Here's the 139th Mix selection for F.S.V.B, Its been Submitted to the Website "6 Million Steps", by Alan Champ, Its from a Series of 5 Mixes, Featuring Music from the Great Record Label "Philadelphia International" its called "6MS Philly Mix-3" I will be Featuring All the Mixes over the Next Month, there's some Classic Philly Tracks on here, including some Teddy Pendergrass, Jean Carne, O'Jays, M.F.S.B, Jerry Butler, Archie Bell & the Drells, and Dexter Wansel!
Press play button below, check Full playlist here!
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 LP's that stand out in my Mind, as The Best Albums ever Released. All of them, I have purchased on Vinyl many Years ago and now have them on CD or Download today.
You may have Differing view's (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!
In 1975, The Impressions Released their 17th Studio Album (out of a Career of 21), it was entitled "First Impressions"
It would be their Last Album on Curtis Mayfield's "Curtom Record Label" it was Written and Produced by Ed Townsend (Except Track 6 which was Written by Van McCoy.
The Impressions were Sam Gooden, Fred Cash, Ralph Johnson and Reggie Torian, incidentally Gooden and Cash were Original Members with Curtis Mayfield, and are still going Today at the Ages of 77 and 71.
This was a Great Album, My favorites Tracks were in Order of Preference: Track 1, 4, 2 and 5.
3 Singles were Released from the Album: First Impressions, Same Thing it Took and Sooner or Later, with only "First Impressions" Making the US Charts, Reaching Number 16 and spending 10 Weeks on the Chart!
Curtis Mayfield had Left The Impressions, 5 Years Earlier in 1970, He and Jerry Butler had Joined a Band Called "The Roosters" in 1957, In 1958 they Changed their name to Jerry Butler and The Impressions.
They had a Minor Hit in 1963, it was called "Gypsy Woman" there were a few Line-Up Changes early on, then in 1963 Two things happened, they Changed their Name again, this time to "The Impressions" and they had their First Big Hit, it was Called "It's Alright"
The First Album under the Name "The Impressions" was Released in 1963, it was Entitled "The Impressions" by now the Band Consisted of Curtis Sam and Fred!
I Clearly Remember Buying this Album from "Groove Records" in Greek Street, Soho, London.
I have Posted about this Before, have a Read! Related articles
As I said in a Previous Post, one of the Worst things about being on a Gas Platform/Rig, was the Continual Noise of the Klaxon when the Main Alarm went off, and it went off Many Times!
I would say on Average it was about 5/6 Times Daily, and that's at any time, Mostly when you was not working, and nearly always in your time off!
But there one other thing that was as bad as this, and that was the Weekly Drill of getting into the Platforms Emergency Capsule, it was a Round Floating Covered Vessel (just like the 2 picture's on here) in case of any Onboard Emergencies!
I remember the First practice Very Well, It was Quite Scary, to say the least!
Me and About 20 Blokes had to get in each Vessel (these were Hanging over the side of the Gas Platform) you Sat around the Inside of the Vessel in a Circle, the Door was Shut, and we all had to go through what we would do, if there was an Emergency!
If this was such an Emergency these Vessels would have been lowered slowly into the North Sea, and then you would have been floating around, until somebody came to Rescue you!
What a Scary Thought, Thank God this Never Happened and in the End I only did 2 Trips Offshore, I don't think I was really Cut Out for this type of Work, Offshore I mean, not the Cooking. I Missed my Home Comforts Too Much!
The Record was Written by Jerry Butler with Gamble & Huff and Taken from the Album "The Iceman Cometh" this was Jerry Butler's Nickname (The Iceman) given to him by a US DJ.
The Single Charted in the US at Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and it Topped the Billboard Black Chart for 2 weeks in early 1969!
The Single was Certified Platinum.
Jerry Butler was the Original Lead Singer with the Impressions and nowadays for the Last 30 Years, He's been a Politician!
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 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!
