I’ve mentioned this Detroit-based singer before. Now he just released a new album this spring, and is touring, and hitting Philly this weekend.
LOVE this track. Also check out Making Time from said LP.
Archive for the ‘Soul’ Category
Showing The Love for The Dramatics
February 14, 2013
Here’s a special Valentine’s treat from Wax Poetics Magazine. They’ve compiled a list of 20 Hit Records by Philly’s beloved Dramatics.
The Wax Poetics record label will also release a new Dramatics album in March, their first since 1974. It’s not really the full band, but a project by lead songwriter/falsetto singer William Hart.
My favorite columnist A.D. Amorosi also wrote a piece in the City Paper on the Hart and his new release.
The last time I wrote a special post on Valentine’s Day was back in 2009. It is still relevant, so if you didn’t see it then, check it out now.
Northern Soul 3
October 25, 2012
Detroit, 1967:
MP3: Popcorn Orchestra- Going To A Happening
Chicago, 1967. Wow what a drummer:
MP3: The Mighty Marvelows -Talkin’ Bout Ya, Baby
Been digging up some nice forgotten Motown nuggets. The great thing about Motown releases is the sound quality. There are tens of thousands of solid northern soul releases from the 60s, but there are no master recordings from most of them, so we’re stuck with a direct rip from a muffled, scratchy 45. Not so with Motown.
So goddamn who’s been hiding this Isley Brothers track from us for so long? Written by Ivory Joe Hunter & Stevie Wonder, It never appeared on any LP until this century.
MP3: Isley Brothers- My Love Is Your Love (Forever)
And speaking of the Isley Brothers; boy have they had a successful career, flying just under the average listener’s radar.
Too Hot
September 3, 20121965:
Major Lance sounds very similar to Curtis Mayfield. They attended the same high school and Mayfield wrote a lot of his material. Lance’s voice is better- Mayfield always sings a bit sharp- but the recording quality of Lance’s material is definitely subpar.
MP3: Major Lance- It Ain’t No Use
Major Lance- Too Hot To Hold on FleaMarketFunk
This track is totally unrelated but something I’ve been feeling lately. 1969:
MP3: Thomas East- Slippin’ Around
Also unrelated, but real modern soul performed two days ago:
Philly Soul 2
August 1, 2012
Apparently this is one of the most expensive funk soul 45s around. I don’t even know what year it is, but it’s got a great backbeat that’s just waiting to be looped and extended. It doesn’t have a typical Philly sound, but alas, it is Philly soul at its finest:
Here’s a track that has every element of the typical “northern soul” sound that the Brits are so fond of. Driving, uptempo (but not too aggressive) drums, fast tempo, beautiful, harmonizing backing vocals, uplifting lyrics, keys, strings and horns that really cook but aren’t too “in your face”.
Apparently this Philly group was a precursor to MFSB, but I can’t find a thing more about them. 1966:
MP3: Pat & The Blenders- Just Because
This ain’t anywhere near Philly. It’s Bay Area Afrofunk by way of Ghana but I had to share because it’s too good not to, and if I don’t do it now I never will. 1982:
Your Playing Days Are Over
July 10, 2012
Been all over the place for the past week. While I was away BadLuckCityBlog had one of it’s busiest days ever, but I have no idea how or why.
This post on Grand Funk Railroad has gotten quite a few neat comments, but not that many hits. This one about Craigslist scams gets quite a bit of traffic, but nowhere near 300 hits a day.
This is great, but I wish more readers would comment on the music. It takes a lot of effort to pillage and post this stuff people! C’mon- show some love in the comments section.
Now on to said music.
I can’t find a single speck of information on this disco funk ode to Dr. J. I just found it on the 2011 disco comp The Best Of Disco Demands by Al Kent:
MP3: The Fans- Dr Dunk (Ballad Of Dr J)
I like this cover MUCH better than the original, and I’m even a big Ruby Andrews fan, so that’s saying a lot for this disco boogie track from 1980:
MP3: Coffee- Casanova
Well since I mentioned Ruby, I have to post my favorite of hers. From her 1972 LP Black Ruby:
Just in time for the 4th
June 29, 2012
Gonna give you a little of everything.
Horn-fueled funky disco from 1979:
MP3: The Players Association- Turn The Music Up!
Straight up Meters funk on a Joe Cocker cover. 1977:
MP3: West Coast Revival- Feelin’ Alright
RnB boogie, 1982:
Motown sound from the motor city. 1971:
MP3: Dee Edwards- Why Can’t There Be Love?
MP3: Pilooski- Can’t There Be Love
More Dee, from 1977. She died in 2006:
MP3: Dee Edwards- I Can Deal With That
Hippy indie roots rock from Austin TX care of a HearYa live session:
D’Angelo comes out of hiding
June 14, 2012
D’Angelo, THEE finest of the new/old/neo soul artists, released a couple albums in the mid 90s and early 2000s, then vanished.
A handful of tracks from his Voodoo LP never ever ever leave my iPod, but I’ve been longing for something new from him for over a decade now. Well he’s finally come out of hiding, has done his first interview in ages, and played a few one-off shows. Pretty exciting. Then the big news: Jay-Z announced the lineup for his Budweiser Made in America festival in Philly, and D’Angelo is on the bill! That means a new record should be in the works.
Here’s his interview in GQ, his first in 12 years. Sounds like he was battling some serious addiction. The Roots’ Questlove is quoted heavily in the article, so perhaps he played a part in getting D on the bill here in Philly.
Here’s his best track in my book. Lets hope he gets his shit together and releases something close to this perfect:
MP3: D’Angelo- Send It On
The Godfather of Go Go
May 17, 2012
Chuck Brown died yesterday. I wrote a bit about him way back in 2007. If you’re not familiar with go go, it’s a strictly Washington DC-based scene that’s been around forever and still going on today. Once in a very great while, a go go tune will escape DC and reach the rest of the world– most notably E.U’s Da Butt in 1988.
Watch out now. This shit’s funky.
2007:
1974 from Salt of the Earth LP:
MP3: Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers- Blow Your Whistle
More on Chuck from funky16corners
