Dilated Choonz: soul

Alboy's Best of 2011: #3

The Mighty Alboy — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:48:00 +0100

Ghost Poet – “Survive it”

Just a beautiful track this, from South London (Tooting Bec!) lad Obaro Ejimiwe, aka Ghost Poet.

If you havent got his LP peanut butter blues and melancholy jam, then you’re missing out- like Ghost Poet missed out on the Mercury Prize in 2011. Shoulda been his…

Cool video too:

ghost poet homepage ::
buy it from rough trade ::

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Happy Birthday Mr Bowie

Hal Berstram — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 09:12:00 +0000

David Bowie – John I’m Only Dancing (Again) 1975

Sorry for prolonged absence from this blog… I’ve returned to mark the occasion of David Bowie’s 65th birthday with a little tune from 1975, which (I think) was an outtake from the sessions for Young Americans. It’s essentially a funk remake of the 1972 single “John I’m Only Dancing”, and the basic musical structure was used with different lyrics and an additional main two-chord theme as “Stay” on Bowie’s 1976 Station To Station LP.

“John I’m Only Dancing (Again) 1975” was issued as a single in 1979 (in 7” and 12” versions – the version uploaded here is the 7 inch mix, largely because I didn’t have any mp3 copy of the 12 inch mix to hand, and my old 12 inch single of it is in storage at the moment). The 12” version was also an extra track on the early 90s CD reissues of Bowie’s back catalogue on Rykodisc (sadly the newer EMI reissues don’t have any extra tracks on them). I own it on an early 80s compilation called (strangely enough) “Rare Bowie” from which I might post another oddity soon…) Anyway I am to be more active here this year, so see yon soon.

note: the mp3 file begins with about 5 seconds of silence due to poor editing by me. Sorry.

David Bowie's website ::
Buy the track :: on the "Best of Bowie 1974-79" compilation

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New Year Soul (3)

The Mighty Alboy — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:20:00 +0000

Mayer Hawthorne- “The Ills”

Completing (belatedly) the trio of soul for 2011, is this new school number from Stonesthrow’s Mayer Hawthorne.

Born and raised in Michigan, his sound is rooted in Motown soul. With his falsetto vocals and multiple-instrumental talents, he’s part Smokey, part Curtis and part Stevie, but although he’s real old school, and draws from the same well, he’s got his own style and sensibility too.

I strongly recommend getting his album A Strange Arrangement (see Stonesthrow link below).

He’s also something of a vinyl junkie and purveyor of soul rarities- if you can find it, I also recommend his Soul with a Hole mix.

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New Year Soul (2)

The Mighty Alboy — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:05:00 +0000

Naomi Shelton and The Gospel Queens – “What Have You Done, My Brother?”

Not much time to write, but wanted to whack this up to keep to my new year’s “once a week, minimum” posting resolution.

Fortunately, this track from Alabama-born gospel veteran Naomi Shelton speaks rousingly for itself- and the pedigree of the artists involved, some of whom performed in the early days with James Brown and Wilson Pickett, is fully evident.

Daptone Records have signed her/them, and the What have you done LP, released in 2009 was their first major release. Get over there and check ‘em out!

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New Year Soul (1)

The Mighty Alboy — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 23:10:00 +0000

Superlatives – “Don’t know how (to say ‘I love you’)”

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It seems I have the honour of opening DC for 2011 with the first in a triptych of soulful earfuls that have been keeping me feeling toasty and warm in recent months.

This first one took me a good few years to track down- I heard it first on an amazing mix Pete Rock did on Radio 1 world service about 5 years ago, where he just played his favourite breaks, and as you would expect, it was belter after belter. I finally got a name for this particular number and tracked it down at the end of last year

There’s so much to recommend this fine motown jam- it really has got everything. The arrangement is especially amazing- I love the breakdown at at 1’05”- the brass fanfare and spine tingling cry of “BABY!”, and the way those tight and heavy drums drop back in is just awesome.

So- my opener for 2011, hope you can dig it!

buy it from northern soul direct ::

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To the Max

The Mighty Alboy — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:08:00 +0100

Gil Scott Heron vs DJ Asparagus- “Your Daddy Loves You”

A further tribute to the youngest addition to Dilated Choonz, young Max Shooter- this one perhaps more up Squeaker’s alley than the ruffness from Double K…

A smooth jazz house edit of Gil Scott Heron’s your daddy loves you by Stockholm’s DJ Asparagus. In this case a moving message of love to Gil’s young daughter, but I’m sure the sentiment applies to the Max Daddy n’all

Congratulations to mother and father- and to baby Max for finding such a fine family to be born into! Love to all…

discogs profile ::
myspace page ::

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A combination of the old and the new

P Rice — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:33:00 +0100

6th Borough Project – Planets

While I’m here, this is a tune I’ve been enjoying recently.

6th Borough Project Tunes at Juno ::

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RIP Willie Mitchell (1928-2010)

Hal Berstram — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 08:27:00 +0000

Al Green – I Didn’t Know

Received the sad news earlier this week that one of THE great soul producers of all time, Willie Mitchell, had passed away aged 81.

Mitchell started out as a jazz trumpeter then moved into production at the Memphis-based Hi Records in the 1960s. As Al Green’s producer for 9 albums on Hi from 1970 until 1976, and developed a distinctive production based around a razor-sharp drum sound, innovative string and horn arrangements and organ and guitar work that could be fiery or smooth as the mood demanded. The Hi backing group – featuring such brilliant musicians as Teenie Hodges on guitar, Charles Hodges on organ, Leroy Hodges on bass and drummer Howard Grimes – were an indispensable part of the sound. With them, Green and Mitchell produced at least half a dozen classic soul albums in that time period – Al Green Gets Next To You, Let’s Stay Together, Call Me, Al Green is Love – the list goes on.

In the 2000s, they hooked up again for I Can’t Stop and Everything’s OK, two albums sounding like they could have been recorded in 1974… which was just fine with me. The old magic was still there.

Al Green albums always used to feature a long, slow track – usually a cover of an artist who would not normally be associated with the soul genre, but whose work was transformed in Mitchell’s hands (e.g. The Bee Gees’ “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” or Kris Kristofferson’s “For The Good Times”.) The track featured here, however (from Al Green Is Love) is a Green original. Although I like Green on uptempo or downtempo numbers equally, there’s just an amazing intensity about these long cuts that you will not find many other places in the whole of music. And the production is just perfect.

You’ll be much missed, Willie.

Available from Rough Trade :: on reissue vinyl! Nice
Willie Mitchell and Royal Studios website ::

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The Truth & Soul of Lee Fields

The Mighty Alboy — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:23:00 +0100

Lee Fields and the Expressions- “Honey Dove”

“Wow” was what I first thought when I heard this.

I thought I’d heard em all, but this guy passed me by. Lee Fields has a voice pitched perfectly between the raw emotion of Otis Reading and the sweet control of Al Green. He had a few well thought of, but hard to find (and believe me, I’m lookin’!) singles and an LP out in the 70’s, when he was somewhat limitingly described as “Little J.B.” on account of the similarity of his stylings to those of the GFOS, but that was it. Thankfully for us all- and thanks to the good folk at Truth & Soul records- he’s had a bit of a renaissance since mid-90s and has started putting tracks out once again, and he’s back with his own sound.

I first came across this track on the Truth & Soul compilation Fallin’ off the Reel vol 1 (which you should seriously check), and besides thinking “wow”, I couldnt work out if it was real old- it sounds like bona fide soul- or brand new- it’s too crispily produced to be the product of a 60s/70s studio.

Turns out it’s brand new- the work of Lee Fields and the Truth and Soul studio band called The Expressions, comprising members of El Michels Affair (who I swear Big J posted some time ago, doing a cover of Wu Tang’s C.R.E.A.M. but I cant find it to link)

A lot of talent is well in evidence, and there’s a lot more on the following records you really really must check:

Lee Fields & The Expressions- “My World”

El Michels Affair- “Sounding out the City”

Various Artists- “Falling off the Reel volumes 1 & 2” [Truth & Soul Records]

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Ray Vs The Muppets

Babe Rainbow — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:29:00 +0100

Ray Charles – It’s Not Easy Being Green

Here’s a lovely, soothing number from Brother Ray to ease you out of the weekend. No points for guessing that this is a cover of the Kermit classic. However in Ray’s hands, this kid’s song is transformed into something truly beautiful. One can only guess at what motivated him to cover it. Whether you hear it as a song about the environment, or about prejudice or simply about being a frog, its certain to give you goosebumps, and perhaps even bring a tear to the eye.

The album that features this track is entitled ‘Renaissance’. It also has a great versions of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Living For The City’ and the Randy Newman song ‘Sail Away’. As far as I’m aware the album has never been reissued on CD but Hal and I were lucky enough to come across a vinyl copy at record fair last year.

Sweet dreams everyone….

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A Gurley Easter: Good Friday

The Double K — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:30:00 +0100

Foul Play – Music Is The Key (Omni Trio Remix)

For Good Friday we’ve got an amazingly soulful piece of Jungle, from the combined talents of two masters of lighter-than-air breakbeats: Foul Play (a trio of whom Steve Gurley was a member) and Omni Trio (who confusingly are just one guy).

The beautiful vocal in this tune well-reflects the pathos of Good Friday, having an overall melancholy feel, but driven by hope for a better world:

There are times in my life…
When I wish the world was a better place.
No more suffering and no more pain,
No more war and no more hate.

A sentiment we can all relate to, I hope. OK so it’s naïve and idealistic, but honestly what is wrong with a bit of that now and again? Like the song says,

We could all reach for the stars…

Merry Yule All

P Rice — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:26:00 +0000

Carla Thomas – Gee Whiz Its Christmas

In recent years I’ve come to rediscover the joys of christmas. This comes mainly from the appreciation of not being at work, spending time with loved ones, eating nice food and drinking nice booze. I think in the UK it also serves as a diversion from the long drudgery of winter. My rediscovery of christmas has not yet led me to enjoy crowded shops or dodgey christmas albums, but there are a few festive musical offerings that appeal, and this is one.

This tune was released way back in 1963. Its old school christmas, and good clean festive fun. Merry christmas everyone.

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Polish blues

Kevvy K — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:54:00 +0000

Aretha Franklin – Sister From Texas

After a 24 hour journey, I’ve arrived in the middle of the Polish nowehere, on the outskirts of town, in a grubby and wholly soul-less youth hostel that doesn’t even sell beer.

This, up until very recently, unknown to me and very beautiful Aretha track is the type of aural comfort I need, and will hopefully cheer you/me up.

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Friday and feeling good

Kevvy K — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:46:00 +0000

High Inergy – I Just Can’t Help Myself

Lots of things to share.. lots less time to get round to doing it. This is very very wonderful though. Remeber a while back I was whittering on about Filthy Luka’s Mystery Mix up on DJ History Forum? This was the stand out track for me. It’s taken me a while (and the spotting assistance of Mr P Rice) to track this down, but finally it’s here to share.

Don’t be fooled by the group name, this isn’t at all Hi-NRG. Its from 1980, but has a more classic feel good soul sound… they were signed by Motown in 1977 and had a string of respectable hits without ever making an enormous impact. This is just wonderful though.. so many nice touches combined.. little snatches of wah-wah, great strings, a jaunty little rhythm and really stirring Ross-esque vocal sections. This is almost guaranteed to put a step in anyone’s step as they embark on a hopefully leisurely weekend.

Did anyone else thing it was weird that both Miriam Makeba and Mitch Mitchell died in the same week? If I was Mark Moore I’d be feeling quite worried right now.

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Tribute to the Winners of the US Election

Babe Rainbow — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:45:00 +0000

Billy Paul – Let ‘Em In

This was a great charity shop find by Hal and me. Soul singer Billy Paul had already had a massive hit on the Philadelphia International Label with Me and Mrs Jones in 1972, which was a platinum selling US no.1.

In 1976 he released the album Let ‘Em In. The title track is a cover of the Wings song, from their album Wings at the Speed of Sound also released in 1976. The original Wings track is a great, but slightly twee affair listing various friends and family members. However, Billy manages to turn it into a funky piece of affirmative action.

Although probably best remembered for his softer, poppier stuff, Billy was no slouch when it came to more political material as the glorious Brown Baby and stonking Am I Black Enough For You would testify.

Apparently Billy is still around, still gigging and in 2003 finally won 500k in unpaid royalties. Good on ‘im.

Buy it here :: from a duff major retailer

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Sly's gonna knock you out!

The Mighty Alboy — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:28:00 +0000

Sly and the Family Stone – “trip to your heart”

Not much funk’n’soul music, and- apologies dear listeners- not much of anything gets posted by me with any frequency on DC of late.

To make some small amends for this sad and sorry state of affairs, here is a psychedelic soul bomb from the legendary Sly and the Family Stone.

Real genre defining stuff, coming as it did from Sly’s debut 1967 album A whole new thing, although plenty wigged-out, this track stands out from the other psychedelic hippy sounds coming out of San Francisco at the time by virtue of it having a great beat in place of the stodgy stylings of other artists in the genre. As well as raising the bar for psychedelic soul, it also pre-dated and most likely did something to define funk music as we know it. This, combined with his own personal and insane musical talent, his progressive approach to racial and sexual integration within the band, and general prolific quality output makes Sly for me one of the most coolest and most profound modern dance music influences of all time. He is also the only man ever to sound funky while yodelling.

Is that enough enthusing about Sly? Probably not, but it’ll have to do for now.

We could also get into Larry Graham’s prowess with the bass- he was the guy who taught all the other funkateers how to play- and he had a little box to add distortion- here’s a clip from youtube of the man in action:

Hip hop heads amongst you will recognise the kinda stoned chorus from straight to your heart was sampled on LL Cool J’s Mama said knock you out!.

In case you never heard it, or wanna hear it again, here’s the low-budget video featuring the muscular MC Ladies Love Cool James:

“Dont you ever, ever pull my lever!”

buy it on old timey vinyl at amazon ::

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Levi Stubbs R.I.P.

Babe Rainbow — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:16:00 +0100

The Four Tops – If I Were A Carpenter

This is part one of my little tribute to Levi Stubbs who passed away at the weekend. This is my favourite Four Tops track, released in 1967, a cover of a Tim Hardin song. The original is so beautiful I think it was a brave decision by the powers that be at Motown to choose it as a single for a pop soul group. However I feel that the Four Tops make it their own and it has lost none of its beauty.

Buy it here ::

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Underdog exclusive

Kevvy K — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:21:00 +0100

Timmy Thomas – Why Can’t We Live Together (Underdog Rework)

A real treat and an honour for us here… the Underdog (aka Leonard Part Sixx), whose highly respected and very collectable edit series has featured on here a number of times before, has given DC readers exclusive first dibs on this as yet unreleased reworking of the Timmy Thomas classic Why Can’t We Live Together, the original of which I think Luke blogged a long, long time ago.

Leonard, who is a big fan of the original, has wisely treated this with a great deal of respect and chosen not to take away from the original production.. instead drawing it out to make it even more haunting and hypnotic. This may or may not end up on one of the future Underdog 12”s – in the meantime, you still might be able to pick up some from the previous series at Phonica here. If you want to check out some of Leonard’s production work, check out his excellent, italo-flavoured Strobelight Revival track that you can buy from Trax Source here.

It’s also worth mentioning that Leonard’s very excellent mix is still available to download from Another Night on Earth here.

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Everybody Shake Your Stuff

P Rice — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:39:00 +0100

Ben E. King – Street Tough

Something from latter days of Ben E. King’s career, more than 20 years after he started out with the Drifters. This track is the title track of an album released in 1981. I generally find with early 80’s soul that I either really like it, or really don’t like it. There’s no middle ground. If you were to ask me why I like one song over another, I probably wouldn’t be able to give you a coherent reason. I like this one, just don’t ask me why. I think the bassline has a lot to do with it.

This is the second tune in a row that I’ve posted with a dubious sax solo. It won’t happen again – at least not for a while.

(Expensive) copies via Net Sounds ::

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Hot Buttered Soul

P Rice — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:19:00 +0100

Isaac Hayes – By The Time I Get To Pheonix

Following my Isaac Hayes tribute post yesterday, someone named Gazza (presumably not Paul ‘Gazza’ Gascoigne, although we can’t be sure), commented that the album ‘Hot Buttered Soul’ is a classic. He was right, so I thought it only right to post something from this album at the time of Isaac Hayes’ death. I have to say at this point that I try to gloss over the fact that Hayes later became a Scientologist and focus instead on his many wonderful musical offerings.

Isaac Hayes’ version of ‘By The Time I Get To Pheonix’ is the mother of all epic soul tunes. It really highlights the fact that he had talents way beyond his vocal abilities as the arrangement of this tune, the different instrumental layers, are incredible. Having just listened to it for the first time in a while I was reminded of how it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end from beginning to end – nigh on twenty minutes. As Isaac himself says – ‘its a deep tune’.

Buy the album for just £3.99 from SelectADisc ::

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