murs & 9th wonder - i used to love her (again) (2010)
"nails is too pretty to be diggin in the crates" ....
a random tune i fell into that speaks of truth. apparently a remake of common's 1994 track? i dont know but i shall continue this mission.
Dec 27, 2010
Dec 22, 2010
reaaaasons!!!
"'cause yooooou make-me-feel-like-a-nat-u-ral-woman!!"
black star - brown skin lady (1998)
no matter how many light skinned babies mamas mos def has, i will love him forever.....and have you seen that foo' act? incredible.
black star - brown skin lady (1998)
no matter how many light skinned babies mamas mos def has, i will love him forever.....and have you seen that foo' act? incredible.
Dec 21, 2010
u.n.i.t.y.
we goin to the ship! not the championship, but an actual ship! back to the motherland! hahahaha yeah right...there are so many pairs of bamboo earrings in this video...amazingness.
queen latifah - ladies first (1989)
if most people really believe that this is a mans world and that he really wouldnt be "nothing" without a woman, then why are most women being treated like shit...still? not like its anything new...women have always broke their backs trying to prove themselves to men, but its something fascinating when women attempt to do a "man's job" for example the wnba...even i dont take it seriously just because of my predisposed outlook on female athletes. the disrespect and callous, smug reactions of the womens worth doesnt leave much for us to strive for, except pure survival. you gotta have some thick skin and a strong will to make it this bitch. if not a ruffneck, youre damn near close to it. which takes me to the ladies of hip hop who were mostly receipted as bitches or lesbians in this man eat man industry. i have watched interview after interview, read articles and actually listened to some of the lyrics and the crap these chicks have to go through to be heard or even have an opportunity to express themselves in the hip hop scene, are the serious breaks. but something has to be said for the ladies, like the queen latifah, who refused to kowtow to the men of the business and didnt play that "baddest bitch" role out loud, in the streets. be a lady and control yours. she flourished on her own after the tommy boy label refused to resign her. she thrived enough to earn a grammy for solo hip-hop act and a star on the hollywod walk of fame, being the 1st and only hip hop artist to ever do so. latifah, ironically meaning "delicate" or "sensitive" in arabic, believes that there is a way to carry yourself with strength and courage without being a bitch and condoning that ignorant, thug like behavior. its that hood mentality that i understand but will not sympathize...claire huxtable raised me better than that.
queen latifah - ladies first (1989)
if most people really believe that this is a mans world and that he really wouldnt be "nothing" without a woman, then why are most women being treated like shit...still? not like its anything new...women have always broke their backs trying to prove themselves to men, but its something fascinating when women attempt to do a "man's job" for example the wnba...even i dont take it seriously just because of my predisposed outlook on female athletes. the disrespect and callous, smug reactions of the womens worth doesnt leave much for us to strive for, except pure survival. you gotta have some thick skin and a strong will to make it this bitch. if not a ruffneck, youre damn near close to it. which takes me to the ladies of hip hop who were mostly receipted as bitches or lesbians in this man eat man industry. i have watched interview after interview, read articles and actually listened to some of the lyrics and the crap these chicks have to go through to be heard or even have an opportunity to express themselves in the hip hop scene, are the serious breaks. but something has to be said for the ladies, like the queen latifah, who refused to kowtow to the men of the business and didnt play that "baddest bitch" role out loud, in the streets. be a lady and control yours. she flourished on her own after the tommy boy label refused to resign her. she thrived enough to earn a grammy for solo hip-hop act and a star on the hollywod walk of fame, being the 1st and only hip hop artist to ever do so. latifah, ironically meaning "delicate" or "sensitive" in arabic, believes that there is a way to carry yourself with strength and courage without being a bitch and condoning that ignorant, thug like behavior. its that hood mentality that i understand but will not sympathize...claire huxtable raised me better than that.
Dec 17, 2010
wham, pow, bang! east coast wrap up.
i cant explain the fun i have had these past few weeks. i thought i didnt know much about hip hop, but i guess i wasnt that far removed from the 8th and 9th decades of the 21st century. let me try to breakdown the research of east coast, the plymouth rock if you will...these were my favorites, the artists that inspired me and gave me hope. small messages with enormous impacts along with skills to be unmatched and passions yet to be questioned. im sure there are plenty more artists out there, but hey its only been 3 weeks since my journey commenced and cant i wait to continue my education. playlist (so far):
breakin:
breakin:
- kool moe dee
- grandmaster flash
- kurtis blow
- afrika bambaataa
- run dmc
- rakim
- big daddy kane
- ll cool j
- slick rick
- wiz khalifa
- leaders of the new school
- rob base
- public enemy
- krs-one
- nas
- immortal technique
- empd
- gang starr
- de la soul
- black star
- the roots
- tribe called quest
- das efx
- wu tang
- lords of the underground
Dec 16, 2010
dear b-boys and b-girls
afrika bambaataa - planet rock (1982)
oh man...im just gonna let the video do its thing...it pretty much covers everything i would try to describe but i cant see myself being able to accomplish was it is i want to express verbally.... so instead im just gonna dance it out, you should do the same.
oh man...im just gonna let the video do its thing...it pretty much covers everything i would try to describe but i cant see myself being able to accomplish was it is i want to express verbally.... so instead im just gonna dance it out, you should do the same.
Dec 13, 2010
its like what?
run d.m.c. - its like that (1983)
simplicity... the grandpas / forefathers of hop hip and commercial pop success. oh man i remember dancing so hard to this track. remember when albums were played for years after its release...cause i dont think i was poppin at 3 it had to have been at least 4, just jivin. which prompts a shoutout to all the b-boys & b-girls still poppin and lockin today. breakin & hip-hop go together like water and melon and it was tracks like this that got it started...not the style of dancing perse, but the party! and it goes to show that classics never die. the song that was originally written for kurtis blow was snatched up by run & thank jah for that. kurtis didnt have the street cred (im gonna go w/ marketability) it took to make this song the powerhouse it is. when you were in the midst of the circle, you were the boss & thats all this song and the entire self titled album represented, boss-ness. (i just looove makin up words... maybe i should read more, eehhh). maybe this is why i dont like people tellin me what to do, all this east mentality.
simplicity... the grandpas / forefathers of hop hip and commercial pop success. oh man i remember dancing so hard to this track. remember when albums were played for years after its release...cause i dont think i was poppin at 3 it had to have been at least 4, just jivin. which prompts a shoutout to all the b-boys & b-girls still poppin and lockin today. breakin & hip-hop go together like water and melon and it was tracks like this that got it started...not the style of dancing perse, but the party! and it goes to show that classics never die. the song that was originally written for kurtis blow was snatched up by run & thank jah for that. kurtis didnt have the street cred (im gonna go w/ marketability) it took to make this song the powerhouse it is. when you were in the midst of the circle, you were the boss & thats all this song and the entire self titled album represented, boss-ness. (i just looove makin up words... maybe i should read more, eehhh). maybe this is why i dont like people tellin me what to do, all this east mentality.
Dec 11, 2010
iggedy-effects
das efx - they want efx (1992)
sample: james brown - blind man can see
sample: malcolm mclaren - buffalo girls
birdie: "why do they look homeless?"
its a justified statement... guess thats the east coast for you, homeless lookin.
as i have mentioned before, hip-hop appreciation month has been inspired by my nieces. the fact that i refuse to let birdie have a lil weezy poster in her room, forces her challenge my open mindedness and stealthy gets me to explore other artists in todays hip pop world. so every once in a while, there is a new track by nicki minaj that im supposed to approve of, so i roll my eyes and dissect the crap out of its potential (or lack there of). and according to her quote, im sure birdie felt the same way when i played Das EFX for her. oh well, collard and mustard greens...everythings comparable.
funny how her everyday grammar consists of pseudo-text-qwerty-shorthand, but she couldnt figure out EFX (effects)... you know, i try to have an optimistic outlook for our kids & their futures but they just keep clouding up my vision w/ dookie and i dont appreciate that. oh jah, please help us.
sample: james brown - blind man can see
sample: malcolm mclaren - buffalo girls
birdie: "why do they look homeless?"
its a justified statement... guess thats the east coast for you, homeless lookin.
as i have mentioned before, hip-hop appreciation month has been inspired by my nieces. the fact that i refuse to let birdie have a lil weezy poster in her room, forces her challenge my open mindedness and stealthy gets me to explore other artists in todays hip pop world. so every once in a while, there is a new track by nicki minaj that im supposed to approve of, so i roll my eyes and dissect the crap out of its potential (or lack there of). and according to her quote, im sure birdie felt the same way when i played Das EFX for her. oh well, collard and mustard greens...everythings comparable.
funny how her everyday grammar consists of pseudo-text-qwerty-shorthand, but she couldnt figure out EFX (effects)... you know, i try to have an optimistic outlook for our kids & their futures but they just keep clouding up my vision w/ dookie and i dont appreciate that. oh jah, please help us.
Dec 7, 2010
com'on common
common - come close (2002)
common's south side chicago lyrical expression for erykah badu...what a waste. its ok, im listening baby!! and yes i will love you forever!! no matter how whack my friends think your freestyle may be, you make me like a natural woman! wo-man! skill or no skill, the final product is you got me. good lawd!
common's south side chicago lyrical expression for erykah badu...what a waste. its ok, im listening baby!! and yes i will love you forever!! no matter how whack my friends think your freestyle may be, you make me like a natural woman! wo-man! skill or no skill, the final product is you got me. good lawd!
Dec 5, 2010
defining words
my friends contribution to h.h.a.m. - thank you very much! sharing is caring.
blackstar - definition (1998)
rap - a style of popular music, developed by disc jockeys and urban blacks in the late 1970s, in which an insistent, recurring beat pattern provides the background and counterpoint for rapid, slangy, and often boastful rhyming patter glibly intoned by a vocalist or vocalists. - dictionary.com
hip-hop - Hip hop music is a style of popular music. It is composed of two main elements: rapping (also known as MC'ing) and DJing; along with breakdancing and graffiti, these are the four components of hip hop, a cultural movement which began among African Americans in New York City in the 1970s. The term rap is sometimes used synonymously with hip hop music, though it is also used to refer specifically to the practice of rapping, which is just one component of hip hop. - wordiq.com
thats enough for today.
blackstar - definition (1998)
rap - a style of popular music, developed by disc jockeys and urban blacks in the late 1970s, in which an insistent, recurring beat pattern provides the background and counterpoint for rapid, slangy, and often boastful rhyming patter glibly intoned by a vocalist or vocalists. - dictionary.com
hip-hop - Hip hop music is a style of popular music. It is composed of two main elements: rapping (also known as MC'ing) and DJing; along with breakdancing and graffiti, these are the four components of hip hop, a cultural movement which began among African Americans in New York City in the 1970s. The term rap is sometimes used synonymously with hip hop music, though it is also used to refer specifically to the practice of rapping, which is just one component of hip hop. - wordiq.com
thats enough for today.
Dec 4, 2010
ladies do love him
ll cool j - i need love (1987)
ok. its not the most riveting of lyrics. but he sure does know how to moooove me.
ok. its not the most riveting of lyrics. but he sure does know how to moooove me.
just a thought...
atlantic starr - when love calls (1980)
Hey hoo yeah
Ooh, ooh, yeah, whoa, whoa, yeah, yeah
Yeah
Here I stand with open arms
Im offerin my love to you
I wanna do for you
All the things that you want me to
Theres so much more
That I could do for you, yeah
But you just wont let me give you my love, boy
What is wrong with you
Dont you know when love calls, yeah
Youd better answer
(Youd better answer)
Cause it might be a big mistake
If you decide to hesitate
Oh, when love calls, yeah
Youd better answer
(Youd better answer)
Dont let it slip away too many times
Cause love may not ever come again
Oh, no
Oh, no
I know that your heart is into playin the field
And that blinds you
Baby, you cant see
The forest for the trees, no no
The candle in my heart
Burns slowly every day
Dont you mess around too long
And let it melt away
And Im tellin you when love calls, yeah
Youd better answer
(Youd better answer)
Dont let it slip away too many times
Cause love may not ever come again
True love is so hard to come by
Its precious and its rare, yeah
But Ive got a lot of it to give
Dont miss out, dont you dare
Just this time
Come on and see it through, oh
Im willing and waiting
But its all up to you, oh
When love calls, yeah
Youd better answer
(Youd better answer)
Dont let it slip away too many times
Cause love may not ever come again
Youd better listen, yeah
(Youd better listen when love calls, baby)
(Youd better listen when love calls your name)
Im callin your name
(Youd better listen when love calls, baby)
(Youd better listen when love calls your name)
Youd better listen when love calls, baby
Youd better listen when love calls your name
Hey hoo yeah
Ooh, ooh, yeah, whoa, whoa, yeah, yeah
Yeah
Here I stand with open arms
Im offerin my love to you
I wanna do for you
All the things that you want me to
Theres so much more
That I could do for you, yeah
But you just wont let me give you my love, boy
What is wrong with you
Dont you know when love calls, yeah
Youd better answer
(Youd better answer)
Cause it might be a big mistake
If you decide to hesitate
Oh, when love calls, yeah
Youd better answer
(Youd better answer)
Dont let it slip away too many times
Cause love may not ever come again
Oh, no
Oh, no
I know that your heart is into playin the field
And that blinds you
Baby, you cant see
The forest for the trees, no no
The candle in my heart
Burns slowly every day
Dont you mess around too long
And let it melt away
And Im tellin you when love calls, yeah
Youd better answer
(Youd better answer)
Dont let it slip away too many times
Cause love may not ever come again
True love is so hard to come by
Its precious and its rare, yeah
But Ive got a lot of it to give
Dont miss out, dont you dare
Just this time
Come on and see it through, oh
Im willing and waiting
But its all up to you, oh
When love calls, yeah
Youd better answer
(Youd better answer)
Dont let it slip away too many times
Cause love may not ever come again
Youd better listen, yeah
(Youd better listen when love calls, baby)
(Youd better listen when love calls your name)
Im callin your name
(Youd better listen when love calls, baby)
(Youd better listen when love calls your name)
Youd better listen when love calls, baby
Youd better listen when love calls your name
Dec 3, 2010
hippity hoppity 'preciation month
fu-schnickens - breakdown (1994)
for bubba!
eisenhower wasnt lying when he said "times are a changing" (or dylan...depends on whos side youre on). its time everyone...i have the bug to throw myself into the world of hip-hop...not todays hip hop pop, but "the good stuff" new and old. the recent move in w/ my nieces has sparked a fire in my innards to open my mind to explore more music especially hip hop...not that i havent listened to hip hop before, but there was a lack of respect for genre. my roots are old and just like the parents of the 1950s, i wouldnt have respected ray charles r&b cause his tracks were influenced by gospel music, im feeling the same way today by having that "what is this crap y'all are listening to?" cause a lot of it is crap..."bang bang bang, shoot'em up, slurp my 4d, smoke my tweeds (why are you flaunting that brown grade ish anyway), modern day slavery bullshit, im suppressed but look at these gold teefs and my phat pockets, watch my record go triple platinum as im locked up for having this gun that i will never shoot and in reality im locked up cause of all the moving violations on my driving record, so fuck the police and my bitch at the same time, please...now lets praise god, president obama and my mama for my life, amen." i understand the entire i gotta story to tell but some stuff should be kept to yourself (or not. if its putting food in your mouf and my tax money isnt, get it!). by the way, gold teeth really does make your breath stink. yuck.
this month is my time to push the crap aside and concentrate on the lyrical art form that known as rap or hip hop, you know, the good stuff. the industry is flooded with amazing lyricists, writers, storytellers, poets or however you would like to define them and i have made it my duty to share those who inspire me and others thru words or beats (samples...hehehe). new faces, new names, new sounds, new stories (worth while), not to forget reminiscing the past. im excited for this new journey and am expecting to find some goodness ...which is trouble! imgonbeshoppin! but most importantly i cannot wait to iron out the wrinkles of the history. love-joy
for bubba!
eisenhower wasnt lying when he said "times are a changing" (or dylan...depends on whos side youre on). its time everyone...i have the bug to throw myself into the world of hip-hop...not todays hip hop pop, but "the good stuff" new and old. the recent move in w/ my nieces has sparked a fire in my innards to open my mind to explore more music especially hip hop...not that i havent listened to hip hop before, but there was a lack of respect for genre. my roots are old and just like the parents of the 1950s, i wouldnt have respected ray charles r&b cause his tracks were influenced by gospel music, im feeling the same way today by having that "what is this crap y'all are listening to?" cause a lot of it is crap..."bang bang bang, shoot'em up, slurp my 4d, smoke my tweeds (why are you flaunting that brown grade ish anyway), modern day slavery bullshit, im suppressed but look at these gold teefs and my phat pockets, watch my record go triple platinum as im locked up for having this gun that i will never shoot and in reality im locked up cause of all the moving violations on my driving record, so fuck the police and my bitch at the same time, please...now lets praise god, president obama and my mama for my life, amen." i understand the entire i gotta story to tell but some stuff should be kept to yourself (or not. if its putting food in your mouf and my tax money isnt, get it!). by the way, gold teeth really does make your breath stink. yuck.
this month is my time to push the crap aside and concentrate on the lyrical art form that known as rap or hip hop, you know, the good stuff. the industry is flooded with amazing lyricists, writers, storytellers, poets or however you would like to define them and i have made it my duty to share those who inspire me and others thru words or beats (samples...hehehe). new faces, new names, new sounds, new stories (worth while), not to forget reminiscing the past. im excited for this new journey and am expecting to find some goodness ...which is trouble! imgonbeshoppin! but most importantly i cannot wait to iron out the wrinkles of the history. love-joy
Dec 1, 2010
billy, georgie & zippy zappy
billy cobham & george duke - ivory tattoo (1976)
in tribute to seeing some zappa play zappa this weekend, here is one of franks favorite pianist, george duke, along with my favorite drummer, billy cobham. im gonna rewind a little bit and play a little kevin bacon 6 degrees of separation...frank first discovered his love for george while he was playing at "thee experience" in los angeles (1969) partnering with violinist jean-luc ponty which formed the george duke trio. it was the west coasts introduction to "acid" jazz that had already been spazzin up peoples minds on the east coast thanks to the likes of miles & the mahavishnu orchestra. the limit pusher, zappa, knew he had to have duke with his education and skill to follow, so frank invited him to play with the new "the mothers of invention" lineup for their next album. heeeeere's what that sound like:
george continued to collaborate with frank z. from the early to the mid seventies on several albums including: chunga's revenge, 200 motels, waka/jawaka, the grand wazoo, apostrophe, over-nite sensation, one size fits all, bongo fury and roxy & elsewhere. somethings i havent immersed myself in, but i soon will, once i found my way back into the woods. i dont know if you know this but frank is for the thinkers who love to think...i dont wanna think about that too much...i am what i am. love-joy
in tribute to seeing some zappa play zappa this weekend, here is one of franks favorite pianist, george duke, along with my favorite drummer, billy cobham. im gonna rewind a little bit and play a little kevin bacon 6 degrees of separation...frank first discovered his love for george while he was playing at "thee experience" in los angeles (1969) partnering with violinist jean-luc ponty which formed the george duke trio. it was the west coasts introduction to "acid" jazz that had already been spazzin up peoples minds on the east coast thanks to the likes of miles & the mahavishnu orchestra. the limit pusher, zappa, knew he had to have duke with his education and skill to follow, so frank invited him to play with the new "the mothers of invention" lineup for their next album. heeeeere's what that sound like:
george continued to collaborate with frank z. from the early to the mid seventies on several albums including: chunga's revenge, 200 motels, waka/jawaka, the grand wazoo, apostrophe, over-nite sensation, one size fits all, bongo fury and roxy & elsewhere. somethings i havent immersed myself in, but i soon will, once i found my way back into the woods. i dont know if you know this but frank is for the thinkers who love to think...i dont wanna think about that too much...i am what i am. love-joy
Nov 30, 2010
reflex...30... and the dishes are done man, the dishes are done
well, this is my final entry for my birthday month and im under a lot of pressure to wrap this up...have i been true & exposed myself to you via "thoughts processed thru others"? maybe. have i forgotten several songs that reflect me? most likely. will i remember the ones i wanted to play for you? not today, thats a guarantee. will i edit the blog once i notice how ridiculous some of my choices were? hells yeah. that its my thang & do i want to do.
doobie brothers - what a fool believes? (1979)
my 1st rock n roll memory was watching the doobie brothers on a re-run episode (literally, not the person) of "what's happening" in the early 80s. such a colorful performance with lasers and smoke...amazing to see at such a young age. my 3 year old eyes gravitated to the hippie flippin visuals as my soulful ears clinched to the voice of michael mcdonald. years later, i finally saw the irony of the doobie brothers playing for high school kids in the city of watts, ca. um-humm....im sure they wouldve rather had seen earth, wind and fire. but hey...it worked for me!
i always used to (and still do) makeup schizo stories that allow me to pretend that he is my long lost father and somehow in the midst the lies i truly started to believe it. not really, but in that latchkey kid kind of a way. its the same thing as thinking that bill cosby was my dad and uncle phil was really my uncle phil and willis was my brother, but arnold was not, instead he was the annoying boy next door (no relation at all, adopted or not!).
but back to the doobies...they represent every stage of my life, from southern compassion in "blackwater", to mid-heartland soul in "takin it to the streets", to west coast liberation in "listen to the music". it all fits like a glove and matches like an oakland pimp... can you dig it?
listen to music (1972)
doobie brothers - what a fool believes? (1979)
my 1st rock n roll memory was watching the doobie brothers on a re-run episode (literally, not the person) of "what's happening" in the early 80s. such a colorful performance with lasers and smoke...amazing to see at such a young age. my 3 year old eyes gravitated to the hippie flippin visuals as my soulful ears clinched to the voice of michael mcdonald. years later, i finally saw the irony of the doobie brothers playing for high school kids in the city of watts, ca. um-humm....im sure they wouldve rather had seen earth, wind and fire. but hey...it worked for me!
i always used to (and still do) makeup schizo stories that allow me to pretend that he is my long lost father and somehow in the midst the lies i truly started to believe it. not really, but in that latchkey kid kind of a way. its the same thing as thinking that bill cosby was my dad and uncle phil was really my uncle phil and willis was my brother, but arnold was not, instead he was the annoying boy next door (no relation at all, adopted or not!).
but back to the doobies...they represent every stage of my life, from southern compassion in "blackwater", to mid-heartland soul in "takin it to the streets", to west coast liberation in "listen to the music". it all fits like a glove and matches like an oakland pimp... can you dig it?
listen to music (1972)
Nov 29, 2010
reflex...29
edwin starr - war (1970)
my 5th grade talent show performance at the boys & girls club of tustin, ca
twenty five miles (1968)
whatever happened to trying?
my 5th grade talent show performance at the boys & girls club of tustin, ca
twenty five miles (1968)
whatever happened to trying?
Nov 28, 2010
reflex...28
rick james - cold blooded (1983)
rick james - mary jane (1978)
no other man could rock the glitter braids like rick, except for don cheadle in "boogie nights.
rick james - mary jane (1978)
no other man could rock the glitter braids like rick, except for don cheadle in "boogie nights.
Nov 27, 2010
Nov 26, 2010
Nov 25, 2010
Nov 24, 2010
Nov 23, 2010
reflex...23
isaac hayes - joy part 1 & 2 (1973)
my very own theme song...despite the 30 seconds that was cut off...silly youtube rules.
my very own theme song...despite the 30 seconds that was cut off...silly youtube rules.
Nov 22, 2010
reflex...19, 20, 21, 22
im all jammed up!
james brown - it's a man's man's man's world (1966)
a funky drummer (1969)
the boss (1973)
the big payback (1973)
james brown - it's a man's man's man's world (1966)
a funky drummer (1969)
the boss (1973)
the big payback (1973)
Nov 18, 2010
reflex...18
michael jackson - man in the mirror (1987)
if you know me, you know that i watched this video everyday as a child to make myself cry. i guess it was the guilt of being able to eat ritz crackers with government cheese whenever i wanted to.
michael jackson - wanna be startin' somethin' (1982)
my 1st african ritual dance
michael jackson - the way you make me feel (1987)
(sigh) oh michael joseph...
if you know me, you know that i watched this video everyday as a child to make myself cry. i guess it was the guilt of being able to eat ritz crackers with government cheese whenever i wanted to.
michael jackson - wanna be startin' somethin' (1982)
my 1st african ritual dance
michael jackson - the way you make me feel (1987)
(sigh) oh michael joseph...
Nov 17, 2010
reflex...17
prince - i would die 4 u & baby, im a star (1984)
prince - darling nikki (1984)
i mean really....do i need to say anything?
prince - darling nikki (1984)
i mean really....do i need to say anything?
Nov 16, 2010
Nov 15, 2010
reflex...15 (ukiah)
betty carter - open the door (1987)
make me into the lover i always dreamt of being the one thats hopeless & and collapses into you. i want to depend on your breaths to remind me of purpose and immerse myself in your love. please open the door.
make me into the lover i always dreamt of being the one thats hopeless & and collapses into you. i want to depend on your breaths to remind me of purpose and immerse myself in your love. please open the door.
Nov 14, 2010
reflex...14
sly & the family stone - sing a simple song (1969)
keep it simple stupid! this aint charlottes web...stop tangling yourself up.
keep it simple stupid! this aint charlottes web...stop tangling yourself up.
Nov 13, 2010
reflex...13
erykah badu - stay (1997)
the ultimate battle of old vs. new. to move ahead on thin lines of tomorrow or stay back and stride hard on solid foundation of the past. tributes and recreations, livin in the dreams of yesterday for the uncertainties of the future.
the ultimate battle of old vs. new. to move ahead on thin lines of tomorrow or stay back and stride hard on solid foundation of the past. tributes and recreations, livin in the dreams of yesterday for the uncertainties of the future.
Nov 12, 2010
reflex...12 & 12.5
the four tops - baby i need your loving (1964)
"i need you & i want you baby, i need you & i love you, baby"
the four tops - bernadette (1967)
"youre the soul in me, more than a dream, youre a plan to me!"
take notes fellas.
"whatta lucky lady" - bernadette
"i need you & i want you baby, i need you & i love you, baby"
the four tops - bernadette (1967)
"youre the soul in me, more than a dream, youre a plan to me!"
take notes fellas.
"whatta lucky lady" - bernadette
Nov 11, 2010
reflex...11
quincy jones & bill cosby - hikky-burr (1969)
two master minds losing just that. psycho babble!
two master minds losing just that. psycho babble!
Nov 10, 2010
Nov 9, 2010
reflex...9
ella fitzgerald - sunshine of your love (1969)
its called juxtaposition!
"try reading a book sometime" - james earl jones
its called juxtaposition!
"try reading a book sometime" - james earl jones
Nov 8, 2010
reflex...8
marlena shaw - woman of the ghetto (1969)
for those strong back bones that stomped the shit out of the gravel, allowing for me to skate my way through effortlessly....breezy
for those strong back bones that stomped the shit out of the gravel, allowing for me to skate my way through effortlessly....breezy
Nov 6, 2010
reflex...6 & 7
curtis mayfield - move on up (1970)
"bite the lip & take a trip"
the impressions - we're a winner (1967)
the uplifting spiritual sounds of mr. curtis mayfield. a sound that defined the civil rights movement and expressed pride & equally for all willing to accept it! thank you sir!
"bite the lip & take a trip"
the impressions - we're a winner (1967)
the uplifting spiritual sounds of mr. curtis mayfield. a sound that defined the civil rights movement and expressed pride & equally for all willing to accept it! thank you sir!
Nov 5, 2010
reflex...5
aretha franklin - rock steady (1975)
right on mama! too smooth for the groove, too tricky for the sticky!
right on mama! too smooth for the groove, too tricky for the sticky!
Nov 4, 2010
reflex...4
shuggie otis "aht uh mi hed" (1974)
"its the crazy in love" song. i gotta get the hell out of here cause youre causing nothing but confusion and pain. im sick and tired of being sick and tired. im out! now, watch me dance away from here.
"its the crazy in love" song. i gotta get the hell out of here cause youre causing nothing but confusion and pain. im sick and tired of being sick and tired. im out! now, watch me dance away from here.
Nov 3, 2010
reflex...3
natalie cole - this will be - an everlasting love(1975)
despite the e-harmony or match.com or whatever dating website that drained the life out of this song...its still gotta a place in my heart & feet. when im not bummin out over boys...this is my freedom song! a girl can only dream right?
despite the e-harmony or match.com or whatever dating website that drained the life out of this song...its still gotta a place in my heart & feet. when im not bummin out over boys...this is my freedom song! a girl can only dream right?
Nov 2, 2010
reflex...2
eddie murphy & rick james - party all the time (1985)
hahahaha...come on. eddie is the love of my life! ms. murphy! ms. murphy!
hahahaha...come on. eddie is the love of my life! ms. murphy! ms. murphy!
Nov 1, 2010
reflex...
is there any other way to describe who i am? day 1
ike and tina turner - bold sister (1970)
for the month of novemeber (my birthday month) i shall express my thoughts through others and define myself thru song. (im just lazy and have writers block). my playlist shall begin here w/ tina.
ike and tina turner - bold sister (1970)
for the month of novemeber (my birthday month) i shall express my thoughts through others and define myself thru song. (im just lazy and have writers block). my playlist shall begin here w/ tina.
Oct 25, 2010
isaac hayes do your thing
isaac hayes - do your thing (1972)
black moses! black moses! something about his buttery milk dud head & a voice to reflect that drives me coo-coo for coco puffs! mostly its has to do with the way he holds a revolver. have you seen truck turner? you should. a jive talkin, actin pack flick with a jammin soundtrack that makes you wanna free the slaves. pharaoh! pharaoh let my people go!
black moses! black moses! something about his buttery milk dud head & a voice to reflect that drives me coo-coo for coco puffs! mostly its has to do with the way he holds a revolver. have you seen truck turner? you should. a jive talkin, actin pack flick with a jammin soundtrack that makes you wanna free the slaves. pharaoh! pharaoh let my people go!
Oct 21, 2010
there's a bird in the house...it landed on my pillow!
inez foxx & charlie - mockingbird (1963)
awesome fakie remakes:
dusty springfield 1964
aretha franklin 1965
the brother and sister duo were america's sweethearts (well, at least in north carolina). id like to compare them ike & tina, but that would be a little too incest-y. the ying/yang pair used to work the stage with dramatic antics like all the great performers including the turners, by crying, shouting and dancing all over the place scratching up the wood floors. it was inez, with her small frame, that would fall out similar to james brown's collapses on hes knees at the end of shows. charlie would pick his sister up from the floor, dust her off and carry her off the stage. ironically some critics have also compared inez to some of the ladies of the jb clan, assuming she would be a fit for the fierce and raspy club. i think her sound she was too clean for that. and just like tina, inez was intrigued by the sound of rock and roll and was inspired to experiment with a more "hippie flippin" style of soul music. she did have the crossover capabilities, but the record companies felt that style or sound only worked better with brighter, but less colorful ladies like dusty springfield for that new genre...so thats why we didnt hear much from inez, apparently she wasnt marketable enough. and you gotta know what im thinking. "we can cross over to your side of the street, but dont you even think about lookin over here." okokokokok....we hear you!!! ramblin...thanks for tryin inez, im listenin! love-joy!
awesome fakie remakes:
dusty springfield 1964
aretha franklin 1965
the brother and sister duo were america's sweethearts (well, at least in north carolina). id like to compare them ike & tina, but that would be a little too incest-y. the ying/yang pair used to work the stage with dramatic antics like all the great performers including the turners, by crying, shouting and dancing all over the place scratching up the wood floors. it was inez, with her small frame, that would fall out similar to james brown's collapses on hes knees at the end of shows. charlie would pick his sister up from the floor, dust her off and carry her off the stage. ironically some critics have also compared inez to some of the ladies of the jb clan, assuming she would be a fit for the fierce and raspy club. i think her sound she was too clean for that. and just like tina, inez was intrigued by the sound of rock and roll and was inspired to experiment with a more "hippie flippin" style of soul music. she did have the crossover capabilities, but the record companies felt that style or sound only worked better with brighter, but less colorful ladies like dusty springfield for that new genre...so thats why we didnt hear much from inez, apparently she wasnt marketable enough. and you gotta know what im thinking. "we can cross over to your side of the street, but dont you even think about lookin over here." okokokokok....we hear you!!! ramblin...thanks for tryin inez, im listenin! love-joy!
Oct 11, 2010
"hello my love...i heard this song before"...yes, yes you have.
brothers johnson - strawberry letter 23 (1977)
story goes something like this...boy meets girl. girl writes love letters to boy on strawberry scented paper. boy in return writes a song to express his affection. girl loves song and plays song for her cousins. cousins love song as well. one cousin plays the song at their wedding ceremony. friend hears song at the wedding and goes bananas. friend of the cousins re-produces song and gives back to cousins to re-record. cousins ask boy & girl if ok. boy doesnt mind, hes written hundreds of songs. the song is a commercial hit and dominated the r&b charts for weeks on end. song becomes a defining anthem for west coast funk and r&b and continues to inspire to infinity and beyoooond!!! right quentin tarantino? the end!
cast:
boy: shuggie otis
girl: ehhh
cousins: george and louis johnson aka "brothers johnson"
friend: quincy jones
story goes something like this...boy meets girl. girl writes love letters to boy on strawberry scented paper. boy in return writes a song to express his affection. girl loves song and plays song for her cousins. cousins love song as well. one cousin plays the song at their wedding ceremony. friend hears song at the wedding and goes bananas. friend of the cousins re-produces song and gives back to cousins to re-record. cousins ask boy & girl if ok. boy doesnt mind, hes written hundreds of songs. the song is a commercial hit and dominated the r&b charts for weeks on end. song becomes a defining anthem for west coast funk and r&b and continues to inspire to infinity and beyoooond!!! right quentin tarantino? the end!
cast:
boy: shuggie otis
girl: ehhh
cousins: george and louis johnson aka "brothers johnson"
friend: quincy jones
Oct 9, 2010
book covers
otis redding - fa fa fa fa fa - sad song (1966)
"he is singing to a man..." this was a guaranteed quote that would emerge from my ma's mouth every time a otis redding song came on the radio. and after a few seconds of song-a-long and toe tappin, "you know otis was a homo right?" she would continue so innocently. i say innocently cause it was socially acceptable to be a bigot or racist back in the day and if youre offended, then you must be clueless simultaneously. now it took me years to figure out why my mom would stand by that statement for over 40 years. i knew that he was happily married with 3 kids (which doesnt hold any man to anything) and he was so....manly, i couldnt understand where this was coming from. i know it was a sign of the times of the closet gay, but still to this day no trace of gay is evident when it came to otis. so why gay ma?? then it dawned on me during an interview i watched w/ otis....he had a lisp!! just too funny. sometimes ignorance can be quite comical. my ma knows better, but my dad is still calling people of asian decent orientals....so you see we still have a long way to go! oh man, she would kill me if she knew i wrote this. hahahahaha! love-joy
"he is singing to a man..." this was a guaranteed quote that would emerge from my ma's mouth every time a otis redding song came on the radio. and after a few seconds of song-a-long and toe tappin, "you know otis was a homo right?" she would continue so innocently. i say innocently cause it was socially acceptable to be a bigot or racist back in the day and if youre offended, then you must be clueless simultaneously. now it took me years to figure out why my mom would stand by that statement for over 40 years. i knew that he was happily married with 3 kids (which doesnt hold any man to anything) and he was so....manly, i couldnt understand where this was coming from. i know it was a sign of the times of the closet gay, but still to this day no trace of gay is evident when it came to otis. so why gay ma?? then it dawned on me during an interview i watched w/ otis....he had a lisp!! just too funny. sometimes ignorance can be quite comical. my ma knows better, but my dad is still calling people of asian decent orientals....so you see we still have a long way to go! oh man, she would kill me if she knew i wrote this. hahahahaha! love-joy
Oct 7, 2010
whatcha see is whatcha get
the dramatics - what you see is what you get (1972)
phillycheese steak sound is one that cant be touched. the groups that came from philly & put east coast r&b on the map, were not be reckoned with. they remind me very much of my cousins from gary, indiana. real tough guys with some serious hardships. but you know, real man's men! all of them second cousins from me ma's side, which means that they all served our country and returned vietnam vets. not so much recepted as heroes as expected, but as unknown soldiers. so fucked up what they had to endure, but best believe that it was this sound that helped them get through those times. they have talked about how there is nothing like the soulful sounds of american rhythm and blues. the sounds brought along with it all the other senses; the taste of sweet potato pie, the touch of afroed hair, the smell of the blacktop streets, the mental images of being home sitting on the stoops shuckin and jivin. plain and simple. the music was an escape from the realities of hell and is the reason why 60s & 70s r&b music is so essential cause it wasnt only tunes to groove to, it was soundtrack to our everyday lives and the sentiment of our souls. this my opportunity to say thank you to my family for all their sacrifices, spirit, love, dedication & soul! love-joy
phillycheese steak sound is one that cant be touched. the groups that came from philly & put east coast r&b on the map, were not be reckoned with. they remind me very much of my cousins from gary, indiana. real tough guys with some serious hardships. but you know, real man's men! all of them second cousins from me ma's side, which means that they all served our country and returned vietnam vets. not so much recepted as heroes as expected, but as unknown soldiers. so fucked up what they had to endure, but best believe that it was this sound that helped them get through those times. they have talked about how there is nothing like the soulful sounds of american rhythm and blues. the sounds brought along with it all the other senses; the taste of sweet potato pie, the touch of afroed hair, the smell of the blacktop streets, the mental images of being home sitting on the stoops shuckin and jivin. plain and simple. the music was an escape from the realities of hell and is the reason why 60s & 70s r&b music is so essential cause it wasnt only tunes to groove to, it was soundtrack to our everyday lives and the sentiment of our souls. this my opportunity to say thank you to my family for all their sacrifices, spirit, love, dedication & soul! love-joy
Oct 5, 2010
did you hear that? what did he just say?
uh-oh...that didnt sound right. i love listening to tracks with mistakes. remember when songs were done in one take. no layering, no adjusting, no tweaking, no do overs, and all that other fake sounding crap that distracts us from natural recording ablity. one of my favorite mishap is almost every album our godfather jb cuts. and what i mean by that are his lyrics. its seems like he doesnt write anything, just goes in the studio & starts jabbering...im sure there all kinds of verbal mistakes in jb history. i can think of a handful of songs that make sense. otherwise....
but other songs have less obvious mishaps, for example michael jackson saying the word "shoulders" when telling me "look over your shoulders honey" in "i'll be be there", no edits there...or even more subtle, during "for the love money" by the o'jays, there is a mini second where there is a blurb @ 2:23, someone says something about a "trick"..huh? what did you say about my mama? nah just jivin, just jivin...but in reality i have no idea what he says or what he wants to say. i just think its awesome! this recording sounds like it couldve been worked on over & over again, but noooo...one take! and there it goes... my lonely teardrop for todays pop music.ishame! are we even trying? let me know! please prove me wrong!
the o'jays - for the love of money (1973)
but other songs have less obvious mishaps, for example michael jackson saying the word "shoulders" when telling me "look over your shoulders honey" in "i'll be be there", no edits there...or even more subtle, during "for the love money" by the o'jays, there is a mini second where there is a blurb @ 2:23, someone says something about a "trick"..huh? what did you say about my mama? nah just jivin, just jivin...but in reality i have no idea what he says or what he wants to say. i just think its awesome! this recording sounds like it couldve been worked on over & over again, but noooo...one take! and there it goes... my lonely teardrop for todays pop music.ishame! are we even trying? let me know! please prove me wrong!
the o'jays - for the love of money (1973)
Oct 3, 2010
herbies redemption
herbie hancock - watermelon man (1973)
the song originally composed in 1962 was not a success for herbie hancock eventhough that was his intention. mongo santamaria cut his version and helped herbies cashflow for several years. but the rebirth of it in the 1970s is one that has inspired generation after generation in r&b, hip hop, jazz, soul and other world music. the headhunters album was herbies tribute to the godfather jb and sylvester stone. the fusion of psychedelic funk & soul powered music along side with african instrumentals, is an immersion into herbies soul. its an album that must be played in its entirety cause listening to each song reminds me how thorough and intricate music used to be. the phases, more than one and not just broken down into hook, line, and sinker. the influence of sly stone and jb are evident in the rhythms that make you bob your head. but then again herbie has talked about the beats desrcibing that they actually came from the watermelon cart rolling on the cobblestone roads. its always amazing to me how mental musicians find harmonies and beats in the most usual places. anyhow its by far my favaorite herbie album (at least for now). to say the least its out of this world! take it to the head. love-joy
the song originally composed in 1962 was not a success for herbie hancock eventhough that was his intention. mongo santamaria cut his version and helped herbies cashflow for several years. but the rebirth of it in the 1970s is one that has inspired generation after generation in r&b, hip hop, jazz, soul and other world music. the headhunters album was herbies tribute to the godfather jb and sylvester stone. the fusion of psychedelic funk & soul powered music along side with african instrumentals, is an immersion into herbies soul. its an album that must be played in its entirety cause listening to each song reminds me how thorough and intricate music used to be. the phases, more than one and not just broken down into hook, line, and sinker. the influence of sly stone and jb are evident in the rhythms that make you bob your head. but then again herbie has talked about the beats desrcibing that they actually came from the watermelon cart rolling on the cobblestone roads. its always amazing to me how mental musicians find harmonies and beats in the most usual places. anyhow its by far my favaorite herbie album (at least for now). to say the least its out of this world! take it to the head. love-joy
Oct 1, 2010
a wide spectrum
ok...well, where do i start? phil spector? ike's jealousy over tina's new opportunity? phil spector? tinas introduction to "rock" music as a result, stimulating her mind and pushing her creative boundaries? phil spector? you tell me, cause i dont know... i'll wait for suggestions. until then, i guess you just have to listen to one of phil spector's masterpieces...the epitome of his "the wall of sound". ladies and gentleman, tina turner & 634 other people in the studio. just one thing...FREE PHIL SPECTOR!!! damnnit!
tina turner - river deep, mountain high (1966)
tina turner - river deep, mountain high (1966)
Sep 27, 2010
texas toast
a little barrio soul for yo ass!!
sunny & the sunliners - get down (197?)
i came across this jimmy-jam on youtube (again in the mecca of musicland) and almost pissed my knickers. now this song is one of my favorite tracks by war from their "all day music" lp (1971). i dont know which came first the scrambled eggs or the fried chicken. war or sunny. buy what i do know is that war is one of my top 10 favorite bands; they represent the west coast and LA funk scene strong & HARD! but just as a chameleon changes its appearance, war changed its sound. from soul to tejano funk to the all-american chicano representatives. por la razza! in others words from black to brown. which i dont mind...you know im color blind since were all the same color in the dark. but they had lost their original audience so quickly that it became appalling how different they were which is suprising that they noticed a change...weedheads! but thats for another time. so now i have a brown to black sit-ch & it actually works!.... really well! i checked out a few of sunny's 1st albums & its the traditional texas tejano music...then all of a sudden here they go sounding like the opening act for fred wesley or the jb's. and just like war's fans, im sure sunnys people were shocked at the transition. but for me, i welcome it with open arms & dancing feet. the raspy crushed velvet voice of sunny keeps me lifted & groovin'. im not sure how much sunny & his sunliners explored the world of funk & soul, but i hope there is much more out there in cyber-funk space! checkout their history...who knew something good beside bbq tri-tip came out of texas?! well of course selenas...si mon! and what the hell is a sunliner anyway?
sunny & the sunliners
sunny & the sunliners - get down (197?)
i came across this jimmy-jam on youtube (again in the mecca of musicland) and almost pissed my knickers. now this song is one of my favorite tracks by war from their "all day music" lp (1971). i dont know which came first the scrambled eggs or the fried chicken. war or sunny. buy what i do know is that war is one of my top 10 favorite bands; they represent the west coast and LA funk scene strong & HARD! but just as a chameleon changes its appearance, war changed its sound. from soul to tejano funk to the all-american chicano representatives. por la razza! in others words from black to brown. which i dont mind...you know im color blind since were all the same color in the dark. but they had lost their original audience so quickly that it became appalling how different they were which is suprising that they noticed a change...weedheads! but thats for another time. so now i have a brown to black sit-ch & it actually works!.... really well! i checked out a few of sunny's 1st albums & its the traditional texas tejano music...then all of a sudden here they go sounding like the opening act for fred wesley or the jb's. and just like war's fans, im sure sunnys people were shocked at the transition. but for me, i welcome it with open arms & dancing feet. the raspy crushed velvet voice of sunny keeps me lifted & groovin'. im not sure how much sunny & his sunliners explored the world of funk & soul, but i hope there is much more out there in cyber-funk space! checkout their history...who knew something good beside bbq tri-tip came out of texas?! well of course selenas...si mon! and what the hell is a sunliner anyway?
sunny & the sunliners
Sep 24, 2010
get lifted
this is a dedication to all the cannaheads that truly understand the powers of the peace pipe, the flower of jah! we are about to embark on a monumental journey in the upcoming 2010 election. a YES on 19 will ensure the freedom of all who have struggled to fight this fight for decades!
smoke my piece pipe - the wild magnolias (1975)
crazy black indians! hey thats me you're talking about....sorry.
smoke my piece pipe - the wild magnolias (1975)
crazy black indians! hey thats me you're talking about....sorry.
Sep 20, 2010
you need it...i got it
the four tops - baby, i need your lovin (1964)
the four tops vs. the temptations is like comparing your left breast to your right one. you might favor one over the other, but essentially they are a package deal so nevertheless you end up loving them both equally. dont get me wrong, i love love love me some temptations, mostly cause i know more about their personal history. but the four tops are like the uncles i actually have, but more talented! they are more manly in a way that sets them a part from the tempts. more gritty...rougher, you know, more stank! their love songs make me feel pretty in that threatening, gangster wife, aggressively hard way. its funny cause david ruffin, the lead singer from the tempts, sounds like he would have been the perfect fit for the tops. it was motowns way of trying to promote their clean soulful sound by competing with the likes of sam & dave and otis redding. the more artist they have, with the same flavor but different amounts of sugar, the larger the sales. motown was right and it worked out perfect for everyone; motown, the tempts, & the tops! praise berry gordy! love-joy
the four tops vs. the temptations is like comparing your left breast to your right one. you might favor one over the other, but essentially they are a package deal so nevertheless you end up loving them both equally. dont get me wrong, i love love love me some temptations, mostly cause i know more about their personal history. but the four tops are like the uncles i actually have, but more talented! they are more manly in a way that sets them a part from the tempts. more gritty...rougher, you know, more stank! their love songs make me feel pretty in that threatening, gangster wife, aggressively hard way. its funny cause david ruffin, the lead singer from the tempts, sounds like he would have been the perfect fit for the tops. it was motowns way of trying to promote their clean soulful sound by competing with the likes of sam & dave and otis redding. the more artist they have, with the same flavor but different amounts of sugar, the larger the sales. motown was right and it worked out perfect for everyone; motown, the tempts, & the tops! praise berry gordy! love-joy
Sep 19, 2010
Sep 17, 2010
black man's burdon
eric burdon & war - tobacco road (1970)
i will say this everytime i present eric burdon & war "what a combo" & "probably the most under appreciated acts of the 70s." the gutter drunken melodic sounds of mr. burdon mixed with the soulful church rhythms of war, blend nicely for the "coolest bar mitzvah" sound ever. it is one of my favorite renditions of this song along with lou rawls' & jimi's version. i read somewhere that blues guitarist & legend, edgar winter, has a 17minute version of it...oh my, cant wait to dig into that one!
i will say this everytime i present eric burdon & war "what a combo" & "probably the most under appreciated acts of the 70s." the gutter drunken melodic sounds of mr. burdon mixed with the soulful church rhythms of war, blend nicely for the "coolest bar mitzvah" sound ever. it is one of my favorite renditions of this song along with lou rawls' & jimi's version. i read somewhere that blues guitarist & legend, edgar winter, has a 17minute version of it...oh my, cant wait to dig into that one!
Sep 14, 2010
expiration date
betty everett - you're no good (1963)
now!! we have a classic case of "say what?" here's the short story: this song was originally cut by dee dee warwick (sister of dionne) in 1963 for lieber & stoller. these are the same devils that produced most of elvis' hits & got credit for creating songs like "houndog" & "kansas city" (dear black moses give me a break). so when "producers" from vee-jay records heard it, $$ cha-ching $$, and they picked it up (bought the rights) in hopes to be recorded by dee clark, another r&b singer who happened to be tall, strong, & a man. but as pre-recording rehearsal continued, the corporate heads felt that the song was too insensitive for its enormous female consumer clientele, especially coming from a masculine male figure. really? a man telling a woman that she's no good. yeah right brotherman, get the steppin...so they split that scene & handed it off to singer betty everett. til this day, it is obvious that anti-male songs have always been a top seller for pop music and betty did just that...she took the tune to the top 50 on the r&b charts. wow. what a year 1963 was for this little diddy. it moved around more than ice head! NOW! fast foward 11 years to 1974, and with more soul than ever, ladies....its my pleasure to bring to you:
linda ronstadt - you're no good (1974)
now!! we have a classic case of "say what?" here's the short story: this song was originally cut by dee dee warwick (sister of dionne) in 1963 for lieber & stoller. these are the same devils that produced most of elvis' hits & got credit for creating songs like "houndog" & "kansas city" (dear black moses give me a break). so when "producers" from vee-jay records heard it, $$ cha-ching $$, and they picked it up (bought the rights) in hopes to be recorded by dee clark, another r&b singer who happened to be tall, strong, & a man. but as pre-recording rehearsal continued, the corporate heads felt that the song was too insensitive for its enormous female consumer clientele, especially coming from a masculine male figure. really? a man telling a woman that she's no good. yeah right brotherman, get the steppin...so they split that scene & handed it off to singer betty everett. til this day, it is obvious that anti-male songs have always been a top seller for pop music and betty did just that...she took the tune to the top 50 on the r&b charts. wow. what a year 1963 was for this little diddy. it moved around more than ice head! NOW! fast foward 11 years to 1974, and with more soul than ever, ladies....its my pleasure to bring to you:
linda ronstadt - you're no good (1974)
Sep 13, 2010
bet your ass
the jackson 5 - i'll bet you (1970)
creep creep creep...man did we sleep on this track or what? i know i did, but since i have columbus-ed this shit & psuedo discovered it, i havent stopped playing it. i keep forgetting that its the jacksons at some points & times, like when im grinding the chair im sitting in...good grief charlie brown. this song reminds me of the isaac hayes tracks where he is rappin his game to some fine philly thats besides him, not some snotty nosed teen idols. this is my get down, get down track. hello mr. nasty time! i wonder whose idea it was berry's or joseph's ....hmmmmm. love-joy.
creep creep creep...man did we sleep on this track or what? i know i did, but since i have columbus-ed this shit & psuedo discovered it, i havent stopped playing it. i keep forgetting that its the jacksons at some points & times, like when im grinding the chair im sitting in...good grief charlie brown. this song reminds me of the isaac hayes tracks where he is rappin his game to some fine philly thats besides him, not some snotty nosed teen idols. this is my get down, get down track. hello mr. nasty time! i wonder whose idea it was berry's or joseph's ....hmmmmm. love-joy.
Sep 11, 2010
battlestar galactica pt.2
to all whose lives were lost at the hands of greedy capitalist.
simon & garfunkel - sound of silence (the graduate, 1967)
now back to the goodness....ding. ding! the graduate vs. jackie brown opening scene
i love quentin tarantino & "jackie brown" OBVIOUSLY my all time favorite tarantino flick due to (1) PAM GRIER and (2) the soundtrack. the opening scene is an identical tribute to mike nicolas' opener for the 1967 cult classic "the graduate". the film stars the fresh & uncomfortable dustin hoffman along side with the impeccable ann bancroft. the entire soundtrack / score was written by simon & the other guy & received quite the reception, taking cinema music to the 12th degree. it was this movie that i like to think started the phenominan of the importance of an amazing soundtrack. well like a true blue nerd, quentin learned by example, put on his oj gloves and killed this soundtrack. the opening song for jackie brown, is the also the opening song for the movie with same title "across 110th st" by bobby womack. it is known within the nerd world that quentin is heavily influenced by not only martials art, comics, and action movies, but soul cinema or blaxploitation flicks as well. so it is no surprise to see a perfect marriage between music & vision. this song was written specifically for the 1972 movie starring anthony quinn & yaphet kotto, so when it came to filming "jackie brown" quentin directed a great tribute that will only inspire the minds of todays youth. just doin my piece to help educate. love-joy!
bobby womack - across 110th st (1972)
Sep 9, 2010
indian stones
jamiroquai - half the man (1994)
jam - iroquai taken from iroquois, which were the indigenous people of north america associated with several tribes within the northern region. they believe in "the power of peace". so in other words the band can be referred to as jammin' indians? i dont know. anyhow. usually its a dance off, pants off, sit-ch when it comes to jamiroquai, but this song touches me in places where no man should be allowed. of course this was during my fanatic stage of obsessing over lenny, dmb, blues travelers. you know the pseudo hippie era, when baby boomers were still raising teen adolescence and letting them express their freedom within the musical realm.oddly innocent, yet rebelliously deviant. all this "love" jive! jamiroquai's tune takes me right back to that place. nostalgic to my teenage years, this simple dedication is just as powerful as otis redding crying and snottin all over the stage askin for a little tenderness, but it is as cool as little stevie's "hey love" shout out! give it a try. tell me what you think.
jam - iroquai taken from iroquois, which were the indigenous people of north america associated with several tribes within the northern region. they believe in "the power of peace". so in other words the band can be referred to as jammin' indians? i dont know. anyhow. usually its a dance off, pants off, sit-ch when it comes to jamiroquai, but this song touches me in places where no man should be allowed. of course this was during my fanatic stage of obsessing over lenny, dmb, blues travelers. you know the pseudo hippie era, when baby boomers were still raising teen adolescence and letting them express their freedom within the musical realm.oddly innocent, yet rebelliously deviant. all this "love" jive! jamiroquai's tune takes me right back to that place. nostalgic to my teenage years, this simple dedication is just as powerful as otis redding crying and snottin all over the stage askin for a little tenderness, but it is as cool as little stevie's "hey love" shout out! give it a try. tell me what you think.
Sep 6, 2010
tight like handcuffs
parliment - handcuffs (1975)
"do i have to put the handcuffs on you mama?" this isnt the most charmin way to say "hey baby, you now what? i love you. i want to be with you & have children & protect you." but if you listen to the words, its more like "look bitch, youre mine... i dont care if im possessive... if i have to lock your ass down & tie you to the toilet, i will. cause i cant lose you. you hear me bitch?" ok ok ok, that was more of my ike turner's interpretation of the song, but im not that far off with my dramatics. its some goodness nevertheless. the only thing i know about the parliment is that they are a direct product of sun-ra. now i cant take this time to discuss sun-ra...thats for the next time, but i will tell you that he was the genesis of the space-age in black music. as far as gimmicks (dont shoot me) go, sun-ra was the utlimate cosmic brother. although the parliment did put the "P" in funk and beemed us into a news galaxy, sun-ra gave them the foundation to act a fool, not that they needed help or permission. lawd help us all!
"do i have to put the handcuffs on you mama?" this isnt the most charmin way to say "hey baby, you now what? i love you. i want to be with you & have children & protect you." but if you listen to the words, its more like "look bitch, youre mine... i dont care if im possessive... if i have to lock your ass down & tie you to the toilet, i will. cause i cant lose you. you hear me bitch?" ok ok ok, that was more of my ike turner's interpretation of the song, but im not that far off with my dramatics. its some goodness nevertheless. the only thing i know about the parliment is that they are a direct product of sun-ra. now i cant take this time to discuss sun-ra...thats for the next time, but i will tell you that he was the genesis of the space-age in black music. as far as gimmicks (dont shoot me) go, sun-ra was the utlimate cosmic brother. although the parliment did put the "P" in funk and beemed us into a news galaxy, sun-ra gave them the foundation to act a fool, not that they needed help or permission. lawd help us all!
Sep 4, 2010
battlestar galactica pt.1
ladies & gentlemen!!! step right up & watch the battle of the century!! bigger than ali & foreman or holyfield & tyson, even bigger than amy fisher vs. mary jo buttafuoco!! you decide...which version would you prefer? the beatles or earth, wind, and fire's version of "got to get you into my life"? ewf's version was remade for the "sgt. pepper lonelys heart club band" movie starring the bee-gees, peter frampton, & billy preston. ahhh chuck-e-cheesey 1970s cinema. gotta love it!
beatles (1966)
ewf (1978)
beatles (1966)
ewf (1978)
Sep 3, 2010
rise & shine
the gap band - early in the morning (1982)
charlie wilson wrote this song with the purist intentions and in all of its naked honesty charlie's broken heart led to this r&b/funk jam. story goes that charlie found out that his girlfriend, annette, had cheated on him (i even think with a friend of his). the nite of the breaking news, charlie decided not to react but to let it go & move on. he went to bed, didnt put up a fight, but woke up the next morning & got the hell out! also known as the "thank you, i'm done!" method. moooooving on! love-joy.
charlie wilson wrote this song with the purist intentions and in all of its naked honesty charlie's broken heart led to this r&b/funk jam. story goes that charlie found out that his girlfriend, annette, had cheated on him (i even think with a friend of his). the nite of the breaking news, charlie decided not to react but to let it go & move on. he went to bed, didnt put up a fight, but woke up the next morning & got the hell out! also known as the "thank you, i'm done!" method. moooooving on! love-joy.
Sep 2, 2010
does the milk smell funny to you?
gloria jones - tainted love (1965)
i love this tune and unfortunately i was one of lost souls who swore that soft cell wrote this song in 1981. but again i have come to see the light of tru-isms! gloria jones was a prodigy that drifted lightly from the motown label. they were looking to promote her like the next p.p. arnold, which didnt work well for sue records either. but as you know motown was too cookie cutter and couldnt grasp a solid market for glorias church by day - juke joint by nite gritty voice. it is too bad that she didnt get picked by stax, by way of atlantic, cause she would have given some women a run for their money. but atlantic already had their soulful sweetheart in aretha franklin...ive heard a few of her songs...gloria never did make a huge impact on the pop scene, but more on a local & european level as did p.p. arnold & jimi hendrix. you know thats why the majority of black artists went over seas, cause they werent seen as domesticated animals with a gift of entertaining. anyhow, gloria is the widow of the eccentric original glam rock star, marc bolan, of "t-rex". sadly gloria was driving the actual car in which her beloved was killed as he sat in the passenger seat during the accident. what a tragedy?! im sure the checkboard pair would have taken the pop scene to a level of astro-funk rock that we will never know. hope all is well gloria! love-joy!
i love this tune and unfortunately i was one of lost souls who swore that soft cell wrote this song in 1981. but again i have come to see the light of tru-isms! gloria jones was a prodigy that drifted lightly from the motown label. they were looking to promote her like the next p.p. arnold, which didnt work well for sue records either. but as you know motown was too cookie cutter and couldnt grasp a solid market for glorias church by day - juke joint by nite gritty voice. it is too bad that she didnt get picked by stax, by way of atlantic, cause she would have given some women a run for their money. but atlantic already had their soulful sweetheart in aretha franklin...ive heard a few of her songs...gloria never did make a huge impact on the pop scene, but more on a local & european level as did p.p. arnold & jimi hendrix. you know thats why the majority of black artists went over seas, cause they werent seen as domesticated animals with a gift of entertaining. anyhow, gloria is the widow of the eccentric original glam rock star, marc bolan, of "t-rex". sadly gloria was driving the actual car in which her beloved was killed as he sat in the passenger seat during the accident. what a tragedy?! im sure the checkboard pair would have taken the pop scene to a level of astro-funk rock that we will never know. hope all is well gloria! love-joy!
Sep 1, 2010
Aug 31, 2010
thank you katrina, thank you katrina...
galactic - black eyed pea (2000)
well, well, well...look at me indulging in something that was created after my high school graduation. i love galactic. these "wonder bread" boys hail from new orleans & can bring the groove like nobodys business. highly respected and endorsed by some funks originating masters, cyril neville of the meters, you cant but know that youre on the right track to greatness. (ok settle down) but i really have enjoyed listening to everything these cats have done. its the fantasy marriage between the meters & chicago. im a little twisted, but if you dont get it...this would be a good opportunity to do so....im a fanatic of jam sessions & i do recommend them live, for it is less polished than the studio sound. like i things a little messy most of the time. galactic has plenty of live performance footage on youtube, so grab your cocktail & take a listen.
well, well, well...look at me indulging in something that was created after my high school graduation. i love galactic. these "wonder bread" boys hail from new orleans & can bring the groove like nobodys business. highly respected and endorsed by some funks originating masters, cyril neville of the meters, you cant but know that youre on the right track to greatness. (ok settle down) but i really have enjoyed listening to everything these cats have done. its the fantasy marriage between the meters & chicago. im a little twisted, but if you dont get it...this would be a good opportunity to do so....im a fanatic of jam sessions & i do recommend them live, for it is less polished than the studio sound. like i things a little messy most of the time. galactic has plenty of live performance footage on youtube, so grab your cocktail & take a listen.
Aug 29, 2010
ooooo.oooo. ah-ah. oooooo
cameo - shake your pants (1980)
this song always reminds me of movies in the 1990s, when players & mack where all the rage and made a big comeback in soul cinema. i am talking about macaroni(s) though not real macks like frank ward or goldie. no no no...those men died a long time ago & took masculinity with them. you know like the suave stephan urkel...these boys were the rookies that would get caught dippin their spoon in the kool-aid and run like bitches as honey's old man pulled into the driveway. all i can picture is martin lawrence climbing & stumbling out of the window with pants binding him at his ankles. crying & squealing as a random shoe gets thrown & hits him right in his dunkin donut. ahh i miss martin. he's so crazy! garbage bags & cocaine. love-joy
this song always reminds me of movies in the 1990s, when players & mack where all the rage and made a big comeback in soul cinema. i am talking about macaroni(s) though not real macks like frank ward or goldie. no no no...those men died a long time ago & took masculinity with them. you know like the suave stephan urkel...these boys were the rookies that would get caught dippin their spoon in the kool-aid and run like bitches as honey's old man pulled into the driveway. all i can picture is martin lawrence climbing & stumbling out of the window with pants binding him at his ankles. crying & squealing as a random shoe gets thrown & hits him right in his dunkin donut. ahh i miss martin. he's so crazy! garbage bags & cocaine. love-joy
Aug 28, 2010
hey sister soul sister
what is it about this sound that makes my face distort itself into a surrealist masterpiece? or gets my heart racing like my mom is chasing me around the house with chittlin lining...guess i'll never know. "you know got soul, cause if you didnt yo' feet would move yeah?" - bobby byrd.
marie queen lyons - your thing aint no good (1970)
its the perfect balance of curtis mayfield & james brown compositions.
marie queen lyons - your thing aint no good (1970)
its the perfect balance of curtis mayfield & james brown compositions.
Aug 27, 2010
knick knack pattie whack!!!
labelle - lady marmalade (1975)
just taking it to an entire different level huh? 2 things: patti labelle is ridiculous & i love this show though. midnight special displayed a showcase showdown of some of the #1 acts in pop music of that day, week, month, whatever...some of my favorite performances are this one; linda ronstad performing "youre no good"; redbone, "come & get your love'; james brown medley; and fleetwood mac's "rhiannon". a small stage, small crowd, enormous energy and just a good ole time! its everything i dream about as far as venues & performers go. the ultimate basement party if you will. love-joy.
just taking it to an entire different level huh? 2 things: patti labelle is ridiculous & i love this show though. midnight special displayed a showcase showdown of some of the #1 acts in pop music of that day, week, month, whatever...some of my favorite performances are this one; linda ronstad performing "youre no good"; redbone, "come & get your love'; james brown medley; and fleetwood mac's "rhiannon". a small stage, small crowd, enormous energy and just a good ole time! its everything i dream about as far as venues & performers go. the ultimate basement party if you will. love-joy.
Aug 26, 2010
marva whitney
im tired ....im going to bed. marva is one of JBs girls. i heard this on some random playlist called "diggin on youtube". i swear i love me some youtube. if it werent for this website, i would be led into the valley of shadow and death when it comes to being recommended music. i can honestly say that i am a music snob, so what, suck it. youtubies has never stirred me wrong. on the other hand, pandoras box is too occupied by corporate penis to see 2ft ahead herself..."where are you taking me?", is a phrase that always manages to end up at the tip of tongue. mbmo - pandora is a hyperactive whore who validates ones lazy tendencies. rant on!
anyway...sit & jam & listen to what marva is tryin to say...complaining just sounds less annoying when backed by funk.
marva whitney - i'm tired, etc
anyway...sit & jam & listen to what marva is tryin to say...complaining just sounds less annoying when backed by funk.
marva whitney - i'm tired, etc
Aug 25, 2010
cisco sound bite: "sing it again!!"
speakin of this song holding the title of one of the best beggin songs ever...check out the cover by the man...rev. al green. who begs better than preachers?
al green - cant get next to you (1971)
even i have to admit that the first time i "felt" this song creep into the crevice of my womanhood was during a pitiful scene of sex in the city. the dancing was horrible but the man, played by daniel sunjata...oh lawd...mr sailor man...you are the reason why god created vaginas. i persoanlly want to thank the homosexual casting directors, you sure do know how to pick 'em. as he lingersssssssssssss....love-joy
al green - cant get next to you (1971)
even i have to admit that the first time i "felt" this song creep into the crevice of my womanhood was during a pitiful scene of sex in the city. the dancing was horrible but the man, played by daniel sunjata...oh lawd...mr sailor man...you are the reason why god created vaginas. i persoanlly want to thank the homosexual casting directors, you sure do know how to pick 'em. as he lingersssssssssssss....love-joy
Aug 24, 2010
the game is strong....
temptations - i cant get next to you (1969)
i once heard this song referred to as "the most intense 2 minutes & 30 seconds on any motown record." i cannot tell a lie nor can i disagree with this statement. if you dont feel like you should be in church confessing youre love crawling on your knees by the end of this song...well i dont know what to say. this song so easily over looked especially since we are all so used to experiencing the tempts in a different light of love's expressions. usually too smooth for the groove, the tempts hit this track hard with the gritty voice of dennis edwards added to the mix, oh lawd, i get hot just typing about it. the sound reflects the influence of the northern soul sound that overpowered the mid-east in the late 60s. just like what quincy jones & rod temperton did for mj in the 80s, norman whitfield did for the temptations by shedding that school boy crush persona. the tempts were men & men arent afraid to beg which is one of the reasons why this is definitely one of my favorite "beggin" songs off the motown label. another reason is that this our introduction to mr. edwards as lead after crack head david ruffin left...i love me some dennis. it maybe the 1st time a group successfully replaced a lead singer without backlash. well naturally they lost their following to the "black movement", but thats for a future post... til then, enjoy the poetic / soulful sounds of pleadin & beggin. love-joy
i once heard this song referred to as "the most intense 2 minutes & 30 seconds on any motown record." i cannot tell a lie nor can i disagree with this statement. if you dont feel like you should be in church confessing youre love crawling on your knees by the end of this song...well i dont know what to say. this song so easily over looked especially since we are all so used to experiencing the tempts in a different light of love's expressions. usually too smooth for the groove, the tempts hit this track hard with the gritty voice of dennis edwards added to the mix, oh lawd, i get hot just typing about it. the sound reflects the influence of the northern soul sound that overpowered the mid-east in the late 60s. just like what quincy jones & rod temperton did for mj in the 80s, norman whitfield did for the temptations by shedding that school boy crush persona. the tempts were men & men arent afraid to beg which is one of the reasons why this is definitely one of my favorite "beggin" songs off the motown label. another reason is that this our introduction to mr. edwards as lead after crack head david ruffin left...i love me some dennis. it maybe the 1st time a group successfully replaced a lead singer without backlash. well naturally they lost their following to the "black movement", but thats for a future post... til then, enjoy the poetic / soulful sounds of pleadin & beggin. love-joy
Aug 23, 2010
you're the main man, herbie!
herbie hancock - hang up your hang-ups (1975)
i cant wait to celebrate herbies 70th birthday along with my friends & family. this track is one of my friends todd's favorite. i love the video these folks on youtube put together. herbie is the coolest musical nerd genuis ever!! i love him, my very own watermelon man. love-joy
Aug 20, 2010
mickey blue eyes
so on my youtube account i have a playlist that i have properly named "make me feel pretty". it consists of loves songs that i can imagine a man serenading me with...maybe in the bed, outside my window, or at karaoke. most of the songs are guilty pleasures, cause im not that kind of chick...i'd rather you buy me a corndog and just tell me im sexy (i dont know how that works out either, but it does) nevertheless, i can dig on some sappy music once in a while. one track on the list is robin thicke's lost without you. i usually listen to this song ukiah stlye. i know, i know, its a song released after the millennium...yeah, but with some old flavor. the prince / babyface influence is top notch. i give robin an a+ for this jam. even though i read that robin doesnt like for his music to be labeled as "blue-eyed soul", i respect him, but i wouldnt give a rat's piss if he werent the son of alan thicke. i love that man. always thought he was a hot tv dad, plus he sings the "diff'rent strokes" theme song....bonus boner!! but really, not liking the term "blue eyed soul" and saying that it is small minded is ridiculous, cause all the blue eyed brothers out there rock hard ass. i wanna know what term he would suggest to advertise being badass white boy! get over yourself a little bit robin. youre officially labeled!..."now the world dont move..."
robin thicke - lost without u (2007)
this other jam that is way out of my realm, but it takes me back to my teenage years. do you remember the chris gaines project??
chris gaines - lost in you (1999)
thank you garth brooks! love-joy
robin thicke - lost without u (2007)
this other jam that is way out of my realm, but it takes me back to my teenage years. do you remember the chris gaines project??
chris gaines - lost in you (1999)
thank you garth brooks! love-joy
Aug 18, 2010
dear carson & buzz...
i've been waiting for so long...
jakki o - ooo aah (19??)
this song is from the 1989 movie shag about a group of girls who go down to myrtle beach for their last summer weekend before they depart for college or whatever. its one of those coming of age movies full of dancing & teen romance most likely best compared to dirty dancing without the pesky abortion.
the song plays during a lake scene...you know the first kiss with the summer crush. if you could picture kevin & winnie cooper kissing for the 1st time, you would be spot on. well...a bit more sensual with the help of this song. it took me years before i figured out what this song was or who sang it, or if it was even a real song. shoooot, i initially thought it was written for the score, glad i was wrong. apparently it took me searching thru the cholo oldies section to find get my answer. so thank you la triste and lil' joker for i am that much closer to being complete. dang i want some carne asada right about now. is that racist? love-joy.
jakki o - ooo aah (19??)
this song is from the 1989 movie shag about a group of girls who go down to myrtle beach for their last summer weekend before they depart for college or whatever. its one of those coming of age movies full of dancing & teen romance most likely best compared to dirty dancing without the pesky abortion.
the song plays during a lake scene...you know the first kiss with the summer crush. if you could picture kevin & winnie cooper kissing for the 1st time, you would be spot on. well...a bit more sensual with the help of this song. it took me years before i figured out what this song was or who sang it, or if it was even a real song. shoooot, i initially thought it was written for the score, glad i was wrong. apparently it took me searching thru the cholo oldies section to find get my answer. so thank you la triste and lil' joker for i am that much closer to being complete. dang i want some carne asada right about now. is that racist? love-joy.
Aug 17, 2010
church!
james brown - its a new day part 1 & 2 (1969)
"walk away & twist your hips... make sure you keep him weak." - thats what youre supposed to do when he asks if you love him...smile & walk away.
what can i say about this freakin song? really. if you cant hear it, you aint listening. there have been some nice "i am woman, hear me roar" songs out there that have depict the motto for female liberation, but there needs to be a tune for the women who are too strong & too liberated...you know the one that cant keep a man. this song should be an anthem for those women . jb is straight up, as always, and takes it to church, advising all women to...stay strong (not too strong, calm the hell down & act like a lady) have your man's back (they dont need competition), be tender to him but with discipline (dont let him slander your name to the ground), keep him guessing (tighten the jaw...he doesnt have to know everything damn detail), keep it fresh, etc.
other notes from cliff :
"dont let nobody take care of business, better than you do. do what he wants, give him he what he wants...respect will come to you & you can hold your man..." - be the untold boss..hahaha. f-yes!
"t.c.b. so mellow, nobody can get thru..." - mind your business & your man's business. watch your mouth ...loose lips sink ships.
"sisters when you love your man, be careful how you tell him that...he will use you like a sunday hat." - nuff said.
can i get a witness?? love-joy.
"walk away & twist your hips... make sure you keep him weak." - thats what youre supposed to do when he asks if you love him...smile & walk away.
what can i say about this freakin song? really. if you cant hear it, you aint listening. there have been some nice "i am woman, hear me roar" songs out there that have depict the motto for female liberation, but there needs to be a tune for the women who are too strong & too liberated...you know the one that cant keep a man. this song should be an anthem for those women . jb is straight up, as always, and takes it to church, advising all women to...stay strong (not too strong, calm the hell down & act like a lady) have your man's back (they dont need competition), be tender to him but with discipline (dont let him slander your name to the ground), keep him guessing (tighten the jaw...he doesnt have to know everything damn detail), keep it fresh, etc.
other notes from cliff :
"dont let nobody take care of business, better than you do. do what he wants, give him he what he wants...respect will come to you & you can hold your man..." - be the untold boss..hahaha. f-yes!
"t.c.b. so mellow, nobody can get thru..." - mind your business & your man's business. watch your mouth ...loose lips sink ships.
"sisters when you love your man, be careful how you tell him that...he will use you like a sunday hat." - nuff said.
can i get a witness?? love-joy.
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