musicology #547

Jamaica #27

(Bob Andy – Life)

LISTEN

Today’s 1972 cut features the magnificent and supremely talented Keith ‘Bob Andy’ Anderson, (for me one of Jamaica’s premier artists). Founder member of the Paragons whose songwriting is second to none. I must confess that over the past few weeks I have been suffering and once again it has been holding the musicology back so rather than allow my inner turmoil to stop the flow I’ll just let the music speak for a while…

Listen the ‘ride’…

“forget about stupidity,
discover your ability,
develop your creativity,
cultivate humility,
to bear the stormy weather….”

musicology #519

Randoms #2

(Bill Withers – Take It All In And Check It All Out)

LISTEN

Next cut on the random selection…and it’s time for this one from the great Bill Withers one of the three major teachers for themusicologist from my formative years one listen should help you understand why when the man speaks themusicologist listened. Highlighted from his 1972 TOP RANKING ‘Still Bill’ set. Recorded in LA at the Record Plant and released on Sussex. Also featuring the combined talents of Obbye Hall, Benorce Blackmon, Melvin Dunlap, James Gadson and Raymond Jackson.

LISTEN TUNE…

“You can fill up a room with idle conversation,
You can stir up a whole darn nation with your mouth,
But before you start to show your indignation,
About a situation,
You oughta take it all in and check it all out,

You can create a boom with uh catchy information,
You can shake up a lot of people if you shout,
But before you begin to grin about the success of your creation
You oughta take it all in and check it all out

You can make out a plan with aimless dedication,
You can hang up a million slogans in your house,
But before you put it into operation,
Before you man your station now,
You oughta take it all in and check it all out,
You oughta take it all in and check it all out,
Find out what it’s all about uh huh,
You oughta take it all in and check it all out,
You oughta take it all in and check it all out Find out what it’s all about uh huh,
You oughta take it all in and check it all out,
You oughta take it all in and check it all out”

musicology #509

CoversWeek #6

(Donny Hathaway – Jealous Guy)

LISTEN

Somewhat of a dilemma over today’s slice..1 artist 2 majestic covers..what one to lay down? Donny’s version of Ray Charles’s ‘I Believe To My Soul’ or John Lennon’s ‘Jealous Guy’ ?? hmmm I think it’s going to be ‘Jealous Guy’. Nothing to choose between them as I said…both top of the ‘covers tree’ but something about this one that resonates stronger with me than ‘I Believe’. Am I a ‘Jealous Guy’…not neccesarily but I know I have been. Is it jealous or insecure? it’s a thin line indeed. Insecure…for sure so in true dialogue style hold this one from Donny’s Live set. Before I finish I just want to add how much I feel the man’s authenticity come through in his music…genuine dialogue between a man and his inner being I believe.

Others of note are Marvin Gaye, of course master John Coltrane, Gil Scott Heron, Terry Callier, Curtis Mayfield, Paul Weller, Dinah washington, Sam Cooke, Billie Holiday…there are others I could add but those are the ones who come immediately to mind without thinking long and hard. Recorded live, (1972), at the Bitter End and featuring Cornell Dupree, Mike Howard, Willie Weeks, Fred White and Earl DeRouen

musicology #248

birthdaybashsoul&funk #3

(Cymande - The Message)

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Today's slice from the 'birthdaybash' pie was one of the 'Rare Groove' anthems that NEVER failed to shake London's floors in the mid 80's. If themusicologist was compiling a top ten of cuts that were the soundtrack to them days this would definately be one. HEAVY funk from a London based collective of West Indian players who blended all the musical flavours of the day to deliver an almost unique sound.

Apparently discovered rehearsing in a Soho club, (there's that place again!!), by producer John Schroeder who obviously knew quality when he heard it and signed them immediately. This was their first recording, released on the Janus, (Chess), label in 1972.

Players:

Ray King - Vocals/Percussion
Joey Dee - Vocals/Percussion
Steve Scipio - Bass
Sam Kelly - Drums
Derek Gibbs - Soprano/Alto Sax
Pablo Gonsales - Congas
Peter Serreo - Tenor Sax
Mike Rose - Alto/Flute/Bongos
Patrick Patterson - Guitar

musicology #202

teachings of billionaire YenTzu #12

(Roberta Flack - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face)

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Awaiting The Turtle (being in the right place at the right time)

‘The opportunity for human life is rare,’ began the Patriarch Yen Tzu. ‘So rare that it can be likened to that magical event which occurs just once every 400 years. The moment when the great mythical sea turtle rises for air. Imagine, that while breaking the surface, the creature places it’s head through a bamboo ring. A hoop that happens to be floating randomly alone in the vast ocean. What perfect timing that would take! Imagine too that this solitary wooden necklace fitted exactly. What precision that would be! Now imagine that the human physical body is the bamboo circle, and the turtle is the immortal spirit entering it. Then you can imagine the perfect coming together of forces that must happen for our own birth.’

‘It is indeed hard to consider that our life is such a rarity,’ replied his pupil, Lu Chou. ‘Just look at the countless people going about their business in the Imperial city each day!’

‘Just so,’ answered Yen Tzu, ‘and each one of them is just where they should be. For in truth our lives are the result of a synchronicity between the physical and the spiritual. As such, each one of us began our lives at the rightly appointed time, and in the correct place intended.’
‘That must be why one person’s timing in life seems infinitely better than another’s,’ commented Lu Chou. ‘Where one man seems to make his fortune, another does not; where one struggles to no avail, another seems to attain easily.’

‘That is not the reason,’ said the Patriarch, ‘for the time and place has nothing to do with a man’s success. The rightness and timing in awaiting the turtle is merely to illustrate that such synchronicity is our birthright. But Man, instead of resolving to continue to use this natural serendipitous power has become conditioned to do the opposite. ‘In doing so he unconsciously acts against himself, seeking to manipulate and control outcomes according to his own rules. He has forgotten that everything that is to happen for his benefit does so at the right time; and everything that is forced beyond a natural course of events is either lost or distorted. ‘Even if the outcome is seemingly right it does not carry the power it would have had, or bring the benefit it was intended to bring. The result is that the harder he seems to push towards that which he wants, the further it moves away from him. Such is the plight of all who take the heritage of how they came to be for granted. Yet, in truth, knowing how to harness our natural synchronicity with Life’s opportunities creates the paradox of the less we do, the more we achieve.’

‘So what can we do to regain this power, this heritage,’ asked the pupil.
‘We must steadfastly resolve to live, trust, accept and have purpose in whatever we do, at the moment we are doing it. For the nature of being always in the right place at the right time is ours to command.’

musicology #134

theGood,Bad&theUgly #1

(Augustus Pablo - Cassava Piece)

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this weeks selection is a project that themusicologist first played around with 10 years ago when the 'techne' was beginning to make it possible to 'mix & blend' media together.

the impact of the spaghetti western on contemporary street culture cannot be overestimated. especially in Jamaica where the 'gun-man' was beginning to dominate in the wild west atmosphere of Kingson's shanty towns.

The Good The Bad & The Ugly, (the third film in the trilogy), was released in Italy at the end of 1966 but took a year to be released around the world, (opening in America in Dec 1967), widely criticised for it's gratuitous violence, (amazing when you consider that Vietnam was in full swing), it was an instant success and inspired a whole generation of youngbloods which continues to this day.

Tarantino called it "the best directed film of all time"

Apart from masterful direction by Sergio Leone it also featured the atmospheric brilliance of Ennio Morricone's soundtrack, (there is very little dialogue in the film), and great performances from the 'Anti-Heroes' Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef.

for themusicologist the only film with a comparable impact, (on the streets), was Scarface.

the Kung Fu films of the 70's and early eighties were influential but The Good, The Bad & The Ugly and Scarface are beyond compare when it comes to influence. Nowhere was this more apparent than in Jamaica, especially in directing the music and the cat responsible for cementing this 'gunman style' was none other than Augustus Pablo. this 1972 cut on his brothers Rockers label follows on from the Lee Perry tradition of utilising the western theme andthe only thing left for me to say is...

"when you have to shoot, shoot...don't talk"

musicology #131

instrumentalsweek #4

(The J.B’s - Hot Pants Road)

LISTEN

today’s top ranking 1972 cut is courtesy of the hardest working band in show business, none other than the J.B’s with a tune that epitomises Funk. BIG on London’s, Rare Groove, dancefloors back in 1986/7

(probable line up)

* Fred Wesley - trombone
* Jimmy Parker - alto saxophone
* St. Clair Pinckney - tenor saxophone
* Bobby Byrd - organ
* Hearlon “Cheese” Martin - guitar
* Robert Coleman - guitar
* Fred Thomas - bass
* John “Jabo” Starks - drums
* Johnny Griggs - congas