Reggae Thursday at SOTS: Dennis Brown Special

Please don't expect a Halloween post. I am not into Halloween at all. So instead let's hear some reggae by Dennis Brown 

Playlist

Intro

Lips of Wine

Rock With Me Baby

Going To A Ball

Money In My Pocket

Outro

For a great live video, please go here.

BT Express -- "Now That We Found Love"

Today’s song is best known sung by the great O’Jays. I still love the O’Jays original best, but B.T. Express definitiely puts a nice soft spin on the tune. The title is on their 1976 album Energy To Burn.

Enjoy listening.

Update on John Edwards of The Spinners

You probably know by now that I just love John Edwards' voice. Hubby knows it for sure; so, he dug out the TVOne episode on the Spinners. The video features John Edwards. He definitely was a great singer and seems to be a wonderful person. He appears around 34:00.

Go here to view video.

Gag Them!!!!!!!

Why in the world does a group like Kool and The Gang stoop that low? The best of musicians teaming up with the worst of wanna-be-singers ... Doesn't get any more ridiculous. Argh!

Didn't Mean to spoil your weekend, though. 

Blues Thursday: Delbert McClinton -- "Rebecca Rebecca"

I was talking to a friend today who was asking me about the song "Rebecca Rebecca." So, I went hunting for it ... And what I found was simply great.

Doesn't he sound a bit like James Brown?

WRAG- Radio Raggedy: It's Monday. So What?

Every day is just what you make of it -- even Monday!

 

It's Monday. So What? by Radio Raggedy on Mixcloud

John Edwards -- "Walls That Separate Our Love"

This heart-wrenching favorite song of mine came up in my car the other day when I was driving (or rather creeping) on IH 10. Of course, I turned the volume uppppp and told myself I had to post it asap on SOTS. And besides John Edwards' exceptionally beautiful, pleading rendition the base line struck me as worthwhile mentioning. Just listen.
While I researched the artist and the song, of course, I found another recording of this title by no one else than the great Walter Jackson. Very good also.
John Edwards was a member of the Spinners from 1977 - 2000. He left the group after suffering a stroke.

"Walls That Separate Our Love" is a rare gem.
My other post about this artist here and go here for a discography and short bio.

Today's pick (available on the KENT release Good Guys Don't Always Win 

And here the version by the great Walter Jackson

More John Edwards

Anacostia / David Ruffin -- On and Off

Falling in love is so very nice  -- even if only with a song. I just discovered this original version of On And Off . Up to now I only knew the David Ruffin cover which is one of my Ruffin favorites, btw. So, here I am in a true dilemma. On the one hand, I think the Anacostia interpretation is simply wonderful. On the other hand, David's version reflects, in my opinion, the frustration and irritation involved in the situation described, while Anacostia's approach is a little too sweet, too romantic to convey the actual message: you're  driving me crazy with your indecision. David turns the song into a living story; Anacostia transforms the story into a smooth song ...

The Anacostia version

David Ruffin's version

The Ebonys -- "Sexy Ways"

Alright, here's to another Sunday.  It's easy to make it a  "sexy" one with the right music.

For more Ebonys See also

The Exportations -- "Fell In Love Too Late"

Life is full of surprises. To me such a surprise came in the form of a 70's group I don't remember having ever heard of ... Don't know why. Today's pick is one of the rare finds that make my heart jump. In this recording everything is right: the vocals, the music, the lyrics. Actually, the vocals are of a stunning beauty, I'd say ... Perfect harmonizing. Just listen yourself.

The track is from the Meet The Exportations album (United Artists, 1978). The album seems to be hard to find.

The Exportations were: Anthony (Amp) Pilgrim*, Bernard (Bee) Gibson*, Lucian (Sonny) Thomas*, Arthur (Rick) Gibson*, Willie (Crick) Gibson* 
I am wondering whether Bernard Gibson could be the former member of Dennis Edwards' Temptation Review. If anyone knows, I'd love to hear from you. 

Reggae: Glen Adams and The Bunny Lee All Stars -- "Cat Woman"

Adams first appeared as a member of a vocal group on Radio Jamaica's Opportunity Knocks show. His solo performance later on the same show opened the doors to cabaret shows and weekend performances in Kingston and St. Andrews.

He attracted the attention of Coxsone Dodd while rehearsing a song written by his sister Yvonne ( a popular singer), and in 1960 recorded that song  ("Wonder Thirst") at the Federal Recording Studio. The song wasn't "officially" released, though.

Throughout his career he teamed up with Ken Boothe as Ken and Glen, co-founded The Heptones and joined the Pioneers. From about 1967 he worked with Bunny Lee. 

"At a recording session in October 1968, when several musicians failed to turn up due to a dispute about payment for a previous session, Adams was asked to play piano, despite not being proficient on the instrument. Unhappy with the results, he switched instruments with organist Lloyd Charmers (although he had never played the organ before). He played organ on eight tracks in that session, which included Lester Sterling's "Bangarang" and Slim Smith's "Everybody Needs Love" and he has stuck with the instrument ever since, becoming a regular session player." (Wikipedia) 
He also worked with The Upsetters, Herman Chin Loy, and The Wailers before he ventured into R&B and Rap in the late 70's. 
Glen Adams died on 17 December 2010 at the University Hospital of the West Indies after falling ill while visiting Jamaica.

If you love your reggae with a lot of hammond organ, this song is just for you.

Enjoy!

The Waters -- "My Heart Just Can't Let You Go"

I don't know much about the group, but they definitely deserve better than being overlooked. The waters were Julia, Maxine, Luther, and Oren Waters -- all family. They are cited as backing vocalists with various soul, jazz, and rock artists. The group was active during the 70's, 80's, and 90's, but their albums are extremely hard to come by.

Enjoy!

More music by The Waters

Cloudcast: Mix! Don't Match!

Mix!Don't Match! by Radio Raggedy on Mixcloud

Playlist

A New Chapter -- Julia DeWitt

In Answer To Your Question -- The Futures

Go On And Dream -- Johnny Bristol

Shelter -- The Tams

Mama Don't Lie (Sho Came True) -- Sharon Clarke

Touching Me -- The Ovations

Oh My Dear -- The Dells

Lying Girl -- Jessie "Guitar" Box

Ain't No Big Thing -- Jimmy James

Thoughts And Wishes -- Hamilton Bohannon

Elephant Walk -- The Daylighters

Black Balloons -- Syl Johnson 

T-Bone Walker -- "In An Awful Mood/Goodbye Baby"

This track is from the Fly Walker Airlines album that was recorded live at Montreux. The Year was 1972. And -- this is an album that is way too good to let go un-played. "In An Awful Mood/Goodbye Baby" is just an awsome tune ...

I love the authentic live feel and the way the band plays together instead against one another.  I have witnessed way too often that the musicians forget they are not soloists but members of a group. (Quite a few live concerts this summer had been spoiled by noisy drummers, for example, or overbearing base guitarists.) 

Well, that didn't happen when T-Bone Walker and a group of young musicians played at the Montreux jazz festival back in the day ...
It's Walker's only live album and definitely a gem. 

Aaron Thibeaux Walker was born in 1910 in Linden, Texas. Both parents were professional musicians. So, little Aaron inherited a double dose of musical genes. What he made of this gift has become legendary: he became the pioneer of urban blues. In the history of American music, he also has his place as the first musician who used the electric guitar.
Contrary to his contempories, he used the guitar not only to accompany his singing. He emancipated the instrument, so to speak, and placed it right there with the piano, horns, and other instruments of a band. To accomplish that, he needed the amplified sound of an electric guitar.
 By combining traditional techniques with the techniques only possible in the electric guitar , T-Bone Walker created a totally new form of the blues. The smooth, soft blues T-Bone played is a far cry from the original Delta blues, but it became the foundation many other blues men built their style upon.
The artist died 1975 in California. Linden, TX where he was born hosts an annual festival to honor him.

Raggedy recommends: GET The Album!

Enjoy!

Aaron Thibeaux Walker was born in 1910 in Linden, Texas. Both parents were professional musicians. So, little Aaron inherited a double dose of musical genes. What he made of this gift has become legendary: he became the pioneer of urban blues. In the history of American music, he also has his place as the first musician who used the electric guitar.
Contrary to his contempories, he used the guitar not only to accompany his singing. He emancipated the instrument, so to speak, and placed it right there with the piano, horns, and other instruments of a band. To accomplish that, he needed the amplified sound of an electric guitar.
 By combining traditional techniques with the techniques only possible in the electric guitar , T-Bone Walker created a totally new form of the blues. The smooth, soft blues T-Bone played is a far cry from the original Delta blues, but it became the foundation many other blues men built their style upon.
The artist died 1975 in California. Linden, TX where he was born hosts an annual festival to honor him.

  You can listen to the full album on Youtube