Merry Christmas to All

The most beautiful guitar sound ever ...

I was just listening to Percy Sledge's Take Time To Know Her. And as I always do when that song plays, I turned the volume up the minute I hear the soft, sweet, soul soothing guitar. Its magic takes me on a trip to the place where life is simple and plain old good. That dancing, dreamy sound takes over, and I forget whatever keeps me from being happy without any restraint ... I lose myself in the world of music.

Soultaker's Treasure Chest 11-27-2016

Posted by Soultaker

This will be the last post I do for the foreseeable future.  I have a lot going on that needs my attention.  Hope everyone is well and enjoy.

 

1.  California Dreaming  -Lee Moses - Maple Records

2.  Shut-Up!!! - Sweet Inspirations - Atlantic

3.  Til The Morning Comes - Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson - SSS International

4.  Don't Make The Good Girls Go Bad - Della Humphrey - Arctic

5.  You Use Me Baby - Willie Hightower - Fame

6.  Sayin' It And Doin' It Are Two Different Things - Bobby Bryd - Brownstone

7.  Tokuta - Jungle Fire - Colemine

8.  Grounded Part 1 - Gloria Taylor - Sliver Fox

9.  The Popcorn - The Soul Believers - King

10.  You Are My Sunshine - Dyke And The Blazers - Original Sound

11.  Give The Baby Anything The Baby Wants - Joe Tex - Dial/Mercury

12.  So Glad To Have You - Shirley Brown - Truth Records

13.  Just Kissed My Baby -The Meters - Reprise/Warner Bros.

14.  A Funky Song - Ripple - GRC

15.  Hang On In There - The Stovall Sisters - Reprise Records

16.  You Can't Hide Love - Creative Source - Sussex

17.  Liquid Love - Roy Ayers - Mukatsuku Records

18.  Easy Does It - Willie Hutch - Whitfield Records

19.  All Night Long - Curtis Mayfield - Curtom

20.  If This World Were Mine - Zuluma - Sussex

21.  In All My Wildest Dreams - Joe Sample - ABC Records

 

 



 

Zusammen!

Happy anniversary to us!

RIP Sharon Jones

Time for another candle. I am so sorry to hear that Sharon Jones of the Dap Kings has died. According to the news, she suffered from pancreatic cancer.

After a long illness, she finally rests in peace.

Sharon Jones 1956 - 2016

WRAG/RADIO RAGGEDY "I Still Do"

Fall has arrived, and life is slowing down around here. So, there's time again to post some of my favorites. This post leans a bit towards the Deep Soul side. Looks like the older I get, the more I favor  the Deepies.

Enjoy!

Intro

The Whispers  -- You’re  What’s Been Missing From My Life

The Flamingos – Straighten It Up

Peggy Scott and Jo Jo Benson – Til The Morning Comes

Eddie Houston – That’s How Much I Love You

The Mad Lads – Destination

McKinley Travis – Baby, Is There Something On Your Mind

Sam Moore – Audience For My Pain

Gay Meadows and  The The Yobyalps – Only One

Rayfield Reid and The Magnificents – Our Alibi

Outro

EttaJames and B. B. King -- "There's Something On Your Mind"

Hey folks!  After a very busy summer I finally found the time to post a gem I just came across the other day when hubby and I were driving home from grocery shopping ... Yep, even a shopping trip can provide for some inspiration.

Soultaker's Treasure Chest 08-02-2016

Posted by Soultaker

 

It's the beginning of August, which means it's still hot outside. So that means more staying indoors for me until the cooler months come around. So that means more music and drinks of choice. Enjoy.

 

 

1.  Baby Let Take You (In My Arms) - Detroit Emeralds - Westbound

2.  Memory Band - Rotary Connection - Cadet Concept

3.  Everything Is Everything - Earth, Wind and Fire - Warner Bros.

4.  My Heart (Needs A Break) - Linda Jones - Loma/Soul Brothers Reissue

5. Why Don't You Do Your Thing - Jackie Wilson - Brunswick

6. Whatcha Gonna Do - The Valdons - Secret Stash

7.  Honey, You Are My Sunshine - Tyrone Davis - Dakar

8. Mr. Cool - Rasputin's Stash - Cotillion

9. The Runaway -  The BlackByrds - Fantasy

10.  Gotta Learn How To Dance - The Fatback Band - Event Records

11. Giving Up - Zulema - Sussex

12.  I'm A Young Man - Joe Quarterman And Free Soul - Mercury

13.  Shoo-B-Doop And Cop Him - Betty Davis - Just Sunshine Records

14. Something You Got - Bobby Womack - United Artist

15.  I Can Sho' Give You Love - Willie Hutch - Motown

 

 





Soultaker's Treasure Chest 07-09-2016

Posted by Soultaker

 

Summer time, which means it's time for me to stay indoors like a hermit and avoid the heat.  Lucky for me I have my vinyl and some drinks.  It's also good for not only avoiding the heat but also the madness that this world has with all the senseless deaths going on.  But I will keep my focus on the music.

 

1.  Sumpin Heavy - The Boys In The Band - Spring

2. Garden Of Four Trees - Explosions - Gold Cup

3.  I've Been There - James Sellers - Tri-Spin Records

4.  Big Ladies Man - The People's Choice - Phil-L.A. Of Soul

5.  Leave My Man Alone - The Raeletts - Tangerine Records

6.  Gimme That Sammich - Charles Wright - ABC Dunhill

7.  I Want To Be In The Land Of Milk And Honey - Vicki Anderson - King

8.  The Preacher And The Bear - Rufus Thomas - Stax

9. Go Home To Your Wife - Norma Jenkins - Alithia Records

10. Mississippi Foxhole - Midnight Movers Unltd. - Buddah Records

11.  Mama Loves Her Children All The Time - Dorothy Norwood - GRC

12.  Are You Man Enough - Four Tops - ABC Dunhill

13. Don't Thank Me Baby, Thank Yourself - Betty Wright - Alston

14. Try Me Tonight - Johnnie Taylor - Stax

 

 

 

By the way, head over and visit Flea Market Funk and give my man DJ Prestige a shout.  He recently did a post featuring myself talking about what motivates you to buy vinyl.  Much props to DJ Prestige and thanks for the feature.

Happy 4th of July!

 

Please remember:

The land of the free because of the brave!





 

Paul Kelly -- "Let Your Love Come Down"

This is one of my favorite Paul Kelly songs.

John Gary Williams -- "Ask The Lonely"

A wonderful timeless song sung by a perfectionist ...

Albert King -- "Please Come Back To Me"

Here comes Albert, the King of Blues.  I just love this piece.

In Memory of my sister Birgit (June 14, 1951 - June 14, 2006) Rose Royce -- Crying

Share In Memory of Birgit.mp3 - 3 MB

 

Ten years it's been

since I've watched red roses

and white lilies tremble with fear

when they descended

into the earth –

together with you

my sister.

The same flowers trembled

with joy on your wedding day.

Ten years it's been

since I've seen you

wearing a fiery red dress

defying the cold blackness

that would soon surround you

and shroud your fervor for life

my sister.

It was the color best matched

your vivacious personality.

But what are ten

short years

compared to the years

we spent together

breathing, discussing, disputing, playing,

eating, crying, touching, consoling,

understanding, misunderstanding,

gossiping, loving, hating, banding together,

shivering, sweating, celebrating,

mourning, losing, winning, sharing …

Ten years cannot erase

you from my life

they cannot take away

what we had

my sister.

Sisters forever!

And yes, I am crying still.

Rest in peace, Birgit.

June 14, 1951 – Forever in our hearts.

Soultaker's Treasure Chest 6-12-2016

Posted by Soultaker

 

I didn't realize until the other day that I have not made a post in almost a year.  As we get older, time really starts to move quicker.  I hope everyone is doing fine in this crazy world we live in. 

 

I'm just trying to relax on this Sunday afternoon before going back in for another work week.  The best way to do that is with some good music.  Hope everyone enjoys.

 

 

1.  You Are What I'm All About - New Birth - RCA

2.  What's Your World - Gloria Ann Taylor - Selector Sound/Luv N' Haight

3.  Whisper - The True Reflection - Atco

4.  The Creeper - Young-Holt Unlimited - Cotillion

5.  Baby's Out Of Sight - Labelle - Warner Bros.

6.  Love Me - The Impressions - Curtom

7.  Tellin You - Maxayn - Capricorn Records

8.  Funky Luvah - Creative Source - Polydor

9. Check It All Out - Black Heat - Atlantic

10 . Fish Ain't Bitin - Lamont Dozier - ABC

11.  He Said Goodbye - Eleanore Mills - Astroscope/Soul Brother Records

 

 



 

 



 

 



 





WRAG new episode: Raggedy Is At It Again

Finally found some time to put together another WRAG Radio Raggedy session. I hope you like it. I do ...

Here you go!

The Futures -- "Love Lives On A Windy Hill"

Since spring is here, and I feel its energy all around me, I am posting the song that always reminds me of spring -- no matter how gloomy a day may be.

Have a happy day everyone!

Jack Burton Trio live

My chief music scout took me out to the Luna Lounge again, and like always, he knew exactly what he was doing. Jack Burton and his band were fantastic. So were the two Skylarks I had.

Unfortunately, my own video turned out to be less than perfect (way less), and so I am posting a Youtube clip of one of their performances. Their repertoire ranges from 60's and 70's soul to jazzy contemporary pieces with a jazzy feel written by Jack Burton himself. The musicians are first rate, and Jack's lovely wife, without a doubt, can sing quite well.

It didn't take long before the dance floor became crowded, and people were dancing in their seats or at the table. If the Jack Burton Trio is anywhere near you, you need to check them out. You will not regret it. Your old Raggedy was totally smitten with the horn section ...

I begin to believe that good old Austin, Texas really  has some of the very best musicians to offer.
If you want to know more about this "trio," please visit its website 

Enjoy a taste of what Jack Burton calls "Austin Soul." I love it!

"Book of Memories"

How ya'll doing?

I am still/again busy doing all the things that need to be done (well, and also doing things that I really don't have to do). Anyway, I was on the road with Bo (Theo's successor in terms of cars) when Clyde McPhatter's "Book of Memories" came up. And, all I can say is that I forgot the crazy blockheads on the road, and that nerve-wrecking stop and go traffic did not bother me anymore. I listened to the soothing music, the perfect background harmonizing, and Clyde McPhatter's, for the lack of a better expression, heart-felt singing and the world seemed to have stopped its routine spin for some four minutes ...

When I came home, I immediately played Percy Wiggins's version which I love even more. The instrumentation on his recording is less pompous, allowing the deep southern soul feel to "run free'" so to speak.

Alright!

Roy Hamilton -- "Hurt"

This is a song I absolutely love. I guess my favorite rendition of it is by Timi Yuro, but Roy Hamilton's take on this gem is a close runner up.




There's a very good "live" version by Timi from 1965 on youtube.

 Timi Yuro live in 65, "I'm So Hurt"

George Jackson -- "Macking On You"

Alright. I had to look the meaning of "macking someome" up. Never heard the expression before. Just in case you didn't know, it means flirting heavily just to attract someone's attention and eventually ending up with another score in the sex encounter department ...

There's nothing like a perfect horn section and a hammond organ sound  floating about. I love this song.

David Sea -- "Distant Lover"

And here's more of David Sea's fantastic singing. He is unbelievable!

" ... there's a warm wind blowing"

 Yesterday,  the line from "I Can See Clearly Now" came to mind when I saw the clear blue sky. Today it was the balmy air greeting me when I opened the patio door that reminded me of another song. Does this happen to you too?

The moment I felt the warm wind on my face, it was there: "There's a warm wind blowing ..." This time, though, it took me only a few seconds to name the song to which the line belongs. It is David Sea's "Really Wanna See You Tonight."

The song I have on file is a little different from the youtube clip's version. But it is the same song, nevertheless.

So, if you live in a place where it is cold and dreary right now, just close your eyes and let the imaginary warm wind blow in your face ...

Enjoy one of the truly great soulful voices.

"... gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day"

Goodness! The new year is already in full bloom, and I have not even posted a "Happy New Year" to you all. Anyway, I hope this post finds everyone in good health and perfectly happy.

When I opened the blinds this morning, the line from a song popped up in my mind. At first, I couldn't think of the song, but I kept humming along. "It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day ..." Of course you know what song it was. Say about Texas what you want. But the blue sky is unbeatable, and it clears -- cleanses -- my head of any pesky thought that might cloud my view of the world.

Life is good for me, and if I could, I would let everyone feel the same at this very moment.