New Year eve wow we've reached it. I bet your getting ready to celebrate that you have reached another year and at the same time saying goodbye to 2008? On the Electric Soul show I was tempted on playing a DJ set which would see me playing the most influential and popular tracks that have featured on the show over via 2008. However, I decided against that and went ahead with it being just another show to bring in the New Year.
“I feeling like oh” by Sir Verse, USA (2008 release taken from the album called Bodimuzik that was released in 2006!) was the first track that I played on the show. Slow groove which had a melody and groove similar to “Human Nature” (by Michael Jackson)in parts. I haven’t heard of this artist to be honest before. I got to found out about him after surfing around on the Internet and was lucky enough to come across his My Space website which gave me information about him and his songs. I was immediately stuck by the quality of this track. To be honest it’s a pure and simple love song, but there are no apologies about that for this track. The vocalist hits all the spots here that marries his voice perfectly with the music. In fact have a listen to the tune yourselves by clicking on the link below. See what you think?
Wow has it been 4 years since this next song got released that I am about to play? The track that I am talking about is called “Like you” by Bow Wow featuring Ciara, USA (2005 release). This track has more Rn’b qualities to it then Hip-hop. However it does feature heavily of the lyrical skills of Bow Wow which gives it another edge. Ciara voice for someone so young is spot on here. She steals the show on this track in my opinion. She reminds me very slightly of Beyonnce Knowles in fact. Voice wise anyway. The groove I have to say is slow to mid tempo, but I do love the start of this record. A Hip-hop driven drumbeat and bass line track soften by the raindrop like effect of vibraphones and strings in the background. Then Ciara voice kicks in.Wow.Still a brilliant track, and one that you will be able to drop on a Radio Dj set 4 years from now at the very least. Have a listen to the track by clicking on the link below if you want?
I really did change the script completely when I decided on my next track. For instance I went back to the year of 1977. Yeap. 1977. Why? Well, a week before I had met a few friends who had managed to listen to the part of the show called “The Rare Groove Selection”. They loved the track then, and wanted me to play it out again. However due to the time restrictions of the show I had to play it around now as I know that I would run out of time eventually to get this in. The tune that I decided on playing was this “Giving it back” by Phill Hurrt (1977 release). A mid tempo Soul Disco tune that just makes you smile. Phil Hurtt hails from Philadelphia, USA originally. One of Phil's biggest song writing successes was 'I'll Be Around' which he co-wrote with Thom Bell in 1973, a classic soul recording for the Detroit Spinners and later a U.K. hit for Terri Wells. At the same time he began working closely with Bunny Sigler, an early co-production being a 1973 Atlantic album 'Sweet Charlie Babe' for Jackie Moore. As a recording artist he signed briefly with Fantasy in 1978, his single release 'Giving It Back' being a popular soul / dance record that year and a U.K. Top 40 hit.
He was also involved in the Hi Gloss album for Prelude, for which he co-wrote all of the songs.
In 2007, Phil became involved in a project involving Soul Artists from Detroit and Philadelphia, entitled 'A Soulful Tale Of Two Cities'. If you want to hear the tune please click on the link directly below this paragraph.
Slowed things down completely with the selection of my next track. Rn’b and Hip-hop combination was the next track up on the music platter in fact. “Brandi” by Dwele featuring Slum Village (2008 release from the album called Sketches of a man). One word that can sum up this track and that word is “smooth”. Smooth is the order of the day when this track was being created. A nice and slow hip hop drum beat used on this tune, together with a nice accompanying bass line that makes you head nod. The melody and groove of this tune is so good. Soft, smooth and mellow all at the same time. This allows for Slum Village team to fire off some lyrics (Rap wise), and eventually leads nicely into Dwele sexy and seductive sounding voice over this groove. Probably the best track on the album. Have a listen yourselves don’t just listen to me. Click on the link below to hear it.
Staying with the Rn’b and Hip Hop combo type tracks I continued with this tune called “Take off the blues” by Foreign Exchange featuring Darien Brockington (2008 release from the album called Leave it all behind”). This was their latest album release in their follow up to the hugely successful debut album release called "Connected"(2004). That album release alone wowed the Hip hop world with its melodic and soulful take up on how Hip Hop music could progress to. I have been playing various tunes from the album since it was released in October 2008.
I decided to playing the tune called "Take of the blues", which will surprise many on hearing it, as it’s a really good Rn'b cut. Once again it has that slow to mid tempo groove to it. But I got to say I just love Darien Brockington voice on this.
The right man for the right song I think. He is helped along by some backing vocals on this track. But I think the inclusion of a horn section within the song at around 2 minutes and seven seconds into the tune is a mark of genius. Already in the Usa they have gained a lot of interest over this song already. Don’t just take my word for it. Have a listen to the tune yourselves by clicking on the link its self.
Moved the goal post slightly just as everyone was getting comfortable with the selection of Rn’b and Hip combo like tunes. I dropped this as my next tune “Good morning” by Vivian Jones, England (1980 release). Lovers Rock Reggae makes its appearance on the Electric Soul Show for this evening. And to be honest can it get better then this? A simple rhythm created here via the use of the drums, rhythm guitar and bass line under a Reggae beat. The piano colours everything, and so does the wonderful voice of Vivian Jones. You can feel the emotion that he puts into this song as well. A love song that works and one that is not slow, but mid tempo in pace.
Have a listen to this wonderful single yourselves. Just click on the link.
Decided to stay on this same path with my next selection with “Sitting and Watching” by Dennis Brown (1981 release) which is now considered a classic tune within Reggae music as a whole and not just within Lovers Rock Reggae. The bass line and drums sound as if they are set in a happy marriage. Its prefect, simple made and constructed, but prefect. The Rhythm guitar adds colour to the tune. Even more so with the brilliant voice of Dennis Brown is add to the preceding. After hearing it the first time you just want to replay it over again. Please don’t take my word for it try it yourselves.
It was at this point I included the first part of the Rare Groove Selection (Part 1) to the show. This is the part of the show whereby I play 3 forgotten about or bonafide Rare Grooves from yesteryear. (Unfortunately I'm not going to tell you what I played. You'll have to listen to the show to find that out!)
Directly after the Rare Groove selection part of the show I decided on playing some Hip Hop Music in the show. Been slacking of late in regards to this type of music, and wanted to readdress the balance. With that in mind I choose this track to be my next track within the show. “Feels Good” by Naughty by Nature featuring 3LW (2002 release) was the tune that I played. And what a cracking good tune this is. Sounds very Rn’b, and to be fair it is. However, instead of the tune being sung 60% of the time, it’s the other way around here. The Rappers (Treach and the boys) take the responsibility here with the Rn’b group (Three little women – 3LW) singing the chorus here. This is a real nice bumpy song that works well on the dance floor, or on the Radio. I love this tune. Please listen to the tune yourselves by clicking on the link below.
Went straight into the next track without giving my listeners no introduction as to what the track that I was playing. However, the track in question that I was playing was called “Check the Rhime” by A Tribe called Quest (1991 release from the album called The Low End Theory). Still sounds good after all these years. The sound hits you all at once, the hip-hop drums, bassline and the horns. The interplay between the group’s two rappers Qtip and Phife is nothing but brilliant. The use of Minnie Ripperton’s “Baby, This Love I Have” as a sample is so well woven into the song that you don’t really notice it unless you are really, really listening out for it. There are other samples but that is the one that stands out. Also listen out for the line that is uttered by Qtip as this “"Industry rule #4,080: Record company people are shady". A brilliant Hip Hop tune. Have a listen to it by clicking on this.
Staying with one more Hip-hop tune. I decided on a classic one.“Come Clean” Jeru Tha Damage (1993 Release). The groove and beat are so funk here. In fact I think that the music was created by none other than Dj Premier out of the Hip-hop group called Gang Starr. However, the lyric content is so good. It flows so well, and you can get a visual story out of it by what he is saying. Just listen to this track. And notice how your head is nodding to the beat. Just click on the link below.
I thought I’d better change over from my love of Hip Hop to Rn’b otherwise I would never get away from it. What a better way to do it with the selection of my next track. “I’m ready” by LKP (Stands for Lil Kriss P), England) (2008 release). Soulful slow to mid tempo track that really works, and show that the Uk can produce high quality Rn’b music that wouldn’t sound out of place in any USA Rn’b chart.Really caught the imagination of many an Rn’b Dj this year, and I can see why. It has an easily likeable groove and melody, and LKP voice together with the backing vocals make this tune stand out. In fact I like the lead vocals and the backing vocals working in unison on this track that make it so nice to listen to. Click on the link to see what I am talking about. You can go to the My Space website of this group, and here this song there.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=68460139
Well, time had reached again for me to play the Rare Groove selection part 2 of the show. For those of you that listen in each week I need not say anything more. For those of you that are new to this. Each week I play two sections of the Rare Groove selection. 3 songs within each part. These songs are either bonafide rare grooves, or songs that people have simply forgotten about. (However, if you want to know what was played in this part of the show you will have to listen to the show!)
Time was really up against me this week as I looked up at the clock. Just 5 minutes left in fact for the show to be precise. This meant that I just had one more tune to play for my listeners. And what a tune to end the show with “Bag Lady” (2000 release from the album called Mama's Gun) by Erykah Badu was the last tune of the show. A simple guitar riff starts the groove riding in the right direction together with a simple drum pattern and funky bass line makes you pay attention. But the backing vocals that are applied within this tune weave in and out of the groove already in play. Then the Billy Holliday like vocals of Erykah Badu comes into play and fits like a glove. Her voice works for this track plain and simple. Just have a listen to the track yourselves. You will see what I mean. Just click on the link mentioned below.
Well that was it for this week (The New Years eve show). If you listened to the show for the first time then I hope that you will continue to listen in next week. I’ll have more tunes for you. If you have any comments that you wish to make about anything that I have mentioned in this weeks show; or any of the artist/s that I have managed to put down on this week Blog website. Please leave your comments down on this site. I would love to hear them. Please don't be shy. Just click on the "Yellow or Blue Comments button" OK? Don't be afraid to have your say here.
If you are an up and coming artists who would like to have their material played on this show. Please get in touch. Just click on the "Yellow or Blue Comments button" OK? Don't be afraid to have your say here.
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