Aloe Blacc – I Need a Dollar
From: I Need a Dollar single Good Things LP (Stones Throw, 2010)
quick note: the single on Itunes as it comes with an instrumental and 2 more tracks for 2 bucks.
So you may have remembered Aloe Blacc from his debut a few years back on Stones Throw. Called Shine Through it had some interesting cuts but was a little scattershot. It still held some promise. His new album is supposed to feature the help of a few members of El Michels affair amongst some other Truth and Soul artists. This definately is shaping up to be a great 2nd album.
The one thing I never realized on his first album was how great his voice was. After hearing this track which is now the theme song on How to Make It In America, HBO’s new entourage like show, I was a little mesmerized. The backing insrumentation is fantastic with the piano stabs, solid snare back drop and the backup singers, but his croon is outright amazing.
Right now I’ve been doing a little updating of our look. We’re still sticking with the Yellow, but I thought I might try to change the background colors and make it pop a little better. I’ve also been mocking up various new headers over the past month. Tell us what you think, diggin it?
Ike White: Love & Affection and Changin’ Times
From: Changin’ Times [LA International, 1976]
Back with the rare today and Ike White’s 1976 LP, Changin’ Times. This post will be of the mercifully short type due to my knowledge of Ike being limited to that he recorded this album while in prison, it was at least partially produced by Jerry Goldstein, the man behind War’s sound, and that it was endorsed enough by Mr Stevie Wonder for him to page the liner notes that accompany the great music. I can certainly see why Stevie felt drawn to this artist, the combination of beautifully produced jazz/soul is right up his alley as White ventures into many a noodling territory before always bringing the track back into the funk lane.
While the entire album is of a high quality there’s no doubting that the reason why it regularly goes for over 100 dollars is due to the inclusion of the much comped, much loved, Love & Affection. I couldn’t really feature this album without including this track just in case you haven’t been witness to its majesty before. A combination of great horns, cow bell, an irresistible groove and a more than slightly Sly approach to tune structure and vocals result in a true funk classic and one that never gets old. Absolute belter.
I was torn between throwing up Antoinette, a 9 minute jam that ventures from deep groove to cheesy jazz funk to beautiful groove and Changin’ Times, another nine minute track that is more of the mellow soul variety. In the end I had to plump for the title track, its mixture of soul and jazz too much to resist. Very much a slow burner, the track really takes off around the two minute mark as the strings enter the mix and, to my ears at least, the guitar work takes on an extra intricacy as the percussion also steps up a gear. Very smooth but never dull, and, in its own way, rather beautiful.
Sadly this album still appears to be far from being reissued though as we so many of these, we live in hope. Nice heavy vinyl pressing please.
Gil Scott Heron:
Did You Hear What They Said
From: Free Will
We Almost Lost Detroit
From: Bridges
Angel Dust
From: Secrets
Willing
From: 1980
Better late than never, it only seems appropriate that a site as immersed in soul and funk as Ear Fuzz should take a minute to appreciate that Mr Gil Scott Heron has released a new album. I’ve admittedly only given it a quick listen through so far but have to say that I’m impressed, the combination of Gil’s always powerful vocals and the updated accompaniment works extremely well. However, today I’m more interested in looking back to Gil’s past and highlighting a few tracks that may not be on everyone’s radar but certainly should be.
Not that long ago there was a pure record geekery discussion about who had the better discography, Curtis Mayfield of Gil Scott Heron. Without hesitation I plumped for Curtis as I expect most people would do. It was only when I had a moment to think about it that I decided to go back and revisit Gil’s albums and I must say that it’s perhaps not as clear cut as you’d automatically assume.
I’m skipping over Pieces Of A Man as this is unarguably Gil’s masterpiece album and, if you don’t have a copy already, please go out and buy it right now
Tommy Mcgee: Come On and We Ought To Be Together
From: Positive Negative [MTMG, 197?]
In our typical understated and in no way unorganised manner, Ear Fuzz actually passed the five year anniversary over the past week. It seems like only yesterday when I closed down my own blog and moved here but over that period we’ve had numerous site breakdowns, been taken offline for a month, made lots of friends, had some harmless ebeef, changed colour and style about thirty times and also, with any luck, shared some great music with you all.
I don’t want to go all Gwyneth on here but I do feel that the following people have to be acknowledged as without them the site wouldn’t be where it is today. So shouts out to those who have since moved on including the originator DJ Maru (who has his own site now in case you haven’t checked), Killermike, dtglass, MattW, floodwatch and G10947. Also thanks as always to those who are still contributing, btieman, chuckdafonk, dane, Independent J, Kevin and of course Still Life who has been here since day one and is still going strong.
Damn it, I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.
Anyway, I don’t want to waste any more of your time reminiscing so how about some music to reward you for sitting patiently through my ramblings? Kind of appropriate that I won’t even try and pretend that I have ever even been in the same county as the record I posted today but I just feel like I have to share its brilliance with you.
Oscar Brown, Jr.: A Dime Away from A Hotdog
From:Movin on
Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers: Bustin’ Loose
From:Bustin’ Loose
Phirpo Y Sus Caribes: Comencemos
From: Parilla Caliente [Phillips, 1973]
Bobby Pauneto: El Senor Sid
From: El Sonido Morderno [Mardi Gras, 196?]
Bobby Hutcherson feat. Harold Land : Goin’ Down South
From: San Francisco
Max Roach: January V
From: M’Boom
Back with an odds and sods post today though be assured that this has been handpicked for that EarFuzz seal of quality and all tracks are suitably fantastic.
Kings Go Forth: One Day
From: The Outsiders Are Back [Luaka Bop, 2010]
Holy hell. This just dropped into my inbox and shook every single January cobweb out of my head. From the upcoming Kings Go Forth’s debut album, The Outsiders Are Back, this is an absolutely fantastic slice of soulful funk. Like something transported right out of my private mind garden the track has it all - from the relentlessly driving rhythm section, to the horns, to the soaring vocals, to the breakdown, everything clicks. Excuse the gushing but this is something a bit special indeed.
Co-founded by Lotus Land record shop owner Andy Noble and veteran singer Black Wolf the album is also going to feature artwork by Ear Fuzz favourite Mingering Mike. Talk about ticking all the right boxes.
You can find out more about the artists and their release date here.
What a way to start the weekend.
Lou Ragland: Understand Each Other and The Next World
From: Is Conveyor [SMH, 1977]
So, been a while since I popped up with a music post but my fellow fuzzers? Fuzzists? have put up some sterling posts. Please do not sleep on the treasures on offer on the site, some stunning music in the last month alone.
On a positive note we now appear to be over the worst of the move from blogger to wordpress though drop me a line if you think something is still not right. One issue I am aware of is that the response/comment box link on the post is currently very small which I can only assume is the reason why people aren’t leaving comments left right and centre. Don’t be shy, mi casa es su casa and all that. Another plus point is that we’re now leaving songs up longer for you to get your mitts on because we’re that wonderful. Really, we are.
Anyway, on to the music and another shamefully hard to grab release, Lou Ragland Is Conveyor. An artist whose recording career started in the mid sixties, Ragland was already an old hand of the industry by the end of the decade, having been both a vice president of a record label (SARU Records) and a producer of the acts. Ragland then went on to form the first of his record labels and release his Hot Chocolate LP with the band of the same name. Not to be confused with the Errol Brown group of the same name, Ragland’s work was decidedly more funky.
Never stopping still Ragland then moved on and created a whole new label, SMH which is where he released the subject of today’s post, Is Conveyor. An album put together with the confidence and skill of someone who has earnt their place in the recording studio, it offers up a mixture of late seventies funk and smoother grooves which is just, for want of a better word, fantastic.
Understand Each Other starts off with a great descending guitar and organ line over drums before settling into six plus minutes of absolute top drawer soul music. The strangest thing about a track like this is that it’s so spot on, so polished, so obviously a classic of the genre that it boggles the mind to think that it’s rare as hell to get a hold off.
The Next World is more of that good shit. The funkier side of Ragland including organ stabs and semi psychedelic lyrics, it’s another great example of (a) what a talent this man has and (b) the absolute insanity that this hasn’t be reissued for the wider public’s consumption.
Don’t delay, listen today and respect the architect that is Ragland. Fantastic front cover too.
Willie Mitchell 1928-2010 Teddy Pendergrass 1950-2010
It seems I only pop up on here at the moment to mark the sad passing of another legend but while I had held off as long as possible I felt I had to post something to reflect the passing of both Willie Mitchell and Teddy Pendergrass.
Two extremely different artists, both men have soundtracked some of the most romantic and downright dirty moments of my life. This isn’t in anyway trying to cheapen their music, Teddy’s solo work was well versed on the art of seduction and heartbreak (that voice!) and Mitchell’s instantly recognisable sound was the perfect accompaniment to Green’s sexual growls and Peeble’s strident voice amog many others.
There’s been some great tributes to Mitchell on our blog list over the last week and I expect something similar for Pendergrass so I’ll leave you for now with a couple of youtube clips after the jump that sums up their talent. Back with some hopefully happier posts shortly.
Anyone else psyched about the return of the lovely Sade? [new album drops: 2.8.2010]
Sade: Soldier of Love
From: Soldier of Love [Epic, 2010]
I’m a long-time fan, and, the new single doesn’t disappoint. It retains her patented smooth and adds some nice trip hop elements. Pure class. Aging gracefully. Hard to believe she’s 50!
On a semi-related note: I’d like to devote some Earfuzz time this year to exploring our favorite women on the mic. To narrow the focus a bit, I’m thinking MC’s: Da Brat. Missy. Trina. MC Lyte. MIA. etc.
Readers, any votes/suggestions? I’d really like to get into this a bit.
Continental IV: Day By Day (Every Minute Of The Hour) and Running Away (From Love)
Featured on: Dream World
Astute followers of the Fuzz may have picked up that I’m British and therefore more than mildly obsessed with the weather on any given day of the week. Because the summer season tends to last approximately 3 days I always rush to fit in as much sweet soul music as possible into the time frame before sadly packing it away again along with the shorts and my dreams.
This music for moods tradition makes it even more astonishing to me that I haven’t previously featured anything by the Continental IV. Sweet, soulful, and also very very good, I’ve been a big fan of them ever since I first got hipped by London Lee back in 2004.
Led by the haunting falsetto of Freddie Kelly and produced by Bobby Martin, the band seemed to have all the right ingredients and timing to hit the big league but, for whatever reason, it never quite came together for them. Despite obviously having depth to their sound, as far as I can tell they only ever released a number of 7″ singles in the early seventies and it’s from a compilation of these that I bring you the two tracks featured today.
Day By Day (Every Minute Of The Hour) was the group’s first single and a great example of why the band should have been so much bigger than they were. Strings, Kelly’s falsetto and perfect harmonies over the heartbreak lyrics just make this a gorgeous listening experience. It’s ironic that, for music that is so sweet, I find it really hits home when blared out as loud as you can get it.
As well as being further proof of the group’s preference for including further details in brackets (five out of the ten songs on offer here follows this trend), Running Away (From Love) is a fine fine fine example of sweet soul.
A song that manages to be both effortless and yet pushes all the right buttons, it features horns, beautiful falsetto vocals, a change up in tempo for the rousing chorus and even a switch to double time drumming leading to the big finale. The real deal, this is magnificent soul music.
Here’s hoping the hot weather continues so I can keep on playing these out for a few weeks yet. No excuses for why it’s taken me so long to feature them on them on the site, it won’t happen again.
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