Ben & The Platano Group: Arte Pino Pasta
From: Paris Soul [Dare-Dare, 1971]
Five Stairsteps: We Must Be In Love
From: 7″ [Curtom, 1969]
Joe Mcphee: Shakey Jake
From: Nation Time [CJR, 1971]
Lyn Christopher: Take Me With You
From: Lyn Christopher [Paramount, 1973]
So, apologies for disappearing for the last couple of days, these things happen you know, nothing like going on holiday and coming back to find you’re forgotten to renew the site ownership.
However, let’s not waste time talking about what’s been and gone and instead get back to celebrating the hear and now.
As we enter the third year of Ear Fuzz it seems time for another shake up and that’s why we’re looking to you, yes you, to help keep this site the magnificent bastard that it is today.
We’re looking for ladies and gentlemen who would be interested in writing for the site and joining the Fuzz family. By now you should have some idea of the kind of music we talk about on this site from hip hop to soul to funk to jazz to blues to library to psych to electronica and beyond so if you’re interested in contributing to the site drop a line here and we’ll go from there.
Just in case you need reminding of what we do, and because you’ve been deprived off new music for a minute, here are a few choice cuts of classic material.
Ben & The Platano Group’s Arte Pino Pasta, taken from their 1971 album Paris Soul, is European funkiness of the highest order – an orchestration desperately in need of a high speed, gas guzzling car chase to accompany it’s relentless rhythms, horn crescendos and dirty guitar.
I’ve stated before my love for the Five Stairsteps work and We Must Be In Love is a bonafide classic. Curtis Mayfield’s touch is all over this from the rousing horns to the bongo drums to the sweet soul harmonies. It’s tracks like this that prove just how great this group were at their peak, rivalling the best of any male vocal group out there, including the Jackson 5.
Next up we have 13 and a half minutes of heavy drums, great organ work and all round genius of Joe Mcphee’s Shakey Jake off his 1970 album Nation Time. Drop this in the right club, at the right time, with the bass way up high, and pandemonium will ensue.
Lyn Christopher’s Take Me With You off her 1973 Self Titled album, is one of those songs that makes the whole digging process worthwhile. While the rest of the album is reasonable, Carly Simon lite, folky music, Lyn hits the listener with this brooding, sexed up genius of a track. Pure perfection.
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"Arte Pino Pasta" had me at the cowbell. Sounds like a funkier chase scene from "Bullitt."
You guys had me scared there for a minute this past week…
just a thanks for the tunes. carry on keepin on
Dude, I had no idea that the Stairsteps were this great! This song just as great as their big hit. By the way, check out the utube of them. Amazing.
It was worth the wait a couple days for this great music.
Ken
these are some real winners pal. good looks.
You pick songs Junior that will carry us forward — Lyn Christopher tune just as essential as that Joe Graves jem you dropped on us … Best! fONk
Thank you…Keep up the good work…I didn't know that Monch and Dilla covered the 5 StairSteps
Great stuff as always, thank you very much
FYI, that Lyn Christopher song is sampled by the Smut Peddlers for the song One by One
gotta say perfect selection of tunes junior, never heard the 5 stairsteps and joe mcphee before, love em
cheers
Thanks guys, as if we'd ever leave you!
Ken, don't sleep on the Stairsteps, their first couple of albums in particular are full of great great tunes.
i think dilla must've taken from the Impressions' version (recently featured on soul-sides) of "we must be in love" for the vocal on the Monch track. Both tracks seem to share the same instrumental though, with slightly varying vocals. anyone have any insight into this?
Great post! Loved Ben & The Platano Group!
Hello,
This is Antonio Barreiros from Exotique Music. I would be interested to post a few reviews, mostly about worldwide psychedelic, progressive, garage, rio, zeuhl or unusual LPs from the late 60s and early to mid- 70s. Can you let me know how i can start?
PS: Doing my own site soon..
Thanks!
Antonio
Introducing my site that specializes on rare & collectible worldwide vinyl.
Hope you all like it!
Cheers
Antonio
http://www.sychmusic.com/