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 #518

Randoms #1

(Barrington Levy – Girl I Love You)

LISTEN

Wednesday already and I have yet to fling down this week…too busy trying to catch butterflies but as of yet no luck. I have a few themes lined up but none seem to be speaking to me so for the moment I’ll just roll with a few choice cuts from the vaults while I stand with open mouth and watch the butterflies dance.

First up is a, (1984), piece from the land of wood and water, (Jamaica), courtesy of the unmistakable Barrington Levy.. a 12″ on the Greensleeves label.

musicology #517

Duets2 #7

(Earth & Stone - Jailhouse Set Me Free)

LISTEN

Final cut on Round 2 of the duets theme and i'm finishing up with this mighty slice from sublime Jamaican duo Albert Bailey and Clifton Howell otherwise known as Earth & Stone. The pair first cut their musical teeth with Coxsone but quickly moved onto the Hookim brothers legendary Channel 1 in 1973 and for 5 years they recorded some of the finest 'Rockers' known to man.

Not 100% sure but I'm guessing that the top ranking rhythm track is courtesy of the majestic Skin, Flesh & Bones, (Lloyd Parks, Charles 'Sly' Dunbar and Ansel Collins), who were the backbone responsible for creating what became known as the revolutionary sound.

musicology #515

Duets2 #5

(Dudley Sibley and Peter Austin – Hole In Your Soul)

LISTEN

Today’s cut is yet another RockSteady scorcher but this time courtesy of Sir Coxsone ‘ Downbeat The Ruler’ Dodd’s Brentford Road powerhouse…Studio 1. Regulars on themusicologist should know by now of my ongoing ‘affair’ with the sounds of Sir Coxsone..for me the premier recording studio and Jamaica’s most important sound. Not to say that there aren’t many other producers and studios that deserve recognition and undying support but Downbeat will always wear the crown as far as I’m concerned.

musicology #514

Duets2 #4

(Lee Dorsey and Betty Harris – Love Lots of Lovin’)

LISTEN

Slipping out of Jamaica and back to America with this 1968 piece of New Orleans Soul courtesy of Deep Soul songstress Betty Harris in harmony with Crescent City native and Mod/ernist favourite Lee Dorsey. Produced by a man who has featured many times on themusicologist; Mr New Orleans….Allen Toussaint and released on his and Marshall Sehorn’s Sansu label. I’ll take an educated guess and say that it’s The Meters providing the funk but one thing is for sure and that is the contribution Allen Toussaint made to delivering some of the cream of Crescent City musicology throughout the 60’s and into the 70’s. Respect is always due.

musicology #513

Duets2 #3

(Winston & George – Denham Town)

LISTEN

Moving out of the soul searching and into the social commentary for todays cut with a classic piece of 1966/7 RockSteady critiquing the state of West Kingston District ‘Denham Town’ as it ‘Turned Vietnam’. Produced by Leslie Kong and featuring Gladstone Anderson on Piano Jackie Jackson on Bass and sax man supreme Roland Alphonso. Released in the UK on a Pyramid 45.

musicology #512

Duets2 #2

(Am I A Good Man - Them Two)

LISTEN

Today's marrow trembler finds themusicologist standing in 'still waters' that run almost too deeeeeeeeeep and I'm probably shooting myself in the foot by peering into the darkest recesses of my soul in such a public way but authenticity compels me to continue asking the question....what/who am I? (not that I'm expecting or even asking for an answer as I don't believe there is a definitive but unfortunately that doesn't stop the internal dialogue).

Paradoxically? the question has reared it's head at the onset of this 'Harmony' theme but in the words of Blues man supreme Little Willie Littlefield 'Life is like that' and no amount of running and hiding will alter a truth.

The musicology presented by the TOP RANKING Numero Label was originally recorded for and released on Miami's Deep City label sometime in the late 60's? and features the combined harmonies of Clarence Reid and Willie Clarke ably backed and driven by Helene Smith, Arnold Albury and Reed Roberts. For me music doesn't get 'better' than this...what a tune.

har·mo·ny

–noun,plural-nies.

agreement; accord; harmonious relations.

a consistent, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of parts; congruity.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME armonye <>

—Related forms

non·har·mo·ny, noun,plural-nies.

pre·har·mo·ny, noun

—Synonyms
1. concord, unity, peace, amity, friendship. 2. consonance, conformity, correspondence, consistency.