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

Bob James - BJ 4

Year : 1977

Label : CTI

Genre : Jazz

Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

The final chapter of the Bob James tetralogy and last volume of the four discs serie produced for CTI from 1974 to 1977. As the previous albums, the rhythm section is based on Steve Gadd, Eric Gale, Gary King & Ralph MacDonald, including soloists Hubert Laws and Art Farmer, all supported by strings ensemble. Titles include original compositions by Bob James from Jazz Funk (Where The Wind Blows Free, Tappan Zee) to Smooth Jazz (Pure Imagination, Nights Are Forever Without You) with caribbean overtones (Treasure Island). All tracks arrranged by Bob James, produced by Creed Taylor, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Bob James_keyboards
Gary King_bass
Steve Gadd_drums
Eric Gale_guitar
Ralph MacDonald_percussion
Romeo Penque & Eddie Daniels_tenor saxophone & bass clarinet

01. Pure Imagination

02. Where The Wind Blows Free
03. Tappan Zee
04. Nights Are Forever Without You
05. Treasure Island
06. El Verano

LISTEN SAMPLE

Bob James - Two

Year : 1975
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

Volume 2 of the Bob James' jazz funk tetralogy featuring CTI All-Stars musicians and special guests, songstress Patti Austin, bassist Gary King, drummer Steve Gadd & flutist Hubert Laws. As the previous "One", the formation is supported by strings ensemble and horns section including trumpeter Randy Brecker. Titles include  "Take Me To The Mardi Gras", one of the most widely used tracks in Hip-Hop breakbeat samples (N.W.A., Beastie Boys, Run-DMC), "I Feel A Song" featuring Patti Austin and variation on "Farandole (L'Arlesienne Suite #2)" taken from classical french composition by George Bizet. All tracks conducted & arranged by Bob James, recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

MUSICIANS : Bob James - keyboards / Eric Gale - guitar & bass / Richie Resnicoff - guitar /

Andrew Smith - drums / Arthur Jenkins & Ralph McDonald - percussions / Randy Brecker - trumpet / Gary King - bass / Steve Gadd - drums / Hubert Laws - flute

TRACKLIST : Bob James - Take Me To The Mardi Gras / Bob James Feat. Patti Austin - I Feel A Song / Bob James Feat. Steve Gadd & Gary King - The Golden Apple / Bob James Feat. Hubert Laws - Farandole (L'Arlesienne Suite #2) / Bob James - You're Right As Rain - Dream Journey

LISTEN SAMPLE