Thursday, September 27, 2007

Sound City Soul Brothers

Out now a new release from the Soulscape label Sound City Soul Brothers featuring Ted Taylor / Reuben Bell / Eddie Giles with the main thrust being early-to-mid 1970s deep soul

Sound City Soul Brothers SSCD 7005
£12.99 (GBP) with FREE POSTAGE

A selection of 24 southern soul classics recorded at Sound City in Shreveport for their Alarm label subsidiary. The emphasis is on early-to-mid 1970s deep soul with tracks produced by Wardell Quezergue, Bobby Patterson and Allen Orange. The 12-page booklet has in-depth liner notes by Paul Mooney.

More info on this and other releases from Soulscape can be found below and more info on all these and the label is available at:

http://www.garryjcape.com/

Along with the opportunity to purchase online all albums all the releases

Soulscape was launched with two southern soul albums: On The Rainbow Road by Bill Brandon (SSCD 7001) and Cheaters Never Win by Tony Borders (SSCD 7002).

South Side Soul Survey (SSCD 7003) was issued in July and features 22 tracks from Chicago producer Clarence Johnson.

August 20th saw the release of the Rozetta Johnson album Personal Woman (SSCD 7004) which brings together all her legendary Clintone masters - plus two previously unissued tracks.

Rob Moss In Detroit Part 4

Get over to Soul Source for Rob's 4th installment about his Detroit trips.

Blowfly In Paris

Message from Sausage Records:

It's on Saturday September 29th so come forth to catch the man live in action at:
La Mécanique Ondulatoire 8 Passage Thiere 75011 Paris From 8PM

Rotosonic Radio

Again, if you want something a bit different try Rotosonic Radio - shame they haven't posted anything since last year.

Here is their last posted playlist:

1. Sonny Flaharty & the Mark V – Hey Conductor
2. Shocking Blue – Send me a Postcard
3. Jimmy Gordon – Buzzzz
4. Cecil Garret – Bearcat
5. Jimmy Dobbins – Little Miss Perfect
6. Candy Johnson Show – The Hook
7. Jim Messina and his Jesters – High Voltage
8. Avantis – Wax em’ Down
9. Dinks – Nina-Kocka-Nina
10. Rivingtons – Mama-Oow-Mow-Mow
11. Instrumentals – Chop Suey Rock
12. Billy – Un Petit peu Du “Oh Yeah”
13. Larry Greco – C’est Fini Bien Fini
14. Danni – Filli a la Motto
15. Charlie Browns Generation – Fast Retreating Female
16. Knights of the Day – Hey Gyp
17. Easybeats - Woman
18. Wimple Winch – Save my Soul
19. Q65 – Cry in the Night
20. Dave Berry – Don’t Gimmie no Lip Child
21. Johnny Kidd and the Pirates – I can Tell
22. Rosco Gordon – Just a Little Bit
23. Mister E - Zombie

A real mixture of styles but enough to enliven any jaded palette!

Weird Gear Mixes

If your are looking for something a little different then try Weird Gear mixes! For more info on Weird Gear then drop by their MySpace

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Sugar Beats Search For Peace


Sugar Beats have a new album which is worth checking out - drop over to their MySpace to get a preview.

Here's a blurb on the band:

The band came about through a desire to make good quality music using real musicians whilst, at the same time, moving jazz forwards. After putting on a series of club nights at Birmingham's Medicine Bar, which consisted of a set by a live "jazz" band with DJs playing Sun Ra and Roy Ayers alongside Madlib and Bugz in the Attic, Chris and Leo put a band together to combine these diverse influences into a single live unit. 2 years of refining and gigging later, and the first album is out now.

Highlghts include gigs in Edinburgh, London, Oxford and Birmingham playing alongside the likes of Dom Servini, Phil Asher and Dego (4 Hero). More Recently they have supported Norman Jay (at the Cheltenham Jazz festival), Gilles Peterson and Bugz in the Attic.

Shot In The Dark Amsterdam

If you are popping over to Amsterdam for a quick break then try out this new venue starting in November!

The Soul Food Cafe @ Yardbird Birmingham UK

If you are going to any gigs at The Yardbird you might like to drop in for a bite to eat at new Soul Food cafe!

C.P. Love

C.P. Love has long been one of my favourite Louisiana singers and I was fortunate enough to catch him singing at the New Orleans Jazz Fest a few years back.

He has a new CD out soon called Homeland. Here is a brief bio on the man:

Born in Louisiana just outside of New Orleans' colorful French Quarter, CP Love grew up surrounded by a heritage of Blues and Jazz. CP was raised listening to the greats, many of who also started their music careers on the Mississippi, down in New Orleans. Sam Cooke, Elmo James, and Johnny Taylor all became the foundation of Blues that inspired CP to create his own style.

Filled with soul and high energy, CP delivers his music with a tremendous amount of feeling through a clear soulful voice that was made for Blues. The only son of Roy and Corine Love, CP took to music as a teenager. Local bands solicited CP's guitar playing and he found himself with professional gigs as early as age 15. Being too young to legally enter, let alone play in a club, on occasion when police would stop in during one of their gigs, CP would quickly disappear and wait out back till authotities left. CP began opening for top acts in the early 70's for entertainers such as BB King and Fats Domino.

He has also performed on prominent stages across the country as a headliner himself. CP has performed at many Blues and Jazz Festivals, including New Orleans' famous Jazz Fest as well as appearances from California to New York and to Canada at the Montreal Blues Featival, with over 250,000 people in attendance. CP has been compared to greats such as Sam Cooke and Otis Redding.

However, it's his originals, Stubborn Girl", "True Blue" and "Secondline Home" that are real gems. CP's music style range from Blues and Soul to R&B and Raggae, and his song list is extensive including standards and originals. While CP"s recordings are awesome, nothing can compare to seeing him perform live! CP's Southern Soul style is upbeat and unforgetable.

In addition to working with his band, CP founded Trip City Jingles, and is president of Pierre' Publishing. CP is currently working on several projects, writing, arranging, and recording. Putting his career on hold after Hurricane Katrina, his new CD "My Homeland" is now complete and ready for release.


Nathaniel Mayer New CD Release Party 5/10/07

The record release party for Nathaniel Mayer's new album "Why Don't You Give It To Me?,"is scheduled for Friday October 5th at the the Magic Bag Theatre in Ferndale, MI.

Also on the bill are SSM and The Meltdowns.

"Why Don't You Give It To Me" is out now on CD and color vinyl (ltd. edition) on Alive Naturalsound records.

"His now thin, raspy voice may not be what older fans recall, but the raw Detroit soulrecorded here should still take them back to the days when the town's soul was so heavythat it influenced the burgeoning garage rock scene as much as it did the slicker Motown sound."- Rock & Roll and Meandering Nonsense

"You can almost smell the cigarette smoke, cheap scotch, cologne and sweat emanating from Mayer'spowder-blue polyester suit. C'mon, give the man some love." - Pop Matters

Folk Art Blues Man Paintings

Mystic River

Drop by Folk Art Blues Man MySpace to see more wonderful paintings with blues music themes.

Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine

Check out the new Issue of Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine and how to subscribe with great cool blues bonus offers of CDs, t-shirts, festival tickets and more at

www.bigcitybluesmag.com

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Three Tenors Of Soul

I've had some information in from Bobby Eli on his new project "Three Tenors Of Soul".

On September 25, 2007, The Philadelphia Sound is reborn on a highly anticipated and historic new recording featuring the lead vocalists from three iconic groups of Philly’s golden era: The Stylistics’ Russell Thompkins Jr., The Delfonics’ William ‘Poogie’ Hart and Blue Magic’s Ted Mills. The Three Tenors- All the Way From Philadelphia will mark the first time that these dynamic vocalists have ever been captured on record with one another.

Three Tenors of Soul – All The Way From Philadelphia is the completion of a dream for producer Bobby Eli. “For a long time I have wanted to put together a sort of super group featuring three falsetto voices that were well known during the 70s,” says Eli. “The top three groups that epitomize the sweet soul sound of Philadelphia are the Delfonics, Stylistics and Blue Magic. Each of the guys - William, Russell and Ted - have their own distinct sound. Although all are natural tenors, they each bring to the plate their own identity. The trick was getting songs that would work with all three and I think I have nailed it!”

All The Way From Philadelphia showcases a refreshing mix of newly energized R&B classics as well as one Hall & Oates original, the title track, which has never been recorded. The tracks on the CD feature all three tenors either as a group or one as the lead while the others harmonize background vocals. Russell Thompkins Jr.’s smooth and refined tenor takes the lead on such stellar versions of Barry Gibb’s “Too Much Heaven,” The Average White Band’s “A Love of Your Own” and Yvette Davis’ “How Could I Let You Get Away,” a song that Russell Thompkins Jr. has long wanted to record and that was originally recorded by the Spinners. Ted Mills’ sensual and soulful vocals are showcased on Maurice White’s classic “Fantasy,” from Earth, Wind & Fire’s triple platinum selling All 'N All LP, as well as on “Grateful” an original by producer Bobby Eli co-written with Vinnie Barrett. All three tenors shine on such classics as Hall & Oates’ 1 1981 hit “I Can’t Go for That” which also features Hall & Oates as does the title track. The three tenors also coalesce on the Gamble & Huff gem “Where Are All My Friends” which was a hit for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes and the Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager’s “That’s What Friends Are For,” originally sung by Rod Stewart for the soundtrack of Ron Howard’s film Night Shift but which is far better known by Dionne Warwick’s cover with Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie Wonder.

Exhibition: American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music

Joe Cuba band member dancing with partner at the Palladium, New York City, circa 1955. Courtesy of Johan Kugelberg.

October 13, 2007 - September 7, 2008 American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music

This exhibition is the first interpretive museum exhibition to tell the story of the profound influence and impact of Latinos in American popular music. Rich with artifacts, instrument interactives, listening kiosks, and films, American Sabor opens at EMPSFM October 13, 2007.

The 5,000-square-foot exhibition focuses on five major centers of Latino popular music production in the post-World War II United States—New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, San Antonio and San Francisco—which represent the diversity of Latino music. Each city section draws visitors into the broader histories and cultures that shaped these musicians’ contributions through artifacts, hands-on instrument interactives designed to teach key concepts, highly produced listening kiosks that allow critical listening and learning, three films created for the exhibit and interpretive text presented in English and Spanish.

Latino contributions to popular music in the United States have too often been relegated to the margins and footnotes of a narrative dominated by the interaction of African and European Americans—an overly black and white view of our musical history. American Sabor (sabor is the Spanish word for taste or flavor, commonly used to describe good music) is a museum exhibit that turns that phrase and that perspective on its head, documenting the roles of post-World War II U.S. Latino musicians as interpreters and disseminators of Latin American genres, but also highlighting their roles as innovators within genres of music that we understand to be indigenous to the United States, such as jazz, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll and hip-hop.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Big Joe Louis Go-Go Train Timmion

Åmål's Blues FestivalSweden (2001)Photo: Erik Lindahl

Singer of true life deep blues songs - straight from the heart. Born and raised in Kingston Jamaica but has lived in London UK since the 1980s. Lover of gospel, soul, blues and reggae music. Twice winner of "Best UK Male Blues Singer" award. He's accompanied/recorded with Big Jack Johnson, Lazy Lester, Rev Charlie Jackson,Van Morrison, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Big Lucky Carter, Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes, John Primer, Homesick James, Big Bad Smitty and many, many more. One of the most widely-travelled blues artists in Europe.

Check out his great new 45 on his MySpace


Hammond Beat Records

Following on from the last post - let's stick with Hammond Beat and over to the masters of the genre Hammond Beat Records.

Hammond Beat's first CD for the label came from Italy's The Link Quartet followed by 2 more CDs in 2004 featuring a 2nd album from The Link Quartet and a soundtrack for the independent film "Wilson Chance".

In late 2005, Hammondbeat started it's next phase with a much expanded roster. The Dansettes (NYC) and The Fil Lorenz Soul-tet (San Francisco) got their recording debuts in November, followed by label debuts (May '06) of spy-surfers The Special Agents (UK), dancefloor monsters Screamin' Retro (UK), the greatest funky jam band around The Yards (USA), and the masters of bass heavy soundscapes Baron Samedi E.S.Q. (Canada).

Over the next year our catalog will double in size with follow-ups from all of the above along with label debuts by Stoned Soul Picnic, Nick Rossi Set, Men From S.P.E.C.T.R.E., Phat Fred, Groove-o-matic Deluxe, and many, many more!

Hammondbeat also features a forum where we post record reviews, and fans can intereact with each other and the artists within the community and on the label.

All of our records are available from most MP3 resellers (iTunes, eMusic, etc), online shops (CDBaby, Amazon, Dusty Groove, etc.), via special order at your local record stores (we are distributed by Burnside Distribution), and of course directly from our website

www.hammondbeat.com

Nick Rossi Set


The Nick Rossi Set are one of the grooviest of the Hammond beat bands.

Celebrating nearly a decade plying their groove trade, the NICK ROSSI SET are internationally know as San Francisco's premiere Hammond organ combo. With a discography that includes releases on such hip labels as Acid Jazz, Blow It Hard, and Record Kicks; the group continues to find fans world-wide. Their sound digs deep into the classic soul jazz bags of Blue Note & Prestige Records from the first great era of right-on sounds. Their debut disc, ON THE OUTSET, is available in stereo on CD from Hammondbeat Records, in hi-fi mono on LP from Flare Records, and as a download from iTunes.

Drop over to their MySpace and taken a listen to tracks from the On The Outset.

Jump The Gun Brighton

I recently spent a few days in Brighton where I used to live back in the early 70's. One shop of interest I came across was Jump The Gun in Gardiner Street. The shop has been described in the Yahoo Travel Guide as follows:

Selling very chic and authentic mod wear, this shop plays on the image created of Brighton in the film Quadrophenia. The window display holds such memorabilia as a Vespa moped and a British flag. Although on the expensive side you could find yourself shopping alongside stars such as Paul Weller. They stock the inevitable Ben Sherman shirts and parkas, but also have their own range of interesting shirts. Great for classic suits with a twist, this is the perfect place for informal men who attend formal events.

After passing Jump The Gun, I continued my walk around the North Street area of Brighton. While I was walking down from the station I passed Church Street and noticed a familiar sight. I couldn't believe my eyes to see that a sign advertising a secondhand clothes shop was still hanging above the door though the shop was long closed.

Back in the early 70's, I purchased several sets of clothes from the shop including a gorgeous grey Italian design suit which looked so cool - I was so pleased because I was too young to have been able to buy this perfect mod attire in the 60's - I cannot recall what I did with it!!!!

Motown Pic Sleeves




Delved back into the archives to share these 4 Motown pic sleeves

Karmello Brooks Photo

I've finally found a picture of the lady on the Net - check out my post on her.

With A Lot Of Soul @ Burnhearts 29/9/07

A shout for MySpace friend Aaron Soma - check it out

Les Baxter Space Serenade

I love offbeat album sleeves for many reasons - sense of humour, artwork, atmosphere, surreality etc.

Fell on the above one which made me laugh!

Check out my Les Baxter Wild In The Streets post

Spyder Turner On The Radio

Please check out his show by following link above.

Love & Happiness 29/9/07

My mate Andy Davies has just mailed me about above:
Saturday 29th September
Love & Happiness@ Qube
Love& Happiness is a monthly celebration of five decades of soul music. From the raw innocence of 60's R&B through the 70's, 80's & 90's modern and Nu Soul. Not forgeting todays soulful house too (If you've ever been in the Connoisseurs Corner at Southport you'll get the idea).
Each month will see guest DJs providing the creme de la creme of scintilating soul music.
The Lounge Quality Soul music without boundaries...if it good its it gets played:
Andy Davies(Southport Weekender/ Togetherness Weekender/Blackpool Weekender)
Smudger
Dimitry Soul
Smoov
Gary Senior (Baggie)
The Loft:
Soulful house with Wayne D plus guests
£2 before 9pm, £3 after.
Doors open at 8pm
Qube
Regent Street
Sheffield

Andantes Biography Out Soon!


Just got a message through to say Bankhouse Books will be publishing the Andantes bio:

The Andantes' story will be told at last, in their own words, in Vickie Wright's new book for BHB.

On sale November. Reserve your copy now:

andantes@aol.com

Gils Peterson Digs America Vol 2 Out 25/9/07

Just got a copy through from Ubiquity and this is as tasty as Vol 1 and therefore essential. A mix of the obscure, exotic and rare - an aural treat which I found very enjoyable.

Check out full track listing over on Ubiquity

Linda Jones Gee

Courtesy of Johnny Spencer

I picked a bulletin up from Terry Jones, the daughter of the late, great soulstress Linda Jones:
Hey,
Just reaching out to let you know today we made available the single Gee on MySpace .
Everyone was asking for it so I put it out there on www.cdfreedom.com/lindajones
Or you can visit my Mom's Myspace page and click there to get it.
I'm currently working on the unreleased material and trying to have it ready for the holidays. "GEE" will not be on the CD it will only be available as a download.
I wish my Mom was here to see how many fans she still has!
Take Care and Talk Soon,
Terry Jones
Here is what Terry has to say about he mother:

My Mom Linda Jones left this earth way to soon. Most of the information written about my mother is incorrect so lets start with her birth date. Linda was born in Newark, New Jersey December 14, 1944 not in January as previously reported and she did not collapse backstage at the Apollo during her week engagement, rushed to the hospital slipped into a coma and passed away. She did fall ill at the Apollo but my Mom came home, laid down after her first show, my grandmother went into her room to wake her so she could get ready for her next performance but my Mom would not wake up. She went into a sugar coma. My grandmother called the ambulance and they rushed my Mom to the hospital and on March 14, 1972 she passed away. My Mom should have canceled her performance that day but not my Mom.
Let's talk about the pleasant things about my Mom. She would go in the studio never hearing a song and once taught the melody would sing the song down in one take, while reading off of the paper. Richard Poindexter who co-wrote "Hypnotized will tell you she recorded in one take! She was what they call a singers singer. She suffered with diabetes and other heath problems but that never stopped her from doing her music to the fullest. My Mom didn't have the best people around her handling her business but not many artist of her time did.
One day I will tell the complete story but for now I ask you to enjoy her music old and get ready for the new to be released on my label in 2008. I would like to say thank you to all of my Mom's fans around the world old and new for keeping her memory and music alive!!
Sincerely, Terry Jones Daughter Of Linda Jones
By the way, if you want to see more of Johnny Spencer's artworks then drop by his site.

Helen & Terry

Check these 2 ladies out!!! Drop by their MySpace and take a listen.

Here's a message from the ladies:

Helen Bruner & Terry Jones, artist, songwriters and producers own and operate Phil'erzy Productions. Phil'erzy is an independent music production company, specializing in music for Artist, Film, TV, Ringtones, Ringbacks and the Gaming industry. Helen & Terry songs have been featured in many films and television series, like the Paramount Pictures blockbuster The Score starring Robert DeNiro, Ed Norton, Angela Bassett and Marlon Brando. The Score opened with Helen & Terry's song "Here Comes The Morning". Helen & Terry songs have been licensed to over 200 compilations worldwide. Their song "Caught Up" was a club anthem and reached ..1 on the Billboard Dance Charts. In 2007 as artist Helen & Terry will release a new R&B soulful cd "Superstar." You can hear tracks on this myspace page, the title track Superstar" (Famouso) and more. Helen & Terry's voice can be heard on projects from Grammy winning artist Celine Dion to Hip Hop royalty Redman & Method Man. Terry is the lead vocal on Red & Meth's biggest hit "How High" and she is the daughter of R&B soul singer Linda Jones who recorded the r&b classic "Hypnotized". Some of you who are into dance music may remember Helen & Terry's songs written for mid to late 90's dance artist Next Phase, "I Ain't Got Time" , "My Desire" and "Piece of Mind". Helen & Terry's song "He Is Your Friend help to keep Joe T. Vannelli's "Supalova" CD on the charts in Italy in the top 10 for 12 weeks. For more info on Helen & Terry visit http:// www.philerzy.com. Musically!

HELEN & TERRY CD "SUPERSTAR" IS NOW AVAILABLE ON ITunes

Helen & Terry's new R&B CD "SUPERSTAR" will be released in Europe starting with ITALY on Dream Beat/Self labels and in 2007 in the STATES , For those of you in the UK you can get the CD at www.soulbrother.com. "Superstar" is packed with 14 tracks from midtempo, ballads and uptempo produced by Helen & Terry that are sure to become classics!

In the next post up - news from Terry about her late mother Linda Jones.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Music To Check Out Book

I have been away for a few days travelling around Sussex. I love all things associated with music and fell for this little book in a shop in Lewes, Sussex.

Here's the company blurb:

Patterned after the successful Books to Check Out series, this journal is perfect for music lovers who want to keep track of their audio adventures, including sections for Music to Check Out, Reviews to Write, Playlists to Create, and a pocket to store tickets and music reviews

Going to have fun filling it up!!!!

Get a copy direct from Chronicle Books

German Funk Fieber


The blurb on their MySpace says:

Compiling groovy German songs from the 60s and 70s is not really a new thing. However a compilation focussing only on German Funk in its wholevariety is actually a world premier!The music on this compilation ranges from rare Blaxploitation Soundtrack Funk to special cover versions of great classics like Summertime, Watermelon Man or Family Affair. All dressed up in a unique Funk outfit. Rare original compositions from mysterious Funk bands like "Die Melon Men" or "Messengers" stand in line with funky obscurities of Schlager stars like Howard Carpendale or Rock icon Udo Lindenberg. On top of that there are three previously unreleased recordings by Germany's funkiest Orchestra bandleaders Heinz Kiessling, Rolf-Hans Mueller and the legendary Peter Herbolzheimer. Almost non of these 18 songs were ever released on CD before. Ultra Rare Groove DJ Funk bombs for your listening pleasure. Carefully selected, licensed & remastered.

Check it out on Amazon