Good Morning disciples,followers and non-believers...you are all welcome here in the church of the poisoned mind .
On January 11th this year I celebrated 2 very special occasions :
January 11th 1956...The Soul Guru enters the world
January 11th 1981...The Soul Guru joins Virgin Records as first UK A&R employed specifically to sign British Black Music
If you're no good a maths that means The Soul Guru was 60 and has been A&R-ing for 35 years...not bad for a shy boy from Gloucestershire who fell in love with SOUL music aged 10......so I'm 50 years a SOUL boy too...and immensely proud of it
The reason I say this is because age is the subject of today's sermon....or rather the meaningless of age ......because
AGE AIN'T NUTHIN BUT A NUMBER WHEN IT COMES TO GREAT MUSIC
Last week I bought new music from Massive Attack and Underworld....2 of the seminal bands from the 80's and 90's...and both sound every bit as relevant today as they did then
Massive Attack's " Ritual Spirit " EP is their first new music for 5 years and it is,quite simply,astonishingly BRILLIANT
Featuring collaborations with Azekel,Roots Manuva,Young Fathers and Tricky with 3D ...video to " Take It There " featuring Tricky and 3D is amazing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWSt_q7M3zI
Massive Attack have been a constant in my life for 30 years and it's a joy to hear them making great music still.......
Underworld have also been a constant in my life for 30 years.....EVERYONE knows their classic " Born Slippy " from 1996
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw1J2XGh86Y
Their new album " Barbara Barbara We Face A Shining Future "...surely album title of the year...is due in March but the first track " I Exhale " is just great...CLASSIC Underworld
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvU8wuXQgE8
Along with Leftfield's triumphant return after 16 years away with the excellent " Alternative Light Source " album
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4kwatovztI
Massive Attack and Underworld have been creating brilliant,unique,challenging music for 30 years....how many of today's new " artists " will be doing that in 30 years ? ? ?
The mainstream music business is ageist...I know from personal experience I was written off 10 years ago as a has-been .....well guess what ? I'm back at 60 and about to show everyone just how great I am...I KNOW what A&R is and I've still got great ears...that will NEVER change
The Soul Guru loves YOU
x
On January 11th this year I celebrated 2 very special occasions :
January 11th 1956...The Soul Guru enters the world
January 11th 1981...The Soul Guru joins Virgin Records as first UK A&R employed specifically to sign British Black Music
If you're no good a maths that means The Soul Guru was 60 and has been A&R-ing for 35 years...not bad for a shy boy from Gloucestershire who fell in love with SOUL music aged 10......so I'm 50 years a SOUL boy too...and immensely proud of it
The reason I say this is because age is the subject of today's sermon....or rather the meaningless of age ......because
AGE AIN'T NUTHIN BUT A NUMBER WHEN IT COMES TO GREAT MUSIC
Last week I bought new music from Massive Attack and Underworld....2 of the seminal bands from the 80's and 90's...and both sound every bit as relevant today as they did then
Massive Attack's " Ritual Spirit " EP is their first new music for 5 years and it is,quite simply,astonishingly BRILLIANT
Featuring collaborations with Azekel,Roots Manuva,Young Fathers and Tricky with 3D ...video to " Take It There " featuring Tricky and 3D is amazing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWSt_q7M3zI
Massive Attack have been a constant in my life for 30 years and it's a joy to hear them making great music still.......
Underworld have also been a constant in my life for 30 years.....EVERYONE knows their classic " Born Slippy " from 1996
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw1J2XGh86Y
Their new album " Barbara Barbara We Face A Shining Future "...surely album title of the year...is due in March but the first track " I Exhale " is just great...CLASSIC Underworld
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvU8wuXQgE8
Along with Leftfield's triumphant return after 16 years away with the excellent " Alternative Light Source " album
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4kwatovztI
Massive Attack and Underworld have been creating brilliant,unique,challenging music for 30 years....how many of today's new " artists " will be doing that in 30 years ? ? ?
The mainstream music business is ageist...I know from personal experience I was written off 10 years ago as a has-been .....well guess what ? I'm back at 60 and about to show everyone just how great I am...I KNOW what A&R is and I've still got great ears...that will NEVER change
The Soul Guru loves YOU
x
