Ted Taylor : Houston Town & Can’t Take No More
taken from the album “Taylor Made” on Ronn (197?)

Fred Hughes : Baby Boy, Don’t Let This Happen To Us,
& Who You Really Are
taken from the album “Baby Boy” on Brunswick (197?)

So it looks like, after nearly 3 years of blogging here at the Crate (almost 300 songs, not counting mixes and radio shows), a collaboration is in the works with the honorable O-Dub— creator of Soul-Sides.com. We’re not precisely sure what form this team will take, but expect to see/hear some of his posts right here in Captain’s Crate– at least for a lil’ while. What will this mean for you? well, mostly just that there will be more good music available for download right here. One less link to click for your tired and aching index fingers.

Soul-Sides was one of the reasons why I started this site to begin with. It seemed like such a novel idea back in 2004. And it’s still a great source for music, info and inspiration (not to mention sampler food). To celebrate this engagement, I’m sharing some recently gleaned soul cuts of my own. Perhaps they’ll even make their way onto his page (which might be part of the arrangement).

If any of Ted Taylor’s other records are as consistently top tier as this one, then it’s hard to imagine why he never crossed over on a bigger scale. Pretty impressive to hear material as well produced as this coming from a little Louisiana indie label. It’s one of those records where you can honestly drop the needle on any track and be pleased. Taylor’s wiry vocals remind me of the great Syl Johnson, climbing and darting down swiftly without ever slipping. Gotta love the fuzzed blues guitar on “Can’t Take No More” too. For a couple other tracks by Mr. Taylor, head over to Darcy’s Feel It Blog.

Fred Hughes is another nearly ungoogleable cat. I see that now-defunkt soul blog Number One Songs In Heaven posted another song off this album at one point, but other than that I can’t tell you much. This album has a rougher and rawer sound than Taylor’s but damn if the melodies aren’t catchy as hell. “Who You Really Are” in particular has that instantaneously familiar sound to it (could be a sample source I’m forgetting); and listen to that beautiful drum break!

On one last note- check out this other great blog I’ve been getting music from. Kikin Bakk brings out more of the nasty funky latin afrobeat soul and reggae that we love here in the Crate.

The Celebrant : Off Beats
taken from their Self-Titled album on Olumo (1978)

Marius Cultier : Piano A Marius Cultier & Zouk
taken from the album “The Way…” on Magidisco (1976)

The Afro Soul-Tet : Dom Gowa
taken from the album “Afrodesia” on Banyan (197?)

Gestu De Dakar : Ndiourel
taken from the album “Diabar” on Syllart (1980)

Take a couple cool records that you’ve picked up over the years, loved and appreciated, perhaps even taken the time to digitize, and then prepare yourself to say goodbye. Letting go of some of your most beloved (and possibly hardest to find) gems, may be exactly what it takes to make way for more of what you were looking for in the first place. I’ve recently been doing a bit of record trading, and it seems to be a win/win equation. I had to let go of my Gestu, a total treasure from the late 70’s, early 80’s Senegalese scene. But I found myself putting a pristine copy of “The Way…” down on the turntable in its place! This record is a truly unique blend of styles and innovation from Martinique’s musical genius Marius Cultier. Recorded in a clean but raw production style that really makes the whole set feel live.

The Celebrant has been one of those goodies that I’ve been hording all to myself; not wanting to share for fear that the heaviness of the music might just be enough to crush the rest of the world. I’m willing to conceed that a little selfishness was part of the reason for holding back, but you’ll have to find the record for yourself to experience the crushing power of “Celebration In The Ghetto”— another killer cut on this LP.

Despite my greediest inclinations, when I was recently faced with the possibility of getting my hands on the sounds contained in ultra-rare recordings like this one from The Afro Soul-Tet, you’d better believe I jumped at the chance to share my Celebrant bomb. You lucky cats get to skim the cream off the top. These songs are, to my ear, some of the finest from these records. But don’t let that discourage you from seeking them out on your own, I could listen to these records again tomorrow and pick a completely different set from the same albums.

***HEADS UP TO ALL NYC FOLKS***
Doing a big show with my group The Beatards (check the new website!) at Mercury Lounge this Friday with some cool cats on the Lex label. Come out and show some love!

Passport Broadcast 12.10.07 with guest DJ Ari
Haitian and African rarities that will soften your heart and spin your head.

Passport Broadcast 12.03.07
more sounds from around the globe.

Sorry. Never even got a chance to finish last week’s entry. I will be back with crazy fresh tunes really soon. Until then, enjoy these hard to find tropical sounds from heady record collector, DJ, and all-around cool guy Ari. And a classic pic from the one and only Malick Sidibe

Artist – “Song Title” – Album Name – (Label)

12.10.07 selections by DJ Ari
Patato & Totico “Mas Que Nada” Latin Sounds (Verve)
Combo Creole “Erzulie” S/T (Mini)
Orchestre Tropicana “Cherie Pa Retounin” Doux Tropic (Marc)
Weber Sicot “J’aime La Campagne” Haiti Holiday (Ibo)
Papa Wemba “Annah” Siku Ya Mungu (Black Music)
Dade Krama “Kronkohinkoo” Ancestral Music Of Africa (Akoben)
Ambrose Cambell & His Emergent Music “Yolanda” High Life Today (Columbia)
Spokes Mashiyane “Monate” Spokes Of Africa (Gallo)
Gwigwi’s Band “Mra” Kwela By Gwigwi’s Band (77)
Orchestre Hi-Fives “Mwana Wa Mraka” Hit-Parade African Pathe-Marconi (Pathe Marconi)
Orchestre De La Paillote “Kadia Blues” Vol. 2 (Editions Syliphon)
Thione Seck “Bamba” Chauffeur Bi (Private)
Orchestre Baobab “Sindicli” Une Nuit Au Jandeer (Musicafrique)

12.03.07
Kelenkye Band “Jungle Music” Bolingo (Comet)
Zaperoko “Bata Yeye” S/T (Montuno)
Aquarius Band “Sultana” Ultimate Brazilian Breaks & Beats (Murge)
Chico Mann “Who You Runnin’ From” Manifest Tone Vol. 1 (Kindred Spirits)
Soweto Stockvel Septette “Ice Cream & Suckers” Ice Cream & Suckers (Mercury)
Ananda Shankar “Brindavan Revel” A Musical Discovery Of India (EMI)
Sum Sum “Living In The Past” Midnight Guitar (Regal)
Youssou N’Dour “Dabbaax” Rokku Mi Rokka (Nonesuch)
Super Combo “El Gato De Chepa” A Bailar Cumbias (Felipe)
Sombory-Jazz “Nananina” Musiques San Paroles (Syllart)
Willie Colon & Hector Lavoe “No Me Den Candela” Guisando (Fania)

Chico Mann : Who You Runnin’ From
taken from the album Manifest Tone Vol.1 on Kindred Spirits (2006)

Pimps Of Joytime : Bonita
taken from the album High Steppin on Wonderwheel (2007)

Two weekends in a row, I’ve been lucky enough to take in some of the best live music that Brooklyn has to offer. It’s no coincidence that these bands are doing shows together either, seeing as how band members overlap and similarly-minded cats tend to magnetize each other. But if you’re not in the area, then I strongly encourage you too seek them out on your own – or hey, reach out and try to get them to come to your city. Setting up shows like this is actually easier than one might imagine.

It started off last Saturday, when I found myself at Studio BPM in Williamsburg, where DJ’s DRM and Nickodemus were spinning in between sets from Chico Mann and The Pimps. I had seen Chico Mann (who I guess is actually based in Derty Jerz) at Joe’s Pub like 6 months ago when they opened for Bronx River Parkway (which is a latinized incarnation of the El Michels Affair). They were good then, but they got WAAAAAY better. Victor Axelrod (aka Ticklah) was on keys, Vinia Mojica was on vocals, and my boy Telekinetic Kat was bringing the beats. “Afrobeat made with Nintendo sounds” is what DRM said, and I think it’s a rather appropriate comment. The recording is cool, but hearing it live really felt like witnessing the future. If their show is any gauge of what’s to come, expect bigger and badder sounds on Vol.2!

Then it was The Pimps Of Joytime, playing songs from one of the few albums I’ve actually had on repeat this year. Funky New Orleans flavored soul, with healthy touches of Prince and Fela in the mix. The whole set was on point, but when they brought up Cyril Neville (please tell me you know about where this man comes from), the whole place shook and shimmy’d. They ended the show in the way that all my favorite shows end, with the amps turning off and only hand-claps percussion remaining. They walked into the crowd and we all did call and response over a badass mardi-gras bounce for a solid five minutes before calling it quits with the whole place smiling.

I’ll tell you about this past Saturday when I get a minute, but right about now I’m 15 minutes late… stay tuned.

The Clefs Of Calvary : You Don’t Know What I’ve Been Through,
Standing Where Jesus Is, & Miracle Temple
taken from the album “God’s Light” on Prestige (1963)

The Mighty Imperials : You Shall Be Free,
God’s Love Is Like A Burning Fire, & Today
taken from the album A Look At The Mighty Imperials Of Dayton, Ohio on Creed (1973)

First off, happy Tofurkey day for all you Americans out there. Yesterday was spent, just as it should be, between cooking, catching up with family, feasting with friends (chez mois), passing out on the floor, and then getting a second wind to DJ till nearly dawn. I felt so good, so thankful, all day- I guess the Gospel just felt appropriate.

The Clefs record is such a stunner. It’s a perfect document of that transition period right before church music went pop and became soul. Since there’s no personnel listing on the LP jacket, I had initially thought I stumbled upon an early Sam Cooke record. However, a few google searches soon revealed that this unnamed lead crooner was one James Phelps— who clearly spent a good deal of time in the same circle as the posterboy of soul. Relaxing on the floor, belly full of delicious home-cooked food, surrounded by my best friends who were all similarly sedated, these harmonies carried me through a blissful dreamy stupor that’s just now beginning to wear off — that’s why I’m keeping these songs on repeat!

10 years later, The Mighty Imperials of Dayton, Ohio (not the same as the Daptone group) prove that the soulful gospel sound was still thriving (and staying pretty true to it’s roots). Can’t find any info on the web about these guys, but I love that instead of your typical liner notes, the group simply re-printed an entire page from James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time. Here’s one line from that:

There is no music like that music, no drama like the drama of the saints rejoicing, the sinners moaning, the tambourines racing and all those voices coming together and crying holy unto the Lord.

Anyone who’s felt the raw power of a live gospel group knows the truth in that right there. Regardless of creed– Athiest, Jew, Muslim and Hindu alike can enjoy sounds as moving as these.

(^^^random image of my boy Cato at a warm August DJ gig we did together on the banks of the East River)

Passport Broadcast from 11.12.2007

Passport Broadcast from 11.05.2007

People have been asking for recent radio shows, which is great, but the thing is, you can bypass the middleman (which is me) by going directly to the WNYU website. The station has a really handy automatic archive system that allows listeners such as yourselves to download shows that you missed live. I realize it can be a little confusing if you’ve never done it before, so I’m gonna outline some easy-to-follow instructions to make it a bit simpler for you.

1) Once you arrive at the www.wnyu.org homepage, click on the “ARCHIVES” link in the upper left box.

2) You will then see a “PROGRAM” pull-down tab just beneath the WNYU header at the top of the page. Beneath that there will be a list of the most recently archived shows. Feel free to peruse the rest of the archive containing other great shows (I reccomend “Beats In Space”, “Plastic Tales From The Marshmellow Dimension”, and “Tunnel One”).

3) If “Passport” is the show you seek, then simply find that name by holding down the “PROGRAM” tab, and then select it.

4)Finally, a list of recent archived editions of “Passport” will appear in chronological order with 3 different little icons next to the “Passport” show title. Click on the icon that looks like a little computer (I think that’s what it is)– it’s the middle icon.

Bingo! Your weekly international audio exploration starts reconstructing itself bit by bit on your desktop. Sorry if I’m sounding patronizing or like I’m going into way too much detail about something seemingly self-explanatory. Thing is, I’ve directed people there before and they haven’t figured out how to download the shows, so hopefully this will help them.

Artist “Track” Album Title (Label)

Playlist for 11.12.2007
(*a note about this show: the archive recorded 90mins of audio rather than 60 on this day, so there’s a half hour of the following show [which is also cool] after mine ends)

Oriental Brothers International “Otu’Nwa” S/T (Decca)
Som Nossa de Cada Dia “Tinta Presa Fosca” Procura Da Essencia (Edito Princeps)
San Ul Lim “Track 3” San Ul Lim 3 (SRB)
Unknown Thai Orchestra “Song #1” (Mississippi)
Jose Mangual & Patato Valdez “Guaguanco” Understanding Latin Rhythms (LP)
Sonora Dinamita “Bongo, Bongo” La Explosiva (Fuentes)
Tabou Combo “Courai” 8th Sacrement (Mini)
Youssou N’Dour “Bajjan” Rokku Mi Rokka (Nonesuch)
Soul Brothers “Bayeza” Mantombazane (Masterpiece)
Suns of Arqa “Ananta Snake Dance” The Indipop CompilAsian Album (Virgin)
Chidanand Sharma & Indira Pal “Baal Samay Ran Bhaksh” Bhakti Keertan (Fantasy Sounds)

Playlist for 11.05.2007

Sergio Del Rio Y Su Conjunto “Mama Loo” Latinamericarpet (Sublime Frequencies)
Quinteto Violado “Asa Branca” S/T (Philips)
Keronchong Salina “Nona Manis” Vol. 2 (Philips)
The Ramblers Dance Band “Ekombi” The Hit Sound Of The Ramblers Dance Band (Decca)
Nuta Jazz Band “Salamu Zako Nimezipata” Zanzibara 3 (Buda Musique)
Meirelles E Sua Orquestra “Fio Maravilha” Brazilian Beat Vol. 5 (London)
Willie Rosario & His Orchestra “My Favorite Things” Boogaloo & Guaguanco (Atco)
Totem “El Tabano” S/T (Vampi Soul)
Zoo “Samedi Soir a Carnouet” S/T (Bacilus)
San Ul Lim “Track 1” 3 (SRB)
Asha Bhosle “Dil Dil Dil Kabhi Dil De Bhi To Do” Dance Disco Dance (EMI)