Fat Freddy’s Drop : Ray Ray
taken from the album “Based On A True Story” on The Drop (2005)

Nino Moschella : No One
taken from the album “The Fix” on Ubiquity (2006)

Sorry for the extended absence, I’ve been doing that thing that all record junkies (and other people who have more worldly possessions than they ought to) dread most: moving. Finding the apartment was an ordeal by it’s own right, but little compares to the extremely intense physical gauntlet presented by hauling crate after crate after crate after crate….. Turns out I have 5,000 records. It’s not merely physical either; the quest creates a mental torment in which the agonizing mover actually momentarily despises the very objects which, on any normal day, provide him or her with much needed solace and inspiration. So, it’s been a tough week, and now I’m neck deep in boxes trying to make sense of the madness.

Much thanks go out to my die hard crew of friends-for-life who actually did just as much lifting and carrying as I did for nothing more than a bit of curry and naan. I see you Shipley, Ix, DZ, Ant, and K-Money! I’mma make it up to y’all one day…

Another thing that this whole transition has reminded me, is that CDs are really not that bad a medium at all. I’ve thankfully not been having to flip from side A to side B with these bad boys in my stereo, it saves me that extra minute for breaking down cardbord and picking dust boogers. And this new music the kids are making nowadays, it’s darn good. Reminds me of the old wax cylinder days. These albums are good all the way through, to the last drop. They don’t get boring. Not once. Nope. Get them on CD so you won’t have to flip sides.

Fat Freddy you should know by now. They won the highly reputable Worldwide “Best Album Of 2005”. No flashy album art, just genius genre blending and and more soul than an Alabama church. If ya don’t know, now ya know…

And this album from Nino just came into my consciousness from outta nowhere. Won’t try to make any comparisons, cause it’s really quite unique. He does all vocals and instrumentation himself. RESPECT.

The Dells : I Want My Momma
taken from the album “Musical Menu” on Cadet (1969)

Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz : Sweet Mother
taken from the album “Aki Special” on Rounder (1987)
originally released on Rogers All Stars (1976)

Sizzla : Thank You Mama
taken from the album “Da Real Thing” on VP (2002)

What can you say to your moms? Her biggest problem is that she cares too much about you. Is that a crime? Big love to all moms everywhere. Earth moms to Martian moms, elephant moms to insect moms, ancient moms to future moms, I (along with these fine musicians featured above) am truly in awe of your endless efforts of generosity and compassion. Sorry for all the sufferation.

Also, I have a new mix!!!! Go peep it at a brand new British digi-hub for all things funky. The website is called Cherry-Funk, and the mix is called “Upbeat On Bongo Street”. Many tunes you haven’t heard before. It’s a groovy dance party type thang.

The Marvelettes : My Baby Must Be A Magician
taken from the album “Sophisticated Soul” on Tamla (1968)

Donnie Elbert : If I Can’t Have You
taken from the album “Where Did Our Love Go?” on All Platinum (196?)

The Swordsmen : Disgusted and Discouraged and Oh My Soul
taken from their self-titled album on RCA (1969)

Billy Vera & Judy Clay : We’re In Love
taken from the album “Storybook Children” on Atlantic (1968)

One great thing about doing this blog (and there are not that many perks, I assure you), is that it gives me an excuse to raid my friend’s record collections. So This weekend I finally got to finger through some prime pieces of wax that belong to a one Mr. DZ. You might remember this particular goon from his Chanukah funk entry a while back. While he may lack in numbers (he bought his first piece of wax like 5 months ago), he more than makes up for it with quality. This week’s selections represent a mere pittance of his soulful plethora. Also, any of you cats out there who are getting your MPCs ready to sample and splice, be ye warned, the aforementioned DZ is also a well-versed beatconductor (some of his production can be found on our Defibrillators remix collection) who’s steadily stepping up his game. He’s already transformed two of the above tracks into thoroughly original hip hop classic material, and he’s planning on flipping at least one of the other cuts as well. So, just wanted to give you a heads up- figured I’d save you from the dissapointment when you hear his aural flame throwers come out with a Papoose (or is it Ghostface?) verse on it and you’re stuck with a played out beat on your hands.

I love every single one of these tunes thoroughly and completely. But I’m especially fond of the string accompanyment on the pre-hook of the Marvelettes tune, and the background vocals on the chorus of the immensely bold interracial love proclamation presented here by Billy Vera & Judy Clay (sometimes the background vocals can steal the show!). Also recently read about how a cover version of Donnie Elbert’s “Caught In A Lie” became the first ever Lover’s Rock song, at least according to this cool piece of literature. So enjoy this soul, and respect to DZ.

Final note, postings are cut in half right now due to the fact that young Murphy’s Law is off on a European jaunt. But never fear, he will be returning, and hopefully with a fat stack of RECORDS!

Cut Chemist : The Garden
taken from his upcoming album “The Audience Is Listening” on WB (2006)

Cut Chemist : A Peek In Time
taken from the album “Keepintime: Remixes” on Mochilla (2004)

I still remember clearly the first time I heard the J5 EP at a little indie record store in L.A. (can’t remember which one) at the suggestion of dood behind the counter. The rhyme style was catchy, musical, funloving and nostalgic in that way that I love, but even more jarring to my dome were the mindboggling beats. I bought doubles on wax as soon as I got my first set of (wack ass Gemini) turntables, and it was “Lesson 6: The Lecture” that became my first juggling tool. Funkier than Shadow, zanier than Nu-Mark, Chemist stood out from that scene to me as the guy I would most like to dig alongside. Everything I’ve heard from him since then has further confirmed my early suspicion. Despite the slim stream of output, the cat has stayed piercingly on point, and he’s one of the most lively DJ’s to watch on stage as well. These recent tunes, which display his admiration and love of Brazilian beauty as well as his vast creativity when it comes to re-interpretation, identify the man as a true knight of the gumbo funk kingdom.

Definitely cop this single if you see it, the flip side has a sick track with Edan and Mr. Lif. And keep your fingers crossed about the album actually dropping soon like it’s supposed to. Also here’s an interview with him on HipHopSite and another on Spin Science.

Johnny Colon : Merecumbe
taken from the album “Johnny Colon’s Disco Hits” on Cotique (1976)
originally released on the album “Hot! Hot! Hot!” on Cotique (1972)

Raphy Leavitt : Fiesta En Mi Corazon
taken from the album “Con Sabor A Tierra Adentro” on Borinquen (1977)

I get a big kick out of re-examining my old musical predilections and aversions. Like, when I was 14 I used to listen to Santana’s Greatest Hits every night to put me to sleep- no joke. I ain’t gonna hate on Santana, but what the hell was I thinking?!? I can’t hear any of those songs now without getting a mental wiff of Tommy Hilfiger cologne or picturing my homemade bamboo bong that I stashed in the corner of my closet. On the other hand, I can readily recall a time (of deep-rooted ignorance) when I thought of “salsa” music as cheesy, over-the-top, horn blast, bongo crash decadence. How wrong I was! Things changed for me by the time I was 17 and had a chance to see (in one unfogettable night) Cachao, Eddie Palmieri, and Tito Puente (during the last year of his life) all sharing the stage in a beautiful San Francisco ballroom- professional salseros swinging all around me. My eyes began to open, and thankfully, they have continued to search and uncover on a daily basis thanks to experiences like that night- Maria, donde estas? haHA

But anyways, where I was going with all that is just to say that nowadays I’m a full-blown Salsa JUNKIE. I love the real deal, la verdad, and I get to see on a regular basis how well these tunes still work on discerning dancefloors. Turn up the bass when bumping these joints, es bueno para tu salud. I’m not really gonna go into bio business right now, but peep here for info on Johnny (who I’ve blogged before) and check this for more on Raphy.

Joe Hicks: Train Of Thought and Ruby Dean and Water Water
Taken from the album The Mighty Joe Hicks on Enterprise (1973)

Okay, so first thing first: I’ve got enough Theraflu in me to sedate a bear, so be patient with me as I attempt to string together a few coherent sentences about the elusive Mr. Hicks.

Despite the fact that this record isn’t all that rare, information on Joe Hicks is incredibly scant. Recorded on the Stax subsidary, Enterprise, the only real clues to his work are present in the “thank you’s” on the back of the record. Hicks shouts out the prolific Stax writer/arranger Spooner Oldham (who he calls Old Ham), but more significantly Sly and Freddy Stone, who apparently collaborated with Hicks on some of his earliest sides. (In “Water Water” you can hear the pulsing, organ-heavy Sly Stone influence running deep.)

I found it interesting that in an exhaustive internet search, the only words I could uncover about Joe and his one release, were tepid (or worse) reviews that suggested the record’s only worth lay in the delectable open drum break on the album opener, “The Team”. Personally, I find that the album as a whole is wonderful, if a bit disjointed. From the psychaedelic space-funker “Train of Thought”, to the almost Lynard Skynard-esque southern blues-rock of “Ruby Dean” there is a lot of soul, a lot of drums and plenty of organ to boot! No one would argue that his is the purest of tenors, but as a start to finish play, the record is a sure fire winner. Nay-sayers be damned!!!