Bedazzled!: Soul

Derek's Weekly 45's: Myron And E

While the crop of old school sounds that have popped back into consciousness within the past ten or so years may be looked at as a revival or comeback, only a fool would say that soul music had EVER gone away.

Music has always been the center of my existence, and I remember back in the late 70's/ early '80's, TV commercials were full of reworked soul tunes (remember that floor cleaner using Robert Parker's 'Barefootin'?), and it's impossible to go anywhere in the world without hearing classic soul music, whether on the radio, piped into stores, etc. Not difficult to understand, as this music is LIFE.

Of the current soul groups, I really, really love Oakland, CA based Myron & E. They've released 4 great 45's in the past few years, and the first time that I heard 2010's 'It's A Shame" I was fooled for a moment and thought it was an early '70's bay area track that I'd never been hipped to before! The song has that perfect melancholy-but-swinging late '60's/ early '70's sound that's heard on records by the likes of The Natural Four, but adds a definite little bit of post hip hop flavor in a way that I can't quite explain. The duo vocals have a very unique vibe that's part hesitant, part confident, but 100% pure soul.

It's A Shame

"Cold Game" is the duo's debut 45 from 2008, and the sound is laid out perfectly on the debut, which has such a great intro. The guitar lick, amazingly soulful drumming and groovy strings set it all up for this cool song that gets even better when the vocals arrive. The vocals are unison a whole lot of the time, then the fellas break out into a super funky harmony that just makes me smile.

Cold Game

Turns out that Myron has been performing for 20+ years, and was one of the dancers on TV's In Living Color in the early '90's. He eventually relocated to the bay area, toured as a backing singer with Blackalicious which is where he met E (aka E Da Boss). E has been collecting soul records and DJing since his teens, and released a solo album as E The Boss. While on tour in europe, E recorded some tracks with The Soul Investigators group, and eventually realized that the tracks were perfect to collaborate vocally with Myron on.

The duo's debut LP is set to be released this July- preorder it from Stones Throw and get an immediate four song EP download (which is fabulous, by the way).

PLUS, I'm super excited to be sharing the stage with these fellas Saturday night in berkeley at the Starry Plough, with my band The Bang Girl Group Revue. The super cool New Love Soul Revue are also on the bill, and E will be joining me behind the turntables for some DJ action.

Posted by Dereksdaily45 on May 17, 2013 in 45's, 70's Soul, Derek's 45 of the Week, Derek's Daily 45, Funk, Soul | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bedazzled.tv's DeeJay Spike Priggen at Brooklyn's Sidecar Thursday January 10th

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Spike Priggen (AKA "Cookie" of Bedazzled.tv and Scopitones.com) will be DeeJaying at Sidecar on 5th Avenue in Brooklyn every other Thursday starting January 10th. I'll be "spinning" everything from Freakbeat to Dub, up to and including Glam, Bubblegum, Pop-Psych, Sunshine Pop, Garage Rock, Girl Groups, British Invasion, Punk, New Wave, Northern Soul, Ska, Funk, Soundtracks & other great musics of the 60's, 70's, 80's and beyond. Also expect to see some obscure Mod Retro Video action, courtesy of Bedazzled.tv on the monitors. Link to FaceBook Event page.

Posted by Cookie on January 08, 2013 in Bedazzled AudioVisual Services, Bee Gees, Blaxploitation, Bubblegum, Dub, Ska & Reggae, Dusty Springfield, Dwight Twilley Band, Folk-Rock, France Gall, Françoise Hardy, French Pop, Funk, Garage Rock, Girl Groups, Glam Rock, Ike & Tina Turner, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Instrumentals, James Brown, Joe Meek, Johnny Cash, Julian Cope, Lee Hazlewood, Lulu, Marianne Faithfull, Motown, Music, Music Video, Northern Soul, Phil Spector, Pillows And Prayers, Pop-Psych, Psychedelia, Punk & New Wave, Rap & Hip-Hop, Rockabilly, Roy Wood, Scott Walker, Screaming "Lord" Sutch, Serge Gainsbourg, Sly & The Family Stone, Soft Rock, Soul, Spike Priggen, Sunshine Pop, Surf Music, The Cowsills, The La's, VeeJaying | Permalink | Comments (0)

45's of the Week: In Tribute to Fontella Bass & Marva Whitney

Two of the greatest female voices of soul have left us in the past week; may the amazing music of Fontella Bass and Marva Whitney always live on!

My Good Loving

While Fontella Bass will always be thought of as one of the preeminent Chicago soul artists (thanks in part to her massive hit, the brilliant 'Rescue Me") her roots and earliest recordings were in St Louis, MO. Fontella's third release (1963), finds her backed by Tina Turner & The Ikettes, and in my opinion is one of her finest records; the personification of sass and power! While in St Louis, Fontella also sang in the Little Milton band, and began an association with Bobby McClure that continued on after her move to Chicago.

Recovery

Bass relocated to Chicago in late '64, and cut her first duet record with Bobby McClure ('Don't Mess Up A Good Thing') which was released in early '65 and became a minor hit. A second duet disc was released in the summer of '65 which was only a minor r&b hit. However, late in the same year 'Rescue Me" was released and became a massive hit; the song is still heard everywhere (a staple of commercials as well) and for very good reason- it's the type of song and performance that will live on forever. Fontella's followup disc, "Recovery" (early '66) is a lovely song and another mighty fine performance, but it failed to match the massive success of the big hit. further bitterness ensued when Fontella claims she was cheated out of her share of songwriting credits on "Rescue Me" (she eventually won co-writer credit in the 1990's). While Fontella continued on making a few more great records through the '60's, she, along with her husband, avant-garde sax man Lester Bowie (Art Ensemble Of Chicago) moved to Paris. Her vocals grace the incredible Art Ensemble track "Theme De Yo-Yo". Fontella Bass, R,I.P (1940-2012).

It's My Thing (You Can't Tell me Who To Sock It To)

Also from Missouri (Kansas City), Marva Whitney (born Marva Ann Manning) had one of the brassiest, funkiest, most powerful voices in all of soul music. Like so many soul singers, her singing career began in the church, and she was a member of family band The Manning Gospel Singers, and at age 16 joined the Alma Whitney Singers (where she met future husband Harry Whitney). Her gospel career ended in 1967, when she joined the James Brown Revue, although the testifying power of her voice always remained fully in the church. James Brown began producing her records in 1968 (beginning with the incredible 'Unwind Yourself") and the godfather certainly helped in unleashing the funk power of sister Marva's voice.

"It's My Thing" (You Can't Tell me Who To Sock It To)" (1969), an absurdly funky answer to the Isley Brothers "It's Your Thing" is not only something of Marva's signature track, but is also a feminist call to arms. James Brown's band vamps furiously behind her, while Marva asserts her place in the world and tells the man that she doesn't NEED him, taking the freedom aspect of The Isleys' jam to a whole other level.

Saving My Love For My Baby

Marva's debut solo single (1967) was 'Your Love Was Good For Me"; however, I prefer the flip side- "Saving My Love For My Baby". This track bridges the gap beautifully between her gospel past (check out the intro) and her funk future. When I listen to this track, I feel as though I'm listening to the type of voice that is such a force of nature, so raw, so powerful, that it's almost akin to looking too deeply into a very personal side of an individual's life. I am thankful every day that these performers gave so much of themselves in their music, and while their passing is an indication of how fleeting life is, the music will always resonate.
Marva Whitney, R.I.P: 1944-2012

Posted by Dereksdaily45 on December 28, 2012 in 45's, Derek's 45 of the Week, Derek's Daily 45, Funk, Northern Soul, R & B, Soul | Permalink | Comments (0)

Derek's Weekly 45's: Seasonal Sounds

Call me a softy if you wish, but I have a special fondness for Christmas music; I always look forward to spinning seasonal LP's by The Beach Boys, Willie Nelson, The Supremes, Temptations, Vince Guaraldi, and of course the Phil Spector collection while trimming the tree, cooking meals and opening prezzies with the wife. There's a handful of Xmas 45's that get yearly spins as well; here's a few favorites- some well known, most too obscure than they deserve to be.

One area that wasn't explored very deeply by US garage bands was the Christmas record; however, Chicago's Saturday's Children were way too sophisticated to be called a garage band.

Here, the band (deeply influenced by the Beatles) melds "Deck The Halls" with Dave Brubeck's jazz standard "Take Five' and turns it into a jazzy, quasi-psychedelic number that I almost guarantee will bring on some holiday cheer. This group had an incredible knack for harmonies, and tackle the tricky 5/4 time signature with ease making for the most hypnotic Christmas record I've ever heard. The other side ("Christmas Sounds") is an exceptional holiday original showcasing their excellent group harmonies and songwriting skill. This song gets closer to my heart with each passing year, and sadly, Saturday's Children main man Ron Holder passed away about a month ago (not to mention Mr Take Five himself, Dave Brubeck) making this record extra powerful this season.From 1966.

Deck Five

Christmas Sounds

One of the prettiest, yet little known soul Christmas singles.

I'm not sure if this Betty Lloyd is the same singer who was a member of the east coast girl group The Percells; Thomas Records (named after Jamo Thomas) was a Chicago label, and this track certainly has an indelible Chicago stamp on it.

The lyrics brilliantly capture the feeling of being alone at Christmas, but without self pity. Oozing with quality, this song should truly be a holiday standard.

Snowflakes

Here's an incredible double-sided bit of holiday wonderment from the master. Released in 1968 (exactly one year after Otis' tragic death), this superb record showcases the two sides of Otis; his reading of the perennial "Merry Christmas Baby" shows his uptempo driving vocals, while his take on "White Christmas" shows that this man could pull so much emotion out of a ballad and turn a song completely into his own.

Merry Christmas Baby

White Christmas

Among his brilliant skills arranging, producing and performing, Donny Hathaway also co-wrote and put to wax the first version of this song that has since become a Christmas standard. Tragically, Donny only lived 34 years; however, the gifts of music that he left behind are immortal.

This Christmas

Cut by William Bell for the Stax/ Atlantic Soul Christmas LP release, "Every Day Is Like A Holiday" is a favorite Christmas style song that doesn't go over the top oozing with Christmas sentiment (although I admit I'm a sucker for lots of Xmas music). I wanted to feature the William Bell version, but I don't have it on 45. Then I remembered this gem that I picked up at Domino Sound Records in New Orleans (one of the best little record stores on the planet, as a matter of fact).

Turns out "Van" is Van Broussard, one of the progenitors of the Louisiana "swamp pop" sound; this 45 finds him in deep southern soul mode.

Every Day Is Like A Holiday

Until next time, I wish everyone peace and happiness at this time of year.