GIL SCOTT- HERON

This is normally my Week for a Life Story Post, but I thought I would write a Post/Tribute to Gil Scott-Heron, who Passed this Week.


He was one of the Artists I have seen in Concert, a few Years ago now, about 27 I believe, how time flies!

I remember about 30 years ago in the UK, there was a TV Documentary on  BBC 2 on a Sunday Evening, it was called "Black Wax" and it Featured Gil Scott-Heron, his Music, Poetry etc it also featured GSH walking around Washington Dc, showing you the Well Off Parts of the City and the Not So Well off Parts!

That Program was a Great Insight to GSH, his Music and Life, some 20 odd Years later I Purchased it on DVD.


Recently (6 weeks ago) I had to spend a night in Hospital, and it was this DVD I took with me (and the Wife's Portable DVD Player, of course) that was the Best 2 Hours I spent in Hospital and the Quickest!


If you ever get the chance to watch the DVD, have a look at the Music Section, and play "Waiting For The Axe To Fall" what a Great Performance by GSH The Horn Section and especially the Bass Player!


Just found the Video of the above on YouTube, press Number 1 below!


He made some Great Music over the period of his Career, If I had to say what were his Top 5 Songs, I would say the Following:


5....Home Is Where The Hatred Is
4....Lady Day and John Coltrane
3...The Bottle
2...Winter in America
1...Wating For The Axe To Fall Live and Studio

Keep an Look Out next week, I shall Feature a GSH Mix on this Blog!

THE 89th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 89th Mix selection for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed for the Website, Six Million Steps, its under the JJ Smoking Sessions # 19, there's some Classic Curtis Mayfield Tracks or Songs Written by Curtis Mayfield, and Performed by other Artists including Linda Clifford, Mavis Staples, Melba Moore and MFSB. 

Check out page for Track Listing!

Press play button below or Download

THE BEST SOUL BANDS / ARTISTS OF THE ALL-TIME # 2....CURTIS MAYFIELD Part 1

This Series of Post's concerns in my Opinion The Best Bands/Artists of all time.

I will write a Short Bio including  the Band Members/Artist, some Facts and figures, their Histories,  Links, Videos, The Tracks they made Famous, Links to Download etc etc

I will continue the series with one of  the Best Soul Vocalist of all Time................CURTIS MAYFIELD.

I have been Posting for nearly 2.5  years now, and Never featured the Great Curtis Mayfield, apart from Featuring his Music in 3 Different Mixes, so its about time I Did!

THE IMPRESSION YEARS

Curtis Mayfield was Born in Chicago on 03/06/1942, he was a Singer, Song-Writer, Producer, Record Label Owner, Musician amongst other things, he Played several different Instruments including  Guitar, Bass, Piano, Keyboards, Sax and Drums!   

He dropped out of School in 1956 at the age of 14, to Join/Form a Band by the name of "The Roosters" there were 3 other members of the Band, The Brooks Brothers (Arthur and Richard) and the other member was Jerry Butler (who was later, to go on to great things, Musically).

Two Years later, Sam Gooden had  Joined the Band and they Changed Their Name to "Jerry Butler and the Impressions" they had their First Big Hit, shortly afterwards with, "For Your Precious Love" but things were Changing again when the Brooks Brothers and Jerry Butler left the Band, with the only replacement being Fred Cash!

By 1962, The Impressions were a Trio (as we know them), with Curtis Mayfield as lead Vocalist with Fred Cash and Sam Gooden.

The Impressions had some Big hits in the years to follow, including "Gypsy Woman" Amen, "People Get Ready" I'm So Proud, "Keep On Pushing" Woman's Got Soul, "We're A Winner"  Choice Of Color to name but a few!

The Impressions Recorded around 12 Albums and had about 38 Single Releases from 1962 to 1970 

This Impressions (as a Trio) Line-up lasted up until 1970, when Curtis Mayfield left for a Solo career.

Curtis Mayfield was about to go on to Bigger things as a Solo Artist!


Download some Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions!


Checkout this video, one of my Favorite Tracks!

THE 88th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 88th Mix selection for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by Mr BiggMike, its called "The Rewind, Volume 3" there's some Classic 80's Soul and Dance Tracks on here, including some Colonel Abrams, Sos Band, Surface, Angela Bofill, Michael Cooper and The System. Track Listing above!

Press play button below or Download from 4shared!




CHECKOUT MR BIGGMIKES PREVIOUS MIXES ON HERE,,,,,,,VOLUME ONE & VOLUME TWO.  

THE RACER & STONE COLD LOVER!

This must have been somewhere around Autumn time in 1982, I was still working in the Great Yarmouth Branch of the Co-op Butchery, and doing the odd day's relief Work at the Caister Shop.


Then one day the shop Manager of the Caister Shop, "Derrick" asked me if I would like to do some Work in his Shop on a Permanent basis (as he thought I was a Good Reliable Worker), if he could get it Sorted with Head -Office, I said "Yes" straightaway, as I said in previous Post, I did not like my usual Shop Manager in Great Yarmouth!


So after a couple of weeks I started permanently working at the Caister branch, on a Monday, Wednesday & Friday, I had 2 Days off a Week & I did 2 days in the Yarmouth Branch.

I was still Cycling to work, so about 8/9 miles per day, 3 times per week, I must have been quite Fit!


But by this time around September/October time, it used to Rain a bit, so I had to wear Water-proof Trousers and Jacket, most days, Christ I used to Sweat, I thought I had done a days Work before I even got to work!  


I remember my Bike at that time, it was a Racer with 10 gears, it was painted Metallic Blue with Yellow Trim and Handle-bars, I had that Bike for several years, and later when I moved jobs , I still Cycled to work in Great Yarmouth, I must have clocked up Thousand's of Miles on that Racer!


I Loved that Bike, nearly as much as The Wife!

Music around this time, one Great Album I remember Buying was "The Real Deal" by The Isley Brothers, it was on the "Epic" Record label and Produced by Ronald and Rudolph Isley.


It had a Great Couple of Tracks, (both Featuring  Great Guitar Playing by Ernie)   "All In My Lovers Eye"  but my Favorite was "Stone Cold Lover" this was a Rockier Track, I still play that Track quite often now!


Incidentally the Album got to number 9 in the US R&B Chart.

DOWNLOAD "THE REAL DEAL" ALBUM

THE 87th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 87th Mix selection for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by Stoo Elvin, Stoo is my Nephew! there's some Classic Philadelphia International Tracks on here, including some Dexter Wansel, Teddy Pendergrass, Lou Rawls, Archie Bell & the Drells & Jean Carne!

Have a look at Stoo's Podmatic page for Track Listings & download!

Also checkout Stoo's Radio Show on Future Radio.co.uk and his Website!

FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 5

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about a Particular Classic Soul/Funk Album from the 60's 70's and 80's

The one's that stand out in my Mind, as The Best Soul/Funk/Jazz/R&B Albums ever Released. All of them, I purchased as Vinyl many Years ago and also I have them on CD today.

You may have a Differing view (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!

# NUMBER 5..THE POET..BOBBY WOMACK

1981 saw the release of "The Poet" by Bobby Womack, this was classed as a Comeback Album, after B.W had fell out with several record labels (United Artists, Columbia and Arista) and he also fell out of Favour with the R & B buying public!


There were also some personal Tragedies in the 3/4 year period leading up to this release, for example, Bobby's Brother (Harry) was Stabbed to Death by his then Wife, He also found his New Born Son Dead in his cot, not to mention plenty of money Troubles!

So with all this happening to Bobby Womack around this period of time, its a wonder that this Album, was ever finished not to mention being Classed as Bobby Womack's Best and one of R&B Greatest Albums of all time! 


The Album was on Beverley Glen Records and was Self-Produced. It reached Number 29 in US Pop Chart, but it got to Number 1 in US R&B Chart.


The Stand Out Track on the Album for me was "If You Think You're Lonely Now" I don't know whether I prefer Poet 1 or Poet 2, I will Feature that Album at a later date!





See Track Listing: 
"So Many Sides of You" (Bobby Womack, Jim Ford) – 3:44
"Lay Your Lovin' on Me" (Bobby Womack, Patrick Moten) – 4:03
"Secrets" (Bobby Womack, Jim Ford) – 3:54
"Just My Imagination" (Bobby Womack) – 5:05
"Stand Up" (Cecil Womack) – 3:30
"Games" (Bobby Womack, Roger Dollarhide) – 6:51
"If You Think You're Lonely Now" (Bobby Womack, Patrick Moten, Richard Griffin) – 5:30
"Where Do We Go from Here" (Bobby Womack, Jim Ford) – 6:40


It Featured some Great Musicians (see below) and featured many of the Womack Family on Backing Vocals. 


Bobby Womack - Vocals, Guitar
Dorothy Ashby - harp
David T. Walker - guitar
Eddie "Bongo" Brown - percussion
James Gadson - drums
Patrick Moten - keyboards
Dale Ramsey - keyboards
Otis Smith - Executive Producer
Cecil Womack - background vocals
Curtis Womack - background vocals
Friendly Womack - background vocals
Paulinho da Costa - percussion  

Download the Album "The Poet"

THE 86th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 86th Mix for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by Musicology, there's some classic Soul Music on here from Mid 60's to Early 70's, Its called, Soulnaissance Volume 2!.....  Volume 1 has been featured previously, and Volume 3 coming up next week!                      

Its features Delfonics, Stylistics, Chi-Lites, The Moments and The Originals to name but a Few!

Check Out WebPage For Track Listing and Download.

TOUR DE FRANCE & LARRY GRAHAM

After working a couple of Months in the Town Center Co-op Butchery in Mid 1982, I was offered another Position in the company, it was being a Relief- Butcher, i.e going around the other Branches of the Co-op in my area, this I had done before when I worked for Dewhurst's Butchers, anyway I jumped at the chance, as I did not like my Butchery Manager too much!


After a couple of weeks, I was asked to work in a near by Town Butcher's, the Town was called Caister, I said "Yes" but when I thought about it, as I was still Biking to work, I thought I would get the Bus to work, this turned out to be a Nightmare, we were Living in the far end of Gorleston and Caister was about 7/8 Miles away!


As I started work at 8am in the Morning, I left home about 7am, firstly I had to get to Yarmouth, then get another Bus to Caister, the first day at the New Place, I was Late, then after about an 9 hour shift, I had to do the Bus rides all again, if I remember correctly it was gone 7pm before I got home that first night!


I liked working at the New Shop, the Shop Manager was a Chap by the name of Derrick, he was about 50 years old, if I remember right, there was an Assistant Manager, I cant remember his name, but he was a few years younger than me, he was alright as well, & they had a Saturday Boy, he was Derricks son!


The following week I was asked to go to the Caister Shop again, I remembered the Bus Rides and thought Sod that!  my only other way of getting there was on my Bike, so I did, it used to take nearly 1 hour to get there, as I said it was about 7/8 miles away!

When I finally got Home that night, I thought I had done a Days ride in the Tour De France!


Little did I know then, in a few Weeks time, biking to Caister was going to become a Regular thing!


As for Music around this Period, I would like to go back a Couple of Years to 1980, and one of the Best Bass Players Ever  "Larry Graham" had a Great Single out, it was called "One In A million You" it was from his Debut Solo Album of the same name.


This was a change from his usual Music (check out the second Video), with "Sly & the Family Stone" and "Graham Central Station" this was a love Ballad written by Sam Dees, it made Number One in the US R&B Charts and Number 9 in US Pop Chart!


Larry Graham has a Great Voice and this was a Great song. I remember Buying the Single and the Album, and of course I have the Cd now!







Listen to "One in a Million You" by Larry Graham. 

Love had played its games on me so long
I started to believe I'd never find anyone
Doubt had tried to convince me to give in
Said you can't win

But one day the sun it came shinin' through
The rain had stopped and the skies were blue
And oh, what a revelation to see
Someone was saying "I love you" to me

A one in a million, chance of a lifetime
And life showed compassion
And sent to me a stroke of love called you
A one in a million you

I was a lonely man with empty arms to fill
Then I found a piece of happiness to call my own
And life is worth living, again
For to love you, to me, is to live

A one in a million, chance of a lifetime
And life showed compassion
And sent to me, a stroke of love, called you
A one in a million you

A one in a million, chance of a lifetime
And life, showed compassion
And sent to me, a stroke of love called you
A one in a million you, a one in a million you

 ONE IN A MILLION YOU LYRICS  BY SAM DEES