FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS-BLOG

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

TAKEAWAY CLOSED! and SAM COOKE

The Date was around Late Summertime of 1988, the Takeaway Trade Never really picked up too much during that Summer, and things were getting Worse, Trade was Dropping and in turn that Meant I was Making Hardly any Money, and I can Remember the Takeaway Lack of Business was starting to effect my Family Life!

I was doing a lot of Arguing with Susan and Moaning at the Kids, so things Needed Changing, I had put a Lot into the Takeaway and Did Not want to Close it for Good!

I Cant Remember what Day of the Week it was, but I do Remember Susan Phoning me up one Night, to see how things were Going, and as Usual, Not Too Much was Happening, she then asked "How I was Feeling" I Remember saying to her, I Felt like Putting my Head in the Deep Fat Fryer!

Now that wont have done me a lot of Good, I know, but that is How Bad I Felt, Susan said Straightaway, "Shut that Bloody Shop Down and Come Home"

And for once in my Life, I Did Not do Too Much Thinking of the Concequences of what will Happen, I just Turned Everything Off and Walked out of the Takeaway!

I got into my Van and went Straight Home, I Remember Susan and the Kids, being Very Surprised and Very Happy when I got there!

That in Hindsight was Probably the Worst I had Ever Felt in my Life about "My Job or My Working Life"

I Remember the Next Day after it all Settled Down, I thought to Myself "What the Hell am I now going to do about a Job, Now"

I also had to Contact the Landlord, to tell him what had Happened, and I Knew then, this was when my Troubles were Really Going to Start, I Did Not Like him either!

I had a Lease on the Takeaway, I Cant Remember "How Long it was For" but, I knew he (the Landlord) was going to want that Paid Up or he would go after what was "Put up as Collateral, on the Takeaway" and that was "My Mothers House"

I then had to seek Advice from Various different People, including, Citizens Advice Bureau, Business Advice Places, a Solicitor etc, what a Nightmare that all was!

After doing all this for a Couple of Weeks, the Outcome was amongst other things, I had to Straightaway go, Bankrupt!

What a Shock this was, I was like Most People of my Age (around 30), had some Debt through being Married with Kids etc, but this was Really Something Else, they were Going to go through my Life and Finances etc like I had never Experienced before and have not Experienced Since!

As this would eventually Turn Out (the Bankruptcy), Apart from One other Incident in my Life, Would Probably be the Worst Period of Time in my Life!

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As for some Music, I think I may have Featured the Following Track before in this Blog, but who Cares, this I reckon is One of the Best Soul Records Ever Released!

It was Written and Recorded in 1963, so its now 50 Years Old, It was not actually Released as a Single until about 2 Weeks after Sam Cooke was Killed on 11th December 1964!

The Song is the Great "A Change is Gonna Come" what a Fantastic Song this is, it was Later to be used by the "Civil Rights Movement" in the USA during the 1960's.

This Song was a Change of Direction for Sam Cooke, as he had Previously Recorded Songs for the "Pop Market" and Feared he would Lose his "White Fans" if he Recorded a Song about "Discrimination and Racism" in the US during the 1960's!

The Song Peaked at Number 31 on the US Billboard Top 100 and Number 9 on the US R&B Singles Chart.

This Song been Recorded by Many Great Soul Artists over the Years, including amongst others, Al Green, Otis Redding and Luther Vandross, it has also been Voted by the Magazine "Rolling Stone" at Number 12 in the Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

I go to the movie and I go downtown somebody keep telling me don't hang around
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees

Ohhhhhhhhh.....

There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

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Thursday, February 28, 2013

THE 181st MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 181st Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, it Called "Slow Jams "No One Else Comes Close"" its been Mixed by DJ Kumbi and contains Various Soul Artists and Bands, it Features some Great Tracks by: After 7, Freddie Jackson, Kool & the Gang, Babyface, Atlantic Starr, Luther Vandross and Brian McKnight Amongst others!

For a Full Track Listing and Download, Go Here!

Monday, February 25, 2013

WHO'S THE GREATEST FUNK BASS PLAYER # 8 MARK KING

In this Series of Posts, I will Writing about the Artist's who are in My "Who's the Greatest Funk Bass Player" Poll.

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, its been Running for a Few Month's, 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 Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on Each Artist, One Every Other Week!

ARTIST NUMBER 8..............MARK KING

Mark King was Born on 20th October 1958 in Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK.

His Father "Raymond" was a Dairyman on the Island.

Mark King went to the Cowes High School, while at School, he was Encouraged by his Music Teacher to be a Drummer, which he thought, he could make a "Living" out of!

Mark King was in a Band while at School, they were Named "Re-Flex" but his School Life was to come to an early End, when he was 17, when one Day he Turned up for School in a Pair of Jeans, and was Told by his Head-master "that he School days were Over, and he had to Leave!

After this "King" Left Home and Stayed at a Friends House, Sleeping on the Floor!

Within a Couple of Weeks, he had found a Job, Working on a Production Line, but this was Not to Last too Long, when he Found himself another Job, as a Milkman!

At the Age of 19, in 1977, he Left the Isle of Wight and Headed for London, where he Hoped to find a Job in Music!

He found himself a Job in Music, but it was Working in a Music Shop, Called "Macari's" as he was a Drummer, he had hoped to Sell Drums, but "Macari's" did not Sell Drums, but he did see they sold "Bass Guitars" so he told them he could Play the Bass!

So he got the Job, of Selling Bass Guitars and Coffee Boy, so after this, Mark king Started to Learn "How to Play the Bass"

By 1979, he had Formed a Band with Mike Lindup and 2 Friends from the I.O.W, Phil and Boon Gould, they called themselves "Level 42"

At One of their earlier Gigs, they were Spotted by "Andy Sojka" who at that time was Head of an Small Independant Label called "Elite Records" they were Signed up, by the Following Year in 1981 "Level 42" were Signed by "Polydor Records"

After a Couple of Single Releases, without any Success, the Song "Love Games" was Released in 1981, and it was their First Top 40 Hit in the UK, it also Marked "Level 42's" First "Top of the Pops" Appearance!

After this, Level 42 had Several Years of Hit Records in the UK and Around Europe, they also had 4 Hits in the US, the biggest being "Something About You" which Reached Number 4 on the US Dance Chart.

Mark King had also had 5 Solo Albums over the Years, and at Present is back in "Level 42" with "Mike Lindup" still Touring, and there is Talk of a New Album in 2014!

I saw Mark King and Level 42 back in 1984, it was a Great Show, I Suppose this was when "Level 42" were getting Toward's their Best, Mark King is by Far "The Best Bass Player in the UK"

My Favorite Level 42 Album is Standing in the Light and my Favorite Single is The Sun Goes Down (living it up).

Here's the Full "Standing in the Light" Album:

HERE'S "THE SUN GOES DOWN (LIVING IT UP)

LEVEL 42 DISCOGRAPHY

11 STUDIO ALBUMS

8 LIVE ALBUMS

6 COMPILATION ALBUMS

33 SINGLES

MARK KING DISCOGRAPHY

5 STUDIO ALBUMS

2 SINGLES

HERE'S A SELECTION OF THE BEST OF LEVEL 42

Amazon.co.uk Widgets

A BIT OF BASS SLAPPING BY MARK KING

Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE 180th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 180th Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, it Called "Encore" from the Series of Mixes called "Music of Loving It!! its been Mixed by Matthew Biant and contains Various Soul Artists and Bands, it Features some Great Tracks by amongst others: Change, Millie Scott, High Fashion, BB&Q Band, The Affair and Rene and Angela.

For a Full Track Listing and Download, go Here!

Sunday, February 17, 2013

MICHAEL JACKSON BAD TOUR AT WEMBLEY and GREG PHILLINGANES

It was now Summertime of 1988, Trade in the Takeaway was Picking up a bit, but still Not Enough to make a Decent Living!

It was Fast Approaching to our Trip To Wembley Stadium to See Michael Jackson's Bad Tour Show.

But one thing Needed to be Sorted out First, before the Day Arrived, Our Mode of Transport, I only had my Van, so we Needed to Hire or Borrow a Car for the Day!

Luckily my Middle Sister had a Little Vauxhall Fiesta and she Agreed to let us Borrow it for the Day, I cant Remember if I got out any Insurance for that Day, I would have Probably been made to, by Susan and my Sister!

The Car I Remember was Bright Yellow with Green and Black Interior, it was only a Small Engine, so Fairly Cheap on the Petrol, this was a Few Years ago now, things have Changed (Petrol Wise) Now Though!

The Day we Actually went to Wembley was 16th July 1988, I Remember this Date, as it was the Day that Prince Charles and Diana went, there was also a Video of the Show Released, that same Year!

I Remember we got there Really Early and also Walking on all the Wooden Boards that were all over The Pitch of Wembley, to Protect the Surface!

As I have said before, My Wife Susan Liked Jacko, I Dont Mind him, but his Music was Not what I Really Liked, but he did put on a Great Show, I also Remember his Keyboard Player was Greg Phillinganes, who's Album I had Brought a Few Years Previously also Sheryl Crow was on Back Up Vocals!

As I said it was a Great Show, I Believe it Lasted at Least 2.5 Hours, and there was about 72,000 people there, the Biggest Concert Audience I have Seen and Been in!

We had a Clear View of Charles and Diana as we were Quite Near the Front over to Jacko's Left Hand Side!

The Worst Thing about the Whole Day, was Trying to get out of the Car Park at Wembley after the Show, as you could Imagine, there Thousand's of People all over the Place and Thousand's of Cars Everywhere, what a Nightmare!

I Believe we were Nearly as Long getting out of the Car Park, onto the Road Home, as we were in Wembley, Watching the Whole Concert!

Another Bad (no pun intended) Memory of the Night, was when we Eventually got on the Way Home, after about an Hour of Driving, with the Heater on Full, I Started to Doze Off!

Before I Realised what was Happening, we went Right Up on the Verge for what seemed Hundred's of Yard's, Luckily for us it was all Grass Verge along that Stretch of Road, What a Wake Up Call!

I Pulled over to the Side of Road and had a Rest for a While and something to Eat and Drink, that really put the Sh*t up me and Susan!

What an Ending of a Great Night Out that was!

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Now for Some Music, as Mentioned in above Post this Week, Greg Phillinganes, Keyboard Player on the Michael Jackson's Bad Tour, also had a Couple of Solo Albums Released in the 1980's.

In 1981, he Released the Album called "Significant Ganes" it Featured a Great Instrumental Track Called "Maxxed Out"

Incidentally, Greg Phillinganes Sister is "Carrie Lucas" who used to be a Recording Artist on the Solar Record Label (and Married to Dick Giffey, Founder of Solar Records)

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