Hmmm...

I'm way late, but a while ago, the 4 Brothers asked:

What song or album changed you or moves you more than the others? **OR** if you can't narrow it down, then try this question instead: What specific song do you want played at your funeral as your "final theme song?"

I think my all-time favorite song has got to be I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun by Rotary Connection. First heard it when my mom bought Hey Love home and popped it on her crappy old KLH. Hopeful, spiritual, defiant, full of love and confidence and solidarity. And Phil Upchurch is just OUT OF HAND. Yeah, definitely my favorite song. I like the Nuyorican Soul version, but, really, it's pretty thin compared to the original.

At my funeral, I want them to play Since You Been Gone. James Brown, Bobby Byrd, Catfish and Bootsy, Clyde Stubblefield and the other guitar player, I can't remember his name. No horns, barely any keyboard, no nothing but the funk, played by the folks who invented the shit. I first heard the edited version on a compilation called Motherlode and it kicked my ass so hard I still feel it, but THE UNEDITED VERSION (click to download) features Bootsy getting so far down into the thing that he misses a key change twice and the groove is so deep, nobody gives a shit. That's what happens when a group of geniuses get together in a room and create.

In harmony,
Chris

Delfonics - Tell Me This Is A Dream

In case you missed it, and in case you're a huge Delfonics fan (but who isn't?), this fantastic (and mysteriously - or not so mysteriously) out of print 1972 Philly Groove album can be found at RAIDER OF THE LOST ARK. Thanks, Solsoul!

In harmony,
Chris

From Within

Dionne Warwicke, Scepter double LP, 1972 @ 320

This rip is for VINCENT!

I read somewhere that an astrologer or a numerologist told Dionne to add an "e" to the end of her last name.

This compilation was taken from two non-Bacharach Scepter LPs (I'm looking for both of them). The Magic of Believing (1968) is a gospel album. Soulful (1969) is an album of soul covers. Some previously unreleased tracks were added. Some of the tracks are on the Hidden Gems CD. Only Unchained Melody was arranged by Bacharach. Some people say this is a bad album, but what the hell do they know?

I recently found a cleaner copy of this. When I get a chance, I'll replace this rip, as it's a little noisy.

I.

01. Battle Hymn Of The Republic
02. Somebody Bigger Than You And I
03. Grace
04. People Get Ready
05. Steal Away
06. Jesus Will
07. Summertime
08. You'll Never Walk Alone
09. Unchained Melody
10. Medley: Reach Out And Touch / All Kinds Of People
11. Macarthur Park
12. To Be Young, Gifted And Black
13. Give A Damn
14. This Little Light
15. Slaves
16. People Got To Be Free

II.

01. The Love Of My Man
02. I've Been Loving You Too Long
03. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
04. Hurts So Bad
05. The Weight
06. Our Ages Or Our Hearts
07. You've Lost That Loving Feeling
08. Someday We'll Be Together
09. We Can Work It Out
10. If You Let Me Make Love To You Then Why Can't I Touch You
11. I'm Your Puppet
12. Stand
13. Games People Play
14. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
15. You're All I Need To Get By
16. Everyday People

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

James Blood Ulmer - Black Rock

My rip at O.I.R. Contributions, the mighty BACOSO, proprietor.

This is one of the heaviest, funkiest albums in existence - check it out - play it loud and tear down the walls!

In harmony,
Chris

Upchurch

Universal LP reissue of 1969 Cadet LP, ripped @ 320. Barely in print, if at all. The LP I bought looks like a bootleg.

Arranged, conducted and produced by Charles Stepney. The first track must be the original version of what later became Rotary Connection's I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun (on which Upchurch played with colossal abandon), from the 1971 album Hey Love, available HERE, courtesy of NIKOS - khaire!

Donny Hathaway, p
Louis Satterfield, b
Morris Jennings, d
Bobby Christian, perc
Dave Chausow's Strings and Horns
The James Mack Singers

01. Black Gold
02. America
03. As You Said
04. You Wouldn't You Couldn't Be True
05. Crosstown Traffic
06. Adam & Charlene
07. Spinning Wheel
08. Voodoo Chile
09. More & More
10. Midnite Chile

Recorded at Ter Mar Studios, Chicago, March, 1969.

LINK

In harmony,
Chris