Sunday, September 28, 2014

Millie Jackson : I Cry

First track, written by Gary Byrd and Raeford Gerald, appearing on the album It Hurts So Good released in 1973. Three of Millie Jacksons albums have been certified gold by the RIAA for over 500,000 copies. Her vocal performances are often distinguished by long, humorous, and explicit spoken sections in her music, which she started doing on stage to get the attention of the audience. She has also recorded songs in a disco or dance music style and even some country styled songs.
 

George McCrae & Gwen McCrae : Winners Together Or Losers Apart

George McCrae formed his own singing group, the Jivin' Jets, before joining the United States Navy in 1963. Four years later, he reformed the group, with his wife Gwen joining the line-up, but soon afterwards they decided to work as a duo, recording for Henry Stone's Alston record label. Gwen then won a solo contract, with George acting as her manager as well as doing some singing on sessions and in clubs in Palm Beach. This one is released in 1976 on Cat Records written by Clarence Reid.
 

Idris Muhammad : Crab Apple

Idris Muhammad was an American jazz drummer who has recorded extensively with many musicians, in the beginning as a member of Lou Donalson band and Ahmad Jamal. Later he was the house drummer at Prestige Records (1970-1972), appearing on many albums as a sideman. Of his later jazz associations, Muhammad played with Johnny Griffin (1978-1979), Pharoah Sanders in the 1980s, George Coleman, and the Paris Reunion Band (1986-1988). He recorded everything from post-bop to dance music as a leader for such labels as Prestige, Kudu, Fantasy, Theresa, and Lipstick. Muhammad, who retired to New Orleans from New York City in 2011, died in July 2014 at the age of 74.
 

Sven Libaek & His Orchestra : Misty Canyon

Deep, moody, soulfull, jazzy, dark & spacey track by Norwegian/Australian film & Television composer, Sven Libaek.
 

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Cassiano : Onda

"Onda" had it's release in 1977 on Polydor. Onda,” the nominal A-side here, affirms Cassiano as a sweet-soul guy with a hypnotic Barry-White-meets-the-Moments groove and feathery falsetto vocals. At close to eight minutes, complete with seagulls and crashing waves on the intro/outro, “Onda” is a bona fide mellow masterpiece that holds its own with “Playing Your Game” or “Sexy Mama.”
 

Willie Hutch : Tell Me Why Has Our Love Turned Cold

Willie Hutch’s "Tell Me Why Has Our Love Turned Cold" was on his 1973 LP "Fully Exposed" on Motown. Motown CEO Berry Gordy signed Hutch to be a staff writer, arranger, producer, and musician shortly after he wrote "I'll Be There", a song he penned for The Jackson 5.
 

Marvin Gaye : Heavy Love Affair

"Heavy Love Affair" is released as the second and last single off Gaye's last Motown album, In Our Lifetime, in 1981, the song was based on Gaye's real-life emotional crisis after being separated from his wife at the time. In some parts of the song, Gaye knows that he's a major female attraction but still feels the warmth of his lost love saying "lots of ladies love me/but it's still a lonesome town" bringing that point clearer in the next verse saying "you got me looking for love (again)". The song became one of his lowest-charted Billboard hits on the R&B side reaching just 61 there becoming the final release of Gaye's on the Tamla (Motown) label before he left the label for Columbia the next year.
 

Donna McGhee : Make It Last Forever

Opening song on Donna's debut album written by Greg Carmichael and released in 1978. Donna sang with "The Fatback Band" for over three years, touring with “Chaka khan”, “Frankie Beverly and Maze”. “Crown Heights Affair”, and “Tedddy Pendergrass” before she released this debut.