Remembering Al Wilson

FONTANA, Calif. - Al Wilson, the soul singer and songwriter who had a number of 1970s hits including "Show and Tell," has died. He was 68.
Wilson died Monday of kidney failure at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fontana, according to his son, Tony Wilson of Yucaipa.
"He was always singing," his son said. "He would call me in the middle of the night with a new song that he had written."
Wilson was born on June 19, 1939, in Meridian, Miss. He sang in the church choir as a boy and had his own spiritual singing quartet. His family moved to San Bernardino in 1958 and he found work as a mail carrier, office clerk and janitor.
He toured for four years with the group Johnny "Legs" Harris and the Statesmen before joining the Navy. Following a two-year stint, he moved to Los Angeles and played with the Jewels and their successor group, the Rollers. A drummer, he also worked with the instrumental group the Souls.
In 1966, he was spotted by manager Marc Gordon, who introduced him to singer Johnny Rivers, who signed him to his Soul City label. Wilson's first single, "The Snake" in 1968, was a hit and was followed by "Do What You Gotta Do."
"Show and Tell" was released in 1973 and the next year was No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100 chart.
Wilson charted with several other 1970s singles, including "La La Peace Song," "I've Got a Feeling (We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again)" and "Count the Days."
In later years he continued to tour clubs in Los Angeles and elsewhere

Al Wilson: Show & Tell


Here's the big hit we all know, but that doesn't make it any less great. First recorded by Johnny Mathis, Wilson's is the definitive version. Find it on all his greatest hit compilations.

Al Wilson: Somebody To Love


I absolutely love Wilson's rocking voice on this track taken from 1973's Weighing In. The backing vocals really send it home.

Just The Tax Ma'am

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: What If We All Stop Paying Taxes?


A real cooker from the great Sharon Jones. Find it on Peter Young's Soul Cellar, a solid compilation on the Metro label.

New Spring Playlist Launched

Spring has sprung and a new FineTune playlist has been launched just to the right of this post. I hope it helps you while cleaning up the yard and taking down those storm windows. We've made it through another winter and it's time to celebrate! Enjoy!=======>========>========>

Coffy Is Still The Color

I watched Coffy on IFC last night and I felt the urge to repost this with some new tracks....

A blaxploitation masterpiece on par with Curtis Mayfield's Superfly and Isaac Hayes' Shaft, Roy Ayers' soundtrack for the 1973 Pam Grier vehicle Coffy remains one of the most intriguing and evocative film scores of its era or any other. Ayers' signature vibes create atmospheres and textures quite distinct from your average blaxploitation effort, embracing both heavy, tripped-out funk and vividly nuanced soul-jazz . The vocal numbers are no less impressive, in particular the rapturous opening cut, Coffy Is the Color. Richly cinematic grooves, as inventive and cohesive as any of Ayers' vintage Ubiquity LPs. Check It Out!

Roy Ayers: King's Last Ride


Roy Ayers: Escape


Roy Ayers: Exotic Dance

A Honey of a Video

Check out Badu's latest. There are a ton of tributes here. See if you can identify them all....

Freedom Is Just Around The Corner

Linda Tillery: Freedom Time

The spiritual opening does not prepare you for the funk that is about to come. Uplifting lyrics look to a positive future attainable only with hard work and sacrifice. This track opens the killer 2002 compilation from Luv N' Haight California Soul.

James Carr: Freedom Train

Classic soul horns along with a gospel organ lay down the foundation on this 1969 single from the troubled James Carr. Pick up The Complete Goldwax Singles for this track along with 27 other gems.

The Isley Brothers: Freedom

This infectious ode to independence is hammered home by a piercing horn section. Find it on The Isley's 1970 release Get Into Something, an album that's worth checking out for the cover art alone.

Cameroon Soul

Manu Dibango: Ceddo End Title


Here's a track that came on my radio last night while driving through a vicious ice storm and I just had to share it. Originally taken from Musique Du Film Ceddo the soundtrack from the 1976 Senegalese film Ceddo it is performed by Cameroon's most famous jazz artist Manu Dibango. The other worldly marimba along with the funky guitar create a groove that cannot be denied. If your lucky enough to find the original soundtrack please share, otherwise you can find this track on the tremendous Luaka Bop compilation Love's a Real Thing.