Growing up as a young Soul Boy in Brighton I was obsessed with Soul Music ,I spent virtually all my money on records from Sound Unlimited and can still remember the excitement of going home ,opening my bag of new albums and reading all the details on the album covers as I listened .....the disappearance of the traditional album sleeve is so sad , I can't read a CD inlay without my reading glasses now !
I loved Marvin,The Isleys ,Earth Wind & Fire etc etc but more than anything ,on a Sunday I liked to listen to The Sound of Philadelphia .Every Sunday I'm gonna write about another great artist from one of the greatest Soul Music labels EVER .
Today artist is one of the greatest Soul singers ever whose covers of " Your Song " and " Let " Em In " are classics and whose original songs " Me & Mrs Jones " ," You're Having My Baby " etc etc are just beautiful..............Ladies & Gentlemen I give you ,Mr Billy Paul !
To me he was always seemed to be ( unfairly in the shadow of Teddy Pendergrass and The O'Jays but this guy can SING ! My particular favourite is his concept album " war Of The Gods " which I urge you all to download today......a classic ,physchedelic Soul album that was largely overlooked on release ,.
Youtube him and you will see he was an icon of style ,the epitomy of cool ..........a class act !
The Sound of Phildadelphia will always be a part of my life ,Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff are my favourite song writers and as for that lush orchestrated Philly sound ......well for this Soul boy nothing comes close
Happy Sunday
x
Sunday, 7 November 2010
Friday, 5 November 2010
The Song That Changed My Life..............
Saturday is the best days of the week no question . Saturday's are all about football for me - watching Callum play and enjoying the banter with the Dad's on the touchline is a lot of fun ,contrary to people's expectations I'm not a " Mad Dad " when I watch ,I just encourage the team....what's the point of criticizing young players ?
The there is the matter of my ongoing life-long love-affair with Southampton Football Club - good luck today against mighty Shrewsbury in the FA Cup lads . I must admit it's very doubtful that Super Ricky Lambert et al are regular readers but I live in hope.
I've been up since 5 listening to Rob Da Bank's show and it has been brilliant ! I was going to write about a particular artist but Rob has been featuring a label from Berlin called Ostgut Ton as it's their 5th Birthday and I've heard some amazing modern electronic dance music by Andre Galluzzi,Ben Klock ,Cassy and more . Listen back on bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank .........its a joy
It's such a pleasure for me to be introduced to new music that I was previously unaware of - I LOVE music ,listen to it constantly ,read about it and work with it . Considering I can't sing or play a note I'm fortunate indeed to have worked with so many great artists.
Neither of my parents were musical ,my Dad's favourite artist was Glenn Miller , but every Sunday from a long as I can remember the whole family sat round the radiogram to listen to the Top 40 rundown with Alan " Fluff " Freeman .........." Hello Pop pickers " he used to say
I grew up in a small village in Gloucestershire ,I used to listen to Tony Prince " The Royal Ruler " on a blue plastic transistor radio when I went to bed and I can still remember the day I fell in love with Soul music - he played Al Green " Tired Of Being Alone " and that song changed my life ,I'd never heard anyone sing like that before .........it still send shivers down my spine when I hear it and I know every word,inflection and adlib off by heart. I sing it note perfect too !
What song changed your life ? What song can make you laugh or cry as soon as your hear it ? What song makes you thing of a dear departed loved one ?
I must go ,I've got tears in my eyes thinking of my Mum and Dad X
The there is the matter of my ongoing life-long love-affair with Southampton Football Club - good luck today against mighty Shrewsbury in the FA Cup lads . I must admit it's very doubtful that Super Ricky Lambert et al are regular readers but I live in hope.
I've been up since 5 listening to Rob Da Bank's show and it has been brilliant ! I was going to write about a particular artist but Rob has been featuring a label from Berlin called Ostgut Ton as it's their 5th Birthday and I've heard some amazing modern electronic dance music by Andre Galluzzi,Ben Klock ,Cassy and more . Listen back on bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank .........its a joy
It's such a pleasure for me to be introduced to new music that I was previously unaware of - I LOVE music ,listen to it constantly ,read about it and work with it . Considering I can't sing or play a note I'm fortunate indeed to have worked with so many great artists.
Neither of my parents were musical ,my Dad's favourite artist was Glenn Miller , but every Sunday from a long as I can remember the whole family sat round the radiogram to listen to the Top 40 rundown with Alan " Fluff " Freeman .........." Hello Pop pickers " he used to say
I grew up in a small village in Gloucestershire ,I used to listen to Tony Prince " The Royal Ruler " on a blue plastic transistor radio when I went to bed and I can still remember the day I fell in love with Soul music - he played Al Green " Tired Of Being Alone " and that song changed my life ,I'd never heard anyone sing like that before .........it still send shivers down my spine when I hear it and I know every word,inflection and adlib off by heart. I sing it note perfect too !
What song changed your life ? What song can make you laugh or cry as soon as your hear it ? What song makes you thing of a dear departed loved one ?
I must go ,I've got tears in my eyes thinking of my Mum and Dad X
Thank God It's Friday !
Morning everyone .......Thank God It's Friday ! Do any of you remember the movie ,a great Disco-based film with an original Soundtrack featuring Donna Summer ,Village People and more on Casablanca Records .......sort of the day before Saturday Night Fever ,if that makes sense ( it does to me ) . The movie is a fantastic period-piece ,a Disco documentary as-it-were, well worth tracking down then invite friends round in 70's fancy dress sit back and enjoy.........you will be up and dancing straight away !
Yesterday I had messages from friends in Australia ( g'day Gye ) , Portugal ( Ola Patrina ) and Chiswick ( Hi Nick ) telling me how much you are enjoying this so thank you ..........you ain't seen nuthin yet !
Every year me and my boys and a growing number of their friends head off to The Big Chill for 3 days of music,dancing , and general disorderliness..............I urge all of you to come as it is simply brilliant .
This year we all had " Guest " tickets - worth the extra money unquestionably - and saw the Magic Numbers on a stage 6 feet wide with an audience of no more than 100 as they played a set in the Guest Bar,we were literally close enough to chat to them ,they were bloody brilliant and we spent ages ( at least Spooner did ! ) talking to them afterwards
However the highlight for me was watching the majestic Caribou play on the small stage as the sun set over the Malvern Hills...........they have a song called " The Sun " which is an uptempo house/rave epic with the lead singer just repeating " the sun ,the sun ,the sun " and they played it as the sun set . They are amazing and their album Swim is an essential purchase - as is the Swim Remix album which I downloaded from i-tunes a couple of hours ago
Check " The Sun " on youtube then do yourself a favour ,buy the album - it will make your life better,increase your libido ,heal all wounds and raise the dead !
Ciao X
Yesterday I had messages from friends in Australia ( g'day Gye ) , Portugal ( Ola Patrina ) and Chiswick ( Hi Nick ) telling me how much you are enjoying this so thank you ..........you ain't seen nuthin yet !
Every year me and my boys and a growing number of their friends head off to The Big Chill for 3 days of music,dancing , and general disorderliness..............I urge all of you to come as it is simply brilliant .
This year we all had " Guest " tickets - worth the extra money unquestionably - and saw the Magic Numbers on a stage 6 feet wide with an audience of no more than 100 as they played a set in the Guest Bar,we were literally close enough to chat to them ,they were bloody brilliant and we spent ages ( at least Spooner did ! ) talking to them afterwards
However the highlight for me was watching the majestic Caribou play on the small stage as the sun set over the Malvern Hills...........they have a song called " The Sun " which is an uptempo house/rave epic with the lead singer just repeating " the sun ,the sun ,the sun " and they played it as the sun set . They are amazing and their album Swim is an essential purchase - as is the Swim Remix album which I downloaded from i-tunes a couple of hours ago
Check " The Sun " on youtube then do yourself a favour ,buy the album - it will make your life better,increase your libido ,heal all wounds and raise the dead !
Ciao X
Thursday, 4 November 2010
What are you listening to ?
It's Thursday morning ,7.30 am and I've run out of coffee..........nightmare as I always have a pot of coffee first thing but today I'm completely de-caffeineated and I think I'm starting to go cold-turkey
However I know that a lot of you rely on this blog to give your life meaning and purpose so I'm making this sacrifice of going coffee-less for YOU
I enjoy writing this a lot and I hope you are enjoying the music I'm recommending . Even if one reader is moved to check out the music ( Hi Dawid in Poland ! ) then it's worth it.
Today's featured artist is a Soul singer in the truest sense of the word - a classic ,70's style female who reminds me of Chaka Khan ,Millie Jackson etc
Her name is Leela James and she has released two superb albums - one called " Let's Do It Again " is an album of covers such as " Clean Up Woman " ," It's A Man's Man's World " and " Let's Do It Again " ,all given a new interpretation but sung as if her life depends on it .
Her other album is an album of original material called " My Soul " and features all original material including 4 self-written songs ...........the album sleeve is great as she looks amazing in an authentic 70's Superfly outfit with the biggest hair I've seen for years ,she looks and sounds fabulous and if Soul is your thing then this lady has masses of it .
Listen to " Clean Up Woman " to hear what I mean
By the way yesterdays crass typing error meant that the album I recommended was called" 5 Years of Hyperdub " NOT " % Years of Hyperdub " ...............another brilliant album
Have a good day , try to do something good for yourself - take 5 minutes to think of all things you have in life to be grateful for ,its amazing what we have
Until tomorrow X
However I know that a lot of you rely on this blog to give your life meaning and purpose so I'm making this sacrifice of going coffee-less for YOU
I enjoy writing this a lot and I hope you are enjoying the music I'm recommending . Even if one reader is moved to check out the music ( Hi Dawid in Poland ! ) then it's worth it.
Today's featured artist is a Soul singer in the truest sense of the word - a classic ,70's style female who reminds me of Chaka Khan ,Millie Jackson etc
Her name is Leela James and she has released two superb albums - one called " Let's Do It Again " is an album of covers such as " Clean Up Woman " ," It's A Man's Man's World " and " Let's Do It Again " ,all given a new interpretation but sung as if her life depends on it .
Her other album is an album of original material called " My Soul " and features all original material including 4 self-written songs ...........the album sleeve is great as she looks amazing in an authentic 70's Superfly outfit with the biggest hair I've seen for years ,she looks and sounds fabulous and if Soul is your thing then this lady has masses of it .
Listen to " Clean Up Woman " to hear what I mean
By the way yesterdays crass typing error meant that the album I recommended was called" 5 Years of Hyperdub " NOT " % Years of Hyperdub " ...............another brilliant album
Have a good day , try to do something good for yourself - take 5 minutes to think of all things you have in life to be grateful for ,its amazing what we have
Until tomorrow X
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Music Is My Sanctuary
Good morning world ...and what a morning !
My beloved Saints are in the play-off positions for the first time ,there's a tube strike so I'm working from home so I can listen to music all day.....paradise !
Music For The Soul is not exclusively about Soul Music ,it's about music that moves my Soul ,makes me feel good ,remember a loved one ( or a once-loved one ),remember good and bad times.
Music is the only art-form that that can instantly take me back to a time or place when I hear a particular song......music has the power to transform our lives ,that's why it is so important to me. Music IS my sanctuary ,I listen to Marvin sing " Wholy Holy " and I cry every time ,it reaches so deep inside my Soul and I very feel alone but safe at the same time .
I love my two boys ,Jamie and Callum , more than anything then it's music ,Saints, cinema ,reading .
Today I'm going to write about a great label that releases some extraordinary music....but not conventional Soul music
The label is called Hyperdub and over the past 5 years it has released some of my favourite modern electronic music ....from Kode 9 ( the album with Space Ape is brilliant ) through the dubstep of Ikonika to my personal favourite King Midas Sound .Think of a modern ,dubby Massive Attack with great moody songs and soundscapes and that's King Midas Sound....go to youtube to listen to " Waiting For You " then buy the album ANd their compilation CD " % years of Hyperdub " which is easily one of my favourite compilation albums of the last year
This is great ,modern Soul music ........take some time to check it out , it is quality !
Finally please take the time to click on the icon to follow this blog - I know a lot of you are reading coz I'm getting Facebook messages ,texts and emails saying how much you're enjoying it
Enjoy the day ,if you live in London pull a " sickie " and check out the music I've recommended on my blogs ,trust me you will enjoy the day a lot more than queueing for a bus ! x
My beloved Saints are in the play-off positions for the first time ,there's a tube strike so I'm working from home so I can listen to music all day.....paradise !
Music For The Soul is not exclusively about Soul Music ,it's about music that moves my Soul ,makes me feel good ,remember a loved one ( or a once-loved one ),remember good and bad times.
Music is the only art-form that that can instantly take me back to a time or place when I hear a particular song......music has the power to transform our lives ,that's why it is so important to me. Music IS my sanctuary ,I listen to Marvin sing " Wholy Holy " and I cry every time ,it reaches so deep inside my Soul and I very feel alone but safe at the same time .
I love my two boys ,Jamie and Callum , more than anything then it's music ,Saints, cinema ,reading .
Today I'm going to write about a great label that releases some extraordinary music....but not conventional Soul music
The label is called Hyperdub and over the past 5 years it has released some of my favourite modern electronic music ....from Kode 9 ( the album with Space Ape is brilliant ) through the dubstep of Ikonika to my personal favourite King Midas Sound .Think of a modern ,dubby Massive Attack with great moody songs and soundscapes and that's King Midas Sound....go to youtube to listen to " Waiting For You " then buy the album ANd their compilation CD " % years of Hyperdub " which is easily one of my favourite compilation albums of the last year
This is great ,modern Soul music ........take some time to check it out , it is quality !
Finally please take the time to click on the icon to follow this blog - I know a lot of you are reading coz I'm getting Facebook messages ,texts and emails saying how much you're enjoying it
Enjoy the day ,if you live in London pull a " sickie " and check out the music I've recommended on my blogs ,trust me you will enjoy the day a lot more than queueing for a bus ! x
Monday, 1 November 2010
Moodymann
Following my trip to Bournemouth I'm now back on my usual time schedule - up at 5 am ,pot of coffee then straight to the computer to post the next instalment of my quest to improve the quality of music you listen too in time for you to check out the music before you go off for another day of toil and sweat down the mineshaft of life in 2010 .
It's a massive job and I've barely started but as Chairman Mao said ( or was it Harry Redknapp ? ) " the longest journey starts with the shortest step "
Today I'm gonna tell you about a guy whose music I first heard about 12 years ago and since then he has released a series of albums which are so good they defy easy categorization but share the same quality ....GENIUS .
That is an over-used word nowadays but in this case it is true !
His name is Kenny Dixon Jnr ,he's a DJ from Detroit Michigan and he releases albums under the name Moodymann.
From 1998 when I first heard the album " Mahogany Brown " through " Forevernevermore " to 2003's " Silence In The Secret Garden " to 2004's " Black Mahogani " I fell deeply in love with his brand of sophisticated sample-based ,cinematic Funk....think Marvin Gaye's brilliant " Trouble Man " album or blacksploitation soundtracks mixed with funk .
Listen to " Shine " from Silence In The Secret Garden and if it doesn't make you feel euphoric and make you dance then you're dead from the neck up and waist down !
This guy deserves to be heard and all these albums are available on i-tunes ....he's a very odd guy ( check wikipedia ) but then aren't we all when it comes down to it ?
Finally I have decided after looking at a series of photos of me from Bournemouth where I either look like Jabba The Hut's brother or a serial-killer that something must be done as, tho I'm no oil-painting - unless its Edward Munch's " The Scream "- I don't look that bad .........I haven't decided what yet but when I do I will let you know
Listen to Moodymann,you will feel better !
It's a massive job and I've barely started but as Chairman Mao said ( or was it Harry Redknapp ? ) " the longest journey starts with the shortest step "
Today I'm gonna tell you about a guy whose music I first heard about 12 years ago and since then he has released a series of albums which are so good they defy easy categorization but share the same quality ....GENIUS .
That is an over-used word nowadays but in this case it is true !
His name is Kenny Dixon Jnr ,he's a DJ from Detroit Michigan and he releases albums under the name Moodymann.
From 1998 when I first heard the album " Mahogany Brown " through " Forevernevermore " to 2003's " Silence In The Secret Garden " to 2004's " Black Mahogani " I fell deeply in love with his brand of sophisticated sample-based ,cinematic Funk....think Marvin Gaye's brilliant " Trouble Man " album or blacksploitation soundtracks mixed with funk .
Listen to " Shine " from Silence In The Secret Garden and if it doesn't make you feel euphoric and make you dance then you're dead from the neck up and waist down !
This guy deserves to be heard and all these albums are available on i-tunes ....he's a very odd guy ( check wikipedia ) but then aren't we all when it comes down to it ?
Finally I have decided after looking at a series of photos of me from Bournemouth where I either look like Jabba The Hut's brother or a serial-killer that something must be done as, tho I'm no oil-painting - unless its Edward Munch's " The Scream "- I don't look that bad .........I haven't decided what yet but when I do I will let you know
Listen to Moodymann,you will feel better !
Monday Monday
Good morning ....... seventh day I rested ,mostly due to a very late night in Bournemouth and a nightmare journey home courtesy of British Rail .Apologies for not blogging ,it won't happen again...promise !
I had a really great night on Saturday seeing so many old friends Paul ,Dave,Debbie,Aud ,Angie etc and my old Soul Mafia DJ colleagues Chris Brown ,Sean French and Dr.Bob Jones.It's good to know the old weekender spirit lives on.........." Its Seems To Hang On " by Ashford & Simpson and " The Love I Lost " by Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes were my favourites on the night but all the music was excellent and the commitment to enjoyment was outstanding !
Considering I had an MRI on scan on my badly damaged knee on Saturday afternoon I still managed to dance ....the healing power of great Soul Music demonstrated
Not all the music I write about will be brand new ,today's Soul tip came out earlier this year but is great in an authentic 70's way .....the album is called " Kings Ballad " and is by Georgia Anne Muldrow.If you're a fan of 70's Cosmic Soul ( I am ) then this is just fantastic....great songs and harmonies ,reminding me of Roy Ayers,Lonnie Liston Smith at their best . I love it ,I hope you take the time and listen and enjoy it too. Most of the artists I feature can be found on youtube if you just want a quick listen ,then they can be downloaded from i-tunes etc.
If you're enjoying this blog and the music I'm recommending please feel free to post on your facebook page .......the more readers the better !
I'm advised that I need to start to follow other Soul Music blogs to then get this more widely-circulated so I will look into doing that.
In the meantime I will continue to write about great Music For The Soul on a daily basis , form is temporary ...CLASS is permanent !
I had a really great night on Saturday seeing so many old friends Paul ,Dave,Debbie,Aud ,Angie etc and my old Soul Mafia DJ colleagues Chris Brown ,Sean French and Dr.Bob Jones.It's good to know the old weekender spirit lives on.........." Its Seems To Hang On " by Ashford & Simpson and " The Love I Lost " by Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes were my favourites on the night but all the music was excellent and the commitment to enjoyment was outstanding !
Considering I had an MRI on scan on my badly damaged knee on Saturday afternoon I still managed to dance ....the healing power of great Soul Music demonstrated
Not all the music I write about will be brand new ,today's Soul tip came out earlier this year but is great in an authentic 70's way .....the album is called " Kings Ballad " and is by Georgia Anne Muldrow.If you're a fan of 70's Cosmic Soul ( I am ) then this is just fantastic....great songs and harmonies ,reminding me of Roy Ayers,Lonnie Liston Smith at their best . I love it ,I hope you take the time and listen and enjoy it too. Most of the artists I feature can be found on youtube if you just want a quick listen ,then they can be downloaded from i-tunes etc.
If you're enjoying this blog and the music I'm recommending please feel free to post on your facebook page .......the more readers the better !
I'm advised that I need to start to follow other Soul Music blogs to then get this more widely-circulated so I will look into doing that.
In the meantime I will continue to write about great Music For The Soul on a daily basis , form is temporary ...CLASS is permanent !
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