Sunday, July 15, 2012

THE GREATEST SOUL SINGER OF ALL TIME....SAM COOKE

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about the Artist's who are in My "Greatest Ever Soul Singer of All-Time" Poll. 


The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Couple of Weeks now, so if You haven't already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post's, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their 20 Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on each Artist in Order of "Top to Bottom" of the Poll!

ARTIST NUMBER 6..............SAM COOKE


Born Samuel Cook (he added an "E" later in life) on 22nd January 1931, He was a Singer/Songwriter who also Played the Piano and Guitar.


He was also considered as the "Pioneer" of Soul Music!


He was Born in "Clarksville" Mississippi to the Reverend Charles Cooke and Annie Mae Cook and 1 of 8 Sibling's, the Family moved to Chicago in 1933, when Sam Cook was 2 Years old.


Sam Cook began Singing with his Family at the Age of 9, they were Called "The Singing Children" by the age of 14 He was the Lead Singer with a Band called "Highway QC's"


by 1950 Sam Cook was the Lead singer with "Soul Stirrers", they Sung and Wrote Gospel Music.


It wasn't until 1956 that Sam Cook Released His First Pop Single called "Loveable" but it was Under the Alias of "Dale Cook"


The following Year of 1957, Sam Cooke had His First Big hit Record "You Send Me" Reaching Number 1 on the US R&B Charts for 6 weeks and Number 1 on the US Billboard Chart, for 3 weeks!


Sam Cooke was one of the First "Black men" to handle all His Business affairs and Dealings, in fact He even started His Own Record Label "Sar Records" in 1961, He was also Active in "The Civil Rights Movement"


On the Night of 11th December 1964, Sam Cooke, who was aged 33 years was Shot Dead, depending what you Read and where you Read it, there are a Few Differing Stories as to What lead up to His Death!


But whatever happened before hand, it all Ended up with the same Outcome, The Motel Manageress where he was Staying the Night, Shot Him in the Chest, at least 2 Times, Killing Sam Cooke Instantly!


Another thing that is Hard to work out concerning "Sam Cooke" is His Discography, I have looked at several Different Sources and come up with the following:


             Sam Cooke Discography


18 Albums, Before His Death.....15 After His Death
36 Singles, Before His Death......8 After His Death
77 Compilation Albums in Total.


His Best Ever Selling Single was "You Send Me" Reaching Number in both US Charts, as well as Reaching Number 29 in UK Pop Charts.


In Fact, out of All the Singles released by "Sam Cooke" in the US, all but 3 made the Pop Charts. 


My Favorite "Sam Cooke" Track has to be the Marvellous "A Change Is Gonna Come" what a great Record this is, it apparently was His answer to the Track by Bob Dylan, "Blowing In The Wind" Both Tracks were Concerning "Racism" in the US at that time!


The Track was Voted as the Number 12 on the "Greatest Songs of all Time" Top 500 Chart in the "Rolling Stone Magazine"


Checkout the Lyrics!

Sam Cooke's Greatest Tracks

SAM COOKE GREATEST HITS by funkysoulvinyls on Grooveshark




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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

THE 148th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 148th Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by DallasEverson, its called Old School-Funk Mix, there's some Classic Funk and Dance Tracks on here, Featuring amongst others: Zapp, Whodini, Fatback, Lakeside, Emotions,Funkadelic, Roger, Slave, Tom Browne, Cameo, Sugar Hill Gang and Cheryl Lynn.




To download Mix visit Here!

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Sunday, July 8, 2012

BULL TERRIER and THE BAR-KAYS

Around May of 1987, things for us were going Alright after our Move to Norwich, we had got the Kids, Nathan and Natalie into a Local School, which was about 10 mins Walk to.


If I remember correctly Susan used to walk them to School and I used to pick them up after, or was it vice-versa, I used to pick them up in the Van!


I can only remember one of our Neighbour's, that was "Bill" he was a "Laugh", he was about 65 years old and His stand out thing was He had a "Great Big Hooter" it was all Red and Blue, but He was a Nice Bloke, more than I can say for all the other Morons who lived around that area!


I also Recall "Bill" was a bit of a "Boozer" to say the least, one particular incident happened, one Afternoon, he came Home from the "Pub" and was Speaking to us, near our Front Wall, which was about 3 feet High, all of a Sudden He Fell Head first over the wall into our Garden!


That was Hilarious, but "Bill" smashed all his Face on the Wall and Ground, He had Scrapes  Bruises and Blood all over the Place! 


He (Bill) was Probably the only thing we Missed when we Left the House and Area in the Coming Weeks!


By this time, I was going out Every day trying to Sell my Stock, I had in the Mobile -Shop, I had particular places I went to, and things were not too bad, I can remember Taking "Nathan" on several Occasions, he used to like Ringing the Bell, when we arrived!


We always came back to Great Yarmouth on a Saturday, my Mother and Sister, always had a few items of Groceries from the Van, being Nice I suppose!


Another thing, I recall about Norwich, we had 2 Black Labradors then "Sally and Ben" and we use to take them for a Walk about 10 mins from our House, there was another Bloke, who was always on there & He had a Bull Terrier Dog!


That was one Helluva Ugly Dog, but the Best thing about it was His Name, it was Called " Basta*d" you could always hear Him calling his Dog, all over the Park! 


I said things were going alright for us in Norwich, but that was soon to Change, I will post next time about that!

=============================================================
 Now for some Music, One of The Best Funk Bands of the 70's was "The Bar-Kays" in 1976 they Released the Album "Too Hot To Stop" on the Mercury Record Label.


It contained One of my Favorite Funk Tracks of All-Time "Shake Your Rump To The Funk" it also had a Great B-Side, which I played as much as the A-side "Summer Of Our Love"


They were 2 Great Tracks, I still have the Single in my Loft, and of course the Album on CD.


"Shake Your Rump To The Funk" Reached Number 23 on the US Pop Chart and Number 5 on the R&B Charts.



Shake Your Rump To The Funk by The Bar-Kays on Grooveshark





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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

THE 147th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Straight from the Heart (Patrice Rushen album)
Straight from the Heart (Patrice Rushen album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here's the 147th Mix selection for F.S.V.B, Its been submitted to the WebsiteSix Million Steps, by Alan Champ, its under the JJ Smoking Sessions # 89, there's some Classic Patrice Rushen Tracks on here.
 
Full Track Listings:

Let Your Heart Be Free
Music Of The Earth
Let There Be Funk
She Will Take You Down To Love
Hang It Up
It’s Just A Natural Thing
The Hump
The Funk Surgeon*
Changes (In Your Life)
Number One
Remind Me
Haven’t You Heard
Never Gonna Give You Up
Get Off
Feels So Real

* with Eddie Henderson


Check out page for Download!

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Monday, July 2, 2012

THE GREATEST SOUL SINGER OF ALL TIME....OTIS REDDING


In this Series of Posts, I will writing about the Artist's who are in My "Greatest Ever Soul Singer of All-Time" Poll. 

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Couple of Weeks now, so if You haven't already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post's, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their 20 Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on each Artist in Order of "Top to Bottom" of the Poll!

ARTIST NUMBER 5..............OTIS REDDING


Otis Ray Redding Jr was Born in Georgia, USA on 9th September 1941, He was  a Soul Singer, Songwriter, Arranger and Producer.


He left School in 1956 Aged 15 to earn Money and Support His family.


He Worked in Little Richard's backing Band "The UpSetters"


By 1958 He had Joined "Johnny Jenkins Band" The 
Pinetoppers and Toured The Southern States of America, He was the Driver and a Musician!


An unscheduled Appearance as a Session Singer, Led to His Turning Point in His Musical Career.


He was Signed to Stax Records and was Making Solo Records by 1964, His First Album was Entitled "Pain In My Heart" which Reached Number 103 on the US Pop Chart and Number 28 on the UK Pop Chart.


His First Single Release was "These Arms Of Mine" which Reached number 85 on the US Pop Chart and Number 20 on the US R&B Chart.  


Otis Redding was as Popular with the White Record Buying Public as the Black!


Around the Mid 1960's O.R was one of the Most Popular Recording Artist in the World, He had His Own Backing Back for Recording and Performing "The Barkays" He also had at that Time, what was unheard of, for a Black Artist, He had His Own Private Plane, which He & the Band used to use to travel to Shows etc.


After only about 3 or 4 Years into His Career, on December 10th, 1967, Otis Redding was Travelling to Memphis on the Plane with the Band "The Barkays" to Finish Recording an Album and to Record a TV Show,  when Tragedy Struck the Plane Crashed into Icy Waters in Wisconsin!


Otis Redding, 4 members of The Barkays, and Cabin Crew all Died,  only One Barkay Survived, Vocalist and Trumpeter "Ben Cauley"


Since His Death "Otis Redding" has Won many Musical Awards Worldwide & been called "The King of Soul" by many people including James Brown.


My Favorite Otis Redding Track is : "Love Man"


Full Otis Redding Discgraphy:
6 Studio Albums
28 Singles


After His Death:
4 Albums
10 Live Albums
5 Compilations
19 Singles


His Biggest Ever Selling Single, which was Not Quite Completed Before His Death was "(Sittin' On) Dock Of The Bay", Released in 1968 and Attained "Gold Status"


It Sold around the World Reaching Both Number 1 on the US Pop and R&B Charts, it also reached Number 3 in the UK.


A Selection of Otis Reddings Greatest Hits

otis redding greatest hits by funkysoulvinyls on Grooveshark


Checkout these Videos on the Death of Otis & The Barkays!








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