September 29th, 2009 | No Comments »
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The Magnificent Seven
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The Magnificent Dance
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Released in 1981
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This edition of 12″ Gems features one of the most addictive bass lines to ever grace the dancefloor. The Clash isn’t the first band to come to mind when you’re up in the club, but “The Magnificent Dance” appeals to pretty much anyone who gets up to get down. (For the record, “Rock The Casbah” works brilliantly too.)
The Clash were consistently pushing the boundaries of music. Though mostly defined as a “punk” bank, they also incorporated reggae, political fury, and — as demonstrated on this 12″ — rap into their sound. “The Magnificent Seven” was recorded in 1980, and may have been the first rap record made by whitey (with the possible exception of Blondie’s “Rapture,” which came out at roughly the same time).
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Published in 12" Gems, Music |
September 16th, 2009 | No Comments »
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Barbra Streisand (w/Barry Gibb)
Guilty
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Album: Guilty (1980)
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Tanya Morgan
Stay Tuned (Sunset Version)
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Album: Sunset (EP, 2005)
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A couple of months ago, I was diggin’ in the dollar bin at Amoeba and came across Guilty, a Barbra Streisand/Barry Gibb duet album from 1980. My Mom totally had this record, and played it frequently enough that the title song came back to me instantly. As I stood hunched over the crate on the floor, I wondered what other beats might lurk within the dated airbrushed sleeve. For a buck, I could satisfy my curiosity and prevent lingering back damage.
I had thought about featuring Guilty in a new gBlog feature dedicated to cheesy pop, but couldn’t find enough tracks on the record that were bad-good enough to share. Oh well. At least the title cut — which won a Grammy and features the brothers Gibb (aka the Bee Gees) on background vocals — entertained me enough to rip it and upload to my iPod.
I had pretty much given up on the idea of blogging about the record. But a few weeks after I had put it aside, I heard a familiar sample in a podcast from The Sound of Young America. It was included in a 2006 performance by an unknown rap group with a misleading name: Tanya Morgan. (According to their MySpace profile, “THE NAME MEANS NOTHING…AND EVERYTHING. JUST ENJOY THE MUSIC! THATS AN OLD QUESTION PLEASE DONT ASK IT ANYMORE! LOL”)
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Published in Music, Musical Cousins |
September 13th, 2009 | No Comments »
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Follow The Leader
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Follow The Leader (Dub)
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Released in 1988
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OK, I’m trying out a new feature, 12″ Gems. Since I spent many years as a quasi-professional DJ, I’ve got fat stacks of phat tracks!
Take this one: Eric B. & Rakim’s 5-star classic single “Follow The Leader.” It killed in the later, hazy hours of house parties in San Francisco during the late 90s — nearly a decade after its 1988 release. It continues to be an invigorating dancefloor choice for certain kinds of parties.
I have an MP3 of this track that I got from one of the online music services. It completely neuters the bass, and sounds hollow. To me, Eric B.’s complex, moody beat is what drives the track and keeps it relevant. I spent some extra time on my encoding to try and capture it, but digital music can’t quite match the big thumping rhythm that only vinyl can deliver. Pump it through some good speakers and turn it up, and you’ll get a taste.
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Published in 12" Gems, Music |
August 29th, 2009 | No Comments »
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If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It (Part 1)
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Do What You Wanna
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Uhuru
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Album: Another Voyage (1969)
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Ramsey Lewis is a bad-ass keys player and you’ve probably never heard of him. With 80 albums and three Grammy Awards to his credit, that’s a crying shame. Don’t feel guilty, though; he’s still touring, and you’ll be blown away by all the progressive music he’s given to the world.
I’m proud to say I have a bunch of Ramsey’s records. I’m trying to remember where I picked up this Crate Diggin’ gem, Another Voyage. I’m pretty sure it was the first Ramsey Lewis record I owned and that it was recommended to me by Cool Chris at San Francisco’s legendary Groove Merchant record store. Living around the block from one of the world’s foremost vinyl palaces wasn’t easy on my wallet. But I have no regrets.
Though the LP is credited to “The Ramsey Lewis Trio,” the other two cats deserve their props. Rhythm sections came and went, but at the time of Another Voyage, Ramsey was playing with some serious talent. Cleveland Eaton remains one of the jazz world’s most revered double bassists and was a member of The Ramsey Lewis Trio from 1966-1974. Maurice White joined Ramsey as his percussionist in 1966; Another Voyage was Maurice’s last album with Ramsey before he created a little outfit called Earth, Wind and Fire.
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Published in Crate Diggin', Music |
July 29th, 2009 | No Comments »
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Get A Hold
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1nce Again (w/Tammy Lucas)
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Keeping It Moving
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Album: Beats, Rhymes & Life (1996)
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I’ll admit Beats, Rhymes & Life isn’t A Tribe Called Quest’s best album. Of the five original LP’s they released, I’d say it ranks around fourth. So why select this one over Peoples’ Instinctive Travels & the Paths of Rhythm, The Low End Theory, or Midnight Marauders?
Like other entries in the Crate Diggin’ feature, Beats, Rhymes & Life is a slept-on LP. Though none of the tracks is among the upper echelon of the Tribe’s best tracks (e.g. “Youthful Expression” “Check The Rhime,” “Electric Relaxation”, the list goes on and on), there are a few gems on Beats, Rhymes & Life that I still enjoy hearing. Ultimately, A Tribe Called Quest’s lesser tracks are still better than most rappers’ greatest hits.
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Published in Crate Diggin', Music |
