Who Knows The Best Song You'll Hear Today.(?)

Who Knows - Marion Black
from 7" on Capsoul (1970). Also available on The Numero Group's Eccentric Soul No. 1.

Smoke & Mirrors - RJD2
from 12" on Definitive Jux (2003). Also on the Dead Ringer album.

Who Knows - Quantic Soul Orchestra f/ Kabir
from the album Tropidelico on Tru Thoughts (2007).

Hello readers. I apologize for being so long between posts, my excuses are a tough bought of cold gettin' ill that knocked me out for a week and subsequent intense endeavors in nanophotonics and casimir force studies. But Junior really held it down solo style and Kevin brought another anatomy of a sample super-post, so you've been in good hands.

Briefly, I am putting up a wonderfully bluesy soul song (or a beautifully soulful blues song) by Marion Black called "Who Knows." From the small and short-lived Columbus, Ohio, Capsoul label, this track is so wonderful with great vocals, a killer bass guitar riff, tight drums, and the real sprinkles on my cupcake is the piano vamps. Just about a perfect song...I even dig how the recording just runs out on the 45 while the song feels like it will go on like our hero.

Columbus's own RJD2 utilized this track heavily in "Smoke & Mirrors" off his debut album Dead Ringer. The drums and bass guitar are still there and the vocals of course just a little slowed down. This track is so great, just listen to all the tricks and pans and subtle textures (the second vocal track and piano heavy 3rd minute being the toppest notch). I could go on and on about my love of this track and Dead Ringer in general, but I'll stop in a poor effort to keep this post at a reasonable length. I do want to put in my 2 cents about the hate that flowed around RJD2's emo/rock album and DJ Shadow's half hyphy/third rock/one sixth electronic album this year. I recognize the desire to hear the next Endtroducing or Dead Ringer but regardless of how much i like the results, I'm excited to see these cats try something off track from their other work and explore. I saw an interview with George Lucas where he was asked about getting pilloried for the original Star Wars re-edits and the maudlin tone of the pre-quels and he said, "These are the movies I wanted to see so I made them. If people are so convinced it is wrong, they should make the movie they want to see."

One guy who has been filling the need and craving for beat driven album is Will Holland (aka Quantic) who puts out a wide range of funky material either electronic (as Quantic) or recorded with a band (as Quantic Soul Orchestra). The latest QSO album is one of my favorite albums of the year (look for the definitive list coming soon) and low and behold it has a superb cover of "Who Knows" with Kabir Malik Green of Panama's Los Fabulosos Festivals on vocals. Most of the Tropidelico album is far more Latin in flavor as it was inspired by Holland's extensive traveling and performing throughout Central and South America, but it is all amazing.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

Moog Music: Annette Peacock

Annette Peacock: Pony and I'm The One
From: I'm The One [RCA, 1972]

I've never been slow in proclaiming my love of ballsy female singers on this site and today I have another selection for you in the debut solo album of Annette Peacock.

A gifted pianist from an early age, Annette's talent really came to fruition after her husband at the time, Gary Peacock, started touring with Albert Ayler's band in 1964. Over the course of the next few years Annette's songwriting developed as she started messing with the Moog (given to them by Robert Moog himself), releasing albums as part of The Synthesizer Show with Paul Bley.

Having split with Bley, Annette's first solo album combined the experimental improvisation of The Synthesizer Show with a more pop sensibility and the results are truly outstanding. At the time of release Peacock was being lauded as the female Bowie and it's not hard to see why as she combines experimentation with great production and song writing.

If all this sounds a bit out there let me bring you back to earth with the psychedelic funk of Pony. A bass heavy groove rumbles throughout the track as Peacock delivers a sultry vocal over the top. This is less avant garde jazz and more Betty Davis funk which, to my ears, is nothing but a good thing. Storming music.

The title track, I'm The One, is less funky than Pony but manages to successfully combine a beautifully produced torch song and wailing Moog as Annette's husky vocals are interrupted by electronic squawks and vibrations. On a page it sounds like a mess but on a stereo it sounds like great music.

For once I can happily tell you that Annette is still making music and released her latest album in 2006. More power to her.

Ike Turner RIP pt2

Ike Turner
November 5, 1931 - December 12, 2007

Ike & Tina Turner: I Idolize You and It's Gonna Work Out Fine
From: The Sue Records Story [Capitol, 1994]

Ike & Tina Turner: Bold Soul Sister
From: The Hunter [Blue Thumb, 1969]

Following on from yesterday's post, I've pulled out a couple of Ike's earlier recordings on the Sue label including the original I Idolize You which I personally prefer to the later Spector produced version. I also had to put up Bold Soul Sister cos it's just so so damn funky.

Funky16Corners has reupped a couple of his fantastic posts on Ike which I would highly recommend reading, tons of knowledge jewels being dropped.

I always feel a slight moral quandary with these musicians who make fantastic music but appear to have spent much of their private lives being absolute shits. Ike certainly wasn't the first or last of these and I hope you can appreciate the musical gifts he gave to the world.

Ike Turner: RIP

Ike Turner
November 5, 1931 - December 12, 2007

Ike Turner & The King's Of Rhythm: Thinking Black
From: A Black Man's Soul [Pompeii, 1969]

Whatever personal feelings you may have about Ike Turner's private life there's no denying that the man was an extraordinary musical talent who helped sculpt modern music as we know it. I'll try to put up some more rare gems from the troubled man later on but for now here's one of his best known solo tracks.

RIP.

Pimp C RIP

Pimp C 29th Dec 1974 - 4th Dec 2007

One Day
From: Ridin' Dirty [Jive, 1996]

Use Me Up
From: Too Hard To Swallow [Jive, 1992]

Pocket Full Of Stones pt 2
From: Super Tight [Jive, 1994]

Gravy
From: Underground Kingz [Jive, 2007]

So it now seems confirmed that legendary producer and rapper Pimp C was found dead in a hotel room this morning. He was just 33 years old.

As half of a group that have crafted a soundtrack to pretty much my entire adult life and created more great tracks than 99% of the rest of the rappers could ever dream of there doesn't seem any real way to express the loss of this immense talent.

I'll leave it to my fellow bloggers to write the full obituaries and just have my own tribute night tonight with non stop music from the Underground Kingz. Rest in peace to one of the greats.

Tripping Through The Life Cycle: The Earth Disciples

The Earth Disciples: Life Cycle and Bitter End Part 1
From: Getaway Train [Solid State, 1969]

So how do you follow up a post like Kevin's Anatomy Of A Sample pt 2? Well, the simple answer is I can't really. So instead I've opted for a change of pace and a journey once more into the raer.......

The Earth Disciples are a group veiled in the mystery of time, allowing their music to speak for them. Which is to say that, despite my best googling efforts, I can find absolutely squat about the band behind this release.
What I can tell you is that the album is one of the rarest records on Solid State but still seems to turn up reasonably often on Ebay. You could describe the music as Soul-Jazz, Jazz-Fusion,Rock-Fusion or a number of other relatively meaningless terms but at the end of the day all that really matters is the music and I love this album to pieces.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I had a momentary face melt the first time I heard Life Cycle. Starting with a funky rock riff the track seems to be settling into a groove before it breaks down into the first of many sublime tempo changes. Building on a piano led theme the band develop the mood with layer upon layer, reverb taking the listener off on a journey before the groove brings them back down to earth. This track is absolutely fantastic by any measure.

Bitter End Pt 1 is a more straightforward jazzy number featuring some nice breakdowns and excellent playing from the band once again.

As I mentioned, despite it's rarity, I've seen this LP pop up a number of times on ebay so if you like what you hear it's worth keeping an eye out for it. I'm off to celebrate my birthday now but should be back next week with some more breakface related gems. Have a good week.