Chris Montez "Wishes You Love" and "Sunny"-ness

The angelic Rock n' Roll voice of (Ezekiel) Chris Montez jolted me with surprise after having found the record at a local Goodwill. Although I'm a musician that ignores the use of lyrics quite often, I found Chris' words compelling through the tone of his short-ranged but satisfyingly harmonic singing.

Chris began as a Rock n' Roll lead singer in his early 20s, making some early attempts with songs such as "Let's Dance" and "All You Had To Do Was Tell Me," a few hits coming from the Hawthorne-born local. After joining the label A&M in 1965 and after some wisdom and vocal advice from Herb Alpert, Chris began an interest for ballads and drifted from his Rock n' Roll roots in pursuit of a softer sound. His two albums in 1966, The More I See You and Time After Time, are significant from his previous band recordings, marking his transition from Rhythm & Blues into Easy Listening melodies.

Upon my whim of mindless track skipping throughout the album, my insatiable tendency to find that one SPECIAL song had been fulfilled when I dropped the needle on A-Sides track two. The gentle sound and lyrics of "I Wish You Love" serenades a particular woman with over-sentimental thoughts of love, hope and promise, which is a bit "corny on the corncob" but what else can you do about it if you were in love? What intrigues me the most is Chris' soft voice, and the jazzy accompaniment complements Chris' singing as the song is intro-ed with welcoming chimes of the xylophone. Through the track, I'm reminded of a specific scene in the 2002 film Punch Drunk Love, of when Barry (Adam Sandler) is searching for Lena (Emily Watson) in his so-called "business trip" to Hawaii, whereas Shelley Duvall's "He Needs Me" could be easily substituted with the cheeriness of Chris' wishful song. The track after it, "Sunny," seems to follow in a similar formula but under a slightly faster range of BPMs and different key, yet equally satisfying to the entire album.

I hope these two tracks bring "Sunny" and "Wishful" days for all you listeners out there. Enjoy, and have a good day.

[Article drafted on 12/4/2009. Published on 8/19/2010.]

"Sunny"

"I Wish You Love"

24electric Vol. 1: Cruisin' Deep

Its been a long time, and I'm sure many people may think look&listen had died on the turn of a new decade. After nearly a year's worth of hiatus, I've returned to the ol' blog with plans to get stuff poppin' again.

SO PICKING UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF!

I had mentioned in Indisputable (circa Feb '09) that I had been working on a Deep House/Dance House mix. I admit that I'm not the most punctual person, but after a year and six months, after some "hard drive digging" here and there for my lost edits and recordings, I rediscovered the batch of mixes I had begun and finally did the dirty work to have it posted for your pleasure.

Currently, I've been juggling around with some new genres and sounds, which had led me to creating a new section for look&listen that focuses on electronic dance music. I call it 24electric.

When I first crossed Deep House music, I was a bit bewildered from the its vibe: do I dance or do I sip wine and lounge the night away? Perhaps the underlying beauty of the genre is that you have either option, and when is it ever bad to have choice? At times, the sound of Deep House somehow reminds me of outer space, of driving at night, of something gentle or delicate, yet the sound seems unofficially reserved for the mid to classy listeners. The lyrics from most Deep House I've heard, otherwise House music in general, delivers positive and encouraging messages of hope, which is something I find rare in lyrics today.

Although barely edited, nor my cleanest work of tapes, I hope you listeners out there enjoy this new section of music and look forward to more future volumes of 24electric.

24electric

Vol. 1: Cruisin' Deep

Track listing:

1. The Kelly Project - Won't Let You Go
2. Dennis Ferrer - All The Things I Look For
3. Neurotron - Outside
4. Blue Six - Music and Wine (Teksoul Dub)
5. Bioground Feat. Joeee - Soulful People
6. Lisa Shaw - Let It Ride (Jimpster Remix)
7. Bah Samba - And It's Beautiful
8. Cassius - 1999 (Remix)
9. Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You
10. Kylie Minogue - Love At First Sight
11. Janet Jackson - Rock With U

Rainy Days and Mondays

Waking up to the sound of rain is not so common to the average socal dweller, in fact seeing any precipitation over our former desert land is a blessing in our drought-ridden state. I only hope that in the long run of this global warming crisis that we continue to adapt to the changes of our environment, and that every attempt we make to slow down the warming process, whether by going green or living a sustainable lifestyle, will get people thinking consciously about the decisions they make and how they affect the world.

Unlike the random June gloom we've experienced this past year, this week's winter storm felt a bit out of place but has been quite refreshing, particularly with cleansing the air in my neck of the woods. It had given me the notion to use this instrumental Jazz version of the Carpenters hit, 'Rainy Days and Mondays,' in today's post to fit with the scene; I saved a perfect song for a rainy day. The song starts off with another Carpenters classic, "We've Only Just Begun," and switches off with 'Rainy Days' in the latter. If you feel burdened upon unwanted overcast and heavy drizzles, deceived by invisible water-filled potholes and intimidated by a possible chance of hail storms that wishes to scream all over your beautiful Frontier's windshield, then I hope this Carpenters cover cheerfully lights up your day.

Shout out to all the bday peeps as well, Mary Rose, Nicole, Nat, Dom, and all the other Sagittariuses of 2009.

And now, for the music...

New Horizon's "Rainy Days and Mondays"

A Soulful Sunday

Some Sunday ago back in October, a distant record collector/acquaintance sent me a friendly text, giving me the heads up about him and his girlfriend's yard sale, which to my past experience was something like a weekend excavation for some classic 'must-haves' and sentimental gems. In the past he's made generous offers that insured me that I wouldn't be walking home empty handed, and yet his impressively vast collection of good ol' soul, jazz and rock that surpasses my own, reassures that today's a sure thing (not to mention that his is more organized than my deranged dungeon of obscure children's exercise records and random Christian funk or Christian Rock records. The mixture of obscurity and well-defined genres only makes it even more difficult to categorize, but that's the kinda stuff I love). I figured that before I make way to the local coffee shop and hit the books I should at least gander upon his collection; and yet again, killed some time but came up on some good shit.



I came home with 62 donuts and one LP of Cal Tjader in a trader joe's bag; no regrets. A lot of it was soul, which definitely satisfied my own.

I particularly swooped some all time and personal favorites on 45, the kinda stuff that you'd see in thrift stores for $3 that you'd like add to your collection (ECM joints, Kudu records, endless Sergio Mendez stuff, etc.) but that you're willing to put on hold till there's a "50% off sale;" that time was finally up for me. Alongside the classics were some rather unknown (that is to my knowledge) 7 inches that I couldn't wait to sample on the MPC (with respects, RIP MPC).

...getting down to it all...

Betty Wright "Tonight Is The Night pt. 2"

Brenton Wood "Lovey Dovey Kinda Love"

First pick off my stack is Betty Wright's "Tonight Is The Night pt. 2," which is sampled on DJ Quik's "Tonight." Aside from breaks and samples, for those of you who know me well, I'm secretly a growing fan of Brenton Wood songs. If it's not "Show Me A Little Sign," then it's perhaps any other Wood song that's crept into my cranium and is horribly amplified in my series of singing in the shower.

El Chicano "Sabor A Mi"

When names like El Chicano, Malo, Tierra and War come into mind, I have this vivid image of Los Angeles in the 1950s. That wave of brown-eyed soul bands and artists depict a nostalgic picture of low rider angelinos cruising through the streets, giving me this aural yet conceptual idea of what LA was like back in the day. That or I am reminded of that specific scene in Jackie Brown scene when Ordell pops in a tape of Brothers Johnson in the whip and then rubs out Beaumont (love that scene).

The Masqueraders "I'm Just An Average Guy."

When I first cued this track, it just had to be a Wu-Tang beat; the deep sound-draining bass, plucking guitar, heavy soul singing, it all sounded too familiar annd too much like the Wu from there on. My first assumption was "Liquid Swords," but it turns out that it was sampled on Gza's "Collection of Classics," "an exclusive and limited edition album full of classic songs and unreleased gems," that was only released in Europe in 2004 (shucks...). (http://www.wutang-corp.com/news/article.php?id=485). I personally haven't heard that album yet, but if I ever come across it, I'd know I have at least the sample to the intro.

Tyrone Davis "Can I Change My Mind"

Tyrone Davis' "Can I Change My Mind" can be found on the 1968 single of "A Woman Needs To Be Loved." "Change My Mind" became a b-sides hit in the late 60s, finding it's way to top of R&B Billboard Charts for three consecutive weeks. Davis first started off as a chauffeur for the legendary Blues artist Freddie King (in 1993, Gov. Ann Richards declared September 3 "Freddie King Day." That's how legendary he is, but that's another story). Born in Greenville, MI, Davis moved to Chicago in his early 20s and sang in local clubs around the city. Soon, he was discovered by Harold Burrage, and was then later picked up by Carl Davis, who signed Davis on to help kick off the newly formed Dakar Records, Cotillion Records's little brother, which both were the subsidiary to Atlantic records.

The introduction really kicks me off my feet with some slappin' funky drums, prideful blaring trumpets, jolly undertone licks of the funky guitar, and with a hook that continuously haunts me with the line "start all over again..." A song for the broken hearted, attempting to form anew? My bitterness only chuckles as my records continue to spin.

Looking Into The Abyss

Amidst of all my school work, "work" work, and going to shows, I desperately try to squeeze even the littlest time to indulge myself into extensive researching and writing for the sake of content of this blog. Troubling commitment? Nope, not even. Writing for look&listen is more like me watering my plants on a weekly basis... mind you all that only ONE (of two) died! Scurrying from my embarrassment, this look&listen post shines on forgotten musicians that have vanished before reaching fame and artists that I simply know NOTHING about (ironic huh? As if I'm supposed to do all the homework for every post, heh).



Aalon Cream City

Aalon - "Summer Love"

Aalon - "Magic Night"

Not much can be said about Aalon. You can google about them all you want but there's scarce coverage on the band, likewise on Wikipedia. I personally haven't excavated into the band's history due to the lack of time, but if anyone's willing to do the nitty gritty and find more info, school me, because I would like to know.

Signed by Arista in 1977 (or is it Thump Records?), Aalon struggled to gain mass appeal with it's unique mixture of "Rock n' Soul." Underrated by the masses, the group produced only one album but it failed to hit charts and band quickly faded into oblivion in the late 70s. Yet their ecstatic mixture of Disco/Soul R&B/Rock remains noteworthy, especially during a time when not many bands or artists pioneered in such combination of genres. "Summer Love" takes a different approach from the rest of the album's songs, whereas the majority of tracks resemble more of a Rock sound similar to bands like Chicago and Steely Dan. Aalon Butler, founder of Aalon and former guitarist of the Eric Burdon Band, shared ideas with Burdon in combining the sounds of R&B with Rock. With influences from "Sly & the Family Stone, Graham Central Station, Ike & Tina Turner, and the Isley Brothers (among others), Cream City was a soul-funk gem with a definite rock influence." (All Music Guide)
Not much can be said about the groups disbandment and Aalon left the late 70s fusion music scene with Cream City as their only album.



Unknown test pressed record

unknown track1

unknown track2


unknown - "Feel Like Making Love"

This was one of those occasional "good accidents" I had stumbled upon in a local LB record store a year ago. It's also another reason why I treasure dollar bin boxes so much, you just never know what great gems you will find. Flipping through the crates, I stumbled upon this copy of what sounds to be some great Brazilian Jazz LP. With a bland test pressing label and illegible penmanship, I was unable to accurately decipher the artist, album information, otherwise a valuable pen scribble of some sort of name. The first track of the LP (possibly the second 12" of the album) begins with a fluctuate rolling of keys off the electric keyboard, which is carried by a steadfast, jaunty melodic voice, sung in Portuguese (please correct me if I'm mistaken). The second track plays smooth Bossanova, bringing one's mind at ease; while on the b-sides, we have an elegant rendition of Roberta Flack's hit, "Feel Like Makin' Love."






I have suspicion that this LP is a reissue through the site whatmusic.com, as the words "whatmusic" is labeled on the b-sides of the record. I'm assuming that the artist or album's title is the cursive word on the far right of the test press side, but my inability to comprehend the name leaves me clueless of who the musicians are. If anyone knows anything, drop a line via comment box or email.

Breaks & Samples: Love's In the Air

Sup readers,

This week's theme of Breaks & Samples revolves on an amorous topic of feelings and emotion, an expression of affection, the mushy gushy song samples of love. I know we just got over Valentine's Day about a month ago, and whether it was a good V-day or not (SAD day for all us single people out there), allow me to drop these tracks with some last minute of love songs with some "bittersweet" knowledge.



Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack - "Be Real Black For Me"

Something magical happens when you combine two great 70's soul artists into one collaborative album; you conceive an album of love songs and covers. Yet after the album's release, tension arose between the two musicians as Donny's illness of paranoid schizophrenia and depression conflicted with their work and friendship, postponing the two from working together until the release of their 1978 hit, "The Closer I Get To You," which led them to create their second album of duets, Roberta Flack featuring Donny Hathaway. Although "Where Is The Love?" is acclaimed as their first album's best song, I instead prefer the souling feel of "Be Real Black For Me." The harmonic chant of of the chorus leaves me with an insatiable desire to throw the song on repeat; in my opinion, it becomes this never-ending chant that never grows tiresome and gets stronger by every measure. The piano intro of the song is a looped portion and sampled beat in Jean Grae's "Keep Livin,'" keep livin' and be real for me.



The O'Jays - Darlin' Darlin' Baby

Another love song with a catchy hook that finds me mumbling the chorus for days. Formerly known as the Triumphs and the Mascots, The O'Jays, who named themselves as a tribute to DJ Eddie O'jay, formed in 1968 and were a national hit with the release of their first single, "Lonely Drifter." Although they're known for hits songs such as "Backstabbers" and "Love Train," the song that I present for you is a sample from Big Pun's Capital Punishment album "I'm Not A Player."




Aretha Franklin - "Call Me"

Either a perfect love song for a long distant relationship or a couple that's glued to the phone (and I curse the day when this track becomes a sample for a cellphone commercial, ugh). Aretha Franklin's "Call Me" sings a sweet yet mellow love song that innocently asks her lover(s) to call her. Whether the song is dedicated for one person or many, or an emphasis on how much one loves the other, it's quite contrasting to listen how Kanye West drops the sample for Slum Village's "Selfish," and Elzhi and T3 talks about the many girls they have from city to city, asking them all to call'em back. Telephone love?



Diana Ross - "Love Hangover"

Not all love songs are sang with light. For divas such as Diana Ross, love could sometimes be the simplest yet deceptive remedy to a broken heart. From the Surpremes to a solo artist, Diana sings her mournful happiness through this Hal Davis produced album, and yet the way Jermaine Dupri revitalizes it with bangin' beats and amped up bass for Monica's "First Night" single, turns this sour relationship into a lovers first meet.



Patrice Rushen - "Settle For My Love"

A soothing love song sung by Patrice Rushen. Not only is Patrice a singer but she is also recognized as a Jazz master, a top musical director and as the first woman to become a musical direcor for the Grammy and Emmys Awards, and NAACAP Image Awards and for Newsweek's first American Achievement Award. With a gentle voice like Minnie Ripperton in her solo years, Patrice's singing hits the right notes and the mood of the song is an excellent production by Charles Mims Jr, Reggie Andrews and Patrice. Even though she has plenty of hits around, ie. "Forget Me Nots," ("here comes the men in black!"), my favorite tends to be the hypnotic vibes of "Settle For My Love." Although the song was covered by Musiq Soulchild, I give it up to 90s hip hop for sampling it the best, such as in Shyheim's "Shaolin Style."

Redbone: Messaage From A Drum

Red bone: a cajun term that describes an individual of having mixed race.

Redbone is also the name of a hardhitting Native American rock band and is remembered as the first commercially successful American Indian rock group from the U.S. Forming together in 1968, they named themselves after Cajun term "Redbone" due to the fact that each member came from a different Native American tribe (members were descedants from Cherokee, Apache, Yaqui and Shoshone). Content of the early years of the band consisted on different styles of Rock, such as psyche-rock, swamp-rock and surf rock. Years later the band would eventually conform to the invading wave of disco, gaining mass appeal with the release of their dance hit, "Come and Get Your Love," which by popularity, is said to be their biggest song of all time. After two more albums and some disco compilations, the group disbanded.

The two half-Mexican and Native American founding brothers of the band, Patrick and Lolly Vasquez, were born in Fresno, CA, where they worked in migrant camps of cotton fields and apricot orchards. Prior to the banding of Redbone, the two brothers developed their musical talent and career at an early age, performing as a duo and making recordings under multiple names: the Avantis, the Routers, the Mar-kets, Hottrodders' Choice, the Sharks and the Deuce Coupes. (even somewhere along the way, change their last name from Vasquez to Vegas) Throughout the 1960s, the Vasquez brothers followed with the trends of surf rock, releasing songs such as "Big Surf" and "Surf Stomp." They were also members of a band titled the Shindigs, where they played with Leon Russell and Delaney Bramllet as a house band for the popular television sitcom Shindig. It was in Los Angeles where the brothers came up with the idea to form Redbone; however, Patrick claims that it was Jimi Hendrix, who is also half Indian, who pushed for the band, emphasizing to the duo the importance of ethnic roots. Patrick: "He'd say 'Native American is beautiful, man, be proud of that.'"





The band's third album, Message From A Drum, came out in 1970. Although in Europe the album was released as The Witch Queen of New Orleans and with a different cover. The European release also featured the additional track, "Chant: The 13th hour," which was not released in the U.S. until the album was reissued on CD in the early 2000s. The album features the classic Cajun swamp-rocker song "Witch Queen From New Orleans," which resembles a swamp-rock style similar to the songs of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Niji Trance opens up with some native like-chanting before thrusting into this powerful combo with the drums and gutiar that keeps your head banging for more. I used to think it was the sample to Black Milk's "Sound The Alarm," although I was proven wrong after learning that Milk samples it off of Steve Miller's "Space Intro" (I had major doubts to begin with). I actually combined two songs in this next track because I thought the two made an excellent pair in expressing the band's creativity. Perico warms up into a spacey psychedellic trance of an intro, Fate then blasts off into some Funky beats by Pete "Last Walking Bear" DePoe, followed by the harmonic voice of Lolly who sings about crumbled empires, men with uncontrollable power and wealth, how fate is decided after death and various topics revolving upon good prevailing over evil. Near the end of Fate, the song gets down with some rushing guitar solos by either Lolly or Pat and slowly fades as the song prepares for a explosion.

Members of the Band (copied and pasted from musicianguide.com):

Aloisio Aguiar (joined group, 1977), keyboards, drums;
Anthony "Tony" Bellamy (left group, 1977), guitar;
Peter DePoe (also known as Last Walking Bear; left group, 1972), drums;
Arturo Perez (left group, 1973), drums;
Butch Rillera (group member, 1973-77), drums;
Lolly Vegas (born Vasquez), guitar, vocals;
Patrick Vegas (born Vasquez), bass guitar.




Witch Queen From New Orleans

Niji Trance

Fate (intro-ed by Perico)

A Dose of Hip-Hop Vol. 2: "The Indisputable Sound"

messy or creative?


SERIOUSLY, from 6:05PM to 4:01AM , I've been working this hip-hop mix for approximately 10 hours with quick breaks and barely any rest (home from work, started mix, had dinner, practiced a bit of locking, failed to clean the pad and then went straight to mix again... times like these makes me wish I had serato... OH WELL, vinylz 4 life!). I couldn't unhook myself from addiction, I was determined to get this mix down by the end of the night, and by 3:38AM I started going delirious and getting lightheaded (...but whatever). After about 20-30 attempts redo-ing this mix to keep it squeakier than squeakiest, and after the editing and amplfying up of numerous sections of the mix, and overall, before the breakadawn, I was able to bring ya'll this mix. Enjoy.

A Dose of Hip-Hop Vol.2: "The Indisputable Sound"

1. Common - The Game
2. Cella Dwellas - Land of The Lost
3. InI feat. Pete Rock - No More Words
4. Reflection Eternal - 2000 Seasons
5. Black Sheep - Make Munnne
6. Common - Resurrection
7. Kym Rae - Laid Back (Def Squad Re-mix)
8. Das Efx - Mic Checka
9. People Under The Stairs - The Brownout
10. Talib Kweli - Never Been In Love
11. Dam-Funk - Burn Rubber
12. Platinum Pied Pipers - Act Like You Know (Ge-ology mix)
13. A Tribe Called Quest feat. Erykah Badu - U C Me Doin' It (instr.) (talk with DJ nPrevail)
14. A Tribe Called Quest feat. Erykah Badu - U C Me Doin' It

Breaks & Samples

Got some new tunes for all you music heads out there, hope you enjoy the originals as much as I do.


The Cyrkle - "Turn-Down Day"

The Cyrkle is a 1960s band that arose from the minds of two college student guitarists, Don Dannemann and Tom Dawes, who later teamed up with Marty Fried and Earl Pickens to create one groovy band. Formerly known as the fratrock band, The Rhondells, The Cyrkle went into a series of hardships and eventually fell apart until the creation of their first big hit, "Red Rubber Ball," which can be found on the b-sides of this 45. Under the management of Brian Epstein, who was also manager of the Beatles, the Cyrkle was a hit until Brian's death which devastated the band and cursed them to their financial downfall and failure to provide song hits. "Turn-Down Day" is a song that symbolizes the "free spirit of teenagers" in the 1960s and 60s rock n roll music. It particularly fits well as a sample used by People Under The Stairs for their version of a "Turn-Down Day."



Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers - "Bustin' Loose pt. I"

Chuck Brown, aka the Godfather of the 1970s funk soul subgenre, Go-go, is the mastermind behind this 1978 national hit. His music and creation of go-go led the way for many go-go successors of the genre and would later become a major influence to RnB and Rap scene. Although not the first group to sample it, the neptunes-produced beat for Nelly's "Hot in Heree" frames the rhythm section and bumps the track up with heavy kicks and crispy snares. Nelly even shouts out the chuck brown hook at 1:00, then compare it to the "Bustin Loose'" hook, get it? (sigh, 2002... time flies...)



Evelyn "Champagne" King - "The Show Is Over"

If you were at the Break the Silence open mic back in January, you may recognize this song as being one of the last numbers for me to drop. Although she's most remembered from her classic 1980s hit "Love Come Down," I find "The Show Is Over" to be one of my personal favorite tracks, and is notably remembered by its nice groove. To my knowledge this song is sampled as the recurring vocal chant of RJD2's "Final Frontier" and is especially sampled in Ice Cube's "You Know How We Do it."




Bob James - "Blue Lick"

It's always nice to carry a Bob James collection, and even if you don't like easy listening, his album covers of enlarged objects make hilarious props for picture taking. Bob James' music is nothing but chill chamber music. This song is sampled in Digable Planets "Jettin'", catch it in the last 46 seconds of the track and you'll know what I mean.



Bob James - "Angela" (live)

I figured that since I stepped into my Bob James collection, I might as well step down memory lane on one of my personal favorite. The theme song for Taxi, aka "Angela," is just another classic song that remains embedded in my childhood as I glimpse at reminiscing sketches of the multi-voice talented comedian Andy Kaufman (thank you Nick At Night for all the sitcom classics).

A Dose of Hip-Hop vol. 1

kickin' it.

A quick, yet raw, mix I pumped out this morning; I woke up with a selection of songs in my head and had to drop 'em out, otherwise I'd be hating myself.

A Dose of Hip-Hop vol. 1



Playlist:
1. Boogie Down Productions - We In There (remix)
2. Panda One - A to Q's (fat jon's remix)
3. Giant Panda - 90s
4. High & Mighty - Weed
5. Gangstarr - Flip The Script (remix/minor adjustment mix)
6. A Tribe Called Quest - The Chase pt. ii
7. Aloe Blacc - Personal Business
8. Madlib - Take It Back

Gypsy

From pictures of records

Gypsy (formely known as The Underbeats) is a '70s progressive rock band that came straight out of Minneapolis and relocated their new identity in Los Angeles, particularly playing at the Whiskey Go-Go as the house band. Their first four albums were produced by Enrico Rosenbaum, a former member from The Escapades who carried a powerful voice of dynamic harmonies and melodies found on many of the Gypsy's first four albums. He died at the age of 36 from tuberculosis and the Gypsy legacy was continued by James Walsh. Drummer Bill Lordan didn't join the band until after the first album was made, three albums later, he became the drummer for Sly & The Stone's album Small Talk and for many of Robin Trower albums from '74 to '81 (one album in '96). In their 1970 self-titled album, Rico produces and co-produces 11 of the 13 tracks. The band was best known for their recordings of "Gypsy Queen pt. 1 & 2."

I dug up this record sometime during my first year living in Lakewood ('05 to '06ish?). I first caught on to trancing desert-like sounds of the repetitious guitar riffs in "I Was So Young," yet later realizing how the track was sampled by Force of Nature for the Samurai Champloo OST (skip to 3:48 and you'll see what I mean. If you need further proof, look no further). "Here In My Loneliness" was another notable track I wanted the post alongside "I Was So Young" to emphasize the band's potential and variety. I really dig the funky hard drumming in this track, and the organ&guitar combo feels so vibrantly bright and upbeat, I had to post this one in order to enjoy the rest of my day. Gypsy reminds me of a jazz-rock feel of an early Blood, Sweat and Tears with no trumpet section but with Greg Munford-like vocals from Mr. Rosenbaum. The keyboardist, James "Owl" Walsh, does harmonies right, and with Rico singing lead for majority of the tracks; Gypsy deserves recognition for this great album.

Band Members (copied off wikipedia):
James Calvin Johnson (lead guitar, vocals)
Enrico Rosenbaum (guitar, vocals, percussion)
James "Owl" Walsh (keyboards, vocals, percussion)

Doni Larson (bass)
Randy Cates (bass)
Willie Weeks (bass)
Bill Lordan (drums)
Jay Epstein (drums)

From pictures of records

From pictures of records

From pictures of records

Here Is My Loneliness


I Was So Young

Jazzy Flunky Sole Vol. 1

In the beginning of summer 2008, I was pushing myself to make as many mixes possible and was able to create this mix, a Jazz/Funk/Soul mix. A lot of my mixes have been fairly short due to my limited time, yet I will be pumping as much as possible regardless of mix length (as my former theater professor would say, "writing on demand," which in this case is obviously DJing).

Jazz Flunky Sole Vol. 1

I'm hoping to deliver listeners a series of different genres. My last mix post featured straight ahead jazz, this mix on the other hand features more of a soul and jazz sound with a teaspoon of funk. I hope ya'll enjoy it.


I lost the playlist to this one but I hope to rebuild it soon for all you listening fans out there.

Free Fusion Vol. 1

After blogging, nonsense researching and sleeping at 4am last night, waking up at 7am to move my car due to street sweeping, making this mix this morning at 8am after a failed attempt to re-slumber, and planning mixes and future blog entries ahead of time around 10am, spending a quick and frustrating 45 minutes trying to upload music files, starting my day at noon, coming back home by bus at 10pm, realizing by 11pm that uploading music to wordpress is easy, I gave myself a pat on the back for a long day's work.

I was debating between making a "soulful good morning," kicking off with "Let's Do It Again" by Staple Sisters, or a straight ahead/avant garde/fusion jazz mix. After dropping the needle on Passport's "Eternal Spiral," I knew the hard-forward sound was the right path for me.

Playlist:1. Passport - "Eternal Spiral"
2. Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - "Beginning Again"
3. Weather Report - "Medley: Vertical Invader, Dr. Honoris Causa"
4. Billy Cobham - "The Pleasant Pheasant"
5. Donald Byrd - "Street Lady"
6. Horace Silver - "The Sophisticated Hippie"

Free Fusion Vol. 1