Soultaker's Treasure Chest: No Words Needed

Posted by Soultaker

I hope everyone is doing ok as we approach holiday madness. It's been awhile since I posted due to that thing call real life getting in the way.

I'm a person that is considered laid back by most that know me. Never too outspoken unless it's a rant about the current music that is out there now a days, but I digress. That being said, I decided to throw together a little set called No Words Needed. Just some good feeling instrumental soul music.

1. Ramones – Soultrain - Rampage

2. Booker T. & The M.G.’s – The Horse - Stax

3. The Deacons – Sock It To Me Part 1 - Shama

4. The Whitefield Brothers – In The Raw – Soul Fire/Now Again

5. The Nite-Liters – Tanga Boo Gonk – RCA/Victor

6. The Meters – Hey! Last Minute – Josie

7. Kool & The Gang – Rated X – De-Lite

8. The Budos Band – Rite Of The Ancients – Daptone

9. Jr. Walker & The All-Stars – Hot Cha – Soul

Enjoy

The Ebonys -- Mr. Me , Mrs. You

The Ebonys will forever be remembered for their unforgettable Forever -- a song I can listen to all day long without ever tiring of hearing it. Of course, what makes that song so attractive is the raw, emotional, gritty lead voice. And I believe it's exactly this distinct lead voice that keeps the song from becoming kitchy. Well ... The Ebonys were not very successful, and there's actually only one other song, You're The Reason Why, that achieved similar recognition than Forever; it climbed to #10 on the R'nB charts in 1971.

You're The Reason Why, (Ebonys, PIR 1971)


The pick of today is a song from their second album, Sing About Life (Buddah, 1976.) It's not a song that could be described as exceptional, but it is a nice Philly tune ... And yours ol' Raggedy likes it a lot. 

AudioBlog#17_JustGoodMusic

Is there anything more beautiful in this whole wide world than a sunny and cool fall afternoon? I can't imagine. Life is simply good -- and, of course, yours old Raggedy has to enhance it all by adding some simply good music to such a day.

Playlist

The Originals -- Red Sails In The Sunset (Baby, I'm For Real, 1969)

The Montclairs -- Beggin' Is Hard To Do

New Birth -- How Will I Live (Behold The Mighty Army, Warner Bros., 1977)

The Moments -- I Feel So Good Again (Look At Me, Stang, 1975)

The Dells -- Soul Strollin' (Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation, Cadet, 1973)

Listen

LimeLinx

Individual Files

Haze -- I Do Love My Lady (rare, obscure)

This title is from a 1974 album by a group that had been forgotten for decades. One day, a lucky vinyl collector DJ got her hands on it -- and voila! Here is a beautiful track from a resurrected album. 

If you'd like to read the whole story, please go here.

Listen

LimeLinx

Gene Chandler -- You Threw A Lucky Punch

Listen

      LimeLinx

Today may be the lucky day! 

Jimmy Radcliffe -- Feels Like Lovin' (unreleased)

There's a whole lot of talk about Jimmy's Long After Tonight Is Over, and I agree that song is great, but I didn't fall in love with it at first listen. It was Feels Like Lovin' that made my heart skip a beat or two. (Such precious gems are to be found on Barry's Vintage Soul Radio Show)

You'll find a detailed bio. about the artist at Barry Fowden's Soul Cellar archives.

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Long After Tonight Is Over

The Temprees -- I'm For You, You're For Me

I have already posted about The Temprees here. But I don't think it can be wrong to share more than one song by a group or an artist. Especially, if that song is one of these i-tunes titles that make you listen up as soon as they start playing.

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Have a happy Monday everyone!
(If it's not happy yet  -- just make it happy!)

Reggae Sunday

Are You Ready? Are You Ready? 

Here comes another Reggae Sunday at SOTS

Playlist

Soulful -- Big L

Crystal Ball -- Peter Tosh

My Girl -- Lee Perry/Upsetters

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Individual Files

Lou Rawls "Your Good Thing"

Lou Rawls is perhaps the quintessential R&B artist. Although he is probably most remembered for his time with Philly International, Lou was an established artist long before he found wide fame and acceptance with Gamble and Huff. See his full history Lou Rawls Bio
I didn't know that he had a 4 octave range, wow. I think of him as a superb baritone who's phrasing and legendary sound is immediately recognized and is unsurpassed in the music industry.
This is a song released 1969 that I absolutely love "Your Good Thing" Listen to the pathos and earnestness that Lou conveys.


If you would like to hear it on your computer Click here

Additional Serving -- 70's Greats live

Yesterday, I was listening to so much Philly Sound I woke up with kind of a hangover this morning ... At least that's how it felt. So, I eased the pain with another dose of TSOP -- and here is a clip I found while I was rummaging YouTube for more and more and more  of my favorite sound.

AdioBlog#16_TheBluesInsideMe

Playlist

In The Mood (Instrumental) -- Big Walter Horton

Reap What You Sow -- Mose Vinson

She Comes To See Me Sometime -- Joe Hill Louis

Sitting On A Poor Man's Throne -- Bobby Blue Bland

My Bottle Is My Companion -- Percy Mayfield

 Weekend Love -- Clarence Carter

Listen!
LimeLinx

Luther Vandross -- I'll Get Along Fine

From one of Luther's two pre-soloist album Luther comes this track. Again, I have to thank ((Soultaker)) for pointing out this gem of an album to me. (Also see my previous post.)

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

R.I.P Luther 

The Marvelows "In The Morning"

Thanks To Raggedy she reminded me of this song by The Marvelows.Here is their bio The Marvelows Raggedy posted this sung by the Sly Slick and The Wicked. I remembered it by the Marvelows who actually sung it in 1968. Here is their original version.


I like this version better, being a harmony freak I particularly like what the 1st tenor does at the end. I stated in the previous in the comments section that I thought that SL&W's harmony was better based on memory. I take that back The original (this one) is the better of the two. I'm torn on the lead singing, what do you think?

Sly, Slick and Wicked -- When The Morning Comes

John F. Wilson (Sly), Charles Still (Slick) and Marc Sexton (Wicked) founded their group in 1970 in Cleveland, Ohio. Their Stay My Love got Paramount Records interested, and in March 1971 they got signed to the label. Heavily promoted by Paramount as the "hottest newest group," Stay My Love made it to # 1 on different charts. Nevertheless, Marc Sexton left the group at that time and Terry Stubbs replaced him.
In 1973 James Brown, having heard the group's debut single as well as its follow-up, It's Not Easy, made them part of his "First Family of Soul." He then produced Sho Nuff, a song written by the group; this song's success lead to an invitation to appear on Soul Train by the mighty Don Cornelius. 


Sho Nuff,  (People Records, 1973)



In 1974 they changed labels again, signing with the O'Jays owned Shaker Records. Once again, they released a hit with Turn On Your Lovelight. When Motown called via the Ju-par subsidiary, they of course moved again. There, in 1976, they released their first album Sly, Slick and Wicked. A second album for the label has never been released since Ju-par folded right after the first album had come out.


When they released All I Want Is You in 1979 for Epic, Sly, Slick and Wicked's star was already dimming.
The group kept performing into the 2000's while its members worked as songwriters and producers for such greats as the O'Jays, Janet Jackson (not so great lol) and Barry White.


The group clearly shows a way too obvious attempt to sound like the O'Jays -- which was not a good idea, in my opinion, simply because nobody will ever be able to come anywhere close to Walter Williams or Eddie LeVert. 

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Smooth Soul

Posted by Gua.......

The loss of true baritone singing bothers me, the loss of true smooth R&B irritates me. So I'm on a mission to point out to these musically deprived young-ins what good music is all about.
Miles Jaye is perhaps one of the last of the recent gifted baritones (with the exception of Will Downing), this cut is from the very hard, but now very expensive HERE to find CD entitled "Irresistible". This was released in 1989 just before the rise of melisma-crazed,nasal singing became the norm. but I digress, Enjoy the sound of smooth R&B!!





If you would like to listen to this on your computer Click here

Raggedy, Thank you for lettingmebemyself

Maxine Brown -- I'm In Love

Here is a song that brings me to my knees when sung by Wilson Pickett. He, of course, had sung it convincingly enough to make his audience wonder if he really had just fallen in love.
The recording of the song by Maxine Brown is very nice, too.

Here's the one and only Wilson Pickett (glitter suit and all)

Here's Maxine's version.

John Lee Hooker (live) -- I'll Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive

Here comes J. L. Hooker -- and with him are Otis Spann on the piano. Muddy Waters, Sammy Lawhorn and Luther Johnson are playing some fine guitar tunes. Francis Clay on the drums and Mac Arnold plays the bass. This track is from a 1966 live recording at the Cafe au Go Go in New City. Recordings like these don't leave any doubt as to why the man became the legend he is.

John Lee Hooker - Live at the Cafe au Go-Go

(New York City, August 30th, 1966)
 01 I'm Bad Like Jesse James.mp3
02 She's Long, She's tall ( She Weeos Like A Willow Tree).mp3
03 When My First Wife Left Me.mp3
04 Heartaches and Misery.mp3
05 One Bourbon, One Scotch And One Beer.mp3
06 I Don't Want No Trouble.mp3
07 I'll Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive.mp3
08 Seven days.mp3
Listen!

LimeLinx

 

Carrie Cleveland -- Love Will Set You Free

Wednesday needs to be a happy, hopping day.

Now this song gets me out of my chair and has me dance ... It's got that fantastic beat, and Carrie Cleveland's voice is captivating. Isn't it?

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Tony Fox -- I Wanna Get Next To You

Today is election day -- please don't forget! No matter what party you're going to vote for, go cast your vote. And do it because YOU are convinced about doing the right thing -- don't let polls, papers or people influence your decision.

Okay back to the most important thing on earth:  M U S I C

Here's a title from yet another obscure artist: Tony Fox. I've never heard of him until I found this album on the Here Only Good Music blog.

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

George Jackson -- There Goes My Pride / Let Them Know You Care

George Jackson, born in Indianola, MS in 1945 was not only a great singer but also a prolific songwriter. Growing up the southern way, he was of course exposed to the finest Gospel singers, including Sam Cooke, The Soul Stirrers and The Staple Singers.
 Ike Turner had him record his first 45 in New Orleans: Won't Nobody Cha-Cha With Me. Jackson's first "recognisable" single came out in 1965 and was titled There Goes My Pride.

There Goes My Pride (Dot, 1965)

Let Them Know You Care (Hi Records, 1973)

Lime Linx

(If you'd like to know more  about this outstanding artist, please go to Sir Shambling's website.)

Danny Moore -- Somebody New

When this title played in my i-tunes library, I had that how-come-I-never-noticed-it-before moments. I couldn't help but feel for a moment that this voice resembled so much that of Paul Williams from the Temptations.
I don't know anything about Danny Moore -- but I know he could sing. This track went straight into my favs. section.

Enjoy!
LimeLinx

Reggae Sunday

What a gorgeous Sunday! Sunshine, blue skies again ... and I am in da mood for some Reggae. Let the good times rule!

Hugh Malcolm -- Good Time Rock

The Kingstonians -- Hold Down

Karl "Cannonball" Bryan and The Harry J Allstars -- Soul Special 

(All titles are from Reggae Pressure -- Boss sounds 1969-1970) 

FileFactory

Time To Tune In To The Vintage Soul Radio Show ...

Tomorrow, Barry Fowden will be on the air again with another great Vintage Soul Show. Take a look at his playlist, and you will get a first taste of the treats waiting thee for you.

For more info and the playlist, please go here!

Pieces of my Past

Posted by Gua

I have been ripping my old albums and have rediscovered one of my favorite songs. Gil-Scott Heron was really one of the pioneers of what we call "rap" since a lot of people know him from the classic " The Revolution Will Not Be Televised".
Gil was also an accomplished musician and often collaborated with pianist "Brian Jackson". Together they made some classic Jazz/blues/R&B music. This is one of my favs.
Take a listen to the melancholy baritone(Raggedy, I'm still on the Baritone bandwagon) of Gil-Scott and Brian (on the keyboard) as they capture frustrations of a man that could clearly be here and now. This was released 1971.



If you would like to listen on your computer here

On a side note John legend's voice reminds me of Gil-Scott, what do you think?

AudioBlog#15_Memories

Time to get the candles out and kiss those overly busy summer days goodbye. Now is the time to reminisce, to dream of days gone by and just let those images from the past fill our minds like old photographs fill the pages of an album (or a plain old shoe box.)

Playlist

Johnny Bristol -- Memories Don't Leave Like People Do

David Ruffin -- Mountain of Memories

Allison and Calvin Turner -- Yeah Memories

Jean Knight -- Why I Keep Living These Memories

The Blue Notes -- Memories

Freda Payne -- Through The Memory Of My Mind

Revelation -- Sweet Talk and Memories

Listen!

LimeLinx

FileFactory (individual tracks)

Go to folder - FileFactory.com

The Temptations -- I Need You

This is one of the best Temptations album, in my opinion. Unfortunately, most of the songs are not heard very often nowadays. 1990 was originally released in 1973. The remastered originals CD came out in 2006. The lineup was MelvinFranklin, Otis Williams, Dennis Edwards, Richard Street and Damon Harris.

Damon sings lead on I Need You

LimeLinx

Otis Clay Has A MS Blues Trail Marker Dedicated To Him

I am so glad this happened to Otis Clay whom I adore very much. Mississippi sure knows how to treat its true artists.

See the announcement.

From Otis' I'll Treat You Right album (Bullseye Blues, 1992)

Don't Burn The  Bridge

LimeLinx

Reggae Sunday at SOTS

Playlist

Sugar Minott -- Change Your Ways

The Crystalites -- Stop That Man

Desmond Dekker -- Go And Tell My People

Llans and his Celestials -- Choo Choo Ska

FileFactory

Joe Wilson -- You Need Me

One of the most beautiful Deepies, You Need Me. This is a 1972 Avco recording, and I found it a while ago on Sir Shambling's epic website. Joe Wilson, vintage '43 released a handfull of 45's in the 60's and was mostly active in New Orleans.

Enjoy!
LimeLinx 

Muddy Waters -- Blues Before Sunrise

Here comes the great blues man with an interesting version of Blues Before Sunrise. I always loved John Lee Hooker's version, but Muddy's is simply great.  


John Lee Hooker, Blues Before Sunrise

 Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Jimmy Lewis -- How Long Is A Heartache Supposed To Last

Today's pick is one of those obscure songs that most of us would never have discovered were it not for such great music blogs as Funk My Soul  If you want to get the album, hurry over to the site and d/l it. (Don't forget to be nice, though, and say thank you to Nikos and his crew.)

The album is from 1974 and combines different shades of soul with a heavy slant towards the Deep Soul side ...

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

AudioBlog#14: Lyin' and Cheatin'

There must be umpteen thousands of Lyin‘ and Cheatin’ songs. That leaving me wondering why this is such a prominent subject in music. It’s certainly not because lying to and cheating on someone you love is a pleasurable experience for either one involved. (Well -- save a few instances where it is a matter of self-gratifying abusive lying.)  In most cases lying to the one you love serves two rather trivial purposes: protecting oneself from the repercussions of wrongdoing and/or protecting someone you love from being hurt by finding out about one’s wrongdoing ... Of course, between these two poles, there are myriads of reasons, all tinted by the individual case and personality of those who lied and those who were lied to. 

In today’s AudioBlog, I attempted to illustrate  -- through each song -- some of the  different scenarios, in which such lies may occur.

Playlist:

The Players -- Why Did I Lie?

Wilson Pickett -- What Good Is A Lie?

Lou Johnson -- Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)

Carla Thomas -- Lie To Keep Me From Crying

Ivory Joe Hunter -- Don’t You Believe Him

Johnny Adams -- Hell Yes, I Cheated

Bobby Boesman -- Cheaters Never Win

Enjoy!
LimeLinx

Reggae Sunday!

Happy Sunday to everyone!

Playlist

Termites -- Love Up Kiss Up 

Count Matchuki -- Movement

Lloyd Charmers -- Follow This Sound

Max Romeo -- Nice Time

Listen

D/l MediaFire
FileFactory

A Candle For General Johnson

Soultaker has already posted the sad news about the passing of yet another soulman, General Johnson. He died of lung cancer on Wednesday in Atlanta. He was 69 years old.

Here is General's candle. May he rest in peace.

RIP General Johnson

Posted By Soultaker

This has been a real depressing week as far as Soul Music. First we lost Solomon Burke on Sunday and today I just found out about General Johnson. My Thoughts Goes Out to the family of General Norman Johnson. Rest peacefully General.


Chairmen of the Board - You Got Me Dangling On A String



Here's my favorite Chairmen Of The Board Song from their second album In Session
All We Need Is Understanding

The Isley Brothers -- I Turned You On

From the Essential Isley Brothers Vol 2. Disc 2 is this track. So typical Isley's -- yet fresh and exciting as if it had just been released. I love the sax solo in the middle of the song. And of course, I couldn't help but dance (them Isleys turned me on.) 

Listen

LimeLinx

Frederick Knight -- Take Me On Home Witcha

Frederick Knight's ist best known for his catchy song I've Been Lonely For So Long (Stax, 1972) From the homonymous album is today's song Take Me On Home Witcha. Music won't get more 70's like this song. 

Listen

LimeLinx

Rest In Peace Solomon Burke

It is in the news, and there is no need for me to repeat what is already known.

All I can do is light another candle for a great singer who helped shape my love for Soul music. 

Also, my condolences to his family.

R. I. P Solomon Burke 

The Upsetters -- Hard To Handle

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Most of the Reggae re-makes of the great soul tunes usually sound quite unimaginative -- but I find this cover of Hard To Handle refreshing. The lead singer on this track is Carl Dawkins, which at first I thought was not true. I couldn't remember having ever heard him as raspy as in this song. But when I re-listened to some of his other songs, I noticed that he used a bit of this raspiness in other songs, too. Not quite as intensely, though as in Hard To Handle. He probably had Big O. in mind when he covered this song. 

Jean Carne -- If You Wanna Go Back / Mystic Stranger

Jean Carne -- a lady with a great voice. I had almost forgotten about her. But when one of her songs came up this afternoon, I remembered Mystic Stranger right away. A few years back, I used to play it over and again.
Her voice resembles a bit that of Phyllis Hyman's, in my opinion.
The first track is from Jean's 1977 album Jean Carn; it's a nice dance tune made special by Jean's well rounded voice. The second one, Mystic Stranger, is from her 1981 album Sweet and Wonderful.

Enjoy!

Lime Linx

Born Sarah Jean Parker in Columbus, Georgia, on March 15, 1947, Jean Carne's remarkable voice was first heard in the 1970s. While attending Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Carne learned to speak Russian fluently. After graduating in 1965, she attended Morris Brown College and was planning on attending Juilliard School of Music when she met and married Doug Carne. 

Carne's first exposure to the public was as a teenager in Atlanta, singing "Misty" on a morning radio show. After meeting her husband, Carne joined his jazz fusion band as a vocalist, and they went on to record three albums. This work attracted the attention of the group Earth, Wind and Fire, which she joined as a back-up vocalist on its first two albums. After leaving Earth, Wind, and Fire, Carne toured with Duke Ellington, and then went on to join Buddah Records. In 1975, she hit the top-ten charts with Norman Connors on the single "Valentine Love." Throughout the rest of the 1970s, Carne continued to record and tour, releasing such popular singles as "Was That All It Was," "Free Love," and "Don't Let It Go To Your Head" through Philadelphia International Records, and in 1982, she signed with industry giant Motown Records. In 1986, Carne joined Omni Records, which produced her first number-one hit, "Closer Than Close." Carne continued to record throughout the 1990s, including the release of a greatest hits album. 

Carne continues to tour six months a year, wowing audiences wherever she goes. She spends the other six months a year at home in Atlanta with her three children.

Carne was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on May 7, 2003.

Get her albums here. 

Memphis Slim, Willie Dixon, Jump Jackson -- Stewball

Three Blues greats showing us how the Blues is supposed to sound. 

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Winfield Parker -- Oh My Love / Starving

"Winfield Parker got his start in his native Baltimore playing saxophone with a local group called the Veejays, before recording for the first time with Sammy Fitzhugh & The Moroccans (how’s that for a name?) in 1959. He moved on to record with the Imperial Thrillers on Ru-Jac in 1963. He would record his first sides as a leader for that label later that year. He continued to record for Ru-Jac into the late 60’s, with one of his singles, ‘Sweet Little Girl’ b/w ‘What Do You Say’ being picked up and issued by ATCO in 1968. He recorded the aforementioned Arctic 45 in 1969 and then went on to record one 45 for the Wand label in 1970. He had his greatest success with the Spring label. His 1971 release for that label ‘S. O. S. (Stop Her On Sight)’ b/w ‘I'm On My Way’ scraped the R&B Top 50. Today’s selection, ‘Starvin’ was the a-side of his second and last 45 for that label." 

From: http://funky16corners.blogspot.com/2006/03/winfield-parker-starvin.html

Enjoy!

Lime Linx

Get his Best of CD here

Gap Band -- I'm In Love

I am not a big fan of the Gap Band -- at least not of most of their material. But when I came across this sog from their 1977 album The Gap Band 1, I liked it right away.

Enjoy!

LimeLinx

Soul Lee -- I Need you

You didn't think I had quit blogging? Did you? To be honest, I consider it almost as difficult to stop blogging as it was to quit smoking ... It's always on my mind, and it sends me on a guilt trip when I am not posting regularly.
So, back I am with a nice Deepie: beautiful melody and an organ part that creates a sense of urgency. God knows where I found this track, but I absolutely love it.

Enjoy!

LimeLinx