AL GREEN-GREEN IS BLUES.
Al Green-Green Is Blues.
Label: Fat Possum Records
Format: LP.
The day that Al Green met Willie Mitchell in 1969 was, without doubt, the most important day in the twenty-two year old singer’s career. His career had stalled and he someone who could get it back on track. Willie Mitchell was the man to do that and when he signed him to Hi Records mentored the young singer and become his vocal coach, songwriting partner and producer.
In October 1974, Al Green released his seventh album for Hi Records and eighth overall. This was Al Green Explores Your Mind, which gave him his fifth consecutive number one in the US R&B charts. Four of these albums had been certified gold and one platinum. Then there was the small matter of seven singles being certified gold and one platinum. By then, Al Green had sold over three million albums and over five million singles in America alone. Willie Mitchell had transformed Al Green’s career and he was one of the most successful soul singers of his generation. It was a remarkable transformation that began in 1969 with Green Is Blue which was recently reissued by Fat Possum Records.
When Willie Mitchell came across Al Green the producer, songwriter and bandleader was looking for a singer for his band who were playing a show in Texas. This was just the break that Al Green was looking for as his career had stalled.
His career began at high school when he founded Al Greene and The Creations which included Curtis Rodgers and Palmer James. The group would later change its name to Al Greene and The Soul Mates and by the two members would have formed a record label.
Curtis Rodgers and Palmer James formed the indie label Hot Line Music Journal and signed their friend Al Greene. The label released his debut solo album Back Up Train on March the ‘21st’ 1967 and it reached just 162 on the US Billboard 200 and thirty-seven in the US R&B charts. That was despite the title-track reaching forty-one on the US Billboard 100 and five in the US R&B charts. It was a disappointing start to Al Green’s solo career.
After this, he continued to perform with Al Greene and The Soul Mates bur commercial success continued to elude the group. Things changed for frontman Al Greene when he met Willie Mitchell.
He was looking for a singer for his band who were playing a show in Texas and decided that Al Greene fitted the bill. He joined the band for the show and it didn’t take long foe Willie Mitchell to realised what Al Greene was doing wrong.
Willie Mitchell realised thatAl Greene was trying to sing like Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Sam Cooke and Wilson Pickett rather than finding and developing his own voice. To help the young singer, Willie Mitchell became his vocal coach and helped him find his own voice. Al Greene was good pupil and a quick learner and Willie Mitchell signed him to Hi Records.
Having signed to Hi Records Willie Mitchell convinced Al Greene to change his name to Al Green. The pair also cowrote their first song together Tomorrow’s Dream and Al Green penned “Get Back Baby. Meanwhile, Willie Mitchell and Marshall “Rock” Jones wrote What Am I Gonna Do with Myself? while Charles Chalmers and Sandra Rhodes who would add backing vocals on many Al Green albums cowrote One Woman.
The rest of the tracks on the album were cover versions and included My Girl, The Letter, Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield and Billy Butler’s I Stand Accused,Carl Smith and Marion “Doc” Oliver’s Gotta Find A New World, Lennon and McCartney’s Get Back plus George and Ira Gershwin’s classic Summertime. These eleven tracks would become Green Is Blues.
Recording took place at producer Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios and featured the Hi Rhythm and Horn Sections and backing vocalists Chalmers, Rhodes and Rhodes. The result was Green Is Blues, which was a very different album to his debut.
Green Is Blues was released on April the ‘15th’ 1969 two days after Al Green’s twenty-third birthday. The majority of reviews were positive apart from the forever contrarian Rolling Stone. Surely commercial success awaited the album?
When Green Is Blues was released it reached nineteen in the US Billboard 200 and three in the US R&B charts. Meanwhile, Canada, the album reached twenty-eight bringing more success Al Green’s way. This was just the start for the Willie Mitchell and Al Green partnership.
Willie Mitchell had spotted the potential in Al Green and was able to encourage and cajole a series of performances out of him that surpassed anything he had released before. The twenty-two year old worked his way through a mixture of new material and covers of contemporary pop and R&B hits. With the help of a crack band and backing vocalists Al Green gives them a makeover on an album of blues, R&B and Southern Soul.
Al Green sets the bar high on the ballad beautiful, tender ballad One Woman. Tomorrow’s Dream his first collaboration with Willie Mitchell features a heartfelt and emotive vocal on a track that showcases the sound that would bring success Al Green’s way. There’s more than a nod to James Brown on his composition Get Back.
Of the cover versions his needy reading of Talk To Me and his soulful pleadings on My Girl are highlights of the album. So an emotive and soul-baring Southern Soul cover of I Stand Accused and an a hurt-filled version of What Am I Gonna Do With Myself. Al Green then breezes through Lennon and McCartney’s Get Back before closing Green Is Blues with a gorgeous cover of Summertime where blues and Southern Soul melt into one. It’s one the finest versions of this much-covered classic and closes the album on a high.
Al Green’s meeting with Willie Mitchell transformed the young singer’s career and Green Is Blues was a stepping stone for him and allowed him to develop his sound and style.
Green Is Blues allowed Al Green to showcase his considerable skills as he breathes new life, meaning and emotion into these contemporary pop and R&B hits. They were reinvented by Al Green and producer Willie Mitchell whose production skills which shine through on Green Is Blues which was the start of the Al Green’s Hi Records’ years.
He would go on to enjoy the most successful period of his career at Hi Records. This journey started with Green Is Blues which was tantalising taste of what was to come from Al Green and producer Willie Mitchell.
Al Green-Green Is Blues.
CULT CLASSIC: IKARUS-IKARUS.
Cult Classic: Ikarus-Ikarus.
In Greek mythology, Icarus, the son of the master craftsman Daedalus, who created the Labyrinth, met a tragic ending. Icarus and Daedalus were desperate to escape from Crete. So Daedalus constructed wings made of feathers and wax. As Icarus prepared to make his escape, Daedalus warned his son of complacency and hubris.
Icarus shouldn’t neither fly too high, nor too low. If he flew too high, the sun would melt the wax. However, if he Icarus flew too low, the dampness of would weigh down the feathers. It seemed Icarus was between the devil and the deep blue sea.
And so it proved to be. Icarus chose to ignore his father’s wise words, and flew too close to the sun. The sun’s rays melted the wax, and Icarus fell into the sea. He became the first of many people who flew too close to the sun.
Sadly, this includes many musicians. Among them are Syd Barrett, Skip Spence and Brian Wilson. These three legendary musicians flew too close to the sun, and as a result, never quite filled their early potential. Sadly, neither did Ikarus.
They could’ve gone on to become one of the greatest German rock bands of their generation. Sadly, Ikarus’ discography consists of just one studio album Ikarus. It was released on the Plus label in 1971. Ikarus showcased a talented, pioneering group, who many thought were destined for greatness. Their story began a few years earlier.
It was in the mid-sixties, in the musical hotbed that was Hamburg, that Ikarus were formed. They were just the latest beat group that had been formed in Hamburg. This was where The Beatles served their musical apprenticeship a few years earlier. Now a whole host of local groups wanted to follow in the Fab Four’s footsteps.
Ikarus were no different and they spent evenings and weekends practising in various Hamburg basements. They were determined to hone their sound, before making their debut. This didn’t take long, as Ikarus featured some talented musicians.
This included classically trained keyboardist Wulf Dieter Struntz and bassist Wolfgang Kracht. His party trick was to play a violin with his gloves on. Music seemed to come easily to the members of Ikarus, and it wasn’t long until they began to play live.
By 1966, Ikarus made tentative steps onto Hamburg’s live scene. Ikarus’ earliest concerts took place in youth clubs, where they played cover versions of popular song. At first,Ikarus were called Beautique In Corporation. Soon, this was soon shortened to BIC. This found favour among the band’s audience.
Although a relatively new group, BIC quickly won over audiences. Soon, they had large and enthusiastic audience. BIC played what they wanted to hear. They weren’t above playing covers of hits by Elvis Presley and Tom Jones. This was easy on the ear of the audience. However, before long, BIC’s setlist changed.
The band members began to write their own songs as Audiences expected to hear original material. They didn’t just want to hear cover versions. This suited the members of BIC who were classically trained musicians. Composition came easy to them.
These new songs were added to BIC’s sets. Some of these songs had a psychedelic sound. BIC’s music was evolving, as music evolved. This proved popular when BIC played live.
By then, BIC had graduated from the youth club circuit, and were by now familiar faces on the Hamburg and North German music scene. Their music was a mixture of psychedelia and rock. However, there was an element of comedy in BIC’s sets.
Some of the members of BIC enjoyed the new generation of German vaudeville comedians. So they began to combine vaudeville comedy with their psychedelic sound. It proved a potent and successful combination.
Soon, BIC were one of the most successful Hamburg bands. They were well on their way to becoming one of the leading lights of the Hamburg scene. So when they saw an advert for the 1969 Hamburg student beat band competition, BIC decided to enter.
All of the top Hamburg bands entered. The competition was fierce. Hamburg had a thriving music scene. While the other bands were professional, BIC were still an amateur band. This didn’t matter. When BIC took to the stage, they quickly won over the judges with their psychedelic sound. Once all the bands had played, the judges conferred and the winner was announced. It was BIC, the only amateur band in the competition. They had triumphed, and won what was Hamburg’s most prestigious competition.
Having won the 1969 Hamburg student beat band competition, BIC were invited to in the 1970 Hamburg Pop and Blues festival. It took place between the 1st and 3rd of April 1970. BIC were going to rub shoulders with some of the biggest band on that early seventies. Among them, were Chicken Shack, Steampacket, Alexis Corner and Hardin and York. Despite such an illustrious lineup, it was the hometown band that won the hearts and minds of the audience. BIC had stolen the show.
After their performance at the 1970 Hamburg Pop and Blues festival, things happened quickly for BIC. A live album of BIC’s performance at the Hamburg Pop and Blues festival was released as their debut album. It was augmented by performances from Frumpy and Tomorrow’s Gift. The album sold fairly well, and it looked like BIC’s star was in the ascendancy.
Just a few months later, BIC’s lineup changed, when two new names joined the band. Now BIC was a five piece band. The new lineup of BIC was then asked to open for British band Uriah Heep on their forthcoming tour. This was the start of the rise and rise of BIC.
Not long after this, BIC acquired a manager, who was also a concert promoter, Will Jahncke. One of his first suggestions was that BIC changed their name to Ikarus. While this seemed more in keeping with the psychedelic and progressive rock scene, BIC were a popular and successful band. However, the five members decided to change the band’s name to Ikarus.
Following the name change, Ikarus’ music changed. They were inspired to do so, by King Crimson, Yes, Colosseum and Frank Zappa. Soon, Ikarus were fusing fusion with progressive rock and experimental music. There was still a slight psychedelic sound to their music. However, the new sound didn’t please everyone.
When Ikarus played live, the audience were divided by the stylistic change. While some embraced and welcome Ikarus’ new sound, some weren’t as sure. They weren’t won over by the move towards progressive rock. Instead, they felt the lengthy songs, and changes in tempo and time signature were self-indulgent. However, critics disagreed, and continued to champion Ikarus.
With the critics championing their music, it made sense for Ikarus to record their debut album in the second half of 1971. So the five members of Ikarus made their way to the Windrose Studio, Hamburg.
By then, the members of Ikarus had written four songs. Each of the songs were collaborations between members of the band. That was apart from The Raven Including “Theme For James Marshall.” It was an Edgar Allan Poe poem set to music written by four members of Ikarus. This became a near twelve minute epic that featured on side two of Ikarus. With the album written, the band began recording their debut album.
At the Windrose Studio, there was a sense of anticipation.The original members of the band had spent six years playing in clubs and festivals. All this was preparation for the day that Ikarus recorded their eponymous debut album. If things went to play, Ikarus music would be heard by a much wider audience.
The members of Ikarus realised this as they setup their equipment. By then, the rhythm section featured drummer Bernd Schröder, bassist Wolfgang Kracht and guitarist Manfred Schulz. Jochen Petersen played guitar, but also switched between 12-string guitar, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute and clarinet. Wulf Dieter Struntz played organ and piano. Lorenz Köhler took charge of the lead vocals on three tracks; while Manfred Schulz featured on Early Bell’s Voice. Producing Ikarus was Jochen Petersen. Eventually, the album was complete and all that was left was to release Ikarus.
With Ikarus complete, it was scheduled for release in February 1972. Miller International had decided to release it on their Plus imprint. However, before that, critics had their say on Ikarus.
For some time, critics had championed Ikarus’ music. Their eponymous debut album was no different. Ikarus, with its combination of fusion, progressive rock and psychedelia met with the critics approval. Critically acclaimed reviews followed, and Ikarus, who were still an amateur band, looked like they had a successful album on their hands.
So it proved to be. Ikarus sold well, and soon, the band were playing sellout shows across Germany. In Hamburg, Ikarus’ home town, they were asked open for Deep Purple. It looked like Ikarus were were well on their way to becoming one of the stars of the German music scene. Those that heard Ikarus concurred.
For some time, critics had championed Ikarus’ music. Their eponymous debut album was no different. Ikarus, with its combination of fusion, progressive rock and psychedelia met with the critics approval. Critically acclaimed reviews followed, and Ikarus, who were still an amateur band, looked like they had a successful album on their hands.
Although Ikarus only featured four tracks, they ooze quality. That’s apparent from Eclipse the opening bars of Eclipse to the closing notes of Early Bell’s Voice. Ikarus take the listener on a Joycean musical journey. It features thought proving lyrics with a social conscience. Especially, on the first two tracks, Eclipse and Mesentry. Throughout Ikarus, musical genres melt into one, including everything from avant-garde and experimental music to folk rock, free jazz and fusion to Krautrock, progressive rock, psychedelia and rock. Sometimes, musical genres melt into one resulting in a inventive and innovative genre-melting sound. There’s constant stylistic change and changes in tempo as the music constantly heads in new directions.
The music veers between impassioned, dramatic, symphonic and urgent, to emotive, theatrical and thoughtful. Sometimes, the music is pastoral and understated before becoming soulful, experimental and futuristic. Other times, the music becomes jazzy, moody, gothic, lysergic and cinematic. Constantly, Ikarus throw curveballs and nuances, subtleties and surprise unfold. The result is music that’s inventive and innovative. Ikarus were musical pioneers.
That was the case with the artists that have obviously influenced Ikarus. This includes King Crimson, Yes, Pink Floyd, Queen and Soft Machine. They influence Ikarus’s captivating, genre-melting, Joycean musical journey.
Sadly, Ikarus was the only album that Ikarus ever released. The Ikarus’ story is a case of unfilled potential.
On Ikarus, listeners were introduced to what could’ve been one of the most successful German bands of the seventies. Their was bang ‘on trend’. Progressive rock and fusion were both hugely popular by the mid-seventies.
That’s when Ikarus were offered a contract by Metronome. They were the owner of the legendary Brian label. For Ikarus, this was the opportunity to dine at the top table in German rock music. Surely, this was an offer that Ikarus couldn’t and wouldn’t resist?
They did. In the mid-seventies, Ikarus were still an amateur band. Its member felt that becoming a professional band was risky. There was no guarantee that their albums would sell. As an amateur band, they had the best of both worlds. Music was a hobby, one they were good at and that they made money with.
The live circuit was lucrative. It was a good way for the members of Ikarus to augment their income. However, to become a full-time band was a step too far for some members of Ikarus, and they decided the band should split-up. It was a case of what might have been.
Listening to Ikarus nearly forty-four years after its release, and one can’t help but wonder if the members of Ikarus regret their decision? Do they ever wonder what would’ve happened if they had signed to Metronome? Maybe they would’ve gone on to enjoy the same success as Can, Guru Guru, Eloy or Birth Control. Or maybe, it would’ve been another generation before Ikarus’ music finally received the recognition it deserves. That was the case with Neu!, Harmonia and Cluster and Ikarus had the talent to reach the higher echelons of German rock music. That is apparent on their eponymous debut album which is a tantalising reminder of Ikarus, Krautrock’s cult classic and a group who should’ve enjoyed a long and successful career.
Cult Classic: Ikarus-Ikarus.
CULT CLASSIC: ARTURIO RUIZ DEL POZO-COMPOSICIONES NAVITAS
Cult Classic: Arturo Ruiz del Pozo-Composiciones Nativas.
Nobody knows what life has in store for them when they embark upon the adventure that is life. Arturo Ruiz del Pozo, who was born in the Peruvian capital Lima, in 1949, had no idea that he would become one of Peru’s leading avant-garde musicians and release a classic album.
By the time Arturo Ruiz del Pozo was a teenager, he had discovered music which was changing, and changing fast. When The Beatles made their breakthrough in 1962 with Love Me Do, he was just thirteen and watched with interest from afar. Two years later, the British Invasion groups arrived on American shores and The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and The Who became part of musical revolution that transformed American music. While this was of interest to Arturo Ruiz del Pozo, the music he was interested was very different.
After graduating from high school, he enrolled at the National Conservatory in Lima, where he studied with Edgar Valcárcel. When Arturo Ruiz del Pozo graduated in 1976, he decided to complete his musical education in a city 6,326 miles away…London.
Arturo Ruiz Del Pozo had decided to complete his musical educational at the prestigious Royal College of Music in London, England. The composer and musician packed some of his favourite Peruvian native instruments thinking that me might use them in future compositions during his time in London.
After leaving Lima, in 1976, Arturo Ruiz Del Pozo flew to London and the twenty-seven year old enrolled at the Royal College of Music. Arturo Ruiz Del Pozo was about to spend the next two years of his life studying towards a Master’s degree in electronic composition and would be taught by one of the most eminent figures in British electro acoustic composition Lawrence Casserly, who was a former student of the Royal College of Music.
In 1967, Lawrence Casserly had been one of the very first students of Electronic Music at the Royal College of Music. The original course was taught by Tristram Cary, who had influenced and encouraged Lawrence Casserly.
By 1969, his early electro acoustic compositions were being performed and this was the start of a long and illustrious career.
Just three years later in 1972, and Lawrence Casserly was regarded as pioneer of electronic music, who had also cofounded the mixed media group Hydra in 1972. They had made their named combining electroacoustic and instrumental sound with lasers, light smoke and projections. Hydra’s performances were groundbreaking and spectacular and brought them to the attention of the wider artistic community.
Soon, everyone from musicians and poets, to technicians, visual artists and writers wanted to collaborate with Hydra. Meanwhile, Lawrence Casserly’s academic career at the Royal College of Music was blossoming in 1976 when he first encountered Arturo Ruiz Del Pozo.
When he arrived at the Royal College of Music, he had already graduated from the National Conservatory, in Lima, and was looking forward to completing his musical education. Especially now that he was being taught by such an eminent figure as Lawrence Casserly.
He would influence all the students on the two-year Masters degree in electronic composition including Arturo Ruiz del Pozo. He spent two years between 1976 and 1978 working towards his degree and just like the rest of the students had to produce two new compositions. This was a requirement of the course.
For the two new compositions, Arturo Ruiz del Pozo decided to use the Peruvian native instruments that he had brought from his homeland. Combined with the knowledge that he had gained from Lawrence Casserly Arturo Ruiz del Pozo began working towards his two new compositions.
By then, Arturo Ruiz del Pozo had immersed himself electroacoustic music, and was exploring the richness and variety of the sounds produced by the traditional instruments that he had brought from home. Combined with his newfound knowledge that he had gained over the best part of two years, and the influence of Lawrence Casserly Arturo Ruiz del Pozo had soon completed his compositions.
These compositions were premiered at the Royal College Of Music later in 1978. This was the final obstacle that Arturo Ruiz del Pozo had to overcome, and just over two years after he arrived in London from Lima, graduated on the ‘18th’ of October 1978. For the twenty-nine year old, this was one of the proudest moments of his life.
After graduating from the Royal College of Music, Arturo Ruiz del Pozo who had fully immersed himself in the electroacoustic scene in his adopted home country, decided to return home.
By the end of the seventies, Arturo Ruiz del Pozo was back living in Lima, and was part of a new generation of musicians who were regarded as innovators. They were ancestral and forefront as they began combining the sounds of native instruments and new technology. By then, drum machines, sequencers and synths were much affordable and within the budget of many musicians. This opened up all sorts of new musical opportunities for musicians like Arturo Ruiz del Pozo.
Since his return home, he began to explore the vast riches of all the types of Peruvian indigenous music. This inspired Arturo Ruiz del Pozo to new make new, ambitious and innovative music. To do this, he took a variety of instruments, ranging from drums and flutes to gongs and rattles which had different tones and timbres. Having recorded the instruments, electronic processing and tape manipulation was used to transform the dry sound. The result was new, ambitious and truly innovative.
In 1984, Arturo Ruiz del Pozo released Composiciones Nativas on cassette. It featured five of his compositions including Estudio Para Quena, Lago de Totoras, Despegue, Noche Ashaninka and Selvynas. The five compositions were part of what was a truly groundbreaking release from a musical pioneer who was well on his way to becoming one of the leading lights of the Peruvian avant-garde scene.
By 2015, Composiciones Nativas was regarded as a Peruvian avant-garde classic. Given the importance of the album, it was no surprise when Buh Records, an independent label and research platform based in Lima, Peru, that focused in experimental music, decided to reissue an expanded version of the album on CD. Composiciones Nativas-Music For Native Peruvian Instruments and Magnetophonic Tape 1978 was part of the label’s Essential Sounds Collection, which is dedicated to publishing esoteric and interesting artefacts that were released by Peruvian experimental musicians during this period. However, the album was a limited edtion and it wasn’t long before the expanded reissue sold out.
Three years later and Buh Records released a limited edition version of Composiciones Nativas-Music For Native Peruvian Instruments and Magnetophonic Tape 1978 on vinyl. It was a welcome reissue of this Peruvian avant-garde classic from musical pioneer Arturo Ruiz del Pozo.
As Parantara opens Composiciones Nativas-Music For Native Peruvian Instruments and Magnetophonic Tape 1978, gongs that sound as if they should be used as part a religious ceremony combine with an unusual cyclical pipe motif sprinkled as metallic Fasutian sounds combine with drones. Later, urgent jangling sounds are added to the hypnotic soundscape that mesmerise as sounds assail the listener. Meanwhile, there’s a filmic sound to the mesmeric music which sounds as if belongs on a sci-fi film that tells the story of the discovery of a new civilisation in a faraway planet.
Gurgling, swirling sounds open Lago de Totoras as liquid disappears. Soon, the soundscape reverberates as effects are added and transform the dry signal. Soon, a myriad of disparate sounds are added and together provide an alternative symphony.They range from metallic and industrial sounds to rattling, jarring, gurgling, swirling and dubby sounds that add a strangely melodic and soothing sound as this alternative symphony.
Ethereal, angelic sounds combine with eerie, cinematic strings on Clarinete Cajamarquino which us just two minutes long. However, it still manages to be ethereal, elegiac, eerie and cinematic as this short avant-garde soundscape captivates.
Parka en Brujas’ had a much spartan and distant sound as high-pitched whistles combine with what sounds like birdsong. However, nothing is at seems as processing is added and sound are manipulated. As the birdsong seems to multiply, it unites with a murmuring metallic drone, which is later joined by a gravely sounding bass flute. It sounds as if it’s a remnant of Peru’s musical past, but plays its part in what was part of a groundbreaking release. It saw Arturo Ruiz del Pozo continues to push musical boundaries to their limits, and sometimes it seems, way beyond.
Estudio Para Quena is built around eerie, otherworldly tape-delayed sounds which sounds if they’ve been played on a Japanese Shakuhachi flute. They become part of cinematic backdrop to what sounds like part of the soundtrack to an early sci-fi film. Meanwhile, alien-beings or Martians chatter urgently, as the remainder of soundscape shimmers and glistens becoming melodic, mesmeric and even dramatic as Arturo Ruiz del Pozo paints pictures with his avant-garde music.
Futuristic and even otherworldly describes the introduction to Despegue, which sounds as if a UFO is hovering before a rocket is launched. It sounds as if Arturo Ruiz del Pozo is creating the soundtrack to an interplanetary adventure where earthlings go in search and sometimes, battle the extra terrestrials. The sound of an explosion brings to an end the battle, and as the rocket plunges to earth, it is a case extra terrestrials 1 earthlings 0. All this happens within the space of four captivating minutes of cinematic music that is rich in imagery.
Composiciones Nativas-Music For Native Peruvian Instruments and Magnetophonic Tape 1978 closes with Selvynas. What sounds like seashells rustling is combined with a foghorn drone that drifts in and out. Meanwhile, processing has been added to the drum which has an abstract sound and helical, coiling pipes add a haunting, spartan sound. With the drum adding dramatic, ominous sound, the rest of soundscapes is eerie, otherworldly and haunting but has a strange beauty that is omnipresent.
Thirty-two years after Arturo Ruiz del Pozo released Composiciones Nativas on cassette his groundbreaking avant-garde classic is starting to find a wider audience. It’s an ambitious and innovative album where Arturo Ruiz del Pozo combines elements of ambient, drone, electronica, electroacoustic, experimental, industrial and musique concrète to create what is a Peruvian avant-garde classic. The result was an album that features his carefully crafted collages of disparate and esoteric sounds. This ranges from sounds produced by traditional Peruvian instruments to the technology deployed by avant-garde pioneer Arturo Ruiz del Pozo. He adds effects and manipulates this array of sounds on the groundbreaking soundscapes on Composiciones Nativas. It’s essential listening for anyone interested in avant-garde or esoteric music, and is the perfect introduction to musical pioneer Arturo Ruiz del Pozo. There’s no better place top start than his avant-garde classic Composiciones Nativas.
Cult Classic: Arturo Ruiz del Pozo-Composiciones Nativas.
IF I HAVE TO WRECK L.A.-KENT AND MODERN RECORDS BLUES INTO THE 60S VOL 2.
If I Have To Wreck L.A.-Kent and Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol 2.
Label: Ace Records.
Format: CD.
As the sixties dawned, musical tastes were changing and soul music’s popularity had started to grow. By then, new independent labels were being founded all across America and labels like Stax, Atlantic and Motown became household names and hit-making machines. They released some of most successful soul music during what was a golden era.
By the end of the sixties, soul was much more popular than blues music. This would’ve been unthinkable a decade earlier when bluesmen plugged in electric blues’ popularity grew throughout the fifties. Especially in Chicago, Memphis, St Louis and Detroit where Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Reed, Lightnin’ Slim and B.B. King provided part of the soundtrack to the fifties. However, just a few years later and soul had overtaken blues in the popularity stakes. The times they were a changing and so was music.
Despite this, there was a still an audience for the blues during the sixties and labels like ABC-Paramount and their imprint Bluesway plus Chess, Kent and Modern were home to some of the giants of the blues. However, the singles and albums they released sold in smaller amounts or passed many record buyer’s by. Some critics thought that the blues music was no longer relevant and it was destined to become a footnote in musical history.
That was despite a new generation of artists on both sides of the Atlantic flying the flag for the blues and trying to introduce the music a new audience. In Britain, The Rolling Stones, Cream, The Yarbirds, The Kinks, The Animals, John Mayall, Georgie Fame, Them, Fleetwood Mac and later Led Zeppelin all spoke of their love for the blues and acknowledged how it had influenced their music. There was even a British blues boom in the mid-sixties which resulted in a resurgence of interest in the music.
Across the Atlantic, a new generation of musicians and bands that had been influenced by the blues had embarked upon musical careers during the sixties. This included artists Ry Cooder, J.J. Cale, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin as well as The Doors, Canned Head and Jefferson Airplane. They spoke of their love of the blues and how it had influenced their music. Despite this, the blues was no longer as popular as it had been and many musicians were struggling to make a living.
Part of the problem was that many of the clubs that blues musicians previously played in were now hosting rock groups. There were fewer places for bluesmen to play in towns and cities across America. To make matters worse, some record companies were reluctant to sign and release singles and albums by blues musicians. It was a tough and worrying time for blues musicians.
Two labels that were still signing and releasing blues music during the sixties were the Kent and Modern Records which were owned by the Bihari brothers. They had founded Modern Records in 1945 with RPM Records following in 1950, Meteor Records in 1952 and then Flair Records in the early fifties. This was followed by the budget label Crown Records and Yuletide Records which released Christmas music. The other label that the Bihari brothers founded was Kent Records in 1958. Just like Modern Records, Kent Records established a reputation for the blues music it released.
Recently, Dick Shurman compiled two volumes of blues from the vaults of Kent and Modern Records. The first was Dirty Work Going On-Kent and Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol 1 which was released a couple of months ago. Hard on the heels of this compilation of West Coast blues comes the followup If I Have To Wreck L.A.-Kent and Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol 2 It’s a compilation of Texas blues that focuses more on gutbucket, downhome blues. This means that the harmonica replaces the horns that were a feature of Volume 1. However, Volume 2 like its predecessor has been released to mark an important anniversary.
In 1999, the Japanese label P-Vine released the first instalment in its Modern/Kent Blues Treasures CD series. This was the first of four volumes which were limited editions of 300. Each of the compilations featured West Coast blues obscurities from the vaults of the Bihari Brothers’ labels. For some people this was the first time they had heard these tracks and was the start of a voyage of discovery.
Twenty-one years later and Ace Records have just released two more compilations of blues that were recorded or released by the Bihari Brothers’ labels. This is Dirty Work Going On-Kent and Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol 1 and the followup If I Have To Wreck L.A.-Kent and Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol 2. It looks back at the West Coast blues between 1965 and 1976 and features twenty-four tracks from Willie Headen, Smokey Wilson, Big Mama Thornton, Long Gone Miles, Willie Garland, Model T Slim and Lowell Fulson. They’re part of the much-anticipated followup to Dirty Work Going On-Kent and Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol 1.
During his time signed to Kent Records, Willie Headen, a blues guitarist from Austin, Texas, recorded just fourteen tracks for the Bihari brothers. He released a single on Smogville and two on Kent, while the remainder of the tracks lay unreleased. That was until 1999 when P-Vine released West Coast Modern Blues 1960’s Vol 3 and Take 3 of Hey Baby, Take 5 of If I Can Ever Make Up My Mind, Take 6 of Baby You’re Wrong and Take 6 of If I Have To Wreck LA made their debut on the compilation. They were a tantalising taste of what lay unreleased in the Kent Records’ vaults.
This also included Take 1 of If I Have To Wreck LA which opens the compilation and is the first of the unreleased tracks. It was recorded for Kent in 1968 and features a hurt-filled vocal that’s accompanied by moody and blistering blues guitar licks that replicate Willie Headen’s sadness and frustration.
Other unreleased tracks include Take 3 of Mama Said which he recorded for Kent in 1967. The following year he recorded Take 5 of If I Can Ever Make Up My Mind, Take 11 of You’re Too Cold and Take 2 of Hot Wire Baby. The eight tracks from Willie Headen are the perfect introduction to an oft-overlooked bluesman.
In 1976, Smokey Wilson was recording what would become his 1977 album Blowin’ Smoke. One of the songs recorded during the session but never released was You Told Me A Lie. There’s a mixture of hurt, disbelief and emotion in Smokey Wilson’s vocal during this long-lost hidden gem.
By 1965, drummer, harmonica player and blues vocalist Big Mama Thornton was signed to the Bihari brothers Kent Records. She recorded the Before Day (Big Mama’s Blues) which features a vocal powerhouse and augments it with her harmonica. However, when the single was released in 1965 but wasn’t a commercial success.
Blues singer Long Gone Miles was born in Lachute, LA, on May the ‘8th’ 1925 and was mentored by none other than Lightnin’ Hopkins. In 1968, he recorded ten tracks for Kent Records. A number of these tracks have never been released until they featured on If I Have To Wreck L.A.-Kent and Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol. 2. This includes Take 1 of War Time Blues, Gotta Find My Baby, Take 4 of Little Sweet Thing, Take 4 of Rocks In My Pillow, Take 2 of Let Me Play With Your Poodle, Take 4 of Low Down Dirty Shame and Miss Nella Belle which featured on the P-Vine compilation West Coast Modern Blues 1960s Vol. 3. These tracks are a reminder of a talented and underrated country blues singer who sadly only release one single on Kent Records.
In 1967, harmonica player, guitarist and vocalist Model T Slim recorded Somebody’s Done Hoodooed The Hoodoo Man for Kent Records. However, this slow and moody blues wasn’t released and makes a welcome debut on the compilation. The following year, 1968, he released Christine as a single with Baby, Don’t Tear My Clothes on the B-Side. Both sides are reminder of a talented and versatile bluesman whose career sadly, was curtailed because of a ill health.
One of the biggest known names on If I Have To Wreck L.A.-Kent and Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol. 2 is Lowell Fulson. He recorded Blues Pain for Kent Records and this unissued take made its debut on a P-Vine compilation in 2001. Nineteen years later it returns for an encore and is one of the hidden gems in Lowell Fulson extensive back-catalogue.
Less than a couple of months after the release of Dirty Work Going On-Kent and Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol 1 comes the much-anticipated followup If I Have To Wreck L.A.-Kent and Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol 2. It features another twenty-four tracks which were released between 1965 and 1976. Most of these tracks have never been released before and make their debut on this compilation of Texas blues that focuses more on gutbucket, downhome blues. This means that the harmonica replaces the horns. It’s quite different to the music on Volume 1 but just as good.
For anyone with even a passing interest in blues music If I Have To Wreck L.A.-Kent and Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol 2 this is a compilation they’ll want to add to their collection. Unlike so many blues compilations, compiler Dick Shurman has eschewed familiar tracks and instead, has chosen unreleased tracks, long-forgotten singles and B-Sides that were recorded by familiar faces and new names for Kent and Modern Records. They’re part of a compilation where the emphasis is on quality.
Just like Dirty Work Going On-Kent and Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol 1, If I Have To Wreck L.A.-Kent and Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol 2 is another lovingly curated blues compilation from Ace Records that’s a cut above the competition and is well worth buying whether you’re a blues connoisseur or a newcomer to the genre.
If I Have To Wreck L.A.-Kent and Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol 2.
THE ‘SOUND’ OF THE R&B HITS.
The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits.
Label: Ace Records.
Format: CD.
Release Date: ‘25th’ September 2020.
When The Beatles made their debut on the Ed Sullivan Show on February the ‘9th’ 1964, seventy-three million Americans watched on as the Fab Four performed All My Loving, Till There Was You, I Saw Her Standing There and their number one single I Want To Hold Your Hand. This was a major milestone in American music and was the start of the British Invasion.
Over the next few years, The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, The Animals and the Dave Clark Five were at the forefront of the British Invasion and their music would influence a generation of aspiring and up-and-coming American musicians.
Ironically, many of the British Invasion bands had been influenced by American music and especially Chicago blues, R&B and soul. This included The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames as well as Dusty Springfield. Although they embraced and immersed themselves in American music one label was particularly influential…Motown.
So much so, that The Beatles recorded their sophomore album With The Beatles in 1963 they covered three Motown songs. For many record buyers, The Beatles’ covers of Please Mister Postman, You Really Gotta Hold On Me and Money was their introduction to Motown and R&B which would soon grow in popularity.
On the ’25th’ of April 1964, Record Mirror magazine published its first ever Rhythm & Blues Poll and Mary Wells was the Top Female Singer while The Miracles were voted Best Male Group. The article that accompanied the poll concluded that: “R&B in Britain is much bigger than anyone suspects.” This was a prescient comment because by then, R&B was emerging from the underground and was about to grow in popularity and become part of the soundtrack to the mid-sixties in Britain.
Later in 1964, the Stateside label released a new compilation that helped introduce Tamla-Motown to a wider audience. The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits featured fourteen tracks, and as the liner notes stated, showcase the: “sound that identifies a Tamla-Motown production.” For many British record buyers this was their introduction to Tamla-Motown.
This included many Beatles’ fans who had purchased a copy of With The Beatles in 1963 and read about the group’s: “immense admiration” for The Miracles. Now they were holding a copy of The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits which featured five tracks by The Miracles. This included Ace Records cofounder Roger Armstrong. He Everybody’s Gotta Pay Some Dues, I’ll Try Something New, What’s So Good About Goodbye, Broken Hearted and Do You Love Me which closed the compilation. However, it wasn’t just The Miracles that Roger Armstrong and other Beatles’ fans recognised.
Closing side one of With The Beatles was Please My Postman which was originally recorded by The Marvelettes. It was their biggest hit single but it didn’t feature on The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits. Instead, three album tracks did and for many record buyers this was the first time they had ever heard Dream Baby and The One Who Really Loves You and showed another side to The Marvelettes.
Beatles fans also recognised the original version of Money which had been released as a single by Barrett Strong in 1959.
Some remembered reading that Mary Wells was the Top Female Singer in Record Mirror’s 1964 Rhythm & Blues Poll. Three tracks from her album Bye Bye Baby featured on The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits. The compilation opened with Shop Around and included Bye Bye Baby and I Don’t Want To Take A Chance.
They were joined by The Supremes’ fourth single Let Me Go The Right Way which was released in 1962 and the instantly recognisable sound of Martha and The Vandellas’ Mockingbird. It was one of the best known tracks on The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits.
For many young British record buyers the music on The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits was a gamechanger and was one of the most important albums they bought. It was their introduction to Tamla-Motown and resulted in their lifelong love of soul music. That was the case for Roger Armstrong who went on to cofound Ace Records who are about to release an expanded version of The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits which features twenty-eight tracks.
The additional fourteen tracks on this expanded version of The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits are from the same era and are meant to compliment the Stateside compiler’s concept of “the sound that identifies a Tamla-Motown production.” This includes many familiar faces including some that featured on the original compilation.
There’s also further tracks from the artists that feature on the original version of The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits. This includes The Marvelettes’ biggest selling single Please Mr Postman which topped the US Billboard 100 and US R&B charts and was certified gold in the UA and silver in Britain. It’s joined by I Want A Guy which was the B-Side to their 1961 single Twistin’ Postman. This is an example of where the B-Side is far better than the single. The Marvelettes’ Twistin’ Postman wasn’t able to replicate the success of Chubby Checker’s The Twist and didn’t result in a new dance craze.
The Miracles contributed five tracks to the original compilation in 1964. Two more tracks have been added to the expanded version of The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits. This includes You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me which reached number eight in the US Billboard 100 and topped the US R&B charts. Then there’s I’ve Been Good To You from the album I’ll Try Something New which failed to chart in 1962. It’s one of the hidden gems in their back-catalogue.
Mary Wells returns with two US R&B numbers ones. The first was You Beat Me To The Punch which also reached number nine in the US Billboard 100 in 1962. The following year, 1963, Two Lovers reached number seven in the US Billboard 100. They’re two of Mary Wells’ finest singles and are welcome additions to the compilation.
Barrett Strong’s Money (That’s What I Want) featured on the compilation when it was released in 1964. The B-Side of the single was an emotive and powerful reading of the ballad Oh I Apologize. It’s another hidden soulful gem that is a reminder to always check the B-Side of a single.
One name that was missing from The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits when it was released in 1964 was Marvin Gaye. Three of his singles feature on the newly expanded version. This includes Hitch Hike from 1962 and the gospel-tinged Pride and Joy which reached number ten in the US Billboard 100 and two in the US R&B charts. The followup was Can I Get A Witness which stalled at twenty-two in the US Billboard 100 but reached number three in the US R&B charts in 1963. In Britain, the song was a favourite of DJs and dancers in London and the North of England and has stood the test of time.
Other additions to the expanded version of the compilation include The Valadiers’ I Found A Girl which has a joyous feelgood sound. Very different is the bittersweet sounding I Found Myself A Brand New Baby by Mike and The Modifiers. Then there’s The Contours R&B single which was released in 1962 but failed to find the audience it deserved. It’s another welcome addition to the compilation.
Closing The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits is Martha and The Vandellas’ 1963 single Heat Wave. This Motown classic that reached number four in the US Billboard 100 and topped the US R&B charts. It’s a case of saving the one of best until last.
When Stateside released The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits in 1964, they had no idea how important and influential it would go on to be. That was despite none of the fourteen tracks on the original compilation being a hit single. They were a mixture of the ones that got away, album tracks and B-Sides. Despite that, the compilation introduced many British record buyers to the Tamla-Motown sound and this was the start of their lifelong love affair with the label and soul music.
For many of those who bought The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits in 1964 it’s a love affair that continues to this day. They’ll welcome the newly expanded version of The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits which features twenty-eight tracks from old friends, familiar faces and some new names which should introduce a new generation of music fans to one of the most famous labels in the history of soul music.
The ‘Sound’ Of The R&B Hits.
STANLEY TURRENTINE-THAT’S WHERE IT’S AT.
Stanley Turrentine-That’s Where It’s At.
Label: Blue Note Records.
In September 1962, twenty-eight year old saxophonist Stanley Turrentine released That’s Where It’s At which was his fifth album for Blue Note Records. It was his much-anticipated followup to Dearly Beloved which at the time, many critics hailed as his finest album. That’s Where It’s At had a lot to live up to.
It was also a new chapter in the career of Stanley Turrentine as it was the first time that he had collaborated with pianist Les McCann. He composed four of the tracks on That’s Where It’s At, and was part of the quartet who recorded the album at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, in New Jersey on January the ’2nd’ 1962. This was the seventh solo album that Stanley Turrentine had recorded for Blue Note Records since June 1960. He had come a long way since signing for the label.
Stanley William Turrentine was born on April the ‘5th’ 1934, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and grew up in a musical family in the Hill District. His father Thomas Turrentine, Sr, was a saxophonist with Al Cooper’s Savoy Sultans, while his mother played piano and Stanley’s elder brother Thomas became a professional trumpeter. He was part of his brother’s band when he recorded Comin’ Your Way in 1961 and 1962s Jubilee Shout!!! That was in the future.
When Stanley Turrentine started out, he wasn’t playing jazz. Instead, he was a member of various blues and R&B bands. However, his main influence was jazz tenor saxophonist, Illinois Jacquet who is remembered for his solo on Flying Home, which nowadays, is regarded as the first ever R&B saxophone solo. He wrote his name into musical history and later, so would Stanley Turrentine.
During the fifties, Stanley Turrentine was a member of Lowell Fulson and Earl Bostic’s bands. However, when he joined Earl Bostic’s band he was literally standing in the shadow of a giant as he replaced John Coltrane in 1953. Stanley Turrentine was also a member of pianist Tadd Dameron’s band during this period. Then in the mid-fifties Stanley Turrentine was drafted.
During his time serving his country, Stanley Turrentine received the only formal musical training he ever had. When he left the US Army in 1959 he was a much more complete musician.
Upon leaving the military, Stanley Turrentine joined Max Roach’s band. He featured on four albums by the jazz drummer including 1959s Moon Faced and Starry Eyed, 1960s Quiet As It’s Kept and Parisian Sketches plus 1964s Long as You’re Living. However, when Stanley Turrentine wasn’t working with Max Roach he was in constant demand as a sideman.
Another album he played in during 1959 was Abbey Lincoln’s Abbey Is Blue. This was just the start of prolific period for Stanley Turrentine, who by then, had met his future wife.
As the new decade decade dawned, Stanley Turrentine married organist Shirley Scott in 1960, and the pair often played and recorded together. He accompanied his new wife on nine albums between 1961 and 1978. However, there was no sign of Shirley Scott when Stanley Turrentine recorded his debut album.
In 1960, he signed to Blue Note Records and on June the 16th recorded the six tracks with drummer Al Harewood, bassist George Tucker and pianist Horace Parlan that became Look Out! It was a recording of traditional bop which was quite different from his later bluesy, soul-jazz outings. However, his debut was well received by critics who were impressed by the power, clarity and sweet and articulate album where Stanley Turrentine played within himself. Look Out! was a sign of what was to come from Stanley Turrentine.
Apart from recording his debut album Look Out! in 1960, Stanley Turrentine recorded Blue Hour, a collaboration with and The Three Sounds. It was recorded on June the ‘29th’ and December ‘16th’ 1960 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, in New Jersey.
That was also where hard bop and post bop pianist Horace Parlan recorded his album Speakin’ My Piece on July the ‘14th’ 1960. It was just one of a number of albums Stanley Turrentine played on during 1960. These albums were released during 1961.
As 1961 dawned, Stanley Turrentine journeyed to Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, in New Jersey on January the ’20th’ 1961 to record his sophomore album Comin’ Your Way. The result was a breathtaking album of soul-jazz with diversions via hard bop and balladry that had the potential to transform Stanley Turrentine’s nascent solo career and raise his profile. Despite this, executives at Blue Note Records decided to shelf the project which was belatedly released in 1987.
In its place, Up At “Minton’s”, a live album that was recorded at the famous Harlem venue, just one month after the Comin’ Your Way session was released by Blue Note Records later in 1961. The album was a success, and Up At “Minton’s” Volume 2 followed later in 1961. This allowed executives at Blue Note Records to argue that their decision to shelf Comin’ Your Way was vindicated.
On June the ‘8th’ 1961, Stanley Turrentine returned to Van Gelder Studio to record his next solo album, Dearly Beloved. Joining him on this trio recording were his wife organist Shirley Scott and drummer Roy Brooks. It was released to critical acclaim in February 1962 and was called the finest album of his career. Nowadays, Dearly Beloved is regarded as one of the finest albums Stanley Turrentine recorded for Blue Note Records.
Just over three months later, Stanley Turrentine was making the return journey on the ‘13th’ of September 1961 to Van Gelder Studio where he would record his next solo album, ZT’s Blues. Joining his was an all-star band that featured drummer Art Taylor, bassist Paul Chambers, guitarist Grant Green and pianist Tommy Flanagan. The band recorded seven compositions with groove meisters Stanley Turrentine and Grant Green playing a starring role.
Despite the quality of music on ZT’s Blues, history repeated itself when the album was shelved. This must have been hugely disappointing as here was another album that had the potential to transform Stanley Turrentine’s career. Ironically, when the album was belatedly released in 1985 it was to widespread critical acclaim. For Stanley Turrentine ZT’s Blues was the one that got away.
That’s Where It’s At.
For his next album That’s Where It’s At, Stanley Turrentine decided to collaborate with composer and pianist Les McCann. Although the two men had never collaborated before Stanley Turrentine was no stranger to collaborating on albums. He had collaborated on The Three Sounds album Blue Hour in 1960 and with Shirley Scott on his previous album Dearly Beloved which was released to plaudits and praise in June 1961. That’s Where It’s At was the much-anticipated followup.
For That’s Where It’s At Stanley Turrentine wrote Soft Pedal Blues and his brother Tommy penned Light Blue. Les McCann composed Smile, Stacey, Pia, We’ll See Yaw’ll After While, Ya Heah and Dorene Don’t Cry, I. These six tracks became That’s Where It’s At which was recorded at Van Gelder Studio.
On January the ‘2nd’ 1962, Stanley Turrentine’s quartet travelled to Van Gelder Studio. None of the musicians who played on ZT’s Blues featured on That’s Where It’s At. Instead, the tenor saxophonist was accompanied by drummer Otis Finch who was in his wife Shirley Scott’s group. Joining him in the rhythm section was Herbie Lewis who was in Les McCann’s group. Completing the quartet’s lineup for the recording of That’s Where It’s At was pianist Les McCann. This was one and only album the band recorded.
When That’s Where It’s At was released in September 1962 the majority of critics were won over by Stanley Turrentine’s much-anticipated fifth solo album. That came as no surprise given the quartet was firing on all cylinders to create That’s Where It’s At’s bluesy, funky and soulful and sound as they fuse bop and soul-jazz. Playing leading roles were Stanley Turrentine and Les McCann who seemed to drive each other to greater heights throughout the album.
Stanley Turrentine’s hard blowing tenor saxophone is to the fore throughout That’s Where It’s At as Les McCann’s piano adds a bouncy swing while the rhythm section contribute slinky grooves. When all this is combined the result is a potent and heady musical brew.
That’s Where It’s At opens with the uptempo and joyous sounding Smile, Stacey where Les McCann matches Stanley Turrentine every step of the way. It’s one of the album’s highlights. Another is Soft Pedal Blues where the slow, moody and bluesy saxophone is to the fore and accompanied by the piano. It veers between slow and spacious to deliberate and dramatic and there’s even flamboyant flourishes and just like the saxophone produce a late night ruminative sounding track. Initially, Pia glides along with Stanley Turrentine playing within himself and leaving space before Les McCann adds some of his slinkiest piano playing. The pair feed off each other and seem to bring out the best in each other. Later, the saxophone is played with power and control and sometimes is understated while the rhythm section add swing to this irresistible and memorable mid-tempo track.
There’s no letup on We’ll See Yaw’ll After While, Ya Heah with the saxophone and piano playing leading roles. Stanley Turrentine’s bluesy finger popping saxophone swings as he combines power and emotion. Meanwhile, Les McCann’s fingers dance up and down the piano keyboard flamboyant flourishes stealing the show and proving the perfect foil for Stanley Turrentine. From the opening bars of the bluesy sounding Dorene Don’t Cry, a beautiful, poignant and cinematic sounding track unfolds and paints pictures of hurt, heartbreak and love gone wrong. Closing the album is Light Blue, another slower track where the quartet play within themselves. That includes Messrs. McCann and Turrentine who are to the fore on what’s one of the most soulful sounding tracks on That’s Where It’s At.
After the release of That’s Where It’s At, Stanley Turrentine spent the rest of the sixties signed to Blue Note Records and released albums of the quality of Hustlin’, Easy Walker, The Spoiler and The Look of Love. Then as the seventies dawned, Stanley Turrentine left Blue Note Records.
In 1970 Stanley Turrentine signed to Creed Taylor’s CTI Records and changed direction musically. He recorded a series of albums of fusion including one of his finest outings Sugar which was released in 1970. However, the following year 1971, Stanley Turrentine and Shirley Scott divorced after eleven years of marriage. They never recorded another album together.
Following his divorce, Stanley Turrentine continued to record for CTI Records and released several critically acclaimed album. This included Salt Song, Cherry with Milt Jackson and Don’t Mess with Mister T. Then in 1974, Stanley Turrentine left CTI Records and signed for Fantasy Records. It was the end of an era.
Just like his time at Blue Note Record and CTI Records, Stanley Turrentine was prolific during his time at Fantasy Records. He released nine albums between 1974 and 1980 which encompassed a variety of styles. These albums were orchestrated by the likes of Gene Page and featured an all-star group. Despite that, the albums received mixed reviews, with some of the negative reviews often unwarranted. The Fantasy Records’ years weren’t as successful as Stanley Turrentine’s time at Blue Note Record and CTI Records.
The time that Stanley Turrentine spent signed to Blue Note Records was his most productive and saw him release some of the best and most important albums of his career. This included That’s Where It’s At Stanley Turrentine where he collaborated with Les McCann who was a perfect foil for him throughout the album. Together, they play their part in an almost flawless and timeless album that’s bluesy, funky, soulful and swinging.
It was no surprise that when That’s Where It’s At was released in September 1962 it was well received by the majority of critics. One of the few dissenting voices was Downbeat magazine who gave the album a mixed review. That’s ironic as nowadays, That’s Where It’s At is regarded as one of the albums that gave birth to the soul-jazz genre. One of soul-jazz’s finest practitioners was the tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine and proof if any was needed are albums of the quality of Hustlin’, Easy Walker, The Spoiler and The Look of Love as well as That’s Where It’s At and Comin’ Your Way which have both been recently reissued by Blue Note Records as part of their Tone Poet series.
Stanley Turrentine-That’s Where It’s At.
CULT CLASSIC: ADELBERT VON DEYEN-NORBORG
Cult Classic: Adelbert Von Deyen-Norborg.
After Adelbert Von Deyen released his debut album Sternzeit on Günter Körber’s Sky Records in 1978, the label became his home for the next nine years. This was the most productive period of Adelbert Von Deyen’s career. His creativity blossomed and he released eight studio albums and one live album. This included his third album Atmosphere. It marked the next chapter in the story of Adelbert Von Deyen, who originally, began making music as a hobby.
By 1977, Adelbert Von Deyen was working as a retoucher for a Berlin newspaper. While this kept him busy during the day, Adelbert had plenty of free time in the evenings. Wanting to put his free time to good use, Adelbert decided to take up a hobby. The hobby Adelbert Von Deyen chose was music.
This was no surprise, as at that time, Berlin had a thriving music scene. Many of the Krautrock bands, were formed in Berlin. Meanwhile, Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, and Manuel Göttsching were pioneering the Berlin School of Electronic Music. However, Adelbert Von Deyen didn’t just want to listen to the music being made in Berlin, he wanted to make music.
The type of music Adelbert Von Deyen wanted to make was electronic music. So he began to working out what type of equipment he would need to buy. Having made a “shopping list” of equipment, Adelbert headed out and bought a second hand synth, a Revox A77 tape recorder and keyboards. Little did he realise that this was just the first of numerous shopping trips he would make.
Having started making music in the evenings as a hobby, gradually Adelbert Von Deyen was bitten by the music making bug. Soon, he was adding new pieces of equipment to his home studio. This meant making sacrifices. Sometimes, when Adelbert hadn’t enough money to buy new pieces of equipment, he borrowed from the funds from the bank. Adelbert was dedicated to making music.
When he returned from work each night, Adelbert Von Deyen began making music. He often worked late into the night, and sometimes, into the early hours of the morning as he perfected his elegiac soundscapes. This took time, patience and determination.
After eight months, Adelbert Von Deyen had finished his first compositions. He decided to tape the compositions, and send a copy to various German record companies. Maybe he hoped, one of the record companies would interested in his album? This was a long shot. Adelbert Von Deyen was a new artist, who had only been making music for eight months. However, it was a case of fortune favouring the brave.
One of the record companies Adelbert Von Deyen had sent his tape to, was Hamburg based Sky Records. They had been formed just three years earlier, in 1975 by Günter Körber. Since then, Sky Records’ had only released eighteen albums. However, Sky Records had released albums by Bullfrog, Streetmark, Wolfgang Riechmann, Michael Rother, Cluster, and Hans-Joachim Roedelius. This was already an impressive roster, and one that many musicians were keen to sign to.
Sky Records had already established a reputation for releasing groundbreaking music. Just like most record companies, Sky Records were being sent many tapes during 1978. Usually, the tapes would range from good and bad to indifferent. One of the tapes that Günter Körber had been sent was Adelbert Von Deyen’s. Having listened to the tape, Günter Körber made the decision to add a new name to the Sky Records’ roster,.. Adelbert Von Deyen.
Sternzeit,
Günter Körber contacted Adelbert Von Deyen to offer him a recording contract. Sky Records were willing to record Adelbert Von Deyen’s debut album worldwide. The as yet unnamed album became Sternzeit, which featured a distinctive cover painted by Adelbert Von Deyen.
Sky Records’ release of Sternzeit rewarded all the time and effort Adelbert Von Deyen’s had spent recording his debut album. From March to August 1978, Adelbert worked on the two lengthy tracks that became Sternzeit. They were Per Aspera Ad Astra ,which was a three-part suite, featuring Mental Voyage, Stellardance and Astral Projection. Then on the second side of Sternzeit was the title-track a twenty-five minute epic. These tracks were recorded in Adelbert new home studio.
Although Sternzeit was recorded in his home studio, Adelbert Von Deyen had access to an enviable array of equipment. This included a myriad of strings including an ARP Odyssey. They were joined by synth strings, an organ, electric piano and electric guitar. Adelbert Von Deyen played each instrument, and produced Sternzeit. Once the album was recorded, it was mixed at Star-Studio, in Hamburg. Now Sternzeit was ready for release.
When Sternzeit was released later in 1978, it was well received by critics. Sternzeit sold reasonably, well and certainly was more successful than many Krautrock and Berlin School albums. It was only later that Adelbert Von Deyen’s music would receive the credit and critical acclaim it deserved. By then, Adelbert Von Deyen had an enviable back-catalogue.
Norborg.
After the commercial success of Sternzeit, Adelbert Von Deyen was able to give up his job as a a retoucher for a Berlin newspaper and devote his energies to making music. This was a dream come true. Adelbert Von Deyen had also become something of a celebrity in his home town of Lübeck. He began to receive fan mail from record buyers, and was being booked to sign autographs. However, Adelbert Von Deyen wasn’t going to let his newfound celebrity status go to his head. Not when he had music to make.
When Adelbert Von Deyen had signed with Günter Körber’s Sky Records, the contract specified that he must deliver one album each year. So Adelbert Von Deyen’s thought’s turned to his sophomore album. Part of the inspiration for one of the tracks came something that happened during a short holiday after the release of Sternzeit.
To celebrate the success of Sternzeit, Adelbert Von Deyen decided to book a short holiday in Nordborg, on the Danish island of Alsen. This would allow Adelbert to recharge his batteries. He had spent the best part of a year juggling his full-time job and recording his debut album. Sometimes, Adelbert had worked into the wee small hours of the morning. So he was due a break. Little did Adelbert realise as he journeyed to Norborg, that his short break would later, provide the inspiration for his much-anticipated sophomore album.
On his return to Lübeck, Adelbert Von Deyen began work on his sophomore album, which he decided to call Norborg. His holiday provided plenty of inspiration for an album. On Side One, which Adelbert decided to call Moonrise, he decided to replicate sounds of life on Norborg from the moment the moon begins to rise. To do this, Adelbert decided to recreate the sound of nature and the elements taking their toll on Norborg. He remembered the wind blowing, eddying and swirling. Meanwhile, Seagulls cry and protest as they battled the buffeting wind. Other times, Adelbert remembered a calmness that descended. This brought with it a sense of serenity that he planned to replicate in a ruminative, ethereal and elegiac soundscape. It would invite introspection and reflection. Then on the B-Side, Adelbert planned to recreate a ferocious blizzard that he had witnessed during his break. This he decided to call Iceland. Having plotted the ideas for his sophomore album, Adelbert Von Deyen headed into his Turm-Studio, in Lübeck.
That was where Adelbert Von Deyen kept his enviable array of instruments. He was gradually adding new equipment to the studio. He would play on Norborg, a variety of instruments. This would include his ARP Odyssey, It was joined by a Farfisa String Orchestra, Hohner Electronic Piano, Farfisa Organ and Rhythm-Computer. These instruments were recorded into a Revox A 77 Taperecorder and mixed using a Roland Mixer. Gradually, the album began to shape.
Eventually, Norborg was completed. By then, Adelbert Von Deyen had written, recorded, played each instrument, produced and mixed Norborg. This was quite incredible, considering Adelbert was still a relative newcomer to music. He was making up for lost time.
With Norborg complete, Adelbert Von Deyen turned his attention to the album cover. Just like Sternzeit, Adelbert painted a picture that became the album cover to Norborg. This distinctive painting depicts perfectly the music on Norborg.
Now that the album was completed, Adelbert Von Deyen delivered the album to Günter Körber at Sky Records. Just like Sternzeit, he was won over by the music on Norborg. Its release was scheduled for later in 1979.
Before that, copies of Norborg were sent to critics. They too, were won over by the music on Norborg and the album received critical acclaim. That was no surprise.
Norborg is evocative, ethereal, elegiac and has a cinematic quality. So much so, that it’s possible to imagine the moon rising over Norborg as nature and the elements take centre-stage on Moonrise. Synths swirl, replicating the gusts of eddying winds, before the sound of seagulls battle the buffeting winds. Meanwhile, Adelbert Von Deyen continues to improvise, sculpting and carefully creating the ruminative, introspective, meditative and sometimes dramatic soundscape that is Moonrise.
Iceland where Adelbert Von Deyen recreates the ferocious blizzard he witnessed during his holiday in Norborg. What follows is the perfect musical storm. To create this, he deploys his arsenal of instruments effectively and creates an authentic sounding soundscape. It builds, ebbing and flowing, veering between dramatic to wistful and melancholy. Always, there’s a cinematic quality to this second ambient soundscape. It finds Adelbert successfully combining ambient, avant-garde, Berlin School and electronica on much-anticipated sophomore album Norburg. Its ethereal beauty was sure to find an audience.
That proved to be the case. When Norborg was released by Sky Records later in 1979 it was to widespread critical acclaim and commercial success. The album sold reasonably well, outselling many similar albums and surpassed the success of Adelbert Von Deyen’s debut album Sternzeit. The many months of hard work and dedication had paid off.
In his home studio, gradually, Adelbert Von Deyen honed and sculpted what was regarded as the finest album of his nascent career, Norborg. It’s variously atmospheric, cinematic, elegiac and ethereal. Occasionally an element of drama and darkness is introduced and so are futuristic, sci-fi sounds. Sometimes the soundscapes reveal a melancholy, wistful sound. They’re sometimes ruminative and invite introspection and reflection. There’s also beauty and a sense of melancholia and wistfulness on Norborg as Adelbert Von Deyen’s cult classic reveals its nuances, secrets and subtleties.
Nowadays, Norborg is regarded as Adelbert Von Deyen’s second genre classic. So would the followup album Atmosphere. He’s one of the few Berlin School artists whose first three albums are regarded as genre classics.
Despite this, they didn’t find the wider audience audience it deserved outside of Germany. Even at home, success was relative, and that was a case with Norborg which sold well compared to similar releases.
Forty-one years later, and sadly, Norborg is an oft-overlooked cult classic that most people won’t have heard of. However, connoisseurs of the Berlin School of Electronic Music hold Adelbert Von Deyen and his music in the highest regard. Especially his first three albums, including Norborg where the Berlin School pioneer fuses elements of ambient, avant-garde, electronica, experimental and Krautrock on this critically acclaimed and genre-melting cult classic that belongs in the collection of anyone with even a passing interest in electronic music.
Cult Classic: Adelbert Von Deyen-Norborg.
CULT CLASSIC: CANNED HEAT-ONE MORE RIVER TO CROSS.
Cult Classic: Canned Heat-One More River To Cross.
When Canned Heat released heir ninth album, The New Age, on the ‘8th’ of March 1973, it marked the end of an era for the band. It was their swan-song for Liberty Records. After six years and nine studio albums Canned Heat were about leave Liberty Records. They had managed to negotiate their release from their Liberty Records contract which left them free to sign for Atlantic Records. By then, Canned Heat had come a long way since they were formed in Los Angeles in 1965.
Canned Heat’s roots can be traced to a community of blues collectors in Topanga, California. They had been meeting at Bob Hite’s house for some time where the blues aficionados listened to music and traded records. Then in 1965, some of the people who attended the group decided to form a band.
The initial lineup featured vocalist Bob Hite, Alan Wilson on bottleneck guitar, Mike Perlowin on lead guitar, bassist Stu Brotman and drummer Keith Sawyer. With the lineup complete, all that was needed was a name. Eventually, they named their new band Canned Heat after Tommy Johnson’s 1928 song Canned Heat Blues. However, within a matter of days, the lineup changed.
Mike Perlowin and Keith Sawyer both dropped out. This was a huge disappointment for the nascent band. Fortunately, guitarist Kenny Edwards who was a friend of Alan Wilson agreed to replace Mike Perlowin. Then drummer Ron Holmes agreed to join until permanent replacements could be found.
Fortunately, a friend of Bob Hit’s was between bands. Henry Vestine had been sacked by Frank Zappa for “excessive drug use.” However, Henry Vestine was a talented and experienced lead guitarist and he joined Canned Heat, while it was agreed that Henry Edwards could remain on a temporary basis. Soon, though, he left Canned Heat to form The Stone Poneys with Linda Rostadt. With the lead guitarist role filled, all that was needed was a new drummer.
Canned Heat found their new drummer in Frank Cook. His previous employers included jazzers Charlie Haden, Chet Baker and Elmo Cook. With their second lineup complete, Canned Heat set about honing their sound.
By 1966, Canned Heat were playing in the clubs of the L.A, and were soon a popular draw. During their sets, they included a number of reinterpretations blues numbers. Canned Heat were keen to promote blues music which had fallen out of fashion. That was until the British Invasion groups began to promote its merits. Just like Canned Heat, they appreciated the blues and recognised its importance in modern music. It certainly played an important part in Canned Heat’s music as they played in the clubs of L.A. Later in 1966, Canned Heat recorded what should’ve been their debut album.
In the summer of 1966, Canned Heat hooked up with bandleader and producer Johnny Otis. He produced the twelve tracks that Canned Heat recorded. This included covers of Willie Dixon’s Spoonful and John Lee Hooker’s Louise. Once the album was recorded, Stu Brotman announced he was leaving Canned Heat. Worse was to come.
What should’ve been Canned Heat’s debut album lay unreleased until 1970. By then, Canned Heat were a successful band. So Janus Records decided to release the twelve tracks as Vintage Heat. It’s the only Canned Heat album to feature the lineup of Bob Hite, Alan Wilson, Frank Cook, Henry Vestine and Stu Brotman. After Stu Brotman’s departure, the search for a new bassist began.
Despite Canned Heat not having a permanent bassist, they still managed to secure a management contract with Skip Taylor and John Hartmann. Then in March 1967, Canned Heat finally found a permanent bassist in Larry Taylor. He had previously been a member of The Moondogs and had worked with Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry. Larry Taylor made his debut on the band’s eponymous debut album, Canned Heat.
Canned Heat.
Just month after the classic lineup of Canned Heat was finalised, Canned Heat began recording their debut album for Liberty Records in April 1967. Calvin Carter the former head of A&R was drafted in to produce what became Canned Heat. He was well qualified, having previously recorded albums with Jimmy Reed and John Lee Hooker.
Recording of Canned Heat took place in L.A., with twelve songs being recorded. Eleven of them were cover versions, including Muddy Waters’ Rollin’ and Tumblin’, Willie Dixon’s Evil (Is Going On) and Robert Johnson and Elmore James’ Dust My Broom. The only track penned by Canned Heat, was Bullfrog Blues. Once the twelve songs were recorded, Canned Heat would be released in July 1967.
Before that, Canned Heat were due to appear at the Monterey International Pop Music Festival, on June 17th 1967. Canned Heat pulled out all the stops, and produced one of the best performances of their two year career. Critics struggled for superlatives to describe Canned Heat’s performance. The twin guitars of Henry Vestine and Alan Wilson stole the show; while Bob Hite’s powerhouse vocals came a close second. Critics agreed, that Canned Heat had a bright future in front of them.
Following their successful appearance at the Monterey International Pop Music Festival, Canned Heat released their eponymous debut album in July 1967. Canned Heat reached seventy-six in the US Billboard 200, and in the process, launched the band’s career. Everything seemed to be going almost too well.
Already, drugs had entered the equation. Over the next few years, drugs would become a problem with Canned Heat. It earned them a degree of notoriety, and the reputation “the bad boys of rock.” One of the first incidents was when the band were arrested and jailed in Denver, Colorado on a possession charge. With Canned Heat in jail, their manager Skip Taylor had to sell the band’s publishing rights to Liberty Records’ to raise the bail of $10,000. It was a costly mistake, and cost Frank Cook his place in Canned Heat.
Replacing Frank Cook was Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra. He made his debut on December 1st 1967 at Long Beach Auditorium. That night, Canned Heat and The Doors shared top spot on the bill. This was the debut of the classic lineup of Canned Heat.
Boogie With Canned Heat.
Just six months after Canned Heat released their eponymous debut album, they returned with their sophomore album Boogie With Canned Heat. It was the first album to feature the classic lineup. By then, each member of Canned Heat had adopted a nickname. Canned Heat now featured Bob “The Bear” Hite, Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson, Henry “Sunflower” Vestine, Larry “The Mole” Taylor and Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra. They made their debut on Boogie With Canned Heat.
By then, Canned Heat were writing more of their own songs. They wrote four of the ten songs. Other songs were written by members of Canned Heat. Bob Hite penned Whiskey Headed Woman No. 2; Henry Vestine contributed Marie Laveau and Alan Wilson wrote An Owl Son. Alan Wilson also cowrote On The Road Again with Floyd Jones. It would play an important part in rise and rise of Canned Heat.
When Boogie With Canned Heat was released on 21st January 1968, it was to critical acclaim. The album epitomised Canned Heat’s unique sound. Loose limbed jams and Canned Heat’s trademark boogies rubbed shoulders on Boogie With Canned Heat. This found favour with record buyers when Boogie With Canned Heat reached number eighteen in the US Billboard 200. That wasn’t an end of the success.
Boogie With Canned Heat included what’s without doubt, Canned Heat’s most famous single, On The Road Again. It reached the top ten in the US Billboard 100. The success of On The Road Again further cemented Canned Heat’s reputation was one of America’s top bands.
Living The Blues.
After the success of Boogie With Canned Heat, there was no resting on their laurels for Canned Heat. They returned to the studio and recorded their part of third album Living The Blues. It was a double album with a twist.
The eight songs on sides one and two were recorded in the studio. They were a mixture cover versions and original songs. The covers included Charley Patton’s Pony Blues, Jimmy Rogers’ Walking by Myself and Blind Lemon Jefferson’s One Kind Flavour. Canned Heat penned nine part suite Parthenogenesis. Bob Hite wrote Sandy’s Blues and Alan Wilson wrote My Mistake. Alan also wrote another of Canned Heat’s best known songs, Going Up The Country. These songs were recorded between August and October 1968, at .D. Sound Studios. However, the two lengthy jams on sides three and four Refried Boogie I and II were recorded live at The Kaleidoscope, Hollywood, This mixture of studio and live songs became Living The Blues.
When Living The Blues was released in October 1968, the reviews of this sprawling double album were mixed. The experimental nature of Parthenogenesis seemed to catch critics on the hop. They didn’t seem to know what to make of this genre-melting collage. However, one track stood out on Living The Blues, Going Up The Country.
When Living The Blues was released, it reached number eighteen in the US Billboard 200 and number forty-five in the US R&B charts. The lead single Going Up The Country seemed to speak to a generation, and it reached number eleven US Billboard 100, and number one in twenty-five countries worldwide. Later, Going Up The Country became the unofficial anthem to Woodstock. That was still to come.
Before that, Canned Heat enjoyed a triumphant end to 1968, when they played at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. To crown what had been a barnstorming performance from Canned Heat, they were joined by Bob Hope sitting a atop an elephant. It was a surreal sight, but proof that Canned Heat were now one of the biggest bands in America.
Hallelujah.
Canned Heat returned to I.D. Sound Recorders Hollywood, in May 1969. They recorded eleven tracks that became their fourth album Hallelujah. Canned Heat wrote two tracks, while individual members of the band wrote most of the tracks. Alan Wilson contributed four tracks, Change My Ways, Time Was, Do Not Enter and Get Off My Back. He was quickly becoming Canned Heat’s songwriter in chief, and played an important role in Hallelujah.
Canned Heat released their fourth album, the blues based, Hallelujah on July 8th 1969. Again, the reviews were mixed. They ranged from favourable to positive. However, again, there was no consensus on Hallelujah. Despite this, Hallelujah still reached thirty-seven on the US Billboard 200. This in part, was a result of Canned Heat taking Woodtstock by storm. Before that, the classic lineup of Canned Heat was no more.
Just after the release of Hallelujah, Canned Heat were due to play two nights at Fillmore West. On the first night, there was an onstage altercation between Larry Taylor and Henry Vestine. After the show, Henry Vestine left Canned Heat.
With Canned Heat a man down for the second show, Mike Bloomfield and Harvey Mandel filled the void left by Henry Vestine. They jammed onstage with Canned Heat. So impressive were their performances, that both men were offered a place in Canned Heat. However, it was Harvey Mandel that agreed to join Canned Heat.
Harvey Mandel made his official Canned Heat debut in August 1969. Canned Heat played two nights at the Fillmore West, in preparation for their performance at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair.
The Woodstock Music and Art Fair took place between the 15th and 18th August 1969. Canned Heat were booked to play on the 16th August 1969. Logistically, the only way for Canned Heat to arrive was in a helicopter. They flew over what was a heaving mass of humanity. Having arrived by helicopter, Canned Heat took to the stage as the sun set. Their legendary set included some of their greatest songs, including On The Road Again and Going Up The Country, which became the unofficial anthem to Woodstock. As they left the stage, it was apparent that Canned Heat were one of the stars of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair.
Future Blues.
1969 had been both an eventful and momentous year for Canned Heat. They had lost a member of the classic lineup of Canned Heat, then were one of the stars of Woodstock. By 1970, “the bad boys of rock” had been booked to tour Europe. With some time to spare, Canned Heat decided to record their fifth album, Future Blues.
Canned Heat headed to Village Recorders, where they were due to record nine songs. This included covers of Eddie Shuler’s Sugar Bee; Charley Patton’s Shake It and Break It; Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup’s That’s All Right (Mama) and Wilbert Harrison’s Let’s Stick Together. Canned Heat penned So Sad (The World’s In A Tangle) and Future Blues. Alan Wilson who was still Canned Heat’s songwriter-in-chief wrote Skat, London Blues and sadly, prophetic My Time Ain’t Long. Once the album was complete, it was scheduled for release in late summer 1970.
Future Blues was well received by critics. They praised the album, calling it Canned Heat’s best albums of recent years. With critical acclaim accompanying its release, Future Blues was released on August 3rd 1970. However, Future Blues stalled at fifty-nine on the US Billboard 200. This made Future Blues Canned Heat’s least successful album since their eponymous debut album. The only small crumb of comfort for Canned Heat and Liberty Records, was that Let’s Work Together reached twenty-six in the US Billboard 100. By then, Larry Taylor and Harvey Mandel dropped a bombshell.
The two men announced that they were leaving Canned Heat not long after the release of Future Blues. Larry Taylor joined John Mayall’s band, and Harvey Mandel followed in his footsteps. This left just drummer Adolfo de la Parra, vocalist Bob Hite and guitarist Alan Wilson.
Hooker ’N’ Heat.
After the departure of Larry Taylor and Harvey Mandel, guitarist Henry Vestine rejoined Canned Heat. Replacing bassist Larry Taylor was Antonio de la Barreda. He had previously played alongside Adolfo de la Parra in Mexico. This new lineup of Canned Heat entered the studio to record an album with veteran bluesman John Lee Hooker.
Canned Heat had met John Lee Hooker at an airport in Portland, Oregon. When they got talking, the members of Canned Heat told John Lee Hooker they were longtime fans of his music. It turned out that apparently, John Lee Hooker just happened to be a fan of Canned Heat’s music. So they decided to record an album together.
This would be no ordinary album. Instead, Hooker ’N’ Heat was a sprawling double album. It was recorded at Liberty Records, in Los Angeles, with Bob Hite and Skip Taylor taking charge of production. John Lee Hooker wrote or cowrote every song on Hooker ’N’ Heat. Some of the songs, featured just John Lee Hooker. On other tracks, Canned Hat were reduced to a backing band on Hooker ’N’ Heat. Once Hooker ’N’ Heat was completed, the album was scheduled for release in January 1970.
Between the completion and release of Hooker ’N’ Heat, tragedy touched Canned Heat in September 1970. Just after the completion of the Hooker ’N’ Heat, Alan Wilson attempted to commit suicide when he drove his van off a a cliff near Bob Hite’s home in Topanga Canyon. Fortunately, Alan Wilson survived. Sadly, not for long.
After years of bravely battling depression, Alan Wilson’s life came to an end on the 3rd of September 1970. Alan Wilson was found dead on a hillside at the rear of Bob Hite’s Topanga home. The cause of death was an overdose of barbiturates. When the other members of Canned Heat were told of Alan Wilson’s death, they believed that he had committed suicide. It was a huge blow for the rest of Canned Heat. They were grieving over the loss of a not just a bandmate, but a friend.
Despite the death of Alan Wilson, Canned Heat were due to tour America, Australia and Europe. Then they had a studio time booked to record a new album. So Joel Scott Hill, who had been a member of The Strangers and Moby Grape was drafted in to replace Alan Wilson. Then in January 1971, Hooker ’N’ Heat was released.
Reviews of Hooker ’N’ Heat were mixed. However, critics agreed that Canned Heat had returned to their R&B roots. Some of the songs varied in quality. Especially some that featured only the veteran bluesman. Two of the poorest songs on Hooker ’N’ Heat were Send Me Your Pillow and Drifter. However, things improved when Canned Heat joined the fray. Together, they formed a potent partnership, and suddenly, Hooker ’N’ Heat was a very different album. Despite this, Hooker ’N’ Heat stalled at seventy-three in the US Billboard 200. Normally, this would be regarded as disappointing. However, given the death of Alan Wilson, this hardly seemed to matter. Some things mattered more than music and the loss of a friend was one of them.
Live At Topanga Corral.
Later in 1971, Canned Heat belatedly released the first live album of their career. The band had wanted to release a live album for several years. However, Liberty Records who Canned Heat were contracted to, weren’t interested in releasing a live album. Despite this, Canned Heat’s manager Skip Taylor managed to get Canned Heat’s live album released.
Skip Taylor took to Liberty Records a recording of five tracks. They he said, had been recorded at the Topanga Corral during 1966 and 1967. That wasn’t strictly true. The recording was of a concert that took place in 1969, at the Kaleidoscope. When Liberty Records heard that Live At Topanga Corral had been recorded in 1966 and 1967, they allowed Canned Heat to release the album on Wand Records.
When Live At Topanga Corral was released, the album was well received by critics. It featured the lineup of Bob Hite, Alan Wlson, Henry Vestine, Larry Taylor and Adolfo de la Parra. They open the set with Bullfrog Blues, and work their way through Sweet Sixteen, I’d Rather Be The Devil, Dust My Broom, Wish You Would and When Things Go Wrong. Sadly, despite being one of the best live recording of Canned Heat, it failed to find an audience. However, it’s a fitting farewell to Alan Wilson. Their next album, Historical Figures and Ancient Heads was the start of a new era for Canned Heat.
Historical Figures and Ancient Heads.
Having released an album in January 1971, Canned Heat closed the year with the released of their eighth album, Historical Figures and Ancient Heads. It was released in December 1971, and was the first album not to feature Alan Wilson. Joel Scott Hill was given the job of replacing Alan Wilson on guitar. His were big shoes to fill.
Alan Wilson was more than a musician. He was also a songwriter. On Historical Figures and Ancient Heads, Canned Heat penned just the one song, Utah. The other seven songs were cover versions. This included Jessie Mae Robinson’s Sneakin’ Around and Jimmy Rogers’ That’s All Right. They were recorded by Canned Heat, and a few friends.
This included Little Richard on the Skip Taylor and Richard Wayne Penniman penned Rockin’ With the King. Harvey Mandel returned to add lead guitar on a cover of That’s All Right. Charles Lloyd joined Canned Heat when they covered his song I Don’t Care What You Tell Me. Producing Historical Figures and Ancient Heads were Skip and Jim Taylor. Once the album was complete, it was released in December 1971.
When Historical Figures and Ancient Heads was released, the reviews were mixed. Some critics felt Canned Heat were no longer the same group. While they still were still able to boogie with the best of them, Canned Heat seemed to have lost their bluesy roots. However, Historical Figures and Ancient Heads was not without merit.
Cherokee Dance and Utah were regarded as the highlights of the album. Both songs found their way onto FM playlists. Another highlight of Historical Figures and Ancient Heads was Rockin’ With The King, where Canned Heat joined forces with Little Richard. They proved a potent partnership. Despite this, and Cherokee Dance and Utah finding their way onto FM radio, the album stalled at a lowly eighty-seven in the US Billboard 200. Historical Figures and Ancient Heads became the least successful album of Canned Heat’s career. Surely, the only way was up?
Following Historical Figures and Ancient Heads, all wasn’t well within Canned Heat. Joel Scott-Hill and Antonio de la Barreda seemed to have developed an attitude problem. This lead to drummer Adolfo de la Parra threatening to quit the band. Fortunately, he was talked out of leaving Canned Heat, and instead, the insurgents exited stage left. This meant another change of lineup for their next album The New Age.
The New Age.
Joining Canned Heat for their ninth album The New Age, were rhythm guitarist and vocalist James Shane, keyboardist Ed Beyer on keyboards and bassist Richard Hite. Bob Hite’s brother would slot into the rhythm section alongside drummer Adolfo de la Parra and rhythm guitarist James Shane. They headed to The Record Plant in Los Angeles to record The New Age.
For The New Age, nine songs were chosen. Most of them were new songs, which were penned by members of Canned Heat. The only cover version was Lieber and Stoller’s Framed. Bob Hite penned Keep It Clean, Don’t Deceive Me and Rock and Roll Music. However, the new recruit came up trumps. Ed Bayer wrote You Can Run, But You Sure Can’t Hide and Election Blue. James Shane went one better, and wrote a trio of songs. This included Lookin’ For My Rainbow, So Long Wrong and the biker anthem Harley Davidson Blues. It would become a favourite of Canned Heat fans. That was still to come. Before that, Canned Heat had an album to record.
When recording of The New Age began at The Record Plant, Clara Ward joined Canned Heat. Her vocal features on Lookin’ For My Rainbow. Sadly, this was the last recording of one the most successful gospel singers. She joined the latest lineup of Canned Heat, as they tried to get their career back on track.
Despite the best efforts of Canned Heat and producer Skip Taylor, The New Age wasn’t the start of a new era for Canned Heat. The album wasn’t well received. One critic in particular, was less than impressed. Lester Bangs savaged The New Age. His over the top review was regarded as “disrespectful,” and Lester Bangs was sacked by Rolling Stone. However, the damage was done.
Other critics took a much more balanced approach to The New Age. They pointed out highlights like Lookin’ For My Rainbow and the biker anthem Harley Davidson Blues. However, when The New Age was released on March 9th 1973, the album failed to trouble the charts. Worse was to come for Canned Heat.
They were now heavily in debt. Skip Taylor was desperately looking for a solution to the problem. That’s when it’s alleged that Skip Taylor advised Canned Heat to sign away all their future royalties to Liberty Records and United Artists’ recordings, and in return, Canned Heat would be allowed to sign to Atlantic Records. If this was the case, it would prove to be one of the worst deals in the history of music.
One More River To Cross.
Having negotiated a release from their Liberty Records’ contract, Canned Heat signed to Atlantic Records in 1973. They began work on their tenth studio album One More River To Cross. However, Canned Heat’s time at Atlantic Records got off to a bad start.
Bob Hite and Henry Vestine were about to use a vending machine at Atlantic Records when suddenly, the pair began to argue and a brawl began. Now two members of Atlantic Records’ latest signing were fighting amongst themselves. While this didn’t present Canned Heat in a good light. Things didn’t get much better. surely things would improve?
For One More River To Cross ten songs were chosen. Again, they were a mixture of cover versions and new songs. Among the cover versions were Daniel Moore’s One More River To Cross, plus Charles Calhoun and Joel Scott Hill’s classic Shake, Rattle and Roll. Just like The New Age, there was also another Lieber and Stoller song, I’m a Hog for You Baby. The other cover version was entitled We Remember Fats. Canned Heat planned to work their way through eight songs penned by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew in just five minutes. This would be a remarkable feat. However, this was just part of the story of One More River To Cross came.
The rest of One More River To Cross came from the pen of Canned Heat. L.A. Town, Bagful Of Boogie, Bright Times Are Coming and Highway 401 were credited to Canned Heat. Bob Hite wrote I Need Someone and James Shane penned You Am What You Am. These tracks, plus the cover version became One More River To Cross.
Rather than recording One More River To Cross in L.A., it was decided that the album be recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, in Sheffield, Alabama. That was home to Roger Hawkins and Barry Beckett of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. They would produce One More River To Cross.
At Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Canned Heat’s rhythm section featured drummer Adolfo de la Parra, bassist Richard Hite and rhythm guitarist James Shane. Henry Vestine played lead guitar, Ed Beyer played piano and Bob Hite took charge of the lead vocals. Joining them, were drummer Roger Hawkins and keyboardist Barry Beckett. The final piece of this musical jigsaw was the Muscle Shoals Horns. They added a new dimension to Canned Heat’s sound on One More River To Cross which was completed and ready for release later in 1973.
One More River To Cross was released later in 1973. It wasn’t just Canned Heat’s Atlantic Records’ debut and the band’ tenth studio album. This was a remarkable feat considering Canned Heat only released their debut in 1967. A lot had happened since then. The lineup had changed numerous times, there had been countless drugs busts and controversies aplenty. However, only one Canned Heat album failed to chart. That was their previous album The New Age. Sadly, One More River To Cross followed in its footsteps.
Despite that, One More River To Cross has been regarded as a truly underrated album. One of the reasons was Roger Hawkins and Barry Beckett’s approach to production. It made a refreshing change from previous albums and showed another side to Canned Heat. They seemed to have been reinvigorated by the change of studio and producer. Roger Hawkins and Barry Beckett seemed to encourage Canned Heat to loosen up and play with new found freedom. Canned Heat sounds as if they’re enjoying themselves on what was one of their best albums of recent years.
One More River To Cross found Canned Heat seamlessly combining musical genres. They combined blues and boogie with funk, R&B, rock and Southern Soul. Ballads, blues and boogie sat side-by-side with funky jams, R&B and rock ’n’ roll. There was something for everyone. Alas, One More River To Cross failed commercially on this oft-overlooked hidden gem that is one of Canned Heat’s most underrated and expensive albums.
Especially if the allegations that Skip Taylor advised Canned Heat to sign away all their future royalties to Liberty Records and United Artists’ recordings, so they could sign to Atlantic Records were true? After the commercial failure of One More River To Cross, Atlantic Records cut their ties with Canned Heat. Their relationship with Atlantic Records was brief and potentially ruinously expensive.
If the allegation regarding future royalties are indeed true, then Canned Heat were very badly advised. The decision to trade their future royalties for their freedom backfired and backfired badly. Who knows how much this cost Canned Heat in lost royalties? The cost continues to rise with each passing day, and is why One More River To Cross will go down in musical history as one of the most expensive albums ever recorded.
Cult Classic: Canned Heat-One More River To Cross.
CULT CLASSIC FOUND: EBO TAYLOR-PALAVER.
Cult Classic Found: Ebo Taylor-Palaver.
In the history of Ghanian music one man looms large, Ebo Taylor. He’s a colossus of Ghanian music who deserves to be described as an innovator and as someone who went on to influence future generations of Ghanian musicians. Nearly forty years later, and Ebo Taylor’s influence is still being felt not just in Ghanian music, but further afield.
Ebo Taylor was born in Ghana in 1936, and his career started in the fifties when he was the leader of two highlife bands in Ghana, The Stargazers and The Broadway Dance Band. These weren’t just any highlife bands, and were two of the best and most important Ghanian highlife bands. Being the leader of these bands allowed Ebo Taylor to establish a reputation as a bandleader and musician before he decided to spread the gospel of Ghanian music in London.
By 1962, Ebo Taylor had moved to London, where he founded The Blackstar Highlife Band. Having founded his own band, he could dictate musical policy. What Ebo Taylor wanted to do, was create a fusion of disparate musical genres and influences. This included traditional Ghanian music and other West African musical genres as well as funk and jazz.
What The Blackstar Highlife Band eventually created was akin to a musical melting pot where Afrobeat, highlife, jazz and funk came together to form a hypnotic and enthralling fusion of African and Western music. Before long, The Blackstar Highlife Band became a popular group not just in London, but further afield. The effect this had on Ebo Taylor’s career was considerable, and on his return to Ghana, his services as a producer were greatly in demand.
Having returned to Ghana, Ebo Taylor was like the all-conquering hero. Word had spread about the genre-melting music he had created in London with The Blackstar Highlife Band.Job offers came thick and fast for Ebo Taylor who was a musician, songwriter, arranger and producer and could turn his hand to anything.
He was a member of the short-lived The Apagya Show Band, who released one single, Tamfo Nyi Ekyir in 1973. They also released one album which lay unreleased for thirty-nine years. From working as a musician Ebo Taylor decided to move onto arranging and production.
Then in 1975, Ebo Taylor arranged CK Mann and His Carousel 7’s 1975 album Funky Highlife. Later that year, he produced Gyedu-Blay Ambolley’s album Simigwa. It was through production that allowed Ebo Taylor to put his new ideas about music into practice. Ebo Taylor it seemed had done just about everything in music. However, he hadn’t written many songs and and had still to release a solo album. This was about to change.
Two years later, in 1977, he wrote several songs for Pat Thomas and Marijata’s eponymous album. Ebo Taylor was also asked to arrange the album. This he enjoyed doing and was good practise as he was later that year he would enter the studio to record his debut solo album.
Ebo Taylor had done many things during his three decade career, but had never had the opportunity to release a solo album. This rectified in 1977 when he released his eponymous debut album Ebo Taylor on the Ghanian label Essiebons. This was just the start of his solo career and before long, he would release his sophomore album.
Twer Nyame was Ebo Taylor’s sophomore album, and was released on Phillips West-African Records. Having released two solo albums in the space of a year, it was another two years before Ebo Taylor released another album.
His next album was collaboration with the Saltpond Barkers Choi, Me Kra Tsie which was released in 1979, on the Ghanian label Essiebons. The following year, Ebo Taylor released another collaboration and recorded another album.
For what was his fourth album Conflict, Ebo Taylor joined forces with Uhuru Yenzu. When the album was released in 1980 it was a commercial success in Ghana, but failed to find an audience in other parts of Africa.
Despite this, Ebo Taylor was a popular live draw in other parts of Africa. This included Nigeria, and in 1980 Ebo Taylor and his r touring band embarked upon a club tour, which was how he met none other tham Chief Tabansi of Tabansi Records.
Within a few short days, Chief Tabansi had offered Ebo Taylor a one album deal, which he signed. With the deal concluded, Ebo Taylor and his touring band entered the studio and recorded an album’s worth of material which under the terms of the deal was to be released exclusively on Tabansi Records. Once the album was recorded Ebo Taylor competed his Nigerian club tour.
Ebo Taylor was under the impression that Tabansi Records would release the album he had recorded Palaver, later in 1980 or in 1981. Sadly, for reasons lost in the mists of time, the album was never released and Palaver sat in the Tabansi Records’ vaults for thirty-nine years.
Nothing was head of the album until 2019 when Peter Adarkwah of BBE Music agreed a deal with Chief Tabansi’s son Joe to reissue around sixty albums recorded and released by the label and its imprints. That was when Joe Tabansi mentioned the tantalising prospect of unreleased material. That was when Joe Tabansi produced the master-tapes to Palaver. Little did Peter Adarkwah realise that he had struck musical gold.
Palaver features five new tracks penned by Ebo Taylor, which were recorded by his band who accompanied him on tour and in the studio.The lineup included George Amissah, Mat Hammond, George Kennedy and George Abunuah. They were responsible for what’s a long lost hidden gem that for thirty-nine years lay in the Tabansi Records vaults.
Palaver is a genre-melting fusion of African and Western influences that features Ebo Taylor and his band at the peak of their powers. By 1980, Ebo Taylor was a vastly experienced musician and bandleader. He had nearly thirty years experience as a musician, and drew upon all that experience, fusing African and Western music on Palaver. Everything from funk and jazz to Afrobeat and highlife are combined on Palaver, which deserves to be called a lost masterpiece from Ghana’s greatest ever musician, and the King of Ghanaian Funky-Highlife, Ebo Taylor.
Cult Classic Found: Ebo Taylor-Palaver.
CULT CLASSIC: YASUAKI SHIMIZU-MUSIC FOR COMMERCIALS: MADE TO MEASURE VOLUME 12.
Cult Classic: Yasuaki Shimizu-Music For Commercials: Made To Measure Volume 12.
In 1980, musician and producer Marc Hollander founded his own record label Crammed Discs in the Belgian capital Brussels. Later that year, his avant-rock group Aksak Maboul released their groundbreaking sophomore album Un Peu de l’Âme des Bandits on Crammed Discs. Little did Marc Hollander realise that his label would still be going strong forty years later, and would still be releasing ambitious, innovative and progressive music.
Having founded Crammed Discs, Marc Hollander took charge of the day-to-day running of the nascent label and became its artistic director. He spent much of his time listening to demos and looking for new artists to sign to the label. Over the next three years, the label went from strength-to-strength and singles and albums were released to critical acclaim and enjoyed a degree of commercial success. It was no surprise when founder Marc Hollander stared to cast his net even wider looking for right artist to sign to Crammed Discs’ eclectic roster.
By 1983, the label was thriving and Marc Hollander decided to launch the Made To Measure series which over the next four decades would release albums by mavericks, innovators and pioneers whose raison d’être was to release exciting, esoteric and experimental music that was way ahead of the musical curve. The music was usually much more experimental than was being released by the other artists signed to Crammed Discs. Many of the artists who released instalments in the Made To Measure series specialised in ambient and electronic music. There was also a loose concept to the Made To Measure series. Each album in the Made To Measure series could’ve been a soundtrack to a film, television program or dance. When the series was launched in 1983 it was quite different to what other labels were doing.
Four years later in 1987, Marc Hollander signed Japanese composer and saxophonist Yasuaki Shimizu to Crammed Discs. Later that year, he released his timeless cult classic Music For Commercials: Made To Measure Volume 12 which was the latest instalment in the Made To Measure series. It featured twenty-four tracks. Twenty-three were short pieces of music were originally meant to provide the soundtrack to commercials on Japanese television. They also showcased Yasuaki Shimizu’s versatility as a composer and saxophonist as he flitted between musical genres on tracks with titles like Seiko 1, Boutique Joy, Sharp 1, Honda and Bridgestone 4. These tracks lasted less than two minutes. The exception was Ka-Cho-Fu-Getsu which was the soundtrack to a computer animated short film. Just like the rest of the tracks it was a captivating introduction to Yasuaki Shimizu who by 1987 was already an experienced composer and musician.
Composer, saxophonist and producer Yasuaki Shimizu was born in Shimada, Shizu on August the ‘9th’ 1954. Growing up, he embraced music and learnt to play the saxophone. By the early seventies Yasuaki Shimizu had decided to embark upon a career as a professional musician.
The first many people heard of Yasuaki Shimizu was when the twenty-four year saxophonist released his debut solo album, Get You, in 1978. This carefully crafted combination of jazz and jazz-funk and would introduce Yasuaki Shimizu to Japanese music fans.
A year later, and Yasuaki Shimizu returned with his sophomore album Far East Express in 1979. By then, Yasuaki Shimizu had formed a new experimental rock band, Mariah.
The newly founded Mariah released their eponymous debut album later in 1979. This was the first of six albums that Mariah released between 1979 and 1983.
Mariah returned with their sophomore album Yen Dreams in 1980. By then, Mariah music was continuing to evolve. That would be the case throughout the band’s career.
Despite leading the experimental rock band Mariah, Yasuaki Shimizu continued his solo career. He released his sophomore album Berlin in 1980, with his third album IQ 179 following in 1981. Meanwhile, Yasuaki Shimizu’s groundbreaking band Mariah were about to release two albums during 1981.
The first of these albums was Auschwitz Dream which was followed by Marginal Love and then Red Party in 1982. By then, Mariah’s music continued to evolve and was being discovered by a wider, international audience.
It was a similar case with Yasuaki Shimizu’s solo albums. He was already regarded as a musical pioneer, and someone who was capable of pushing boundaries to their limits, and sometimes, way beyond. That was the case on Kakashi, which was released in 1982, and nowadays, is regarded as a genre classic. However, it was the last album Yasuaki Shimizu released until 1987.
The following year, Mariah released what was their swan-song Utakata no Hibi which fused traditional Japanese festival rhythms with rock tempos and sounds. It was hailed as an ambitious album that nowadays is regarded as a genre classic and this was a fitting farewell from Mariah.
With Mariah consigned to musical history and Yasuaki Shimizu’s solo career seemingly on hold, the musical pioneer embarked on yet another musical project, Yasuaki Shimizu and The Saxophonettes. This was essentially a one-man band, and over the next two years, Yasuaki Shimizu released two albums as Yasuaki Shimizu and The Saxophonettes.
Later in 1983, Yasuaki Shimizu and The Saxophonettes released their debut album was L’Automne à Pekin. It was an ambitious homage to the golden age of Hollywood, albeit with a twist. Yasuaki Shimizu and The Saxophonettes combined lush, underrated strings with a myriad of electronic sounds and a reggae rhythm section. It was an intriguing and captivating combination that found favour with critics. So did the followup Stardust, when it was released in 1985. By then, Yasuaki Shimizu had left Japan, and was spending his time in Europe.
Yasuaki Shimizu was dividing his time between London and Paris, where he became part of both cities vibrant music scenes. Marc Hollander remembers: “I met Yasuaki Shimizu when he was living in Paris, around the mid-eighties. We were mutually interested in a Shimizu/Crammed collaboration, and we came up with the idea to gather the short pieces he had created for television commercials, and release them in our Made To Measure composers’ series which, at the time, already included ten releases of mostly instrumental music.”
Now that Crammed Discs had agreed to release a Yasuaki Shimizu album, the Japanese composer, saxophonist and producer began choosing the tracks that would feature on Music For Commercials: Made To Measure Volume 12. It featured twenty-four instrumentals, with twenty-three tracks lasting two minutes or less. There was one exception, Ka-Cho-Fu-Getsu which was the soundtrack to a computer animated short film. Mostly, though Yasuaki Shimizu was keen to showcase his work creating Music For Commercials.
Yasuaki Shimizu recalls how: “TV commercials in the late ’70s and ’80s didn’t advertise the practical features of products, they were meant to build strategic corporate images. You might even say they took a musical approach in their visual expression, though perhaps that’s an overstatement. Being restricted to a time span of a minute or less made it ideal work for refining my intuitive powers. I made a conscious choice not to remix the tracks for this album. The final version of the original recordings appear here untouched, although I do remember working to link the individual tunes, and on the overall mood.” That is apparent throughout Music For Commercials: Made To Measure Volume 12.
When Crammed Discs released Music For Commercials: Made To Measure Volume 12 in 1987, critics and cultural commentators lavished plaudits and praise on this captivating and intriguing compilation of music. It finds Yasuaki Shimizu fusing elements of ambient, avant-garde, classical, electronic and experimental with jazz and traditional Japanese music. These genres are combined on twenty-four tracks that are very different.
Tachikawa is elegiac and ethereal, before Seiko 1 becomes urgent and dramatic, while Seiko 4 has a similar urgency. Very different are Seiko 2 and Seiko 3 which are understated soundscapes with an enchanting minimalist sound. Sen-Nen 1’s is a beautiful ambient sounding track, and like many of the tracks in evocative and rich in imagery. It’s a similar case with tracks like Boutique Joy. By comparison, Ricoh 1 has a much more experimental sound. So does Ricoh 2, which is a genre-melting track with a mesmeric and futuristic sound. Laox also showcases a futuristic eighties sound and combines with this with lush strings. This is an intriguing and successful combination, and like all the tracks on Music For Commercials: Made To Measure Volume 12, has a cinematic sound and is full of imagery.
Shiseido has an orchestrated and evocative sound that is guaranteed to paints pictures. It’s also one of the most memorable tracks on Music For Commercials: Made To Measure Volume 12. Seiko 5 has a jaunty robotic sound, as if trying to sell a groundbreaking futuristic product. It gives way to Sharp, which mixes sultry jazz with electronics, avant-garde and industrial music. Sen-Nen 2 finds Yasuaki Shimizu combining his jazz saxophone with experimental and ambient music. Mesmeric but beautiful describes Honda, which is one of several tracks which incorporates elements of Japanese music. It’s a similar case on Suntory, where a myriad of percussion adds an almost hypnotic sound. Knorr is another genre-melting track where classical vocal and cello combine with occasional flourishes of piano and crisp drum rolls. They may be unlikely bedfellows but play their part in the success of this beautiful, evocative soundscape. It gives way to the Bridgestone 5.
This is the five soundscapes that Yasuaki Shimizu recorded for Bridgestone. They have a much more experimental sound than many of the other tracks. Bridgestone 1 head in the direction of free jazz So to some extent does Bridgestone 2, which combines a myriad of experimental and ethereal sounds. Then on Bridgestone 2 found and experimental sounds are fused with a braying horn and drama. Very different is Bridgestone 4 where the saxophone plays slowly and ruminatively before strings sweep and swirl on Bridgestone 5. It closes the Bridgestone quintet.
Ka-Cho-Fu-Getsu is ten minute soundtrack where Yasuaki Shimizu showcases his skills and versatility during this captivating musical adventure. It takes twists and turns as Yasuaki Shimizu throws curveballs springs surprises, as a myriad of subtleties unfold as this musical pioneer creates a groundbreaking and genre-melting opus. Closing Music For Commercials: Made To Measure Volume 12 is Seibu, which sounds like an excerpt from an opera and shows another side the versatile virtuoso Yasuaki Shimizu
After its release in 1987, Music For Commercials: Made To Measure Volume 12 became Crammed Discs most sought after releases as a new generation of record buyers discovered the delights of this groundbreaking album. Eventually, it was almost impossible to find a copy of Music For Commercials: Made To Measure Volume 12. Those that owned a copy of the album were holding on to them. As a result, demand was greatly outstripping supply. That was no surprise.
When the album was released in 1987 only a relative small number of LPs and CDs were released in 1987. By then, Marc Hollander knew how many albums one of his releases could sell. He was determined not to press too many copies and knew he could always repress this Music For Commercials: Made To Measure Volume 12, which showcases Yasuaki Shimizu’s versatility as a composer and saxophonist as he flits between and combines musical genres. The result was a captivating album from a true musical pioneer, and one of the best instalments in Crammed Discs’ Made To Measure series.
Thirty-three years later and the Made To Measure series is still going strong. However, Music For Commercials: Made To Measure Volume 12 is still regarded as one of the best instalments in Crammed Discs’ long-running and prestigious series. That will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future as Yasuaki Shimizu’s Music For Commercials: Made To Measure Volume 12 is an ambitious album of inventive, innovative and cinematic music that is evocative, rich in imagery and is truly timeless.
Cult Classic: Yasuaki Shimizu-Music For Commercials: Made To Measure Volume 12.
SPIRITUAL JAZZ 12: IMPULSE!
Spiritual Jazz 12: Impulse!
Label: Jazzman Records.
Format: 2CD.
Little did anyone at Jazzman Records know when they released Spiritual Jazz (Esoteric, Modal and Deep Jazz From The Underground 1968-77) in 2008, that this was the first instalment in what would become their longest-running and most successful compilation series. Over the next twelve years, they’ve released compilations of European, Islamic, Japanese and vocal spiritual jazz. They also turned their attention to some of the most important and prestigious jazz labels and dug deep into the vaults of Blue Note, Prestige and most recently Steeplechase for further critically acclaimed compilations of spiritual jazz. By then, there were eleven instalments in the series.
The big question on many critics and jazz fans was which label was next? One label that was perfect for Jazzman Records’ next compilation of spiritual jazz was Impulse! It was home to some of the giants of jazz including John Coltrane, Elvin Jones, Max Roach, Yusef Lateef, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Archie Shepp, Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders. All these artists and more feature on Spiritual Jazz 12: Impulse! It’s just been released and is a two CD set that features seventeen tracks from the Impulse! vaults.
The roots of Impulse! can be traced to 1955 when the American Broadcasting Company decided the time was right to diversify into the record business. History was made on June ‘14th’ 1955 when Am-Par Record Corporation was incorporated and Samuel H. Clark became the company’s first president. He oversaw the birth of what would become one of the biggest record companies in America.
Soon, the nascent label was producing and releasing records, licensing masters from independent record producers and purchasing records that had been regionally. These were then distributed nationwide by Am-Par Record Corporation. Some of the singles and albums proved popular and indeed profitable for the new label.
Over the next five years, the Am-Par Record Corporation continued to expand. New artists joined their roster as success began to come the Am-Par Record Corporation’s way. Soon, the label was looking at expanding, and one genre they were particularly interested in, was jazz.
In 1960, Am-Par Record Corporation decided to form their own jazz label which they called Impulse! Arranger and producer Creed Taylor was hired and became the nascent label’s A&R manager.
One of the earliest signings made by Creed Taylor was Ray Charles. Another of Impulse!’s early signings was Oliver Nelson. He released his post bop album The Blues and the Abstract Truth in February 1961. It sported Impulse!’s distinctive black, orange, and white livery.
A month later, in March 1961, Ray Charles released His Genius + Soul = Jazz was released in March 1961, and gave the label its first successful album. The decision to appoint Creed Taylor as Impulse!’s A&R man had paid off.
Despite the success of Ray Charles’ His Genius + Soul = Jazz Creed Taylor decided to leave Impulse! in the summer of 1961. He had been approached to run Verve Records. Replacing Creed Taylor was the man who would be synonymous with Impulse!, Bob Thiele.
He would play a huge role in the rise and rise of Impulse! Bob Thiele ran Impulse! between 1961 and 1968. During that period, he began to expand the label. He had two very different roles, A&R and production. Somehow, he was able to successfully juggle the two roles. Soon, Bob Thiele was adding some of the biggest names in jazz to Impulse!’s roster. Then he would produce their albums for Impulse! This includes many of the albums that the tracks on Spiritual Jazz 12: Impulse! are taken from.
Disc One.
Opening disc one is John Coltrane’s spiritual jazz classic A Love Supreme Pt 1: Acknowledgement. It’s taken from his 1965 Magnus Opus A Love Supreme, which was produced by Bob Thiele, and is an album that belongs in every record collection
Although Elvin Jones was the drummer on John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, he was also a solo artist and in 1965 released the album Dear John C. It’s another Bob Thiele production and features a cover of Duke Ellington’s Fantazm which features pianist Hank Jones. It’s one of the highlights of this underrated albums that is a reminder of one of the greatest jazz drummers of his generation.
In 1962, Max Roach and His Chorus released It’s Time, an album of hard bop and modal jazz that was produced by Bob Thiele. The thirty-eight year old drummer had written the six compositions on the album including Lonesome Lover which features a beautiful, heartfelt and hopeful vocal from Abbey Lincoln. It plays an important part in the sound and success of the song which is a welcome addition to the album.
After leaving Blue Note, trumpeter, composer and bandleader Freddie Hubbard signed to Impulse! His debut for the label was The Artistry Of Freddie Hubbard which was released in 1963. It’s another album that was engineered by Rudy Van Gelder and produced by Bob Thiele. One of the highlights of this album of post bop was the Freddie Hubbard composition The 7th Day where he’s joined in the horn section by trombonist Curtis Fuller and tenor saxophonist John Gilmore. This talented triumvirate play leading roles in this oft-overlooked spiritual jazz gem.
Archie Shepp’s composition Le Matin Des Noire closes disc one of Spiritual Jazz 12: Impulse! The track was recorded at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1965, and featured on John Coltrane and Archie Shepp’s 1966 album New Thing At Newport which was produced by Bob Thiele. The concert took place four days after John Coltrane recorded his Ascension album which featured Archie Shepp. By then, John Coltrane and music had evolved and moved towards the avant-garde. So had Archie Shepp’s. He had become politically conscious and was fusing African rhythms and cultural concepts with his freeform avant-garde saxophone playing. The result was ambitious and groundbreaking music like Le Matin Des Noire.
Disc Two.
By the time Michale White released his Pneuma album in 1972, Bob Thiele had left Impulse! and had founded his own label Flying Dutchman. Ed Michel produced the album which showcased this groundbreaking violinist whose music could be demanding, innovative and also rewarding. That was the case with his spiritual jazz gem The Blessing Song.
When Phil Woods recorded his Greek Cooking album with producer Bob Thiele, he recorded Bobby Scott and Ric Marlow’s A Taste Of Honey. The band fuse traditional and Greek instruments on this modal jazz track which was one of the highlights of the album when it was released in 1967.
Pharoah Sanders features twice on disc two. His first contribution is Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah from his 1969 Jewels Of Thought which was produced by Ed Michel. It was a groundbreaking album from the free jazz pioneer. So was Thembi which was released in 1971 and is one of his finest albums. The title-track just like Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah is a spiritual jazz and welcome addition to the compilation.
The title-track to Alice Coltrane’s fourth solo album Journey In Satchidananda closes Spiritual Jazz 12: Impulse! It was part of what was an accessible album of modal and experimental jazz that had been influenced by a number of things including Alice Coltrane’s love of Middle Eastern and North African music and culture. However, the title-track reflected how she had been inspired by the Indian religious teacher and spiritual master Swami Satchidananda Saraswati. It’s a powerful and spiritual track that’s without doubt one of the highlights of the compilation.
Spiritual Jazz 12: Impulse! is also one of the finest instalments in Jazzman Records’ long-running compilation series. That’s no surprise given that many of the giants of jazz spent part of their career signed to Impulse!
It was unlike many other jazz labels. Part of the reason was that Bob Thiele gave artists creative freedom. There was nobody trying to tell artists what direction their music should head in. While this may not have resulted in music that was hugely successful, much of the music Impulse! released was innovative and influential. Especially during the period Bob Thiele was at the hem of Impulse!
Nowadays, Bob Thiele’s name is synonymous with Impulse! He was at at the helm between 1961 and 1969. That was when Impulse! released some of its most important and influential music. When he left Impulse! after a musical coup d’état and his replacement was thirty-five year old Ed Michel.
Suddenly, commentators wondered whether Impulse! would be the same label? Still, Impulse! continued to release important, innovative and influential albums, albeit not as regularly as it once had. Some of the albums were hit or miss affairs and no longer was the label releasing as many classic albums. Despite that, Impulse! remained one of the most important labels in the history of jazz.
That’s still the case today and the seventeen tracks by on Spiritual Jazz 12: Impulse! are a reminder of the label at the peak of its powers. During this period, Impulse! was home to many pioneering musicians and some of the biggest names of jazz. They played their part in the rise and rise of Impulse! which was well on its way to becoming one of the most important labels in the history of jazz.
Proof of that is the music on Spiritual Jazz 12: Impulse! which is a snapshot of a legendary label when it was home to some of the giants of jazz, who were able to experiment and innovate, and had the freedom to create some of the most important and influential jazz of the sixties and early seventies.
Spiritual Jazz 12: Impulse!
DR JOHN-REMEDIES-RECORD STORE DAY 2020.
Dr John-Remedies-Record Store Day 2020.
Label: Get On Down.
Format: LP
Although Dr John eventually won six Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2011, commercial success and critical acclaim didn’t come overnight for the great showman who released thirty studio albums and nine live albums during a career that spanned six decades where his music fell in and out of fashion. Dr John it’s safe to say enjoyed a roller coaster career and made an impression on anyone who saw him live.
His theatrical stage show was inspired by medicine shows, Mardi Gras costumes and voodoo ceremonies while his inimitable genre-melting sound was a fusion of blues, boogie-woogie, funk, jazz, pop, R&B and rock ’n’ roll. Dr John in full flow was a spellbinding sight as he mixed music and theatre. However, it took time for Dr John’s albums to find the audience they deserved.
Dr John’s first three albums failed to trouble the charts. This included his third album Remedies which was released by Atco on April the ‘9th’ 1970. It was a frustrating time for twenty-nine year old Dr John who must have wondered whether Atco was the right label for him? He was releasing music that was variously ambitious, dark, otherworldly, powerful and poignant. However, very few people had heard his first three albums including Remedies which just been reissued by Get On Down for Record Store Day 2020. It was the latest chapter in the Dr John story.
The future Dr John was born Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack Jr, on November the ‘20th’ 1940, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in the Third Ward of New Orleans, and music was always around him.
His father Malcolm John Rebennack ran an appliance shop in the East End of New Orleans, where he repaired radio and televisions and sold records. He introduced his son to the music of King Oliver and Louis Armstrong. However, one of the people who inspired Mac Rebennack was his grandfather who he heard singing minstrel songs. So did hearing his aunts, uncles, cousins and sister playing the piano. Despite this, Mac Rebennack wasn’t inspired to take music lessons.
This only came later when he was a teenager. He also joined a choir, but was soon asked to leave. However, over the next few years Mac Rebennack learnt to play the guitar and later piano, and through his father’s contacts in the local music scene was soon playing alongside some well known names including Guitar Slim and Little Richard. This was just the start for Mac Rebennack.
When he was thirteen, he met Professor Longhair and he was instantly impressed by the flamboyant showman. Mac Rebennack was soon playing alongside his new hero, and this was the start of his professional career.
Around 1955 or 1956, Mac Rebennack made his debut in the recording studio when he was signed as a singer and songwriter by Eddie Mesner at Aladdin Records. The future Dr John’s career was underway and towards the end of 1957 with the help of Danny Kessler, he joined the musician’s union. That was when he considered himself to be a professional musician.
By the time he was sixteen, Mac Rebennack had been hired by Johnny Vincent at Ace Records as a producer. This led to him working with Earl King, James Booker and Jimmy Clayton. This was all good experience for the young, up-and-coming musician
Despite his new career, Mac Rebennack was still a student at Jesuit High School. This didn’t stop him playing in night clubs and forming his first band The Dominoes. The Jesuit fathers weren’t happy with Mac Rebennack’s lifestyle and issued him with an ultimatum. He was to either stop playing in nightclubs or leave the school. Not long after this, he was expelled from the school. It turned out to be the best thing that happened to him as he was able to concentrate on music full time.
By the late-fifties, Mac Rebennack was playing with various bands in and around New Orleans. This included his own band Mac Rebennack and The Skyliners. However, the young bandleader had also embarked upon a career as a songwriter.
In 1957 Mac Rebennack cowrote his first ever rock ’n’ roll song Lights Out. It was recorded by New Orleans based singer Jerry Byrne, and released on Specialty Records later in 1957 and give him a regional hit.
Two years later, in 1959, Mac Rebennack also enjoyed a regional hit single when he released Storm Warning, a Bo Diddley insprired instrumental, on Rex Records. This was the first hit he enjoyed in a long, illustrious and eventful career.
After Storm Warning, Mac Rebennack and Charlie Miller joined forces and recorded singles for various local labels. This included Ace, Ron, and Ric. They continued to release singles until Charlie Miller decided to move to New York to study music. Mac Rebennack stayed in the Big Easy and continued his career.
Around 1960, Mac Rebennack was playing a gig in Jacksonville, Florida, when his career was changed forevermore. That night, his ring finger on his left hand was injured by a gun shot during an incident. This was a disaster for a right handed guitarist and when he recovered he made the switch to bass guitar. However, after a while Mac Rebennack switched to the instrument he made his name playing, the piano.
Soon, Mac Rebennack had developed a style that was influenced by Professor Longhair who he had met when he was thirteen. It looked as if this was a new chapter in Mac Rebennack’s musical career.
That wasn’t the case and Mac Rebennack ended up getting involved in the dark underbelly of The Big Easy. He was using and selling illegal drugs and at one point, running a brothel. It was almost inevitable that Mac Rebennack was going to have a brush with the law.
He did. In 1963, when Mac Rebennack was arrested on drug charges and sentenced to two years in the Federal Correctional Institution, in Fort Worth, Dallas. By the time his sentence ended and he was released in 1965, New Orleans was a different place.
There had been a campaign to rid the city of its clubs, which meant that musicians like Mac Rebennack found it hard to find work. That was why he decided to move to LA where he knew he could find work as a session musician.
It turned out to be a good decision, and it wasn’t long before Mac Rebennack was one of the first call session musicians in LA. That was the case for the rest of sixties and the seventies. He was also a member of the legendary Wrecking Crew and worked with some of the biggest names in music. This was the new start Mac Rebennack had been looking for when he left New Orleans.
Growing up Mac Rebennack had developed an interest in New Orleans voodoo. This was something he revisited during his early years in LA when he began to develop the concept of Dr John, which initially he thought could be a persona for his friend Ronnie Barron. The concept was based on the life of Dr John, a Senegalese prince, a witch doctor, herbalist and spiritual healer who travelled to New Orleans from Haiti. He was a free man of colour who lived on Bayou Road, and claimed to have fifteen wives and over fifty children. It was believed Dr John also kept a variety of lizards, snakes, embalmed scorpions as well as animal and human skulls, and sold gris-gris, voodoo amulets which were meant to protect the wearer from harm. This Mac Rebennack incorporated into the project he was working on for Ronnie Barron.
Soon, Mac Rebennack had decided to write, produce and play on an album and stage show based on his concept with Dr John emblematic of New Orleans’ heritage. It was meant to feature Ronnie Barron. However, when he dropped out of the project Man Rebennack took over the role and adopted the identity of Dr John. This was a turning point in the life and career of the man born Mac Rebennack.
Dr John became the name that he found fame as and won five Grammy Awards. However, that was still to come.
Having adopted the moniker Dr John,The Night Tripper he was signed by Atco Records and recorded his debut album Gris Gris. It was his his own “voodoo medicine” and marked the start of what’s now regarded as a golden era for Dr John.
Gris Gris.
When a copy of Dr John’s debut album Gris Gris, which was sent to Atlantic Records’ founder Ahmet Ertegun he disliked the album so much, that he was reluctant to even release the album and said: “how can we market this boogaloo crap?” This wasn’t the response that Dr John had been hoping when he recorded Gris Gris which was a combination of psychedelia, blues, free jazz, R&B, soul, funk, jazz. Add to this psychedelic stew the authentic music of the melting pot that is New Orleans and the voodoo image that Dr John had carefully cultivated and Gris Gris was like no other album that Atlantic Records had released. That presented the label with a huge problem.
Atlantic Records’ PR department had idea to promote an album like Gris Gris, as they had no cultural reference points, nothing to compare the album to. Despite the best efforts of Atlantic Records PR department, when Gris Gris was released on January the ’22nd’ 1968 and introduced the world to Dr John The Night Tripper, it failed to trouble the charts and neither critics nor record buyers understood Dr John’s groundbreaking debut album. However, like so many albums that fail to find an album on their release, Gris Gris was later reappraised and belatedly, was recognised as a seminal album that was the start of a rich vein of form from Dr John.
Gris Gris was the start of a six-year period when Dr John could no wrong, and released seven innovative albums that are among the his finest work.
Babylon.
This included his sophomore album Babylon on January the ’17th’ 1969. It was a powerful, cerebral and innovative genre-melting album which socially had much in common with Dr John’s debut album Gris Gris.
Sadly, critics didn’t ‘get’ Babylon and the album which failed commercially. However, just like Gris Gris, Babylon was later reappraised by critics and nowadays is regarded as one of his finest albums and a minor classic.
Remedies.
Following the commercial failure of Babylon, things went from bad to worse for Dr John, before he could begin work on his third album Remedies. This started when a deal went south, and he was arrested by the police and ended up in jail. It was a worrying time for Dr John who was parole, and if he ended up with a parole violation, he knew he might end up in the infamous Angola jail. That didn’t bare thinking about, and already Dr John was desperate to get out of the local jail. However, he needed someone to post bail, so contacted his managers who he remembers: “were very bad people.” This proved to be an understatement.
Not long after this, Dr John’s managers had him committed to a psychiatric ward, where he spent some time. By then, it was obvious to Dr John that his managers were no longer playing by the rules. All he wanted to do was make music, and everything that had happened recently were nothing to do with music. Instead, it was all connected to Dr John’s increasingly chaotic lifestyle, which made it all the more frustrating for those that realised just how talented the Gris Gris Man was.
Eventually, and having managed to put his problems behind him, Dr John was discharged from the psychiatric ward. By then, he was worried about violating his parole and ending up back in jail. Especially the infamous Louisiana State Penitentiary, where one of his friends Tangleye had spent forty years.
When Tangleye was released he told Dr John: “I’m gonna sell you this song. Got it in Angola, but ain’t nobody ever cut this song.” This was Angola Anthem which he recorded during the Remedies sessions. It featured on the second side of the album. Forty years after he recorded the song Dr John said: ” Even now guys I know getting out of Angola know this song. It’s still a horrible place to be.”
Having bought Angola Anthem Dr John wrote the other five songs that became Remedies using his real name Mac Rebennack. Among the tracks Dr John had written was What Goes Around Comes Around which later became a favourite during his live shows and Mardi Gras Day which paints pictures of New Orleans when it comes out to play. They’re very different to Angola Anthem which became an eighteen minute epic that took up all of side two of Remedies. Just like the rest of Remedies, it was produced by one of the most successful producers of the day.
Although Harold Battiste had produced Gris Gris and Babylon, he was replaced by Tom Dowd and Charles Greene who were tasked with transforming Dr John’s career. However, although Tom Dowd was enjoying the most successful period of his career, he had never worked with anyone like Dr John.
When Remedies which was released in the spring of 1970, just like his two previous albums, critics didn’t seem to understand Remedies, which was credited to Dr John The Night Tripper. Remedies was another ambitious album of genre-melting, voodoo-influenced album where Dr John The Night Tripper through everything from psychedelia, blues, R&B, soul, funk and jazz into the musical melting pot and gave it a stir to create an album where the music was mysterious, otherworldly and haunting.
The songs on side one were loose, swampy, expressive and lysergic and as Dr John delivers photo raps, humorous rhymes and uses New Orleans’ street slang and lyrics that are full of innuendo. As he chants and raps his incantations take on a mysterious and otherworldly sound. It’s a spellbinding and inimitable sound. Meanwhile, the rhythms were funky, fluid and slinky as the horns bray and blaze lazily through an acidic haze. Then on side two there’s the eighteen minute epic Angola Anthem where Dr John retails the terror of life in the Louisiana State Penitentiary. This he does against a backdrop that features Afrobeat inspired drumming and understated instrumental parts that add to the drama, horror and terror of forty years in the pen. This was a powerful and poignant way to close Remedies which Dr John hoped would be his breakthrough album.
By the time Remedies was released on April ‘9th’ 1970, some FM radio stations had picked up on the album, and were playing it on their late shows. Despite the radio play Remedies had received, the album never troubled the charts, and it was only much later that record buyers realised that they had missed out on another important and innovative album from Dr John.
Remedies was the third of seven albums that Dr John released for Atco Records between 1968 and 1974. While these albums weren’t always appreciated or understood by critics, they’re now regarded as part of what was a golden era for Dr John.
He was at his creative zenith during his Atco Records years and was often misunderstood even by the supposed experts who ran the label. It was only much later that critics reappraised the albums that Dr John released for Atco Records and realised that he was recording and releasing ambitious, imaginative and innovative albums of genre-melting music.
This included Remedies which was one of the finest of the seven albums that Dr John released while signs to Atco Record. It’s also one of the best albums of a career that spanned six decades. It was long and sometimes illustrious career. Other times, it was a roller coaster career lows following highs.
It wasn’t always been smooth sailing for Dr John who battled heroin addiction but eventually he conquered his demons and continued to released albums and tour. By the time of his death on June the ‘6th’ 2019 aged just seventy-seven, Dr John had released thirty studio albums and nine live albums. This includes the seven albums he recorded during the six years he was signed to Atco Records. Looking back, these albums set the bar high for the rest of Dr John’s career.
It was only much later when Dr John’s Atco albums were reappraised that critics and cultural commentators realised their importance and what he was trying to achieve. Dr John was way ahead of his time, which and is part of the reason why his first three albums, including Remedies failed to find an audience. On its release, Remedies passed record buyers by and critics failed to understand what’s nowadays regarded as one of the finest and most ambitious albums Dr John released on Atco. Remedies showcases Dr John’s inimitable genre-melting sound and is part of his rich musical legacy and is a reminder of a truly talented, maverick musician and flamboyant showman during what was one of the most productive periods of his six decade career.
Dr John-Remedies-Record Store Day 2020.
RONNIE HEREL PRESENTS NEO SOUL SESSIONS VOL. 1.
Ronnie Herel Presents Neo Soul Sessions Vol. 1.
Label: BBE Music.
Format: CD.
Release Date: ‘9th’ November 2020.
DJ and producer Ronnie Herel began DJ-ing in London’s clubs in the eighties, and by the nineties he was already a familiar face as he continued to champion the best in soulful music in Britain. This was just the start though.
Ronnie Herel was nominated for a MOBO and was one of BBC Radio 1Xtra’s first signings. He also became a talent scout for the television show The Voice, and after that, was appointed head of music at Mi Soul. By then, he had spent over three decades working as a club and radio.
This meant he was perfectly placed to compile a new compilation of Neo Soul for BBE Music. The result is Ronnie Herel Presents Neo Soul Sessions Vol. 1 which will be released on the ‘9th’ of November 2020. It features thirteen tracks that showcase artists, singers, songwriters, musicians and producers including Omar, Etta Bond, Children of Zeus, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Foreign Exchange, Terri Walker, Moods, Darren Dean, Phonte and KOF who find themselves in a situation where their music falls somewhere between “underground” and “overground”
The “underground” tracks aren’t mainstream enough to fall into be described as “overground.” Meanwhile, the “overground” tracks are too slick and accomplished to be described as “underground.” It’s a strange situation for the artists on Ronnie Herel Presents Neo Soul Sessions Vol. 1. However, they all have one thing in common, they produce quality music.
Opening Ronnie Herel Presents Neo Soul Sessions Vol. 1 is Gave My Heart/Its So Interlood by Omar which features legendary soul singer Leon Ware. He worked with Marvin Gaye and released a string of successful solo album. However, in 2016, he joined forces with Omar to create Gave My Heart while Its so Interlood featured the Great Windsor’s Big Beat Band. They play one of the highlights of Omar’s Love In Beats album which is soulful and funky and one of the finest of the British soul don’s career.
Etta Bond is one regarded as one of the finest British Neo soul singers. Proof of that is Come Over which she wrote and produced and released in 2011.
Manchester-based Children Of Zeus feature twice on the compilation. They released their debut album Travel Light in 2018, which features Slow Down. The same year, it was also released as a single on First World Records and finds Children Of Zeus seamlessly combining hip hop, R&B and soul. It’s a similar case on Push On which was also released in 2018 and showcases one of UK Neo Soul’s best kept secrets.
DJ Jazzy Jeff also features twice on the compilation. His first contribution is his remix of For Da Love Of Da Game. It featured on the B-Side of Rock Wit U (Yoruba Soul Mix) which was released on BBE Music in 2002. It’s a jazz-tinged and soulful slice of hip hop. Five years later, in 2007, DJ Jazzy Jeff released The Return Of The Magnificent on BBE Music and it featured My Soul Ain’t for Sale which featured Raheem Davaughn. It’s soulful with smoking beats and features one of the best bass lines on the compilation.
In 2004, Foreign Exchange released their debut album Connected, which featured Come Around. It successfully marries hip hop with Neo Soul to create a track that’s truly timeless.
Lose Twice was the fourth single from Terri Walker’s album Entitled which was released in 2015. It features Floacist and they draws inspiration from nineties Neo Soul as they create one of the most melodic and soulful songs on Ronnie Herel Presents Neo Soul Sessions Vol. 1.
In 2018, Rotterdam-based producer Nick Lubbersen released Zoom Out the debut album by Moods. One of the highlights of the album was Slow Down which features vocalist Damon Trueitt. He plays his pity on sound and success of a track where Neo Soul, Nu-Disco and R&B are combined to create a hook-laden dancer.
Darien Dean and Avery Sunshine collaborated on the single Someone is You (Shawn’s Revenge) in 2017. It was released on Be Yourself Recordings and is timeless fusion of Neo Soul and R&B.
When hip hopper Phonte released his third album No News Is Good News in 2018, one of the highlights was Find That Love Again. It featured Eric Robertson who adds a soulful twist to the track which heads in the direction of Neo Soul.
The beautiful Neo Soul ballad Need Somebody by KOF featuring Terri Walker closes Ronnie Herel Presents Neo Soul Sessions Vol. 1. This hidden gem is taken from Koi’s 2012 album and is the perfect way to close the compilation.
Ronnie Herel Presents Neo Soul Sessions Vol. 1 is a lovingly curated compilation from a man who has spent his career championing the best in soulful music in Britain. That’s why it’s no surprise that a number of British Neo Soul singers and groups feature on the album. There’s also Neo Soul from America on Ronnie Herel Presents Neo Soul Sessions Vol. 1. In total, there’s thirteen tracks on the compilation.
On many of the tracks genres melt into one. This includes conscious, funk, hip hop, jazz, R&B and soul to create Neo Soul for a new millennium.
There’s contributions from familiar faces and what will new names to many people. They’ve also been described as “underground” and “overground” track. However, they all have one thing in common the quality of music on this compilation of Neo Soul for a new millennium. There’s dancers, ballads and songs full of social comment on the thirteen tracks on Ronnie Herel Presents Neo Soul Sessions Vol. 1 which hopefully, is the first instalment in what will be long-running series from BBE Music.
Ronnie Herel Presents Neo Soul Sessions Vol. 1.
AMBIANCE-INTO A NEW JOURNEY.
Ambiance-Into A New Journey.
Label: BBE MUSIC.
Format: CD.
Release Date: ‘19th’ September 2020.
During the seven year period between 1979 and 1986, Ambiance led by Nigerian born multi-instrumentalist Daoud Abubakar Balewa released six albums on the LA-based private press label Da Mon Records. It was a self-financed business that released short runs of Ambiance’s albums during a time when many smaller independent labels were unable to gain access to parts of the distribution networks.
In 1982, Da Mon Records released Ambiance’s fourth album Into A New Journey. It was an ambitious album of spiritual jazz that included elements of Afrobeat, Bossa Nova, Latin, modal that also had a soulful quality. Into A New Journey was without doubt the finest of the four albums that Ambiance had released. Sadly, the album failed to find an audience and for Ambiance it was a case of what might have been?
It was only much later that Into A New Journey was rediscovered a by a coterie of discerning DJs and record collectors. By then, the album was already a rarity and copies were changing hands for large sums of money. This meant that the album was beyond the budget of many music fans. Not for much longer, as BBE Music will reissue on the ‘19th’ of September 2020. It’s a reminder of Ambiance’s finest hour.
Ambiance was founded by Nigeria-born Daoud Abubakar Balewa who moved to Los Angeles where his career began. He had studied composition and jazz improvisation and was inspired by Jackie McLean and Frank Mitchell of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Although he was a saxophonist and could play alto, soprano and tenor sax he was equally comfortable playing flute, clarinet, keyboards, and Latin and Brazilian percussion. By the time Daoud Abubakar Balewa founded the jazz collective Ambiance, he was a talented multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer who had worked as a photographer.
In 1979, Ambiance released their debut album Ebun on Da Mon Records. It showcased what was a tight, talented and versatile group. Especially Bob Selvin who played keyboards and synths. He was part of a group that combined funk, fusion, jazz-funk and Latin on Ebun’s eight tracks which was a mixture of original material and covers. Sadly, very few people heard Ambiance’s oft-overlooked debut which was the first of six private presses they released during a seven year period.
They followed this up with Drift Up To Space in 1980. It was another album where Ambiance combined funk and fusion with jazz-funk and Latin. One thing that changed was Ambiance’s lineup. Daoud Abubakar Balewa shuffled the pack and brought onboard new musicians that suited the style of music he was recording and would bring something new to the session. However, just like on Ebun, keyboardist Bob Selvin played an important part in the album’s sound. When Drift Up To Space was released Ambiance remained one of jazz music’s best kept secrets.
The problem with releasing an album via a small label like Da Mon Records was they couldn’t access the distribution networks that the larger indie labels and majors could. And smaller labels lacked the expertise and marketing budget to promote an album. In reality, the best a group like Ambiance could hope for was that their album was heard by a bigger label who either signed the group or licensed the album. Neither happened to Ambiance who would soon return with a third album.
Ambiance returned in 1981 with their third album (Gida-Gida) “Tight and Tidy.” Just like their sophomore album, there were several changes in the lineup and there was no sign of keyboardist Bob Selvin. One of of the news addition to the group was Curtis Robertson Jr, who at the times, was married to Syreeta Wright. She added backing vocals and finger cymbals on one of Daoud Abubakar Balewa’s compositions Gida-Gida, which she co-produced with Curtis Robertson Jr. It was part of another carefully crafted album that combined fusion, jazz-funk and soul. However, just like Ambiance’s two previous albums it slipped under the radar. This was a great shame as Ambiance’s third album deserved to find a wider audience.
Into A New Journey.
For Ambiance’s fourth album Daoud Abubakar Balewa wrote and the title-track Into A New Journey. They were joined by covers of Joe Henderson’s Black Narcissus; Danny Newark and Monife Balewa’s Something Better; Jim Lum’s Eastwind plus Chick Corea’s 500 Miles High and Windows. These tracks became Into A New Journey which was recorded by a new lineup of Ambiance.
Joining multi-instrumentalist Daoud Abubakar Balewa was Japanese drummer Danny Yamamoto, bassist Randy Landis and guitarist Jim Lun. They were joined by Danny Newmark Fender Rhodes, keyboardists Jim Thornburn and Kimo Cornwell, Rick Smith on African Drums, June Kuramoto on Koto and Tyrone Ponder played the Apito. Adding vocals on Into A New Journey were Monife Balewa and Atiji Malomon. Once the album was completed it was released later in 1982.
When Into A New Journey was released in 1983 it was a familiar story when the album passed record buyers by. They had missed out on what was the finest album of Ambiance’s career.
Into A New Journey opens with Arrival, which is a joyous, celebratory and genre-melting track that’s akin to a call to dance. This is followed by Ambiance’s interpretation of Joe Henderson’s modal classic Black Narcissus which is the perfect showcase for Daoud Abubakar Balewa’s saxophone. He leaves room for Kimo Cornwell’s piano and the two play leading roles in the sound and success of this oft-covered classic. Something Better features vocalists Atiji Malomon and Monife Balewa who showcases her three octave vocal while a sultry saxophone adds the finishing touch to this beautiful and hopeful jazz ballad. Quite different is Into A New Journey, which is a percussive jazz-dance workout that draws inspiration from African and Latin music.
Cinematic describes the introduction to Eastwind before Ambiance combine jazz-funk, fusion, Latin percussion and ethereal harmonies. Daoud Abubakar Balewa’s flute and tenor saxophone also play a part in the sound and success of this slice of musical sunshine. Two Chick Corea covers close the album. The first is a remake of 500 Miles High where Ambiance spring a few surprises as they take the track in a new direction. It’s a case of expect the unexpected during this captivating cover. Closing Into A New Journey is Windows where Monife Balewa’s vocal seamlessly combines with the saxophone and creates a cosmic twist to this soulful fusion classic. In doing so, Ambiance closes the album on a high.
Although Ambiance released two more albums, 1985s Come To Tomorrow and 1986s Colours In Space neither surpassed the quality of Into A New Journey. It was their finest moment and it was as if everything had been leading up to it.
Ever since Ambiance released their debut album Ebun, Daoud Abubakar Balewa had continued to shuffle the pack and the lineup continued to change. The new lineup that featured on Into A New Journey was perfectly suited to play the original material and reinvent the cover versions on the album. They take familiar tracks in new direction and breath new life, meaning, energy and emotion into them. There’s another generic or predictable about these tracks on Ambiance’s genre-melting album.
Throughout Into A New Journey Ambiance combine disparate genres and influences. This includes fusion and jazz-funk with elements of African, Brazilian and Japanese and Latin music on Ambiance’s lost spiritual jazz gem. Into A New Journey still sparkles brightly and is undoubtably a captivating album of spiritual jazz that’s full of beauty, energy and warmth that belatedly is starting to find the audience it so richly deserves and is without doubt Ambiance’s finest hour.
Ambiance-Into A New Journey.
CULT CLASSIC: KEITH JARRETT, GARY PEACOCK AND JACK DEJOHNETTE-AFTER THE FALL.
Cult Classic: Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette-After The Fall.
Imagine that one day, you’re struck down by a mystery illness, and go from being healthy to constantly exhausted, with your head, muscles and joints constantly aching. All you want to do is sleep, sleep and sleep some more. Even then, you don’t feel refreshed and getting through daily life is impossible. So much so, that you’re a shadow of your former self. To make matters worse, the doctors have absolutely no idea what is wrong with you.
They draw blood, send you for a brain scan and lumbar puncture, and check for every imaginable illness, including some that you’ve never heard of heard of. Still the so-called medical professionals have no idea what is wrong with you. Meanwhile, you’re living a nightmare and no longer able to make a living, and watch as your life falls apart.
Eventually, after being passed from pillar to post, eventually, a doctor realises exactly what is wrong with you, and diagnoses that you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This was disease that very nearly destroyed the career of one of the greatest jazz pianists of his generation Keith Jarrett in the late-nineties.
It was around 1996 that fifty-one year old Keith Jarrett became ill, and was diagnosed by doctors as having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This was a huge blow for Keith Jarrett who was enjoying a successful career, and was one of the greatest and most versatile jazz musicians of his generation.
Keith Jarrett’s career began in the mid-sixties when he was hired by Art Blakey to play in The Jazz Messengers, and made his recording debut on their 1966 hard bop album Buttercorn Lady. However, Keith Jarrett wasn’t a Messenger for long, and soon, joined Charles Lloyd’s band.
Joining forces with Charles Lloyd who was signed to Atlantic Records was good experience for Keith Jarrett who was a prodigious talent. He played on Charles Lloyd’s 1967 albumForest Flower, and Love-In, Journey Within and En Concierto which were all released by The Charles Lloyd Quartet the same years. All this was good experience for Keith Jarrett who had just been signed by Atlantic Records.
On May the ‘4th’ 1967 Keith Jarrett made his way to Atlantic Recording Studios, in New York, where just four days before he turned twenty-two, he recorded his debut album, Life Between The Exit Signs. It was a trio recording that featured Charlie Haden and Paul Motian. Life Between The Exit Signs an album of post bop was released to critical acclaim on the ‘1st’ of April 1968 and launched Keith Jarrett’s career.
Despite having released his debut album, Keith Jarrett continued to work with Charles Lloyd right up until 1970. Then he joined Miles Davis band, and featured on 1970s Miles Davis At Fillmore and 1971s Live Evil. These were two very different albums with Miles Davis At Fillmore being a much more experimental album where the band veered between and combined elements of free jazz, fusion and experimental music. By comparison, Live Evil was a fusion album, which featured an all-star band. Keith Jarrett who had already shown he was a prodigious talent, belonged in such illustrious company, and by the end of 1971, had already released nine albums as leader or co-leader.
Twenty-five years later, and Keith Jarrett had been a truly prolific recording artist and a highly respected bandleader who was known for recording albums of ambitious and innovative jazz. He had already released fifty-seven albums as leader or co-leader by 1996. Many of these albums were released to widespread critical acclaim and showcase a versatile pianist who was comfortable playing everything from free jazz and fusion to classical music and variety of other sub-genre of jazz. It was a similar case when Keith Jarrett worked as sideman, and had played over 125 albums. Sadly, when Keith Jarrett was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome he had no idea when he would back in a recording studio or on the tour bus that sometimes seemed like a second home.
Little did Keith Jarrett know that it would take the best part of two years before he was able to return to the concert hall. During that period, he suffered from what’s a truly debilitating illness that ravaged his body and left him weak and frustrated. He had no idea how long Chronic Fatigue Syndrome would last, and neither did the doctors. Some people had it for two, three five, ten or more years and watched as their life was destroyed never to be the same.
Fortunately, after nearly two years Keith Jarrett’s body gradually started to heal and with each passing day, he became stronger and more like he had before Chronic Fatigue Syndrome turned his life upside down. Eventually, his thoughts started to making a comeback in 1998.
The Melody At Night, With You.
This was a really low-key comeback which began in December 1997, when Keith Jarrett wanted to test his Hamburg Steinway piano which had just been overhauled, and when he woke up and was having a: “half-decent day, I would turn on the tape recorder and play for a few minutes. I was too fatigued to do more.” The tape that Keith Jarrett made he gave to his then wife Rose Anne as a Christmas present. Little did either of them realise at the time that this was the start of Keith Jarrett’s comeback and the followup to Multitude Of Angels which was recorded just before he became ill.
When Keith Jarrett eventually entered his Cavelight Studio, which is next to his New Jersey home in 1998, he still hadn’t made a complete recovery, but was ready to make some tentative steps. By then, Keith Jarrett decided that he wouldn’t work with a band, and instead, The Melody At Night, With You would be a solo recording.
During the session, he played seven standards, including I Loves You Porgy, I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good, Don’t Ever Leave Me and Someone To Watch Over Me. These standards were joined by two traditional songs My Wild Irish Rose and Shenandoah, which were arranged by Keith Jarrett. He also composed Meditation which was part of the two-part suite Blame It On My Youth/Meditation. These tracks were produced by Keith Jarrett and Manfred Eicher, the founder of ECM Records which had been home to the pianist for much of his career.
When The Melody At Night, With You was complete, Manfred Eicher scheduled the release for October the ’14th’ 1999. Critics welcomed back Keith Jarrett and The Melody At Night, With You was released to plaudits and praise. By then, Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette had already record the live album After The Fall.
After The Fall.
To record the live album that completed his comeback, Keith Jarrett decided that he would use his standards trio which featured double bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette. They were like the three musical musketeers, who had worked together on many occasions during their long and illustrious careers. The three musicians had an almost telepathic understanding and formed an enviable partnership. Despite that, there was an added edge to recording his comeback concert at the New Jersey Performing Arts Centre, on November the ‘14th’ 1998, as Keith Jarrett every note and chord he played would be pored over, as critics and the jazz cognoscenti wondered whether he still had what it took to play at the highest level?
Keith Jarrett was sure he had, but he like anyone who had suffered from the illness knew that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was a debilitating illness that saps not just energy, but can affect concentration. Fortunately, Keith Jarrett’s trio planned to play tracks that they knew intimately. This included Allie Wrubel and Herb Magidson’s The Masquerade Is Over, Charles Parker’s Scrapple From The Apple, Dedette Lee Hill and Willard Robison’s Old Folks, Jacques Prevert, John Mercer and Joseph Kosma’s Autumn Leaves. They would be joined by Bud Powell and Walter Fuller’s Bouncin’ With Bud, Sonny Rollins’ Doxy, Noel Coward’s I’ll See You Again, Paul Desmond’s Late Lament, Pete La Roca’s One For Majid, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, John Coltrane’s Moment’s Notice and Edward Heyman and Victor Young’s When I Fall In Love. However, despite having played the songs countless times, the trio honed them in readiness for Keith Jarrett’s long-awaited and much-anticipated comeback.
Fortunately, the New Jersey Performing Arts Centre was a well equipped venue and there was a DAT player that was used to record Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette’s performance. The trio had a setlist that featured twelve tracks, which would last 100 minutes. Many of Keith Jarrett’s friends, fellow musicians and doctors who were aware of his health problem weren’t sure that the comeback concert was such a good idea, and were scared that it would hamper his recovery. Especially when they heard that Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette were planning to play a bebop set.
Disc One.
Keith Jarrett opens the set with the post-bop of The Masquerade Is Over, where he plays slowly as his fingers caress the keys, before Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette enter and start to open the throttle. However, it’s a slightly restrained but almost flawless performance as the trio play within themselves during a sixteen minute epic before the audience welcome the return of Keith Jarrett. There’s no stopping him as he opens Scrapple From The Apple plays with freedom and fluidity, the rest of the trio matching him every step of the way. By the time he gets to Old Folks he’s riding the crest of a wave, feeding off the audience who will him on. Autumn Leaves is one of the tracks where Keith Jarrett gives a more restrained performance as he stretches this standard to thirteen minute mark and just beyond. Still his fingers dance across the keyboard, and like his rhythm section, gives an impressive and performance. However, in the case of Keith Jarrett, it’s hard to believe he’s been unable to play for the best part of two years after such a breathtaking performance as he reaches the halfway point on After The Fall.
Disc Two.
Keith Jarrett then plays a starring role as he gives a fleet-fingered performance on the lively Bouncin’ With Bud, which gives way to Doxy where Gary Peacock’s walking bass is yin to the piano’s yang. The tempo drops on a beautiful wistful interpretations of I’ll See You Again and Late Lament. However, it’s all change on One For Majid as the tempo rises and Keith Jarrett’s fingers fly across the keyboard, while Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette add some flamboyant flourishes, before the trio get into the festive season early with a rendition of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. It’s followed by John Coltrane’s Moments Notice where Keith Jarrett fingers scamper across the keyboard as the trio become one on this bebop favourite. They then close the set with a melancholy version of When I Fall In Love where beauty is omnipresent, and Keith Jarrett gives one of his finest performance as he completes his comeback.
After Keith Jarrett’s comeback concert at the New Jersey Performing Arts Centre, many of his fans and critics thought that ECM Records would released the performance in 1999. However, that wasn’t the case, and the DAT lay unreleased in Keith Jarrett’s vaults for nearly twenty years. Eventually, Keith Jarrett’s comeback concert at the New Jersey Performing Arts Centre was released on November the ‘14th’ 1998.
The recording was entitled After The Fall is a captivating and compelling live album where comeback King Keith Jarrett and his fellow musical musketeers Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette revisit everything from songs from the Great American Songbook to bebop and tracks by ‘Trane and Bird. During what must have been exhausting performance for someone recovering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Keith Jarrett’s concentration never wavers as regardless of whether he’s playing bebop or wistful ballads during what was a cathartic concert. As a relieved Keith Jarrett left the stage on November the ‘14th’ 1998 and reflected on his performance, he knew that was capable of reaching the same heights that he previously had.
While Keith Jarrett may have lost two years of his career to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, he managed to rebuild his career starting with the concert that became After The Fall, and over the next twenty years, became one of the greatest and most versatile pianists not just of his generation, but in the history of jazz. Keith Jarrett belongs alongside the legendary jazz pianists including Thelonius Monk, Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Bud Powell, Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson. That is despite losing two years of his career to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and having to rebuild his career. This began with After The Fall which is a captivating cult classic which where bebop rubs shoulders with wistful ballads and is part of an album that celebrates the comeback of Keith Jarrett, with a little help from his friends Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette.
Cult Classic: Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette-After The Fall.
CULT CLASSIC: NKONO TELES-PARTY BEATS.
Cult Classic: Nkono Teles–Party Beats.
During Tabansi Records’ long and illustrious history, few people made the same impact as Nkono Teles, who was born in Cameroun, but grew up in Nigeria. That was where in 1952, Chief Tabansi founded the label he lent his name to, Tabansi Records. Three decades later, groundbreaking composer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Nkono Teles began work at Tabansi Records.
During his time at Tabansi Records, Nkono Teles worked with 100 artists and bands on 150 productions. His speciality was giving a modernist sound to Tabansi Records’ releases. He was part of a backroom team of who worked for the label, and who artists could call upon to give their albums a modernist, Afro-pop sound. This was a sound that Chief Tabansi hoped would appeal to record buyers all across Africa.
To do this, Tabansi Records combined elements of African music with Western music. It wasn’t unusual for a Tabansi Records’ release to fuse Afrobeat or highlife with elements of boogie, disco, electro, funk and soul. This was new and innovative. The man responsible for introducing a modern sound to many of Tabansi Records’ releases was Nkono Teles.
To do this, he incorporated and pioneered drum machines, synths and a myriad of guitar effects on many albums. Nkono Teles was also responsible for programming the computers at Tabansi Records’ studios, which added to the innovative sound of the label’s releases. All of this and his production career meant he was constantly busy at Tabansi Records. Despite this, Nkono Teles managed to combine his work at Tabansi Records with a solo career.
During his solo career, Nkono Teles released a trio of albums on Tabansi Records, including Party Beats, which was his debut and a truly innovative album that was way ahead of its time. It’s also regarded as Nkono Teles’ finest hour.
When he began recording Party Beats, he had no need for Tabansi Records’ legendary studio band. He was a multi-instrumentalist and could play every instrument himself. Nkono Teles was equally comfortable working with traditional instruments as well as the drum machines and synths. Little did he know that the raw electronic sounds he added to Party Beats would become favourites of DJs, plus breaks and hip hop producers. That was still to come.
While Nkono Teles was a hugely talented composer, engineer, musician and producer, he always felt that his vocal wasn’t his strongest point. That was why during the recording of Party Beats at one point, he brought an eleven strong choral section into the studio. However, for most of the Party Beats, Nkono Teles was a one man band who recorded vocals and laid down all the parts on the six tracks on the album.
Once Nkono Teles had finished recording Party Beats, the album was released on Taretone, one of the wholly owned imprints of Tabansi Records. Opening the album was the laid-back Time For Fun, where synths accompany the vocal as electro meets boogie and the part gets underway. Love Vibration was the track that gave Nkono Teles a hit single, and where he makes good use of a bass synth. It plays its part in the song’s success and it’s a similar case on By My Lady. Highlife Makossa is a melodic and rhythmic West African highlife track. Then the tempo drops on the beautiful and soulful paean You’ll Be Already (With My Love), before the irresistible and genre-melting Party Beats closes the album. Elements of Afrobeat, boogie electro, funk and soul combine to ensure that Party Beats closes on a high.
Party Beats was a truly innovative album from Nkono Teles, and one that features elements of Afrobeat, boogie, disco, electro, funk, highlife and soul. These genres feature on Nkono Teles what was his debut album, and the finest album of his career. Sadly, Nkono Teles only released three albums during his career, and up until recently, was better known for his production work
That started to change after breaks and hip hop producers started sampling Party Beats, and DJ began to play tracks from the album in their sets. Soon, the album was in-demand amongst collectors, DJs and producers. The only problem was Party Beats was a rarity, and recently, copies were changing hands for $700 which was way beyond the budget of many record collectors.
Nowadays, Nkono Teles’ groundbreaking and genre-melting debut album Party Beats is regarded as a cult classic that’s much prized by collectors. Party Beats is also a tantalising of taste of the Tabansi Records’ back-catalogue and one of the architects of its sound in the eighties, Nkono Teles.
Cult Classic: Nkono Teles–Party Beats.
CULT CLASSIC: THE NAZGÛL-THE NAZGÛL.
Cult Classic: The Nazgûl-The Nazgûl.
Pyramid Records was founded by forty-year old British expat Robin Page, in 1972. By then , he was one of the leading lights in the Fluxus arts movement . He had moved from London, England to Cologne, in Germany, in 1969, and the city had been his home ever since. However, Robin Page wasn’t the only expat who was living in Cologne during that period.
So was Toby Robinson, a South African, who had travelled from Cape Town, to Germany to work with the legendary Karlheinz Stockhausen, the Godfather of modern German electronic music at the WDR Studio. This was akin to serving an engineering apprenticeship and would serve him well. When he left Karlheinz Stockhausen’s employ, Toby Robinson went to work at Dierks Studio in Cologne. That was where the future Mad Twiddler would meet Robin Page.
By then, Robin Page was a successful and established artist whose work within the Fluxus movement was regarded as groundbreaking, daring and ambitious. One of the trademarks of Robin Page’s work was humour, which he used to challenge what was regarded as good taste within the art establishment. Before long, Robin Page’s painting found an audience, and became particularly sought after. This was what he had dreamt of, and worked towards ever since ‘he had left’ art college in Vancouver. His new-found success and financial security allowed Robin Page to work towards fulfilling another of his dreams, making music.
He was serious about making music and even had a recording studio in the basement to what looked like to anyone passing by, a derelict building. Deep within its bowels, was Robin Page’s recording studio, and where Pyramid Records first album was recorded. It was then pressed by a Turkish entrepreneur, who just happened to keep his cutting lathe within the same building. Although the lathe was often to used to produce bootlegs,it was able to cut what became PYR 001, Pyramid Records’ first release. It came wrapped in a cover designed by a local student. History had just made with the release of Pyramid Records’ first release.
Soon, Robin Page’s nascent label had established a reputation for releasing ambitious and innovative albums. However, Pyramid Records was only in existence until 1976. During that four-year period, Pyramid Records only ever released fifteen albums. These albums were pressed in small quantities. Usually, no more than 50-100 copies of each album was pressed. This included The Nazgûl’s eponymous debut album, which was released in either 1975 or 1976.
Nobody can be sure even when The Nazgûl entered Robin Page’s basement studio to record what became their eponymous debut album. It may have been 1975, or even as late as 1976. This was just one of several mysteries that surrounded The Nazgûl.
One thing that is clear, is where the name The Nazgûl came from. It’s taken from J.R.R. Tolkien’s book Lord Of The Rings. Apart from that, very little is known about The Nazgûl or when they recorded their debut album.
Nobody even knows the true identity of the three members of The Nazgûl, who dawned aliases, naming themselves after characters in J.R.R. Tolkien’s book Lord Of The Rings. In The Nazgûl, Frodo was the drummer, percussionist and played gongs, and was joined in the rhythm section by Gandalf, who played bass, Hammond organ, Mini Moog and electric piano. Pippin completed the lineup of The Nazgûl, and played electric guitar, percussion, treated tubular bells and trumpet. Taking charge of production was Toby Robinson, who by then, had dawned the moniker The Mad Twiddler. Joining this colourful cast of characters was Toby Robinson’s brother Mike who it was later claimed had built a piece of equipment that played a part in The Nazgûl’s unique sound.
This was what Mike Robinson called the Ghong which comprised four six feet square oven racks that hung from a wooden cross. The Ghong was essentially an instrument that members of The Nazgûl could hit, beat or slap with their hands or anything from kitchen utensils to hammers. Depending on how hard The Ghong was hit, or what it was hit with changed the tonality. While The Ghong was a new “invention” musicians making avant-garde, industrial and Musique concrète had been making new instruments and transforming everyday items into makeshift instruments. Mike Robinson was following in their footsteps, and The Ghong plays an important part in shaping the music on The Nazgûl.
The three mystery musicians, made their way into the studio where they were greeted by Toby Robinson who would engineer, record and produce The Nazgûl. Who the musicians were nobody is saying or is willing to say? However, it’s often been speculated that some of the musicians were part of some of the top Krautrock groups. This included a drummer and bassist who when they weren’t working with their own groups made their way to the studio to take part in the lengthy jam sessions.
There was a problem though, these musicians were part of bands who were signed to major record companies and the terms and conditions of their contract forbade them playing with another group without the express permission of the label. That permission not have been granted, and often, the chance to play on a session came up at the last-minute. By then, it was too much hassle or impossible for the musicians to get in contact with their record company so they decided to dawn an alias. This appealed to one of the musician’s rebellious and anarchistic streak, and he saw this as a way of beating the system.
For The Nazgûl sessions, the band embarked upon four lengthy jams, The Tower Of Barad-Dûr, The Dead Marshes, Shelob’s Lair and Mount Doom. These tracks were later edited by Toby Robinson, and were named after places in J.R.R. Tolkien’s book Lord Of The Ring. It seemed that the main protagonist behind The Nazgûl was a huge admirer of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. This influenced everything from the name of the band right throughout to the aliases of the musicians and even the names of the tracks on the album.
This included The Tower Of Barad-Dûr a thirteen minute epic which opened The Nazgûl. It’s a dark, menacing cinematic track that is rich in imagery, and could easily by part of the soundtrack to a modern-day remake of Lord Of The Rings. Waves of dramatic music unfold as sounds assail the listener and their imagination runs riot. Metallic sound that come courtesy of The Ghong are joined scraping, whining, grinding sounds as the drama continues to build. Meanwhile, a guitar and bass interject as drums pound and roll as avant-garde, industrial and Musique concrète combines with improv as this dramatic soundscape reaches a dramatic crescendo. After that, a calm descends as sustained notes and chords are played on the Hammond organ and a myriad of sound are deployed. They become part of this dark, dramatic and cinematic soundscape that is full imagery and seems to have been inspired by Karlheinz Stockhausen, the Fluxus movement, Eruption and Kluster’s first two albums.
Just like the opening track, the introduction to Shelob’s Lair is minimalist, but as it gradually unfolds and the drama builds and the soundscape reveals its secrets. A thunderous irregular bass reverberates, whole a Hammond organ wheezes and a mellotron joins an array of sounds punctuate the soundscape. Together, they create another dark, dramatic and almost menacing soundscape. Especially, as a pulsating bass, otherworldly and flailing sounds combine with what could well be a fire-breathing dragon? All the time, the drama and tension continues builds during this eerie, otherworldly and chilling soundtrack. This genre-melting soundscape is akin to a nightmarish and lysergic Homeric Odyssey that isn’t for those of nervous disposition or the faint hearted .
An array of crashing, clanging, ringing and reverberating sound are created by The Ghong while a braying, howling free jazz trumpet plays on The Dead Marshes. Bells ring and join a metal pipe that is transformed into a makeshift instrument. They’re joined by futuristic, sci-fi and bubbling synths that join drums where the tonality and tempo has been changed. Already, elements of abstract, avant-garde, industrial and Musique concrète combine with free jazz even a hint of space rock on an a track where nothing can be taken for granted. An array of disparate and otherworldly, bubbling, watery and flanging sounds are interjected as this innovative and imaginative soundscape takes shape. It’s as if The Nazgûl have decided to: “open the doors of perception” and see what happens? The result was their most ambitious track.
Mount Doom closes The Nazgûl and is another cinematic track that is rich in imagery. That is the case from the opening bars to the closing notes as a “fire-breathing” dragon returns as water drips within a deep, dangerous and cavernous space. Metallic and digging sounds provide a backdrop to this snarling beast. Adding to the cinematic sound is a futuristic, vocoded vocal that adds an eerie sci-fi sound to a track that is already rich in imagery. It ensures that The Nazgûl closes on high.
After 50-100 copies of The Nazgûl were released in 1975 or 1976, nothing was heard of the album until when Toby Robinson approached Virgin Records with some of Pyramid Records’ master tapes. This resulted in the release of Unknown Deutschland-The Krautrock Archive Volume 1 in 1996. Later that year, two further volumes were released. This further fuelled the mythology and speculation that built up around Pyramid Records.
Since then, the Pyramid Records’ story has been debated ad infinitum. Sadly, far too many people have become obsessed with the controversy and speculation that surrounds the Pyramid Records’ story. It’s as if they’re determined to disprove that the music was recorded between 1972 and 1976. In doing so, all they’re doing is adding fuel to the fire, and fuelling the debate and speculation. That is a great shame, because for too long, people have become caught up in the Pyramid Records’ mythology. In doing so, they lose sight of the important thing, the music.
This includes the fifteen albums Pyramid Records released between 1972 and 1976, and a number of albums that have still to be released some forty years after Pyramid Records closed its doors for the final time.
The Nazgûl is an ambitious and innovative genre-melting album that is variously cinematic, dark, dramatic, eerie, futuristic, hypnotic and mesmeric. Other times, an array of sci-fi and otherworldly sounds are added as The Nazgûl take the listener on a captivating and genre-melting journey during this carefully sculpted album.
During this journey, The Nazgûl fuse elements of avant-garde, Berlin School, electronica, experimental and Musique concrète with a much purer Kominische avant-garde sound which is similar to the Galactic Explorers’ album Epitaph For Venus. These were the only two albums that Pyramid Records released that much purer Kominische avant-garde sound. This is a move away from the Krautrock that can be heard on the majority of albums Pyramid Records recorded and released.
Just like the Galactic Explorers’ album Epitaph For Venus, The Nazgûl is another of the hidden gems within the Pyramid Records back-catalogue. Sadly, very few people have heard any of the fifteen albums that Pyramid Records released between 1972 and 1976 and albums like The Nazgûl never received the recognition it deserved. That is despite The Nazgûl being an album of groundbreaking, genre-melting music that is imaginative, innovative and cinematic and is also rich in Tolkienesque imagery
Cult Classic: The Nazgûl-The Nazgûl.
BRUTON, BRUTOFF: THE AMBIENT AND PASTORAL SIDE OF THE BRUTON LIBRARY CATALOGUE.
Bruton, Brutoff: The Ambient and Pastoral Side Of The Bruton Library.
Label: Trunk.
Format: LP.
Compared to KPM, DeWolfe, Amphonic, Conroy and Sonoton, Bruton Music Library was a relative latecomer to the world of library music. The company was formed in 1977 by Robin Phillips who previously, had run KPM Music and transformed the company and its fortunes. He had left KPM and was working for ATV Music which was run by Lou Grade.
Having entered the world of library music, ATV needed a name for their new venture. They called the company Bruton Music Library as it was based at 12 Bruton Street, in London and initially, it was a subsidiary of ATV Music.
When Robin Phillips was at KPM the company released the KPM 1000 series with a cover which nowadays, is regarded as a design classic. Realising the importance of an album cover that would soon be recognised by the recipients of the releases a new design was commissioned. It featured variations of the same grid design and the company’s isometric logo. This new design worked, and soon, people working in radio, television and advertising recognised the Bruton Music Library’s released by their album cover.
Eventually, the Bruton Music Library released over 330 LPs, and they featured a design that nowadays, is regarded as a design classic. It’s also a design that is instantly recognisable. So much so, collectors and connoisseurs of library music can spot fifty feet away.
It used to be that many of the Bruton LP’s were inexpensive and a newcomer to library music could put together a collection without spending much money. Then library music became fashionable.
There were a number of articles written about what was a relatively unknown genre of music. That was no surprise as people couldn’t walk into their record shop and buy a Bruton LP. They were for people working in radio, television and advertising. However, some found their way into the hands of collectors and eventually, library music became fashionable.
Now that beard-stroking, Guardian-reading hipsters had discovered library music, suddenly, the price of many LP’s including some of the 330 released by Bruton shot up. Hipsters were willing to pay large sums of money for rare library music albums to play on their Crossley’s.
Among the Bruton albums that have shot up in price are the experimental and esoteric releases. This includes the BRD and BRI series which are particularly collectable. So are some of the BRH, BRJ, BRM, BRR and BR series. Eleven tracks from these seven series feature on Bruton, Brutoff: The Ambient and Pastoral Side Of The Bruton Library which was released by Trunk. The compilation was compiled by collector and connoisseur of library music Jonny Trunk who also wrote The Music Library.
The thirteen tracks on Bruton, Brutoff: The Ambient and Pastoral Side Of The Bruton Library were composed by some of the giants of library music. Robin Phillips knew them from his time at KPM. This included Alan Hawkshaw, Brian Bennett, John Cameron and Francis Monkman. They wrote and recorded seven of the eleven tracks. Other cues come courtesy of Les Hurdle, Steve Gray, Frank Ricotti, Johnny Scott, Frank Reidy and Eric Allen plus Orlando Kimber and John Kelieor. These oft-overlooked cues show another side to the Bruton Music Library and make a pleasant change from beat and action driven releases.
Side One.
Brian Bennett’s The Swan from 1982 has a serene sound and is reminiscent of the continuity music regional television stations sometimes played when something had gone amiss. Usually, after someone said: “don’t worry we’ll be right back shortly.”
Francis Monkman’s Stargazing is from 1978 and has a slightly futuristic but dreamy sound as it floats along.
Steve Gray’s cinematic sounding Billowing Sails from 1982 conjures up images of a yacht sailing across a lake on a blustery autumn day. Maybe there’s a frustrated sailor with his captain’s hat on, who suffers from a bad case of nautical Tourettes? He’s shouting at his fed-up and frozen family: “wind the winch, splice the mainbrace and drop the anchor, not on my bloody foot you muppet.”
Frank Ricotti’s Vibes from 1981 is a quite beautiful, laidback and jazz-tinged track that meanders melodically along.
Ruminative describes Frank Reidy and Eric Allen’s pastoral sounding Reflections. It’s the type of music that one might hear as part of the soundtrack to a costume drama.
John Cameron’s Tropic 2 was released in 1981 but as it meander along revealing its futuristic, lysergic and dreamy sound.
Side Two.
There’s an urgency to Orlando Kimber and John Keliehor’s One Language which was released in 1984 and combines elements of ambient and world music.
Rueful describes Johnny Scott’s genre-melting Utopia Revisited from 1980. Elements of jazz and funk combine with strings on this memorable mid-tempo cue.
Les Hurdle and Frank Ricotti’s Dissolves was released in 1978, during the early days of the Bruton Music Library. Although it’s slow, moody and ponderous beauty is omnipresent.
The next three tracks are by John Cameron. This includes the ambient sounding Floatation from 1980 and the wistful, sometimes dubby and pastoral Drifting from 1978. Trek from 1981 is dramatic and futuristic and sets one’s imagination racing.
Alan Hawkshaw’s cinematic sounding Saturn Rings was released in 1979, and this futuristic soundscape glides along conjuring up images of a journey to another planet.
Jonny Trunk has impeccable musical taste and his journey through the experimental and esoteric parts of the Bruton Musical Library was thoroughly enjoyable. It’s one of the few compilations where there’s it’s all killer and no filler. That’s not surprising given that many of the giants of library music feature on Bruton, Brutoff: The Ambient and Pastoral Side Of The Bruton Library. Their inclusion results in what’s without doubt, one of the best library music compilations of 2020.
For either newcomers to library music or veterans of the genre, Bruton, Brutoff: The Ambient and Pastoral Side Of The Bruton Library is well worth adding to their collection. However, it’s a limited edition of 500 from Trunk and it’s a case of get a copy while you can.
Newcomers to library music should consider buying a copy of Jonny Trunk’s The Music Library. It’s one of the best books about the genre and his passion for the subject shines through. Jonny Trunk is a collector and connoisseur of library music and his lovingly curated compilation features cues from some of the rarest Bruton releases. To buy the albums the cues are taken from would cost the average person a month’s salary. This makes Bruton, Brutoff: The Ambient and Pastoral Side Of The Bruton Library one of the bargains of 2020.
Bruton, Brutoff: The Ambient and Pastoral Side Of The Bruton Library.
SOHO SCENE ’66 ‘67-JAZZ GOES MOD.
Soho Scene ’66 ’67-Jazz Goes Mod.
Label: Rhythm & Blues Records.
During 1966, the mods with their carefully cultivated image were still a familiar sight and sound in towns and cities the length and breadth of Britain as they rode around on their Lambretta or Vespa scooters. They still sported tailor-made suits, button-down collar shirts, thin ties, wool and cashmere jumpers which were protected by fishtail parkas and continued to wear desert boots, Chelsea boots and bowling shoes. However, by 1966 the mods had also started to wear Beatle boots, Fred Perry polo shirts and were growing their hair longer while some even experimented with makeup, as their image started to change. It seemed nothing stayed the same, not even the music that the mods listened to.
Musically, mods had eclectic taste in music by 1966, and had embraced American R&B and soul music in the early sixties, and especially singles that were released on Stax, Atlantic Records and Tamla Motown. Soon, mods were investigating some of the smaller American soul labels looking for oft-overlooked hidden gems during their regular trips to local record shops where they ordered imports and discovered new musical genres.
This included ska and reggae, which the mods had discovered whilst looking through the racks of new arrivals and imports. While the mods enjoyed soul, R&B, reggae and ska, they didn’t turn their back on British music and enjoyed pop and rock music and especially the Rolling Stones, The Who, Small Faces and The Kinks, who were perceived as “mod” groups. These future giants of British music were part of the new and eclectic soundtrack that the mods were listened to during 1966.
1966 was also an important year year for Britain. The Labour government had been reelected on the ‘31st’ March and increased its majority to 96 seats. This led to a renewed sense of hope, and on the ‘15th’ of April, Time magazine used the phrase “Swinging London” for the first time. It was the perfect description of what was then one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world. For mods living in the Britain’s cultural capital this was an exciting time and they frequented the new clubs that had opened and embraced the changes in fashion and music.
By 1966, Manchester’s music scene was thriving, and many mods made their way to the Twisted Wheel nightclub where they were able to listen to soul music and from 1965, were enjoying what were initially billed as an “All-Niter.” Many mods made their way to the various venues to watch the local groups whose star was in the ascendance and the major names who played in the city. Some may have been at the Manchester Free Trade Hall on the ‘17th’ of May when Bob Dylan made history when he plugged-in. This prompted a cry of “Judas” from a member of the audience. They couldn’t understand that Bob Dylan’s music and the times they were a changing.
On the ‘30th’ of July Swinging London and the rest of England came to a standstill as England played West Germany in the World Cup Final. After extra-time, England won 4-2 and history was made. That night Londoners, including many sharp dressed mods celebrated this historic victory.
Six days later The Beatles released their classic album Revolver on the ‘5th’ of August. It was a landmark album as it marked the start of the group’s psychedelic period. This cerebral and thought-provoking album reflected their interest in LSD, the avant-garde and Eastern philosophy and dealt with subjects like death and transcendence from material concerns. Revolver was also a much more ambitious and experimental album because The Beatles had decided to stop playing live. They knew they wouldn’t need to replicate Revolver live and played their last concert at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, on the ‘29th’ of August. It was the end of era for The Beatles and their fans. However, their music and music in general continued to evolve and the psychedelic revolution was underway.
1966 was an the year of the Mini Cooper, miniskirts, a World Cup Win and saw homegrown British groups provide the soundtrack to Swinging London which was about to embrace fully the psychedelic revolution.
As 1966 game way to 1967, the mods were still interested in soul, ska, R&B, reggae, rock and pop and passionate about modern jazz. However, the psychedelic revolution was well underway and it wasn’t long until the Summer of Love in Britain and America. By then, the mods had already embraced a number of aspects of the new culture. Some mods even grew their hair and embraced the avant-garde while others experimented with psychedelic drugs including LSD. The other change was the music they were listening to.
This included jazz, which had been , and was still such an important part in their lives. Especially British jazz which spoke to the sharp dressed mods and helped define them. By 1967, many top British jazz musicians and bandleaders decided it was time for their music to change and they needed to loosen their collective collars. They realised that if their music didn’t evolve it risked becoming irrelevant and decided to incorporate different genres into their music. This included everything from R&B, Latin and avant-garde to psychedelia. The majority of top British jazz musicians embraced the changes in jazz and enjoyed the next chapter in their musical career. Those that didn’t watched as their career stalled. However, for the majority of British jazzers 1967 was another important year for them.
Meanwhile, happenings grew in popularity across Swinging London where there was an increase in interest in the avant-garde, Eastern culture and LSD. Free love was the order of the day and hippies shunned materialism and their slogan was peace and love. Two of the most important albums of 1967 The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and The Beatles’ psychedelic masterpiece Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band. Music was changing fast.
And this included jazz. Proof of this is Soho Scene ’66 ’67-Jazz Goes Mod which is a new four disc box set that has just been released by Rhythm & Blues Records. It looks back at what was an important time for British jazz.
By 1966, many of the original modernists had just turned forty and perfectly placed to enjoy what was a golden year for British modern jazz. Venues were packed and some of the top British jazz musicians returned with new albums that found their music evolving. These familiar faces feature on disc one of Soho Scene ’66 ’67-Jazz Goes Mod and are joined by what will be new names to those who aren’t so well versed in British jazz.
Disc One-British Jazz 1966.
There’s eighteen tracks on disc one of Soho Scene ’66 ’67-Jazz Goes Mod which opens with Humphrey Lyttelton’s The Men From Auntie which made its debut on Soho Scene ’66 Vol 2. Welcome additions include the Mike Carr Trio’s Cox’s Pippin, the Tubby Hayes Quartet’s Change of Setting and The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet’s Tootin’ And Flutin’. These tracks will be new to many jazz fans. So will the Stan Tracey Quartet’s Pig and Pepper, Michael Garrick’s Shiva and John Surman Quartet’s Blues Da Camera which show the changing face of British jazz in 1966. It’s a similar case with Alex Welsh’s Bluesology and Neil Ardley’s Big P. These tracks show how British jazz music was changing and some of its leading lights were combining other genres of music to their usual sound and had been inspired by the changes in wider culture. It was a similar case in America.
Disc Two-American Jazz 1966.
The twenty-two tracks on disc two are eclectic selection and opens with the soul-jazz of Freddie MCoy’s Lonely Avenue. There’s more soul-jazz from the Charles Earland Trio’s The Dozens, Richard “Groove” Holmes’ Boo-D-Doo, The Three Sounds’ Mohair Sam, Freddie Roach’s One Track Mind and Jimmy McGriff’s Hallelujah. Hungarian jazz guitarist Gabor Szabo contributes Mizrab and is joined by South African reed player Hugh Masekela whose Unhlanhla featured on his The Americanization Of Ooga Booga album in 1966. Disc two features a couple of hidden gems including Eric Kloss’ Just For Fun-K from his album Love and All That Jazz and the Milt Sealey Trio’s Black Diamond. They’re a reminder of some of the jazz that was being released in America during 1966 and was part of the soundtrack to British modernist’s lives.
Disc Three-British Jazz 1967.
By 1967, British jazz continued to evolve and some of its biggest names returned to the studio. This included English jazz pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Harry South went on to record library music. However, in 1967 the Harry South Big Band recorded Limited Freedom which is a reminder of one the giants of jazz at the peak of his powers. He’s not alone.
Other notable contributions on disc three from some British jazz’s leading lights including from The Mike Carr Quartet’s Nico’s Dream, the Tubby Hayes Quartet’s Finky Minky, the Joe Harriott Quintet’s Strollin’ South and Everywhere Derriere by the Stan Tracey Quartet. They’re a reminder of how healthy British jazz was in 1967 and how its leadings lights were continuing to make ambitious and innovate music which the modernists embraced and enjoyed.
Disc Four-American Jazz 1967.
Across the Atlantic, American jazz was changing and changing fast. Fusion was the new kid on the block and rode to the rescue of jazz whose popularity had been declining. That was despite many American jazz musicians continuing to release exciting and ambitious releases. Many of these albums drew inspiration from other genres and other combined disparate genres.
That was the case with Curtis Amy’s album Mustang which featured bop and modal jazz. One of the highlights was the cover of Mustang which was a perfect showcase for the Houston-born saxophonist’s skills.
When Jerome Richardson covered Sunny for his Groove Merchant album in 1967 he combined funk, fusion and even easy listening to create a truly memorable track. Then Chico O’Farrill and His Orchestra’s Hip Hug Her heads in the direction of Latin jazz while Byrdie Green’s In The Dark from her The Golden Thrush Strikes At Midnight combos R&B and soul-jazz. Both are underrated tracks and welcome additions to Soho Scene ’66 ’67-Jazz Goes Mod. The can be said of Johnny “Hammond” Smith’s hidden soul-jazz gem Dirty Apple which was the B-Side to his single N.Y.P.D.
Other welcome additions included Johnny Lytle Quintet’s Gonna Get That Boat and the Harold Johnson’s single Sorry ‘Bout That where jazz, Latin, funk and soul melt seamlessly into one to provide a dancefloor filler. Closing this seventy-eight track box set is the Soul Society’s cover of the Lee Morgan classic The Sidewinder. It’s the perfect way to close this look back at two important years in not just the history of jazz, but music, culture and modernism which was still going strong.
By 1966, it was no longer just modern jazz that provided the soundtrack to the modernists daily lives. They had also discovered and embraced soul, ska, R&B, reggae, rock and pop. Still, though, the mods were still passionate about modern jazz during 1966 which in Britain was a golden age for the genre.
Meanwhile, music was changing and it was official trad jazz was yesterday’s sound, with modern jazz surpassing its one time rival in the popularity stakes. Some trad jazz musicians had turned their back on trad jazz and embraced modern jazz. They had watched as music changed and knew that they couldn’t rest on their laurels.
In Britain’s cultural capital Swinging London the psychedelic revolution was underway and 1967 was the Summer of Love in America and Britain. By then, jazz music just like the mods would have changed.
Everything from the clothes that the mods wore, to they way they wore their hair and even the drugs that they took started to change. So did the music that they listened to, but still their passion for modern jazz remained. That was the case during 1966 and 1967 the period that Soho Scene ’66 ’67-Jazz Goes Mod box set covers when the sharp dressed modernists embraced the cultural revolution in Britain.
Modernism was popular until the late-sixties and there was a mod revival in the late-seventies in Britain, and the early eighties in America. The mods with their carefully cultivated image and their discerning taste in music including the seventy-eight tracks on the Soho Scene ’66 ’67-Jazz Goes Mod box set are without doubt one the one of the most enduring and influential youth cults in British cultural history, and their influence continues to make its presence felt even today.
Soho Scene ’66 ’67-Jazz Goes Mod.
MOTORPSYCHO-THE ALL IS ONE.
Motorpsycho-The All Is One.
Label: Rune Grammofon.
Format: 2CD.
Motorpsycho was formed in Trondheim, in October 1989 and released their debut album Lobotomizer in 1991. Since then, they’ve been one of hardest working and prolific bands in Norway.
Last year, the Norwegian rockers released two albums and toured Norway and Europe twice. That would’ve been more than enough for most bands. However, Motorpsycho aren’t most bands and somehow, they managed to find time to record three more albums. This includes The All Is One, which was recently released by Rune Grammofon and is the third and final instalment in what Motorpsycho lightheartedly and affectionately call their Gullvåg Trilogy.
The first instalment in the critically acclaimed Gullvåg Trilogy was The Tower, which was released in 2017. On the album cover was a painting by Trondhein-born artist Håkon Gullvåg. So powerful was the imagery that it inspired and affected Motorpsycho’s music on The Tower. So would the paintings that adorn the next two instalments in the Gullvåg Trilogy.
In 2019, Motorpsycho celebrated their thirtieth anniversary and released The Crucible. This was the much-anticipated second instalment in the Gullvåg Trilogy. It was released to plaudits and praise and later in 2019 work began on the followup and final instalment in the Gullvåg Trilogy The All Is One.
The first session took place in Studio Black Box, in France during September 2019. For the recording Reine Fiske joined forces with Motorpsycho. The tracks that were recorded were relatively concise and there was a traditional structure to the music. There songs didn’t have a theme that ran through them, but have the same type of concepts that feature on Motorpsycho’s last few albums.
This includes living in a much more polarised society than previously, and how many people throughout the world have lost faith in democracy and in civic institutions. Motorpsycho believes that some of the world’s “strong leaders” are reminiscent of those who led previous totalitarian regimes. They also believe that the album is their soapbox and allows them to voice their opinion on the state of the world. It’s a privilege that very few people have, and Motorpsycho realise this, and use their albums to provide a voice for those who sadly have none. They look at the bigger picture and important issues that are affecting society and realise the importance of contrast. This is no different to their music and the scales music and lyrics they use when they record an album like The All Is One.
The second main recording session for Motorpsycho’s third instalment in their Gullvåg Trilogy took place at Ocean Sound Recording in Norway. This was where they recorded a forty-two minute five piece suite entitled N.O.X. It’s a piece of that Motorpsycho were commissioned to write and performed at the St. Olav Festival in Trondheim during the summer of 2019. They were joined onstage with two of their favorite Norwegian musicians, Lars Horntveth of Jaga Jazzist and Amgala Temple and Ola Kvernberg of Steamdome.
N.O.X. is an impressive suite that was inspired after a discussion with artist Håkon Gullvåg and celebrates the themes in his work. Motorpsycho can relate to his art and they also realise it’s not often a group finds the kind of affinity they’ve have found with his art. That’s why it’s no surprise that the size, scope and lyrical contents of N.O.X. have been inspired by Håkon Gullvåg’s work.
Motorpsycho decided not give a clear and concise explanation of the meaning of what of N.O.X. is about. However, they’ve left clues throughout this epic piece and believe that they should allow the listener to solve this musical mystery.
The remainder of the tracks on The All Is One were recorded by Motorpsycho at home at Kommun’ in Trondheim. What these lack in subtlety and intricacy they more than make up for in the mood they create. They offer a contrast to the large and luxurious sound. In a way, it’s quite sobering which is fitting.
With recording of The All Is One completed, all that was left was for the album to be mixed and mastered. This meant that the album release was pencilled in for the spring of 2020. However, the “global pandemic” put paid to this. While the mix process and mastering wasn’t affected, it was decided to push back the album release until late August 2020.
Meanwhile, Håkon Gullvåg had offered to paint the album cover to The All Is One. This was an honour for Motorpsycho given how his artwork has inspired their music. That includes Motorpsycho’s latest album The All Is One.
The best way to describe the genre-melting music on this epic album is intense, dense and cerebral. Some listeners might find the music challenging, but if they’re patient and stick with the album they will be richly rewarded. It’s like many albums the more one listens to The All Is One the more one understands the music on this ambitious album of innovative and intriguing music. Seamlessly Motorpsycho switch between and fuse disparate musical genres on an album that gradually reveals a myriad of subtleties and nuances on this cerebral and thought-provoking album. It deals with various environmental, moral, political and social issues facing the world today.
The All Is One shows two different sides to Motorpsycho. One of them is them is the N.O.X. suite, a forty-two minute opus that is the centrepiece of the album. It’s quite different to what Motorpsycho have done in the past.
N.O.X. suite opens with Circles Around the Sun, Part 1 and Motorpsycho’s decision to add strings is a masterstroke and the arrangement becomes lavish and luxurious. It’s also beautiful, intricate, intriguing, jazz-tinged and melodic. Later, the track becomes dissonant during a voila solo and briefly chaotic before the listener is rewarded when the instrumental jam Ouroboros (Strange Loop) is ushered in. It veers between beguiling and dreamy to creepy and unsetting and at times has a cinematic sound. Then there’s the sun-kissed psychedelia of Ascension which is one of the highlights of the suite and the album. Very different is Night Of Pan where Motorpsycho paint pictures with music and toy with the listener’s emotions. Soon, though, the darkness descends and the nightmare begins as the music becomes unsettling and at times otherworldly and filmic. The nightmare continues on Circles Around the Sun, Part 2 despite the inclusion of choral vocals and strings. However, the nightmare is nearly over as the acoustic track A Little Light offers a contrast as it closes the suite which has been an epic adventure.
Motorpsycho use their trademark sound as the building block for the N.O.X. suite. This includes classic rock, folk, jazz, psychedelia and progressive rock. Listen carefully and the influence of Genesis’ early albums, Pink Floyd, Yes in their pomp and Magma during their heyday can be heard. There’s even a free jazz influence during this stunning suite which is one of the most ambitious pieces of music that Motorpsycho have recorded since the group were formed in 1989. However, there’s more to The All Is One than the N.O.X. suite.
There’s the shorter tracks that were recorded during separate sessions. Motorpsycho were joined by their friend Reine Fiske of Dungen who they’ve collaborated with on a number of albums. Together, they recorded tracks that range from alt-rock to folk-tinged, hard rocking and progressive rock. This allows the band to showcase their considerable skills and versatility.
Among the highlights are the meandering title-track with its jangling chords and blistering lead guitar and a powerhouse of a vocal. Quite simply, it epitomises everything that is good about Motorpsycho. Then there’s Dreams of Fancy with its undulating groove where a mellotron plays a starring tole and the track benefits from occasional acoustic interludes. The tempo rises on The Same Old Rock (One Must Imagine Sisyphus Happy) and The Magpie which are much more straightforward rocky tracks. Like Chrome which closes The All Is One is one of the most melodic tracks on the album. It ebbs and flows, builds and rebuilds and takes a number of twists and turns. Resistance is impossible as Motorpsycho have kept one of the best until last on the track that brings to a close their Gullvåg Trilogy.
It began three years ago with the release of The Tower in 2017. The second instalment in the critically acclaimed Gullvåg Trilogy was The Crucible which was released in 2019 as Motorpsycho celebrated their thirtieth anniversary. A year later, they make a welcome return with The All Is One which is the last instalment in the Gullvåg Trilogy. It’s also the most ambitious of the three albums. That’s no surprise as the centrepiece of the album is the N.O.X. suite, a forty-two minute progressive opus.
Just like the rest of this genre-melting album the music was insprired by Håkon Gullvåg’s artwork. His artwork like Motorpsycho’s music during the Gullvåg Trilogy is powerful and poignant. Especially on The All Is One where they fuse disparate musical genres with searing social comment.
Motorpsycho admits that their albums are there soapbox, and also provides a voice for those who have none. That is the case with The All Is One where they deal with various environmental, moral, political and social issues that affect the world today. It’ll certainly be interesting to hear Motorpsycho’s post-pandemic album. Hopefully, it’ll help expose the charlatans, cheats and power-hungry politicians with secrets to hide and blood on their hands that currently rule and have ruined once proud nations.
Meanwhile, The All Is One brings to an end Motorpsycho’s critically acclaimed Gullvåg Trilogy and they’ve saved the best until last. It’s an ambitious, cerebral, innovative and thought-provoking musical odyssey from Motorpsycho with the epic N.O.X. suite as The All Is One’s centrepiece.
Motorpsycho-The All Is One.
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