THE 54th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 54th Mix for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by DJ Rave, there's some classic 70's and 80's Soul Tracks on here, Its called 70 & 80's Soul Mix!

Its features Artistes including some Imperials, Leroy Hutson, Donald Byrd and Grover Washington jr!

Go to Podcast page for Track Listings and Download!

MAZE FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY Part 2

By 1976 Frankie Beverly and Raw Soul were the Opening Act for Marvin Gaye, who was Touring, Promoting his Hit Release Album called "I Want You"

It was during this period, that Marvin Gaye (who by now Really likes the Music, Frankie Beverly was Producing) Paid off all of Raw Soul's Debts and brought then all new Equipment for the Tour!

Marvin Gaye also insisted in a Name Change for the Group,a couple of names considered were "Charisma and Karma" but they Settled on the following and Maze was Born!

The same year "Maze" were Signed to Capitol Records and the following Year of 1977  Maze  Released their Debut Album entitled "Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly"

It included a few Tracks from their "Raw Soul" days including "While I'm Alone" Happy Feelin'  and "You"

The Album went Gold in US, Reaching Number 52 in US Pop Chart and Number 6 in US R&B Charts.

All the Songs were Written by Frankie Beverly and there were 2 Single Releases "While I'm Alone" and "Lady of Magic" the Chart Postions were as follows, US Pop 89 and 108 and US R&B 21 and 13!

The Best Tracks on the Album were "Happy Feelins' and "Look at California"

1978 saw the Second Maze Album Release called  "Golden time of Day" written by F.B concerning his Favorite time of the Day "Sunset"

The First 2 Songs on the Album were also Specially Written for the 2 Women in his life!

This Album also attained Gold Status, with all songs wriiten by F.B, its Chart Positions in US were Number 27 and 9 in Pop and R&B Charts.

The 3 Single Releases were (with Chart Positions in brackets), as follows: 

"Workin' Together" (9 R&B)

"Golden Time of Day"  (39 R&B)

"I Wish You Well" (62 R&B)

The Best Track on the Album in my opinion was "Golden Time of Day"

DOWNLOAD........MAZE FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY
                        .......GOLDEN TIME OF DAY

Go To FileFactory.com

THE 53rd MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 53rd Mix for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by SoulSearching:Michael Ruetten, there's some classic  Soul Tracks on here, Its called Soul Jams Pt1!

Its features some Teddy Pendergrass, Isaac Hayes, Leroy Hutson, Bobby Womack and Dennis Edwards!!!!!

Check Out Web Page For Track Listing and Download.

Soulsearching 618 Slow Jams Pt.1 & Kdope by Soulsearching: Michael Ruetten on Mixcloud

NEW JOB AND RICK JAMES

Around March 1981, we had been in our New Flat for a little while, we got on with most of the Neighbours (we were in a Block of 6 Flats), apart the Husband of the Couple Directly below us, she was Alright, but him, he thought He was in charge of the block of Flats.

As I remember he had a Dog that was always Barking, I remember his Missus was once Crying, as he had Beat her up! what a Dickhead!

Natalie had Her 1st Birthday in early March, by my next Post I have a few Photos I can use, see previous post why we did not have too many Early Photos of Natalie! 

Another thing concerning one of our Neighbour's, she lived directly opposite us on the 2nd Floor, we got on with her Quite Well, she was a bit older than us and Divorced, she had a Couple of Kids as well. She had a Bloke living with Her, who turned out to be a Workmate of mine, we had worked in the same Butcher's!

By April of 1981 I had had enough of Dewhurst's the Butchers, and left their Employment, I cannot remember the Reason's,(the only Reason I can Remember the Dates is Because Nine Months after starting my New Job, I was laid off!) I started Work At Meat Factory, it was called "Bransby's"

That was the Biggest Dump I have ever Worked, I had Probably one of the Better Jobs there, cutting up Legs of Pork, but doing this all Day Long, becomes Pretty Boring!

The Wages Were Crap as well, what a Mistake I had made, by finishing my Previous Employment and working there! as I said a What a Complete Dump and a Crappy Company to Work for! 

The only thing Good about the Place was "Never Working Nights, Weekends or Bank Holidays!

The Music around this Period was Great!  One Great Album released in April 1981 was "Street Songs" by Rick James, it contained some Great Tracks including "Give it to me Baby" Superfreak and the Ballad with "Teena Marie" Fire and Desire!

This was Rick James 5th out of 13 Studio Albums he was to Release before his Death in 2004, It went Platinum, it also attained the following Chart Positions in US Pop Chart  Number 3 and US R&B Chart  Number 1.

Rick James had a Troubled Life but he made some Great Music!

DOWNLOAD THE STREET SONGS ALBUM

Create a MySpace Playlist at MixPod.com

THE 52nd MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 52nd Mix for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by Professor Eddy, there's some classic Philly Tracks on here, Its called Philly Re:Grooves!

Its features some Teddy Pendergrass, Trammps, Dexter Wansel and Blue Magic!!!!!

Check Out Web Page For Track Listing and Download.

Philly Re:Grooves by Professor Eddy on Mixcloud

BARRY WHITE Part 6

Between 1980 to 1984 Barry White had owned His own Record Label "Unlimited Gold" which was distibuted through CBS Records.

He also had intended to Introduce / Produce others to / for the Label, in Total there were 14 Albums Released, 5 Barry White Releases, 1 BW and Glodean White, 2 Love Unlimted, 3 Love Unlimited Orchestra, 1 Greatest Hits for B.W and 2 outside Acts, the first being Jimmy and Vela Cameron (these had wrote Songs, which B.W had used on a previous Album) and the last release being by somebody called Danny Pearson!

None of these Albums were a Great Sucess (apart from "Change"  which made it into US R&B Chart), and after putting Millions into the Label, it Closed in 1984, in fact CBS in the UK Refused to Release any of his Singles!

After the Label Closure he Toured for about 3 years before finally Signing with A&M in 1987.

The Final Albums on Unlilmited Gold were "Barry and Glodean White" in 1981, this reached Number 44 in US R&B Chart, it contained 2 Singles with very Low Chart Placings!

"Didnt We Make It Happen, Baby" Number 78 in US R&B Chart and "I Want You" Number 79 in US R&B Chart. Best Track on the Album was "You're The Only One For Me"

In the same year, the Album  "Beware" was Released, charting at Number 40 in US R&B Chart, with the only Single off the Album, being the Title Track, fairing badly as well with a Chart Placing of Number 49!

The following Year of 1982, saw the Release of the Album "Change" which turned out to be the Highest placed release from the "Unlimitd Gold Label" at Number 19 in US R&B Charts!

There was 2 Singles Released form the Album, the Best Track on the Album, being the Album Title Track and the Song Called "Passion" the Chart placings were 12 and 65!

1983 saw the Last Barry White Release on his own Label, the Album was called "Dedicated" I have looked for write ups on this Album, but it appears to have Sunk without Trace, I dont believe there were any Singles Released either!

I have found some Great Tracks from the Album, have a Listen! 

"Free"     "Dreams"   "Love Song" 

Download some Bazza 

Create a MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

THE 51st MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 51st Mix for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by Musicology, there's some classic Soul Music Tracks on here, Its called The Soul Portrait Session!

Its features The Great Sam Cooke!

The Man who Invented Soul Music!

Check Out Web Page For Track Listing & Download.

CHRISTMAS 1981 AND MYSTIC MERLIN

By the end of 1981, we were on the Move, House Wise. I can't Honestly remember if it was Before or Just After Christmas, As Natalie was still only Young , we still had a Social Worker, Her Name was Angela Wilson, and with Her Help, we were going to get a Move to a Local Council House!

As we had already been told by the Landlord, she wanted us out, we had been Looking the previous Months for somewhere to Live, and with Her Connections etc (The Social Worker) We got a New Place to Live!

As it turned out it was a 2 Bedroomed Top (2nd) Floor Flat with a Type of Gas Central Heating (Hot Air Blower).

That was a Lovely Place to live, the Area was'nt to Bad either.

By this time we still did not have a Car, so we were still using the Bus, occasionsly We did have the use of my Parents Car, which was Great!

I remember something we had at the Flat for the First Time, a 50 pence Electric Meter, so when I got paid the First thing I got from the Bank was £5 worth of 50 p's.

I remember several times running out of 50 p's, so no Electric, that was a Pain!

Another Funny thing about the Flat , was where it was Situated, if you looked down from our Main Living Room Window, you looked Directly at the Local Cemetry!

As for the Music around this Time, A Band I liked, who only ever had 3 Albums Releases I believe, was "Mystic Merlin" 

The first release was "Mystic Merlin" and the second was "Sixty Thrills a Minute" and the third was "Full Moon"

The Best Singles form the Albums were "Just can't Give You Up" and "Sixty Thrills A Minute" and  "Mr Magician"     Great Track's!

MYSTIC MERLIN
SIXTY THRILLS A MINUTE
MR MAGICIAN

Create a MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

THE 50th SPECIAL MIX FOR F.S.V.B

 Welcome to the 50th Special Mix

Its not really a Mix this week, but a Soul Radio Show, way back in 1983. I used to listen to the "Robbie Vincent Soul Show" on Radio 1 on a Sunday Night between 9pm and 11pm, it was a Mix of Soul Funk Jazz etc, at that time Robbie Vincent was One of the Top DJ's in th UK, being one of the so called "Soul Mafia"
 
In early 1984 I started working Sunday Nights most weeks, so I started Taping the Shows (or mostly the Wife did!) I used Chrome C-120 Tapes and later in the Week used a Tape to Tape machine to put all music on a C-90 Tape & cut out most of the Talk, I wished I left in the Talking now!

Anyway the Recording below is the First one I did on 15/04/1984, there's some Talking and Jingles etc left on the Tape. The Quality is about 7 out of 10, so a Good Listen!

Have a Listen to the News of that Day, Poor Tommy Cooper!

The actual show ran from 1983 to 1989, I recorded from 84 until 1987, about 3 Years worth, but unfournately I have Sold all Tapes in the last 2 Years, most of them to the same bloke from London!

Have a listen and bring some old memories back! I wished i never Sold them Tapes!

The Recording will run continuous after you start the first track, if you want to Download just follow the link! 


THE ROBBIE VINCENT SHOW by funkysoulvinyls