THE MUSIC CLASSIC INFO

Rounding off my memorable holiday listening is this Curtis Mayfield soundtrack from the film "Short Eyes." Now this is one depressing ass record, but considered by me, personally, one of Curtis' best I've ever hear. He really taps into some classical elements on a lot of these compositions. Short Eyes is set in an unnamed House of Detention in New York City, the prisoners of which are predominately black or Puerto Rican. One day, a new prisoner is brought in: Clark Davis, a young, middle-class white man accused of raping a young girl. His fellow prisoners immediately turn on him — pedophiles are considered the lowest form of prison life — except for Juan, one of the institution's older prisoners, who treats him with dignity. While Davis insists he doesn't remember raping the girl, he admits that he has molested several other children. Nevertheless, the case against him is weak and, unless Juan tells prison authorities about Davis' confessions to him, it is only a matter of time before he is set free. As Juan struggles with what to do, the other prisoners plan to rid themselves of Davis permanently... Curtis actually appears in the film as a prisioner performing the song "Doo Doo Wop Is Strong In Here"... The album is brought to us courtesy of Blog - O - Blog, where the really believe it's quality over quantity, so stop off and see them...

Track listing:

1. “Do Do Wap is Strong in Here”
2. “Back Against the Wall”
3. “Need Someone to Love”
4. “A Heavy Dude”
5. “Short Eyes/Freak, Freak, Free, Free, Free”
6. “Break It Down”
7. “Another Fool in Love”
8. “Father Confessor (Instrumental)”

This here is some more of my holiday listening, courtesy of the HIPHOPKILLERZBLOGSPOT. This compilation contains 60+ Tyrone Davis tracks ranging from 1969-1983, and is over 350mbs. Sheesh! There's some really good cuts contained here, and some really crappy disco ones too, but hey, it's Tyrone Davis, right!?! The vinyl headz will love the crackle on a lot of these tracks as well; must be a straight vinyl rip. Good stuff. Stop by there blogspot and give 'em a shot out if you could; they got some really good stuff. Enjoy.

Tracklisting :

01 - Knock On Wood
02 - Can I Change My Mind
03 - You Can't Keep A Good Man Down
04 - A Woman Needs To Be Loved
05 - The Waiting Was Not In Vain
06 - Let Me Back In
07 - I Keep Coming Back
08 - After All This Time
09 - This Time
10 - Was I Just A Fool
11 - You Wouldn't Believe
12 - Without You In My Life
13 - True Love Is Hard To Find
14 - I'm Just Your Man
15 - Happiness Is Being With You
16 - I Wish It Was Me
17 - I Can't Make It Without You
18 - You Don't Have To Beg Me To Stay
19 - What Goes Up (Must Come Down)
20 - It's All In The Game
21 - HomeWreckers
22 - I Ain't Me No More
23 - It's So Good (To Be Home With)
24 - Forever
25 - Saving My Love For You
26 - Don't Let It Be Too Late
27 - Close To You
28 - Put You Trust In Me
29 - Beware Beware
30 - I Just Can´t Keep On Going
31 - I Got Carried Away
32 - You Need Love
33 - Get On Up
34 - All I Ever Need
35 - Bunky
36 - I Can't Go On This Way
37 - I'm Still In Love With You
38 - Do You Feel It
39 - Be With Me
40 - Heart Failure
41 - Love You Forever
42 - Really Gonna Miss You
43 - We Were In Love Then
44 - All The Love I Need
45 - Ain't Nothing I Can Do
46 - I Don't Think You Heard Me
47 - I Can't Wait
48 - In The Mood
49 - I Just Cant Keep Going On
50 - Overdue
51 - Never Stopped Loving You
52 - Wanna Make It Good
53 - Are You Serious
54 - I'm So Excited
55 - Where Did We Lose
56 - Leave Well Enough Alone
57 - Do You Feel It
58 - Love (Ain't Over There)
59 - Just My Luck
60 - Satisfy You (Before I Satisfy Me)
61 - Let Me Be Your Pacifier

I spent alot of time listening to music this passed holiday week, and one of the albums that stood out to me in a MAJOR way was "Skull Sessions" by Oliver Nelson. This is a primo record, riddled with some heavy-hitting funk drums, and with all of the electronic synth work contained here, it reminds me alot of William Fischer's work the "Akelarre" album, but with a harder, classic Jazz edge to it; take a listen, you'll understand what I mean... Brought to us courtesy of GREG @ OUFAR KHAN, this one is definately worth a listen. Stop off and leave him some comments. Back soon. Peace!!

Track Listing:
1. Skull Session
2. Reuben's Rondo
3. 125th st, and 7th avenue
4. One for Duke
5. Dumpy Mama
6. Baja Bossa
7. In A Japanese Garden
8. Flight or Freedom

Personel includes:
Laurindo Almeida - Guitar;
Willie Bobo - Percussion;
Oscar Brashear - Trumpet, Flugelhorn;
Bobby Bryant - Trumpet, Flugelhorn;
Dennis Budimir - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Guitar (Electric);
Buddy Childers - Trumpet;
Buddy Collette - Clarinet, Flute (Alto), Sax (Tenor), Flute (Tenor);
Vincent DeRosa - French Horn;
Chuck Domanico - Bass;
Jim Gordon - Drums;
Billy Green - Sax (Tenor);
Paul Hubinon - Trumpet;
John Kelson, Jr. - Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Baritone);
Shelly Manne - Percussion, Drums;
Grover Mitchell - Trombone;
Richard Nash - Trombone;
Oliver Nelson - Arranger, Conductor, Sax (Alto);
Bill Perkins - Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor);
Jerome Richardson - Clarinet, Flute, Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano);
Lee Ritenour - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Guitar (Electric);
Bud Shank - Clarinet, Flute (Alto), Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor);
Lonnie Liston Smith - Piano, Piano (Electric);
Maurice Spears - Trombone (Bass);
Donald Waldrop - Tuba;
Chauncey Welsch - Trombone;
Mike Wofford - Synthesizer, Piano, Harpsichord, Piano (Electric), Arp.

Ever since I've been involved with the Black Dynamite music project, I have met so many people ranging from the most genuine, to most creative, to the most positive, to the most negative & wishy-washy. Enter Jay Potts, owner and creator of the internet's #1 Blaxploitation comic (who is definately one of the most creative & genuine). I inadvertantly met Jay through a mutual Black Dynamite aquaintence, and he's inspried me on more levels then you can imagine. Jay produces a weekly comic strip on-line (and I've been on him about publishing it) and it is 100% action, grit & art all rolled into one. The story follows our main man Isiah "Pastor" Hurt, who's the man you come see when you have a problem that needs fixing. He never asks for money, but in return he asks for two favors, to be named at a time when he sees fit... If that don't get you goin', I don't what will. Below is a sample of the first 5 episodes, along with a link to the site to see the full size versions. If this works out, I'll post five a week until we catch up with episodes 32, which just dropped this passed Weds. Enjoy this as much as I have...

Episode #1: The Junkie Chase

Episode #2: Got \'Im

Episode #3: Never Volunteer Information

Episode #4: See What Had Happened Was

Episode #5: Confession Is Good For The Soul, Bad For The Jaw


Check out the WORLD OF HURT website for all the latest, and follow my man Jay Potts on Twitter for everything that is new with Isiah "Pastor" Hurt and the genuine World of Hurt blaxploitation universe. Back Soon! Peace!!

Mediocre at best, and heavily disco, but contains a nice version of "Love & Happiness" - and not to mention I'm a sucker for any cover of "Brother Louie" that's out there... Arranged By - Mark Davis (2) (tracks: A1, A5, B4) , Paul Riser (tracks: A2 to A5, B1 to B3, B5) Artwork By [Creative Assistant] - Asari Graham Bass - Bob Babbitt , Eddie Watkins* , James Jamerson Bells, Percussion [Tympani, Vibes, Gourd] - Jack Brokensha Bongos, Congas - Bobbye Hall , Eddie "Bongo" Brown Drums - Aaron Smith (2) , Andrew Smith (4) , Ed Greene (2) , James Gadson , Richard "Pistol" Allen* , Uriel Jones Engineer - Art Stewart , Bob Robitaille , Cal Harris , Larry Miles , Russ Terrana Guitar - Billy Cooper , Eddie Willis , Joe Messina , Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin* , Paul Warren , Robert Ward , Robert White Mastered By [Mastering Engineer] - Orson Lewis Organ - Johnny Griffith , Mark Davis (2) Percussion, Tambourine - Jack Ashford Photography - Jim Britt Piano - Earl Van Dyke , Mark Davis (2) Producer, Mastered By [Mastering Engineer] - Norman Whitfield..

TRACKLISTING:

Side A
1. Help Yourself 3:15
2. Big John Is My Name 4:38
3. Brother Louie 4:28
4. I'm A Fool For You 3:02
5. Our Day Will Come 2:27

Side B
1. Just You 'N' Me 2:50
2. Love and Happiness 3:08
3. Law of the Land 4:36
4. The Girl's Alright With me 3:34
5. Save My Love For A Rainy Day 4:00

Enjoy.

Steve Reid is a true pioneer of boundary-breaking music. This latest project/collaboration is a continuation of a musical path that stretches back to the late 1960s. As a master drummer Steve Reid has played with Sun Ra, James Brown, Ornette Coleman, Fela Kuti, Archie Shepp, Miles Davis, Lester Bowie and many more. (Soul Jazz records)

"Steve Reid is one of the greatest living drummers. He has played with Sun Ra, knew Coltrane, played at Motown. I mean this is a guy who at 19 was playing drums with Fela Kuti in Africa. He is a musical genius. It’s a creative joy and honour to work with him." Kieran Hebden (Fourtet) After a number of groundbreaking live shows between Kieran Hebden (Fourtet) and legendary New York drummer Steve Reid, these two artists have embarked on two amazing new recording projects. The first release is the Steve Reid Ensemble (featuring Kieran Hebden) "Spirit Walk". This will be followed by a second album by Kieran Hebden and Steve Reid which will be released by Domino Records at the beginning of 2006. Both albums blend electronic experimentation within the frame-work of Steve Reid’s musical heritage. Gilles Peterson will be touring the UK in November alongside The Steve Reid Ensemble. An ardent fan of the music, Peterson has contributed the sleeve-notes to "Spirit Walk" along with another long-time musical admirer Val Wilmer. Steve Reid is a true pioneer of boundary-breaking music. This latest project/collaboration is a continuation of a musical path that stretches back to the late 1960s. A self-taught master jazz drummer Steve Reid played in Sun Ra’s Arkestra as well as being a session musician at both Motown Records (he plays on for instance Martha and The Vandella’s "Heatwave") and in James Brown’s in-house band at the legendary Harlem Apollo. In the mid-60s Reid went to West Africa, playing and learning the music of Ghana, Nigeria (playing with Fela Kuti), Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal. On returning to New York he joined Sun Ra’s The Science Myth Solar Arkestra. In 1968 as a conscientious objector to the Vietnam war he was sentenced to 4 years in prison where he then taught a Black history course to his fellow inmates. In the 1970’s Reid formed the Legendary Master Brotherhood as well as running his own record company, Mustevic Sound, which released a series of his albums (2 of which have earlier been released by Soul Jazz Records). In a career now spanning over 40 years Steve Reid has worked with artists such as Lester Bowie, Miles Davis, Charles Tyler, Arthur Blythe, Ornette Coleman, Gary Bartz, Chief Bey, Archie Shepp, Sam Rivers, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Leon Thomas and more. This new project is the latest part in Steve Reid’s musical odyssey. "A truly phenomenal artist. This is the album we've all been waiting a long time for. Steve Reid is steeped in musical history and yet this album has a modernity all of it's own." Gilles Peterson

Tracklisting

01. Lugano
02. Drum Story
03. Bridget
04. For Coltrane
05. Blind Tom
06. Which One
07. Lions Of Juda
08. It Cannot Be True
09. Unity

Still yet to be heard by myself, personally, but let's give it a go, shall we!?! Everyone report in with you thoughts on this one, I'd love to hear it, and so would everybody else... Divided into two parts, here is one, and here is two... Password in comments...

This classic album of deep Jazz was originally released in 1976. Steve Reid is one of the featured artists on Soul Jazz Records "Universal Sounds of America" alongside The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders. This record has never been released in the UK and was limited to 1000 copies in the USA in 1976! Steve Reid has played with, amongst others, Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Dionne Warwicke, Archie Shepp, Chief Bey, Olatunji, Arthur Blythe, Lester Bowie, Dextor Gordon, Gary Bartz, James Brown, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Sam Rivers, Leon Thomas, Fela Kuti, Fats Domino, Miles Davis, Sun Ra, Lonnie Smith, Horace Silver! He has played in the house band at Harlem's Apollo Theatre, accompanying James Brown, as well as playing in Sun Ra's Arkestra! Also, Steve Reid lived next to John Coltrane, worked in a department store with Ornette Coleman, has a son who is the drummer for NWA, spent two years in jail as a conscientious objector of Vietnam, played drums on Martha and The Vandellas "Heatwave" (aged 14), released records on his own Mustevic Sound label in the 1970s and is a very cool person.

Tracklisting

1. Nova
2. Lions Of Judah
3. Free Spirits-Unknown
4. Long Time Black
5. Sixth House

Definately one of my favorite albums. Enjoy. All credit is due to ORGYINRHYTHM for turning me on to this one, long, long ago...

"It’s been a long time coming. In fact, for the past 8 years and 37 issues, we’ve wanted to do a Curtis Mayfield cover. It finally worked out for our unofficial Film/Hustler Issue, in which we take a look at Mayfield’s epic soundtrack recording, Super Fly. New York writer Michael Gonzales pulls from his own 1996 Curtis Mayfield interview as well as tapping Curtis associates, guitarists Craig McMullen and Phil Upchurch and composer/arranger Johnny Pate, to tell the story of the finest blaxploitation score of the 1970s.

Once again, we’ve created a split cover–with Curtis on front both times and the back shared by two classic films: Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing (Radio Raheem in full effect) and Ralph Bakshi’s Coonskin (a Wax Poetics favorite). Besides speaking with both of these groundbreaking filmmakers, we also take a look at the new film Black Dynamite (an official Wax Poetics Records release), and music supervisor David Hollander reveals the fundamental facts of once-mysterious library music.

Last but not least, we finally unveil the Robert Beck aka Iceberg Slim story by longtime contributer Mark McCord (aka Mark Skillz). As the greatest hustler of all time, Beck finally gets his due.

Featured Articles:
Curtis Mayfield
“I don’t see why people are complaining about the subject of these films,” Curtis told Jet magazine in October 1972 in a statement that foreshadows the words of modern-day rappers. “The way you clean up the films is by cleaning up the streets. The music and movies of today are the conditions that exist.”

Spike Lee
What gets me mad about Bamboozled is that the New York Times refused to run the ad with Tommy Davidson and Savion Glover in blackface. The whole thing about the film was to show that there is a history behind this imagery.

Ralph Bakshi
When I was doing Mighty Mouse and The Mighty Heroes, I didn’t like what I was doing. That wasn’t the raw edge of life I grew up with. Bob Dylan was singing, the freedom marches were happening, Miles Davis was blowin’, and the stuff Coltrane was doing was brand new. So doing this stupid, old bullshit wasn’t good enough.

Also Includes:
Re:Discovery Melvin Van Peebles, Manfred Krug, Marvin Gaye, Judgment Night OST & John Carpenter; Roc Raida The Grand Master; Shadows and Phonographs: This sinister role of the turntable in Hollywood classics; Brotherman Blaxploitation soundtrack for a film that wasn't meant to be; Adrian Younge: Black Dynamite composer refuses to cut corners with his authentic old soul; Gangs On Film The South Bronx of 1979 documented in 80 Blocks from Tiffany's; Night Life Photographer Michael Abramson captured the magic of 1970s South Side Chicago; The Rhythm of Film DJ/producer David Holmes approaches soundtrack composition with a less-is-more philosophy; Mood Music European libraries created soulful instrumentals for '70s film and television; The Next Hustle Ex-pimp Robert Beck transformed into writer Iceberg Slim, introducing a new genre for literature, film and music; Comic Truth Animation and indie film pioneer Ralph Bakshi drew attention to race and culture;
Gangster Boogie Curtis Mayfield injected his own cultural commentary into the Super Fly legacy; The Provocateur Director Spike Lee continues to tell personal stories by any means necessary; Playing It Straight Black Dynamite director Scott Sanders crafts high-caliber blaxploitation homage; Analog Out Cybernetics, Louis and Bebe Barron, and the sonic life-forms of Forbidden Planet...

Issue available Friday November 13th

Another HUMUNGOUS drop by my man Ivan over @ HIPHOPISREAD. I had been personally bugging the shit outta him on TWITTER to drop this, and lucky for all of us out here in musicland, he did. Personally the sample track for "New-Wu" makes the comp well worth it... Coming in at a wopping 135MBs, you will definately not be disappointed with the amount of music which is contained here. Cheers HIPHOPISREAD... Here's a track listing:

Wax Poetics presents the Midnight Hour, with special guests the Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra, playing a bonus track from the original score available only at WaxPoetics.com - brought to you by Anaconda Malt Liquor.

Coming in at just under 5 minutes in length, you'll gain some rare insight into exactly what it took to create one of the most original soundtrack scores of this decade, courtesy of Adrian Younge, WaxPoetics, and the makers of the film "Black Dynamite." Cheers!!

"This a ground-breaking blend of concentrated funk, electronica, soul, and futureheaded jazz rock. William S. Fischer, the musical director for the 1960's soul funk experiments of Eddie Harris, Eugene McDaniels and Les McCann, released this amazing debut solo album for the Embryo label in 1970. Some of these songs would later appear in the 1971 streets of New York drug movie "Born To Win" starring Robert De Niro & Karen Black. This album features both Ron Carter and Billy Cobham..." Courtesy of Amazon.com

"William S. Fischer worked mostly as a session arranger, but this schizophrenic outing (produced by Herbie Mann) found him tossing ideas in different directions to see which ones travelled furthest. Not always satisfying, with the good to great Moog explorations of "Electrix" and "Capsule" being offset by the uninspired soul of "Patience is Virtue" and "There's A Light That Shines", Circles represents more of a curiosity than a necessity..." Courtesy of The Kozmigroov Konnection



Track Listing:
1. Patience Is Virtue
2. Saigon
3. Electrix
4. Chains
5. There's A Light That Shines
6. Circle
7. Green Forever
8. Capsule

Thanks to My Jazz World for this. Peace!


Satanologysts, wizardologysts, specialists in various types of palingenesis, famed talmudists and other studious of witchery agree to the importance of music in the old akelarres. Having been burnt some of our witches by the roman Inquisition, the others seeked for shelter in their subterranean homes.

A fantastic world was formed then. Basque witches and sorcerers prosecuted by Pierre de Lancre, alied with an old jewish gnome -who claimed to be a cousin of Spinoza- did invoke the underground spirits of black fugitive slaves who escaped from the razzias that our European ancestors, in the name of civilization, took to Africa. (from Sorta's original liner notes)

Weird and obscure as they come... in 1972 arranger William S. Fischer lands in the basque country and produces some funky reinterprations of popular basque folklore songs and dances, all around the theme of witchery and covens (Akelarre). As crazy and weird as it may sound, this record is virtually unheard of in collector's circles.

How the musical director for Atlantic Records and arranger for Wilson Pickett, Roberta Flack, Eugene McDaniels, Les McCann , Herbie Mann and countless others got involved with this project is up to everyone's guess. However what he comes up with is really astounding, a funky as hell workout which will get you screaming for more. Killer go go psychedelic soul which defies categorisation: tight rhythm section, open drum breaks, funky as hell guitar leads, groovy flute, weird electronic sound effects and moog bits (most likely courtesy of Walter E. Sear, who gets a mention in the original liners) alternate with more stylish moments (think Terry Callier or blaxpotation soundtracks of the era like Marvin Gaye's Troubleman) and even some fusion styled groovers.

Enjoy this album, because this one is one of my all time favorites, and is always in steady rotation.

Track Listing:

A1. Bat Bi Hiru Lau
A2. Gurea Da
A3. Etatiro Etatiro
A4. Pello Joxepe
A5. Euskaldunak Gara
B1. Eguntto Batez
B2. Ruten Ari Nuzu
B3. Ene Izar Maitea
B4. Xarmangarria
B5. Txori Erresinula

Got turned on to this while searching the net for something rare, and out of the ordinary, and started to notice a lot of funk/soul/break sites talking about this VERY hard to find LP, and low & behold, our friends over at A Pyrex Scholar were nice enough to unearth this soul/funk/gospel for all of us. This post has gotten a shitload of views since it's debut back in January, so if you could please stop off and drop him a comment or two, and read his write-up concerning the record, it'd be much appreciated. Later.