DANGEROUS RHYTHM 2

Stax 50 Revue Memphis 22/6/07

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Classic Southern Soul Brooklyn & Chicago June 2007

How about this for a night out!!!!

You can find out more from one of the participants - Brian Poust of Georgia Soul fame

Freddie Terrell in Wax Poetics 22

I didn't realise until Wax Poetics 22 dropped through the mailbox that Freddie Terrell was in the magazine. Hermon Hitson had tipped me off that Freddie had been interviewed for the magazine. However, Wax Poetics had not promoted the fact in their publicity for the current issue. It is an excellent piece on him by Andy Hopkins and Matthew Miller.

YaMaMa'Nym Home from Middle East and Africa Tour

Several years ago, I fell on some demo tracks by YaMaMa'Nym and fell in love with their sound. I was so taken with them that we even tried to sign them up to Keeping Soul Alive. Ever since then, the band has kept in touch and they are back home after a tour of the Middle East and Africa.

You can catch them here:

Home Again, Home Again The "RETURN HOME" concert will be at:

Baltimore's EDEN's LOUNGE 15 West Eager Street
www.edenslounge.com
Thursday, May 31st, 2007 8PM
Price: $10
For Advance Tickets email - info@2ammusic.net

Rose Stone & Larry Graham Interview On NPR

NPR have informed me of the above interview:

Today on News & Notes, we aired an interview between Farai and Rose Stone and Larry Graham, original members of Sly and The Family Stone. Stone and Graham had come into the studio to discuss the release of a new box-set featuring the group's first seven albums, this timed to celebrate the band's fortieth anniversary.

The pair spent over half-an-hour talking to Farai, leaving us with way too much material for a 12-minute, edited segment crammed with audience comments from our blog and music clips. So many people wrote in to the blog

to share their favorite Sly and The Family Stone song that we figured you'd also want to hear the entire discussion, which we've uploaded here.

(One note: Larry's driver got lost on the way to the studio... Rose kicks off the interview solo and he joins in later. So if you don't hear Larry at first, DON'T PANIC!)

Just click on the link and enjoy!

Swamp Dogg Internet Concert

Swamp Dogg in Austin 2007

Just had a message through from the man to say:

Hello friends,When you get the time, please check out my 4/27 concert in Amsterdam at the Paradiso.You might like it....if you don't, please spare me.

www.fabchannel.com/swamp_dogg

Love and thanks, Dogg

Stockholm Soul Weekender 25/26 May 2007

United Sound of Soul 30/6/07

CHICAGO BLUES FEST DELMARK HIGHLIGHTS!! Thursday June 7th thru Sunday June 10, 2007

Kevin Johnson from Delmark has let me know the highlights for the artists linked to the Chicago label.

Delmark will be having our annual Blues Brunch at the Mart on Sunday morning, June 10, 2007, 10 am- noon. Special intimate acoustic performances will be in the Jazz Record Mart main room, 25 E. Illinois, and next door at The After-words Bookstore, 23 E. Illinois. Scheduled to appear will be Lurrie Bell, Little Arthur Duncan, Shirley Johnson, Tail Dragger, Aaron Moore, Ken Saydak, and special guests! This is such a great opportunity to meet and mingle with the artists and the many blues fans from all over the world, and, of course, to also browse and shop at the world’s largest Blues and Jazz Record Store- one of the last indies left!!

This year’s Chicago Blues Fest is saluting two blues piano masters, Sunnyland Slim and Albert Ammons with Boogie Woogie Stomp: a special piano summit in honor of Albert Ammons. You bet your “sweet patootie” Delmark is proud of our many blues piano releases, especially significant is Albert Ammons’ Boogie Woogie Stomp (DD 705) recordings from 1938 and 1939 on Delmark, also featuring piano giants, Meade Lux Lewis and Pete Johnson!! A special tribute to the Howlin’ Wolf also will be featured, as well as Chicago harp favorite Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues celebrating their 30th Anniversary!!

Jimmy Burns

Tail Dragger

Lurrie Bell

Lonnie Brooks

Jimmy Johnson

Jimmy Dawkins

Byther Smith

Delmark recording artists gigs during Blues Fest Weekend:

*Lurrie Bell : June 6 : Tribute to his late father, Carey Bell, at Buddy Guy’s Legends

June 8 : Front Porch Stage, Chicago Blues Fest June 9 : Buddy Guy’s Legends, 10:30 am

June 10 : Jazz Record Mart Blues Brunch, 10 am-noon

*Big Time Sarah : June 10: Petrillo Main Stage in a Sunnyland Slim tribute June 11 : Blue Chicago, 736 N. Clark

*Lonnie Brooks : June 7: Buddy Guy’s Legends, 5-6:30

*Jimmy Burns : June 6, Kingston Mines June 7: House of Blues acoustic June 8 : Andy’s Jazz Club June 9 : GLT Summer Concert, Bloomington, IL June 10 : Buddy Guy’s Legends, noon-3pm June 11: Buddy Guy’s Legends

*Aron Burton : June 7: 6pm , Mississippi Juke Joint Stage, Chicago Blues Fest

*Eddy Clearwater : June 6: Buddy Guy’s Legends- tribute to Carey Bell June 8 : House of Blues

*Michael Coleman : June 9 : Buddy Guy’s Legends, 2pm

*Jimmy Dawkins : June 7: Petrillo Main Stage, Chicago Blues Fest

*Little Arthur Duncan : June 9: Front Porch Stage, 3:30-5:30, Chicago Blues FestJune 9 : Reynold’s Lounge, 938 E. 75th St June 10 : Jazz Record Mart Blues Brunch, 10am- noon

*Von Freeman : June 9: Andy’s Jazz Club. Long live legendary jazz saxist Vonski!

*Steve Freund : June 8 : 5pm, Andy’s Jazz Club (with Dave Specter)

June 9 : Nick’s in Wicker Park, 1516 N. Milwaukee (with Dave Specter)

June 10 : 1:30-2:30, Route 66 Road House Stage, Chicago Blues Fest, tales about Sunnyland Slim June 10 : 5-7pm Front Porch Stage, Tribute to Sunnyland Slim, Chicago Blues Fest

*Jimmy Johnson : June 9 : Buddy Guy’s Legends, 5pm

*Shirley Johnson : June 7 : Blue Chicago, 536 N. Clark June 10: Jazz Record Mart Blues Brunch, 10am-noon June 10 : Blue Chicago , 536 N. Clark

*Magic Slim and the Teardrops : June 8 : Buddy Guy’s Legends

June 9, Petrilo Main Stage, Chicago Blues Fest

*Mississippi Heat : June 8 : Big Swing City dance party, 1012 W. Randolph, 10:30 pm

*Aaron Moore : June 7 : 1:30- 2:30 pm , Front Porch Stage, Chicago Blues Fest

June 10: Jazz Record Mart Blues Brunch, 10 am-noon

*Ken Saydak : June 8: State of Louisiana Bayou Station and Social Club, 1:30-2:30, Chicago Blues Fest

*Eddie Shaw : June 9 : Crossroads Stage, 3:45- 5 pm, Honeydripper All Stars, Chicago Blues Fest June 10 : Petrillo Main Stage, Chicago Blues Fest, Tribute to Howlin’ Wolf

*Byther Smith : June 7, 7pm, Buddy Guy’s Legends

*Dave Specter : June 7, 6-7:30pm, Mississippi Juke Joint Stage, Chicago Blues Fest June 8: 5pm, Andy’s Jazz Club (with Steve Freund) June 9: Nick’s in Wicker Park, 1516 N. Milwaukee (with Steve Freund) June 10: Mississippi Juke Joint Stage, 6-7:30 pm, Chicago Blues Fest

*Tail Dragger : June 10, Jazz Record Mart Blues Brunch, 10 am-noon

*James Wheeler : June 7, Rosa’s Lounge

Not to mention a who’s who of artists who have recorded as sidemen/women on Delmark during Blues Fest!Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues- 30th Anniversary Tribute!!Bob Stroger , Phil Guy , Carl Weathersby, John Primer, Maurice John Vaughn, Illinois Slim, Rick Kreher, Henry Gray, Tony Llorens, Grana Louise, Katherine Davis, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Kenny Smith, Sam Burckhardt, Kenny Barker, Abb Locke, Deitra Farr, Barrelhouse Chuck, Harlan Terson, Mike Schlick, Jesse Scinto, Marty Binder, and more...

Shirley Brown Woman To Woman

The Finnish writer Heikki Suosalo has published an excellent article on the background to the recording of Shirley Brown's "Woman To Woman" on the Soul Express site.

Drop over and read it because it is fascinating with contributions from some of the people involved in the classic recording.

Sly & Family Stone Deluxe CD Re-issue Series

The tumultuous hit making career of Sly & The Family Stone continues to reverb­erate in every single genre of contemporary music – from pop and R&B to hip-hop and jazz – more than three decades after the group’s last appearance on the Top 40 charts.

The groundbreaking saga of Sly & The Family Stone was played out over the course of their seven original studio albums on Epic Records, recorded and released between 1967 and 1974: A WHOLE NEW THING (1967), DANCE TO THE MUSIC (1968), LIFE (1968), STAND! (1969), THERE’S A RIOT GOIN’ ON (1971), FRESH (1973), and SMALL TALK (1974). And now, 40 years on from Sly’s original signing to Epic, the catalog is being upgraded to a level worthy of these timeless classics.

For the first time, newly remastered, numbered expanded editions have been issued of all seven albums – with multiple (four to seven) bonus tracks on each CD (a total of 33 bonus tracks, 21 of them previously unreleased) and brand new liner notes written by some of today’s top music journalists. The seven albums have been manufactured in a strict limited edition run of custom digipaks, and they will not be re-pressed when they sell out.

All seven albums will arrived in stores on April 10th on Epic/Legacy, a division of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAIN­MENT. Additionally, the seven titles will be available as a numbered, limited-edition box set.

I have picked out my favourite Sly albums from the series to review below.

A Whole New Thing by Sly & The Family Stone was at the beginning of the funk revolution. A Whole New Thing comes with some bonus tracks, including the mono single versions (the ones released to AM radio were mono in those days) of "Underdog" and "Let Me Hear It From You", two extra tracks not originally on the album - "Only One Way Out Of This Mess" and "What Would I Do", and an unreleased instrumental called "You Better Help Yourself".All I can say is that you better help yourself to some of these discs.

Thirty years ago Sly & The Family Stone released A Whole New Thing and changed the face of Rhythm and Blues music. In the original liner notes to their second album, Dance To The Music, New York DJ Al Gee describes their sound as "the closest thing yet to a new musical religion!", and he's not that far off. Stone's songwriting had improved, and his vision began to take flight, particularly on the smash hit title track, whose themes are expanded upon in a 12-minute workout called "Dance To The Medley." Fuzztone and wah-wah guitar sounds are added to the mix with Sly's sister Rose on keyboards allowed Sly to switch between keyboards and guitar, his primary instrument.

Dance To The Music was also groundbreaking in its sound. At a time when most black music was still heard on AM radio, Dance To The Music, with its hard left-and-right panning and complete separation, is quite possibly the first soul record designed to be heard in FM stereo, something A Whole New Thing merely hinted at.

On "Stand!" - released in 1969 - Sly's songs definitely displayed far greater melodic appeal. His lyrics added elements of social consciousness to the already developed topics of unity and integration. There is also greater diversity here than on previously released albums. As a result, four out of the eight tracks featured on the album were hit singles.

The excellent title track, with its gospel overtone and socially conscious lyrics is impressive; it reached #22 on the US pop singles charts.

An edited version of the 5'22" "I Want to Take You Higher" - which underpinned inspired vocals with a fantastic Freddie Stone electric guitar riff and incisive horns parts - made it to #60 at the time of release but reached #38 after its re-release in the wake of Woodstock.

"Everyday People" made it to #1 on the strength of his widely appealing vocals and a simple, very appealing tune. This groovy track flows along effortlessly.

The album itself reached #13 on the US LP pop charts (where he would stay for about two years!) The rest of the tracks are also quite distinctive and sometimes on a par with the singles. - "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey" - a jam drawn to almost 6 minutes - endlessly repeats the title and its converse phrase convincingly. You cannot miss the message. - The lengthier jam, clocking in at 13'52" is an instrumental title "Sex Machine" (not the James Brown track) which features a very heavy groove, mixing powerful bass with prominent use of Jimi Hendrix inspired wah-wah guitar.

The album ends with another good track, the optimistic "You Can Make It If You Try", which is a highly rhythmic with a catchy chorus.

This is truly one of the most innovative 60's albums, irrespective of genre.

Despite the familiar presence of a leaping, smiling Sly Stone on the cover of Sly & The Family Stone's sixth album, Fresh, there was no doubt that this was not the same group that recorded such exuberant hits as "Everyday People" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)." If there had been any doubt that the darker outlook of 1971's There's A Riot Goin' On, released two years earlier, was a one-off, Fresh removed it.

That Sly was the only band member to appear on the cover should have been a tip-off to the changes within. Drummer Greg Errico and bassist Larry Graham had departed and been replaced, respectively, by Andy Newmark and Rusty Allen. The move allowed Stone to continue the elastic funk explored on Riot.

The album contains sparse, deep grooves with Sly as the clear focal point. And yet, Fresh is an extraordinary album, and holds up very well against their earlier groundbreaking work.

New David Sea 45 on Shotgun

David Sea Believe In Me Shotgun Clip


David Sea Let's Just Get Together Clip

SELECTA RECORDS LTD have established a new label called Shotgun to focus on ‘classic soul’ product

The initial release “Believe In Me” / “Let’s Just Get Together” by soul star David Sea (SHOT 101) was released on 7” single from May 14th.

Both tracks were written and produced by the late Jerry Weaver and were recorded in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1971.

David Sea is best known as a member of The Temptations but he also has a strong international following as a solo artist.It is often noted that David sounds similar to Teddy Pendergrass but on these early tracks he comes across more like Bobby Womack.

Much of the product on Shotgun will be previously unissued tracks from the golden era of soul music. Also scheduled for UK release are vintage recordings by Sam Dees and Rozetta Johnson.

Shotgun is distributed by Selecta Records which was formed to provide an outlet for contemporary soul music. The Selecta label was launched in January 2007 with singles by Sheba Potts-Wright and Bobby Hutton and is currently successful with its new single by Simone De.

P&R and business affairs for Selecta and Shotgun are handled by music publisher Paul Mooney who is managing director of Millbrand Music. For seven years he acted as production manager and A&R consultant to Grapevine Music Group. Prior to that he ran the Ardent, Zing and Forever labels and negotiated major recording and publishing deals with Polydor records and PolyGram Music for the double-platinum selling pop group Lighthouse Family.

You can pick up the 45 from Crazy Beat, Soul Brother, Beatin' Rhythm, John Manship, Record Corner, Funky Feet etc etc

Any enquires email info@millbrand.com

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

New Charles Walker & Dynamites Album

Just to let you know that Charles Walker and The Dynamites have now recorded an album for release in June. The album will be called Kaboom!

Drop over to their MyMusic for more details and listen to some of the tracks. I raved over their 45 on Outta Site last year so this is an eagerly awaited album.

Charles Walker(Bottom 2nd from right) with the band

The album will feature Charles Walker--Vocals Tyrone Dickerson--B3 Organ Derrek Phillips--Drums Leo Black--Guitar Jonathan Jackson--Alto/Tenor Saxophone Jon-Paul Frappier--Trumpet Chris Patterson--Percussion Karl Wingruber--Saxophones Chris West--Saxophones/Flute Jackson Eppley--Bass.

They are currently touring in the States and you can find details on the their MyMusic.

New Memphis Soul Blog

Preston dropped by to tell me about his new blog dedicated to Memphis soul music called The Memphis Sound:Lost and Found.

I have a soft spot for Memphis and I have many friends in the city so I was pleased to see Preston's new blog and I wish him well. What I particular respected on his blog was his approach. I will quote from his blog to show what he is trying to do:-

We find the forgotten people and places that made the Memphis sound. The mission is two-fold. We hope to bring respect to the many overlooked musicians who made the Memphis sound, but haven't received recognition from the city's music tourist attractions. Second, we want to help preserve the landmarks of the Memphis music scene that still stand, while preserving the memory of those places that are gone. The city has more musicians living in it today that played on top-10 records than any place outside of New York, Los Angeles, or Nashville. You'd never know it visiting the music history museums here, though. For a city that's built its identity on music, and still capitalizes on it today, it does a questionable job taking care of its musical resources. Similarly, Memphis has paved over more music landmarks than most cities have ever had. We hope to get a few pictures and tell a few stories before they're all gone.

Those are sentiments that I strongly applaud and I look forward to his posts.

Please go over and support him.

Mini Ponderosa Stomp Austin

Nick with Swamp Dogg

My friend Nick Sands has sent me some more photos to share with IDR readers from the Mini Ponderosa Stomp in Austin earlier this year.

Swamp Dogg Barbara LynnBobby PattersonArchie Bell Willie Tee Tami Lynn

Poets Of Rhythm Live 23/6/07

Check out more details on MySpace

Sly Stone Paris 23/7/07

Star City Soul Society July 10th 2007

Funk 45s in Shoreditch UK

Scorched 2/6/07

More details on MySpace

Soul Club Adams Morgan DC

See their MySpace

Esplande Records

Shoot over to Esplandes's MyMusic and find out more

Kings County Soul Club Brooklyn

IDR On Soul Discovery 19/5/07

Last Saturday, I was a guest on Mick O'Donnell's Soul Discovery Show on Radio 209 in Cambridge, UK.

I managed to play over 20 tracks reflecting my involvement with soul music including several sides which remain unissued from artists who have been associated with my company Keeping Soul Alive Limited

With Mick O'Donnell

Here is my playlist for the show:

1. G.C Cameron Topics Motown

2. Roger Hatcher I Dedicate My Life To You Volt

3. Don Covay I Stole Some Love Atlantic

4. Al Green Strong As Death Hi

5. Gloria Williams Sister Funk Downtown

6. Eighth Day Too Many Cooks Invictus

7. Spencer Wiggins Love Me Tonight Alt Version
8. Diane Jenkins Recycle Creative Funk

9. William Cummings Make My Love A Hurting Thing Bang Bang

10. Jerline & Friends Get It Off My Conscience Soulstreet CD

11. La Famila Inc Do You Love Me? BSR

12. Sy Hightower I Want To Make It With You Monarch Test Pressing

13. Frank Ingram There Is Hope Unissued
14.. Mad Lads Safe Unissued
15. 1063 Say We’ll Stay Unissued
16. International Alpha Band feat. Derrick & Freddie Hughes The Woman I Want OK Land CD

17.. Hayley Potts Truth Private Pressing

18.. Archie Love TAM Sampler

19. Laura Lee I Pray Demo Version

20. Dan Greer When Will It End? Beale Street CD

21. Hermon Hitson This Time Sweet Rose CD

22. Earl Randle Only Solution Is Love Cassette

23. Charles Mintz Stop The Killing MOP5 CD
24. Lee Moses If Loving You Is A Crime Dynamo

You can listen to the show on Radio 209's archives by tuning in here.

Hopefully, I will be back in Cambridge later in the year playing more goodies.

Big thanks to Mick for inviting me down and my wife Barb for all her support.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

IDR Now On MyMusic

Beale Street, Memphis 2003

Another shout for IDR - this time to let you know we now have a MyMusic site. Please drop by!!

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Robert Moore Make It Alright Freestyle 45

Robert Moore Make It Alright Freestyle Clip

Just got this cracking 45 through after playing it on the Freestyle site.

A true legend of funk! Responsible for such classics “Cramp Your Style” on Blue Candle and the Saadia 45 “Everything Is Gonna be Alright”, as well as numerous other hits with Miami, Robert Moore is a true legend of the funk scene.

During his visit to the UK to promote the Jazzman Records Florida Funk compilation, he spent some time in the studio with Speedometer and layed down these instantly classic sounding tracks “Make It Alright” and “Do Right Man” – both masterpieces in modern funk.

I will be giving this a full blast on my spot on Soul Discovery on Saturday!

Next Orwell 25/5/07

Just got the above flyer in the post this AM - sorry that it is chopped!!! Hope I can get over!!! last one is the business!!!

Monumental Soul 26/5/07

London's premier Modern Soul & Crossover night

MONUMENTAL SOUL on the 26th May with a very special guest for the evening Sean Hampsey....alongside your regular DJs Gareth 'Girth' Donovan, Niki, Neil Forbes & Mole.

MONUMENTAL SOUL @ The Britannia, Monument St, London EC3 -

Monument tube is just a stones throw away and free parking nearby.
8.30 til 2am playing a quality mix of classic modern & crossover soul from the 70s & 80s with a smattering of rare 60s & some of the best new releases too.

For more information you can mail mentalsoul@soulboys.co.uk / girthdevon@ntlworld.com or call Girth on 01708 724349.

DON'T FORGET - KEEP IT MENTAL !!!!!!!MonuMENTAL
2007 Dates for your diary :-

June 30th - with Bob Cosby
August 25th - with Dave Thorley
September 29th - with Jordi Ripolles
October 27th - with Terry Jones
November 24th - with Bully & Tats Taylor
December 31st - SPECIAL EVENT Niki's 40th Birthday Party
www.monumentalsoul.co.uk
www.myspace.com/monumentalsoul

Dr Wilks & Singapore Soul

Sonny Craver Outside Of Memphis Dalya


Gene Marshall & The Ghetto Sons One Shirt King James


I thought I would start looking back at people who have influenced my collecting of soul music over the years. I will be writing about friends, DJs, other collectors, writers etc.

I will begin with Dr Rob Wilks who I met when I was a student in Brighton in the mid-70's. I met Rob at one of the weekly soul discos at the Art College in the centre of Brighton frequented by soulies like me and Rob trying to get a blast of good music in a desert of heavy rock.

Rob was originally from Sheffield, one the UK spiritual homes of soul music and through his early collection I was turned onto many good sounds. In those early days, we were heavily influenced by the fast developing Northern Soul scene and we were soon addicts of the weekly Soul Bowl lists. Soul Bowl was one of the epicentres of Northern Soul because John Anderson, owner of the record dealership, was at the forefront of discovering the 45s which fuelled the growth of the scene in the UK. Rob and I would also spent hours searching Brighton's many records shops, junk shops and market stalls for sounds.

The basis of friendship was our love of the music and our regular get togethers set a trend for later years when we would sit around drinking and listening to our latest finds. These get togethers moved to firstly Manchester and then Chester when we both left Brighton and headed back up North. These get togethers continued until 1984 when Rob relocated to Singapore hence the title of the post where he subsequently achieved his doctorate.

The record sessions I recall with affection took place into the late hours of night in an area of Chester called Hoole after a visit to a local pub. We always enjoyed the offbeat type of sound and that's why I have chosen the above 45s to highlight this first post on the record influences in my life.

Filthy Soul June 8th 2007

Soul Shakers 21/7/07

For details of next Soul Shakers see soulshakers_international@web.de

Howard Hewett Interview on NPR

The US National Public Radio station continues to put out quality interviews and concerts. The latest is an interview with Howard Hewett.

Stax Reunion In Memphis June 22nd 2007

The continuing celebration of 50 years of Stax Records gets bigger with the announcement of a concert for Memphis on June 22nd.

'50 Years of Stax: A Concert To Benefit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music' will feature Isaac Hayes, Booker T & The MGs, Eddie Floyd, William Bell, Mavis Staples, Mable John, The Soul Children and Angie Stone. The Reddings, the children of Otis Redding, will perform to honor their father.

Other acts will soon be added.

Stax Records was resurrected recently by Concord Music who are now embarking on a massive reissue program.

Tickets for the show are available through Ticketmaster.

Large Professor, Stax Records and Ralph McDaniels to Kick Off the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival

Ryan Hobbs of Room Service Group has passed me the following press release:

Mark your calendars, update your blackberries; Thursday, June 7th is the first day of the five-day bash that is this year's Brooklyn Hip-Hip Festival. The kickoff party, held at the powerHouse Arena in historic DUMBO, BK, will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Stax Records with hip-hop luminaries Large Professor and Ralph McDaniels working the turntables, and spinning the label's classic tracks and video footage all night long.

Since its inception in 1957, Stax Records was a major player in the shaping and progression of the Southern and, especially, Memphis soul sound. Hall of famers such as Booker T. & the MGs, The Dramatics, The Staple Singers, and renowned artists like Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, and Shirley Brown made Stax a household name. The Stax catalog has in many ways served as the very root of Hip Hop.

Because the Brooklyn Hop-Hop Festival was created to showcase the entire spectrum-from past to present to future-of hip-hop culture, The Room Service Group and Brooklyn Bodega see this premier event the perfect start to a great month.

The role of MC, DJ, and Producer are equally critical to the culture, and Large Professor fits the bill of all three. Large Pro came into hip-hop in 1988, at 17 years old, assisting the legendary Paul C with programming the beats for Eric B. & Rakim's Let The Rhythm Hit Em'. While working with Eric B. and Rakim, The Large Professor discovered another young kid from Queensbridge and began to produce three tracks for his solo album. This young'n was Nas and the album was Illmatic. From there, Large joined the group Main Source as MC, producer, and DJ, and recorded one classic album, Breakin' Atoms. Most known for his beats, Large Pro's production credits read like the cover of your most prized mixtape: Beats for Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Masta Ace, The X-Ecutioners, Akinyele, Tragedy Khadafi, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Mobb Deep, Diamond D, Cormega, The UN, Boot Camp Clik, and Jurassic 5. In 1996, The Large Pro (one of his many nicknames), left Main Source and was signed to Geffen by influential A&R Wendy Goldstein. Goldstein also signed The Roots, The Gza and Common during the same stretch. (Oddly enough, Goldstein's assistant was Colin Stanback, now the label manager for Stax). He released his two famous singles, "Ijuswannachill" and "The Mad Scientist," for The LP, which was unfortunately shelved by the label, and later released by Matador Records. Matador also released The Extra P's (nickname #2) second solo album, 1st Class which featured Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes.

One of the Large Pro's finest moments was "Live at The BBQ" off of Breakin' Atoms. That classic track was the first time the world heard Nas and fellow Queens MC, Akineyle. The song sampled the soundtrack of Sweet Sweetback Badass, a Stax release. On June 7th the story comes full circle as The Large Professor helps celebrate Stax' 50th Anniversary, a label responsible for his greatest hit, run by his former A&R. The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival is proud to be a part of the Stax legacy, and The Large Professor's genius.

This first event of The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival will take place on June 7th at the at the powerHouse Arena in DUMBO, BK. The powerHouse Arena is located at the corner of Water and Main Streets. Admission is free. Complimentary beer will be provided by Brooklyn Brewery. For more informaiton about the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, visit www.brooklynbodega.com.

The 3rd annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival is produced by Brooklyn Bodega, The Room Service Group, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Brooklyn Bridge Conservancy, and in conjunction with powerHouse Books. For more information about ticketing, performers, venues, and past Festivals, please visit www.brooklynbodega.com.

Otis Redding DVD

I have received the following request for help from the production company Reeling In The Years:

Hello Otis Redding and Stax lovers,

This is David Peck and Phil Galloway from Reelin' In The Years Productions. We along with writer/historian Rob Bowman (author of Soulsville USA: The Story Of Stax Records) are producing a new anthology DVD of classic complete TV performances by the great Otis Redding. The DVD is looking really nice and in addition to spectacular Otis performances, it will also include newly filmed interviews with Jim Stewart, Steve Cropper, Wayne Jackson, and Zelma & Karla Redding (Otis' wife and daughter.) For more info about other DVDs that we've produced, including Motown anthologies of Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, please see our website at www.reelinintheyears.com.

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! We're coming up short on memorabilia for the booklet and interview sections of the program and need quality hi-res scans of Otis Redding memorabilia. We need everything: posters, handbills, sheet music, picture sleeves, album covers, 45s, advertisements (1967 and earlier), magazine articles, newspaper clippings, collectibles, gold records and anything else Otis-related. We need photos, but we also need to know who the original photographer was or who owns the rights to the photos. We're also looking for old promotional photos used by the label. Our only constraint is nothing macabre or dealing with the plane crash.

Since we already have some items, please let us know what you have before taking the time to scan anything. Of course we will include your name in the DVD booklet and the credit scroll on the DVD itself. If you have anything particularly cool we can also work out some financial remuneration. Please send us a list of what you've got to dpeck@reelinintheyears.com (please include your phone number).If you've seen any of our other DVDs then you know that we make every effort to have each DVD worthy of the artist. Thank you in advance for contributing to make this the best Otis DVD possible. As we all know, the man truly deserves it

Thank you in advance,
David Peck & Phil Galloway
Reelin' In The Years Productions

Phil Galloway, Vice-PresidentReelin' In The Years Productions LLC
The world's largest and most respected source of music footage.
Phone: 619.281.6725Fax: 858.578.6337
Website: http://www.reelinintheyears.com

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Mega Fest 2007 Concert 3-5 August 2007

Poetry In Motion Entertainment, the promotor of this Music Festival just sent me this info;

http://www.poetryinmotion1.com/

THE MEGA FEST 2007 CONCERT AUGUST 3 - 5, 2007
@ THE SHOW PLACE ARENA
14900 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE UPPER MARLBORO MARYLAND
(THREE DAYS OF MUSIC & FUN).

FRIDAY AUGUST 3, 2007
SHOWTIME 8:00 P.M. DOORS OPEN @ 7:00 P.M.
FUNK NIGHT TICKETS $60.00

DENIECE WILLIAMS
CON FUNK SHUN
MIDNIGHT STAR
CARL CARLTON
G.Q

SATURDAY AUGUST 4, 2007
SHOWTIME 8:00 P.M. DOORS OPEN @ 7:00 P.M.
CLASSIC R & B NIGHT TICKETS $60.00 - $75.00

CHAKA KHAN
CHARLIE WILSON
THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW FEATURING DENNIS EDWARDS & OLLIE WOODSON
THE EMOTIONS

SUNDAY AUGUST 5, 2007
SHOWTIME 4:00 P.M. DOORS OPEN @ 3:00 P.M.
BLUES NIGHT TICKETS $60.00

BOBBY WOMACK
MILLIE JACKSON
CLARENCE CARTER
ROY C
MEL WAITERS

TICKETS GO ON SALE MAY 31, 2007 @10:00 PM !!!
ALL TICKETMASTER LOCATIONS
http://www.ticketmaster.com/
THE SHOW PLACE ARENA BOX OFFICE (301) 952-7900

WOW!!!!!!!

Ari Brown Quartet & Pete Cosey Delmark DVD

Ari Brown

Just had this press release through from Delmark:

Local unsung heroes of Chicago jazz and blues unite for a special Green Mill engagement for future Delmark DVD/CD!! JUNE 22, 23, 2007 ARI BROWN Quartet with very special guest, PETE COSEY (June 23rd only) Live at the Green Mill, Friday, June 22nd and Saturday, June 23rd (Cosey only on 23rd)

Some exciting news just confirmed, Delmark’s next recording for future DVD/CD will be the Ari Brown Quartet - Kirk Brown (piano), Yosef Ben Israel (Bass), and Avreeyal Ra (drums). with Pete Cosey on guitar at the Green Mill. Special guest Pete Cosey on “electric mud” guitar will be performing with Ari Brown on Saturday the 23rd only.

ARI BROWN is a composer, arranger and educator whose principle instrument is the saxophone. He has performed with many music greats including: Anthony Braxton, Muhal Richard Abrams, Lou Rawls, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Elvin Jones, Andrew White, Della Reese, Billy Eckstein. Mr. Brown has also performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in the Chicago premier of the Anthony Davis opera, "Malcom X". He has also performed a clarinet solo on the score in Universal Studio's motion picture, The Babe . He has toured all over the world including Japan, Europe, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Singapore. He received his BA of Music Education from Vandercook College of Music, and has made numerous recordings, including 1998’s Venus (Delmark 504) and Ari’s debut as a leader, 1996’s Ultimate Frontier . (Delmark 486) - from AACM website

Ari Brown is one of the busiest and most versatile musicians in Chicago though his highest profile gigs have often involved working or recording as sideman to Lester Bowie, Elvin Jones, Anthony Braxton, and Kahil El’ Zabar’s Ritual Trio to name a few. Ari blends two traditions; the Chicago tough tenor and the AACM. He melds them into one voice. And no matter how far out he takes the music it still remains accessible and enjoyable. In the Chicago Reader Neil Tesser described Ari's debut album, Ultimate Frontier (Delmark 486), as a "flavorful tour de force sustained by a soulful spirituality". Venus maintains that spirituality but also showcases Ari's live performance feel.

Pete Cosey

PETE COSEY is an underground legend of the electric guitar, best known to blues fans as one of the in house Chess Records guitarists in the late 60’s and early 70s’s psychedelic era (Muddy Waters’ Elecric Mud and Howlin Wolf’s ‘69 “psych album”, and to jazz fans as the wild guitarist with Miles Davis in the mid 70’s on Dark Magus, Agharta, and Pangaea.

“Cosey’s searing, wah-wahing psychedelic leads sound like the bastard spawn of Funkadelic’s Eddie Hazel and free-jazz string mangler Sonny Sharrock. A partial list of the blues, soul, rock, and jazz heavies he played with includes Chuck Berry, Billy Stewart, Fontella Bass, the Soul Stirrers, Jerry Butler, the Dells, Etta James, and the Rotary Connection. He can be heard on popular recordings by Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Herbie Hancock. He helped found both the Pharaohs and Earth, Wind and Fire and was an early member of the AACM, playing in a trio with organist Amina Claudine Myers and drummer Ajaramu and in Group For, a quartet with saxophonist Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre and Art Ensemble of Chicago drummer and bassist Don Moye and Malachi Favors. He spent several years as the guitarist in the Gene Ammons Trio, and was a longtime member of Phil Cohran's Artistic Heritage Ensemble. At one point, he was jobbing in Chess Records' house band by day and jamming with Muhal Richard Abrams's Experimental Big Band by night.” - from Chicago Reader’s Peter Margasak

Sweet Soul 11/5/07

Tomorrow night sees 2 of my all time favourite DJs Guy Hennigan and Dean Anderson coming together at Sweet Soul in Newark UK.

I have known Guy since the Wigan Casino days in the 70's and Dean since his days at Parkers in Manchester - both have impeccable taste and have turned me onto plenty of sounds over the years.

Over the coming months, I will be featuring DJs, collectors and friends who have influenced my musical tastes and will be featuring both Guy and Dean.

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Carson Whitsett 1945-2007

Carson Whitsett early 70's Courtesy of Tim Whitsett

I received a sad message early today from Tim Whitsett that his brother Carson had died after a long illness.

Carson was an excellent keyboardist, songwriter, and recording artist beginning his career as a member of his brother’s band, Tim Whitsett & The Imperials. In the early 1970s, Carson joined Stax Records in Memphis as a session musician and recorded an album as a member of The MGs.

However, Carson will always be remembered as being part of the Malaco family. If you flip over any Malaco album from the 80's or 90's and you will see that he appeared on countless productions on keyboards as well as contributing many songs.

Here is what Tim had to say about his brother:

"I just wanted to inform group members that Carson passed away yesterday, May 8, 2007. He never felt any pain, and he died peacefully in his sleep.

A quick career recap: He played on albums by William Bell, Paul Simon, Paul Davis, Connie Francis, Malaco legends Bobby Bland, Little Milton, Johnnie Taylor, Dorothy Moore, and what was at one time the highest selling Blues album ever, Z.Z. Hill's Down Home Blues.

He also arranged and played all the music for Patti Page's comeback Christmas album and was first call for Tony Joe White and Kathy Mattea, as well as producer Frederick Knight. His songs were cut by The Staple Singers, Eddie Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, Wilson Pickett, James Carr, Jerry Butler, Solomon Burke, B.B. King, Etta James, Johnny Adams, Irma Thomas (also played with Thomas), RuthBrown, Dorothy Moore, Fred Knoblach, Conway Twitty, Barbara Mandrell, Lorrie Morgan's first hit "Dear Me","Mississippi Moon" by John Anderson (co-written withTony Joe White), and Joe Cocker recently recorded"Don't Give Up On Me".

Many thanks on behalf of the entire Whitsett clan to Rob, Patrick, and everyone else for their kindness over the last eighteen months.

In lieu of flowers, Carson had asked for donations to one of two organizations that meant so much to him and our family:

Musicares 1904 Wedgewood Ave. Nashville, TN 37212 and Alive Hospice 1718 Patterson St. Nashville, TN 37203

Carson Whitsett RIP

Wattstax in Paris 22/5/07

The only way to see a movie is in the cinema - I saw Wattstax on first release in Brighton and was at the premiere of the remastered version in Memphis in 2003. If you get the chance - see it on the large screen! You can catch it in Paris on the 22/5/07.

More details here:

http://www.zebrock.net/InvitationWattstax.pdf

New Rance Allen CD Released 22/5/07

Just heard the news that the Rance Allen Group will have a new CD out on Tyscot called Closest Friend on 22/5/07.

Don't forget that they are coming to Dublin at the end of the month!

Skullsnaps/Diplomats

I had a message through from the guys asking for help:

We are interested in coming back to UK for a two or more month tour. We were in London in 2004 and performed at Cleethorphes at the 100 Club for the CD release and 6ts Weekender. We didn't realize that we had so many fans until we signed autographs for two hours after our performance and there was still a room full of fans we couldn't get too and they still had original albums and 45's. What we are looking for is an agency or promoter who can handle the arrangements, bookings, performances, travel and lodging while we are touring there. We have CDs currently in UK, US, Japan and Canada.

We have "The Diplomats Greatest Hits" available in England labeled under Kent Records.We have a Skull Snaps' CD available in Australia under Aztec Music and also in Japan.The song Trespassing on the Skullsnaps CD it's in the new movie SMOKIN' ACES starring BEN AFFLECK, ALICIA KEYS, and ANDY GARCIA. We also are on the movie soundtrack releasedby Lakeshore records out of California.

The Skull Snaps have new music releases under Ten Twelve records out of Brooklyn, NY available. We can perform as The Diplomats, a singing group; The Skull Snaps or The Waters BROS., an R&B Band which can play soul tunes from the 60's,70's 80's, 90's and current.

I hope somebody can help - please get in touch with the guys directly:

Email Skullsnaps@verizon.net or ERVANW@OptonLine.net

Please click below for demo.

Ten12 Record's Official Website
http://ten12records.com/

Skullsnaps Music Preview
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=92828941

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Mini-Nighter The Quayside Exchange Sunderland UK

London Bridge Allnighter

Carey Bell 1936-2007

Last night, I had the sad news from Kevin Johnson, Delmark's Director Of Promotion that Carey Bell had died:

"If you haven’t heard already, one of our all time favorite bluesman passed away last night of heart failure, Sunday May 6th , 9:30 pm at Kindred Hospital in Chicago.

Carey had been ill for a while, hospitalized weeks ago with complications from diabetes.

Please send love and heartfelt thoughts to his son, Lurrie, and the Bell family and friends.

Carey will be missed by so many, especially those who have felt his powerfully deep and emotional singing and harp playing. Not only was Carey one of the all time harmonica greats ( esp. the chromatic, what a tone!!), he had one of those VOICES – a deep, low down distinctive vocal style that just overflowed with feeling and emotion.

Thanks go out to Scott Cable and Bruce for all of their help with Carey."

Carey Bell Harrington RIP

Maxine Brown NY 3/6/07

Monday, May 07, 2007

Johnnie Taylor Live At The Summit Club LA 1972

I have been playing this CD for weeks and have been meaning to get around to a review before now.

To celebrate their 50th anniversary, Stax Records, the legendary Southern soul label, has been re-launched by its new owners, Concord Music Group. Over the course of this year they will release over 20 CDs and DVDs including reissues, collections, and new releases from artists like Angie Stone and Stax icon Isaac Hayes.

One of the first products of this program is Johnnie Taylor's Live At The Summit Club CD, recorded in Los Angeles on September 23, 1972. If you've ever seen the movie Wattstax, you will have seen him peforming in the Summit Club and wondered why he wasn't on the main bill? Lee Hildebrand writes in the notes that Johnnie didn't appear at the concert at the LA Coliseum either because he was bumped for time or was unhappy with his time slot, so Stax booked him into the nearby Summit Club and recorded it.

In the movie we get a blast of "Jody Got Your Girl And Gone" from this performance which closes out this 64-minute CD. Two other songs, "Steal Away" and "Stop Doggin' Me," have appeared on CD in an edited form and this is the first time the complete takes of those songs have been available. The CD has 6 other songs which make this truly historical document of an artist at the peak of his powers.

Johnnie may have been unhappy with the band on this night as he belts out instructions to a band struggling to keep up with him. Put that aside though because with his singing we get to the heart of the man as we find him in a live setting which is unique to our ears - oh for a time machine. Johnnie never lets up the intensity in his performance. If anything, the problems with the band cause him to overcompensate and pull out all the stops.

Thanks to Concord, we have a now got a wonderful moment in soul history to listen to!

Leroy Burgess for Hilton Weekender May 25-27

Leroy will be appearing on Friday 25th May 2007 at the Luxury Soul Weekender in Birmingham, UK. More details and booking information at http://www.luxurysoulweekender.com/.

Ready Steady Go!!

Jerry Butler 13/5/07 Bronx NY

Nitty Gritty

Vinyl Vibes

Drop by Karsten's MySpace or go to Freefunkin or Monofunk to download some of his shows.

Mr Souldrops

Checkout Mr Souldrops site for details of his next gig and plenty more!

Strictly Niceness

In The Basement 46

Yet another bumper packed 75 page edition of the ever excellent In The Basement.

This time up in-depth features based on full interviews with Phill Hurtt, Dobie Gray, Dicky Williams but perhaps the most signiicant freatures are with 2 elusive ladies - Tommye Young-West and Clydie King.

Clydie has been suffering from ill-health in recent years but gave a full account of her life and Tommye had turned her back on secular music but was prepared to talk of her past life in soul music.

The magazine also contains all the usual feature such as reviews, gig reports plus a vinyl spotlight by my old friends Hans Diepstraten and Harry van Vliet as well as a rare 45 feature by Steve Guarnori.

Order a copy direct from the editor Dave Cole - on UK No 01273 601217 or mail him itb@basement-group.co.uk

Right Track May 2007

The latest edition of Ace/Kent Records in-house magazine is out. This month's magazine features an obituary for Hy Weiss, the legendary owner of the Old Town and Barry labels which have been extensively documented by Ace.

The magazine also reviews a Doc Pomus and Morty Shuman Collection which is of particular interest to me after reading Doc's recent bio Lonely Avenue.

On The Scene May 2007

I also picked up the above while at the Orwell. This issue has reports on the Prestatyn Weekender, plenty of reviews, events listings, charts as well as regular features on Modern Soul, London Calling, The Midlands and More plus records for sale.

The magazine is free and can be picked up at many venues or try UK phone number 01253 318267.

The Monaco Wigan

The Orwell is not the only rare soul event in Wigan. I picked up this flyer last week while I was at the Orwell.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Rehash

It has been one of those days when I have fallen upon quite a number of places on the Net where I have never been before. One of those places is Rehash which is an excellent site full of tracks for our delight. This site is right up my street and is delivered by 2 guys in Dallas called High-C and Wilson

San Francisco and Bay Area 45's

Stanley Lippitt 20-20 Vision Fos-Glo

I had a mail through from Mark who has a site called dedicated to the Bay Area artists Stanley Lippitt and Lady Bianca but also includes over 300 Bay Area record labels from the 1950's onwards and their releases, where the label was from, who owned it etc -please drop by.

As regular readers of IDR will know I have a soft spot for the Bay Area and it is great that Mark is documenting the area's soul releases.

I have posted up my favourite 45 by Stanley which I picked up in 1979 from my friend Martin Barnfather aka Soul Sam. I had gone round to his house to help him move. After we had go to his new home, we started unpacking his records and everything else went out the window as we set up his decks and dived in to playing 45s. At the time, I was chasing any 70's obscurity and was intrigued by the above 45 which I eventually persuaded him to part with. However, I do recall that he wouldn't part with another obscure West Coast 45 by Dana V Andrews Mr Justice on Davida!

Earnest Jackson Reaching Out For Your Love Royal Shield

Earnest Jackson Reaching Out For Your Love Royal Shield

I've posted this 45 as part of the continuing A To Z of my 45 collection picked out at random.

This is on the same label as some good 45s by George Perkins and is out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was recorded in 1982 at the River City Recorders studio. Earnest Jackson did a few other 45s on Stone Records in the 70's.

This 45 probably turned up in the UK via Soul Bowl and I am sure it was given a few spins in the more progressive venues in the early 80's.

Tribute to Sister Funk 2

One of the most impressive CD collections released this year has been Jazzman Records Sister Funk 2. The set was compiled by DJ Ian Wright and contains a whole batch of fantastic sounds.

I read a recent post on the Fryer Mantis Funk 45 forum paying tribute to the CD and directing us to a complimentary download of further Sister Funk sides. Having read this post, I decided to do my own tribute to the CD by flipping over one of the sides featured on the Jazzman records CD - Dolly Gilmore's "Sweet Sweet Baby" and posting the official A-side "Don't You Know You're The Yes".

Dolly Gilmore Don't You Know You're The Yes Dove

Soulkombinat guys

You can catch the download mentioned on Fryer Mantis Funk 45 forum on the Soulkombinat site. The download was put together by Johnny Hitman, Kristan Auth, Dynamic Don, Steve Inch and Steinbild

Here's the playlist:

1 Belita Woods - Magic Corner (Moira) Steven Inch

2 Ann Bailey - Sweeping your dirt under my rug (Wand) Steinbild

3 Barbara Lynn - Nice and Easy (Atlantic) Johnny Hitman

4 Irene and the Scotts - I’m stuck on my baby (Smash) Kristian Auth

5 Janis Joplin - Try (Columbia) Dynamic Don

6 Bit of Honey - Live in maid (Shout) Steven Inch

7 Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - I’m not gonna cry (Daptone) Steinbild

8 Marie Adams - That´s the way to get along (Encore) Johnny Hitman

9 Victoria Williams & J.B. Ledbetter - Show some sign (Verve) Kristian Auth

10 Jann Zachery - Down to earth (Zack’s) Dynamic Don

11 Betty Wilson - Let me groove you (Warren) Steven Inch

12 Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto - In the basement (Pt. 1) (Cadet) Steinbild

13 Alice Clark - You got a Deal (Rainy Day) Johnny Hitman

14 Ella Fitzgerald - These boots are made for walkin’ (Salle) Kristian

15 Ruth Brown - Taking care of Business (Atlantic) Dynamic Don

16 Audrey Royal - Super Sexy Soul Man (Spector) Steven Inch

17 Helena Hollins - Baby, you’re right (Stonegood) Steinbild

18 Margie Joseph - I can’t move no mountain (Atlantic) Johnny Hitman

19 The Trinikas - Black is beautiful (Pearce) Kristian

20 Arlene Brown - Impeach me, Baby (Dynamite) Dynamic Don

21 Patti Austin - Magical Boy (UA) Steven Inch

22 QSO feat. Alice Russell - Pushin’ on (Tru Thoughts) Steinbild

23 Sundia - Stand up and be a Man (United) Johnny Hitman

24 Carol Anderson - Don’t destroy me (Mutt) Kristian

25 Ceresa Watson - Dead (Charay) Dynamic Don

Texas Soul

Rufus Woods Before 2001 Espanola


I have just found a site dedicated to Texas Soul which joins a band of other excellent sites featuring labels associated with a city or State such as Georgia Soul, N Y Soul, D C Soul etc

I thought I'd feature a long time favourite Rufus Wood's Before 2001 on the Texan Espanola label. When I first heard this 45, we were over 20 years away from the Millennium. I wonder whether Rufus's dreams for the Millennium ever came to fruition? Ghettoville - the other side of the 45 also continues a political/social theme.

I only recently discovered that my copy is a legitimate 2nd release and that for years I had been under the misapprehension that mine was a bootlegged copy! The side remains one of my favourite Texan 45s alongside Lou Pride's Suemi cuts and Oscar Perry's Peritone 45s.

Ebony Cuts

I am always wandering around cyberspace falling over downloads and a recent find is DJ Cuebism and Gloria's Ebony Cuts. This a pretty cool site with a few surprises and has a refreshing and original layout for the jaded Net traveller! If you bag is 12" soul and boogie tracks then drop in.

Rhythmic Freedom Radio Show

I think I have mentioned the Rhythmic Freedom Net radio station before? Anyway check them out - some tasty cuts here which are available on archived shows.

Here is a recent playlist:

Silvetti / Spring Rain / Salsoul

Stringfield Family / Stringfield Hustle / Arrest

Blenda Jones / Super Stroke / Mercury

T.N.J.'s / Don't Forget About Me / Chess

Rena Scott / I Finally Found The Love / Epic

Larry Wedgeworth & Clique / No More Games / Groovehall

Mass Order / Let's Get Happy / Columbia

Blaze / How Deep Is Your Love / Shelter

Demarkus Lewis / Tell Me Why / Slip N'Slide

Tortured Soul / You Found A Way / Lazy Days

Grey And Hanks / You Fooled Me / RCA

Goldie Alexander / Show You My Love / Chaz Ro

Next Movement / Let's Work It Out / Prelude

Jovonn / Construction / Goldtone

James Howard / We Can Do It / Emotive

RBM / RBM Theme / Urban Sound Gallery

Mama's Children / Let's Us All Be Friends / Colonel

Vincent Montana, Jr. / The African Track / PSW

Silver, Plutinum & Gold / Dance With Me / Neptune

Potion / You / Cavco

Jimmy Caster / Stay With Me / Long Distance

Bernard Walker / I Must Be Falling In Love / Payday

Diane Jenkins / Tow-A-Way Zone / Creative Funk

Newsound / Bet You Never Thought About It / Scorpion

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Alexander Brown 1950-2007

Alexander Brown, Tony Riley(F), David Turner (B) and Richard Poindexter

Last year I was lucky enough to meet Alexander Brown and the rest of the Persuaders in New Jersey. Sadly this week, I discovered that Alexander had died and we have lost another great guy on the soul scene. My thoughts are with his family and friends and Richard, David and Tony of the Persuaders.

Tonight in Brooklyn there will be a tribute as follows:

Brooklyn: The Soul-Patrol Pre Convention Concert & Tribute
To the Late Alex Brown: Persuaders LIVE w/Marcel & the Truth @ Frank's Place (Showtime 9:30)

Alexander Brown was born on June, 3rd, 1950 in Perdue Hill, Alabama.

The Persuaders website has the following biography for Alexander:

"As a young boy Alex sat in at numerous "Friday night fish fries" Which would be a gathering of people frying good fish listening and/or playing good music and dancing in the moonlight all night long.

As a toddler he was nicknamed 'Bud' by his Uncle, Sam Hardaway, for trying to sneak a sip of his beer. He always had passion and love for music and sang in his local church choir. He tried to sing every song he heard on the radio and anywhere else to better his skills, with the help of his cousins, The Hardaway Twins, he developed a deeper understanding of singing and harmonies.

He spent some of his best childhood years in Pensacola Florida as well as New York City and eventually moved to New York City from Monroeville, Alabama in his late teens.

He started to sing with local groups in the streets of NYC. They would sing under the streetlamps, in hallways, and abandon buildings listening and searching for a sound that was easy on the ears, that "perfect sound".

Eventually, he met and befriended Douglas "Smokey" Scott, The then to be future lead singer of The Persuaders. One day Douglas Scott took Alex to a rehearsal of the group that was yet to be named the Persuaders. Alexander was encouraged by Scott to become an understudy.

After meeting and hearing Richard & Robert Poindexter in action working with the group, Alex felt he needed to perfect his skill and retreated to do so. He then was drafted into the armed services and did a tour of duty in Vietnam during the war.

After returning to the United States he started to sing with a group titled The Natural Blend. He continued to follow the success of The Persuaders, after returning to civilian life he performed in a host of musical groups; Rhythm City Project (RCP), Sudden Moves, Prime Source, Intimate D'Tales and of course The Persuaders. The Persuaders has had various line up changes; B.J. Barnes, Douglas "Smokey" Scott, Willie B. Holland, and John Tobias. Charles Stoghill, Thomas "Tommy" Hill, Robert Holliman and others."

He was a member of the current Persuaders with Richard Poindexter, David Turner, Tony "Showtime" Riley.

Alexander once said; "I am eternally grateful and honored to be chosen by Tommy Hill to be a Persuader and I would like to encourage everyone to pursue your 'DREAM' relentlessly, and I hope you will be rewarded as I have been, seeing your Dream become a reality."A viewing for Alexander will be held as follows:

The Unity Funeral Chapel
2352 8th Ave.
Harlem
May 7, and May 8, 2007 from 2:00 pm-8:00 pm.
*****
The family wishes that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alexander Brown Fund. C/O Alex Brown Fund1681 Watson AvenueBronx, NY 10472

Funeral Services will be held at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church Friday, May 11 at 11:00 am in Claiborne, Alabama.

Alexander Brown RIP and thanks for the memories

Looking Back at the Orwell Last Friday

Last Friday, I went over to the Orwell for the monthly soul night. The night also formed part of the first North Lancashire Soul Weekend. Shaun Robbins who organised the weekender joined the regular DJs Messrs Plumb, Flanders,Maleady & Connor.

As ever it was top notch with some quality sounds played. Here are some of the highlights:

Flanny

ROCKY MIZZELL & THE SUGAR ROCK BAND - NEVER NEVER GIRL
DELEGATION - ONE MORE STEP TO TAKE
YOUNGHEARTS YOU'RE NOT HERE WITH ME
FREDDY BUTLER - THATS WHEN I NEED YOU
JOHN EDWARDS - SPREAD THE NEWS
NEW SOUNDS - DONT TAKE YOUR LOVE
LOVELITES - I LOVE YOU YES I DO
DENISE LaSALLE - HERE I AM AGAIN
VICKIE LABAT GOT TO KEEP HANGIN ON
FRANK WILSON - TELL ME BABY unreleased
BESSIE BANKS - DONT YOU WORRY BABY THE BEST IS YET TO COME
SHARON PAIGE - IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO LOVE
NATURAL FOUR - LOVE'S SO WONDERFUL
LaSHAWN COLLINS - WHAT YOU GONNA DO NOW
FOUR TRACKS - LIKE MY LOVE FOR YOU

Sean O'Connor

Mystique If youre in need
Mel and Tim Forever and a day
Dells Don’t trick me treat me
Smoke So glad you came along
Dana Valery You Babe
Tymes All you ever wanted to know about love
Major Lance Don’t you know that I love you
Johnny Nash Glad youre my baby
Pretenders Just be yourself
Pete Warner I just want to spend my life with you
Johnson Family Peace in the family
Masqueraders How big is big
Lou Rawls See you when i git there
Imperial Wonders You only live once
Intruders A nice girl like you
Little Beaver Listen to my heartbeat

Steve Plumb

Brief Encounter - Human
Edee Leatherwood - Make it last
Friday Saturday Sunday - There must be something
Sly Slick & Wicked - Surely, is you is or is you ain't my baby
David Ruffin - I won't be hurt anymore
Wee Willia Walker - I don't want to take a chance
Esther Satterfield - As long as we're together
Ella Woods - I need your love
Bitter & The Sweet - I won't have any babies for you
Skip Jackson - I'm onto you girl
T J Williams - Baby i need you (Flanny played this but left it off his list!)
Gene Chandler - Without you here
Satin - Your loves got me
Nancy Butts - I want to hold your hand
Dottie Pearson - Bring it over baby
Young Divines - Ain't that sharp

Shaun Robbins

Maurine bailey - takin my time with you
Alex brown - I'm not responsible
JP Robinson - our day is here
Stan martin - big mouth woman
Emanuel lasky - I'd rather leave on my feet
Thompson brothers - you brought love in my life
MJ Wade - I'm gonna ball baby
Dee Edwards - I can deal with that
Almeta Latimore - These memories
Invitations - look on the good side
Prince Phillip Mitchell - one on one
Bottom & Co. - gonna find a true love
Marvin gaye - come get to this
Bobby Womack - give it up
Ultimates - girl I've been tryin to tell you
Mac davis - I'm just in love ... ???
Razzy - I hate hate
Mary mundy - you put a hurting on me

Madrid Soul Weekender 11-12 May 2007

The 10th Madrid Magic Soul Weekend will take place on 11th & 12th May 2007.

This is event is a weekend of quality rare northen & 60's soul in the heart of the Spanish Capital.

This year to celebrate the 10th anniversary The S.M.A.R.T. Club & Sociedad Soul de Madrid combine to make it a real Special One! Two Allnighters & an alldayer featuring Northern Soul Legend DEAN PARRISH.

Add to that great people,beer,tapas,beer,wine,shopping(if that's your bag) and a successful shindig should be had by all!

Dj line up for the weekend - Mick H, John Weston, Pete Hulatt & Ady Lupton.

Fri 11th May, Allnighter from 23.00-04.00

@Bluefields Club. 128 Principe de Vergara St. (Cruz del Rayo Tube).

Sat 12th May, Mini-alldayer from 16.00-20.30(live act 18.00)

DEAN PARRISH supported by THE TEENAGERS.

@La Boite. 27 Tetuan St. (Sol Tube)

Sat 12th Allnighter from 00.30-06.30

@De Nombre Publico. 11 Montenses Sq. (Plaza Espana Tube).

For full details:

www.smartclub.info

Soul Cellar Radio Show 6/5/07

Thought I'd give my mate Barry Fowden's show a shout:

SUNDAY MEANS.......REAL SOUL TIME....Live on the net.

http://www.soulcellar.co.uk/Playlists.html Click Radio Station logo

USA Western Time 9am
USA Eastern Time 12pm
UK Time 5pm
Central European Time 6pm

If you miss it...can be downloaded a day later.

This weeks playlist:

Reflections - Three Steps From True Love Album 'Love On Delivery' Capitol...1975
Pete Cooke – Little Darlin' Dimension label..flip of his Deep Soul Classic 'I Won't Cry'
Doug Banks - Aint That Just Like A Woman Guyden label.
Rivingtons - Years Of Tears Vee-Jay label..1964
Ryan Shaw - We Got LoveFrom his new CD 'This Is Ryan Shaw'..2007
This guy is only 26 years old..but his voice was born in the 60's
Willie Neal Johnson & The Gospel Keynotes - Satan Is On The Loose Malaco Records..1987 Charles Mintz - Think Of What You're Losing Uplook label
Renaldo Domino - Not Too Cool To CryTwinight label
Walter Jackson – The Bed Epic label..1968
Tata Vega - Come In Heaven Earth Is Calling Tamla Motown..1977
C.P.Love - I Found All These Things Chimneyville label
Patti Labelle - Stay In My Corner Dells classic..done by Miss Labelle MCA label..from an album 'Gems'..1994

DEEP SOUL CELLAR
Moss Tolbert - Don't Do It Darlin' VJ label
Ann Bridgeforth(Little Ann) - That's All I Want From You Celebration label.

GOSPEL CORNER
Spiritual Tornados – Take Me To The Water Finch label.

Billy Hambric - This Is My Prayer Fury label
Prince Johnny Robinson - Make Love To Me(Right Now)Andee label

Irish Club Perth Australia

Immediate 12/5/07

Check out:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=2377316

The Bamboos 19/5/07 Club 2K Penzance Cornwall

Checkout:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=101601342

Cleethorpes Northern Soul Weekender 8-10 June 2007

The Blue Shoe Project

The Blue Shoe Project was founded with the mission of educating the coming generations on the importance of Blues and American roots music. The musical genres that fall within the category of “American roots” have left an indelible mark on the evolution of music world-wide and continue to influence countless artists.

Blues is a music genre that has empowered the powerless and given artists the means to express themselves in a non-violent form through voice and instrumentation. Blues is the real American Tale as it was lived. If there were no history books, the bluesman’s tale would recount the struggles and triumphs that America progressed through to achieve its greatness.

The Blue Shoe Project furthers its educational mission through first-hand artist interaction and by providing high-quality arts education programming at little or no cost to students. Since the inception of The Blue Shoe Project we have conducted over thirty-five high quality programs with local, regional, and national artists throughout The Dallas/Fort-Worth area. These events have gained national media attention and garnered a strong and dedicated audience following.

You can find more details here:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=12141496

David Honeyboy Edwards Palace Theatre Grapevine Texas 8/5/07

Chicago Blues Festival 7-10 June 2007

The Chicago Blues Festival, June 7-10, 2007, once again earns the title of the world's largest free concert of its kind. Grant Park is the backdrop to six stages featuring a plethora of legendary men and women. The festival opens daily at 11:00 am with musical performances until 9:30 pm.
As the Chicago Blues Festival celebrates its 24th anniversary, it pays tribute to the 100th anniversary of the birth of two great piano players who bridged the two earliest generations of the blues community. Blues greats Albert Luandrew, better known as Sunnyland Slim and Albert Ammons, the protégé of Jimmy Yancey will both be honored. The festival will host a number of Piano Summits and Boogie Woogie Stomps. It will also feature many of the disciples who strive not only to keep piano music alive, but also perpetuate Chicago Blues as the worldwide icon of Blues music.

The festival will also share in the birthday celebrations of two Blues icons. This year marks the 80th birthday of the famed Big Jay McNeely. As customary, whenever the Blues Festival falls on June 10th, the festival pays tribute to Howlin' Wolf, who would have celebrated his 97th birthday. He will be remembered with a birthday cake, party and remembrances by family, friends and former band mates. Coinciding with the Blues Festival is the "Art of Play" featuring checker and dominos tables located near the Mississippi Tent on Columbus Drive.

The festival pays tribute not only to historic Blues icons, but also it highlights the best blues musicians in the modern era. The 2007 Blues Festival is privileged to have Chicago's great harmonica player and "Sons of Blues" band leader, Billy Branch, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band's founding. Billy, who has kept the band alive over the years, will unite the many artists who have been instrumental in making Chicago the Blues Capitol of the World.

Check the Chicago Blues Festival website for further details - the following artists have already been announced:

Irma Thomas and the Professionals, Koko Taylor and the Blues Machine, Jimmy Dawkins, Willie Clayton, Bobby Rush, David Dee and Family, Mighty Joe Young Jr. featuring Chontella Renee, Carl Weathersby, The Honeydripper All-Stars featuring Gary Clark Jr., Eddie Shaw, Arthur Lee Williams, Henderson Huggins, Mabel John, and Maurice John Vaughn Blues Band

Soul Inn Tonight

A NIGHT AT THE SOUL INN !!! Berlin's nicest Soulnight....

Info:
Sa, 5. May, 23h (after the concert), ~~~ 5€
Rare Funk, Soul & Boogaloo 45's Dynamic Don & Kristian Auth Lido: Schlesische/Ecke Cuvrystr. U1

More details:

www.tourdefunk.de
www.dirtyaction.de
http://www.lido-berlin.de/

Bumpshop Tonight

Boomerang Canal Tavern Thorne 12/5/07

Arthur Fenn at the decks

The Canal Tavern has a colourful soul history, kicking off in the early 80s and ending in the late 90s. Promoters during these two decades included Gary Welsh, Rod Dearlove and Fish. Lots of soulies hold fond memories of this venue.'Boomerang' ~ featuring 60s & 70s soul is a new soul night at this venue and kicked off on Saturday 17th February 2007. The soul night is still run in the same function room with a separate street entry on the side.

I just got details through of the next night:-

For the 2nd 'Boomerang', we're very pleased to announce a"BACK TO THORNE"

Guest DJ's *special*with

GARY WELSH

ARTHUR FENN

TATS TAYLOR

joining resident MARIA O

and spinning a quality soul selection, featuring 60's & 70s soul

at The CANAL TAVERN

South Parade, Thorne (Doncaster),

DN8 5DZ

8PM - 1AM

£5 on door

Accommodation details, the flyer, past playlists & MORE

can be found on our website:

http://www.boomerangsoul.co.uk/

Here are some playlists from the 1st night:

Arthur Fenn

Bobby Taylor - Don't Be Afraid (Gordy LP)

J.O.B. Orquestra - Don't Want That Illusion (Govinda LP)

Wee - Try Me (Owl LP)

Willie Hutch - Easy Does It (Whitfield LP)

Alice Clark - Charms Of The Arms Of Love (Mainstream LP)

Art Gentry - This Is My Chance (Kent promo LP)

Al Thomas - Too Sweet (Rocking House LP)

Jackie Wilson - Whispers (Getting' Louder) (Brunswick LP)

Margaret Royal - I'll Never Go Away (Tra-X)

Bobby Shannon - You're An Uplift (To-Mar)

Little Samson - Don't Take Your Love (El D)

Barbara Stant - (You've Got To) Try It Again (Shiptown)

Ernie Johnson - Big Man Cry (Steph and Lee)

Willie Darrington - Never Should Have Walked Away (RAV)
The Nu-Rons - All Of My Life (Nu-Ron)

Gloria Scott - (A Case Of) Too Much Lovemakin' (Casablanca LP)

Young Ladies - "I'm Tired Of Running Around" (Stang)

Connie Lavern - Can't Live Without You (GSF)

Cookie Woodson - I'll Be True (Colossus)

Ad-Libs - I Don't Need No Fortune Teller (Passion)

Carmelita - Isn't It Lonely (Carmen)

Detroit Sounds Of Friction - "I'm Leaving You" (Heavy Sound)

Bobby Reed - The Time Is Right For Love (Bell)

Ice - "Reality" (Ice)

Jesse James - If You Want A Love Affair (20th Century)

LaRom Baker - You're The Best (The Record Company)

Archie Hodge - I Really Want To See You Girl (Narco)

Kae Williams - "Our Love Is Dying" (GM)

The Montclairs - "Hey You! Don't Fight It!" (Arch)

Stormie Wynters - Life Saver (Mercury)

Charles Mintz - Running Back (Up-Look)

Maria O

The Side Show - "Lonely Girl" (Trey)

Vee Gees - Talkin (Jump Off)

Nicky Newarkers - Woman (Mercury)

Exportations - I Want You (Vir-ro)

The Hamilton Movement - She's Gone (Look-Out)

The Precious Three - I Need A Man (Ref-O-Ree)

The Shadows - Beautiful Heaven (Mercury)

Vee Vee - I'm Your Fool (Movement)

The Soul Set - Will You Ever Learn (Bi-Me)

The Districts - One Lover (Just Won't Do) (Nile)

George Hobson - Let It Be Real (Sound City)

Richard Caiton - I Like To Get Near You (Up Tight)

Flowers - For Real (Laxpressio)

James Phelps - The Look On Your Face (Apache)

The Mark-keys - My Sweet Baby (TCB)

Clydie King - Soft And Gentle Ways (Imperial)

The Flirtations - Stronger Than Her Love (Festival)

Cookie Scott & the Chevelles - I Don't Care (What The People Say) (Orr)

Althea Spencer - Take Me Baby (AV International)

Jackie Verdell - Are You Ready For This (Decca)

Asbury Park 45 Sessions 11/5/07

Come on through for beats, eats, beer, and bowling!

More details here:

http://www.asburylanes.com/

http://www.djbluewater.com/

www.myspace.com/djbluewater