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)

Summer of Soul: Summer Slaps

In honor of the summer sun I have put together a mix of my favorite summer slaps. From the Bay Area down to Long Beach and Inglewood, and all the way out to Bed-Stuy, this mix has everything you need for beach going, beer drinking and barbecuing. There should be plenty to keep you entertained until Josh finally comes through with his latest Summer of Soul mix. Enjoy!

In The PJ's 4:06  Big Daddy Kane Daddy's Home
Young thugs 4:24  Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Sunshine in the "O" 5:12  3 X Krazy Sick-O
Father Dom Story 5:25  Father Dom Bust The Facts
Baby Bubba 4:13  Dru Down Can You Feel Me
Let's Ride 4:35  Richie Rich Seasoned Veteran
West Coast Shit 4:19  3X Krazy Stackin Chips
Spur Of The Moment (Feat. Ludacris) 4:20   DJ Quik Balance And Options
We'll Never Stop 4:20  Rakim The Master
Players Holliday 5:02     TWDY Derty Work
Jump Ta This 2:54  The Twinz Conversation
I'll Be Around 5:48  Rappin' 4-Tay Don't Fight The Feelin'
Getto Jam 4:18  Domino Domino
Hot Sunny Day 4:57  Celly Cell
Indo Smoke 5:24        Mista Grimm
What The FAM Like 3:55  The Done Deal Fam Runs In The Family
The Mack Hand 4:16  JT The Bigga Figga  Dwellin' In Tha Labb
Hittin' Corners   4:43    K-Dee Ass, Gas, or Cash (No One Rides for Free)
You Know How We Do It 3:53  Ice Cube Lethal Injection
Hittin' Switches  3:34  Mack 10 Presents Da Hood
Playah's Mode  4:25   Young Lay Black 'N Dangerous
Another Summer 4:13  213 The Hard Way
This D.J. 3:23 Warren G Regulate...G Funk Era
All for the Money 4:06  Mc Eiht When We Wuz Bangin' 1989-1999: The Hitz
Playaz Do What'cha Like 3:36 Da Dangla Straight Maxin'
The Love Of Money 3:46 Scarface Presents The Product One Hunid
Last Nite 5:01 Ray Luv Forever Hustlin'
Summertime In The LBC (Rap) 3:56 The Dove Shack This Is The Shack
Cool 5:11 Tha Eastsidaz Duces 'n Trayz: The Old Fashioned Way
Dippin' (Remix) 4:10 King Tee IV Life
Geto Highlites 5:00 Coolio Gangsta's Paradise
Garcia Vegas 3:02 11/5 Fiendin 4 Tha Funk
Real Soon 4:31 Snoop Dogg

Summer of Soul: Summer Slaps (Full)

-Boots

P.S.
This is a great mix of by my good friend Boots to kick off the Summer of Soul.  This time around we here are extending our offerings with more than a single mix. I got a fresh one coming up so watch out!!!
Yours Truly,
SoundOutLoud

Summer of Soul Update: Mayer Hawthorne's "Maybe So Maybe No"

This artist was brought to my attention by Soul-Sides the other day with the track

"Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin'"

Soul-Sides' originator Oscar Wang called his most recent album too derivative, as if that was bad thing. Though most people think that being derivative is a mark against ones creativity, I think it is beneficial to the creative process as a whole. Commercial music has been obsessed with standing out and sounding impeccable, often times to great result. But the way music is made today is not how it will always be made, this process creates, in my opinion what is an unrealistic expectation placed on artists, to be completely original. Let me remind you we only have 12 different notes in western music. And especially when we recognize that what most of us consider to be a "good" pop song, follows a I-IV-V-I pattern (maybe with a deceptive cadence here, and a quick key change there). Really with most pop songs the key difference is a guitar riff or two and how angry the lead singer tends to be, speaking plainly of course.

I happen to be of the opinion the music is music, and soul is soul, and that I like soul a lot. With most music regardless of genre as long as the song doesn't bore me to death or hurt my ears, I will listen to it. Soul as a musical form, has an uplifting sound that is both easy to identify with and easy to dance to. In addition it also has a pretty well defined sound which makes it easy to copy for the reason that any listener need not know the theory (beyond basic instrumental or vocal competency) because chances are they already are more than familiar with the feeling. And therefore, if one wished, or if millions of people wished, they could all have soul cover bands and have a good time doing it. This is not the case with a form like American Idol style pop because it is largely based on vocal virtuosity and complicated studio polished arrangements for its effectiveness. Rock and Roll on the other hand seems to be too fragmented these days (between emo, indie-pop, indie-rock, pop rock, garage rock, punk rock, pop punk, etc...) to have a sound to be so recognizable. In my nebulous unprovable opinion I think that this drive for originality drove rock and roll away from its initial instinct in terms of feel, and has not found its way back on course since the late seventies, except for maybe a brief period relegated to the the first two Strokes albums (Room on Fire of course originally being chastised for its sameness with respect to Is This It, while six years later both remain among the top rock albums of the last decade). So my advice, find a sound or a band you love, copy the hell out of it/them with a few friends, and see what you get from there. No one thinks you are going to be the next pop superstar, so why even bull shit yourself into thinking to get the best result by "doing your own thing". Imitation is the purest form of flattery, so just give what you love the respect it deserves.

Here is Mayer Hawthorne's cover of Maybe So Maybe No - By the New Holidays which you of course remember from the Summer of Soul: Electric Boogaloo '09 playlist I posted a while back. Its still warm out I guess, and we haven't had the autumnal equinox, so keep that soul kickin'.

Summer of Soul Pt. 2 : Electric Boogaloo '09

Ahh summer. The long days, the barbecues, the beaches and the beer all represent this special time of the year where, even if you don't have any more time on your hands than usual, you certainly act like you do. Summer is when we all attempt to recall those care free days of memories past that may have existed only for a moment, but are forever encapsulated in notions of everything from pool-side days, fleeting summer romance, and grandiose travel plans that were half baked at best. Last summer DJ Marcus Newmatic had a novel idea, "The Summer of Soul". There are many artists and songs that are perfect for those summer moments, but I think DJ Newmatic was on to something in that there is no genre of music that I feel epitomizes summer more than soul.

Soul music like the idea of summer is in many ways is about escape. Coming from Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York and other Black urban centers soul music in a very real way served as a place to overcome and forget the daily struggles of inner city life while promoting hope, celebrating love, and mourning heartbreak. Summer as previously noted with its mythology of freedom, is steeped in nostalgia. And soul music with each horn hit, each upstroke of the hollow-bodied guitars, and each warm crackled cry of a hopeless romantic on the microphone are drenched in the uplifting thoughts of yesteryear. More importantly perhaps is the lasting sonic power that these songs have. Even with the aspects of "old" among its sound are found tunes that connect deeply to the power of pop music while maintaining the musicality and tact that make these songs transcend their period maintaining accessibility to the ears of todays generation as well. Fitting handily on any standard blank cd and playing in any boombox or car cd player, I say without hesitation, that this is the soundtrack of your summer. So without further ado I give you the playlist for the ....

Summer of Soul Pt. 2: Electric Boogaloo '09.

Highlights:

Together - The Intruders

Ole Man Trouble - Otis Redding

Make it Good to Me - Sharon Jones

Whats on it:

As Long as Ive Got You (Demo) 3:16 the emotions songs of innocence/experience

Misdemeanor 2:41 Foster Sylvers Summer Songs '09

ABC 2:59 Jackson 5

Tell Me 2:46 Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings 100 Days, 100 Nights

In These Very Tender Moments 3:14 Eddie & Ernie Lost Friends

Maybe So, Maybe No 3:04 New Holidays 7" (Soul Hawk)

Make It Good To Me 4:52 Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Dap-Dippin' With...

Respect 2:28 Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

Seven Years 2:19 The Impressions The Young Mod's Forgotten Story

You're No Good 2:50 Harvey Averne Viva Soul

Cold Game 3:34 Myron & E with The Soul Investigators

Ole Man Trouble 2:36 Otis Redding The Dock Of The Bay

Goodbye Baby (Baby Good Bye) 3:23 Solomon Burke Rock 'n Soul

Many Rivers To Cross 2:42 Jimmy Cliff The Harder They Come-The Definitive Collection

A Change Is Gonna Come 3:13 Sam Cooke Ain't That Good News (Remastered)

Together (Album Version) 2:56 The Intruders The Best Of The Intruders: Cowboys To Girls

I Heard It Through the Grapevine 3:05 The Temptations Clould Nine

(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay 2:45 Otis Redding The Dock Of The Bay

05 - Slip Away 3:02 Hank Ballard Can't keep a good man down - 1969

What Becomes of the Broken Hearted 3:00 Jimmy Ruffin

Woman's Got Soul 2:18 The Impressions Big Sixteen

11 Lost Someone [-] 2:42 James Brown Live at the Appollo

He Ain't Comin' Home No More 3:10 Nina Simone High Priestess Of Soul (Originals)

This Time 3:07 Dj Shadow The Outsider Hip-Hop

Tired Of Fighting 3:32 Menahan Street Band Make The Road By Walking

This Magic Moment 2:34 The Drifters Atlantic Rhythm & Blues (1947-74) - Disc 4 (1957-60)

Happy Listening,

MC J-Sauce

p.s. if any of you readers have your own summer playlist feel free to share it in the comments sections I will surely take a listen.