We must be around Easter Time 1987, I with the Help of my Father had just Brought a Van from an Auction, I had to go back next day to pick it up!
In them days they had to do Checks and the money had to go through etc etc, So the next day I took Nathan with me , to go & get the Van, I cant Remember how we got there, but I can Remember getting the Keys and Starting it up for the First Time, it did not start at First!
Anyway the Auction Place was a Few Miles away and we came back on the Inner-Ring Road in Norwich, cant really remember the Journey back, but what I can remember is, we got about 2 Minutes from Home, and the Van Just stopped!
We had just about Reached the Heartsease Roundabout in the City, and we had ran out of Petrol, we had to Push the Van up on the Kerb and then went to Buy a Jerry Can & then get some Petrol, Luckily there was a Garage very near by!
All of this took a little While, so when we Finally got Home that Day, Susan had been Worrying where we were had been for about 3 Hours!
What an Eventful day that had been!
We spent the rest of Easter getting the Van Cleaned and ready for the start of my New Business!
What I was going to do was, carry on Making Pies, Cornish Pasties Sausage Rolls etc and go to Fetes Shows etc to Sell them, I also was going to Buy (for the Van) Groceries, Sweets and Toiletries to Sell around the Estates of Norwich.
I was going to do whatever I could to make it Work, so I was looking in to what Areas I could Sell around, including where we were now Living!
Some Music now, as You will be aware if you Read this blog Regular, My favorite Band of All-Time is Slave.
Back in 1980 they Released their 5th Album "Stone Jam" it also turned out to be Their Highest ever Placed Album on the US R&B Chart, Reaching Number 5, and attaining Gold Status, what a Great Album Cover that was!
The 3rd Single to be Released from the Album, did not come out until 1981, it is also one of my Favorite all-Time Slave Tracks, "Feel My Love"
The Song was written by the Band and Produced by Jimmy Douglass and Steve Washington, and it was on the Cotillion Record Label.
The Track Featured Steve Arrington and Starlena Young on Vocals and the Late Great Mark Adams on Bass, look out for the Trade Mark Bass Intro.
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 on Vinyl many Years ago and also now have them on CD or Digital Download today.
You may have a Differing view (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!
What a Fantastic Album this was, Probably "Slave's" Best!
All Track's were Uptempo, apart from One (Track 7) and that was Probably the Weakest Track on the Album!
Which was The Best Track, I would probably say "Wait For Me" but they are all Great, but as I Love the "Bass" with the Late "Mark Adams" being my Favorite Bass Player, I also Liked "Smokin"
The Album had 3 Singles Released: Tracks 1, 5 and 2, with "Snap Shot" gaining the Highest Chart Placing!
One thing I always remember about this Particular Album, My Parents went to USA on Holiday in '81 and they Brought it back for me!
The only Trouble was, on the Journey back from Holiday, the Suitcase must have Been "Really Hot" on the Aeroplane, Because the First Track on the Album was "Warped" so that Meant Track 1 on Both Sides "Was Unplayable" Snap Shot and Wait For Me!
Luckily these were The Single Releases, so I got them that Way.
What a Fantastic Album and to think its now 31 Year's Old!
This Series of Post's concerns in my Opinion the Best Soul / Dance / Jazz Record Label's of all time.
I will write a Short Bio's concerning the Labels Owner's, the Band's and Artists, some Facts and figures, the Histories, Links, Videos, the Tracks they made Famous, Links to Download etc etc
Salsoul Records was founded in 1974, by Brothers, Ken, Stan and Joe Cayre with Musician Joe Bataan, the name Salsoul comes from the mix of the words Salsa and Soul (Latin Fusion).
The Label was Based in New York City, they mainly Released 12 in Singles, but also included Albums, the first ever Release was the 12" Single by "Double Exposure" called "Ten Percent", in 1976, incidentally the Track's Remix by "Walter Gibbons" was the First Commercially available 12" ever Released!
"Double Exposure" went on the Release 3 Albums for "Salsoul"
Salsoul Featured some of the Biggest Dance Acts/Tunes of the 70's and 80's including:
In 1974 The Salsoul Orchestra was formed, mainly for In-House Backing to the Salsoul Acts, it was Conducted by (Originally) Vincent Montana Jr from 1975 to 1978. At one point there were over 50 Members of the Band, and most were recruited from Philadelphia International's in House band "M.F.S.B"
The Salsoul Orchestra Disbanded in 1982, 3 years before Salsoul Records Folded!
Over a 10 Year period they Released several Singles, probably their Biggest Hit was "Love Break (Ooh I love It).
By 1984 Salsoul Records closed after around 10 years in Existence, the Cayre Brother's went on to Build up their Home Video Empire, which was called "Good Times Entertainment" that lasted until 2005 before Filing for Bankruptcy.
I have found a Great In-Depth Story on Disco-Disco.com concerning Salsoul Records History and all the Singles Ever Released, it was made possible with the Help of Stan Cayre, Check it out
For a Great Selection of Salsoul Classics, Press Here and Here!
To Celebrate the 100th Mix for F.S.V.B, George the DJ has Mixed a Special Collection of Tracks from my 2 Favorite Artists of All-Time, the Great Slave and the Even Greater Al Green.
It's a fantastic Mix, from 2 Performer's of Differing Material, and of course also included in there are some Steve Arrington (& Hall of Fame) Track's! See full Playlist Below.
I have seen both Al Green and Slave in Concert, both were Great, Slave was in 1984 and Al Green last year, I may get another chance to see Al Green in the Future, but Slave is a different story!
Thanks to George for a Great Mix from 2 Great Artists (3 really) Checkout the links to George's Sites, where you will find Plenty of other Great Mixes, and Info on Booking Him for your Special Occasion, in the Manteca Area of California!
1) Al Green - Here I Am (Come And Take Me) 2) Al Green - Look What You Done For Me 3) Al Green - I'm Still In Love With You 4) Al Green - Tired Of Being Alone 5) Al Green - Let's Stay Together 6) Slave - The Party Song 7) Steve Arrington's HoF - Weak At The Knees 8) Al Green - You Ought To Be With Me 9) Steve Arrington's HoF - Nobody Can Be You 10) Slave - Just a Touch of Love 11) Steve Arrington's HoF - Way Out 12) Al Green - Sha La La (Make Me Happy) 13) Slave - Watching You 14) Al Green - Full Of Fire 15) Al Green - Let's Get Married 16) Slave - Snap Shot (G's Edit) 17) Steve Arrington - Dancin' in the Key of Life 18) Slave - Stone Jam 19) Slave - Slide 20) Slave - Wait for Me
Just heard the Sad News of (my Favorite Bass player) Slave Bassist "Mark Adams" He has just Passed away, 2 days ago on 06/03/2011, There is no reason why at the moment, it was announced by Steve Arrington's on his Twiitter page!
I saw Slave (My Favorite Band) Live in 1984, it was a Great Concert and Mark Adams was Great on the Bass!
Checkout these few Items concerning Mark Adams death. one twothreefour
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 would have purchased as Vinyl many Years ago and also I have many of them on CD today.
You may have a Differing view (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!
# NUMBER TWO
STEVE ARRINGTON'S HALL OF FAME * POSITIVE POWER
This is probably my Favorite Funk Album of all time, it was Released in 1984 on the Atlantic Record Label. It was Co-Produced by Slave Producer, Jimmy Douglassand Steve Arrington. Check out the Personnel involved in the making of the Album, most of them had somewhere in the Past been connected with Slave!
I saw Steve Arrington in Concert around 1985, but none of this Album's Music or the Previous Album "One" was included in the Concert (which was a pity!), it was all from the "Dancing In The Key Of Life" Album. This was when he first Discovered God!
Back to "Positive Power" what a Great Album that was and still is! I would probably think apart from certain Al GreenTracks, this is my Most Ever Listened to Album, there was not one dud Track on the Album.
First off "15 Rounds" Great Bass contained in this Track, Buddy Hankerson, who also was in Young & Co, next up is "Money On It" a Great start to this Track, how many times in different Tracks does Steve Arrington say "Sugar Momma" not to Worry, I'm not Complaining!
Next Track "Sugar Momma" see what I said! A Great Ballad this is, I think Steve Arrington's Voice is suited to both the slower Soul Songs and Funk Tracks!
Finishing off Side one is "What do you want From Me" once again a Great Bass, its my Favorite Sound in Soul/Funk Music!
Side Two starts with "Young & Ready" Great Keyboards in this Track! The second Track "Mellow as a Cello" what a Great Title for the Track! its got a Great Intro, which fools you into believing a Ballad is coming, then straight into a Thumping track!
Then up next, my Favorite Track "Hump to the Bump" this has to be one of my Favorite All Time Tracks, my Favorite section is the 30 Secs Keyboard Solo, from around 2.30 mins of the Track, I presume that is Steve Arrington, do you know any different!
The Final Track and Album Title "Positive Power" is a Great way to finish off, Great Bass again!
As I said, this is a Great Funk Album and one of the Best! Checkout and Listen to all Tracks, Below!
Album Tracks: A1 15 Rounds 5:30 Written-By - Steve Arrington
A2 Money On It 4:33 Written-By - Charles Carter , Steve Arrington
A3 Sugar Momma Baby 5:16 Written-By - Charles Carter , Steve Arrington
A4 What Do You Want From Me 5:17 Written-By - Buddy Hankerson , Roger Parker (2) , Sam Carter , Steve Arrington
B1 Young And Ready 5:28 Written-By - Steve Arrington
B2 Mellow As A Cello 5:30 Written-By - Charles Carter , Gary Jackson , Steve Arrington
B3 Hump To The Bump 6:39 Written-By - Buddy Hankerson , Charles Carter , Steve Arrington
B4 Positive Power 5:25 Written-By - Steve Arrington
Album Personnel:
Producer - Jimmy Douglass , Steve Arrington Co-producer - Charles Carter Bass, Guitar, Backing Vocals - Buddy Hankerson Drums - Roger Parker (2) Guitar, Keyboards - Arthur "Butch" Rhames* Keyboards - Paul Chaplin Keyboards, Backing Vocals - Charles Carter , Sam Carter Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards - Steve Arrington Percussion, Backing Vocals - Gary Jackson
By the time of their 1992 release "The Funk Strikes Back" only 2 original members remained, and one of them had left before and returned, that was Mark Hicks, the other members included, long standing original member Mark Adams & Keith Nash, incidentally these 3 Produced the Album aswell!
My favorite Tracks were "Hanging Out" She's Just My Kinda Girl and the Instrumental track "Barbera Jean Blvd"
As it turned out, this Album was the last ever full studio Album, Slave ever recorded!
The album did not Chart in US.
A "Best Of" Album was released on "Rhino" in 1994 , which included Slave tracks & Steve Arrington (& Hall of Fame) tracks, it did chart in US R&B Charts at number 44.
1995 saw the release of the Album entitled "Masters of the Fungk" this again included the Best of & a couple of new Tracks, one called "Funky like a Lunatic"
Mark Hicks & Mark Adams were still present, but 2 new members were added, named Michael Kyle and Phillip Dukes!
Checkout this interview concerning the Album release!
Over the years there has been several "Best of " Albums released, most of them with different Album covers but nearly all containing the same songs!
So after recording for about 15 years "Slave" were finally finished, they had Recorded some Great Music, that will remain played by plenty of fans all over the world!
One last thing, the latest item I have seen concerning Slave was a DVD released in 2008, it was recorded Live in Chicago, the only original member left now is Mark "Drac" Hicks!
Checkout this Blog concerning SLAVE, some Great stuff on here!
