Coming Soon... The Summer of Soul Pt. 4: The Funky Freerange Chicken

During preparations for my favorite time of year I realized that I never actually posted last year's Summer of Soul mix(unofficially titled "The Long Form Funk Certificate"). It was a very special one for me. It was SOS' first all vinyl mix, comprised of mostly 45s I had dug up around just the year before. Resurrected from old boxes and suitcases I think of each track as being given new life, seeing the day the humble vinyl would never come: Not just being cherished once again, but being picked up by some white hipster and digitally streamed around the globe. In retrospect it seems quite unlikely at the time of their production. Disclaimer: There is some surface noise, especially in the first track. This was intentional at the time (I am thinking of the first track here Gypsy Woman by The Impressions), I though it provided a invitation to relish in nostalgia (isn't that what summer is partly about, remembering the summer freedom of our grade school days?). Also I don't have the big bills to drop on pristine vinyl, which is increasingly hard to find as serious collectors have grabbed up a large portion of it by now. Some of the records used were reissues, which I have noted below for the sake of transparency. Anyway I hope you enjoy it like I do! There is more on the way!!



Tracklist:
Gypsy Woman - The Impressions (1961, ABC Paramount)

Key to My Happiness - The Moments (1971, Stang Records)

Whispers (Getting Louder) - Jackie Wilson (1966, Brunswick)

We Did It - Syl Johnson (1972, Hi Records)

I've Come to Save You - 100 Proof Aged in Soul (1969, Hot Wax)

More Than I Can Stand - Bobby Womack (1970, Minit)

La La For You - Al Green (1972, Hi Records)

Light My Fire - The Soul Merchants (19??, Weis)

O Pica Pau - Erasmos Carlos (1974, RGE)

The Mule - James Boys (1968, Phil L.A. of Soul)

There it is Pt. 1 - James Brown (1972, Polydor)

Unwanted Love - The Montclaires (1973, Paula Records)

Montego Bay - Bar Kays (1970, Volt)

Money Won't Save You - Boscoe (2007 Reissue, Numero Group)

Blowing in the Wind - Walter Jackson (1965, Okeh)

Let the Children Play - Unknown (2010 Reissue, Numero Group)

Shout - Trammps (1974, Golden Fleece)

Jiro Dreams of Sushi: In Chicago April 6th

Since many of you have forgotten that this blog exists (myself included), I am also assuming that you forgot it was about food, in addition to music.  Well here is some food to remind you.  On the menu today: Sushi, stoic old people, and stoic old people who are really good at making sushi.  I am talking of course about the recently released documentary on the world foremost sushi master and 3 star Michelin chef Sukiyabashi Jiro.  Buzz about this movie has been fomenting since its premier at some big festival I don't particularly care to be accurate about mentioning.  But the reviews are great, so great that every time I even see a headline referring to this movie, I get hungry.  Premiering in Chicago April 6th.  More info at Sushimovie.com

At Long Last: The Kon Edits

"A world pre-premier..., A world-world-world premier-premier-premier" - Anonymous

This guy... This fucking guy... He gets the master tapes for these pristine, timeless, near perfect songs, and then somehow someway makes them different, more modern, dare I say... better? Thats what Giles Peterson dared to insinuate when he first dropped this new batch of edits from Boston DJ and crate digger Kon on his acclaimed show BBC Radio 1 over a year ago.  I forget whether he was referring to Kon's rework of Chic's "Good Times" or Cerrone's classic disco tune "Hooked On You", or maybe it was George Benson's "Give Me the Night" I don't remember they were all that amazing.
Since then the tracks remained unreleased. Only a few choice DJ's around the world have been given full copies of the songs.  But now, they are slowly starting to trickle out. There have been a few to come out so far (Staying Alive, Sunlight, and maybe one more I'm forgetting about).  The latest is released tomorrow. It is an edit of Sylvester's "Mighty Real" and the Light Touch Band's "Chicago", and its Hot.  With a capital "H".  Just check out this tight music video...

P.S. Also look for collaborations of his w/ Boston based the Whiskey Barrons, under the guise of Nite Time

Required Reading:




References:

Rich Medina and Tatyana Fazlalizadeh's Get Angry

The Kiss, oil on canvas, 2011

To support and articulate the extrodinary political struggles of common peoples across the world, painter Tatyana Fazlalizadeh has teamed up with East Coast man selektah Rich Medina for a new project.  The product is "Get Angry" which is a zip file of a special politically themed mix from Medina along with pdfs of Fazlalizadeh's paintings. More information can be found at Fazlalizadeh's blog


Tracklist:

Public Enemy - Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos
Syl Johnson - Concrete Reservation
Bilal - Robots
Mos Def - War
Dorothy Ashby - Soul Vibrations
Gil Scott Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Syl Johnson - Is It Because I'm Black?
El Michels Affair - Heaven & Hell
Common - The Corner
BDP - 30 Cops Or More
Fred Wesley & The JBs - Damn Right I'm Somebody
J Dilla - Fuck The Police
Marijata - No Condition Is Permanent
Aquil - For The People
Gang Starr - Words Manifest
Charlie Dark & Roger Robinson - Prayer For Angry Young Men
Miguel Atwood Ferguson - Stakes Is High featuring Posdnous & Talib Kweli

Daryl Hall and Sharon Jones: ... What elses is there to say???

This video is ridiculous.  I'm on a roll... I think its because I am not writing much under the guise of  "the music speaks for itself".
Live From Daryl's House ep. 34: Sharon Jones

ATTENTION: Daryl Hall feat. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings is coming to Chicago!  Tickets on sale tomorrow!!

Sounding Out, Once Again: Quantic and Alice Russell

So I thought I left this blog behind me.  Its been well since a year from when I last posted. But, fortunately, there are so many exciting things going on with music and food, I would can't fight the urge to share.  This one comes from one of my favorite musicians working in the biz today: UK born, Columbian transplant, Quantic aka Will Holland.  This multi-instrumentalist, composer, DJ, and producer extraordinaire chooses his collaborations wisely.  He has worked with singer Alice Russell for many years. Russlle has a voice as penatrating as Adelle and as soulful as Amy Winehouse, whose pairing elevates Hollands talents in the club and in the studio. With their first full album collaboration due out this spring, backed by Quantic's Como Barbaro, this record is on the top of my 2012 anticipation list.