I detest the Eurovision Song Contest and the Swedish qualifications called “The Melody Festival”, cuz the songs suck, the artists are so lame and serious at the same time. While 25% of Sweden was watchin’ the crap, I recorded some 7″ from my collection, making my own Melody Festival. The good thing is, YOU are the judges! Now, download, listen and LET ME KNOW know which one was your favourite! A cool prize is at stake for the best motivation. Direct link (right-click, save-as).
Song #1 “In the Name of Love”
First out is Kenny Rankin, prefoming the elusive demo version of “In the Name of Love”. Kenny grew up in New York’s Washington Heights and recorded a couple of singles for Decca before signing to Columbia. Playing guitar on Bob Dylan’s “Bring It all Back Home” album, Kenny became somewhat a star appearing on Johnny Carson’s show many times! The 7″ was a radio station circulation only, and I first heard this perfect marriage between jazz, soul and folk in Stockholm when Yoshihiro Okino from Koyoto Jazz Massive dropped this bomb on some hundred jazz dancers to great effect. The LP version is different but not as good, and is readily available on the 1975 album “Silver Morning”.
Song #2 “Trying to Get Next to You”
Arnold Blair was a singer signed to Curtis Mayfield’s Curtom Records during the label’s most creatively fertile period in the early 1970s. The Song is co-written by the Curtom singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Leroy Hutson. Blair contributed background vocals to a bunch of other Curtom records but as far as I know, “Trying To Get Next To You” is the only release under his own name. And what a release!
Song #3 “Wahoo, Wahoo, Wahoo”
Wayne Carter is just as tough as The Rumble’s (and everyone else) favourite rap artist with the same name, but this Wayne’s music is even rawer! From Springfield, IL, Wayne plays the hammond organ here, handling lead vocals as well. The flip is just as evil: “Mad Mouth Woman”.
Song #4 “Let me Back In”
Little is known about Chicago’s Renaldo Domino (born Jones). Two singles for the Mecury subsidary Smash before switching to Twinight. One of four 7″ for the label, this 1970 recoding is the wickedst groove I know: a prefect marrige between funk and soul.
Song #5 “You’ve Been Gone Too Long”
No stranger to rare groove or soul aficionados, Ann Sexton made a few popular funky soul tracks in the mid 70-ies, but this spare 1971 soul mover has that special quality. Recorded locally in a small studio, the songwriter David Lee released it on his small Impel label. Issued soon after on Seventy-Seven, it became a northern soul fave in the UK.
Song #6 “Lift This Hurt”
The Chosen Few was Elvin Spencer with the group. The tune was realesed on five different labels in different versions and this is release no. three. Some songs never break, no matter what quality the song has, or how much effort is put into it. Sounding like a desperate Van Morrison on a good day, this is a personal soul dance fave.
Song #7 “Our Thing is Thorugh”
Lee Shot Williams got the nick-name “shot” from hit mother due to his sharp taste in attire (dressing as a “big shot”). Recording this soulful funk with Syl Jonhson (him again!) before going in to a straight blues career, Lee could have been a big shot at the disco too, should he have perused that path.
Song #8 “Lotus 72D”
Zé Roberto (real name José Robert) and is, like his fellow countrymen, fond of Formula 1 racing (Emerson Fittipaldi got voted Brazils #1 athlete ever, ahead of Pelé). Lotus had a hot car in 1972, and José sings it’s praise to the wickidest brazilian boogie there is!
Song #9 “You Know We Got to Live Together”
Straight up funk can be bland, played out and a boring sound. Or like this, a strong song, great arrangement and subtle breaks coming together as a great tune. Eugne Blacknell was a bay area funk guitarist and black power activist, and this masterpiece caught the attention of Beck (check “Black Tamourine”).
Song #10 “Soft Soul”
Lavell Kamma is a cool name. So is Afro Soul Review, and the TUNE. From Miami but released in Missisipi, Lavell eventually beacame the subject of a anthropology thesis “Music Is My Vessel:” An Exploration Of African American Musical Culture Through The Life Story Of Lavell Kamma. Learn it all by downloading it here.
