musicology #161

vocalgroupaction2 #6

(The Uniques - Lessons Of Love)

LISTEN

day six !! of the vocalgroup selection and the tunes just keep on coming...by now i'm sure you've realised that the two genres that feature heaviest on themusicologist are Soul & Reggae and today's cut is no exception.

courtesy of one of the most 'important' of Jamaica's vocal groups The Uniques whose previous incarnation, (The Techniques), had already played a huge part in shaping the vocal group sound of Jamaica with Duke Reid at Treasure Isle. (for an example of the Techniques work with 'The Trojan' take a listen to musicology #44??).

but it was as this pivotal line-up, (Roy Shirley, Jimmy Riley, Lloyd 'Charmers' Tyrell and Keith 'Slim' Smith), produced by the Islands top producer at the time Bunny 'Striker' Lee that they rose to the top of Jamaica's vocal group tree with a string of Rock Steady classics such as 'Gypsy Woman', 'My Conversation', 'The Beatitude', Love & Devotion, 'Facts Of Life' (to name a few)

briefly...Bunny Lee was a major figure in the evolution of Jamaican musicology especially during this period. One of the first, (the first being Cecil ' Prince Buster' Campbell), independent producers to challenge Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid he was instrumental in breaking the hold the two held over the music resulting in the emergence of other notable producers such as Derrick' One Stop' Harriott and Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

Recorded in Kingston at the Treasure Isle, (or W.I.R.L), studio in 1968.

musicology #160

vocalgroupaction2 #5

(The Emotions - Blind Alley)

LISTEN

first outing on themusicologist for this female vocal group with a tune that never fails to lift my spirits which, today need lifting….not for any specific reason, just one of them days when ‘the pressure drop’

better known for their part in Earth, Wind & Fire’s ‘Boogie Wonderland’ this piece is from their earlier days, (1972), at Stax and has formed the foundation for many a ‘version’ since from Big Daddy Kane and Pharcyde to Mariah Carey, (one listen should explain why)

musicology #159

vocalgroupaction #4

(Link - Whatcha Gone Do)

LISTEN

today’s cut is a little bit more up to date than the previous three. not easy considering the vocalgroup has almost dissapeared from urban music. I know almost nothing about these cats, not even how many of them are in the group.

but I do know that it was recorded in the Big Apple, (Allien Flyers Studio), at the end of the 20th century, (1998), produced by Darrell ‘Delite’ Allamby, engineered by Ben Arrindell and it’s on the Relativity label…and finally, for me, it hit the right spot ten years ago and still does today..

keeping it brief as I’m helping my good friend ‘Dready 10 Eyes’ load up a container for his emigration to Cyprus and we’ve only got 3 hours to do it!!

musicology #158

vocalgroupaction2 #3

(The Drifters - Oh My Love)

LISTEN

while scouring the vaults looking for vocalgroup cuts it occured to me that there are many practitioners of the art that deserve a musicologist representation…but there are two who are essential. The Miracles..and this group who epitomise the genre.

originally formed in 1954 by Clyde McPhatter, the Drifters have been through many line up changes, first it was Clyde singing lead followed by Johnny Moore and then Bobby Hendricks.

in 1958 the whole group was fired and replaced with one that was going under the name of the Five Crowns, (featuring the unmistakable pipes of Ben E King), who soon delivered national success in 1959 with ‘There Goes My Baby’ true to form the line up didnt last and after an altercation between the two managers Ben E King, (eventually), went solo.

this is the B side to the aforementioned hit from 1959 featuring Ben E King singing lead in the year that ‘doo wop’ was being challenged by the emerging sound that became known as Soul.

musicology #157

vocalgroupaction2 #2

(The Royals - Make Believe)

LISTEN

day two of the vocalgroup selection finds us tuning into some ’sufferers’ courtesy of Jamaican vocal group The Royals with a mid 70’s piece on Roy Cousins’ Wambesi Label.

Roy Cousins was not only the producer and Wambesi label owner he was also the Royals lead singer. forming his first vocal group in 1962, (pivotol year for musicology), he went on to form the Royals, (originally called the Tempests), in 1965…recording for, (among others), Coxsone Dodd’s Studio 1.

sick of being ’skanked’ by producers and label bosses he set up his own in 1971 and this one (Wambesi), in 1974 which attracted many a fine singer, vocal group and deejay evolving into a major force in the 70’s and 80’s.

the cat at the ‘controls’ on the dub is none other than Lloyd James. better known as..Prince Jammy…

musicology #156

vocalgroupaction2 #1

(The 5 Keys - The Glory Of Love)

LISTEN

it’s been a challenge keeping on top of themusicologist these last few days, (and weeks), especially as ‘the project’ has been taking up most of my, (physical and mental), time.

on top of that I have also been tied up with the selling of the family drum. as a result themusicologist has suffered a drop in quantity, (the quality I am very happy with)

all I can do is apologize for not ‘taking care of business’ and hope that the quality is enough for you to stand by themusicologist….

this week it’s round 2 of the vocalgroupaction theme and I’m kicking off with this seminal cut from the dawn of doo wop courtesy of one of the greatest of the vocal groups ‘The 5 Keys’. it’s from their second recording session for LA label Aladdin, recorded in New York’s RCA Studio on March 22nd 1951. The song, (written by Billy Hill), had already been a #1 for Benny Goodman in 1936 but, (as much as I rate brother Goodman), performed by the 5 Keys it reached new heights.

the lineup..

Rudy West (first tenor), Maryland Pierce (second tenor), Ripley Ingram (octave tenor), Dickie Smith (baritone/second tenor), Bernie West (bass) and the group’s regular accompanist Joe Jones on Piano…

what a tune…

musicology #155

duets2 # 4

(Loe & Joe - Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl)

LISTEN

slipping out of the Jamaican selection into some Detroit action with a piece from one of post war urban music's great innovators Harvey Fuqua...original lead singer of the Moonglows, (musicology #46), and Soul legend. influential in moulding the new sound that sprung out of the wells of Rhythm & Blues and Gospel, Harvey Fuqua helped, (along with Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Marv Johnson...), to 'create' the Detroit sound as head of artistic development at Motown after tiring of the effort required to run his own label, (which this one is on),

the duet is courtesy of almost unknown pairing, Lorrie Rudolph and Joe Murphy, who certainly do the song justice. more than that I can only add that it's a 45 from 1961 and it's on the 'Harvey' label.