The alter ego of producer Clarence Reid, Blowfly has busted some nasty moves since the 1970’s behind his dynamite microphone.

You would never hear unedited Blowfly records on the radio in the USA, as airing them would guarantee a quick visit from the federal authorities.  You would hear few Blowfly tracks, period.

However, in basement party land, Blowfly reigned supreme, rocking the house with danceable dialogue guaranteed to make a sailor blush due to extremely salty language.

My favorite Blowfly track of all time is “Blowfly’s Rapp,” an amusing story about truckers, rednecks, and heathens not appropriate for the faint at heart.

It’s the “B” side of the 12” single, “Rapp Dirty."

Clarence “Blowfly” Reid’s other work is equally noteworthy, as he’s produced and written big hits for Betty Wright, Gwen McCrae, and KC & The Sunshine Band.

Blowfly represents a musical underground that was off the radar screen of many music fans.

Unlikely other non-musical but equally expressive personalities including Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx, Blowfly’s burlesque traveled in smaller circles but had impressive impact among comedy lovers who gravitated toward blue beat delivered high energy laughs.

Technorati tags: Blowfly is King of the Funky Soul Party

Here’s an interesting take on the diva factor of these ladies from Jim Farber that appeared in the New York Daily News, Sunday, May 4, 2008.

If you have the printed version of the actual newspaper, the chart that Farber created is very amusing.  New Yorkers, look for it if you haven’t read your Sunday paper yet.

Follow the link above for the online version.

If you saw the show, let us know!

As prophetic today as it was in 1970, “Ball of Confusion” by the Temptations sings of troubled times, tortured souls, cultural chaos, disappearing civility, and other complicated themes of woe.

Norman Whitfield produced and co-wrote this magnificent Motown track with Barrett Strong.

Only in recent years does this song show up on CD’s, as it was never included on a Temptations album when the single was originally released.

An opening bass line builds together with the well arranged vocal gymnastics of the Temptations who take turns soaring through this dramatic slice of social commentary.

Here’s the actual 45 rpm vinyl picture sleeve from the PowerhouseRadio.com archive, front above, and back below.  As you can see, the song lyrics were included on the sleeve of this Gordy G 7099 release.

Technorati tags: Temptations Gaze into the Crystal Ball of Confusion

Work on the album began in 2005.  Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson of the Roots is the producer in charge who will attempt to fuse Green’s secular bluesy grit with today’s neo-soul groove.

Al Green will be on tour throughout 2008 to support Lay It Down, his 3rd album on the Blue Note label.

Technorati tags: Al Green Retouches Roots on New Blue Note Album

Heading south on the album charts, Discipline still holds onto a top 30 spot, having peaked the first week out at #1.

The biggest issue I have with Discipline is that Janet Jackson has thrown herself at the mercy of her producers.

Jermaine Dupri is all over the album as the main architect, whipping up Justin Timberlake like grooves on “Feedback."

With “Rollercoaster,” we hear the sample machine cranked up to the max, with screams, grunts, and beats bouncing around Janet’s lyrics for maximum punch.

The problem is that these musical theatrics craft the opposite effect that Janet’s sweet voice projects.

Trying too hard to be cutting Edge, Discipline disappoints.

This album is better than Janet’s last one, but the real Ms. Jackson is still pressing too hard to find her authentic voice.

You can tell a lot just from the CD pictures accompanying Discipline.

Where’s the musical beef?

Here are some other thoughts about Discipline...

The Los Angeles Times: “Discipline tries to service both Tyler Perry-loving moms and their gone-wild progeny, sacrificing Jackson’s own vision in the process."

Dot Music: “Still, if not perfect, there’s plenty to like on Discipline, and while none of it is exactly vintage Janet, there’s enough here to keep the Jackson name on pop’s A-list for a little while longer."

Boston Globe: “Jackson’s decision to recycle the nympho routine one more time is just boring."

Entertainment Weekly: “Despite a couple of promising tracks the music generally befits the absurd lyrics...Dupri, Ne-Yo, Rodney Jerkins, The-Dream, and StarGate often drown out Jackson’s breathy vocals with soulless beats.

PopMatters: “On Discipline, Janet sounds part nympho, part aging diva trying to keep up with her would be replacements. It works on some songs, but fails miserably on most."

Hartford Courant: “When juxtaposed with the album’s bubble-gum bounce, the creepy parts just seem creepier."

Village Voice: “Discipline is the most cohesive deep-groove album from La Jackson since “Control."

I’d say there is overall consensus that Discipline is pretty weak.

Technorati tags: Janet Jackson Favors Little Discipline over Control

The ladies have 2008 tour plans with possible touch-downs in Hawaii, Japan, and Europe.

You have to go all the way back to Philadelphia, PA in 1963 for the genesis of the original group: Fayette Pinckney, Linda Turner, and Shirley Poole.

There have been plenty of personnel changes through the years, although Helen and Valerie have been with the group since 1976.  Helen was a late 1963 addition who left close to 1966, but returned a decade later.

You’ll probably remember “When Will I See You Again” as their biggest hit.

Before success on Philadelphia International Records, The Three Degrees released songs on 5 different labels.

When you graze through The Three Degrees Biography at their official web site, you’ll discover the British icon who named these ladies as his favorite group.

I’ll recommend these 4 tracks from the Three Degrees catalog:

• “Love Is The Message” (with MFSB)
• “When Will I See You Again”
• “Maybe” (excellent cover of the Chantels hit with a rap to boot)
• “We’re All Alone” (heavenly harmonies expanding the Boz Scaggs song)

Technorati tags: The Three Degrees Touch Angelic Harmony