Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: I'm Not Gonna Cry

Woodstock!

Santana: Soul Sacrifice
Carlos tames the beast.




Sly & The Family Stone: I Want to Take You Higher
New heights.




Janis Joplin: Work Me Lord
Epic

...And the Living is Easy

Here's my latest mix guaranteed to keep your 4th of July cookout cookin'.

The Babymaker Revisited

The Babymaker, The Quiet Storm, Slow Jamz Vol. 1.....call it what you will but if you can't seal the deal with this mix then you have problems. It's a story of love lost and then found in just over 67 minutes. Enjoy it with that special someone and if you have any ideas for what to call this beast please let me know in the comments and you just may receive a limited edition CD. Close the door, dim the lights...hit play...be gentle.


Setlist:

The Dramatics: In The Rain
Teddy Pendergrass: Love TKO
Cymande:Changes
Marvin Gaye: I Want You
Barry White: Dreamin'
Isaac Hayes: Something
The Isley Brothers: Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
Willie Hutch: Gimme Some of That Good Old Love
Minnie Riperton: Inside My Love
Staple Singers: After Sex
Marvin Gaye: Since I Had You
Curtis Mayfield: P.S. I Love You
Al Green: Livin' For You
Earth, Wind & Fire: It's All About Love

Rest in Peace Michael Jackson

Like everybody else the news about Michael Jackson shocked me. What really surprised me was just how sad I became. Michael's music really hasn't spoken to me in nearly 20 years and personality wise, well let's just say I felt he got a bit odd. As a child Thriller and to a lesser extent, Off the Wall were my life. As an budding artist Michael Jackson became one of my favorite subjects to draw second only to ET. I had the Beat It jacket (the black plastic knock off) and of course the glove and would moonwalk all over the kitchen. I vividly remember watching MTV from 10 AM until 10PM just to catch the Thriller video. So am I sad for losing Michael Jackson or am I mourning the loss of my childhood? I suppose a bit of both. One thing that cannot be denied is that Michael Jackson was an amazing one of a kind entertainer. Check out any of his performances on You Tube and you'll see how uniquely unreal he was. His singing style was unlike any other and he seemed to move like the laws of gravity simply did not apply. Hopefully folks will remember the music and not all the crap that seemed to drag him down. He was an icon but also a son, a brother, and a father. I never cared for the "King of Pop" moniker but he is definitely someone who changed the game forever. Go back and re listen to his music and you'll hear the genius who will hopefully find the peace he couldn't seem to find here.

Michael Jackson: I Can't Help It

For Michael

Just heard the shocking news about Michael Jackson....more to follow.

Purplish Rain

Here are the only two reasons to get the Prince tribute from this month's Spin magazine.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: Take Me With U

Mariachi El Bronx: I Would Die 4U

Why Can't We Live Together

Timmy Thomas: Why Can't We Live Together


This song is proof that less is more. Recorded as a demo in 1972 Timmy Thomas' rather simple song became a surprisingly huge hit. Thomas accompanies himself on organ backed by a cheesy rhythm box. It's the title track on his LP from 1974.

Tinga Stewart: Why Can't We Live Together


Tinga Stewart's 1977 performance is riven with emotion and in many ways far more powerful than Thomas's original. In Stewart's capable hands, the lyrics become an accusation, a demand, and finally an affirmation that indeed "we can live better." A stunning cover that leaves the original in the dust. This track can be found on Blood & Fire's exceptional compilation from 2001 Darker Than Blue: Soul From Jamdown 1973-1977.

Steve Winwood: Why Can't We Live Together


Taken from Winwood's 2003 "comeback" album About Time this version has a considerably more Latin vibe featuring Winwood on a Hammond organ, drummer Walfredo Reyes Jr., and guitarist José Piresde Almeida Neto. Congas and timbales flesh out the rhythm.

Koko Taylor 1928 - 2009

Koko Taylor is the great female blues singer of her generation. Raw vocal power and blustery swagger.”
– Rolling Stone

Koko Taylor is a national treasure…she packs firepower a lot of youngsters only wish they had.
– Chicago Tribune

Koko Taylor is the blues…a growling goddess of down-and-dirty. Sheer, unstoppable shouting power, full steam ahead and damn the torpedoes. There are many kings of the blues but only one queen. Koko’s voice is capable of pinning a listener to the back wall.
– Boston Globe

Raucous, gritty, good-time blues…Taylor belts out blues in a gravel voice with ferocious intensity. Foot-stomping music that’ rough, raw and wonderfully upbeat.
-- People

Chicago’s best blues singer…she has fire in her lungs.
--Chicago Sun-Times

Koko Taylor: I Don't Care Who Knows


Koko Taylor: Fire


Koko Taylor: Fish In Dirty Water


Koko Taylor: Get It While You Can


Check out Koko's legacy

Remembering Koko Taylor

Full post to come...Koko's classic Wang Dang Doodle.

The Fabulous Baby Huey & The Babysitters

400 pound Chicago soul man Baby Huey never quite expanded his popularity beyond his hometown but that does not diminish his power and undeniable soulfulness. Baby Huey's debut on Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label featured many Mayfield compositions. Unfortunately Huey didn't live to see its release after suffering a drug related heart attack in 1970. The Babysitters would carry on with a teen aged Chaka Kahn as the lone Baby Huey LP became the stuff of legend. Here are just a couple tracks from that classic album.

Baby Huey & The Babysitters: Mighty Mighty Children

Here's a first hand account of how great Baby Huey was as a live act.

Baby Huey & The Babysitters: Mama Get Yourself Together

I dare you to sit still with this one.

Soul Power Trailer....Hell Yeah!

Thank a Vet

Tiny Watkins: Soldier's Sad Story

get it on the compilation Excello Story : Vol. 4-1961-75.

Funkadelic: Foot Soldiers (Star-Spangled Funky)

get it on 1979's Uncle Jam Wants You.

Steel Pulse: Soldiers (live)

get it on1992's Rastafari Centennial Live In Paris.

Check Out Mayer Hawthorne

Sounds pretty cool...or is this guy a poser? What do you think?

Let's Strut

The Nite-Liters: Afro Strut

It's hard not to strut to this 1971 jam by Harvey Fuqua & Tony Churchill's Nite-Liters. Dig the solid wah wah. Get it on Flying Funk.

Mandrill: Fat City Strut

Straight forward strut takes a sudden turn towards Brooklyn salsa. Fine Latin soul and back to funk again. Get it on 1973's Just Outside of Town.

Kashmere Stage Band: Super Strut Pt.1 (Kenny Dope Remix)

Powerful horns launch this strut. A bit Vegas but funky nonetheless. Get this remix on 2007's Now-Again Re:Sounds Vol. 1.

The Meters: Cissy Strut

It's a classic. You all know it but I had to include the greatest strut of them all. Get it on The Meters' 1969 debut.

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag

The Sweet Vandals: Mama's Got A Brand New Bag

JB cover from Spanish retro funk band The Sweet Vandals. Get it on their self titled 2007 debut.

Queen Esther Marrow: Mama

Heart wrenching soul from the late '60's. Get it on Flying Funk.

Etta James: Tell Mama

We all know it but it never gets old. The 1968 Chess classic. Get Tell Mama.

Big Ups to Big Youth

It's getting warmer here at Buffalo West so my tastes take their yearly turn towards reggae. And who better than legendary 70's dance hall DJ Big Youth to get you ready for the weekend. Three gems today folks. Respect.

Big Youth: S.90 Skank

Easy does it on this dub. Just smile and nod. Get it on The History of Jamaican Music.

Big Youth: Ride On

A little Al Green at the top. Relentless. Get it on Soul Jazz records' Jamaica Funk.

Big Youth: Dread In Babylon

A killer live track. Get it on the Trojan Roots Box.

Back In the Saddle Again...

Sorry for that hiatus folks. I hope you're still out there. I just needed a bit of a break. After a trip to New Orleans for Jazzfest and a dynamite Sharon Jones show at the House of Blues I'm re-energized. I have but one song today but it's a killer.
"Tenor saxophonist Cedric "Im" Brooks is one of Jamaica's most adventuresome musicians. Born in 1943 in Kingston, Brooks has the heart of a bop jazzman beating to a reggae rhythm, and his experiments with ancient rasta nyahbinghi drum patterns has led him to fuse elements of calypso, rhumba, jazz, Afro-beat, funk, Latin, and soul into a totally unique Sun Ra-like synthesis." This unique blend is exemplified on the track Blackness Of Darkness. It starts straight ahead jazz but it transforms midway and suddenly goes full force reggae. Very cool stuff and the perfect song for the changing season. You can find this late '70's track on the Strut Records 2008 compilation Calypsoul 70. Enjoy!

Cedric Im Brooks: Blackness Of Darkness

We'll be back!!!!

Stay Tuned...

Lick This!

Bob Marley & The Wailers: Lick Samba

A sound system favorite from 1971, Bob captures the sound of the Caribbean with this good time classic. The punchy organ drives the rhythm home. This particular mix can be found on the amazing Songs of Freedom compilation.

James Brown: Licking Stick-Licking Stick

JB Funk times 100 from 1969. I love those clicking drums and the guitar is absolutely hypnotizing. Get it this cut on Star Time.

Beastie Boys: Finger Lickin' Good

The Beasties at the height of their powers. Get it on 1992's Check Your Head.

Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Dahomey