Ok, we had to push this back two weeks but we’re finally ready to give Boogaloo[L.A.] the grand launch it’s deserved. Me and Murphy’s Law have been at the Short Stop for just over a month now and getting settled into the space but we really want to kick this off proper. The goal here is to build the night into something special – a destination for your Thursday night. We would very much like to get out as many people for our grand launch as possible – just to set the tone right, help spread the word, etc. etc.

For starters, ML and I have been at work on creating a special mix-CD just for the launch. Hopefully, we’ll get it done in time but I solemnly pledge that we will have SOME kind of giveaway that evening (I still have a grip of Daptone Records Remixed CDs plus my own CDs we can give out, if need be.

Regardless, we want to blow the place out that evening so if you can make an excuse to roll through, roll through!

Thursday, March 20th
The Short Stop
1455 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles (Echo Park)
10pm – 2am
FREE!

Mel Williams : With A Little Help From My Friends
taken from the album “Stranger In Paradise” on Wampus (197?)

Eugene Paul : Chain Gang
taken from the 12″ on Third World (198?)

I don’t know a nickel’s worth about either of these artists, so I won’t front like I do. But both of them offered me a much appreciated respite in a time of need. I love how Mel has completely changed the tempo and swing of the whole song. Despite the poor recording quality, he really strikes a nerve when (right around 1:35) he lays behind on the beat and then jumps right back on top of it. The Eugene Paul cut, produced by Winston Curtis, has some serious gall to even dare take on a classic of such epic proportions. And while the production quality here might also distract some listeners, by the arrival of the first verse, I was entirely sold. When else has Sam Cooke received the raggae version? I’m running a blank. The 12″ also contains a nice rendition of “Wonderful World” and a not so nice B-side called “Rock Me”.

*** ALSO CHECK THE BLOGROLL UPDATE! ***
Finally. Some cool new ones I’ve been checking are added to the list at the right and some that are now defunkt or infrequent have been removed.

Kikin Bakk: more funk, soul & latin heat.

Missing Toof: electro, mash-up & dancefloor food.

One Day Later: home of U-Tern and his boogie & electro selections.

DJ Delights home of DJ Anonymous and a wide array of danceable tracks.

Sunny and the Sunliners: Soul Pride + Cissy Strut
From The Missing Link (Key-Loc, 197?)

I wanted to thank everyone for their support in picking up one our CDs. As a gesture of my gratitude, I decided to slip out another of the “top shelf” records with two cuts off this Sunny and the Sunliners LP. The group was based around San Antonio and had a long, healthy career, releasing singles and albums on the Key-Loc label. (Later, group member Rudy Guerra would go onto found a similar band, The Latin Breed, who are equal legends in the Texas funk scene, especially with their releases on GCP.

Like most of Sunny and the Sunliners albums from this era, Missing Link is a mix of Tex-Mex ranchera songs with a few odd soul and funk tunes mixed in. Apart from the two songs included above, there’s also a slower, instrumental cut, “Boo Boo” and a midtempo funk tune, “Pressure Cooker” (good name). I appreciate that diversity and seeming eclecticism though I know, for the group, there likely was no contradiction in them playing a Norteño track one minute and a soul one the next.

Their cover of “Soul Pride” is pretty loyal – a good funk slammer, no doubt – but their version of “Cissy Strut” is something fierce, especially with their addition of the “Sing a Simple Song” horn bridge (nice). Is it my favorite cover of this Meters classic? Tough call – I do dig the new elements they throw in but I might have to stick with the Hoctor cover (and don’t sleep on the Trinidad Steel Drum Band’s either).

Mon Rivera : Lluvia Con Nieve &
Bobby Valentin : Coco Seco
taken from the compilation Fania DJ Series: Gilles Peterson on Fania (2007)

Nonato E Seu Conjunto : Tereco &
Freesom Orquestra : Rush
taken from the compilation Ultimate Brazilian Breaks & Beats #2 on Adventures In Paradise (2007)

I realize this is a late notice, but so was my spur of the minute decision to come out to L.A. to visit young Murphy. It was no coincidence that my trip happens to overlap with another Boogaloo session at The Shortstop, but rather divine intervention, I merely heeded the call. So if you’re like me and desperately need to shake loose some stodge, and are in the L.A. area, then come through and show some love and say hello. We’ll be spinning songs like these ones above, as well as tons of other musical firecrackers, amongst a moving crowd of dancers and friendly folk (look out for O-Dub!). Both brothers side by side behind the turntables = MAYHEM.

Just one note about the songs: I’ve been meaning to post this Mon Rivera cut for like 2 years now as it’s one of the select few songs that I manage to play without fail every single week, and never seem to tire of. LISTEN TO THOSE TROMBONES!!!

Muddy Waters : I Just Wanna Make Love To You & Mannish Boy
taken from the album “Electric Mud” on Cadet (1968)

Howlin’ Wolf : Spoonful, Smokestack Lightning & Evil
taken from the album “The Howlin’ Wolf Album” on Cadet (1968)

Wynder K Frog : Into The Fire & Howl In Wolf’s Clothing
taken from the album “Into The Fire” on United Artists (1970)

It makes little sense to me, how after years of tirelessly searching the used bins at hundreds of music stores, religiously reading the record reviews in all types of periodicals, and more recently, scouring the vast savannas of the blogosphere for great sounds, somehow, I still have managed to miss some of the most fundamental things. Enter Muddy and Wolf.

I found these 3 records together at the same small local shop that I picked up those Super Blues & Bo Diddley LPs at a while back, and I have a hunch that they all came from the same collection. While I shamefully recognized back then that I had blindly slept on the funky rawness of the Super Blues trio (Diddley, Muddy & Wolf), I now feel like a total imbecile for not realizing the depth of these cats greatness. Shredding and pounding this hard back in ’68, these dudes almost make Hendrix seem less badass – almost. Now Wynder K Frog may not stand up to the monumental gangster that these guys represent, but at least he had the decent sense back then to recognize a good thing when it was going on and try to join the party. Some might recognize his tribute to Wolf, “A Howl In Wolf’s Clothing” (which is pretty clearly ripped from “Smokestack”), as the basis for a Handsome Boy Modelling School cut. Also nice to hear a raucous 30-second cowbell drumbreak at the top of side-A.

AND ANOTHER EXCITING NOTE: Ix Pics is back up and running! Yeah for Jefe being not lazy anymore! There’s some beautiful shots from his recent trip to Jamaica and Cuba among other. Check it out

Bilal: Something To Hold On To, Gotsta Be Cool and Lord Don’t Let It

Taken from the as-yet-unreleased album Love For Sale (2006)

I tend to take it as a positive signal when an audience seems a bit perplexed by the performer they’ve come to watch. At the very least, I don’t think it’s a necessarily bad thing. Sure, it might indicate a musician out of step with his fanbase, or for that matter someone simply untalented, but Bilal is neither of these. He’s just on another level.

My friend said to me as we were leaving the show last Friday, “Dude looked like he was freaking the peyote train.” And he did–look like it, I mean. He had a certain transcendental air about him. (His stage presence felt more Jim Morrison than what one might figure the cool “neo-soul” crooner type.) But I got the sense watching him that all the manifestations of his esoteric style–dress, demeanor and vocal execution–were the very ways that made his music impactful. And different. And hard for some of the crowd to get avidly behind, mainly ’cause they were just a little confused.

But one thing’s sure: dude’s killing it. And he’s doing it his way.

There is nothing trite or re-hashed about the way Bilal executes his songs. Inimitable structuring (courtesy of high caliber training in jazz and opera), haunting falsetto vocals, and a mean idea of a backing band (SA-RA suckas!), make for an artist that, even if he can’t get the crowd frenzy of a swooning D’Angelo, delivers on the hope of a future for soul music.

These songs were taken off an album that was never saw a proper release but is widely available for download on the internet. I’ve been fiending this ish since the day I first laid ears on it. Get hip.