Tim Maia ‎- Nobody Can Live Forever ~ The Existential Soul of Tim Maia

Year : 2012 

Label : Luaka Bop 

Genre : Soul 

Style : Funk/Soul, Psychedelic Soul

No need to introduce the iconic godfather of the Brazilian soul music, the man who contributed to create the Black Rio movement introducing American R&B in Brazilian music. Compiled by Paul Heck for Luaka Bop, the label of Talking Heads' founder member, David Byrne, "The Existential Soul of Tim Maia" brings together some of the best Tim Maia's productions recorded during the 1970 decade including his mystical "Cultura Racional" period from 1974-1975. Despite the club killers "O Balanço" & "Rodésia" are missing, find on this fabulous compilation, five undisputed classics extracted from "Racional Vol. 1 & 2" among "Que Beleza", "Quer Queira, Quer Não Queira" or "O Caminho Do Bem" featuring  saxophonist Oberdan Magalhães from Banda Black Rio and pianist/arranger Robson Jorge. Titles includes also some mighy funk (Brother, Father, Sister), soulful treasures (I Don't Care) and the disco (Do Leme Ao Pontal). Essential !!

Earth, Wind & Fire - Last Days And Time

Year : 1972

Label : CBS
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Psychedelic Soul

Maurice White is back with a new line-up (exept his brother Verdine), recruiting saxophonist Ronnie Laws (brother of jazz flautist Hubert Laws), keyboardist Larry Dunn, percussionist Philipp Bailey among others, the definitive formation of the band during several years. "Last Days And Time" like its predecessors is a psychedelic soul album including short free jazz interludes, the latin Soul song "Mom" and the killer instrumental track "Power" sampled by Pete Rock for "Mind Frame" feat. Freddie Foxxx in 2001. The cover is designed by renowed artist Mati Klarwein also in charge of famous cover art for Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" album released in 1970.

MUSICIANS : Maurice White - drums, kalimba & vocal - Roland Bautista - guitar - Verdine White - bass, vocal & percussion - Ronald Laws - tenor, soprano saxophone & flute - Larry Dunn - piano, clavinet & organ - Phillip Bailey - congas & percussion & vocal - Ralph Johnson - drums & percussion - Jessica Cleaves - vocal

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

Shuggie Otis - Here Comes Shuggie Otis

Year : 1970
Label : Epic/Sony
Genre : Soul, Jazz, Rock
Style : Soul, Jazz, Psychedelic Soul

Debut album of the "Jimi Hendrix" of Soul music featuring jazz great bassist Al McKibbon, Preston Love (fl, sax), Wilton Felder (eb) and "Stix" Hooper (ds) from The Crusaders. At just fifteen year old, his father, the famous musician and producer Johnny Otis, introduces him on his shows and Al Kooper invited him to participate to the "Kooper Session" recordings in 1969 alongside Stephen Stills and Mike Bloomfield. After only three solo albums, he becomes again a session musician for his father. "Here Comes Shuggie Otis" crosses musical boundaries and contributes to the emergence of the Psychedelic Soul style including "Oxford Gray", reminiscent of the Hendrix guitar-playing. Titles include Soul Jazz (Bootie Cooler, Funky Thithee), Soul Funk (Hurricane), Blues (Shuggie's Boogie), Blues Rock (Gospel Groove, Hawkins), Folk Rock (Knowing (That You Want Him)) and Pop (Jennie Lee).

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Earth, Wind And Fire - The Need Of Love

Year : 1971
Label : Warner
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Psychedelic Soul

Second album of the band featuring guest musicians, jazz trumpeter Oscar Brashear and percussionist Yackov Ben Israel. As the previous album, "The Need Of Love" includes Funk/Soul songs to the jazz expressions, as evidence the opening track, the psalm "Energy", a over nine-minute suite with free forms, slam and funky arrangements. Titles include Psychedelic Soul songs "I Can Feel It In My Bones", "Everything Is Everything", "Beauty" and the love ballad "I Think About Lovin' You".

MUSICIANS : Maurice White - drums, percussion, kalimba, vocals - Verdine Adams - bass - Michael Beale - guitar, harmonica - Yackov Ben Israel - percussion, congas - Don Whitehead - piano, electric piano - Chester Washington - tenor saxophone - Alex Thomas - trombone - Oscar Brashear - trumpet, vocals - Wade Flemons & Sherry Scott - vocals

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Rotary Connection - Songs

Year : 1969
Label : Cadet
Genre : Soul, Rock
Style : Psychedelic Soul

The Rotary Connection was an experimental Psychedelic Soul & Rock band featuring sassy soul sister Minnie Riperton and frontman Sidney Barnes on vocals, supported by Mitch Aliota (eb, vo), John Jerimiah (org), John Stocklin (eg) and Kenny Venegas (ds). Created by producer Marshall Chess, the band was active between from 1967 to 1974 before Minnie Riperton devoted to her solo career. As the title suggests "Songs" is a cover album including british rock classics from Cream (Sunshine Of Your Love, Tales Of Brave Ulysses, We're Going Wrong), Jimmy Hendrix (Burning Of The Midnight Lamp), The Rolling Stones (Salt Of The Earth), Soul covers from Stevie Wonder (This Town), Otis Redding (Respect) and Blues with the Muddy Waters' "I've Got My Mojo Working".

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Earth Wind And Fire (Self-Titled)

Year : 1970
Label : Warner
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Psychedelic Soul, Jazz Funk

The Psychedelic Soul debut album by one of most great funk band of all the time far from the Boogie-Funk sound which made them famous in the mid-seventies. Earth, Wind & Fire was formed in 1969 by Maurice White, a session drummer for Chess records and former member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio, pianists Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead. The band left their mark in 1971, on the soundtrack of famous blaxploitation film "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" starring & directed by Melvin Van Peebles. In 1974, the core of the band collabored to the Ramsey Lewis album "Sun Goddess" which contributes to their renown. Titles include the Latin Funk "Help Somebody", "C'mon Children", "Bad Tune" sampled by Brand Nubian for "Dance For My Ministry" in 1990 and DJ Shadow for "In/Flux" in 1993. All songs arranged by Earth, Wind & Fire, all songs written & composed Maurice White, Wade Flemons, Don Whitehead except "C'mon Children" & "Bad Tune" by Michael Beale/Verdine Adams .

MUSICIANS : Maurice White - drums, percussion, kalimba, vocals - Verdine Adams - bass - Michael Beale - guitar - Phillard Williams - percussion, congas - Don Whitehead - piano, electric piano - Chester Washington - reeds - Alex Thomas - trombone - Leslie Drayton - trumpet - Sherry Scott - vocals - Wade Flemons - vocals, electric piano

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