musicology #231

communication #9

(Jimmy Ruffin - What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted)

LISTEN

A song that we, (should), all know delivered with pathos by one of the great Soul singers about a subject that is plainly close to my heart. Older brother of the Temptation’s member David, Jimmy hasn’t received the acclaim he deserves. This version, (the original), has the spoken intro which was removed for the final mix that made it onto the 45, (can’t understand why?)

Lyrics by James Dean, music composed by William Weatherspoon and Paul Riser, music played by the Funk Brothers, background vocals by The Originals, (Freddie Gorman, Walter Gaines, Hank Dixon, Joe Stubbs), and the Adantes, (Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, Louvain Demps), song produced by Weatherspoon and William Stevenson.

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 #146

SpectrumOfLove #6

(Flowers - For Real)

LISTEN

the final piece of the ‘Spectrum’ discovered me in complete synchronicity just after the birth of my first child in 1995. it nailed exactly how I felt/feel and, for me, is the benchmark against which all songs and performances on the subject are measured.

It’s one from my personal top 10 tunes of all time and words don’t do it justice so all I will add is that for themusicologist it defines love.

Not often do I recommend CD’s but the one this is borrowed from, (Keb Darge’s Soul Spectrum II), delivers Value, there are at least 5 killers on there that you would have to pay an arm and a leg for to get them on vinyl so if you like your Soul my advice would be to buy it.

p.s starting tomorrow on themusicologists it’s ‘Round 2′ of a previous theme concerning the vocal arts…six pieces a week from each category, female/group/male…

musicology #143

SpectrumOfLove #3

(Maxine Brown - Heaven In Your Arms)

LISTEN

we've heard two from the fellas and now its time for the ladies to step into the arena...and who better than Miss Maxine Brown, Soul singer supreme, who's delicious voice could charm the birds straight out of the trees....

for themusicologist Maxine Brown is one of the greatest Soul singers never known, (and there are MANY), and by that I mean commercially..her phrasing and timing is perfection ... as witnessed on this piece of early, (1961), Big Apple flavoured Soul from the NoMar label. it's not the first time Maxine has featured on themusicologist, having already laid one, (musicology #39), down on an earlier duets theme with Wand label mate Chuck Jackson but this time she's centre stage

musicology #96

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #19

(Curtis Mayfield - Mighty Mighty Spade & Whitey)

this week it’s all about the king … Curtis Mayfield.

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