Sonic Slo Mo

Lou Courtney: Since I First Layed Eyes On You
Taken from the album I'm In Need Of Love on Columbia (1973)

Turner Bros.: Every Time I'm Near You
Taken from the album Act 1 (1974) reissued on Ubiquity

Latimore: All The Way Lover
Taken from the album It Ain’t Where You Been on Glades(1977)

I yearn for slow jams. YEARN. Some nights, I stand by my turntables for hours—literally—dropping these tunes back to back. The Ohio Players’ “Skin Tight” ranks pretty high. So does Lenny Williams’ “Cause I Love You.” Don’t get me started on The New Birth. For lack of actually having a girlfriend, somebody to pour my heart into, these songs are the next best thing. They feel like a bloodline.

Part of the beauty of the slow jam is that a lot of the rules that normally designate what constitutes “cool” or “interesting” music, can be ignored. A slow jam thrives on it’s capacity to capture a listener on the grounds of pure emotive relatability. So, in listening to these, try to ignore the “lack of innovation” perhaps. Or a single sappy line. Instead focus on the glorious whole, on the feeling of warmth that pervades your soul when the song is through. Such is the power of the slow jam.

I can’t sing loud enough praises for Lou Courtney. I posted a track off his first LP, Skate Now, a while back and would have posted more of his stuff sooner if it wasn’t so damn hard to come by. I’ve been trying to get my hands on a few particular 45’s of his for some time now… to no avail. If anyone out there wants to be extra friendly, he can send me a copy of “Hot Butter N All” and “Hey Joyce”. Please.

I wish I could say I had the original of this Turner Bros. LP. But I don’t. If you want the lowdown on one of the most original, dynamic, soulful early 70’s soul outfits you might as well just go here.

Finally, Latimore. This is the REAL deal-y-o insofar as—well, it’s really, really slow. Also worth noting: the man who produced most of Latimore’s work for Glades went by the name Steve “EVERY DAY I CRY” Alaimo. No joke. So, yeah. Enjoy that.

p.s. Thanks to everyone that came out to the Via seasonal on Saturday. Sound system was on the wack side, but the groove lives on!

It's Goin DOWN!

Gwen Stefani : LuXXXurious (Captain Planet Remix)
taken from the BOOTLEG REMIX EP OUT NOW! Look for The Beatards, buy that shizzz. Soon to be at Turntable Lab too.

Montell Jordan : This Is How We Do It (Murphy's Mash)
Montell, Kriss-Kross & Super Cat like what! Crate EXCLUSIVE!

Soul Imperial : People Twisted Everyday
From the upcoming mash-up CD by Soul Imperial that you can get at our PARTY!

Ironing your jeans. Giving the dog a bath. Helping your girl with a petticure. Bottom line: It's Saturday night and you ain't got ish to do. Why not make it a foot-stompin', beat-bumpin', air-horn-blastin', booty-shakin' affair. Brought to you by the good folks over here at Via, plus special guests DRM (Bastard Jazz) and Soul Imperial. The Captain and Murphy (aka Big and Lil' Bro) united on the decks for the first time in days. A good time is to be had by all. Drink specials and free giveaways--you know how we do.

VIA MEDIA PRESENTS:
We Live!
Summer Seasonal 2006

Saturday, July 22nd 10PM - 4AM
@ Soda Bar
629 Vanderbilt Ave. (b/w Prospect Pl. & St. Marks Ave.) - Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
21+ // FREE

Stealing Soul Part 2

Maxayn : Bail Out
taken from the album "Bail Out For Fun" on Capricorn (1974)

Mother Night : Fools Are You
taken from their self-titled album on Columbia (1972)

More music from DZ's crate today. Thank him not me. Refer to this post if you're confused.

I've been working really hard on reviving the art of summer. Meaning: I left my job, I'm actually sick of drinking beer (too much of a good thing is still too much), and aside from being very artistically productive (yeah!), I'm lazy as hell right now. I guess this here blog has suffered a little, I hope these tunes can reconcile my lax.

Hearing this particular Maxayn tune for the first time, my jaw was dropped in jealous astonishment. Sly Stone in female form?!? Album art to rival even the best!?! I'm still on the hunt for my own copy. Although not all her tracks are this piercingly on point, she's clearly an underappreciated soulstress to be reckoned with. After cutting this album, the group took another go at commercial success in the form of disco-funk outfit Mandre. Sadly, recognition eluded them still.

As for Mother Night, your guess is as good as mine. Having the same name as a Kurt Vonnegut book (maybe that's where they got it from) makes it kinda hard to track down on good ole google. Whatever the case may be, these are some serious heads. This tune takes us from the soothing, organic sounds of Eden directly into the pounding rumble of armageddon. "Snatch a feather from an Indian's hair, hang it up for a souvenir". Riding an artfully darting melody, these cats are the moral guardians trying to keep the world in balance. When the latin section breaks and the sax solo explodes, I envision the whole natural world rising up in revenge-- oh what a glorious day t'would be. If this song could bump loud enough in South Central right now, maybe the bulldozers would get wrecked by some kudzu.

Also- BIG ALERT! I pressed up an EP of original remixes with my boy DJ O - you heard the "Unpredictable" remix a while back. There's more hotness where that came from. They're available online at BEATSTREET among other places. COP THAT SHIT! and yeah, there's another Mixtape Riot this Wednesday... see you thurrrrrr. Pics 'n' stuff from the last one are HERE.

Rain, Rain...

The Sweet Inspirations: Crying In The Rain
Taken from the album Sweets For My Sweet on Atlantic (1969)

Gwen McCrae: It Keeps On Raining
Taken from the 7" on Cat (1975)

Truth be told, this post was supposed to go up days ago, when it might have still been apropos of the dismal weather. As it is, the information vanished from my computer not once but twice (damn this tricknology!) and the weather cleared up. So here I am, fresh back from the fireworks spectacle over the Brooklyn Bridge and ready to make a third attempt at delivering these tunes to the people.

The Sweet Inspirations were fronted by a certain Cissy Houston, mother of a certain Whitney. They cut several LP's in the late sixties and early seventies, though none of them fared very well commercially. Ultimately they would become much more successful--monetarily at least--singing backup vocals for none other than... Elvis.

Gwen McCrae is a stranger to no one. The above track originally appeared as the B-side to the monster tune "Rocking Chair", which would later appear on an album of the same name.

Because I drank to much good ol' American Budweiser today; and because I've written these very words several times already, I'm going to quit while I'm ahead. Enjoy the music.

(P.S.--The photo up there of The Inspirations album doesn't depict the actual cover of the album on which the "Rain" song appears. I just couldn't get my hands on a digital camera. Sorry.)