2008-06-30

Blu appreciation

I've been watching this amazing wall painting video called Muto by Blu at least 20 times. I can't stop admiring the skills and the patience of the artist. It must take a hell of a lot time to make such a painting. I was also very impressed with all the other works on blublu.org.



I decided to post a song at the same time although the music on the video is great. Freddy McKay's Picture On The Wall is a nice little Studio 1 joint from 1974.

2008-06-29

Ernie K-Doe - Here Come The Girls



Ernie K-Doe is best known for the biggest New Orleans R&B hit Mother-In-Law which went #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961.

Originally Here Come The Girls was performed by K-Doe in 1970 but it wasn't released on a record during his lifetime. K-Doe passed away in 2001. Soul Jazz Records put the song out on a single sided 12" in 2007. The song is taken from the album New Orleans Funk. The same year a beauty store/pharmacy company Boots used the song as a soundtrack in their christmas advert.


And here's the Boots advert...


2008-06-24

Dee Dee Sharp Gamble - Easy Money


Dee Dee Sharp hit big with her first record It's Mashed Potato Time in 1962 (Cameo-Parkway Records) with hits like Mashed Potato Time and Slow Twistin with Chubby Checker.

Dee Dee married Kenny Gamble from the famous Gamble & Huff producer duo in 1967. Naturally since those days she continued her career under the label of Philadelphia International Records. Dee Dee is her latest album (1980). The song appears also on on the second Strange Games And Funky Things compilation.


Dee Dee Sharp - Easy Money [320 kbps, zShare]

2008-06-23

Coffee Breaks, pt. 1


I decided to start a series of posts called Coffee Breaks. The concept is pretty obvious (who's sampling who etc.) but I'll try to keep the content of the posts fresh.

The original song is from Ernie Hines' LP Electrified. The album was released by We Produce Records in 1972. At least I haven't seen any reissues so the album is really hard to find but definitely worth the trouble.

In the early 90's Soul Brother #1 Pete Rock spotted Our Generation while making beats for Mecca And The Soul Brother and used it for Straighten It Out. BTW, I used to have a nice unreleased vocal mix of Straighten It Out on my HD but I can't find it anywhere. Get at me if you happen to have it.


Ernie Hines - Our Generation [320 kbps, zShare]



Pete Rock with his MPC



2008-06-22

Soundtrack of a summer day


Thought I would share a tune or tune for a good summer day. I suggest you should start your day with Huba, a Helsinki based retro-soul ensemble.

Huba - Summer Morn [320 kbps, zShare]

You need some music while sunbathing, aight? The most obvious but at the same time the most proper song for the occasion is of course Everybody Loves The Sunshine. The original is by far the most mellow song ever made. I've heard a lot of edits and covers, some pretty good, some ...uh... not. Hopefully this version with ms. Badu works for you.



When you want to get your groove on you might want to feel some latin flavoured beats. Echosystem is a 7-member fresh latin groove machine from Finland. GAMM Enterprises has put out a whole lot of songs suitable for this post but the one that makes people crazy on the dancefloor is Karameller.

Echosystem - Alpha [320 kbps, zShare]

Dubben - Karameller [320 kbps, zShare]

After a hot night out you have hopefully found someone to get down with. When it comes to baby making music you can always turn to Leroy Hutson.


2008-06-21

Bobby Thurston - I Know You Feel Like I Feel


Here's a nice little gem from Prelude Records, one of the greatest disco labels around. I really don't know much about mr. Thurston. What I know is that he was spotted by producers Rodney Brown and William Lester. The same duo that has been making quality tunes also for other Prelude artists such as Gayle Adams and Sharon Redd.


2008-06-20

Solid Gold Revue - She's So Good



Here's a little treat for you to start the weekend. This is a certified banger. One of those songs that you just have to dance to. The song can be found on a rare 7" by Castanet Records (1979) or you can spare some money and buy this awesome compilation.


I'm not really feeling the song though I'm in love with Roisin Murphy but you gotta love those northern soul dancers on the video.



2008-06-19

Otis Clay - The Only Way Is Up


This is one of my all time favourite tunes. It's uptempo an uplifting but no as worn out as Move On Up. Don't get me wrong here. Move On Up is a true classic but you know what I mean.

The 7" was released in 1980 by Echo Records. The Only Way Up appears also on the Harmless compilation Life:Styles (Compiled By Coldcut).