Into Sound: A Vinyl Journey

Baker/Kuti

2011-02-22T17:09:00.000-08:00

Peace.

It has been a long time. Started school back in August, and I just haven't been able to catch up. Anyhow, here is something dope for all of you.

Ginger Baker - Stratavarious (ATCO, 1972)

For those of you who do not know, Ginger Baker was the drummer of the band Cream, and is one of the best Rock drummers out there. He got this album together after the dissolution of Cream. Baker drops some pretty amazing tracks, "Tiwa (It's Our Own)" - a deep African-Funk and "Blood Brothers" - which is a great example of drumming from an African-Funk perspective of Guy Warren and Baker's own Rock/Blues sensibility. "Coda" is another good track, but mostly because of its own avant-garde feel: it is not an amazing track, but a neat look into the experimentation taken up by later artists in the mid-1970s (Alan Parsons Project, David Bowie perhaps?)

But the most significant work on this album is the work done by Fela Kuti. Kuti, if you will recall, is one of the pioneers of African-Funk (Afrobeat, if you will) and has done some of the most amazing work in this field. His organ-work throughout the album will immediately call to mind the Jazz, Rock and Funk of the early 1970s (think of The Doors and Headhunters by Herbie Hancock). Some of the best music ever produced, in my mind, goes to Fela Kuti. His work in Afrobeat shines here, and takes over the half of the album he is on. Baker's drumming makes this album well worth it, but Kuti's own work is the light that makes this album shine. If you see it, get it...you will not want to miss out.

Loops

2010-07-06T22:02:00.000-07:00

Loops are crucial to the diggers repertoire. Honestly, the drummer doesn't matter, nor the bassist; all that matters is that the beat is funky. Drum breaks and loops come in all shapes and sizes. Some are 30 seconds, some are 3 seconds. But if that 3 seconds is funky, then the rest doesn't matter...funk is funk.

Some of my favorite loops come from the most random records. Never mind the James Brown, Rufus Thomas, Isaac Hayes, Fred Wesley loops...these come from pop, rock, and childrens records, the ones you never expect.

The break at the beginning of "Dizzy" by Tommy Roe is one that I love. This 1969, bubble-gum pop music break is so amazing. Not because of any amazing ability on behalf of the drummer, but because it is in a place one would never look. When we dig, more often than not, we look at funk and soul records. We dabble in rock music, depending on the drummer, but not many would have thought to look at Tommy Roe. But Prince Paul did though for a small section of drums in "The Magic Number" by De La Soul.

Second up, Sesame Street Fever. There are quite a few dope loops on this record, and I was blown away for two reasons
1. It is a kids record.
2. It is a disco record.
What the hell?! There shouldn't be deep funk anywhere on this album, but there is...on almost every single track!!! My favorite is from opening to the track "Rubber Duckie." Just a great loop and some funky-ass drums. I don't have a microphone for my computer, so no sound or video. Just go find this record...NOW.

Finally, a loop/break/whatever not many will recognize or even know, "Tell Me World" by Mouth and Macneal. I picked this record up on a whim, and was so glad I did. The opening loop on this track brings a huge smile to my face. These amazing growing strings and guitar lick just over-power everything else on the record. There is some good stuff throughout, including some dope bass and drums on the opening track "ABC" and a decent cover of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." But this is the best loop...amazing, amazing, amazing work.

So, buy these records if you see them, and remember that funk isn't pinned down by Funkadelic or the Isley brothers or Clutchy Hopkins or James Brown: Funk is everywhere, in everything.

Peace, and keep our music alive.

Some early ninties digs

2010-06-23T21:44:00.000-07:00

I love the Nineties. Well, it wasn't a great decade. I mean, it was pretty depressing with the grunge and the flannel. The only thing that really came out of the nineties that was worth anything was its hip-hop music (but even then, not all of it.)

My favorite 90s hip-hop is definitely the more jazz oriented. Digable Planets, Souls of Mischief, Tribe Called Quest, etc. The Tribe and Souls of Mischief especially.

First up, Eddie Henderson, trumpeter/flugelhornist. On his great album Heritage he had this track.

"Inside You" is such a deep and funky jazz joint. Good drums, good rhythms, great horn playing. The drums at the beginning were the main loop of "Tell Me Who Profits" by Souls of Mischief. Dope drums...Domino did a great job finding that record, and I almost died when I found it.

A Tribe Called Quest...that should be all I ever need to say to make your heads nod. Today, we are gonna focus on the track "Check the Rhime" off of The Low End Theory. Classic album, classic track, classic samples. The focus is even more narrowed down to "Hydra" by Grover Washington, Jr. (who, if you dig, you know. And if you know, you own.) and "Love Your Life" by Average White band, who are probably the funkiest white boys on the planet, except maybe Bob James (who coincidentally arranged Feels So Good, the album from which "Hydra" comes.)

Hydra

The bass, that main groove...damn. So amazing. Of course, Grover Washington's horn playing is what attracts the jazz-heads; it is the bass of Louis Johnson that attracts the sampologists!

Love Your Life by Average White Band brought us those amazing horns you hear throughout "Check the Rhime." It is a classic loop that, even though not many have used it, has a great life to them. I couldn't find a video of it, but I am sure you will be able to.

Peace and love. Keep our music alive.

Original vs. Sample: Gang Starr Edition

2010-06-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

Crate digging is a part of my life. I love going out, looking for records, and spending so much more money than I actually can. Being broke is another big part of my life! Every once in a while, you come across a gem; a diamond, shining above the rest. Maybe it is the bass, maybe it is the drums, maybe it is just a sound...but every sound is worth so much to the real crate diggers.

I picked up Billy Cobham's Spectrum earlier this year, and loved it. So dope drums on it, so, why not? About a month later, I would say March or so, I picked up Crosswinds.

It's super-soul/funk sound was amazing. The slow jams are good. The funk is awesome. The funk is deep. The beats and rhythms move you. My favorite track is the title track, "Crosswind."

I was listening to some Gang Starr (RIP Guru) and heard this great bass line, and immediately recognized it from "Crosswind."

True hip-hop finds itself in the crates. DJ Premier has been keeping hip-hop living and funky since '89, and will be doing so until he's in the grave. Hip-hop and funk are one in the same, and Preemo knows this, and know you do too!

The Drummer Man

2010-06-19T15:25:00.000-07:00

Paul Humphrey. In any true hip-hop circle, this name goes almost unparalleled. He is one of the greatest drummers of all-time, and probably the most recorded. He played the drums on Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On" and had a few releases of his own. The most notable of which, especially among crate diggers is "Detroit"

This song is what Funk drumming is, straight up. I cannot think of any drums that are really deeper than this. Just the rhythm, driving and powerful. Dope and funky. This is the reason why they say that the B-Side is the best side!

I love vinyl.

2010-06-18T15:01:00.000-07:00

Diggin' around on CrateKings today, and came across this wonderful little video. Some of it was hilarious, but 100% true.

Vinyl Lovers from Jack Somerville on Vimeo.
I am impressed by how many people compare vinyl collecting to drug use. Junkies and their needles...

Sweet, sweet soul...

2010-06-17T22:48:00.000-07:00

I love soul music. For me, it is one of the only types of music that can evoke a response from me. Don't get me wrong; I love hip-hop, funk, blues, jazz, whatever...I love music (like the O'Jays!) but soul music hits deep.

I guess that is why it is called soul music: It goes from and to the very soul.

Take for instance the classic and beautiful "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke

This was one of the first soul songs I remember hearing and thinking about. The lyrics hit me like nothing else ever has. It is a classic in every respect. It was one of the songs I heard in regards to Obama, and it actually got me excited about that man. The idea of change and hope was expressed by Sam Cooke like no one else could.

On the flip side, there are songs that just make me want to dance. Just get up, boogie down and have fun. The Meters always do a great job of that.

The first line of that song is perfect. It expresses it all perfectly! I feel like a king and such a pimp when this record is on. I just wanna strut on top of the clouds like Han Solo. Pimp daddy of the universe! And the funky rhythm behind it drives that emotion.

I just felt like I needed to go on record saying that soul music is my first love. I was raised on Motown, so what else do you expect?

Keep digging, keep loving, keep our music full of life!

A little Wednesday Funk

2010-06-15T23:19:00.000-07:00

A while back, I was turned onto funk music. Funkadelic, Ohio Players...stuff like that. But I would ask around for more funk, and people didn't really know how to define it, or even what to recommend to me. I got everything from the Isley Brothers to Barry White. What is Funk? Eventually I learned that Funk is more than just a musical genre; it is a way of life. It is a way you carry yourself, and of course this is reflected in the art you create. Music is just a gateway to another realm.

The Funk is like the Twilight Zone...it is a strange journey, but you learn and grow.

So, back to the records. I was into jazz and of course, this leads to CTI/KUDU. I had known about it for a while, but never saw any records from this label. But one day, I stumbled upon a small cache of this label, and quickly learned that jazz is at the root of funk, most because of this track right here.

OH MY GOD!!! This track was like breathing for the first time for me. It opened me to so many possibilities, and a new-found respect for jazz. It is funkier than any Coltrane record, and the way it glides is just amazing.

I got a record a week or so back called Sun Goddess by Ramsey Lewis. I had been into Ramsey Lewis for a while, but I only had his earlier work and his late 70s stuff. So I picked up the record and I drop it on the track that stands out the most...JUNGLE STRUT

This track brought to mind Jimmy Castor immediately and it is so full of Funk and pimp-nastiness. I love it and it bumps in every mix I make for myself. I just wanna go strut down a street, any street and just let everyone know how bad-ass I am. And that is at the essence of Funk: Being yourself when everyone else is afraid to.

As George Clinton once said, "Funk gives you the right to do anything you want to do." And I believe that, through and through.

Hope this Funk has enlightened your life a little...it did mine.