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 499

SoulBoy #18

(Bobby Womack – Tried and Convicted)

LISTEN

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

musicology #488

SoulBoy #7

(Donny Hathaway – Giving Up)

LISTEN

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.

musicology #410

Terry Callier #2

(Terry Callier – Alley Wind Song (Original Demo)

LISTEN

A quote from the man himself:

“People everywhere are searching, searching for a spiritual base to stand on, reach out from and react to. The way I understand it, I’m supposed to put the message out there as clearly as I can. The rest has to take care of itself.”

“And hear some strange magic man work some ju-ju if you can,
Or do you know a spell that’s worth repeating,
Trace your pictures in the sand,
Tell me can you work a mojo hand,
Can you start the drums of Kuru beating,
Beware of the South wind,
The heart and mind and mouth wind
And search the sacred sands for a solution,

And tell me now..is it true if I put faith in you,
Will you lead me to the bridge of bright tomorrows,
And will your grace see me through,
Will incense and candles do,
Will prayer remove me from the reach of sorrow,
Oh beware of the North wind,
A king of worlds comes forth wind,
And blow apoun the land in retribution,

In the land of the free where the huddled masses flee,
From the cold and cruel worlds of wars dominion,
In a dusky mirror that I see,
Dont you know it got a hold back on my jubilee,
If freedom’s just a matter of opinion,
Ah beware of the West wind,
A bitter black suppressive wind,
That leads your children home for revolution,
That leads your children home for revolution,

Listening ones…if I sing,
Will that make you do your thing,
Will the chatting reach your high and lofty places,
And what is this strange gift you bring,
It’s sparkling like a diamond ring,
Will that bright light reveal the prince of faces,
Beware of the East wind,
A god of man and beast wind,
A famine and or feast wind,
And the last but not the least wind,
A threat of silver fleece wind,
A follow great release wind,
Blowin all across the land,
Blowin all across the land,
Where you stand,
Where will you stand,

musicology #409

Terry Callier #1

(Terry Callier – What Colour Is Love)

LISTEN

“After the storm say there must be a calm and as much as the process of catharsis continues for me I feel like the, (metaphorical), dark clouds are lifting and the sun is beginning to break through. Intense and passionate, (whatever the situation), I tend to immerse myself in the joy and the pain of existence and am always looking to engage with the project of living rather than watch it pass me by. I don’t believe in the afterlife and have witnessed how short our time on this beautiful rock can be. Not for me to look back and wonder what might have been so the “what if” question is never asked. Music for me doesn’t imitate life it opens a dialogue and last weeks theme has delivered aspace for reflection and resolution.

Today’s cut kicks off a week long tribute to a Cat who has been an important and valued guide over the past few months the inspirational Terry Callier whose qualities are beyond doubt and question. A poet who stands tall in an age where it seems to me many are retreating to Plato’s ‘cave’ of illusion and appearance.

Highlighted from his 1973 set ‘What Colour Is Love’

Listen Tune.

“Is it wrong or is it right,
Is it black or is it white,
What colour is love,
Is it here or is it there,
Is it really everywhere,
What colour is love,
Is it strong like the mountains
Or deep like a fountain,that’s flowing free
And what about me,
How can you receive,
If youre not a believer
Is it blue like the sky,
And does it really reach that high,
What colour is love,
Is it near or is it far,
Is it distant like a star,
What colour is love,
Does it glow like an ember,
And do you you remember,
If love doesn’t last,
Does it live in the past,
And a heart cannot live,
If a heart isn’t giving,
When it’s over does it show,
Does it leave an afterglow
And I really want to know,
What colour is love?

musicology #408

Catharsis #6

(Bill Withers – I Wish You Well)

LISTEN

final cut of the Catharsis and what better way to end the theme than with another slice from one of my primary guides on the journey…William Harrison Withers Jnr with a piece of sentiment from the deepest depths of my heart. Released in 1975, borrowed from his ‘Making Music’ set.

“I wish you flowers, sunshine and smiles,
I wish you children that grow to make make you proud,
I wish you…pretty things to wear…sweet things to smell,

I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),

I wish you good friends that always treat you fair,
Wanna wish you ribbons to tie round your hair,
I wish you…truck loads of cheer,
Many happy years,

I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),

Wanna wish you freedom to do all the things you love,
Wanna wish you blesssings and kindness from above,
Wanna wish you sunlight through the clouds,
Hope you laugh out loud,

I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
Oh now I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
Lord now, I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well),
I wish you well, (oh I wish you well)”

musicology #392

PostMod/ernist #2

(Ronnie Taylor – Without Love)

LISTEN

Slice of early 70’s Deep Soul courtesy of Bill Moss’s Ohio Label CapSoul. Rediscovered and released by the Numero musicologists on their top ranking, solid gold series of lost Soul Sets.

musicology #372

SuchIsLife #6

(Bill Withers – World Keeps On Going Around)

LISTEN

Final slice of the SuchIsLife theme…which for me have been less demanding mentally than the two that preceeded it so I’m almost tempted to stick with it but, there’s a subject that I would like to share that is not only close to my heart but has informed the I since birth and that subject is ‘Modernist’. I’ll say no more about it until tomorrow when it kicks off.

Back to today though and what more authentic way to finish than with this cut from a Cat whose influence on themusicologist stretches way back to the early seventies when as a toddler he was often to be heard, (along with Bobby Womack, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder), drifting out of the speakers. Especially this 1973 album ‘Live At Carniege Hall’ which has been etched into my consciousness from the age of 4. Exceptional album from an exceptional Lyricist, Singer, Social Commentator and Performer. Still moves me and always will..every slice a winner. Not often that themusicologist makes recommendations but if you get the chance buy this album.

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.’