Thinksmart

Was on their LPs but not on CD that I can see.

This thread has me buying even more New Orleans 'gritty' Soul. I recommend the two 'Ric and Ron' label CDs on Ace records of New Orleans R&B/early Soul that are right up Irish Mash's street I think. On these (and related artist CDs) are such as Johnny Adams, Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair, Eddie Bo, Chris Kenner, Robert Parker, Tommy Ridgley - amongst the very best. Let's not overlook Fats Domino too, New Orleans R&B starts here (and early Ska took that sound and localised it). I've always been partial to his brassy, harmonica led R&B uptempo gem here: The pre Gris Gris career of Mac Rebennack / Dr John is confusing to collect as some of it is out of copyright so all kinds of dodgy compilations abound (one of the best is the unlikely sounding 'Trader John's Crawfrish Soiree' another is 'In The Studio with Mac Rebennack'). However I do not think any of them include his Zu Zu Blues Band one off single beloved by Mods (even though they do include a separate song called Zu Zu Man): Dr John takes you a long way from R&B, swing, his voodoo psych-blues, funk-soul to the sweet City Lights and so much more. There was a great double CD introduction called Mos' 'Scocious that is a useful launching pad to find the era of his music you enjoy (or all of it!). Enjoy yer gumbo folks!

Great to have the releases back. I'm enjoying the Soul Voices CD as I type. What a wonderful collection. The LP releases were great on CD and will be so on vinyl for sure. Good to see the MP3 releases to help spread the music beyond us core listeners here.

That is what has happened with conferences in my sector too - all rescheduled to broadly the same dates, clashing and with a very nervous audience. But in London - I don't think we will be going to any in person in London this year. The South Korea wave that is still rippling through from the lone guy in clubs on one night, shows the sensitivity. (good new article on it here: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/south-korea-coronavirus-response-second-wave) The situation on contract tracing and the app seems unclear at present - imagine it pinging at a Soul event. I am keen to get back though, in fact after this time, I'd welcome going out more if safe (though as someone who had severe double-lung pneumonia from a business trip to China in 2015, safe is the watch word). It is good to start thinking it through - listening to Richard Searling and others online talking about Blackpool as the largest event perhaps, it is unclear how you could run that for a fair while. I could easily envisage small 'underground' local events starting with little advertising and people taking the risk.

So far it is only outdoor things that are opening up and shops where they can enforce social distancing. I may be a touch cautious, but it feels like indoor events, especially those with dancing within range and drinking are a way off yet.

Two more Wardell Quezerque compilations I have on checking: Strung Out - The Malaco Sessions Sixty Smokin' Soul Senders

It is worth a watch. Ironically his music is only a small part of it - the life of the man and result on people around him is fasincating. It's interesting in there how much music he was performing and is shown but seemingly not releasing - adapting to the style of the era, big haired 80s boogie, 90s R&B, bedroom Soul - he kept on but it was the attention from the music rather than releasing the music itself that seemed most important. There's more to him than was even in the documentary as subsequent articles have picked up on.

You beat me to it, I'll try only to mention others not covered already. There was a great 3 CD series Ace did called Gumbo Stew that is definitely worth getting - it's all that early 1960s New Orleans soul sound. That for me was a foundation source that took me beyond the greats by such as Barbara George, Lee Dorsey and Benny Spellman. There are compilations of the production/playing/song writing by Dr John, Wardell Quezerque and Allen Toussaint that are good. The Dr John ones are usually in his own name and include other artists. Allen Toussaint Artist - Producer - Songwriter is one for example. Kent's recent 'Rolling With The Punches' is a fantastic collection of Allen Toussaint work with other artists (his own work is definitely worth exploring too). I'd go there as a starter for sure. Kent's Birth of Soul series and other CDs are often the best masters of key New Orleans songs. The compilation 'My Goodness Yes!' covering the Silver Fox label sounds up your street. Also New Orleans Soul 1962-1966 set. The New Orleans Funk series (1-4) hasn't been mentioned, which is almost all gritty Soul rather than Funk as it is thought of later. The 'Shake What You Brought' CD is similar to those mentioned with some good New Orleans. Metro's 'Simply New Orleans' two CD is probably only a couple of quid to get now. One thing to be aware of, with the licensing of a lot of New Orleans music not clear and the pre-1963 music on public release by anyone now - there are a lot of sub-par compilations, often from disc of 50s/early 60s that repeat the same songs and can sound terrible. So the compilations mentioned above and here should be useful and are from reputable sources (in sound and licencing). The music produced by Wardell Quezerque in particular seems to be all over the place and there are a fair few low quality compilations that might have a few exclusive old tracks from disc. Hope that helps Thanks Mark

Blimey. What a life. This adds more after watching: Murder, mystery and a hit record: the unbelievable story of Ike White https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/may/18/mystery-and-a-hit-record-the-unbelievable-story-of-ike-white?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

Gutted at this, been digging more into her music in recent years - she was so young when she did her classic singles and albums in seventies and into eighties. More you dig, there's so much quality. RIP to all the Soul artists and people around them passing away at present.

According to Discogs it was a short lived name for what became Gordy Records: https://www.discogs.com/label/56689-Miracle-Records-5

To extend the Philly listening beyond the four volume set I mentioned before, also check the the Creme de la Creme two CDs that Richard Searling compiled of 70s Philly Soul (plus the not all Philly Soul 'You Better Believe It' CDs). Kent's Philly Groove CDs (Deep In The Philly Groove and Deeper In The Philly Groove) are a good primer for that label.

Well Salsoul is of course the next logical step, with the musicians from PIR splitting away to work there https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsoul_Records. While there is a lot of Disco at Salsoul the Soulful output ranks highly. Alongside that, Stan Winston's Philly Groove label will be perfect too as home to The Delfonics and many more. Lots of explore there. A lot of the legendary Sigma Studios recordings aren't on labels that are only Philly related, or artists from Philly, so worth checking out the Spirit Of Philadelphia CD series (volumes 1-4 so far) - or the artists and songs on there as a primer. They still count as Philly produced Soul of the era. The Trammps, The Futures and many dozens more weren't on specifcally Philly related labels - so it starts to blur. There is a lot of crossover from sixties to early seventies on Philly labels such as Artic. Thom Bell as a producer is a great reference point working for Philly Groove and more widely for such as The Spinners on Atlantic by then. Ace is helpfully issuing a new Thom Bell CD in the next couple of months: https://acerecords.co.uk/ready-or-not-thom-bells-philly-soul-arrangements-productions-1965-1978 Inevitably there is a lot of interchange here between labels/producers/studios and artists, but this should give a good basis to start further explorations.

The Artistics - Girl I Need You?

Great, Thanks.

HI all, while we are all at home - Mixcloud is providing great along with Internet Radio to complement my own plays. Soul Music is our constant companion here while we are at home. This may of been done before, but for some it will all be new at this time. So why don't we put up our favourite shows at Mixcloud (others) for people to tune into? So first I'll highlight Pete Smith who is endlessly interesting in the way he compiles music in themes drawn from his collections over the years. This continues the deep pile of CDrs it took me years to digitise from him over the years that still throw up unheard treatures. Good on him and thanks for the music.

Richard has now put up two 'lost' shows and an Aretha Franklin special on Mixcloud in the last two weeks. His Solar Radio show continues on Sunday lunch, first hour is drawn from the Friday/Mixcloud show and the second his 'Rare and Well Done' show with more Modern Soul and mellow spins. Good to have those and all the other wonderful Mixcloud shows at present. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to do them including Colin Curtis, Pete Smith, Roger Williams and so many more.

Great to see his later music appreciated. Other than a general, background appreciation of the singles I had overlooked his music then heard Richard Searling play the song 'Watching You, Watching Me' and was very taken with it. Similarly on a wonderful Kent compilation album about Vietnam related Soul, I first head 'I Can't Write Left Handed' which was quietly devastating. Eventually like many I envisage, I bought a box set of all his albums which are a source of constant delight, far beyond his wonderful singles. A true artist, decent man, someone who knew when to stop and go do something else positive with their life. Thank you.

Hi all I've got Starpoint radio on in the background and they have just said that Ronn Matlock passed early in March but it has not been reported until now. I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere else. Thanks Mark

Maybe it's because I've had more time - but some great new tunes from Bobby & Steve, GLOW, J.D's Time Machine, Frank Addai, Warryn Campbell, Binky Womack, Lukas Setto & others being played at present. New Tower of Power album has some non-funk Modern Soul, Monophonics album sees their evolution progress towards the late 60s/early 70s. It is a challenging time in society but there is some great music around too.

Sounds like '68-'69 era early funk-rock. But is it more recent and trying to emulate it? The lack of a defined chorus doesn't help.

Thanks, appreciated.

Showdown is immense.

Shrine briefly too of course. This thread is fascinating. With less communication and travel in the early '60s, Maxine's view may of seemed true to her at the time based on her experience in NY and playing live.

Some of the early Kent, Out On The Floor, Keeping The Faith, Up All Night compilation LP covers and information on reverse were back in the early 80s were instructive to me as a young teenager. I wish there could be a book of the Kent sleeves and their reverses.