This week’s Big Ups takes us to the Left Coast with DJ Platurn. The 45 Sessions and Oakland Faders DJ and producer has been rocking the Bay Area for more than a minute. It is our pleasure to have him in this installment of the Big Ups series.
Check out more information about DJ Platurn on his site.
A decade old mix Flea Market Treats by Spair and DJ Platurn that still bangs!
Keep Diggin’!
This record was a good score for $3. It was an even better come up that it was a promo and mint, with a blank back cover. I heard it can go for a little cash, but who cares? This track smokes. Here’s Patrice Rushen with “Kickin’ Back” on Prestige Records from 1975.
Patrice Rushen is one of the world’s top Jazz pianists. From her early Jazz beginnings as a side player and solo artist to moving through the world of film and television scoring with ease, as well as Pop, Soul, Disco, and R & B, Patrice Rushen has played with and along side and recorded with most of the industry’s most well known players. With over 14 solo releases on such labels as Prestige, Arista, and GRP among others, her talent has kept her quite busy for most of her career. Her commercial success has made her name known outside DJ and record collector circles. However, it’s these early recordings like “Kickin’ Back” that speak to me.
This single (purported to be one of the first 12″ released in a batch of original 12″s) is Rushen moving away from the straight forward Jazz she exhibited on Prelusion and moving into Jazz Fusion. This is some lazy day music people, smooth and cool. Rushen (on the clavinet, piano, and synthesizer) stacked her backing band with vet players like Hubert Laws (flute), Lee Ritenour (guitar), Harvey Mason (drums), the horn section of Bohanon, Brashear, Caliman, Dumas and Nash, and finally Charles Meeks (bass). She plays the piano to a similar style of Herbie Hancock (close your eyes this tune has a Headhunters feel), and has kept it even closer to Hancock with Mason who was in the Headhunters, and Meeks who has been a Jazz journeyman in the Blue Note world as well. Patrice moves along at her pace, keeping it cool junior, real cool. This is a great find, a great record, and for me, a period in music I wish never went away. Patrice Rushen announced her exit from the Jazz world with this record, and did it with a bang. She then went on to conquer the music world in many other ways, but to me when she was kickin’ back, she was at her best.
Download or Listen to Patrice Rushen – Kickin’ Back from the Prestige Records 12″
Keep Diggin’!
A while back I put out the 45 shirt design, but just couldn’t get a collaboration that was quite right. However, as like minded individuals seem to always get together, the collaboration between Flea Market Funk and Listen Clothing begins. I have been a fan and supporting this company since their inception, and when I was on tour a few years back, my man Renz sent me a box of Listen stuff that has been worn on countless gigs, tours, and the like. Listen Clothing has been preserving the music, culture, and quality artists for over 10 years through their clothing and accessory lines. I am proud to announce the first (of many hopefully) Limited Edition tee shirt collaborations between Flea Market Funk and Listen: The 45 shirt.
Here’s a shirt that all you 45 heads have been fiending for: a nod to graphic design and typography combined with some great Funk and Soul 45 bands. There are some easy finds on here as well as some Holy Grails. We all have some of them, we all want some of them, but the bottom line is that these records are appreciated. I wanted to help preserve these artists in one of the most creative ways I could think of, the tee. We’re also working on some limited edition prints as well. After all, it’s “The Way We Live”.
Stay tuned for more details about buying this design in shirt and print form.
Click here to enlarge the graphic.
Keep Diggin’!
If you are not familiar with DJ Format’s CV, then you should be. This guy is a true artist, who is promoting Hip Hop music and proper lifestyle, keeping the torch of the founding fathers of this genre alive. From his Music For the Mature B-Boy release to the video for “We Know Something You Don’t Know” to The Simonsound (with a ton of records and DJ gigs in between), Format has established himself firmly as a solid producer, DJ, and artist. We’re excited to have him this week on Big Ups.
More info on DJ Format here.
His new record, Statement of Intent, will be available on Feb. 27th at better record stores world wide.
Statement of Intent Sampler Video
DJ Format feat. Sureshot La Rock Dope Pusher
Keep Diggin’!
Test pressing for The Darling Dears
Great nod to the old Flower City label by COS
I had been hearing a lot about this Holy Grail Soul record for a long time, and when Jeff over at Cultures of Soul send me a message that they were reissuing it and asked if I wanted a test pressing, well, how could I say no? The original record, for those of you who are into this type of thing, has fetched upwards of three thousand bucks and more on online auctions. With only about 1000 45′s pressed up in originally, this record has been on many a want list (and apparently a dude found 50 copies in the remains of the Fine Records Studio in Rochester). The Rochester, NY band is backed up by fellow Flower City mates Funky Heavy on this track (which was originally done by the band Rock Candy) for some really sweet, beautiful, Soul. It seems that COS hooked up with the Darling Dears themselves, as well as long time music promoter Alvin (Lawrence) Lofton and the rest they say, is history. A reissue of some of the sweetest girl group Soul you will ever hear is getting put out for all to consume, and not for $3K.
If that’s not enough, it seems that Now Again with help from NY Funk and Soul researcher and archivist David Griffith have teamed up to also release this record through their Orivious Records label. It looks like both parties have done their homework and released it through the proper channels. Props to both of these great labels for making sure these artists get paid. This is something I like to see here at FMF. Now for all you collectors, diggers, DJs, and Soul lovers, you can go over to Cultures of Soul and get your “special limited edition issue of this 45 licensed courtesy of Alvin Lofton and the Darling Dears. Limited to 500 copies and fully remastered with a special replica label of the original issue. The first 50 pre-orders will also receive a reprinted photo of the group.” That’s the photo used above. Hot damn for some sweet Soul.
The Darling Dears – I Don’t Think I’ll Ever Love Another on Flower City Records
Order the 45 from Big Cartel.
More info on the Darling Dears from Cultures of Soul
Keep Diggin’!
I am starting up the Guest Mix Series again over here at FMF. Last time I had a great bunch of mixes from everyone from Funky 16 Corners to the artist COOP to Jason Perlmutter to Supreme La Rock and more. This time I’ve reached out to some different DJs to put together a mix of whatever they like, not necessarily Funk and Soul. I’m doing this for two reasons: one, I want to have some Big Ups people give you some great mixes, and two, I wanted to start a sort of pledge drive here at FMF. I do not make money on FMF, everything is out of pocket and done for the love of the music. However, as my server costs are rising, it’s getting more expensive on the monthly. I’m asking you, the FMF readers, the faithful who have been here since the beginning, to donate.
You can donate by clicking this link and following the instructions on the page. Any little bit helps. Thank you for your continued support on FMF!
That being said, the first mix is from my man DJ Andy Smith out of London. Known for his genre smashing classic Document mix series as well as label specific vault digging mixes (Greensleeves, Trojan) and let’s not forget his Jam Up Twist party that plays all over the UK, Andy took some time to make a mix that will be up on FMF for a month exclusively before going public. It changes styles like Son of Bazerk, it’s fresh, and I’m hoping you are going to dig it as much as I did. More Guest Mixes to come. Stay tuned.
DJ Andy Smith Many Styles Mix
1) Let’s Rock – Feel (Vista Sounds)
2) Dyin’ To Be Dancin – Empress (Prelude)
3) Chill Out – Free expression (Vanguard)
4) The Art Of Drums – Macattack (Baad!)
5) Brooklyns In The House – Cut Master D.C (Be Bop & Fresh)
6) One For The Treble (Fresh) – Davy DMX (CBS/Tuff City)
7) The Party Scene – The Russell Brothers (Portrait)
8) Oily – Juggy (Sue)
9) Tutti Fruiti – Lee Austin (Polydor)
10) Egg Roll – (Unknown artist) – (Funk 45)
11) Move To Something Funky – BLVD Mosse (Scorpio)
12) Paper Chase – Krown Rulers (Soo Deff/Warlock)
13) I Aint Wid Dat (Inst) – Funk Master Wizzard Wiz (Tuff City)
14) Soupy – Maggie Threat (Dyno Voice)
15) Hard To Road To Hoe – Otis Lee (Soul Magic)
16) You Got To Have Money – The Exits (Gemini)
17) I Got A Woman – Ray Charles (Atlantic)
18) You Had A Woman – Geneva Vallier(Cash)
19) Love Bandit – The Cadets (Modern)
20) Bloodshot Eyes – Wynonie Harris (King)
21) Soon You’ll Be Gone – The Blues Busters (BRA)
Download or Listen To DJ Andy Smith Many Styles Mix from the FMF Guest Series
Keep Diggin’!
The greatest thing about music, especially unreleased music, is that eventually someone finds it. Whether it’s some private press 45 in the trash, an acetate that was found at a garage sale, or as we found out this week from Jazzman Gerald, a lost master tape in a box in Texas, what one does with it is the important thing. Sites like mine and others that share these lost records help bring attention to the forgotten artists. Record labels like Minneapolis’ Secret Stash, go a step further. They not only find this forgotten and sometimes unreleased music, they put it out on vinyl. So far they have close to two dozen releases that range from African music to Russian and Peruvian Funk to Reggae interpretations of Miles Davis to lost Blaxploitation Soundtracks to Gospel Funk and more. The do it up right, give the Lp packaging the special deluxe treatment, and point blank put out good product.
“ We are dedicated to one thing, releasing great music in great collectible LP packages. ”
Their latest release is from Mickey Murray. Murray did his time on the Chitlin’ Circuit, as well as playing with Dyke and the Blazers, Wilson Picket, Staple Singers, and Aretha Franklin among others. Known for his hit single, the Otis Redding cover of “Shout Bamalama” from 1967, this Georgia native was slated to be the next James Brown. He released a record on King, People Are Together that never saw the light of day in proper retail stores. You know the rest. Fading again into obscurity, Murray has been out of the business for sometime. These days, singing at low key church functions and the like make up his schedule, as opposed to backing up the day’s best Soul singers and groups. Secret Stash have reissued this gem of a record, helping to resurrect the Soul legend’s career once again. The overall response for the record so far was overwhelming, and it’s first run with a bonus 45 has sold out already. It’s exactly the kind of stuff we like to see here at FMF. Reissues done properly, artists being taken care of, and lost music preserved. The secret is out, and you will most certainly hear from Secret Stash Records again in the future.
Stay tuned for an upcoming Big Ups interview with Secret Stash owner Eric Foss.
Check out Secret Stash on the web.
Secret Stash social media: twitter, facebook, myspace, and You Tube.
Check out Mickey Murray’s record release party photos from last week in MPLS.
Secret Stash stops at KFAI to talk about their Mickey Murray release.
Keep Diggin’!
I got a tweet from John Book on twitter that I thought was interesting. NPR published an article by Egon about digging in the East Village here in NYC. It went on to explain that in today’s economy, it’s a buyer’s market for vinyl and that you can get some great bargains today because of it. Egon gave himself a $100 budget, reminiscent of his broke college day record buying, the days he didn’t have a lot of time or cash to buy records before he had to hurry catch the Metro North train back up to Connecticut. It was an interesting story, and since I’ve been getting a lot of requests for more of my digging stories (like I used to write), I figured I’d follow up on that request. From the list of records Egon got (Brazilian Jazz Fusion, Jazz on the Folkways label, 70′s Nigerian High Life, and a Scandinavian rarity) it looks like a good haul. Although I’d rather get 50 records for $100, most likely they would not be on the level of the records Egon got. I still get good records, don’t get me wrong, but they are not the Psych or Nigerian face melters, those are definitely found in the better record stores (which like to browse through also). I’m happy to write about records on NPR though, so get at me guys if you’re interested. Here’s an inside look of the on the cheap records I have dug up over the past week.
My budget is even tighter now, because I have a baby on the way in a few weeks, so I have been dollar bin shopping quite a lot. My man M.Fasis and I hit up Bleeker Bob’s dollar bin before last week’s Hot Peas and Butta JB Tribute party and I came away with some Motherlode, Gil Scott-Heron, Vincentico Valdes, and The Flying Machine 45′s left in the bin for a buck. I just can not pass up on records, I just have to get more creative and a bit more selective on what I buy. I buy records from private dealers and ebay once in a while (my last attempt on ebay I’m still waiting for: a super clean copy of “Ride Your Pony Girl” by Harry Ray on All Platinum. The seller is jerking me around of course. That’s why I’d rather dig) However, the deal with FMF is I like to find the stuff on the cheap. There is a Thrift store by me that has always come through. It has got me some good Hip Hop 12″s, and weird Jazz records in the past. Very hit or miss, I still check it on the regular. This past week was a dud, as my only pick up was Jimmy Z featuring Dr. Dre “The Funky Flute”. The video solidifies that this record is straight cheese, with Jimmy Z playing some funky flute way before Ron Burgandy let people know that the Yazz flute was nuttin’ to fuck with. Even pretty 80′s girls can’t help this record. To my luck, however, another consignment shop opened recently. When I went in sans portable, there were about 500 records sitting in the back of the store. I propped my ass firmly on whatever I could sit on and started to dig. What I came out with were some pretty great finds. I didn’t pay more than $3 a record, and for 30 bucks I got 10 records that were all quality.
Scholly D – Gangster Boogie
First up we have some Philly Hip Hop from ’86. Schooly D (mislabeled Scholly D here) on Place To Be Records out of Narberth, PA. PTB Records was busy also releasing “P.S. P.S.K. (I’ll Tell You What It Means!)” by the Philly Crew and other 12″ by Tic and Toc. Schooly went on to say this about the record: “Gangster Boogie was about getting over, smoking jays and pulling out 8’s and all that.” Fair enough. A good mint pull, even though it’s not the first pressing on Cut Masters (with the cool hand written bubble letters). I’ll take it.
Marley Marl – Scratch
I’ve reviewed this before, when I got one off of DJ Jack the Ripper. This 12″ features MC Shan, and is a great example of quality of the Marley Marl production we have all grown to love. All you other DJs are a bunch of jerks, a classic line jacked and used for tons of break records. I used to buy them like crazy. Do they even make break records any more?
Sammy Dread – Road Block Lp
On the whole, the Lp that Sammy was known for, other than the “Bad Boy” side. On Hit Bound and put out by Channel One, Sammy was backed by the Radics band. Features “Dreadlock Queen” and “Roadblock” among others. Besides the the good music, the cover, with Sammy on a Jah Rasrafari motorcycle is classic.
Patrice Rushen – Kickin’ Back Promo 12″
Out of all the records I got that day, this is my fave. I’ve never seen it on the field before, so for me it’s a good pull. A promo, and from what I have gathered, one of the first in a group of 12″ records put out (besides being a promo), this side has pulled high $200+ prices in the past. Not that that really matters to me, I just want to play the thing. A solid 7 minutes plus of Disco Funk from Patrice on Prestige.
Yamaha Skank – V/A Lp
I knew something was up with this record before I even checked to see the label. A Rupie Edwards/ Striker Lee production, this record is solid all the way through. Highlights include “Riding with Mr. Lee” by Chinna Earl Smith and “President A Mash Up De Resident” by Shorty the President, plus a gang of other good sides. No artist is even mentioned in the liner notes, which adds to the mystique of this Lp.
United Dreadlocks Vol. 1 V/A Lp
This Reggae compilation on Joe Gibbs Music features Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, and Junior Ross & the Spear among others. Roots music is a beautiful thing, and when you’ve got Sly Dunbar, Tommy McCook and Lloyd Parks in the backing band, it’s damn near perfect. This record cover, lithographed by the Stephensons, is going up in my wall in a frame. Bless Bless.
Kangal presents: Tiger Meets Yellowman Lp
First up, I am a huge fan of this Lp art. Even if it sucked musically, I would still buy it. My next Reggae mix is going to have some sort of graphic like this on it. I love me some Yellowman, and it has the side “Titty Jump” on it, so that’s a bonus. I lean more towards the Yellowman side, but the Tiger side is growing on me. Both backed by the Saggitarius band, Reggae in ’86 was still relevant, and a lickle Dancehall never hurt anyone.
Liquid Liquid – Optimo Ep
A record I never come across, let alone on 99 Records. Cover design by the great Richard McGuire. Original 1983 pressing. Mint, still in the original shrink wrap. Fun baby.
Marcia Griffiths – Naturally Lp
This early Marcia Griffiths on High Note has “Feel Like Jumping”, as well as the Bob Marley cover “Lonesome Feeling”. Backed by a band that includes Ansel Collins and Sly Dunbar, and you can groove to this today just as easy as in 1978 when it was released.
Z-3 MC’s – Triple Threat 12″
Despite the cheesy The Snakecharmer’s Song sample, this human beat box filled mid 80′s 12″ is not a bad score. Put out on Beauty and the Beat Records, straight outta Elizabeth, NJ, it’s Hip Hop in it’s infancy, raw and untainted. Not sure, but I heard this crew was out of Baltimore, MD. All and all a good come up for $3.
So for the people that were requesting some digging stories, here you are. If you do your research, have some patience, you too can get good records. I am in no, way shape or form claiming to be a record expert. I like what I like, and that’s good music. Egon is a music expert, running a label, reissuing lost gems, and constantly exploring different genres to expose these gems to the masses. I have the same philosophy here, as FMF tries to keep this music alive and well, while proving that you too, can dig for these records on the cheap, daily.
Keep Diggin’!
I promote a bunch of East Coast Funk and Soul and music events on these pages, but I need to give a shout to the left coast. I have been a fan of this series of different music nights for a long time. When it was the Root Down, I would try and get my friends in LA to send me the promo flyers because they were so dope. I know I have a few around somewhere. Funky Sole has definitely evolved in the past eleven years. They have had a who’s who of guests at all incarnations of the party (Keb Darge, J-Rocc, Adrian Younge, DJ Nu-Mark, Quantic, Chairman Mao, DJ Shadow, Skeme Richards(among others) and official DJs Clifton, Music Man Miles, DJ Chico, the gang of DJs known as the Soul Travelers, a rotating cast of LA DJs, and unofficial residents Cut Chemist and Egon who have blessed the turntables while opening people’s minds to all kinds of new, funky music from all over the world. Not commercial music. Not radio music. REAL MUSIC. The best part about it? It’s free, every week, and right smack in the middle of all the action.
“It wasn’t like Cut Chemist playing hits, or Egon playing hits, we were experimenting with different types of stuff. It wasn’t just Deep Funk, it was Ethiopian Soul, Psychedelic, Ghanaian, Salsa, Cumbia, Funk, Old School Hip Hop and obscure Cosmic Disco, twisted, dusted, psychedelia. Whatever we wanted to play. ”
I definitely wanted to shout out Miles and the Funky Sole crew, as they have been doing parties the way they should be done since day one. They do it and do it well. If you are out in LA and haven’t been to this party, I urge you to get there and get turned on to a whole different vibe. Miles describes the party itself as “A dance party where we celebrate mostly 60′s to early 70′s Funk Soul music, whether it’s instrumental or vocal. If it’s funky and it moves people on the dance floor, that’s what works at Funky Sole. And vinyl.” Sounds like my kind of place. Hit ‘em up when you’re in the LA area.
Funky Sole
Every Saturday
The Echo
1822 Sunset Blvd
LA, CA
Weekly Special Guests and Surprises
Funky Sole 11th Year Anniversary video directed and edited by Giovanni Solis
Keep Diggin’!
Follow Funky Soul on twitter.
Photo Courtesy of Jammyland
Here’s a gem of a record I got in the dollar bin at some charity shop this past week. I also pulled out some more heavy Reggae, plus some 80′s private press Hip Hop 12′s, and some early 70′s 12″ Disco Funk. More on every one of those records in the upcoming months. For now, we’ve got Sammy Dread with “Dreadlocks Queen” from his 1982 Hit Bound Lp Road Block.
Born Stewart Farquharson in Greenwich Town, in Kingston, JA, he became Sammy Dread and never looked back. Catching a break to work with Sugar Minott singing back up, Sammy also had released a single of his own, “African Girl” on the Roots Tradition label. Recording for a variety of labels: Channel One, Heartbeat, Jah Life, Sammy Dread International, Black Solidarity, Black Roots, and Freedom Sounds among others, his 7″, 12″ and 10″ output is definitely impressive. Working with Reggae notables like Joe Gibbs, Dennis Brown, Tony Tuff, Tappa Zuike, Barrington Levy, Dennis Brown and more, Sammy Dread is a definite success in Reggae music. One tune that would get lots of play was “Bad Boy (M-16)”, and the subsequent M-16 riddim ensued. It wouldn’t hurt that he was name checked and big upped by The Fat Boys in their ’83 “Hardcore Reggae” record, which got the name Sammy Dread on people’s minds. Dread kept releasing records until the late 90′s, where he went MIA for a while only to reappear about 10 years later. Sammy Dread picked up where he left off, making music, spreading a positive vibe, and releasing good music.
“ Everybody is an artist in Jamaica, so you always have to find a tune that’s above other tunes. If you don’t do that, after three or four months, no one hears you. Look how long I’m in the business, and it’s just the love of people, my fans. ”
Known primarily for this 1982 Road Block Lp on Hit Bound (Channel One) which this side is from, “Dreadlocks Queen” uses Eric Donaldson’s “Cherry Oh Baby” riddim. Sammy Dread mashes up the lyrics as a tribute to the love for his dreadlock girl. A great use of this riddim, which has also been used by the Lone Ranger for “Sat Upon the Rock” (produced by Ernest Hoo Kim) among others. The side was recorded at Channel One and produced by SOJIE in Jamaica and backed by the Radics, which included Style Scott on Drums, Errol “Flabba” Holt on bass, Bingy Bunny and Dwight Pickney on guitars, Gladdy Anderson on piano, Steely on organ, and Christopher “Sky Juice” Burt with added percussion. In my opinion, they don’t make music like Sammy Dread did back in the early 80′s. In fact, Reggae music doesn’t have the stars like they used to, that’s why it’s important to preserve music like this, and keep the fires burning. Sammy Dread keeps the fire of Jah burning through this music. We’re just glad to help.
Download or Listen to Sammy Dread – Dreadlocks Queen from the Hit Bound Lp
Here’s a Sammy Dread interview from 2011 from MadVibez Radio out of Toronto.
Keep Diggin’!
I’m excited to announce that the next Big Ups interview will be, to me, the best digger and preserver of Funk, Soul, Jazz, and many other genres. A true defender of the underdog musicians throughout the world. A man that has dedicated his life to keeping this music we all love alive. I, along with countless others have bought these records, gained knowledge from Gerald, and enjoyed the many Lps, 7″s, and compilations he’s put out through the years. He was the first person to actually do a regional Funk compilation properly with Hard Texas Funk. While others were bootlegging, Gerald did his due diligence, put the legwork in, and came out with the official compilation. This set the bar for all of the future compilations. Label scans, rare photos, band info, studio info, and anything else that was relevant was included. All of this (for the most part) is common place these days. Everyone from Numero to Now Again to anyone else resurrecting and releasing these forgotten artists and music owes a debt of gratitude to Jazzman.
“ We’re validating a style of music that was already there but wasn’t being done properly. ”-Jazzman Gerald on Jazzman Records, 2011
Here is an interview done in December 2011 in Lausanne, Switzerland where Gerald speaks on Jazzman Records, how he got his start, and what the label is all about. It’s a great insight on the label’s philosophy, a brief history of the music he preserves, and why it’s important that it’s to be done properly. As I said earlier, I’ve got Gerald in a Big Ups interview that will drop next week. Here’s a little back ground for those who are or aren’t familiar. It’s a great insight into the life and views of the man they call Jazzman Gerald.
Jazzman Gerald Interview 2011
Keep Diggin’
I find that the best cover songs are usually in the Funk and Reggae realm. Early Reggae that was covering Motown and R & B that they heard on American airwaves, or from the records that were brought back from the States just can’t be beat. In the modern sense, it seems like a lot of Funk and Soul bands were resurrecting the sounds of artists like JB and Marva Whitney, but also dabbling in covers of Rock songs. Adam aka Lack of Afro has a cracker of a cover of Arctic Monkeys “When The Sun Goes Down”, and now our friends in Germany at Our Records have released a little Rock cover of their own. The most well known Blur song, “Song 2″, or the Woo Hoo song if you will, has been “reinvented as an uptempo Deep Funk tune by Diazpora with tight horns and featuring the vocal talents of Hamburg’s Nora Kinga Becker, who gives the song the soulful edge it deserves.” It’s the second record produced by Our Label’s own Gu, and it’s a belter.
Nora Kinga Becker channels N’Dea Davenport via Damon Albarn’s lyrics, while Diazpora’s tight drums, wah wah guitar, and horn section move your body and shake your ass to the groove. Lest we not forget the bass line, which will keep you dippin’ for the entire 2:12. As Keb Darge once said: “I play fucking records that I think are great, and that’s my style”. I couldn’t agree more with that statement in terms of this record.
Snippet of Diazpora – Song 2 on Soundcloud
Hear the full length on Our Records You Tube Channel
Buy this record here.
Keep Diggin’!
This week we have a special treat. Our Big Ups is none other than Jefferson Mao, aka Chairman Mao, co-founder of ego trip. If you have been living under a rock for the last 18 years, ego trip was the go to Hip Hop culture magazine in the 90′s. I think I may have shed a tear the day they stopped publishing it. Luckily, there is egotripland, your daily fix of the best Hip Hop music culture you will read, and I back that up 100%. Chairman Mao is a well known DJ, crate digger, writer, and all around good guy who knows his shit. We’re happy to have him aboard on FMF and Big Ups.
Check Out Chairmqan Mao’s radio show Across 135th St. on RBMA Radio.
Check out egotripland.
Keep Diggin’!
Grant Green, JC Moses, and Larry Young Courtesy of George Heid
This morning we have some haunting Jazz organ originally from New Jersey, but reissued beautifully from the good folks over at Sticky Records in the UK. Larry Young Jr aka “The John Coltrane of the Organ” and Harold Martin originally released this floating 45 on an obscure NJ label London House Records out of Newark. Apparently this side was part of a concerto called Black Fantasy, although we have no other information if said concerto, master tapes, or anything even exists. If it does, it would be a major come up for some rare NJ organ Jazz.
Larry Young was an accomplished organist, and whether he was a band leader or sideman, made heads turn. He was known primarily for his side work with Grant Green on Verve and Blue Note, and Miles Davis on Bitches Brew. He had his starts on Prestige, and was a solid Jazz player. Young also released his own records, notably six Lps on Bluenote, which included the much applauded Unity record. Working with the aforementioned giants, he also played with John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana, as well as Lou Donaldson, Hank Mobley, and many more. Young died very prematurely at age 37 in 1978. It’s hard to say what kind of magic he would be working on these days if he was still alive. Suffice to say, this reissuing of the original early 70′s side with Harold Martin is a great discovery.
With a short run of only 400 being pressed, this is one side you may not want to let slip away. Sticky have been reissuing the best of Dub, Jazz, Sister Funk and more since 2005. It’s quite obvious these guys are serious about what they do, and they do it well. Reissued with permission by Harold Martin and Larry Young III (who owns a killer Jazz club in Newark, NJ), again, the lads at Sticky do it right. If some haunting organ Jazz is your bag, then this obscure Larry Young gem has your name written all over it.
Hear a sample of the record here.
More information about Larry Young here.
Keep Diggin’!
This just in: someone finally made a poster for all us diggers, beat heads, collectors, and record nerds. Dave over at Rare Byrds out of Brooklyn has put together this gorgeous poster, which will be framed and on my wall before this post is up. Side A or Side B, you choose the Soul label. With the likes of King, Smash, Tico, Bang, Stax, Revue, Kent, Brunswick and many more, get this item before he sells out.
You can purchase this item here.
13″ x 9″ and printed on matte paper, this thing is begging to be put over your turntables. Viva la Soul!
