Started the show of with this, as I wanted to get over as many tracks as possible for you the listener. I have played already this on the show before, and it is still a winner. The track is called “Reach down in your soul” by Sy Smith and Wes Felton (Released in 2008 from the album called “Conflicts”) was a great way to start the show. This tune had that funky vibe all the way through it, but featured a delightful soulful edge to it at the same time. The soulful side was provided by Sy Smith wonderful vocals, however the drum pattern and the bass line still just wanted you to make you groove. It’s so damm funky to be honest. There is even a credible rap provided by Wes Felton half the way through this track that breaks up the tune just right.
A wonderful single that could be easily re-released again and it would top many Rn’b music charts around the world. Even normal national charts as well. Have a listen to the track in question by clicking on the link below.
The next track up for play on the show was this “So pissed off” by Angie Stone (Released in 2001 on the album that is called “Mahogany Soul”). This was her follow up album to the critically acclaimed debut of hers called “Black Diamond" which got a released in 1999. If you see this album in the store – “Mahogany Soul” – please get it. It another tune that features a fantastic sounding bass line to it but its not so in your face if you know what I mean? It is layered over with great vocals from Angie Stone, and her backing vocals on this; together with a lovely sounding Rhythm guitar that works, and some simple keyboards. For me this is the best track on the album. Angie is let off the leash on this track so to speak. Her vocals are so spot on over a simple groove, which this has, and will see you humming the chorus yourself ever so often. This is good stuff trust me. Have a listen yourself by clicking on the link below.
The next track up on the show has featured on the show before. February 2009 to be precise that this tune featured on this show.Jazz meets Soul is how I can describe this next tune, but the emphasis is placed more on the Soul music side then anything else. James Boykin’s voice reminds me very slightly of Dwele, or even Raheem Davaughan. At first when I heard this track I thought it was Dwele singing. I love the dreamy like jazz guitar start to this song. It helps to create a great atmosphere together with the Rhodes like keyboards that have been added for good measure on this track as well. James Boykins 111 sounds like Dwele its as simple as that. Lovely light soulful vocals that are laid down here. He is helped along with a backing singer that fills in beautifully so that he can lay down those whisper like soul vocals (James Boykins 111). Please have a listen to this by clicking on the link below.
The next track up was a Rap or Hip Hop track in which I wanted to play, just to mix things up a bit on the show. “Still lives through” by Little Brother (Released in 2005 on the album called “The Minstrel Show”) was the track in question. I have to say that Little Brother are fast becoming one of “THE” underground Hip-hop groups of today from the Usa. Many of the band are now going onto to help established Hip-hop and Rn’b stars on their albums and pending singles such is their reputation. This I have to say is alternative sounding Hip-hop if it can be given a label? Sounds like they were influenced by Slum village, A tribe called Quest that sort of rap group. The beat and groove on this is funky but not in an obvious way. I would love to know what sample that is used throughout the tune though. It sounds great, especially as it used right at the start of the song as well. The Rapping between Big Pooh and Phonte Coleman is wonderful. Great lines, great delivery and great flow between the two. What more do you want? Please have a listen to this live version by clicking on the link below.
Staying with Hip Hop Music I go back in time with my next selection. This track uses pure funk music to make this work; and work it does . The track is called “Let the funk flow” by EPMD (Released in 1988 from the album called “Strictly Business”).
Yes, it owes much of its success due to the fact that it uses a heavy slice of these tracks to make it possible in the first place – “(it's not the express) it's the JB's Monaurail' by the JB’S (Released in 1975) and the use of "Nobody Knows You (When You're Down and Out)" by Otis Redding (1966). This is funk meet Hip Hop with great rapping interplay between Eric Sermon and Parrish Smith on this as well. It really will make your head nod and smile at the lyrics that are coming from these two. A hip hop track from 20 years ago that still sounds so good. Please click on the link below to listen to the track in question.
Staying with Hip hop still, but moving with the Soulful side or vibe of Hip Hop music, sees me dropping this for the listener, “Be alright”(the remix) by Foreign Exchange (Released in 2004 on the album called “Connected”). Wow this is so good. It could passed over as a Rn’b track on its own because its that good. However, they did decide to employ a Rapper on this track on this cut. His name is called Median; but they also decided to employ a singer on this cut as well as it was so soulful. His name is Darien Brockington. Please watch out for this guy I think he is going to go far. If I have to be truly honest for me this is the best cut on a brilliant album. It wowed the Hip hop world when it got released, and was critically acclaimed. Just have a listen to this soulful, atmospheric styled Hip hop cut that works on all levels. Please click on the link below and enjoy.
Well, that was the last track from me in a while in regards to Hip Hop music as the last throes of “Be alright” by Foreign Exchange was finishing. I decided to go back to Soul music with my next selection. You just can’t beat a nice slice of soul music can you? Started the show of with this last week, and decided to include it in this weeks show again. The track is in its self called “Enjoy yourself” by Slakah the Beatchild (Released in 2008 from the album called “Soul Movement volume 1”) was a great way to start the show. Lovely soulful number, the drums are not harsh, the bassline is very simple indeed like the piano start to this, which sets the song up nicely. Reminds of a something that maybe Eric Bennet would have done. I love his voice (Slakah) as it is soft and yet so clear. I also like the fact that he name drops artists such as Marvin Gaye and SWV within his lyrics, which helps pricks up your ears. As soon as you hear this and you appreciate the Soul music sound, you will be wanting to hear this again. There is an alternative version of this going around as well. However, on that version it features a young rapper called Drake. That version is much more Funkier, and geared towards to the dance floor. What every version you get to listen to you will love them trust me. Please have a listen to this great soul version number of this track below.
With my next selection I decided to drop a track from a gentleman that has been around a few years but never seems to get the breaks. I received something in the post from this guy called Richard Alexander Davis(London, England). He has just bought an album which under his own name - Richard Alexander Davis (Released in 2009). It is a collection of Soul, Rn’b music underground classics that he sings in his own way. There are a number of cuts that makes you just smile just hearing the names of them again, let alone hearing them fully. For instance Sherrick's "Just Call" and Freddie Jackson tune, "Rock Me Tonight" are just two to mention here that feature on this album that he sings through. The track that I picked to play on the show from this album was this – “Darling” (which was originally released by Bob Sinclair). A lovely 1980’s sounding tune that I loved, and I have to be honest didn’t realise that Bob Sinclair put out originally. Richard does the business here. He voice really fits the music, which is light, just a touch funky, and yet is so carefree in sounding. Please click on the link below to a feel for what I am trying to describe to you here by clicking on the link below.
I have recently played this tune on the show in recent weeks, and I decided it was time to drop this one again. It still makes my head nod every time I listen to it; and it also makes me sing a few verses of the track to boot. Marsha Ambrosius is from London, England, and moved over to the Usa about 7 years ago to see if she could make it in the music industry within the Usa via the group that she was in called Floetry. The move worked as it Floetry had underground club success with single and album releases that they bought out over there. However, Marsha Ambrosius has recently bought out a mixtape called “Yours truly” (Released in December, 2008). On this particular mixtape there is a track called “Sunshine” by Marsha Ambrosius feat Phonte Coleman (From Little Brother and Foreign Exchange fame) they have a great track in their hands. It’s so funky, and yet soulful at the time that each particular musical vibe is not contradicting each other vibe on this track. Marsha voice is starting to be loved all over America if you are a straightforward Rn’b fan. Where’s as the rapper called Phonte Coleman on this track of Little Brother and Foreign Exchange fame have already secured a huge Underground following from where they are based (which is North Carolina) to New York and Los Angeles, is superb.
Phonte Coleman performance in fact (The rapping!) is first class. It isn’t rushed, the timing and pace of the rap is spot, and the lyric that he chooses makes you smile when you think of them. He and the group that he is in Little Brother and Foreign Exchange have bought back memories of how RAPPING used to be delivered in the days of the Native Tongues collective (A Tribe called Quest, Da La Soul, Jungle Brothers, Mone Love). Please have a listen to this tune by clicking on the link below.
That was to be the last time before this section of the show. Yeap you’ve guessed it. It was time for me to play the Rare Groove selection part 1 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 well. Each week I play two sections of the Rare Groove selection. 3 songs in 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!)
As the last throes of the last song within the Rare Groove selection was finishing. I had already decided on playing House music. Yes House music. No not the Techno or Hard House version side of House music, but the Jazzy, Soulful and Funky side of House music. So for my first track within that gender I decided to play this “I might do something wrong” by Tortured Soul (Released in 2001). Wow, this is so Soul and Jazzy at the time that is makes people put their hands up and state that they might have got the wrong impression about House and Garage music. The music is jazzy, but the when the group as a whole starts to lay down the vocals its all soul baby. This is over a standard four to the floor House beat as well. Another great thing about the group is that always play their instruments whether in a live setting, or when ever they thinking of making a brand new tune. This is rare in House music, as most people love to make their music via samples or by other electronic means. Please have a listen to this classic Soulful/Jazzy House tune it really is that good. Please click on the link below.
Staying with House music as the previous groove and tune had got me all Housified was this one. With the previous House tune it moved within the Soul and Jazz Circles for its inspirations. However, with this tune we are truly blessed and moved by the Funk. The tune in question is called “The Murder Track” by Mike Delgado (Released in 1993), and what a beauty it is. Funk Music vibe backed up with distant strings playing ever so lightly in background. For those that really follow House music religiously we would call this style of House music Deep House. This is because it is instrumental, and it does use a lot of Jazz and Funk references within its makeup. A wonderful piece of music this is for instance the funk groove is a killer, and yet it is beautifully balanced out with the use of Summer sounding strings and keyboards in the background. Please have a listen by clicking on the link below.
One last track from me in regards to House music, and what better to leave on a high then with this track. The track in question that I played was called “Nightlife" by Kim English (The Masters at Work mix – 1994). It has reached classic status nowadays, and has now to be found with so many mixes because of it over the years as well.
The beat is nothing hard to be honest. If anything it is a standard four to the floor house beat. However, when it stops the beat and you can just hear those 4 chords changes at the beginning of the track ( from 30 seconds onwards) then you know that it’s going to be a great tune. The singing from Kim English is so good, so soulful in fact. And she is help by equally good backing singers on this tune. Half way through the tune it starts to get even funkier then it began as. As good as Kim English is on this track as a vocalist, credit must be given to the arranging and production duties by the Masters at Work team. They make this tune sounds so Soulful, funky and jazzy all at the same time. Please have a listen to this tune, you will love it. Just click on the link below.
Looking up on the studio clock I didn’t realise that there was around 13 minutes left on the show to go. Wow was I having fun or what? I still needed to play the second of part of the Rare Groove selection part 2. No I'm not going to tell you what I played. Listen in whenever I play live, and you will find out.
Had time for one last track. Had a few minutes left to play this, and what a corker it is even for us today. The track in question is called “Groupie Love” by 213 (Released in 1995). Warren G, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg all feature on this funky, funky track, and highlights how funky West coast rap can be. Or G Funk as they like to call it. The track uses this sample on this occasion which is “Chameleon” by Herbie Hancock (Released in 1973 on the album called “Head Hunters). Snoop Dogg and Warren G do most of the rapping work on this; and I have to say they do a brilliant job. Their voices and vocal rhythm fits the song like a glove. To me Snoop Dogg verses sound the best, but you might think different. Please click on the link below and listen on.
Well that’s it from this week. I hope that you leave any comments about the various songs that you either heard through reading this Blog page or via listening to the show when it was played live on SUNDAY. Please leave any comments here and have you say.
If you are an up and coming artist/s and you would like exposure for your music. Please leave your comments here as well so that I can get back to you. Please do not be shy. Thanks.
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