Lee Moses -- "If Loving You Is A Crime"

Lee Moses was born on March 13, 1941 in Atlanta. His first band, The Showstoppers, founded in the 50's, once was the house band at the historical Royal Peacock club in Atlanta. (For some interesting info on the Royal Peacock, please visit this site.)

Although Lee Moses never scored big during his active years, the 60's and 70's, his raspy, gritty voice later made him a venerated singer of the deep soul genre. As a guitarist, he based his style on the funky kind of his contemporary Jimi Hendrix. 

In the sixties he moved to New York where he worked as a session musician. Together with John Brantley he wrote his first and best known single there in 1965, "My Adorable One."

"In 1967 he recorded three singles – all commercially unsuccessful – for the Musicor label, including Bad Girl and an instrumental version of The Four Tops' Reach Out, I'll Be There.  The French director Bonello chose Bad Girl for the soundtrack of the movie House of Tolerance (2011.) Lee Moses also recorded a version of Dark End of the Street, issued by Gates Records probably in 1969. (Wiki)

In 1970, he released the LP "Time And Place" which has become a highly acclaimed item among deep soul fans. "The album featured several members of The Ohio Players, as well as Moses' own band, the Deciples (sic)." (Wiki)  Back in the day, however, it failed commercially. 

Lee Moses returned to Atlanta in the early 1970s where he kept performing locally. He did , however, not  record again. He died there in 1997.

An anthology of his recordings was issued in 2007 by Castle Music with the title Time and Place.

Also, the French director Bonello chose his song "Bad Girl" for the soundtrack of the movie House of Tolerance released in 2011.

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Reggae Sunday -- Ken Boothe

 

Freedom Street

Down By The River

Thinking

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Monster Mike Welch -- "My Emptiness"

Oh my goodness! I've started the draft for this post on January 5. Ever since, I've been trying to finish it.
Hubby and I "enjoyed" the last of the holiday leftovers while listening to an online blues station. As always we were discussing the events of the day when my ears suddenly pricked up -- out of the blue, I was mesmerized by the guitar that played in the background. The song, My Emptiness by Mike Welch, had us both pause and listen ... This is the blues I love: capable of soothing and exciting me at the same time.
So, after dinner I went straight to my computer, rummaging my library for more of the addictive stuff. And I came up with a playlist I wanted to post. I even managed to upload 6 of the 9 titles. And then, life got in the way again ...

So, for now, I will at least post the title that has inspired this post. The singing is not very impressive, I admit. But the guitar is.

"... [T]his young monster guitar player is one of the greatest blues talents, today. His style is already distinctive, and he can easily compete with elder contemporaries like Kubek etc. Good album." (amazon editorial review)


Boston-area blues man, Mike Welch, recorded this gem when he was 17. His incredible skill as  a blues guitarist at such a young age earned him the nick name "Monster." (It is said that Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd is responsible for the monicker.) Welch dropped the "Monster" from his name, however, after his second album. 

"Welch’s releases for Tone-Cool, which essentially launched his career as an international touring act, include a 1996 release, These Blues Are Mine, and his 1997 album Axe to Grind.
He began his blues education with his father’s record collection, and he picked up the guitar at age eight and tried to emulate the sounds he heard from recordings by Magic Sam, Earl Hooker and B.B. King. Welch also studied the rock & roll and blues-rock records of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, but after hearing more of Albert King and other blues guitarists, he found his calling in life. " (More info at ArtistWiki)

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Soultaker's Treasure Chest 01-04-2015

Posted by Soultaker

First off I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.  I'm hoping that this coming year will be better for me and the ones close to me.  It was a rough 2014 with my girlfriend dealing with bladder cancer.  She is doing well with her new bladder and everything is working out.  Very lucky to have caught it in time to do something about it.  So it's nothing but looking up in the coming year. 

To help start off the New Year, I give you another set of tunes to enjoy.

1.  Branded Bad - O'Jays - Neptune Records

2.  Can I Change My Mind - Eddie Floyd - Stax

3.  Suspicious Minds - Dee Dee Warwick - Atco

4.  What Our Love Needs - King Floyd - Cotillion Records

5.  This Thing Called Love - The Webs - Pop-Side

6.  A Dance, A Kiss and A Song - The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Warner Bros.

7.  I Can't Believe (What You Say) - Ike and Tina Turner - Capitol

8.  Standing In The Grit Line - Don Covay & The Jefferson Lemon Blues Band - Janus Records

9.  Tell Me What's On Your Mind - Cyril Neville - Josie

10.  Is It You Girl - Betty Wright - Alston

11.  Through All Times - Chuck Jackson - ABC Records

Soultaker's Treasure Chest 01-04-2015 by Soultaker73 on Mixcloud

PS to Raggedy, I hope you feel better.  Both our lives have been busy and we will catch up soon enough.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

A happy new year to everyone!

I want to start 2015 with a truly colorful Youtube clip my oldest blog follower, emmeni from Munich, Germany, sent me. Since I am somewhat under the weather at the moment, it was just what I needed to feel better right away.

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