, guitar from Little Beaver, and production by Steve Alaimo and Willie Clarke, for a classic TK sound. Features the classic cut "90% Of Me" -- sampled to huge fame over the years. Other tracks include the big hit "Rockin' Chair", plus "It Keeps On Raining".

Tracks
1. Rockin' Chair
2. Move Me Baby
3. He Keeps Something Groovy Going On
4. Let Them Talk
5. For Your Love
6. It's Worth The Hurt
7. 90% Of Me Is You
8. It Keeps On Raining
9. He Don't Ever Lose His Groove

The Reviews

1
Sweet beautiful soul from one of the all-time greats! Gwen's Rockin Chair album sold more copies than anyone could ever imagine -- and it not only includes the great title hit, but also the monster sample cut '90% of Me'. Other nice ones are 'He Don't Ever Lose His Groove', 'He Keeps Something Groovy Going On', 'Move Me Baby', and 'It's Worth The Hurt'. The record's got a good mix of deep southern soul tracks and funkier modern soul numbers, and Gwen's voice is right on the money on just about every cut.

2
This album marked the long-playing debut of Gwen McCrae, a sultry voiced singer who remains popular with soul music cultists today. Rockin' Chair collects the material that she had been recording for the Cat label, a subsidiary of disco giant TK Records. Despite the fact that it was not technically conceived as an album, all the material on Rockin' Chair hangs together nicely: everything here was produced by Miami soul stalwart Steve Alaimo, who strikes an effective balance between silky soul and gospel-tinged funk on all the tracks. The obvious standout is the title tune, a mid-paced invitation to romance that frames McCrae's seductive vocal with stately horns and churning, infectious percussion. The end result is downright hypnotic and it deservedly became a massive hit on both the R&B and pop charts during 1975. None of the remaining tracks are as instantly infectious as the title hit, but they all make for fine listening: "Move Me Baby" is a gently-loping funk jam built on some silky keyboard riffs, and "Your Love Is Worse Than a Cold Love" is a convincing declaration of frustrated passion that gets a gutsy, gospel-tinged treatment from McCrae. Trivia fans will also want to take note that Harry Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band lent a hand on the production of "Move Me Baby." However, the album's unsung gem is "90% Of Me Is You": this hypnotic tune is a grand showcase for McCrae's emotive skills, allowing her to unfold a tale of emotional enslavement over a sleek backing track that balances yearning strings with a moody funk groove. All in all, Rockin' Chair is an exciting collection that will appeal to any fans of 1970s soul.

Download Link :
gwen_mccrae_-_rockin__chair__cat_1975_.rar

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Joe Bataan - 1968 - Riot!

Riot!! …definately a name that signifies the times. Joe Bataan was quoted as saying ‘teenage blacks and Puerto Ricans born in ghettos have no say about the poverty and oppression we are born into’. This record is his attempt to change that… and it did. It was the best selling latin record when it came out (1968). Mr. Latin Soul himself was in and out of prison and supposedly learned how to be a musician and bandleader while doing time. It’s no wonder he would come out with a record like this, then continue to produce a slew of records on a label called Ghetto Records (if anyone has any of these please hit me up), then start a lable of his own called Salsoul of which he did one of the first charted hip hop songs in history called ‘rap-o-clap-o’, not to mention making a huge impact in the disco world. This is the one that started it all…

for this and more revolucionary music, check out...

¿Revolucion, No?
http://revolucionno.com

-Brant Lee

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Betty Wright - 1974 - Danger High Voltage

Danger! Hi-Voltage is an apt title for Betty Wright's finest hour. It contains three R&B hits — "Shoorah! Shoorah!," "Where Is the Love," and "Tonight Is the Night" — but also features an array of other tasty tracks, including the heart-tugging "That's When I'll Stop Loving You."

It is included in Mojo's Magazine 100 greatest soul albums of all time.

Tracks

A1 Everybody Was Rockin' (3:48)
A2 Love Don't Grow On A Love Tree (3:01)
A3 Show You Girl (2:38)
A4 Come On Up (2:59)
A5 Shoorah! Shoorah! (2:55)
B1 Where Is The Love (4:55)
B2 That's When I'll Stop Loving You (3:23)
B3 Don't Thank Me Baby, Thank Yourself (2:54)
B4 Tonight Is The Night (4:00)


"Danger High Voltage" is Betty Wright's best album. Released as it was during the heyday of disco, it struggles against sounding dated, but it mostly shines. Betty's voice is one of the most solid of the period's female R&B singers, equally at home with tender ballads and surging dance tunes. The Toussaint-penned "Shoorah shoorah" is worth the price of admission, but there really isn't an unlistenable tune on the album.

Download Link :
betty_wright_-_1974__-_danger_high_voltage.rar

Monday, June 11, 2007

V.A. - The First Days Of Funk vols 1 & 2

V.A. - The First Days Of Funk vol. 1

01 Papa Will - The Olympics
02 What It Is - Randolph Brothers
03 What It Is Part Two - Randolph Brothers
04 Daybreak - Sam & The Sparks
05 Funny Thing - Willie Joe
06 Vargo - New Editions
07 Baby Wachadoin To Me - Walter Davis
08 Mans Best Friend - Bobby Husband
09 Main Squeeze - Johnny Thompson
10 Let's Do It Again - Billy Sha Rae
11 Funky - ST4
12 Ghetto Man - Tony Clarke
13 16 Miles Of Plastic Ghetto - Sons Of Slum
14 Soul Food - Dossie Terry
15 Let Him Fix It - Erskine
16 Universal Rhythm - Rhythm Rebellion
17 I'm A Lover Not A Fighter - Michael Jay Coleman
18 Sex Appeal - Lee Rogers
19 Nurse Your Nerves - Chain Reaction
20 Hey There Jim - Jim Horne
21 Let's Live - James Rivers
22 Mr Kidneys - OFS Limited
23 Just Do Your Thing - Big Daddy Rucker
24 Cut Me In - Chosen Few
25 Funky March - Pound Of Flesh
26 Right On - Masters Of Soul
27 I Get Hot - Jonah Ellis
28 Girl What Have You Done? - Kings Of Soul
29 Days Got Bright - McKinley Mitchell
30 Party People - Chet Ivey
31 Grief Sorrow Pain - Hetti Loyd
32 Use That Good Thing - Maurice & Mac
33 Tend To Your Business - News
34 - I'm Gonna Love You - Fred & The Ovations
35 All I Want Is Loving You - Frankie Seay
36 Jackie Thompson - Got To Right The Wrongs - Jackie Thompson
37 Moving On - The Dynamic Soul Machine
38 Take A Little Give A Lot - Eli The Prophet
39 Get On Down - Fred Moss
40 Wig - Lorenzo Holden

Notes
This two-CD set is the first volume in a series that collects obscure funk tracks from the mid-1970s. Artists on this release include Sam and the Sparks, Willie Joe, Chosen Few, Pound of Flesh, Masters of Soul, Jonah Ellis, and more. Forty tracks in all.

"The First Days Of Funk V.1" features rare and obscure funk, long outta circulation tracks from circa 1975-1978. Each volume is a two CD set includes 40 tracks in total with over 110 minutes of music. All killer from artists Olympics Randolph Brothers, Sam & The Sparks, Willie Joe, Chosen Few, Pound Of Flesh, Masters Of Soul, Jonah Ellis, Kings Of Soul, McKinley Mitchell, Chet Ivey, Hetti Loyd plus more.

Part 1 @320
Part 2 @320
Part 3 @320


V.A. - The First Days Of Funk vol. 2

01 Funky Down Easy - Jerry McCain
02 Cool With A Groove - Pearl Reeves
03 Think People - Vernon Garrett
04 Groovin To The Music - Projections
05 Shake Your Pants - Groove Street Band
06 Funafied - Transitional Funk Company
07 Rub Your Stub
08 Do Your Own Thing - Harvey Clark
09 Bang Dang In Time - Woody Guenther
10 Shakin In My Boots - Herb Day
11 Elbow - Cal Jenkins
12 Her Mama Wont Leave Us Alone - Eddie James
13 Soulful Illusion - Soulful Illusion
14 Music Makes You Move - Funkhouse Express
15 Snake Eyes - Jackson Highway
16 Wig - Lorenzo Holden
17 Hardway - Aldora Britton
18 Get On Down - Black Love
19 Boodi Shakes Money - Jade Jade
20 Spoons - Burning Cities
21 Disco Unusual - North By Northwest
22 Obeah Women - Priscilla Rollins
23 Time Study - Slinky Street Band
24 Road Man - Spontaneous Simplicity
25 Evasive Action - Onyx
26 Mighty Do Fly - Presidents
27 Dancin' Man - Ernie K-Doe
28 Provin' Time - Johnny Copeland
29 Appetite - The Burps
30 Space Streaker - Ironing Board Sam
31 Put The Music On Funk - Variations
32 Last Of The Corruptors - Sign Of The Vibration
33 Kount Funkular - Conspiracy
34 Superfunky
35 Hey Party - Dave Crawford
36 Tunnel Rat - Aim
37 Space Nigga - Rodney Trotter
38 Get Yourself Together - Jerry Combs
39 Little Jimmy Jones - Ronnie Fray
40 Pamla Lamour - Gregory Washington

Notes
THE FIRST DAYS OF FUNK VOLUME TWO is a collection of funk rarities by Spontaneous Simplicity, Transitional Funk Company and others.

"The First Days Of Funk V.2" features artists such as Spontaneous Simplicity, Gentle Persuatiuon, Transitional Funk Company, Dave Crawford, Eddie James, Vernon Garrett, Lorenzo Holden, Supreme Creme, Rodney Trotter's Egypt, Groove Street Band plus more. Comes in deluxe cardbord packaging.

Part 1 @320
Part 2 @320
Part 3 @320

Enjoy !!!
And if You Like it...Buy it !!!

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Slave - 2 albums

Slave is one of The Baddest Bands from the 70's.I Miss Instrumentation Like You Get on SLide. where has The FUNK Gone? where has a Artist Learning their Instrument Gone? where is The Music Adventure? Hearing these Grooves take me back when Making Great Jams & Grooves were More Important What Happen too the Soul & Groove?

Slave - 1977 - Slave

Tracks
A1 Slide (6:47)
A2 Screw Your Wig On Tite (5:29)
A3 Party Hardy (3:42)
A4 Son Of Slide (5:29)
B1You And Me (6:41)
B2 Love Me (4:39)
B3 The Happiest Days (5:17)
B4 Separated (5:30)

Far and away the band's best record! The album's got a fresh funk sound that takes an earlier 70s ensemble style and slicks it down a bit -- but thanks to some great drum work by Tim Dozier (Steve Arrington had yet to join the band), and a subtle riffing bass style by Mark Adams, the band had a groove that was quite revolutionary, and which set them apart from the legions of funk imitators that were springing up at the end of the 70s. The high points of the album is the band's seminal "Slide", which is followed up with "Son Of Slide" -- and both tracks have these amazing dark repetitive grooves that have really stood the test of time (thanks in part to a famous sample by Tribe Called Quest!)

Download Link :

Slave_-__slave_1977.rar

Slave - 1979 - Just A Touch Of Love

Tracks
A1 Just A Touch Of Love (6:24)
A2 Are You Ready For Love? (5:58)
A3 Funky Lady (Foxy Lady) (4:33)
B1 Roots (5:00)
B2 Painted Pictures (0:26)

B3 Thank You (5:35)

B4 Shine (4:58)
B5 Warning (3:20)

Tight bass-heavy funk from Slave - still working here in that excellent compressed style that was their unique contribution to soul music. There's probably a bit more of a vocal-heavy sound here than on other albums, but the groove's still strong, and is reaching a bit towards an 80s club sound.

In 1977, Slave's self-titled debut album (which boasted the number one R&B smash "Slide") earned the Dayton outfit a reputation for playing sweaty, aggressive, in-your-face funk. But when Slave provided its fourth album, Just a Touch of Love, in 1979, it was clear that the Midwesterners were determined to soften their approach. "Funky Lady (Foxy Lady)," "Roots," and the hit title song (all of which boast Steve Arrington on lead vocals) are definitely the work of a smoother, sleeker Slave — and yet, the band still had plenty of grit. This excellent album left no doubt that Slave was still a funk band, although it wasn't as in-your-face as the Slave that gave listeners "Slide" and "Screw Your Wig on Tite" in 1977. Arrington, who first recorded with Slave on 1978's The Concept, played a major role in its evolution — and two other lead vocalists who make important contributions to this LP are Starleana Young and Curt Jones (both of who went on to form Aurra, the group that hit big with "Are You Single" in 1981). Arrington, Young, and Jones weren't original members of Slave, but all of them proved valuable when Slave opted to embrace a smoother style of funk. And all of them do their part to make Just a Touch of Love one of Slave's finest albums.

Download Link :
Slave_-_1979__just_a_touch_of_love.rar

slave_-_B5_-_08_-__warning.rar

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Dionne Warwick - 1967 - The Windows Of The World

Can 60s pop get any better than this? It's hard to think so - given the near-perfect sound of this album, and its unique blend of soul, vocal, and mainstream modes.
It is easier to define Dionne Warwick by what she isn't rather than what she is.
Burt Bacharach and Hal David were always there for her.

Everyone of us has sang “ I say a little player” “I just don’t know what to do with myself” “Anyone who had a heart” and so many classic songs.

Amazing artist

Tracks

A1 I Say a Little Prayer 3:04
A2 Walk Little Dolly 3:27
A3 The Beginning of Loneliness 3:30
A4 Another Night 2:34
A5 The Windows of the World 3:23
B1 (There's) Always Something There to Remind Me 2:59
B2 Somewhere 4:23
B3 You're Gonna Hear From Me 4:29
B4 Love 2:52
B5 What's Good About Good-Bye 2:41

Dionne Warwick followed up the lukewarm reception for On Stage and in the Movies (1967) with her ninth long player for Scepter Records in less than four years. Conversely, Windows of the World (1967) would garner a favorable impression thanks in part to "Say a Little Prayer" and the hauntingly poignant and politically-tinged title song, "Windows of the World." Both are timeless illustrations of the pop perfection found in Warwick's interpretations of Burt Bacharach and Hal David classics. The same is true of "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me," "The Beginning of Loneliness" and the irresistibly groovy "Another Night," all of which were minor hits. The team also provided the secondary (read: filler) "Walk Little Dolly," sporting a gliding waltz arrangement that is custom-fit to Warwick's lilting and expressive vocal. As on earlier collections, she expands beyond the Bacharach/David songbook on a few show tunes, forecasting her impending success on André Previn's "(Theme From) Valley of the Dolls." Another Previn composition, "You're Gonna Hear from Me" -- from Inside Daisy Clover -- is included here in an impressive Peter Matz score. Warwick's deep gospel roots are drawn upon as she unleashes one of the most striking performances of her career. Matz gives West Side Story's "Somewhere" a jazzy and fully orchestrated reading that takes advantage of Warwick's innate timing and commanding pipes -- especially when holding that final "...someway..." that lasts over ten seconds. On the lighter side, O.B. Massengill and Warwick collaborated on the camped up rendition of Nat King Cole and Bert Kaempfert's "Love." [Windows of the World/Valley of the Dolls (2004) is available as a CD two-fer boasting an additional three selections. "Taking a Chance on Love" is actually referred to on the original album jacket, but pulled from the running order at some point. The Italian-sung "Dedicato All Amore" was Warwick's entry in the 1967 San Remo Song Festival, while "Lo Volce Di Silenzio" had been recorded in English for Valley of the Dolls under the name "Silent Voices."

Download link

Dionne_1967.rar

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

James Brown - 1974 - Hell

This is JB at his badaassssss funky best! This double album is brilliant from start to finish. Side 1 is the funky stuff to dance to. Side 2 is the more chilled out ballad side. Side 3 is yet mo' funky stuff. Side 4 is devoted to the brilliant 14 minute rap "Papa Don't Take No Mess". I never get bored of this album!

Of JB's wildest album, with a crazy cover that shows him running away from the devil, and great gatefold inner photo with him standing amidst a bunch of declarations of "Hell". The record was originally a double album filled with lots of different styles from James' funky bag.

Tracks

A1 Coldblooded 4:46
A2 Hell 5:07
A3 My Thang 4:19
A4 Sayin and Doin' It 3:08
A5 Please, Please, Please 4:18
B1 When the Saints Go Marching In 2:41
B2 These Foolish Things Remind Me of You 3:15
B3 Stormy Monday 3:17
B4 A Man Has to Go Back to the Crossroads Before He Finds Himself 2:57
B5 Sometime 4:23
C1 I Can't Stand It 8:08
C2 Lost Someone 3:41
C3 Don't Tell a Lie About Me and I Won't Tell the Truth About You 5:12
D1 Papa Don't Take No Mess 13:51

Brown's early-'70s run of classic singles and good-to-great albums is still impressive. Hell was the double album released a year after the gold selling The Payback. To some, the title might put this effort in the realm of kitsch, but in many ways Hell was one of Brown's strongest albums. The album was the pinnacle of his work as the Minister of the Super New New Heavy Funk. From the tough and nimble Latin rhythms of "Coldblooded," and "Sayin' It and Doin' It" to the title track, all are prime pre-disco Brown. "My Thang" is probably as hard and unrelenting as he got without spontaneously combusting. The biggest surprise of Hell is that no matter how odd the song choices seemed, practically everything worked, excluding a few key songs of course. Both "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "Stormy Monday" don't belong in James Brown's catalogue, let alone the same album. Ballad-wise, Brown fares better. "These Foolish Things Remind Me of You" has him getting all warm and fuzzy as he inexplicably throws in an "I'm hurt, I'm hurt" for good measure. That song, as well as the weepers "A Man Has to Go to the Cross Road Before He Finds Himself" and "Sometime," were produced by David Matthews who could always get good ragged yet poised vocals from Brown. Although Brown did roll snake eyes on all of side three, he did leave Hell on a good note. "Papa Don't Take No Mess" is laid-back, funky jazz that's worth each of its 13-plus minutes.

This album arrived after "Payback" had shown that JB had lost none of his powers, despite the death of his son, troubles with the IRS and a commercial slump that had started when he lost much of his US crossover audience in the wake of "Say it Loud...".

Hell is a less cohesive album then Payback, (perhaps because the latter was conceived as a soundtrack) containing as it does covers, re-recordings and re-interpretations, as well as new tracks. Because of this, we do see sides of JB that had not been glimpsed for a while (ever?) - the latin version of "Please Please Please" and the similarly flavoured "Stormy Monday", the laid back groove on "These Foolish Things" and "A Man Has To Go Back..." as well as the Funk we know and love.

Download link
james_brown_-_1975___hell.rar

Monday, June 4, 2007

Minnie Riperton - 1970 - Come To My Garden

This is the collaboration of two great talents who are unfortunately no longer with us: Minnie and Charles Stepney. Stepney's gorgeous production of jazzy bossanova and lush strings are a perfect fit for Minnie's angelic voice. The songs are at once romantic, dramatic, engaging, relaxing, joyful, and sweetly sad...similar to Bacharach, but different. The best way I can describe this sound is progressive easy listening -- but even that's unfair

This is music that is a far cry from Minnie's later hit-driven work. It is music to come home to relax to. It is music to chill out to with a special one. It is music to challenge your way of thinking (the trippy lyrics).

"Come To My Garden" is a timeless piece of work.

Tracks

1 Fleur (3:18)
2 Completeness (3:34)
3 Come to My Garden (3:21)
4 Memory Band (4:09)
5 Rainy Day in Centerville (5:24)
6 Close Your Eyes and Remember (3:43)
7 Oh, by the Way (3:05)
8 Expecting (3:56)
9 Only When I'm Dreaming (3:29)
10 Whenever, Wherever (3:34)

The Reviews

1
Mindblowing work from Minnie Riperton -- her first solo album, cut at the end of the 60s, after a number of years of work with the group Rotary Connection. The album builds off the now famous sound of Rotary Connection -- but takes it to the next level, with arch-baroque production by the great Charles Stepney -- who couches Minnie's fantastic vocals in a suite of shimmering soulful tracks that mix strings, horns, jazzy piano, and slight touches of bouncing rhythms. The overall sound is impossible to describe -- sort of a cross between Burt Bacharach on A&M, Scott Walker's 3rd album, and the sound of Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On. The album's pure genius all the way through -- one of the highlights of the Chicago scene of the 60s -- and proof that Riperton, Stepney, and crew were shooting for the outer limits of soul music!

2
This record is really truly an unbelievable masterpiece....she sounds so so so so pretty on this Album (as though all of her albums) but this one shines like crystal.... amazing vocal acrobats ,and the most beautiful part about it , she was a black woman with incredible talent and remarkable ability .... she brought the opera + r&B + soul = Minnie Riperton ...... i love all of her music but my songs that I have to repeat at least 2 times are definitly "Close You're Eyes And Remember" , "Completeness" , "Les Fleur ( The Flower )" , "Rainy Day In Centreville" .... the closing of the song "Close You're Eyes & Remember" the way she turns her octaves at the end when her backup singers are harmonizing the words "close your eyes and remember,fireflies,close your eyes and remember,summertime" so pretty ... I really love Mrs.Riperton ,I really honestly do .... she was one of those type of singers who could do it alllll .... hit unbelievable notes and still have a dynamite singing voice....i can literally say there will never be another Minnie Riperton EVER AGAIN!!!! that is why i am such a huge fan of hers.....god really did make you special Minnie ......

3
Minnie Riperton's solo debut is in many respects her finest hour -- devoid of the overly syrupy production that hampers her later work, Come to My Garden instead couches her miraculous voice in the elegant arrangements of the great Charles Stepney, striking a perfect balance between romantic melodrama and sensual nuance. Call Stepney's singular approach "chamber soul" -- the nimble melodies and insistent grooves swell with orchestral flourishes, while the jazz-inspired rhythms (courtesy of Ramsey Lewis' group) at times evoke Van Morrison's masterpiece Astral Weeks. Stepney creates the ideal backdrop for Riperton's soaring vocals, which reveal a subtlety and restraint absent from the glass-shattering bombast of her subsequent performances -- the opening "Les Fleurs" (covered decades later by 4Hero) crystallizes the entire record, embracing both intimacy and majesty to haunting effect

Get it here
minnie_riperton_1970_-_come_to_my_garden.rar

Saturday, June 2, 2007

Detroit Emeralds - 1977 - Feel The Need

The Detroit Emeralds were an excellent Detroit soul group with a funky sound.

An excellent bit of modern soul from The Detroit Emeralds -- one of the few older Westbound groups who successfully made the transition to the label's smoother sound of the mid 70s!

A Classic Groovie Record.

Tracks
1. Set It Out 5.02
2. Take It Or Leave It 6.03
3. Feel The Need In Me 7.03
4. Wednesday 3.31
5. Love For You 5.15
6. Look What Has Happened To Our Love 3.12
7. Sexy Ways 2.15
8. Love Has Come To Me 5.00

Bonus

Feel The Need In Me (12'' promo 1977 tom moulton remix) 7.06

The feel here is really great -- smooth, slinky, and seductive grooves -- often done in a midtempo way that still lets the group's harmonies come through nicely. Titles include the monster groover "Set It Out", which has a killer hook, and a tasty midtempo groove that's about the best thing you'll hear from Westbound after 1976! Other titles include "Take It Or Leave Me", "Sexy Ways", "Love For You", and "Love Has Come To Me".

There’s really only one reason to buy Feel The Need and that’s the opening Set It Out. The music is the same as Melvin Sparks’ If You Want My Love that was released on Westbound in 1975. I know Brunswick was famous for reusing the same rhythm tracks for their other artists, but this is the first that I know of on this label. The song itself is an upbeat and catchy Soul tune with the horns holding down the lead. The Gospel inflected Wednesday is also worth a listen. I guess trying to recapture their past success, the group recorded an extended 7 minute version of their 1973 hit Feel The Need and included it on here. Surprisingly enough, for 1977 the band still holds true to their original sound of slick Soul backed by strings. Nothing is that great however.

Download Link

detroit_emeralds_1973__feel_the_need.rar

The other Great record : "You Want It, You Got It"

Tracks

1.You Want It You Got It
2. There's Love for Me Somewhere
3. I'll Never Sail the Seas Again
4. Take My Love
5. Feel the Need in Me
6. I've Got to Move
7. Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)
8. I Bet You the One You Love
Bonus

Till you decide to come home
radio promo

You Want It You Got It is the Detroit Emeralds’ best album because it breaks the one-hit wonder mold of their other releases. This might be because Willie Mitchell of Hi Records helped them out. The title track has a catchy bass and drum intro before going into a poppy Soul tune with some congas in the background. The slow and mellow I’ll Never Sail The Sea Again lets the group do their best Impressions’ impersonation. That Willie Mitchell influence can best be heard on the Top 5 hit Feel The Need In Me with its upbeat mood and strings. Baby Let Me take You (In My Arms) is another good cut who’s opening guitar line was sampled by De La Soul. I Bet You Get The One You Love is also worth listening to.

Download Link :

Detroit_Emeralds_1971__You_want_it_you_got_it.rar

Friday, June 1, 2007

Ape - Jungle Gems

If you're looking for the perfect party music, Jungle Gems is the CD for you. Sixteen tracks of tropical, tribal, Bermuda-Triangle rock. You know that vacation you fantasize about every day at work? APE has made the soundtrack for you. That trip to the Islands. That Mexican weekend. That Carribean getaway. It's exotic. It's mysterious. And it's so... damn... fun.

Let the Tiki rhythms on Jungle Gems bring out the sensual simian in you! WARNING: Listening to Jungle Gems may result in the consumption of multiple Mai-Tais. APE urges you to drink responsibly. Please do not attempt to guide an outrigger canoe while listening to this CD.
ARE YOU READY TO GO APE?

OK. So you've got your aloha shirt, your bongos and your shades. You know what this music's all about. But who is APE?
APE is a six-piece Exotica Rock band from San Francisco
APE is the only band in the world that features a live Tiki Carver
APE has headlined the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, the Tiki Oasis Festival in Palm Springs, and has toured the West Coast

APE combines the sounds travellers associate with the places they long to be: Hawaii, Tahiti, Mexico, The Caribbean. If the film "Endless Summer" were a band, it would be called APE.

APE has just released their debut CD, Jungle Gems, on Simian records, available worldwide at CDBaby.com (2003)

http://cdbaby.com/cd/apegems

APE formed amidst the rocky shores and crashing waves of San Francisco's windward side in 1998. Eric Rindal had already successfully circumnavigated the world of instrumental surf music with his band The Swami's, but now he was restless. Like Thor Heyerdahl in Kon-Tiki, he set out upon a journey across the musical ocean, in search of adventure. For crew he signed on tiki carver Crazy Al, shameless pineapple fondler Mitch Tobias, fellow ex-Swami (and now leader of the Badass Chickenbones) Lane, exotic drummer Kevin Woodhouse, and Hawaiian steel & uke nut Frank Novicki (of the Waikiki Steel Works). Together they created the unique sound and look of APE.

APE makes a lot noise.
Here's who and what:
ERIC RINDAL - Hawaiian steel guitar, ukulele, vocals
FRANK NOVICKI - Guitar, ukulele, Hawaiian steel guitar
KEVIN WOODHOUSE - Drums, percussion LANE - Bass guitar, vocals, bongos
MITCH TOBIAS - Guitar, vocals
CRAZY AL - Tiki-carving, lead vocals, coconuts and bamboo

Includes the following exotic tracks:
The Jungle Calls
Papia Tahiti Nui
Jumping Beans
Missorlou
Hawaiian War Chant
La Cubalibra
Hawaiian China Doll
The Endless Summer
Bell's Beach
I'm Pau
Barbados Carnival
Jungle Gems
Pass The Hatchet
Hilo March
Na Pali Drums
Caravan
Kilima Waltz

@320
ape_jungle_gems.part1.rar
ape_jungle_gems.part2.rar

Enjoy