Friday, April 26, 2013

Syl Johnson - Is It Because I'm Black


Year : 1970
Label : Twinight Records
Genre : Soul
Style : Funk/Soul

Syl Johnson at the top with his second album, a masterpiece of Soul/R&B recorded in 1969 featuring The Pieces Of Peace as backing band and Jimmy Jones as songwriter. Like most of Afro-American songwriters from the sixties decade, Syl Johnson explores identity and social condition of his community including protest songs, whose iconic "It Is Because I’m Black" is the most representative, becoming a big Soul classic over time. Titles include also the killer funk "Right On", played in the purest James Brown style, Jazz & Pop covers from Oscar Brown (Black Balloons), Joe South (Walk A Mile In My Shoes) and The Beatles (Come Together). Produced and performed by Syl Johnson and The Pieces Of Peace.

MUSICIANS : Syl Johnson - vocal, rhythm guitar - John Bishop - lead guitar - Bernard Reed - bass - Byron Bowie - saxophone - Rahmlee Michael Davis & Jerry Wilson - trumpet - Hal "Heavy" Nesbitt - drums

Various - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Gordon's War


Year : 1973
Label : Buddah Records
Genre : Jazz, Soul, Stage & Screen
Style : Funk/Soul

One of the best blaxploitation soundtrack ever recorded with loud brass section, produced by Harvey Fuqua, Al Elias & Angelo Badalamenti. Most of the tracks are recorded and performed by studio band "Badder Than Evil" (in fact, conducted by Al Elias and Angelo Badalamenti) with the sweet voice of soul sister Barbara Mason on "Child Of Tomorrow" movie theme. The others tracks are performed by Detroit Soul band 'New Birth' formerly The Nite-Liters (Come On And Dream Some Paradise) and Sister Goose And The Ducklings (Super Shine #9). All selections written by Al Elias & Andy Badale, arranged and conducted by Horace Ott.

TRACKLIST : Barbara Mason - Child Of TomorrowBadder Than Evil - Just Plain Luther - He'll Be There - Roberta's Theme - Harlem Dreams - New Birth - Come On And Dream Some Paradise - Badder Than Evil - Tell That Man To Go To Hell - Child Of Tomorrow (Instrumental) - Sister Goose And The Ducklings - Super Shine #9 - Badder Than Evil - Hot Wheels (The Chase)Barbara Mason - Child Of Tomorrow (Reprise)

Eugene Mc Daniels - Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse


Year : 1971
Label : Atlantic
Genre : Jazz, Soul
Style : Jazz Rock, Psychedelic Soul

One of the most sampled album of all the time, recorded by Eugene Mc Daniels, a jazz/soul singer actives since the sixties who released his first smash hit single "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" in 1961. Directed and arranged by Harry Whitaker featuring Miroslav Vitous & Alphonse Mouzon from Weather Report, "Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse" is a soul/jazz album including elements of american counterculture with conscious lyrics, folk rock and psychedelic music. The whole album was a tremendous basis material for Hip-Hop samples during the nineties such as "Headless Heroes" (sampled by Beastie Boys on "Get It Together", Pete Rock & CL Smooth on "Soul Brother #1", Eric B. & Rakim on "Pass The Hand Grenade"), "Jagger The Dagger" (A Tribe Called Quest on "Bonita Applebum", "After Hours") or "Freedom Death Dance" (Pete Rock & CL Smooth on "Act Like You Know"). "Headless Heroes" was selected for the Atlantic Records compilation "Right On! (Break beats and grooves from the Atlantic and Warner vaults 1967-1975)" released in 1999.

MUSICIANS : Eugene McDaniels - lead vocal  - Carla Cargill - chorus, vocal - Harry Whitaker - electric piano - Gary King - electric bass - Miroslav Vitous - acoustic bass - Alphonse Mouzon - drums - Richie Resnikoff - guitar

Thursday, April 11, 2013

The Procussions - Up All Night


Year : 2004
Label : Miclife Recordings
Genre : Hip Hop, Jazz
Style : Hip Hop Jazz, Conscious

Mr. J. Medeiros (rap),  Resonant (rap) and Stro The 89th Key (keyboards, drums, rap) form the american Hip-Hop group, The Procussions. "Up All Night" was recorded in a night jam session that combines jazz fusion including Fender Rhodes & spoken words, mixed by Jason Skills (from The Sound Providers). After they were signed to Rawkus Records, they released their second album "5 Sparows For 2 Cents" including featurings such as Talib Kweli on "Miss January" (2006) and recorded "It's All Real" on "Shattered Soul On A Pastel Sky", first album of Shin-Ski (2007). An enhanced limited edition was released the same year in japan with five bonus tracks whose the unreleased Life Of Brian and the fantastic Shin-Ski's remix of "Introducing... (What's Your Name?)" feat. DJ Ryow on turntables and one video clip directed by Brandon Kraines.

Pretty Purdie - Soul Drums


Year : 1968
Label : Date
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

Debut album as a leader of popular jazz session drummer Bernard Purdie featuring guitarist Eric Gale and pianist Richard Tee, also in charge of arrangements. "Soul Drums" is more a R&B record than a jazz album including deep funk grooves and amazing drum breaks (his typical drum patterns called "The Purdie Shuffle" & "Half-Time Purdie"). Titles include only Bernard Purdie's compositions whose the hit single "Funky Donkey", the Bossa Funk "Soul Bossa Nova" and a variation of jazz standard "Caravan" by Duke Ellington not so far from Rock 'N Roll. All tracks arranged & conducted by Richard Tee.

MUSICIANS : Bernard Purdie - drums, vocals - Bob Bushnell - bass - Eric Gale & Billy Butler - guitar - Richard Tee - piano & organ - Seldon Powell - tenor saxophone & flute - Buddy Lucas - tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone

Syl Johnson - Dresses Too Short


Year : 1968
Label : Twinight Records
Genre : Soul
Style : Funk/Soul

Big Soul record by guitarist/singer Syl Johnson, hitmaker and producer from Chicago, released under Twinight Records including his 1967 hit, "Come On Sock It to Me". This soulful album features among influences of various contemporary R&B artists. The song "Different Strokes" is a popular raw material for samples in Hip-Hop community, such as Public Enemy on "Miuzi Weighs A Ton" (1986), Wu-Tang Clan on "Shame On A Nigga" (1993) or more recently by rappers Kanye West and Jay Z on "The Joy" (2010).

Lupin The 3rd : TV Original Soundtrack BGM Collection


Year : 1980
Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Funk, Disco, Soundtrack

Original Soundtrack from the fourth and final season of Lupin The 3rd Part II, one of the most popular japanese animated serie broadcasted between 1979 & 1980. The "Original Soundtrack BGM Collection TV" completes the soundtracks previously released between 1978-1979. The compilation includes new recordings of the first unreleased tracks composed for the season one (1977-1978), later compiled in 2003 on the Lupin The 3rd Chronicle - 1977 Music File. Titles include also various soundscapes, background music frequently used in the serie (An Incognito, A Secret Passage, In The Dimentional World), and alternative versions of the opening/ending themes "Love Theme", "Love Squall" & "Lupin III". Composed & arranged by Yuji Ohno, performed by You & The Explosion Band.

 
SIDE A : Lost In The Desert (Zenigata & Lupin M4 - 1977) - An Incognito - Love Theme (New Version) - Waving Flame (Prologue M14 - 1977) - Love Squall (New Version)- Walking In A Prim (Day By Day M8 - 1977) - A Secret Passage - Lupin III (Lupin III Theme - 1977)

SIDE B : Chasing The Hustler (That's Climax - 1977) - Night Flight (Mellow Time M7 - 1977) - In The Dimentional World - !!Take A Chance!! (Chasers - 1977) - The Tumbler - On The Sunny Street - Illusional Lupin III - Love Is Everything

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