(Eloise Laws – Put A Little Love Into It)
Final cut on the SoulBoy and I’m going to wrap it up with this 1977 cut on the Invictus label set up by Eddie and Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier. The songwriting and production team largely responsible for much of Motown’s success between 1962-67. Sung by the daughter of Hubert Laws Snr, sister of Hubert, Ronnie and Debra.
(Ann Peebles – Give Me Some Credit)
last few cuts on the SoulBoy..looking forward to listening back to the theme in all it’s glory. almost impossible when in the eye of a theme. So without further delay hold this quality cut from Soul songstress Ann Peebles.
(Eddie Ray – You Are Mine)
hmmm..how to follow yesterday’s cut from the Lion? many have tried, (on stage), and all failed. Sam Cooke stole every show he appeared on and tore the house down everytime both with the Soul Stirrers and as solo artist so I don’t relish the prospect ! still…someone has to so I suppose it’s close my eyes and ‘pin the tail on the donkey’ time and just allow whoever the musicology sword falls on to come in and do their thing..
Today’s cut then is courtesy of a Cat who I know nothing about. Introduced to me via the SUPERB Numero group’s collection of Rare gems..this cut is borrowed from the Top Ranking Series Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label.
Another SoulBoy Marrow Trembler….
(Sam Cooke – Somebody Ease My Troublin’ Mind)
milestone on themusicologist…500 cuts and still haven’t even scratched the surface of the vaults !! here’s hoping that you cats and kittens have enjoyed the journey so far. how long will it last? who knows…but I’ll keep spinning as long as I’m able. When I took the first step on this musical journey I had no idea where it would lead. I just felt that the time had come to communicate with the world and open up a dialogue with my heart, soul and mind using the most effective language that I know…the sweet sounds of music. What is it about music that leaves such a deep impression? I don’t know but there have been many books written, lectures, discussions and debates around tables, on street corners, in bars, classrooms and hallowed halls for generation after generation and still there are no definitive explanations, such is the power of frequency and especially harmony to resonate deep within us and touch the soul in ways that, at least for me, nothing else comes close to reaching other than that elusive feeling words can’t describe, Love…
I was going to wax lyrical and go right into ‘one’ but, (and I don’t know for sure why?), to be brutally honest with you today’s cut nails the way I have been feeling these last few days courtesy of the one artist who, for me, stands above all others..The Lion, Mr Soul…Sam Cooke without whom the music we now call Soul may not have emerged and even if it did definitely wouldn’t have been the same. Recorded in 1964 not long before the curtain closed on the troubled last few years of his short life. Sung in such a way that it leaves no doubt why the Lion is known as Mr Soul…The man who put the Soul in Soul….what a F***in’ TUNE, (excuse the profanity but the piece always brings me to my knees and trembles my marrow)
(Bobby Womack – Tried and Convicted)
Final week of the Soul theme and who better as far as themusicologist is concerned to bring us down the final furlong than one of my most cherished artists Bobby Womack. As I have mentioned before, along with Curtis Mayfield it was Bobby Womack who had the most influence on a young child running wild on the streets of South London in the 1970’s. Cuts like I Can Understand It, If You Want My Love, O.V Wright’s That’s The Way I Feel About Cha, Stop On By, A Woman’s Got To Have It, Communication, (to name a few)…are all integral parts of the soundtrack to my existence. In fact often when I hear, (early 70’s), Bobby, Curtis, Bill Withers, Stevie and Marvin I can view the world through the eyes of a child once more. Music does that for me like nothing else can. I don’t think of what I was doing or wearing to identify the stepping stones in my life it’s ALWAYS what I was listening to and no doubt always will be. So without further delay, (and before I get all misty eyed), hold this late 60’s slice of the Bobby Womack pie recorded for and released on the, (New Orleans powerhouse), Minit Label. Produced by Chips Moman
(Garland Green – Plain And Simple Girl)
right..have to be quick today, (even though I’m slowing the tempo..), as I have to get my ‘bottle’ out the ‘apple’ sharp and wanted to get this one up for as long as possible..apologies for leaving you SoulBoys and SoulGirls hanging for the next installment these last few days, things to do…people to see, (MrHare them shoes are sooo ‘RUDE’)…no excuses just apologies. Hope to make up for it with this Sunday afternoon, Soul Spectrum slice from Garland Green..produced and arranged in 1970 by the majestic Donny Hathaway his first and most , (commercially), successful, (whatever that means?), release on Cotillion. I am a BIG fan of this one. Soul through and through….Listen Tune…
(The Fundamentals – Before It’s Too Late)
Through the ups, downs, highs, lows, hills and gullys of my life the only ever present is the soundtrack. To put it simply I am passionate about music in a way that is sometimes frightening. I Lose all sense of time and as long as I have music as a guide no mountain is too high to climb, (and I’ve found myself at the foot of quite a few !), If truth be told I could, (and would be happy to), spend my whole life bathing in musical waters….but before I can do that I need to make my play and at the moment I’m busy setting up the next phase of the project. It had to take a back seat for the last 9 months as the threads of my life unraveled….but as they say in France…C’est La Vie and one thing’s for sure “I plan to stay a believer”..
That’s not to say that I’m completely out of the woods..that will take some time but feels to me like I’m on the right track. anyway…back to the SoulBoy with today’s beautiful piece of 1967 Vocal Group action from out of Chi’.
(Sam And Dave – Goodnight Baby)
Staying on board the Soul Train for this week as there are far too many cuts and artists who have yet to be featured..Marvin Gaye, Bobby Womack, James Carr, Sam Cooke, Teddy Pendergrass, Al Green, Aaron Neville, Bobby Bland, Solomon Burke and on and on and on in fact a year still wouldn’t be long enough to dig deep into the Soul Cellar so another week is the LEAST I can do.
Too many pieces to choose from…must have lined up at least 5 cuts…just as I’m about to prepare one a next piece floats out of the speakers to distract my butterfly mind. So without further delay hold this piece from one of the great duets Sam Moore and Dave Prater. So electric were they on stage that Otis Redding refused to go on after them. 1965 release on the Stax Label.
(Bettye Lavette – Easier To Say Than Do)
What is Soul? have I asked this question before? can’t remember and to be honest I don’t think I’ll go back over the last 494 diary entries to satisfy my curiousity ! all I can say is that for me Soul communicates with my emotions in ways that only music seems to be able to. I enjoy looking at Art and reading it too but there’s something about listening to it that has a transcendent quality that words can’t describe..So instead I’ll leave it to the music..
Today’s cut is a first on themusicologist not only for the artist but also for the way in which it was delivered.courtesy of a fellow musicologist who I have had the pleasure to hook up with via the musical diary. The first in a series? of collaborations between themusicologist and audience. Recorded in 1970 for Shelby Singletons SSS International label but not released? BIG label for the Northern Soul Cats this is a fine piece of Soul from a great singer who first recorded at the dawn of Soul in 1962. Probably best known in the Soul community for her Marrow trembling ‘Let Me Down Easy’ .. Still going strong Bettye Lavette is a genuine Soul singer of the highest order.
SoulBoy #13
(Angie Stone - Everyday)
Another day another Soul dollar..sticking with The Ladies for the next few days, (seems rude not to !!), but (almost) moving into the 21st Century with this cut from the magnificent Angie Stone..yet another artist who started out singing Gospel..Have to be quick today as I'm on a course refreshing my screen printing skills so can't wax lyrical..
Today's 1999 cut is highlighted from Ms Stone's debut set 'Black Diamond'..co written by D'Angelo. QUALITY mod/ernist Soul from one of themusicologists favourite contemporary artists.(Irma Thomas – Ruler Of My Heart)
Love the way the SoulBoy is shaping up….Soul and Reggae are the two musical languages that I am fiercely passionate about..I like many genres and almost all styles but nothing connects with the I like these two. Maybe it’s because I was brought up with them? especially Soul, the sweet sounds of Jamaica didn’t make an appearance until I was 3 or 4 years old but Soul is in my flesh, blood and bones…prenatal style !!
Seems like the Soul Kitchen’s hotting up with every cut so i’ll keep up the pressure with this piece from the superb Irma Thomas..well known to Soul Cats and Kittens for many a fine slice, (this being one of them), ‘The Queen of New Orleans Soul’ started out singing in a Baptist Church choir as a teenager but it wasn’t until 1960 that she ‘waxed her first side’. Like all the great New Orleans Soul singers of the sixties it was on the pioneering label Minit that she really begun to cut loose under the wing and watchful eye of the legendary Allen Toussaint, producer, arranger, songwriter and piano maestro whose contribution to the emerging sound now known as Soul deserves, (and gets), honourable recognition. Today’s cut was reinterpreted by the ‘Big O’ for his first solo outing ‘Pain In My Heart’ and as good as that is, for me, this one reaches out even further. 1963 recording on the Minit label. Already featured twice on themusicologist, (#150/ #359 Irma Thomas oozes Soul.
(Doris Troy – Please Little Angel)
Ladies with Soul … Lots to choose from; Aretha Franklin, Carla Thomas, Candi Staton, Randy Crawford, Millie Jackson, Mary Wells, Gwen McCrae, Vicki Anderson, Marva Whitney, Lyn Collins, Barbara Lewis, Etta James, Dee Dee Warwick, Fontella Bass, Minnie Ripperton, Marie Knight, Dee Dee Sharp, Mitty Collier…as well as contemporary kittens such as Angie Stone, Brandy, India Arie, Beyonce…and those are just the ones off the top of my head !
As difficult as it was to choose..today’s cut, (courtesy of Doris ‘Just One Look’ Troy), has ALL the right ingredients; Vocals, Lyrics and Production..
Bronx born Doris Higginsen begun her career singing Gospel in her fathers choir but it was as a songwriter that she scored her first hit ‘How About That’ recorded by Soul pioneer Dee Clark in 1960. Three years later she was spotted by James Brown working as an usherette at the Apollo and in that same year she wrote and recorded the Mod/ernist classic ‘Just One Look’. Not sure how or why but Doris didn’t go on to receive the critical acclaim that her talents deserved. Employed by the Beatles at Apple as Artist, Writer and producer Doris sung backup and worked with some of the UK’s most established musicologists, (The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton and The Moody Blues), but failed to make a commercial impact as an artist in her own right. After a few years in the wilderness Doris’s story became a successful stage show ‘Mama I Want To Sing’ which is scheduled for a cinema release this month? I didn’t know that before researching for today’s cut but musicology works in mysterious ways so it makes complete sense to me.
(Candi Staton – To Hear You Say You’re Mine)
Listening back over the SoulBoy I realised that the Ladies hadn’t got a look in !! so this week I aim to rectify that and roll with some female action..starting with this one from the SUPERB Candi Staton. Yet another graduate from the school of Gospel..(where almost ALL the greatest Soul Singers started), Candi Staton is best known for ‘Young Hearts Run Free’ but at the end of the 60’s and into the early 70’s she recorded for Rick Hall and his majestic Fame label from whence today’s cut came.
(O.V Wright – Motherless Child)
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Lee Fields was so hot last night but the Menahan Street Band were on fire. Deeeeeeeeeeep Soul and funk that has to be heard and seen live to be fully appreciated. WHAT a show. EVERY song a winner. They almost tore the roof off at the Bloomsbury last night which considering its underground was quite a feat ! If you like Soul and Funk and they are playing in your town then do yourselves a favour and make sure you attend.
Bit of a dilemma as to what to lay down today? TOO MUCH choice on the Soul front and as I go to lay one down another comes up and ’speaks’. Been listening to Legends like Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Al Green, Leroy Hutson as well lesser known but just as majestic Cats like James Carr, O.V Wright, and a whole host of 45’s from the 60’s and 70’s so rather than face the dilemma I’m just going to lay down this 60’s Soul marrow trembler and be done…..Recorded for and released on Don Robey’s BackBeat Label in 1965, (from the album If It’s Only For Tonight)SoulBoy #8
(Lee Fields & The Expressions - Do You Love Me Like You Say You Do)
Have to be quick on this one as I'm heading out the door to see these Cats perform live and direct at the Bloomsbury Ballrooms in my hometown...the first metropolis and greatest city in the world...London. REALLY looking forward to it and if anyone out there needs convincing to make the effort to get down there this should be enough...Soul of the HIGHEST order. Released last year on the Truth and Soul label..Featuring Lee Fields, Charles Bradley, Leon Michels, Toby Pazner, Tom Brenneck, Dave Guy, Mike Deller, Nick Movshon, Homer Steinweiss.(Donny Hathaway – Giving Up)
Slowwwwwwwwww toooooooooday. Was out on the tiles last night and didn’t ‘get me nut down’ until the break of dawn…QUALITY night though, (in a club beneath the Ritz)..good friends birthday bash. Saw a few faces that I haven’t seen in a while and met some new ones…All Good. So I’m just going to lay down the cut without further delay as I’m tired. This one is courtesy of the sublime Donny Edward Hathaway a troubled Cat who despite his trials and tribulations still delivered some of the finest Soul yet recorded. Highlighted from his second LP ‘Donny Hathaway’ Released in 1971 on the Atco label, written by Van McCoy and featuring legendary musicians King Curtis, Al ‘The Human Timekeeper’ Jackson Jr, Phil Upchurch and Cornell Dupree.
(Jackie Wilson – No Pity In The Naked City)
hmmm…themusicologist has been AWOL these last few days ! busy getting it all straightened out but the musicology is on constant playback in anticipation of hitting the right note. In truth I’m a bit lost for words at the moment but not for music and this one from Soul brother supreme Jackie Wilson is BOSS. For themusicologist Jackie is one of a handful of artists who personify the essence of Soul. Starting out with his performances as lead singer with Billy Wards Dominoes in 1953 right up to the 70’s Jackie was always trembling marrows with his vocal ability… and this is one of them.
