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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers Go-Go

Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers circa 1979, Bustin’ Loose with the Go-Go sound of Washington, DC.

Chuck Brown jams with:

  1. “Bustin’ Loose”
  2. “Boogie Up The Nation”
  3. “Blow Your Whistle”
  4. “We The People”

Creator, founder, and doctor of dance floor strut Chuck Brown intimately reveals his funk powered manifesto for you while busting some thrilling literary moves at his official Go-Go website.

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Monday, April 21, 2008

Classic Soul Icons: Cooke, Benton, & Eckstine

The modern style of soul that morphed out of popular 1950’s R&B was partly created by pioneer Sam Cooke.

Cooke’s 1957 smash, “You Send Me,” was a #1 R&B hit for six weeks, and a #1 pop favorite for three weeks.

The entire Cooke story is revealed in Dorothy Ferebee’s review of Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke.

Not everyone followed Cooke’s mainstream cross-over appeal...

Brook Benton came close.  “It’s Just a Matter of Time” was a 1959 hit for Benton, a guy who started his career writing songs recorded by Nat King Cole and Clyde McPhatter (of the Drifters).

The Barry White of his era, Benton had seven #1 R&B songs including “Rainy Night in Georgia,” a #1 R&B song in 1970 (#4 pop).

Benton’s distinctive baritone was his trademark.

Billy “Mr. B” Eckstine, another crooner with a magnificent voice, entered the R&B hit parade in 1946 with “Prisoner of Love,” later reworked by James Brown.

Eckstine also recorded “Blue Moon” in 1949, a song that would be taken to a new level by the Marcels with their 1961 hit.

This 45 rpm picture sleeve photo of Eckstine, (from the PowerhouseRadio.com archive), is from a 1976 session produced by Quincy Jones and Herb Alpert.

Eckstine, solidly rooted in popular jazz, never significantly crossed over into the contemporary soul scene.  As with singer Arthur Prysock, attempts by producers to blend Eckstine’s style into youth oriented rhythms just never clicked.

That’s not to sell their vocal talents short.  Billy Eckstine, Brook Benton, and especially Sam Cooke all deserve their place in the sun as classic soul icons who pioneered the genre.

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Monday, April 07, 2008

Aquarian Dream's Flight of the Phoenix

You can never be sure what the exact formula is for success.

Unlike the mythical bird reincarnated from its ashes, not everyone can reinvent themselves like the Phoenix.

Aquarian Dream is one R&B group from the 1970s that had a well known personality promoting them to go along with their talent, but they never quite clicked with music fans.

According to music critic Alex Henderson, none of Aquarian Dream’s three albums have ever been reissued on CD.

The ensemble recorded for the Buddah and Elektra labels, with limited success, releasing Norman Connors Presents Aquarian Dream, Fantasy, and Chance To Dance.

Norman Connors attached his name to the debut Aquarian Dream album, a promotional technique often used to break new acts during this period.  Think Motown when Diana Ross presented The Jackson 5 on their first release.

You don’t see this gimmick happening today, as there are many more ways for artists to expose their music in non-traditional ways.

Listen to a little over 1 minute of Aquarian Dream singing their 1977 song “Phoenix.” You might be reminded of the classic soul of Rufus & Chaka Khan or Atlantic Starr.

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Thursday, December 27, 2007

Luther Vandross Christmas 1995

19 years after the Luther photo in the vinyl Funky Christmas Cotillion album, Mr. Vandross captures the decade of the 1990’s as a superstar.

Sony Music released This is Christmas in 1995, featuring 10 memorable Luther Vandross holiday favorites on the CD:

  1. “With A Christmas Heart”
  2. “This Is Christmas”
  3. “The MistleToe Jam”
  4. “Every Year, Every Christmas”
  5. “My Favorite Things”
  6. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
  7. “I Listen To The Bells” (duet with Darlene Love)
  8. “Please Come Home For Christmas”
  9. “A Kiss For Christmas”
  10. “O’ Come All Ye Faithful”

A true classic.



Posted by King on 12/27 at 12:02 AM
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Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Funky Cotillion Christmas

The year was 1976.

Do you recognize the classic soul stars celebrating Christmas?

This album from the PowerhouseRadio.com archive brought together artists from Atlantic Records’ Cotillion label.

From left to right, Lou Donaldson, Willis Jackson, Luther (Vandross) is at the piano, directly behind him is John Edwards, (later a member of the Spinners).

The 4 guys on the right are the Impressions.  Margie Joseph is directly behind the Impressions (in front of the Christmas tree).

Merry Christmas 2007!

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Posted by King on 12/25 at 12:02 AM
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Thursday, May 31, 2007

Ashford & Simpson Send It

Ashford & Simpson’s 1977 classic soul album Send It is extremely rare.

This photo is from the back of the vinyl album cover.

”Don’t Cost You Nothin’,” and the underground hit “Bourgie Bourgie” lit up the dance floor back in the day.

Nick and Val are truly a unique act.  As solid as a rock, they managed to served up 35 R&B single releases through 1997.

As songwriters, it doesn’t get any better than Ashford & Simpson, who have written these time tested hits:

  • “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Diana Ross
  • “Let’s Go Get Stoned” – Ray Charles
  • “California Soul” – 5th Dimension

Catch Ashford & Simpson as the special guests of headliner Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Sunday, July 29, 2007, at the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia, PA.

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Posted by King on 05/31 at 12:02 AM
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Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Bobby Womack the Poet

Bobby Womack’s 1981 classic soul album, The Poet, was #1 on the R&B album chart for 5 weeks.

The legendary track, “If You Think You’re Lonely Now,” is one of the album’s highlights.

If you have a copy of this rare album, hold on to it.

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Posted by King on 05/29 at 05:30 PM
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Wednesday, April 18, 2007

TSOP Philly Flashback

We’ve been featuring interesting magazine covers from my personal magazine archive on recent consecutive Wednesdays.

Today is the 5th of a 5 part series with an October/November 1980 cover of Blues & Soul saluting Philadelphia International Records.

It’s a TSOP Philly Flashback.

I have removed the names of some of the artists from the lower left-hand panel.  Can you identify all 10 artists on the cover?

If you can, we’d like to reward you, (a true “Philly Sound” lover), with some Memphis soul!

The first person to name all 10 artists on this cover will win a copy of the new 2 CD set, Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Leave your guess in a comment.  All 10 artists must be named in the same comment.

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Posted by King on 04/18 at 12:02 AM
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Wednesday, April 11, 2007

On Tape Flashback Plugs 8 Track and Cassette Catalogue

We’ve been featuring interesting magazine covers from my personal magazine archive on recent consecutive Wednesdays.

Today is the 4th of a 5 part series with a Spring 1972 cover in the spotlight.

This is volume one, number one, of On Tape, a magazine billing itself as the “complete tape guide.”

On Tape is unusual in that the first eight pages of the magazine contain editorial content, the next 75 pages list only 8 track and cassette music/spoken word items in a directory, and the last eight pages contain additional editorial content.

A typical On Tape listing looks like this:

  • Staple Singers
  • Soul Folk in Action STX ST8-2004 (8 track) STC-2004 (cassette)
  • $5.98

This premier issue glorified “Four-channel Stereo” in an article by Robert Angus.  Also known as quadraphonic sound, the passing fad of four-channel stereo tried to reproduce the concert hall experience by recording four separate channels.

Drummer/vocalist Buddy Miles talks candidly in the featured cover article. Of all the people he’s played with, Buddy says Otis Redding had the biggest influence on him.

Buddy Miles has played with them all, discover more about him, and listen to my interview with Buddy Miles recorded at the famous Bottom Line club in New York City.

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Posted by King on 04/11 at 07:30 PM
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Wednesday, April 04, 2007

The Blues & Soul UK – USA Connection

We’ve been featuring interesting magazine covers from my personal magazine archive on recent consecutive Wednesdays.

Today is the 3rd of a 5 part series with a June 1970 cover in the spotlight.

Blues & Soul, still going strong, was first published in 1966.  The magazine is based in London, U.K.

This is issue number 35, dated June 5 – June 18, 1970, featuring the Jackson 5.

My copy of the magazine is an original I purchased in 1970 on a trip to London.  It’s also a rare edition you can find on eBay, if you are willing to pay the price collectors are asking.

This J5 edition featured excellent transatlantic chart coverage with...

  • The top 50 U.K. singles
  • The top 30 U.K. albums
  • The top 100 USA singles
  • The top 40 USA albums

There’s a ‘page two’ editorial, amusing by today’s standards, noting that music consumers will stop buying albums if the number of tracks keep going down, and the album prices keep going up!

A 25 minute Wilson Pickett album is used as an example.

It’s been a long way from issue 35 to the current Blues & Soul issue 992.  B&S will celebrate issue 1,000 during the Summer of 2007.

The quality of Blues & Soul continues to be top notch.

Blues & Soul includes all the latest U.K. and U.S.A. “urban music” info, including news, charts, reviews, events and clubs, as well as in-depth interviews and editorials on influential artists past and present.

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Posted by King on 04/04 at 12:02 AM
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Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Rebirth of the Blues Flashback

We’ve been featuring interesting magazine covers from my personal magazine archive on recent consecutive Wednesdays.

Today is the 2nd of a 5 part series with another 1969 cover in the spotlight.

The blues has never gone away, but according to Peter Barnes and Paul D. Zimmerman of Newsweek in this May 26th edition, the art form was experiencing a surprising rebirth during the year of Woodstock.

You were more likely to hear the blues revival on progressive rock radio, rather than on the soul stations of the day, as R&B radio was delivering the slick contemporary sounds of Motown and Philly.

A similar parallel exists today, as R&B maintains a diminished foothold next to the advancing forces of hip-hop.

B.B. King, Big Mama Thornton, Muddy Waters, and Albert King are mentioned as a few of the authentic purveyors carrying the blues flag forward.

The authors acknowledge Canned Heat, Johnny Winter, Jimi Hendrix, and even Blood Sweat & Tears for plugging in new audiences to the expanding blues universe.

The cover darling of this article was Janis Joplin.  She would live only 16 more months after this feature was published.

I can tell you from the one Janis Joplin concert I attended at the Singer Bowl in New York City, she sang hard, drank hard, and put her all into her performance.  Yes, she did have a bottle with her on stage, and I don’t mean water.

In the context of the times, the Port Arthur, Texas native offered her concept of the blues through a rock edged lens.

You can debate the authenticity of this approach, but her emotion leaped out from deep inside, projected by a memorable voice oozing peppered passion, in convincing fashion from the soul.

So, two years shy of the 40th anniversary of “The Rebirth of the Blues,” we salute the bluesmen and women past and present, who sing the reality stories of sadness, joy, and everyday experiences.

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Posted by King on 03/28 at 12:02 AM
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Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Black Music Review Flashback

For the next 5 Wednesdays we’ll be featuring five interesting magazine covers from my personal magazine archive.  The last cover will be the focus of a contest you can participate in.

We kick it off with a real collector’s item from 1969.  Issue Vol. 1, No.1, of Black Music Review.

Editor Richard Robinson brought this project to life, along with feature writers Lillian Barlow, Margaret Robin, and Lisa Mehlman.

Issue Vol. 1 contained great articles on Joe Simon, The Impressions, Eddie Floyd, Sly & the Family Stone, Albert King, and Booker T. & the MG’s members Donald “Duck” Dunn, Steve Cropper, and Al Jackson Jr.

Lillian Barlow wrote a great piece, “Soul Women of America,” featuring spotlights on Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Maxine Brown, and The Sweet Inspirations.

Broad in it’s survey of diverse “black music,” you won’t find this kind of magazine (or approach) around today.

Black Music Review is long gone, but fondly remembered.  Vol. 1 No. 1 critiqued the amazing influence of Jimi Hendrix in a series of headline articles and features.

Sam & Dave and Johnnie (as Johnny) Taylor are both mentioned on the cover, but are no where to be found in the premier issue!

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Posted by King on 03/21 at 12:02 AM
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Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Original Dreamgirl Showstopper Jennifer Holliday

Here’s a picture of the original Dreamgirls showstopper, Jennifer Holliday.

This is one of the 45 rpm picture sleeves from the original Broadway cast album.

Jennifer is our final classic soul 45 rpm picture treat for you this holiday week, as we head towards 2007.

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Posted by King on 12/27 at 12:02 AM
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Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Bill Withers Gift of Giving Message

Here’s the picture sleeve and message from a classic soul Bill Withers 45 rpm release, “The Gift of Giving."


Enjoy your holiday week.

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Posted by King on 12/26 at 12:02 AM
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Monday, December 25, 2006

James Brown Peace on Earth Message

Here’s the picture sleeve and lyrics to a classic soul James Brown 45 rpm release, “Hey America, It’s Christmas Time."


Merry Christmas!

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***update (at 9:01 AM Eastern) ***

I decided over a week ago to post three classic soul 45 rpm picture sleeves Christmas week and debated which one to use first.

Ironically, I chose James Brown for Christmas Day, and I was saddened this morning at about 8 AM Eastern time to learn of his passing at the age of 73.

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Posted by King on 12/25 at 12:02 AM
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