Move On Up

It's a bank holiday Monday so you all have some time to spare. I can't think of a better way to spend eight and a half minutes than listening to the sweet vocals, bright brass and funky guitar of Move On Up.

Apologies to those of you working today. I'm off to Kelvingrove Art Gallery with the family and maybe a wee visit to Oxfam Music and then Heart Of Buchanan on Byres Rd. But we won't mention that to L just yet!

Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up

Ellipsis

Here is a rather funky piece of cross over soul from 1976 to start off the week. The track was saved from obscurity by Fryer and Ian Wright and released as a 12" single on their Soul Spectrum label, a spin off of their Edinburgh club nights, in 2008. My copy is from the limited 7" inch pressing released on the SoulSeven label a few weeks ago.

I'm off to that cultural capital, Luton for a couple of days, so nothing to see here until Wednesday.


Ellipsis - People

Jasmine Kara

Stonking piece of Scandanavian Soul, released on Acid Jazz. This deserves to be huge but alas it will do nothing and the charts will still be full of cack.

Just Because . . .

this is quite, quite wonderful.

Sam & Dave - When Something Is Wrong With My Baby

Nothing wrong with mine,  she's just stumbled in the door after being out all day in the Town!

Osaka Monaurail

Anybody up for a bit of Japanese soul?

It's a belter.

Osaka Monaurail have been going for quite a while, since the turn of the millennium. They have released eight albums and some very good 7" singles. This track is there first single since 2009 and features the vocal talents of Shirley Davis an Australian singer who we deserve to hear a whole lot more of.

Osaka Monaurail - No Trouble On The Mountain

Dobie Gray RIP

Go easy Dobie and thanks for Out On The Floor which always packed the floor at Scooterist do's.

However, this seems more appropriate.

Dobie Gray - Drift Away

Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart

Here is a brilliant bit of what would you say, mainstream soul, I think I will stay clear of the P word.

This Holland-Dozzier-Holland composition was recorded in 1965 and released the following year when it reached number 9 in the Billboard charts joining the select club of Supremes songs penned by that illustious trio which didn't get to number one. For me it is right up there with the best and is probably the single I play most, either that or Come See About Me.

The Supremes - Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart

Just Because . . .

. . . sometimes a bit of Marvin is all you need to get by.

Marvin Gaye - His Eyes Are On The Sparrow

Giving Up

A couple of years ago I posted a track by Hairy Diamond that sampled this rather brilliant Van McCoy penned track. Mr H put me onto the original track which I have been searching for on vinyl ever since. The only copy that I have so far seen was £40 which in these cash strapped days just cannot be justified. So it looks like I will be stuck with it on a digital format for the foreseeable future but still think that it should be shared.

The Ad Libs are probably better remembered for The Boy From New York City which was released in 1964 and covered by Darts when I were a wean.

The Ad Libs - Giving Up

Misty Blue

I don't really have that much to say at the moment, you'll be glad to know, so I'll just post the music if that's okay with you.

One thing, I am surprised that this was released in 1975, it sounds to me more of a late 60s early 70s sound to me. But it is gorgeous.

Dorothy Moore - Misty Blue

One More Hurt

I can't think of a more uplifting way to ease into a new working week than to the dulcet tones of Candi Staton.

I picked this up in Belfast last week while digging about Head and I have to say that there is a lot of over priced vinyl in there at the moment, quite a few bargains as well, a load of Mr Scruff twelves at 2 quid a pop.

Back to the track, not a typical northern tune, more of a crossover thing but an absolute peach by anybody's standards. Recorded during Candi's now famous sessions at the Fame studios in 1970 and released on Kent  as a taster of the "Evidence:The Complete Fame Records Masters" which will be more than worth the price tag. This track is brilliant, I think that Candi Staton is one of the most underrated female soul singers and I believe that the reason for that may be the success of You've Got The Love in the early 90s , people either associate her with that or Young Hearts Run Free. If you don't already have it you should seek out the Candi Staton album released on Honest Jon's a few years back or the new collection mentioned above to hear Candi at her best. I defy anybody to listen to He called Me Baby without getting goose bumps.


Candi Staton - One More Hurt

Spells and Incantations

Here is a rather magical piece of soul from Johnny Otis'  Hawk Sounds label.

This was originally released in 1972 but was repressed as a split single with Vera Hamilton's But I Ain't No More on the flip to promote the Watts Funky compilation of stuff by Johnny Otis, son Shuggie and associates, well worth trying to get your hands on if you like funk and soul.

Debbie Lyndsey - Spells & Incantations

Get A Fucking Life!

So, here I am sitting in a hotel restaurant in Nottingham and not for the first time cursing the fact that I did not pay attention while I packed my bag. Not only has the T-shirt I packed got a couple of marks on it ( fact: washing clothes at 30 degrees does not get rid of stains no matter what Unilever tell you, in reality stains appear that weren't there before) but also I have forgotten to pack my book, the essential piece of kit for the anti-social single business traveller.  Nothing says,  "I am not in the slightest bit interested in striking up a conversation" more than a thick book and the one I'm reading at the moment is a belter, A Big Boy Did It And Ran Away by Christopher Brookemyre.

So it is either look like a total jobsworth and read a study protocol while waiting for dinner or just sit here and soak up the atmosphere and as I may be being made redundant next week there is no way I am expending more of my time on work tasks than is totally necessary so I sit here and absorb the surroundings.

Behind me is a group of what I take to be sales reps all trying to out do each other and the words of Colonel Kilgore pop into my mind " You hear that, you hear that son, BULLSHIT, nothing else in the world sounds like that". Christ, do these guys actually think that the other clowns are listening let alone believing  this pish? The four Yorkshire men don't come close.

So I turn my attention elsewhere. Across from me sit a trendy couple in their early twenties who are each staring intently not into each others eyes but into their smartphones, thumbs going ten to the dozen. As I sit here watching this I wonder if they are texting each other but after a few minutes the guy raises his head says something and then shoves his phone in the girl's face and they both snigger and then go back to their handsets. The sharing of screens and sniggering continues until I get bored and again scan the room.

What I find is at least five other single sad sacks sitting fiddling with phones either trying to give off the impression that they are important or to stave off the boredom and the feeling of utter loneliness that spending a mid week night in a hotel in the heart of the Midlands really means.

My steak frites eventually arrives, my interest in my surroundings subsides and I get on with the job in hand, order another beer and try to forget where I am.

Tami Terrell - Lone, Lonely Town

Random Thought

Do you think that when you sell 500,000 downloads they frame a gold piece of paper with a download code on it? It would be a bit disengenous to present a gold disc.

Here is a track that probably failed to sell even a thousand singles in it's day, sadly.

Clarence Williams - No Rest For The World

Indian Giver

Here is a brilliant ultra rare soul track to start off the week.

Indian Giver was released on Verve in 1966 and that's about all I know about it. The Chantels started in 1956 and recorded for a few different labels from then until 1970 when they released their final single. The lead singer Arlene Smith recruited some new blood during the 70s and resurrected the group who are still performing now.

Sorry for the quality of this mp3 but I have been so far unsuccessful in acquiring Indian Giver on 7" or as part of a compilation album, the rip posted was one I found a few years ago on the net.

The Chantels - Indian Giver

You Beat Me To The Punch

I just can't get away from soul at the moment.

Here is the sublime voice of Mary Wells backed by the fabulous Funk Brothers

Mary Wells - You Beat Me To The Punch

Just Because

It's been that kind of week.

Enjoy


Bessie Banks - It Sounds Like My Baby

"From The Pages Of The Neville Brothers Songbook"

Shall we stick with the soul for a while?

Over at The Ghost Of Electricity, Mr H posted a wonderful track by Bettye Swann. Whenever Bettye's name is mention I think of one certain song which she covers incredibly well, however I think that I still prefer this version by Aaron Neville who was first to record Tell It Like It Is in 1966.

Aaron Neville & The Neville Brothers - Tell It Like It Is 

Something A Bit Spiritual

The first time I heard this track was when I went over to the dark side and spent some time in the Modern room at a Togetherness Weekender. Well after about 50 hours of nearly non stop northern a bit of a change was in order.

Imagine my surprise when sometime later while reading, I heard the very same song coming from the TV when L was watching Ally McBeal.

Al Green - Keep On Pushing Love

Just Because

This came on the ipod yesterday. I've said it before but at the risk of repeating myself, you can keep your Aretha's, Diana's,  Martha's et al, Gladys had and still has the best voice out of all of them.

Gladys Knight And The Pips - Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me.