The TSU Tornadoes - Getting the Corners

The TSU Tornadoes - Getting the Corners from the Atlantic Records 45

Todays post will be kinda short and sweet, but I do have some really BIG news to announce before I get into today’s featured side. If you know me, you know I’m a Daptone Records fan. I love what the label stands for, and I applaud them for their work ethic and making music for music’s sake. I was thrilled to death to get to meet Sharon Jones after he Apollo Theater gig in NYC in October, and I’m just as excited to make this announcement today. The Budos Band will be playing live at the World Famous Asbury Lanes on Friday December 21st. It will be a full band gig (13 members), who will bring their brand of Afro Soul from the streets of Shaolin, (that’s Staten Island) to Asbury Park. Yours truly and Larry from Funky 16 Corners will be manning the decks in between sets, spinning Raw and Funky Soul all night. There may be a guest selector or two as well, so you’ll have to drop by the Lanes that night to check it out. The night will be called The 4th and Kingsley Soul Club, and will kick off a series of nights at the Lanes who focus on Funk and Soul bands. It’s one thing for me to spin this music, but I want to bring the bands that are keeping this tradition alive and kicking today, and what a great way to do it with one of the most exciting Soul bands on the circuit. A huge shout out to Dan from the Budos who worked close with me to make this show happen. Big ups my brother, we need to have a few beers at the Lanes for sure. So without me going on and on about it, I’ll drop today’s selection, albeit it short and sweet, The TSU Tornadoes with “Getting the Corners” from 1968 on Atlantic Records.

Coming straight out of Houston Texas and Texas State University, the TSU Tornadoes were the House band for Skipper Lee Frasier’s record label Ovide. I’ve featured some Ovide artists on previous mixes (Bobo Mr. Soul), and as a whole this record label really put out some funky ass sides to say the least. This band would go on to back many of them, as well as vocal group Archie Bell and the Drells biggest hit “Tighten Up”. Composed of Cal Thomas (guitar/vocals), Will Thomas (guitar/vocals), Peter Newman (bass), Darryll Busby (saxophone), Clarence “Creeper” Harper (trumpet), and Nelson Mills (horns), the TSU Tornadoes (named after their school where they were students, and their favorite car the Oldmosbile Toronado) would slowly gain a reputation on campus and in Houston as a tight unit. As well as doing gigs on their own, the band would often be the backing band (which was popular with many bands during this time) to national acts that would be in town to play in the Houston area. They backed artists like Jackie Wilson, Barbara Acklin, Etta James, and others. It was their backing of Archie Bell and the Drells that really got them their notoriety, opening the doors for them to switch to Altantic from Ovide to release this very record. With the releases they were able to do a bit of touring throughout the United States, but as it always seems, the popularity of the Tornadoes would start to fade. They released two records on Volt which would not raise many eyebrows, and put them back on Ovide, which would close it’s doors in 1971. The band eventually split up into two different groups, recording and touring respectively. Not being able to reach a happy medium with Lee and publishing, the band would be out of the picture for the next ten years or so, when they would reunite and rerecord Tighten Up.

This tune is their take on The Funky 4 Corners dance craze that was sweeping the nation at the time. Yes, it is definitely close to the Tighten Up too, horn breakdown and all, but there is something about this record that really gets me. The drums on it keep making me pick the needle and going back to them. This is the way music should be recorded: RAW and heavy, accent on the heavy. The TSU Tornadoes were on to something, and I’m definitely a fan. In fact, you may hear this very record at the Budos show, who knows? I’ll be back with a digging report from this weekend, as well as a new podcast in The Fat Owl Mix on Monday.

Keep Diggin’!

Brenda & The Tabulations - Scuze Uz Y’all

Brenda & the Tabulations - Scuze Uz Y’all from the Top and Bottom 45

What a great start to the week. I was gonna push this post off until Friday and let my latest mix ride, but I figured I’d throw some midweek goodness your way. I need to shout out the peeps at Funk Deli for giving my blog and my 100,000 Hits and Runnin Mix a great review. Thanks a lot fellas, definitely appreciate it. Maybe I need to get a late pass for this record. I always seem to pick up every other Brenda & the Tabulations record, except this side, which I believe is their best and funkiest. It’s been a hard side for me to find in the field, and thanks to some trading this past weekend, I was able to get a copy of it. Let’s jump right in to Brenda and the Tabulations with “Scuze Uz Y’all” on Top and Bottom.

Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, Brenda Payton would team up with Maurice Coates in 1966. The two worked together at a Philly playground on Second and Lehigh, and while performing for their children they supervised at the end of the Summer, were discovered by Dionn Records owner Gilda Woods. She scooped the two up (who lied about having any material at all). The tune “Dry Your Eyes” was put together quickly, and recorded on Jamie/Guyden Records by producer Bob Finiz. With the edition of James Rucker and Eddie Jackson, Philly Soul legends were born. The band, relabeled Brenda and the Tabulations, would go on to put out three more singles in 1967: “Stay Together Young Lovers”, “Just Once In a Lifetime”, and “Who’s Lovin’ You”. The cut “Hey Boy”, would be featured on the B Side of a few of those cuts. All the hits were eventually packaged together and released on Dry Your Eyes, a full length Lp. The band was also known to do some covers, putting out great renditions of Dionne Warwick’s “Walk On By”, a funked up version of the Beach Boys “God Only Knows” (featuring a young Patti Labelle on back up vocals), and my favorite “California Soul” (which I need a copy of if anyone has it). They went on to put out sides on Dionn, Top and Bottom, Epic, and Chocolate City, and eventually dabbling into Disco in the mid 70’s. Not everything was a success, and the group eventually would change personnel, adding Bernard Murphy in 1970, only to end up a trio with Pat Mercer and Deborah Martin. Says original member Maurice Coates on the eventual demise of the group: “I was trying to wear too many hats back then,” he says. “I probably should have just stayed at home and wrote music.” These words reflect back to the time when Brenda and the Tabulations were touring all over the United States and Europe, rubbing elbows with Jackie Wilson, the Beatles, Mick Jagger and Gladys Knight and the Pips. This nonstop touring was definitely a source of tension, as well as stagnation in the composing area. The group eventually called it quits, and would never reform. Brenda Payton would pass away in the 1990’s, while Coates works as a security guard these days, and dabbles in music a little. Brenda and the Tabulations saw a bit of resurgence on a few Rhino Records compilations as of late, which is always a good thing, as well as an official CD release of Dry Your Eyes. They were an integral part of the music scene in Philly in the late 60’s, and deserve all the recognition by a new audience, as well as the people who dug them in the past.

While most of Brenda and the Tabulations stuff i’ve picked up is very soulful, “Scuse Uz Y’All” gives off a different vibe. It’s a down and dirty Funky slice of Soul that doesn’t really have many lyrics (if you even count the bum pum bom pum bom), and I think is better with out them. It’s fuzzy wah-wah guitars and heavy drum beats had me hooked from the very first drop of the needle. The addition of the strings is a great touch, and when Brenda yells out “The Devil made me do it”, just before a slight break, and the beat kicks in again, you really can’t help but nod your head. This one is a keeper my friends, and if you can get your hands on it, I’d definitely say do it. It’s a winner all around, and your ears and your friend’s ears will agree. I’ll be back Friday, and make sure to stay tuned for the newest Funk and Soul mix coming your way after the weekend.

Keep Diggin!

100,000 Hits and Runnin’ Mix

Well, we made it. I never thought that this blog would take off like it has. I have all of you to thank. It’s because of you, who come back day after day, and mix after mix, that keep me going. For that, I have to say thanks. I got a request for a Hip Hop mix a while ago, so I figured I’d put together a 12″ of some artists (and producers) I really respect. Hip Hop is where it all started for me. I grew up watching Yo! MTV Raps and listening to New York and Philadelphia radio. DJs like Red Alert and Marley Marl had my head spinning. From there I tried to buy all the Hip Hop I could get my hands on. I went every week to the record store and with the money I saved from my part time job, I bought Hip Hop cassettes. I bought some records too from the local K-Mart ( I still have the original Eric B. and Rakim “Paid in Full” 12″ remix by Coldcut I got there), and that’s when the obsession took off. Too bad those tapes are long gone, another victim of one of my parent’s yard sales. I do, however, have all the Hip Hop 12″s that I started collecting when I started out DJing. There’s a lot of them, and some of them were used on this mix . Hip Hop got me to start questioning where these samples came from, and made me start seeking out these records I write about today. I owe a lot to Hip Hop, and I’m sure a lot of other DJs around my age feel the same. That being said, here’s some 12″ Hip Hop I picked out for my 100,000th Hit. I had a blast making this mix, and I hope you enjoy it as well. Keep Diggin’!

100,000 Hits and Runnin’ Tracklist:

45 King - Baseline/ Tuff City
Mos Def - Ms. Fat Booty (Prestige Remix) w/ Medina Green Beat/ Rawkus
Audio Two - Top Billin’/ First Priority Music
Jeru the Damaja - D.Original/ FFRR
De La Soul - Breakadawn/ Tommy Boy
Nas - Nas Is Like/ Columbia White Label Promo
The Roots - Dynamite/ MCA
Nice and Smooth - Funky For You/ Fresh
Gangstarr - DWYK/ Chrysalis
Jurassic 5 - Jayou/ PAIS
Public Enemy - Time Bomb/ Def Jam
Grand Puba - 360 Degrees/ Elektra
Cash Money and Marvelous - Mighty Hard Rocker/ Sleeping Bag
Big Daddy Kane - Raw/ Prism
Pete Rock and CL Smooth - T.R.O.Y./ Elecktra
Eric B. and Rakim - Juice/ MCA
Run DMC - Beats to the Rhyme/ Profile
DJ Premier - Unreleased Beat/ White Label

1- 45 King - Baseline This is from an all instrumental record entitled The Lost Breakbeats: The Grey Album that found it’s way into my crates via a lot of Hip Hop records I bought at an auction. I always admired his production, and his digging skills were always inspirational. You don’t get called the 45 King for nothing. If you haven’t seen him work doubles on two portables, scour the internet for the video, it’s dope.

2- Mos Def - Ms. Fat Booty For me, this record is all about the beat. Preemo chopped that Aretha Franklin sample to bits. I thought I’d take it a step further. I jacked the acapella and put it over the Medina Green beat for Crosstown Beef. Produced by Plug One of De La Soul.

3- Jeru the Damaja - D. Original Another Preemo produced beat. Here he samples Guru’s voice, and Jeru spits some hot fire from the full length The Sun Rises In the East. I still listen to that record today, it’s that good.

4- De La Soul - Breakadawn Coming off of Buhloone Mindstate, many De La fans were asking WTF they were doing on that record. This record always brings back good memories for me, of Summertime, and just hanging out. I’ve been a De La Soul fan from the 3 feet High days, and I’ll ride for these guys any day.

5- Nas - Nas Is Like Half man, half amazin’, that’s what Nas is. Another smoking Preemo beat, and a great offering from an otherwise dull full length. I can’t recall where I got this promo, but this version is called the “Cocaine Main Mix”. This record was dropped in 1999. It made Nas fans like me still appreciate the cat, knowing that he still had it, and could kill it like the Illmatic days.

6- The Roots - Dynamite I always respected the Roots Crew outta Illadelph, and I would have put Proceed on this mix had it not gotten stolen by some cocksucker. If you’re reading this, you know who you are asshole, and you took my original Illmatic too. You see, I had a nice promo of the second Roots record (scored for a quarter), and it mysteriously disappeared, along with said Nas record. At any rate, this offering by Philly’s best live Hip Hop band, produced by Jay Dee (RIP), is some slick shit. Also a late 90’s track, I still dig it. Nod your head to it, will you?

7- Nice and Smooth - Funky For You Dizzy Gillespie did not play the sax, but this track is a favorite of mine, despite the wack lyric. (see the Ego Trip book for more tomfoolery in rap lyrics). One of Nice and Smooth’s better tracks, and it runs right into the next side on the mix, which features them as well.

8- Gangstarr - DWYCK An all time favorite track for me to play out. I could play this at the lamest party and get people up. You need to have some Gangstarr in your life. Of course another Preemo track.

9- Jurassic 5 - Jayou I bought this record in Dublin, and instantly fell in love with these guys because of it. The DJing and production of Cut Chemist and DJ Numark, plus the old school harmony style lyrics from the rest of the J5 crew kept me coming back. I eventually got to do some promoting with them on the Vans Warped Tour one year, and was stoked to hang with them. They were all down to earth guys and the show really kicked ass. They shared a bill with Dialted Peoples, who were super cool as well. I have a ton of photos I took back then, I’ll have to dig them out one of these days.

10- Public Enemy - Time Bomb What can I say about PE that hasn’t already been said? My friend’s little bro turned me on to these guys, and music changed forever for me once again. The Bomb Squad lifted the Meters sample for “Just Kissed My Baby”, and well, the rest is history.

11- Grand Puba - 360 Degrees Grand Puba has a great flow on this single from his solo record, shortly after parting ways with Brand Nubian. I was delighted to find out way back when that he used Lowell Fulsom’s “Tramp” in this side. I love that tune, and it made me dig this record even more.

12- Cash Money and Marvelous - The Mighty Hard Rocker Philly represent here folks. What’s not to like about a World Class DJ and his crew. Forget “Ugly People Be Quiet”, this is my shit. I picked it up in London from a friend who’s roommate left all his vinyl at my friend’s flat. There I am in London with all UK pressings of PE and EPMD and De La, and what appears, this record. I liked it even more when I saw how the Chemical Brothers flipped it on their Evening at the Social Mix (which you should get).

13- Big Daddy Kane - Raw This here folks IMHO, is the greatest MC to ever touch the microphone. Many might disagree, but to me, he’s the pinnacle. King Asiatic Nobody’s Equal, ’nuff said.

14- Pete Rock and CL Smooth - T.R.O.Y. Another one of my favorite producers, Pete Rock. Mecca and the Soul Brother is a great offering from this duo, and it made me rush out and search for the Tom Scott sample. There is only one Pete Rock, and that’s a fact.

15- Eric B. and Rakim - Juice Know the ledge fool! Would GQ ever compare to the DJs of today? Was Tupac really imitating his real life? These are things we may not be able to answer. What I can answer is that this Eric B. and Rakim side is one of my favorite. I am a sucker for “Paid in Full” or “Microphone Fiend”, but still can put this on positive blast for sure.

16- Run DMC - Beats to the Rhyme An offering from Tougher Than Leather, I love the beat and of course the Kinnison sample. I wore this damn cassette out twice.

17- DJ Premier - Unreleased Beat Probably my most favorite producer of all time (and Preemo heavy on this mix), I scored this at a flea market for 50 cents. It doesn’t disappoint and is a great way to close out this first mix.

Download or listen to 100,000 Hits and Runnin’ Mix by DJ Prestige for 100K hits on FMF! Thank You!

Keep Diggin’!

45 Sessions Recap 11.23.07

I am not an animal…..Devil Dick laying down heat

Just a quick recap from last night, as another Asbury Park 45 Session is in the history books. All in all the night went well, except for a few power surges caused by the throngs of Jack the Ripper groupies who were dancing so hard on the stage to knock out turntable one periodically. Apologies to those who were listening live for the mishap, but for those of you who are musicians/ DJs, you know the perils of a live show. The photo above is Devil Dick in all his glory, spinning some unbelievable fuzzed out Funk. I will post all the play lists as they come in. I’m off to straighten out some 45s that desperately need to be boxed. Big Ups to Bob Shannon, Funky16, Connie T. Empress, DJ Prime, Vincent the Soul Chef, M.Fasis, and of course DJ Bluewater (who sold yet another box of heat) for hanging and making the night a success. The next Session will be sometime in January, with a Guest Selector TBA. Lots of new faces this time which leads me to believe the word is spreading, and people are getting hip to some real music.

DJ Prestige’s 11.23.07 Asbury Park 45 Session Play List

Intro: Bob Shannon over Lou Rawls - You Made Me So Very Happy/ Capitol
Jimmy Castor - Psycho Man/ Capitol
Stoned Soul Picnic - One Dollar Hotel/ Raw Wax
Wilson Pickett - Engine Number 9/ Atlantic
Marsha Hunt - (Oh No!) Not the Beast Day/ Vertigo
Ground Hog - Bumpin’/ Gemigo
The Brothers and Sisters (feat Sister Gheri) - Chained/ Calla
Hot Butter - Getting It On/ Dynamo
Dennis Coffey - Getting It On ‘75/ Sussex
The 13th Amendment - The Stretch/ Soul Stream
Otis and Carla - Tramp (x2)
Lowell Fulsom - Tramp/ Kent
Elijah and the Ebonies - Hot Grits!/ Capsoul
Della Reese - Compared To What/ AVCO Embassy
Mophono - Tighten Up Remix/ CB Records
Willie Gresham & the Free Food Ticket - Step By Step/ Majesty
Nina Simone - Save Me/ RCA
Gus “The Groove” Lewis - Let The Groove Move Ya/ Tou Sea
Gloria Taylor - Grounded/ Silver Fox
TNT Band - Meditation/ Cotique

Devil Dick Playlist

Sir Joe and Free Soul - (I’ve Got) So Much Trouble In My Mind - Mantis
Bob Franklin’s Insanity - Don’t Lose What You Got (Trying To Get Back What You Had) - Westbound
The Moods - King Hustler - Red Dog
Fantastic Epics - Fun and Funk Part III - Tories
Third Guitar - Down To The River - Rojac
The Wild Magnolias - Smoke My Peace Pipe (Smoke It Right) - Polydor
Ike & Tina Turner & The Ikettes - Contact High - Liberty
Sound Experience - 40 Acres and A Mule - Soulville
Iron Knowledge - Show Stopper - Tammy
Masters Of Soul - I Hate You (In The Daytime And Love You At Night)- Duke
Bags - It’s Heavy - GSF

Funky 16 Corners aka Larry Grogan Playlist:

Gene Waiters - Shake & Shingaling Pt1 (Fairmount)
Marlena Shaw – California Soul (Cadet)
The Highlighters – Lulu (Chess)
Gunga Din – Snake Pit (Valise)
The Fabulous Fantoms – The Mau Mau Pt1 (Big Deal)
Freddy Scott & his Orchestra – Pow City (Marlin)
Marva Whitney – Things Got To Get Better (Get Together) (King)
The Exotics – Boogaloo Investigator (Excello)
Lionel Hampton & his Inner Circle of Jazz – Greasy Greens (Glad Hamp)
Senor Soul – Don’t Lay Your Funky Trip On Me (Whiz)
Lavell Hardy – Don’t Lose Your Groove (Rojac)
Wee Willie Walker – Ticket To Ride (Goldwax)
Eldridge Holmes – Pop Popcorn Children (Atco)
Brother Jack McDuff – Theme From Electric Surfboard (Blue Note)
Roy Thompson – Sookie Sookie (Okeh)
Village Callers – Hector (Rampart)
Brown Brothers of Soul – Cholo (Specialty)
Spinners – It’s a Shame (VIP)
Laura Lee – Crumbs Off the Table (Hot Wax)
Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers- If You Love Her (Gordy)

Connie T. Empress Set:

Beware The Stranger - Hypnotics (La Coupe UK)
Keep On Keeping On - The Vibrations (Okeh)
Leaving Here - Tommy Good (Gordy)
Karate - The Emperor’s (Mala)
I Don’t Want Trouble - Barbara & The Browns (Stax)
Oo Wee Baby - The Ivy Tones (Red Top)
Whiplash - The Shells (Conlo)
Sweet Things You Do - Eddie Floyd (Stax)
I Wanna Jump - Ike & Tina Turner (UA)
Twist It Up - Herbert Hunter (Hit)
You Ain’t Ready - Lou Courtney (Riverside)
Why Girl - The Precisions (Drew dj copy)
You Hit Me Right Where It Hurt Me - Alice Clark (Canterbury)
Everybody’s Going Wild - Curtis Lee & The KCP’s (Rojac)
She Tried To Kiss Me - Butlers (Liberty Bell dj copy)
Skiing In The Snow - The Invitations (Out Of The Past reissue)

DJ Prime Set List
tyrone davis - a woman needs to be loved (dakar)
screamin’ jay hawkins - i put a spell on you (collectables)
israel tolbert - big leg woman (warren)
isley brothers - work to do (t neck)
jean knight - you think you’re hot stuff (stax)
detroit sex machines - rap it together (soul track)
the meters - cabbage alley (reprise)
calvin arnold - funky way (venture)
midnight movers unltd - put your mind in your pocket (renee)
dyke and the blazers - funky bull pt. 1 (original sound)
the 8th day - it’s instrumental to be free (invictus)
don covay - ice cream man (atlantic)
linda jones - makes me surrender (loma)
dr. john - right place, wrong time (atco)
latin breed - hard to handle (funk45)
black heat - chip’s funk (atlantic)
james brown - ain’t it funky now (polydor)
the staple singers - this world (stax)
antibalas - family affair (mind)
jj malone - it’s a shame (galaxy)
a small change deconstruction - steviano italiano (bstrd boots)
soulful strings - within you, without you (cadet)
jerry o - karate boo-ga-loo (shout)
alvin cash - keep on dancing (toddlin’ town)
dyke and the blazers - we got more soul (original sound)
ricardo ray - nitty gritty (alegre)
the electric express - it’s the real thing pt. 1 (lingo)
hank ballard - come on wit’ it (king)
bronx river parkway - agua con sal (t&s)
peggy scott & jo jo benson - soushake (sss international)
spanky wilson - little things mean a lot (mothers records)

I’m sorting out the JamNow! files, so hopefully they will be available for the DJs and whoever wants to check them out on Jam now shortly. Please be patient and I will try to get the files going as soon as I can.

Keep Diggin’

Tonight! Asbury Park 45 Sessions 11.23.07

Ahhh yes, it’s that time again my friends, the Asbury Park 45 Sessions will be in full effect this evening. It should be an night full of the little records with the big holes, from start to finish! We have a stellar line up this session, with Special Guests Devil Dick, and Vince from FuFu Stew throwing down some love on the 1’s and 2’s. The usual residents: myself, Larry from Funky 16 Corners, DJ Jack the Ripper, M.Fasis, DJ Prime, and Connie T. Empress will be playing the area’s best Deep Funk, Raw Soul, and everything else funky and soulful all on 7″ records. This night celebrates vinyl all on 45, and has proven to be one of the most unique nights in the Central Jersey area. I’m not just saying it because it’s my night. I’m saying it because in my whole DJ career, I’ve never come across a more unique group of DJ’s, who are modest, excited about being part of a night like this, and consistently bring HEAT month after month. The crew is from all different music and DJ backgrounds, and there is no shortage of trainspotting from the other DJS (which we kind of welcome). I mean you can ask about any record, but seriously, you’ll be on your own trying to dig them up.

We’ll also be broadcasting live on the internet, with sets streaming and archived eventually at Jam Now!. Last session’s sets were quite popular, and of course I’ll have all the set lists and my set live on FMF after the sessions as well. So set your alarm from 8pm and listen live until 2am (EST) to the Asbury Park 45 Sessions. You’ll be glad you did.

Today was a rare day I got to go digging on a Friday. Normally Friday is a dealer day at my spot, but I’ve got to work. Today I had off for the holiday, so I jumped on the chance. The temperatures felt like they were in the 20’s, which kind of kept a lot of people away. No normal guys were selling (although once again the usual suspects were out), and half of the Asbury Park 45 Sessions crew all met up to dig. DJ Prime, Jack the Ripper, Devil Dick and myself were all braving the blustering wind and Winter like numbers to keep feeding our vinyl fix. The pickings were kind of slim, but I managed to pull out some pretty decent 45 finds, plus one interesting Lp. Here’s the pre-45 Sessions scores in weather that felt more like Buffalo, NY than NJ. It was a crazy change from the 70 degrees it was on Thanksgiving.

45’s:

Witches and the Warlock - Behind Locked Doors/ Sew City
The Show Stoppers - Ain’t Nothin’ But A House Party/ Heritage
Crosstown Express - Just Keep The Funk/ Pee Zee
Ike & Tina Turner - Funkier Than A Mosquita’s Tweeter/ Liberty
Chocolate Syrup - Stop Your Cryin/ IRA Records
Reuben Bell - It’s Too Late/ DeLuxe
Joe Bataan - What Good Is A Castle/ Uptite
J.Blackfoot - Where Is Love/ Soundtown
LuLu - Where’s Eddie/ ATCO
Mongo Santamaria - Mongo’s Boogaloo/ Columbia
Eddie Floyd - California Girl/ Stax
Shirley Ellis - Birds, Bees, Cupids, and Bows/ Columbia
Eddie HArris - Why Don’t You Quit/ Atlantic
Jackie Wilson - Shake! Shake! Shake!/ Brunswick
Gloria Taylor - Grounded Part 1 & 2/ Silver Fox

Lps:

Raul de Souza - Til Tomorrow Comes/ EMI

If you’re in the area, stop by the World Famous Asbury Lanes for a dose of the best Deep Funk and Raw Soul you’re gonna hear in this area. Check out the article from the Asbury Park Press from Nov. 23rd on the 45 Sessions.

Keep Diggin’!

The Apples - Killing

The Apples - Killing from the Freestyle Records 45

With the holiday fast approaching, and the Asbury Park 45 Sessions just a few short days away, I am happy to be able to share this side with all of you. I missed the first round of distribution on this record from one of my favorite online record dealers, and as soon as it came back into stock, I had to grab it. I got a copy of a bootleg and have been playing it at some of my non 45 gigs. It has been getting a fairly decent response. When I first heard this record, I thought it was a monster. In fact I still do. I think it’s one of the most creative Funk covers of this year and kudos to the band for throwing this into their live show, getting such a great crowd reaction, and having to get it pressed up. That being said, I’m glad to have gotten my hands on the real deal, and without further ado, here’s The Apples on Freestyle Records with “Killing”.

The Apples are a 9 piece Funk, Jazz, and Scratch collective. Hailing from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, this collective has almost as many damn members as the Budos Band. I’m not saying that in a bad way either, the more the merrier. The band is made up of Arthur Krasnobaev (Trumpet), Yaron Ouzana (Trombone), Oleg Nayman (Tenor & Soprano Saxophones) Yuval Tabachnik (Baritone Saxophone), Shai Ran (Acoustic Bass), Yonadav Halevy (Drums), DJ Todres(Turntables), Schoolmaster (Turntables) and MixMonster (Sound Console & Live Effects). This conglomeration got it’s beginnings at the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem. Most members are accomplished Jazz, Funk, and Fusion artists in their own right, shining brightly in places like Montreaux, and also playing Israeli Jazz festivals with national musicians. While, not all members are from Israel (Krasnobaev and Nayman are from the Ukraine), it’s this exact kind of band that I definitely applaud here at FMF. The Funk and Soul can be heard everywhere in the world, whether it’s Israel, Turkey (there is some heavy Turkish funk out there), Thailand, Brazil, and of course here in the United States. Music sees no color or nationality. If only the world were the same way. Putting down their spontaneous creations since 2003’s Mitz, and 2005’s Attention (where they released their first 7″ on Freestyle called, surprise, “Attention!”), this second side has caused quite a stir throughout the globe. Their sound is quite unique, and they do so without the presence of a guitar or keyboard player, using both turntablists to improvise and also take the place of the aforementioned instruments. According to their bio they they “throw anything from Ray Charles samples to traditional Jewish Kleizmer melodies” into their sets. I’m already thinking on how I can get these guys to Asbury Park. Initially selling out of the first 1500 pressing, the record is back for round two, and I do advise you to pick it up before it’s gone.

The song itself is a cover of Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing In The Name Of”, and if you were out chasing Garth Brooks attempting to be a rock star in his alter ego Chris Gaines rather than screaming “Fuck You I Won’t Do What They Tell Me” at Lolapalooza, then here’s your chance to get the best cover version of it ever. All that and it’s done in a Funk style. Replace Tom Morello’s guitar screeching (or scratching) with a horn section and actual scratching by real DJ’s, and you have a party. To me this is the ultimate compliment and also the ultimate cover. I’ve played this thing out numerous times and there hasn’t been one time where people haven’t come up after it’s been played all excited like they just got their first pair of 8 hole Doc Martens. Lately I’ve been buying a bunch of new releases, and I’m going to try and feature more of them here at FMF. This is the first of many new sides I have lined up, including productions by Kenny Dope, Keb Darge, the Daptone Family, and a slew of others all keeping the Funk and Soul alive and well in 2007. Have a great Thanksgiving wherever you are, and come on down to check this out on Friday Nov. 23rd:

BONUS
Check Out the Promo Video from their 2006 Tour:

Keep Diggin’!

Marsha Hunt - (Oh No!) Not the Beast Day

Marsha Hunt - (Oh No!) Not the Beast Day from the Vertigo Records 45

This is the start of a short week, which means I get some much needed rest and relaxation. It doesn’t excuse me, however, from delivering the goods. I mean who doesn’t want some good tunes to take for their Thanksgiving trek, where ever that may be? This past weekend was pretty good to me in terms of digging, I picked up a side super cheap that I’ve been trying to get in the field for a while, and a few others as a bonus. Please be sure to check out a few blogs (who recently got a facelift), Funky 16 Corners and Fufu Stew. Larry has dropped a Fall Mix, while Vincent has his epic 3 part Thanksgiving Day food mix up. There will be no shortage of good music from the FMF family this start of the week. Also, go check out JB over at Eye Eat Music. Her taste for music is impeccable, and I’m expecting some great sides to come out of that blog. She’s come out of the gate running, and hit us with some cool Psych and dirty Rock and Roll for starters. Today’s selection at FleaMarket Funk is a side I’ve been looking for for quite some time in the field, that was uncovered by DJ Prime last year. I swore I’d find it in some dusty spot, but finally gave up and scoured the internet, only to win it on the third try. Then there was a question if the record was even sent (after a month of no reply e mails from the seller), and it sitting in my local US Post Office for an extended length of time without me knowing it. Despite all the drama, it arrived safe and sound. I’m not a huge E bayer, but I’m glad I put in the time to get this record. Andy Votel did a great job mixing this into his Vertigo Mixed cd, which I can not recommend enough. Strap on your Fuzz Box and enjoy Marsha Hunt with “(Oh No!) Not the Beast Day” on Vertigo Records from 1973.

Marsha Hunt was born in Philadelphia, PA, went to University of California Berkley, and eventually ended up in the UK. While in the UK, American painter David Hockney hooked her up as with a job as a background singer for for Alexis Korner’s new band Free At Last. As she ran with that crowd, she would meet John Mayal, where she was initiated into the Blues and the music business, rehearsing, touring, and making music all day everyday. She has sung with Bluesology, and almost joined The Soft Machine, but ended up with Ferris Wheel. In 1968 she starred in the theater production Hair in London, and immediately after that (actually the night of the first show), the whirlwind ride known as her career took off. She was photographed by Patrick Lichfield nude for British Vogue magazine, and male suitors all over London began to line up. She has been linked musically to a who’s who of musicians in the London scene: John Mayall, Elton John, Marc Bolan, and is the mother of a child with Mick Jagger. The opportunities would line up as well. She released a cover of Dr. John’s “I Walk On Gilded Splinters” on the Track Record Label ( founded by the Who managers Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp) in 1969, and a follow up full length Woman Child. She’d go on to have a few backing bands The Marsha Hunt Band that featured Jed Peck (guitar), Mac Poole (drums), and Nick Simper (bass) among others. She also had the Marsha Hunt 22, that backed her on this side. Not only is Hunt an international music star, she is also an acclaimed writer, breast cancer survivor, and most recently is working on her biography of Jimi Hendrix.

“(Oh No!) Not the Beast Day” is a fuzzy Funk, Psych influenced heavy hitting bomb of a side. Starting off with a deep bass line and building up into a flute filled, drum break, hand clapping, cowbell frenzy, even as it fades out Hunt and Co. show no signs of stopping. Let’s not forget the guitar in the middle that drives this thing off a cliff at 120 mph. Who cares if she’s uttering a chorus that doesn’t make sense, this side will stick to your mind like a rack of Stubb’s BBQ ribs sticks to your insides after you leave Austin, Texas. Hunt was definitely among the best of the best in the London scene at the time, and the output here really shows. She’s drawing influences equally from Funk, Folk, Psych, and Acid Rock, and using her relationship with guys that were influential in Blues, Rock, and Psych bands to her benefit. She learned the music biz well, and it definitely is quite evident with this side. I’ll be back shortly on Wednesday with another dusty gem from the FMF vaults. Also, this week is the 45 Sessions here in Asbury Park. I’ll be plugging it all week.

Keep Diggin!

Subzero Digs and Fleamarket Wisdom

DJ Prime samples some goodies in freezing weather

It’s getting to be that time of year. The weather is finally turning cold, and these days are what separate the people who are serious about vinyl, and well, those who like to talk about it nonchalantly. It’s cold out, and the hardcore guys are there. Not to say I’m any better than you, because we’re both a bunch of record nerds. I think record digging puts us just above Star Wars geeks and HAM radio enthusiasts on the nerd factor chart. You talk about getting up before it’s light and wading through someone else’s shit to get of all things, records (do they still make them?), and you’re looked upon like the guy who’s still using a rotary phone to win a contest from terrestrial radio. I guess that’s a little better than dressing up as Jar Jar Binks and learning Klingon. But I digress, it was cold this morning, and my man DJ Prime met me out at the spot. We happened upon a few good vendors with records. The Old Man had a stash for me, and what I didn’t take, Prime snatched up. We hit a lady who told us she had tons of potato chip tins full of 45s (which were her personal collection)at home. Here we settled for unsleeved plastic totes. You may be wondering how 45s can fit in potato chip (or crisps as my UK friends would have it) tins. She was referring to Charles Chips tins. When I was a kid, the Charles Chips guy came by the house once a week and delivered chips and pretzels in tins, which I honestly haven’t though about in years. Thanks old lady. She offered up all 45s at 5 for a buck, and we loaded up on Funk and Soul. Prime got a great Light My Fire cover version by Charles Wright. Definitely well worth it. All in all, it was kind of sparse today, but I mean I got there quite early, and Prime and I did a couple of laps around to make sure we found the vinyl before we left thankfully. Egg Beard was lurking around, and he was eyeballing us sampling on our portables. It looked like he wasn’t able to find anything, isn’t that a shame. The Wine Guy faked me out with an empty Chico Hamilton sleeve, while Half Cigar Guy, finally made an appearance after about 6 months. He had no records, but I did hear him say he was gonna “Fuck somebody up today”, which is always funny. Flea market fights are great, and I’ve witnessed a bunch. Next time I will hopefully take some video to post. It’s like bum fights, but most of these guys are coherent. This brings me to the part about flea market wisdom. There’s always a variety of people at the market who have all kinds of advice for you. You know, like buy the herbs they’re selling for vitality, or the shea butter cream that’s boiling in the summer sun will take years off of your life, or even advice on why you should shave your beard (because I look too Muslim). Today, some chap was offering medical advice of all things. He was serious, despite the various children’s toys and a table that looked like the merchandise was stolen from a dumpster on the way in. This man was dispensing flea market prescriptions, and while they were not real prescriptions, he was certainly the MD for the day. Here’s a list of the subzero digs for this morning:

Linda Jones - I’ll Be Sweeter Tomorrow/ Neptune
Billy Sha-Rae - Do It/ Spectrum
Jimmy Castor - Psycho Man/ Capitol
Paul J. Middlebrook - Run It Down To Me/ Circle City
Wilson Pickett - Mama Told Me Not To Come/ Atlantic
Wilson Pickett - Engine Engine Number 9/ Atlantic
Rudy Love & the Love Family - Ain’t Nothin’ Spooky/ Calla
The Isley Brothers - I Wanna Be With You/ T Neck
The Isley Brothers - I Need You So/ T Neck
The Isley Brothers - It’s Too Late/ T Neck
Donald Byrd - Think Twice/ Blue Note
John Blair - Hey Root People/ A&R
Otis Redding - Chained and Bound/ Volt
New York City - I’m Doin’ Fine Now/ Chelsea
Donny Hathaway - I’ll Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know/ ATCO
James Brown - Think/ w/ Something o(n the B Side)/ Polydor
The Originals - The Bells/ SOUL
Johnny Taylor - Who’s Making Love/ Stax
Martha Reeves - Power of Love
Delfonics - I Told You So/ Philly Groove
Ramsey Lewis - Slipping Into Darkness/ Columbia
Olympic Runners - Grab It/ London
Tyrone Davis - Turn Back the Hands of Time/ Dakar
Bloodstone - Everybody Needs Love/ London
The Impressions - Sooner or Later/ Curtom
Chairman of the Board - Finders Keepers/ Invictus
The Shirelles - 20th Century Rock & Roll/ Scepter
The Dells - Closer/ Cadet
Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Band - Loveland/ Warner Brothers
ZZ Hill - Chokin’ Kind/ Mankind
Nazz - Open My Eyes/ SGC
The Triumph of Man presented by Travelers Insurance Company
Student Records for voix et images de France Lesson 1 & 2

Keep Diggin’!

The Fascinations - Girls Are Out To Get You

Over the years collecting records, I have found that I have a sweet spot for some of the female vocal Soul groups. I’ve dug up records by Our Ladies of Soul, The Witches and the Warlock, and other similar women vocal bands. I’m still looking for that elusive Jewels record, so if anyone has a line on “Opportunity” on the Dimension label, please let me know. This next group fits the bill exactly. Put out on the Mayfield label and distributed by Calla, the Fascinations were a true all girl Soul group. They were produced by Curtis Mayfield, and while they cracked the music charts over here in America a little bit, they would go on to have a larger fan base in the UK, where this next side was so popular it was reissued there. Let’s get into “Girls Are Out To Get You”.

The start of the Fascinations began from a group called the Sabre-ettes. Two members of said band, Martha Reeves and Shirley Walker were on the hunt for new members. They would audition Joanne and Bernadine Boswell (both Gospel singers), and Fern Bledsoe. It was here the Fascinations would be born. Unfortunately for the Fascinations (but fortunately for the music world), Martha Reeves would leave the band in 1960 to go on to greatness in her own way. Down a member, this now quartet of Soul dynamite would befriend (lucky for them) a few members of the Impressions. They would in turn introduce the band to Curtis Mayfield, who would take them and make them blossom under his wing. They signed to ABC-Paramount and released a few sides that did not raise any eyebrows. They released the side “Mama Didn’t Lie”, in 1962, unfortunately credited to Jan Bradley. They were pushed to the wayside and dropped by ABC Paramount, but would continue on through the perseverence of Mayfield. On the strength of the Windy C label success, the Fascinations were put out on the self titled label, Mayfield. Their first record, “Say It Isn’t So”, would fare pretty well, but it was this record in 1967 that would really give them success, (Number 13 on the charts) not so much here in America, but in the UK. Released on EMI Stateside, it would really propel the girls to stardom across the pond. They immediately released “I’m In Love”, which did pretty well once again, but it would be their last bit the 15 minutes Mayfield had created. A last try in 1968 would not raise any eyebrows, and would lead to the retirement of the group all together. This single, however, would become a staple at Soul clubs in the UK, and would be reissued several more times.

The song itself, is some Sweet Soul here people. A Curtis Mayfield connection is quite obvious, and this all girl quartet handles what one of the greatest Soul singers of all time throws at them well. It may be a playful type of message, but come on fellas, at least they are warning you ahead of time of what you’re in store for. I don’t know about you, but an all woman sweet Soul side gets me every time. Curtis took this band personal, and pushed through all the tape and made it work, although it took a little longer than usual. Good things come to those who wait it’s been said, or even hard work pays off. I believe this is a case of both. It’s believing in the music, and eventually it will be a success, even if it isn’t in your own country. I’ll be back again (hopefully not getting rained out) this weekend with a report from the crates. Keep Diggin’!!

The Fascinations - Girls Are Out To Get You from the Mayfield 45

Della Reese - Compared To What

Della Reese - Compared To What from the AVCO Embassy 45

Well here we are midweek, and back to the business of some record reviews. Thanks for the great responses and comments from the last mix with Devil Dick. I also have a bit of a good news. I got an e mail from Gary Van Scyoc, the bassist and vocalist from the Dynatones. He’s going to add on some stuff that I wrote about in my Dynatones review. He said he wants the real story of the band to get out. We’re going to do an interview, as well as get a few photos of the band that will be a second part to “The Fife Piper” review I did a few weeks ago. It should be very exciting. Also, out own Connie T. Empress of the 45 Sessions will be on the Dave the Spazz show on WFMU this Thursday, Novemember 15th from 8pm to 11pm. Please tune in (you can listen online), I’m sure there will be some AP 45 Sessions banter going around, along with some great music as well. Show her some support and listen in!

This next side definitely excites me for a couple of reasons. It excited me so much that I rushed it to the top of the que, it was just that good. One, it’s a version of a favorite song of mine, and two, it was a cheap find. I did, however, have to stand in freezing temperatures to get it (while another dealer hit the pile before me, buying about 30+ records he’s probably gonna sell back to me), but that’s the thrill of the chase. Freezing temps, blazing heat, dusty spaces, that all goes with the territory. The things we all do for records. I’ll do whatever it takes to uncover these records. Let’s jump into “Compared to What” by Della Reese on the AVCO/Embassy Label.

Deloreese Patircia Early aka Della Reese was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1931. Heavily involved in the church and Gospel music, she was noticed by Gospel great Mahalia Jackson, and was recruited by the singer to be a part of her ensemble. She stayed for three years with the band age 13 and later went on to form her own group, “The Meditation Singers”. Her father became seriously ill, and her mother passed, so that forced Della to provide for the family. She worked odd jobs before getting into a talent contest that woul be her calling. Winning said talent contest at The Flame Show Bar eight weeks in a row helped her get noticed even more, and in 1953 moved to New York City. She signed a contract with Jubilee Records (where she scored the million seller hit “And That Reminds Me”), and was on her way. Along that way she would record for RCA, and release a cross section of different genres of music, from Jazz to Standards, to Blues, Gospel, Contemporary Pop and the like. She would go on to perform in Las Vegas and also tour the country extensively, adding to her popularity. Reese would also be involved in a new thing called television, making appearances on many talk shows (even hosting her own called Della). Her television resume is quite long, and the natural progression towards movies was evident. Remember the scene in Harlem Nights when she whoops up on Eddie Murphy? It doesn’t stop there either. She’s an author of children’s books, and put out her autobiography as well. Honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Reese is a true pioneer of all her crafts.

“Compared To What” is from the 1970 record Black Is Beautiful. An upbeat piece of Funky Soul, here is a great example of the adaptation of older artists to the times. Her take on this protest song is really great, and although more upbeat than the popular versions, is still a great side. She ran out of the gate with this thing, and did it in her own way, to the sound of the times. The most famous version ( and my favorite) of this song (written by Gene Daniels) was by Eddie Harris and Les McCann from their Swiss Movement Lp. If you don’t own it, I say please go out and get a copy. Della is spot on in her version too, and if you do see this, by all means pick the 45 up, especially if it is 25 cents. I’ll be back on Friday with more goodness from the crates here at FleaMarket Funk. Keep Diggin!!