Rock/soul

Tonight's only 45 is Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs - "Lil' Red Riding Hood" b/w "Love My Like Before." This is probably in my top 10 favorite 45's in my collection. I needed to give this one its own post, it's too good. "Lil' Red Riding Hood" you've probably heard, and if you haven't, you NEED to. It's creepy and ecclectic and sweet and tender at the same time, as I suppose I can sometimes be. It's a total classic, and just really fun to listen to. "Love Me Like Before" is a fast rock/soul number with a really catchy, simple hook, and the pleading/urgency I clearly love and identify with in my 60's music choices. Sam uses great vocal vibrato, and the sax lines are spot on 60's frat-rock. It's beautifully dated, like it SHOULD have been made in the 1966, and it was, and it's still fun to listen to. This song doesn't seem to appear on any current Sam The Sham comp CD's or what have you, so I highly recommend you download it and then find a copy of the 45 around. There are plenty available online, as "Lil' Red Riding Hood" was a pretty big hit. This record was in decent shape, so my rip isn't too bad, but it'll sound better if you have your own copy, ya know? Download it below:


http://www.mediafire.com/?ynmdgznjzwj


And please share this blog wiith anyone you might think would be interested in it. I obviously make no money from doing this. I just want to share my favorite records that you might not have heard or owned. Spread the love, by all means. And please feel free to comment or contact me about stuff, it'll make me feel like there are people who actually enjoy my efforts, and the 10 hits I get a day aren't government agents racking up a rap sheet on me and figuring out how much they can fine me for/how long they can put me in jail for. Thanks!

Old Indie Rock

By Indie Rock, I'm not talking about the hipster doofus music of today. I'm saying, like, actual independent record company pop rock and roll from the 70's that never became radio hits, but was absolutely awesome and influential to awesome musicians who came later in the game. I'm talking Big Star and Raspberries kinda stuff, ya dig?


This is how I'd classify The Beserkley Chartbusters Vol. 1 comp from the 1975. I passed by this record a few times in shops before recently. I'm actually GLAD I did, because I'm just now at the perfect time in my life to be getting really into it. It's essentially what we call Power Pop in its great mid-70's form. On this comp are Jonathan Richman, The Rubinoos, Earth Quake, and Greg Kihn. Sounds like a motley crew of dudes, but they all kinda rule in their own right.


Jonathan Richman is quite well-known, and is kind of a genius. I have been on a real Jonathan Richman kick lately. I've been telling people, quite honestly, that I'm just kind of in a place in life where his stuff is making perfect sense to me and hitting home. That first Modern Lovers album just totally pegs a lot of feelings I've been having in recent times. This comp features different takes of "Roadrunner" and "Government Center", both of which are great. There's none of the organ from the Modern Lovers' versions (bummer), but there's acoustic guitar, a solid groove, and the usual Richman expressiveness and unbelievable honesty. So I love those tracks. The other two are totally awesome. He was so young. This shit is unbelievable.



The Rubinoos only have one song on here, although they backed Richman on a couple of tracks. I will one day rip and upload one of their LP's, they were great Power Pop. Some of their stuff is kinda eh, but their moments of brilliance are just, like, YES. Cool band. Their contribution to this comp is a nice little tune to introduce you to them.



Greg Kihn is better on his songs on this comp than on his corny 80's hit stuff. He had a sweet voice, and had decent songs. You wouldn't know this was him unless I told you, I promise. Worth a listen.



Earth Quake were kind of the backbone of Beserkley Records. They were a very underground rock band that played great pop stuff, and would be very much on the same playing field as Big Star. You can hear similarities, FOR SURE. Kind of a West Coast version of Big Star, without Alex Chilton or Chris Bell's sweet voices. They do a great cover of The Easybeats' "Friday On My Mind", one of my favorite 60's rock songs, period. I highly recommend you look them up and check out more of their stuff. You'll like their contributions to this album.



So there ya go, this is a great comp of kinda weird, off-radar 70's pop rock that you might like, and should download below, then buy somewhere.


http://www.mediafire.com/?mwjomdmmgyj

Old R&B today

Well, it was a long, busy, interesting weekend, and I'm glad it's coming to an end so I can be bored again and rip vinyl and put it up here for you fine folks to download and listen to.

First up is Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford's classic "I Need Your Lovin'" b/w "Tell Me." Don Gardner is a soul legend, responsible for the original version of "My Baby Likes to Boogaloo", a version of which appears in an older posting. That song is maybe the ultimate rock-and-soul tune, but this classic on the Fire label is just an early 60's R&B romp with a simple message, stated (shouted) over and over again. This was sort of a hit, although I've never heard it on an oldies station. I had the pleasure of witnessing his return to the stage in Philly a few years ago with a few friends in his backing band, and it was just magnificent. The man can still sing and perform, and he just knocked me out. The B-side is Dee Dee's turn to sing lead, and she just rips on your heartstrings with a slow, emotional R&B tune.

http://www.mediafire.com/?q0mr5mnmjl2

The other 45 is Jennell Hawkins' classic version of "Money" b/w "More Money" on the Amazon label from the early 60's. I'd again call this classic R&B, just phenominal passion and funk in there, minus the gloss. Jennell Hawkins was an LA soul/blues singer who didn't have many hits, but this version of the Barrett Strong hit is just bombastic. It's reallly my favorite version of a song that has probably been covered hundreds of times, and is probably still played every weekend by some cover bands somewhere. LA Soul/funk really doesn't seem to get as much attention as Detroit, Memphis, Philly, and Muscle Shoals, and I think this is a shame. I may throw up some more LA soul this week to show you fine folks what the City of Angels offered the discriminating music fan in the 1960's. Download this 45 below:

http://www.mediafire.com/?mm0m2jyjxny

Old NJHC/Metal

I'm sorry I'm only putting up one thing today, but it's an LP. I also won't be posting tomorrow and maybe the rest of the weekend, so take that time to catch up and listen to the other stuff I've posted on here that you might not have had a chance to listen to yet.

Sacred Denial - Sifting Through Remains is a definite departure from their first album or 2. Less hardecore punk and more metallic, for sure. So in that respect it's kind of heavier and sludgier, kinda thrashy but not the same kinda break-neck speed/breakdown mixed style from Life's Been Getting to Me. Vocals are kinda higher-pitched or something, also, and more melodic, maybe (and louder in the mix). Heavier drum sound, more insane guitar solos (the dude could play the hell out of some guitar, I must say). Still, solid songs, and better than most stuff coming out in 1988. And this is from New Jersey, man! Unfortunately one side came out a little quieter than the other on this LP, for whatever reason I couldn't boost it higher without clipping so you'll have to make due. Sorry! You should buy anything these guys ever put out, super underrated NJHC band from the 80's. Worth a listen. Get this below:

http://www.mediafire.com/?gttzmjywot1

Northern and New Orleans Soul

I'll start up north, then go south.





The Ric-Tic label is one of my favorites, having put out fine sides by a number of important soul artists, including Edwin Starr. This is a popular, less rare 45 on Ric-Tic by Al Kent. The A-side is "Where Do I Go From Here?", and the b-side is the instrumental "You've Got to Pay the Price." Both sides are awesome Detroit soul from 1966 or so. "Where Do I Go From Here" is my favorite kind of song....it asks a question in relation to a failed attempt at love, and urgently awaits a reply. If you're a big enough nerd to be reading this blog, you can probably relate. I'm a big enough nerd to be writing it, so you know I can. Songs that essentially say "WTF?" are really my favorites, in general. The instrumental b-side is popular as well, but my copy is a bit rough, so the sound quality is not the best. Download it:

http://www.mediafire.com/?djmrmdzoji5

Eldridge Holmes was a Louisiana R&B singer who worked under brilliant producer/writer/pianist Allen Toussaint. He had a super smooth voice that is just, really, perfect. Can't think of another word to describe it. This is a 45 on the Deesu label, produced by Toussaint, with both sides written by Holmes. The fast side is "Where is Love," again, an urgent song asking a question about love. I think I'll have to lay off of those songs for a week soon. This is getting to be too much of a pattern, I'm afraid. This song is like a New Orleans stab at the Detroit sound, and it absolutely rules. It destroys you in under 2 minutes. The ballad side is "Now That I've Lost You." Sorry again for the rougher sound, someone must be effing with the b-sides of all of my records. It's a slow, smooth blues that hits you right in the genitals, or heart, or both. I can't find any info on this particular 45 on the internets, but I don't look incredibly hard, because as long as it sounds good, I'm cool. And this sound amazing. I bought it on tour in New Orleans last year, and it ranks up there as a highlight of a pretty fantastic time in my life. This ranks up there as a rare one for me, definitely a feather in my collector's cap. Download both sides:

http://www.mediafire.com/?mmnmzgrnxdq

Awesome A-sides without B-sides

Sometimes, folks, the A-side plays nicely, and the b-side simply doesn't wanna play without a serious skip, unbearable click, or overwhelming hiss. So since I have 3 great 45's with beat-up, unplayable B-sides, I decided to lump them together for today's post and zip them all into one folder for you to download.

The Maytones - "I'm Feeling Lonely" is one of my favorite reggae singles ever on the Pama label. It's one of those great examples of rather sad lyrics over a really syrupy sweet instrumental track. I wish I could play the instrumental b-side without 3 skips, but even on a Technics 1200, no dice.

The 8th Day - "She's Not Just Another Woman" is a slow, funky Detroit soul tune on the famous Invictus label. Great hook, as always. Again, never pass up ANY vinyl on this label. Holland-Dozier-Holland knew how to make brilliant soul hits.

Ranking Joe - "Nable String Cutter" is a classic 70's DJ reggae cut on the "Moving Away" riddim (I guess that's what you'd call it?). This is the rarest of today's A-sides, and I really wish the b-side played alll the way through. The first 30 seconds or so are unplayable, but the rest is a sweet dubbed out version. Ranking Joe could chat lyrics, man, fi real. Download alll 3 songs in one shot below:

http://www.mediafire.com/?kneyt1mlmd2

Weird NJ Punk and Stax

I had a great time spinning records at Asbury Lanes last night in support of some friends' bands, and felt encouraged to dip into the collection to bring up some of the weirder stuff for you guys. So that's where I'm starting this post.

Children in Adult Jails were an awesome Jersey band on Buy Our Records, which is perhaps my favorite NJ label ever. There was some estrogen in this band to balance out the testosterone-driven stuff you often find in punk, and certainly in NJ punk and hardcore. There should be plenty of info about this band available somewhere on the internet. The sound these guys and girls had I might kinda describe as somewhere between Violent Femmes, Sonic Youth, and sometimes The Minutemen, even? I don't even know. Unique stuff, and super cool. I would say there are parts of this record that are definitely some Next-Level Shit. Arty, but not annoying. Dig the whole "Man Overcome By Waffle Iron" LP by downloading below:

http://www.mediafire.com/?nvo0gwlmd1z

And, as usual, I have a great rare 45 on the Volt label (Stax) by a lady named Dorothy Williams. As was so often the case with these 45's, one side is a foot-stompin' up-tempo tune you can party to, and the other side is a slow, heartfelt ballad that causes baby-making. This is just awesome old-style Stax, and you'll hear what I mean as soon as you hear it. Good, down-home soul music. This 45 isn't in perfect shape, but played all the way through, so I removed a few clicks and pops and put both sides up for you. I see this record go for a lot of dough on the internet (like always, I got it for very little in a NJ record store), but if you find a copy, like anything on Stax/Volt, you should obviously buy it.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mkngwmh0yqu

Punk and Soul tonight!

Sorry I missed a night updating, I was in the last patch of land in NJ that didn't have free internet I could steal. But I got some good old punk and soul/funk to make up for it.

The Lurkers were one of the first British punk bands, and this is probably their definitive 7". They're often painfully underrated and under-appreciated, which is a bummer. "Ain't Got a Clue" b/w "Ooh! Ooh! I Love You." "Ain't Got a Clue" is one of my favorite punk songs ever, and usually makes others' lists as well. It's super simple, straight ahead '77-style British punk. The b-side is another straight-forward punk song with a great hook. This stuff isn't screamy or as angry as, say, The Sex Pistols. It's just good, hard rock and roll from young dudes who kicked some ass. Download both sides:

http://www.mediafire.com/?02nnwkj1mwj

And the soul/funk portion today will be The Parliaments - "Good Old Music" b/w "Time." The Parliaments were, of course, George Clinton's vocal group before giving birth to Parliament and Funkadelic, and ultimately what is now known as "P-Funk", or whatever they go by nowadays. "Good Old Music" is super funky, with fuzzed-out guitar, nasty organ, and heavy drums. This song is choc-full-o' samples for you beat-makers out there. It's closer to the George Clinton you've come to love since 1970 or so. "Time" is more of a straight-forward late 60's soul tune. And since it's on the Revilot label and has that "Northern Soul" sound, you might even classify it as such. It's simply an awesome 45 on both sides, so download them below:

http://www.mediafire.com/?noyw0i4omr2

Blue Beat and Stax 45's

If the title of this post doesn't grab you, bummer. It's 2 of the most crucial record labels in their respective styles of music, and both 45's are fairly rare and feature female singers doing their damn thang. This one's for the ladies.

First up is a Stax 45 featuring the beautiful, soulful voice of Mable John, truly an unsung queen of blues and soul. The songs are "You're Taking Up Another Man's Place" and "If You Give Up What You Got." One is a great mid-tempo song that's very danceable and has a typical Stax sound for 1966, or so....which is of course awesome. The other side is a slow blues that's just gut-wrenching and gorgeous. Her voice is just dead on and super expressive. I love it, you will, too. This is powerful stuff.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ymdnwgydnjo

The Blue Beat 45 was a great find, considering what I payed for it at a record show some time ago and what it sells for online now. It's Brigitte Bond (who?) and the Blue Beats doing "Blue Beat Baby" and "Oh Yeah Baby." I have no clue who Brigitte Bond actually was, and can't find any real info on her, but have seen mention of this 45 on the net. It's super British early Ska that's way more rooted in the jump blues that ska was sort of born from than the ska that was coming out of Studio 1 or Treasure Isle at the time. It's really almost a perfect defining record for what really was the "blue beat" sound in England around 1964, in my very humble and barely educated opinion. There is mention of Mods tapping their feet in "Blue Beat Baby", which really adds the perfect amount of kitsch to make this record worth owning for me. I just found this in a stack in my room and had to rip and upload it, because I'm stoked to own it. Download it:

http://www.mediafire.com/?eyunynytymw

Rocksteady and Northern Soul!

So the Rocksteady 7" I've got for you here is weird, because it's the first American singer to make a real Jamaican record. Johnny Nash - "You Got Soul" b/w "Don't Cry." It's a talented American soul singer backed by top-notch Jamaican musicians, trying to make Rocksteady the next big thing in America. It didn't work, but did produce some awesome, often-forgotten tunes. Nash may be best known for "I Can See Clearly Now," but this stuff kills it. "You Got Soul" is the more straight-forward Rocksteady song, and "Don't Cry" is some sort of soul/rocksteady hybrid that is just gorgeous. This is one of those 45's I've seen in a lot of 50 cent or 99 cent bins in record stores and flea markets and either passed up because I already got a copy, or bought it to trade or give to someone I liked. Take note: It's in your best musical interest for me to like you.

http://www.mediafire.com/?jldmzy2teym

And here's some nice Northern Soul on the Okeh label from Blues/Soul singer Ted Taylor, "Daddy's Baby" b/w "Mercy, Have Pity." Taylor had a fairly high-pitched voice....okay, it's very high-pitched, and he uses the falsetto he was born with to its fullest potential. "Daddy's Baby" is fast number with great, driving drums, bassline, and organ...just awesome uptown soul. "Mercy, Have Pity" is more of a mid-tempo blues tune with start-stop parts, and that high-register voice reaching notes most men wouldn't dream of hitting, asking for forgiveness and pity. Again, cool uptown sound that Taylor was known for in his Okeh days. This one is mid-60's. No picture:

http://www.mediafire.com/?rrxgxwfjjhz

Sorry, no punk today again. I have some great punk/hardcore LP's I wanna get up, but they take considerably longer to rip than 45's, so as sooon as I have a free 2 hours, I'll have more of the good stuff up for you. 'Till then, enjoy these goodies.

Soul and Dub today

I have to up this rare soul 45 first, because it's such an urgent-sounding 45 that it is practically forcing itself up onto the internet. It's a Curtis Mayfield production on the Windy C label from the Five Stairsteps (before they had their big hit with "Ooh Child"), "Ain't Gonna Rest (Til I Get You)" b/w "You Can't See." The A-side is really fast-paced Chicago soul from the late 60's, clearly a Curtis Mayfield production from the instrumentation, alone. The song is sublime, it's just furious and urgent as hell. The B-side is mid-tempo and has that same uptown sound with some strings and percussion that really make it for me. Big fan of this 45, and see it sell for quite a bit. Download the songs here and look for it to buy, it's worth it. (I dug and paid 2 bucks for it in NJ).

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HJ5Q6L87

And Horace Andy's In the Light album is among the most influential of his or any reggae singer's career, and its dub counterpart Dub the Light is right up there with it. I have an original vinyl copy of Dub the Light on the Hungry Town label, so I ripped and upped it for you. It's complete with pops and scratches, as old Jamaican vinyl loves to be. But I don't think it skips, so you have every song here. Obviously, if you can find a copy of this on CD or vinyl, even the re-issue, get it, because it's absolutely genius. Seriously deep dub, great occasional snippets of vocals, more echo than a gigantic Arctic ice cave. A must have for any reggae/dub enthusiast.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KJ3SBR6X

Rock and Reggae

Again, busy day, so this will be a quicky.

The rock I'm uploading is a French double 7" Alex Chilton - No Sex EP I got on the super cheap. This is real straight-ahead rock-and-roll from the Box Tops and Big Star singer-songwriter, but from the 80's! Luckily it doesn't have all the corny 80's production. One 7" had the 2 original songs from the single, "No Sex" and "Underclass." "No Sex" is I guess about AIDS, and a decent little rock song. "Underclass" is not quite as good, just a straight old-fashioned rock and roll song. My favorite part of this, however, is the second 7" containing a live version of "September Gurls" and a cover of Lou Chrstie's classic "I'm Gonna Make You Mine." It's like Alex Chilton doing a great Northern Soul version of a 60's pop song with distortion on his guitar....fucking AWESOME. No picture, just download:
http://www.mediafire.com/?hq0zdd0itet

And the reggae portion is a truly big Reggae hit by one of my favorite artists, Yellowman. This dude could chat lyrics like nobody's business over every riddim. This happens to be on NY's Witty's early dancehall label (80's), slightly different from the more popular version of Yellow's hit. I included the "Version" side of the 12" single, which is a great, straight-up version of the Answer Riddim.
http://www.mediafire.com/?emztjnkyzxt

One little soul 45 today

Sorry, busy day today guys, but I'm giving you a 45 that's better than most. This is a fairly rare one on the Josie label by Johnny and The Expressions : "Boys and Girls Together" b/w "Give Me One More Chance." I was super lucky to get a minty copy of this for like 3 bucks some years ago, because it goes for at least 10 times that now in lesser condition. "Boys and Girls Together" is a GREAT dance tune with a very nice uptown sound and a quick tempo, lush harmonies and sugary falsettos. The other side is a slow ballad featuring the same fairly slick production and falsetto harmonies. So listen to the first song and dance, then throw on the second song and make out. Serious baby-maker, here, folks.

Download it: http://www.mediafire.com/?qomy3hmlzvw

I got happy music here

It's nice out here in sunny New Jersey, and I have some nice weather music in addition to the sad, angry bastard music. Power Pop!

First up is a 12 inch 4-track EP by The Jags, featuring their big single "Back of My Hand," and 3 other nice tunes of that style. "Back of My Hand" is one of those old Power Pop staples that is on all the comps featuring British power pop. It's fast music with some bite, but it's not quite as pissed off as punk. I snagged this one for cheap, which I'm happy about, because I'd been looking for it locally for years, and happened upon it 2 days ago, finally! Digging pays off. But anyway, yeah, totally crucial tunage, here. Download:

http://www.mediafire.com/?wjznbzdjziq

And next up is a Cinerama 7" that I'm not quite sure how to classify. Brit Pop? Bubblegum Pop? I don't really care. It's good stuff. David Gedge can write one hell of a song, I must admit. These songs are cute, "7x" and "Kerry Kerry." Good, poppy rock and roll from the UK with great lyrics and hooks. Way underrated songwriter. Sound quality isn't superb on these songs, not sure why, but that should inspire you to buy them somewhere!

http://www.mediafire.com/?dni2mvumdmg

And to top it all off, here's some reggae. It's a much slower tune, probably better suited to much hotter weather, but might as well drop it now, because I love it. This is female singer Pat Davis' version of the Alton Ellis classic "I'm Just a Guy," called "I'm Just a Girl." Well-named. The b-side is the "Vanity" riddim dubbed out. This is a gorgeous song with a sugary sweet melody, I'm a big fan. No picture, download below:

http://www.mediafire.com/?mzyzj4oltnz

NJHC and Soul, perfect together

Today I have some cool stuff for you, including the first LP I've ripped. It was daunting, but I tackled it with vigor.

Here's the first LP: Bedlam - Total Bedlam. It's a New Jersey Hardcore classic on Buy Our Records, and I believe it came out in something like 1986. I will warn you that it can be offensive to the wrong crowd, so if you're really PC and/or don't have a sense of humor, skip down to the soul I'm uploading. But if you can listen to some kinda funny, hard, fast music from NJ in the mid 1980's, check it out. They were kind of a brother band to AOD. My favorite song is "Hated You Then and I Hate You Now." "AIDS" is maybe the most offensive, guess why! It's just that kinda album, haha. Download:

http://www.mediafire.com/?yddmzdnjmjz

On to nicer, more pleasant things, here's a 45 by Betty LaVette. It's some funky, rather deep soul on the Silver Fox label, "Do Your Duty" b/w "Love's Made a Fool Out of Me". If you've never listened to Betty Lavette, really get down on this, it's awesome soul music. Kind of a slightly sweeter-sounding Aretha Franklin sound. Not quite as deeply expressive as Aretha, but plenty of sweetness and sass. Download:

http://www.mediafire.com/?myyzmuzin5c

And to wrap up, I have a fantastic up-tempo soul 45 by The Radiants on the Chess label. This would I suppose be considered Northern Soul, real glossy kinda production, but all around fabulous harmonies and amazing dance beats. It's from the era right before production got too glossy to be cool. There's strings and horns, but they actually WORK and don't sound cheesey or forced. I love both sides of this 45, and believe you will, too.

http://www.mediafire.com/?0iliyatzxjn

Obscure, and less obscure

The first thing I'll post today is obscure. It's an early 90's hardcore 7" by Long Island (I believe), NY's Goon Squad called "Uglier Than Your Sister." It's pretty brutal stuff with some actually clever lyrics that border on being funny and making me wanna punch myself in the face with a toaster. That's a pretty cool border to be on. I wish the drums were recorded better on this 7", because the parts are heavy and decent, but the tone and sound is just bad. Otherwise, it's a funn 7" to listen to. These guys are more or less unknown nowadays, but older NY heads might remember them. I spun records between bands at a reunion show of sorts that my friend put on for them in NYC several years ago. I think about 6 people hung around to watch and dance for these guys, but we enjoyed the shit out of it. So here's some seriously obscure hardcore I doubt you can download elsewhere.



No picture, download below:
http://www.mediafire.com/?t3jzkkjvw0i



Next up is a less obscure record I got some years ago. It's a much later, slow lovers rock reggae cut of a classic 60's Rocksteady song sung by Errol Dunkley called "You're Gonna Need Me." The b-side is a very dubbed out reverb-heavy "Version" of the instrumental backing track. Errol Dunkley is often kind of underappreciated in the realm of Reggae singers. He didn't have the prettiest or flashiest voice around, but he sang great songs well, and I am a fan. Got to see him live a few years ago, and he put on a nice show. The original cut he did of this song is from the 60's, and is on the Trojan Rocksteady Box Set. It's like a mellow Jamaican equivalent of the 13th Floor Elevators' "You're Gonna Miss Me." It was originally a blues tune by Barbara Lynn. This version came much later, but I don't know exactly when. It's some serious sad, heart-felt stuff. This one's dedicated to all the bitches that broke my heart via electronic communication! Bitches.


Again no pic, download below:
http://www.mediafire.com/?gmwy0lmyftn



And I saved the best for last again. This IS my favorite Pat Kelly 45 of all time, and many would agree with me. It would be considered "Skinhead" or "Early Reggae", and I believe it's from about 1969. The instrumental backing track on this is so upbeat and happy-sounding that the sad, longing lyrics and vocal style seem to come from a whole other friggin' planet. I honestly can't even express the beauty contained on this 7" round slab of vinyl. I hate when stuff gets over-hyped, but I could hype this for an hour and it would still exceed any expectations you had. Kelly's Curtis Mayfield-inspired falsetto pleading tugs at my heart strings harder than the marlin from "The Old Man and The Sea". The b-side is another nice vocal track on basically the same instrumental called "Try to Remember." It's really good, but has a totally different melody and is less urgent and overwhelmingly sad than "How Long." I have a blank, original Jamaican pressing of this. Download it below the picture of the English pressing:




http://www.mediafire.com/?md2ojwmozzy

Soul and Reggae today

I happen to have more rare soul and reggae 45's than punk/hardcore, or at least they're a bit harder to find on the interwebs, so I'm concentrating on those genres for my 3 records today. Although tomorrow's post will have a decent, really obscure hardcore 7" that some of you may find interesting. But anyway:

First up is Pat Kelly - in my opinion the sweetest singing voice to ever come from Jamaica, and one of the sweetest from anywhere, ever. He clearly idolizes Curtis Mayfield's cool, lilting falsetto as MANY Jamaican singers from the 60's did (like this one guy, Bob Marley). This isn't my absolute favorite Pat Kelly 45, but it's up there, and it's a bit harder to find to download, perhaps, than my favorite. The song is "I Don't Want to Go," and the b-side is the dubbed-out instrumental "version." It's good early 70's reggae, really cool with a great rhythm section and melodica backing in the rhythm. Gorgeous melody and Pat Kellly's amazing voice make this a flawless record.

http://www.mediafire.com/?dziehoyyydx

Then I got an awesome 45, that I used to have 2 copies of, one of which I lost either to a trade or a girlfriend. Either way I'm sure I won, because I kept the cleaner copy, HA! One side is The Chevelles - "The Gallop". This is a fast-paced break-laden instrumental dancer with incredible drumming and a relentless, throbbing beat. The other side is a slow, serious vocal tune by Gloria Walker called "Talking About My Baby." It starts off with a long spoken part where she drops some knowledge about love before she belts out some heavy soul, and the song ends strangely without sounding completed. A bit weird, but I dig it. Download it:

http://www.mediafire.com/?yzl2kddbuky

And I saved the best for last, I think. These are 2 of my favorite Otis Redding songs. I guess these are from his Love Man LP, which doesn't make them terribly hard to find at all, but for some reason I never see that LP or this 45 in stores. I can never find these to download on your standard p2p download networks, and I own the 45, so I figured I'd rip it and let you have a listen before you try to find them yourself. "Look at The Girl" is an incredible dance song, with Otis' standard pleading delivery, catchy refrain, and everything else you'd expect from Otis in top form. "That's a Good Idea" is about as good, although it's more of a mid-tempo tune with a slightly more interesting melody and hook. I have a piture of the LP and download link below, though these are from the 45 on Atco records (not Volt!).

http://www.mediafire.com/?gnmyr4hnugo

The hits just keep on comin'

First I'll drop a great VA hardcore/punk 7", Avail's "Attempt to Regress" EP. Both "Connection" and "Mr. Morgan" are awesome, angry early 90's hardcore with a little more feeling and subtlety (if that exists in hardcore) than your standard fare. How could you not love this 7"? This band is kinda great in general, so don't be afraid to love this. Download below picture:

http://www.mediafire.com/?4jz42ytdi4g

And then I'll hit you with my first piece of rub-a-dub, early dancehall from one of my favorite DJ's (or what we call MC's in American hip-hop), the famous Josey Wales. The tune is called "Wrong Fe Come Call Me", and the b-side is a slightly dubbed-out version of the instrumental that Josey's lyrics are over, known popularly as the Vanity Riddim, maybe most famous for containing Alton Ellis' "I'm Just a Guy." This is pre-digital dancehall riddims, true rub-a-dub. Hot lyrics, hot track, cool vibes. No image, just download bellow:

http://www.mediafire.com/?wtmm2gntz2u

And finally, the soul portion of this post. We're going south to Memphis for this 45 on the Goldwax label from The Ovations, "Qualifications" b/w "I Believe I'll Go Back Home." This is sweet southern soul, not the northern stuff. They were a 3 piece singing group, with a lead singer who clearly idolized Sam Cooke (like just about everyone else in the mid-60s) and did a fine job of sounding like him. "Qualifications" is a great dance tune, and the b-side is a bit more country, as southern soul tended to be, but a lovely group harmony tune anyway. This record was kinda beat-up, so my apologies for loss of quality, but it's not all that bad, all things considered. Still worth a listen. Download below:

http://www.mediafire.com/?bm5iy3jnmm5

Reggae, proto-punk, and soul today

First I'll give you both sides of a really nice 45 by Jimmy London. He was a Jamaican singer who started off singing in groups like The Untouchables before releasing his first LP, Bridge Over Troubled Water, which was popular in England. This is perhaps one of his lesser-known songs, but it's just a beautiful little tune, nice for a slower dance mood or making out, or what have you. Kinda considered early lovers' rock, and originally released on the Impact! label in Jamaica, but my copy is on the British Ackee label from 1974. Download below:

http://www.mediafire.com/?ovzwmvmomww



Next up is a record that is one of the absolute gems of my collection. Pere Ubu's "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" b/w "Heart of Darkness" was their first record, and super rare to find, especially at a store in New Jersey. I remember when I bought it the dude behind the counter was so pissed because he had burried it in the bin hoping to scoop it up himself, and he admitted it to me. This is raw, weird proto-punk from one of 2 brilliant bands to emerge from the ashes of Rocket From the Tombs in 1975. 30 Seconds Over Tokyko is a long, strange trip with an intense finish, and Heart of Darkness is fast, dark, and awesome. Pere Ubu in their early days were totally unique and lightyears ahead of their time. No pic, download below:



http://www.mediafire.com/?xmmti1v1fzi



And finally, here's one to lift the spirits a bit after the depression the Pere Ubu songs will put you in. The Emperors' "My Baby Likes to Boogaloo" b/w "You Got Me Where You Want Me" is a great 45 from a more or less unknown Pennsylvania soul group. "Boogaloo" is a well-loved classic by Philly soul master Don Gardner that the Emperors give a slightly more rockin', organ-and-percussion-driven take on. The b-side is more Northern Soul-sounding, but still not your standard stuff, again with more electric organ and percussion than a Northern Soul fan might be used to. This is another gem in my collection that I actually try to take good care of, haha. Download below image:



http://www.mediafire.com/?zzjgizy23nd

Here's 3 more attractive slabs of vinyl

So I'm gonna try to update this daily, and not every update will be as varied and juicy as these, but I've gotta suck you in with the good ones. I will be mixing up the reggae, too, and throwing some later stuff and even dancehall up here, but I'll ease you in with golden oldies.

I'll start off with an awesome 45 by Clifford Curry on the Elf label, "She Shot a Hole in My Soul" b/w "We're Gonna Hate Ourselves In the Morning." "She Shot a Hole in My Soul" is an uptempo dance tune with a somewhat sad lyric. I suppose this is what some would call Northern Soul. "We're Gonna Hate Ourselves in the Morning" is my favorite of the 2 songs. It's a mid-tempo tune about a passionate affair that builds in power and feeling beautifully. I'd play this tune in a bar if there were some cougars with rings on their fingers who looked like they wanted to get down. Download below:








http://www.mediafire.com/?wyy0zujmnzi





The next 45 I have up is from the late, great Alton Ellis. He's one of my favorite singers of any genre from any time period, and I got to see him live twice before his death. He was an incredible performer. This 45 contains the song "Denver", b/w a blank label containing a "Version", or instrumental track. It's awesome early reggae with Alton's signature pleading tone borrowed somewhat from his favorite American soul singers, and passion born in the church. Download below:



http://www.mediafire.com/?zjztryw0mw0


And I'll wrap this one up with some pissed off early 90's New York Hardcore (or Hate-core, as this band called it). This is a 7" from SFA with the tracks "Unclean" and "Freedom." If you're pissed off and wanna vent some anger and frustration, these tunes may help. I especially enjoy the spoken intro to "Freedom." You'll see why when you listen to it. This band gets kinda underappreciated by a lot of people. This was a strange kinda time in hardcore, I think, kind of a transition. I dunno, I like 'em. Download (sorry, no pic):

http://www.mediafire.com/?gvlzjnzmutm

I just can't stop it...

Okay, I've got a cold or something, so I'm home "resting", aka ripping records to my computer. So first up is Spizzenergi's classic 7" "Where's Captain Kirk?" b/w "Amnesia." This is awesome punk (post-punk, maybe?) from 1979 on Rough Trade records. I highly recommend picking this 7" up, it's fast, somewhat rowdy music with clever lyrics and melodies. I got my copy at Curmudgeon Records in Somerville, NJ...and I seem to remember them having another copy on a recent visit there. Download below:

http://www.mediafire.com/?zj2zlyyqjzt

Then I got some sweet funky stuff from The Fabulous Counts on a 45 rpm record, "Rhythm Changes" b/w "Pack of Lies." These were Detroit boys who could play the shit out of some funk. I believe this 7" is from around 1970 or so. Pack of Lies is an instrumental, and Rhythm Changes has some basic, simple, almost shouted funky vocals. This is on the famous Westbound label. Killer record, both sides scorch! Download below:

http://www.mediafire.com/?mtnj4tddvk3

And finally, here's both sides of a killer Early Reggae 45 on England's Bread record label, produced by Jackie Edwards. Jackie's Boys - "Cum-Ba-Laa" b/w "I Want You Beside Me". I honestly am not sure which side is A and which is B, because they're both so good I just play whichever one I'm in the mood for. "Cum-Ba-Laa" is a very uptempo reggae number that's more instrumental than vocal (but great for dancing), and "I Want You Beside Me" is a warm, soulful vocal tune in a slightly slower tempo. Booth tracks are killer, and I have no clue if they've been issued or released on anything in recent times, but here they are from my 45. Sorry, no picture, but download below:

http://www.mediafire.com/?m5nx5tnayun

First Reggae and Soul Post

So first I'll drop a small Early Reggae nugget. "Too Experienced" was made famous in Jamaica first by Bob Andy. Many years later Barrington Levy would do a super popular Dancehall version that may still be the most recognized version, especially among younger folks, in Jamaica. I have no idea where this version fits into the mix, as the copy I have is from 1969 on a label based in New York called Steady Records, who also put out some great reggae compilations from the same time period. I randomly found it in great shape in a record store in Pennsylvania among some other rather pedestrian R&B and old pop 45's, for the princely sum of $1.00. The B-side is a soulful, faster, uptempo early reggae tune called "You're My Girl." Some might consider these songs "Skinhead Reggae", as this was the kinda stuff that was popular in England around 1969. Download below(had to use megaupload, mediafire is being wonky right this second):

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=O12ELFXE

And here's the first soul 45 I'm upping. It's not the rarest 45 in the world, but I haven't seen another copy since I found this one for 49 cents. It's The Chairmen of the Board - "Chairman of the Board" b/w "When Will She Tell Me She Needs Me." "When Will She Tell Me She Needs Me" is among my favorite soul tunes of all time. It's an uptempo, urgent plea delivered with serious soul. Think "Give Me Just a Little More Time" but sadder and in minor keys. I could never find a digital version of this, so here's the rip from my 45. "Chairman of the Board" is a bluesier tune with a good groove, as well. This stuff is on the Invictus label, from the brilliant minds of the Holland-Dozier-Holland team. Pretty much everything they put out was top notch, you can never go wrong with an H-D-H record. Download below(again used megaupload due to mediafire appearing to be down right now):

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JG3YZOCZ

Here's some of my records!

So I'm making this blog to share some of my favorite records. Some will be rare as hell, some will be fairly easy to find, but they'll all be worth listening to. They are from my personal vinyl collection. I will try not to offend anyone or take food out of anyone's babies' mouths. Some of what I post may be easily downloadable or even for sale elsewhere. In fact, if it is, and you like it, I suggest you buy it and help allow people to actually make a living in the scary, weird music business. There is actually work involved in making and playing music, and those who do it deserve to be compensated.

My record collection consists mainly of Reggae/Rocksteady/Ska, Soul/Funk, and Punk/Hardcore, with most subgenres within those styles included. It's mostly music that moves me and other people, physically, emotionally or both. I'm a working DJ, so moving people is kinda my job. I will post music from my collection that fits in one of the aforementioned categories, and tell you a bit about whatever I post. Some will be facts about the music, and some will be my personal view, or what the music means and does to me. I'll try not to be a jerk about anything, but I am passionate, for sure.

The first record I'm posting is a 7" by one of NJ's first hardcore punk bands, The Burnt, on Headache Records, with the songs "Charlie Brown" and "I Wanna Pet My Cat." "Armpit" of The Burnt is the man behind Headache Records, one of my favorite punk record labels. The Burnt more or less turned into The Wretched Ones later on, who are still one of my favorite punk bands to see live. They made and still make no-bullshit, fun, honest working class music. These 2 songs are fast, hard, funny punk rock, as early NJ Hardcore was famous for being. This is a tough record to find, but if you can find a copy, buy it. It's a nice piece of history with 2 blistering, fun songs on it. Download below:

http://www.mediafire.com/?w4dzm2gtcmm