On The Brink: Return Of The Instro-Hipsters

On The Brink: Return Of The Instro-Hipsters

On the Brink is a collection of 20 previously uncomped and absolutely superb UK instrumentals from the '60s and early '70s, assembled by legendary psych musician and Psychic Circle label-head, Nick Saloman (The Bevis Frond). Presenting session men discovering sitars, orchestras getting into the freaky side of things, hip theme tunes, Hammonds, fuzz and brass. Somehow sophisticated and cheesy simultaneously, these acts created their own musical world of Chelsea apartments, mini-mokes, dark velvet bespoke tailoring and the dolliest birds this side of Battersea Bridge. Welcome to the soundtrack of your own unmade Swinging London movie. Artists include: Mike Vickers, the Jim Sullivan Sound, the Shock Absorbers, Wynder K. Frog, Rita, Offside, the Les Reed Orchestra, David Smith, the Keith Mansfield Orchestra, the Dave Davani Four, the Fidd, Ken Woodman's Piccadilly Brass, the John Schroeder Orchestra, Trax Four, the Mike Cotton Sound, Lee Mason and his Orchestra, the Vic Flick Sound, the Chris Barber Soul Band, Brian Bennett and Stanley Myers.

From the mid-'60s to the early '70s, there were quite a few instrumental releases recorded in the U.K. that seemed geared toward the easy listening market. Or, if the intention wasn't quite as gauche, they certainly weren't meant for the average rock fan, who likely wanted something hipper with more vocals and guitars. Still, even if the limited audience for these might have been (at least in part) listeners who wanted to feel a little hip without getting too far out, the musicians nonetheless couldn't help but be influenced by the rock, soul, and jazz trends of the day. On the Brink: Return of the Instro-Hipsters is a 20-track compilation of cuts from obscure 1965-1973 releases in this mold, with Swinging London go-go-like organs and brass being perhaps the most common (though by no means only) ingredients in the arrangements. There are a few names here that will be known to serious British Invasion fans, like Mike Vickers (from Manfred Mann), Jim Sullivan (the numero uno British rock session guitarist before Jimmy Page eclipsed him), Wynder K. Frog, the Mike Cotton Sound, the Dave Davani Four, Vic Flick (famous for playing on "The James Bond Theme"), and British senior jazz statesman Chris Barber; others are known as top cats in the British easy listening arena and have already been honored by reissues of their own (Ken Woodman and John Schroeder).

While any compilation that takes such an unusual angle to such a heavily mined reissue field as British '60s pop is to be applauded, you'd have a hard time pushing all of this as essential listening, even within its narrow subgenre. A good deal of it really is kind of mundane background soul-rock instrumental music – something that could have worked satisfactorily on B-movie soundtracks of the era, but which doesn't stand too well on its own two feet. There are occasional psychedelic echoes on sitar and screeching fuzz guitar, but these sound more like cheesy appropriations to make the cuts seem more "with it" than they sound like outbursts of creativity. It's only occasionally that the tracks let rip with the groovy organ and devious spy guitar licks lots of curious listeners will really want to hear, as the Dave Davani Four's fine cover of the "Top of the Pops" theme and the Vic Flick Sound's "West of Windward" do on both counts. As for other gut-grabbers, Ken Woodman's Piccadilly Brass' "Mexican Flier" would have worked great as a '60s Bond-like thriller theme, and the Chris Barber Soul Band's "Morning Train" (from 1965) has to be the veteran jazzer's most effective stab at the pop/rock market, with some great Brian Auger organ and an edgy jazz-blues fusion that approximates (but doesn't quite match) the sound of the Graham Bond Organisation. Some worthwhile and fun stuff here, then, but there's a significant gap between the best of it and the rest of it.

Review by Richie Unterberger, Allmusic.com

 

 Tracklist:

01. Mike Vickers - On The Brink (02:23)
02. The Jim Sullivan Sound - She Walks Through The Fair (02:44)
03. The Shock Absorbers - It's Your Thing (02:40)
04. Wynder K. Frog - I'm A Man (03:20)
05. Rita - Sexologie (03:17)
06. Offside - Small Deal (02:08)
07. The Les Reed Orchestra - Big Drum (01:58)
08. David Smith - See Me (02:32)
09. The Keith Mansfield Orchestra - Soul Thing (02:59)
10. The Dave Davani Four - Top Of The Pops (02:12)
11. The Fidd - Happy Walk (02:30)
12. Ken Woodman's Piccadilly Brass - Mexican Flier (02:35)
13. The John Schroeder Orchestra - Nightrider (02:55)
14. Trax Four - Moanin' (02:01)
15. The Mike Cotton Sound - Soul Serenade (02:42)
16. Lee Mason And His Orchestra - Deadly Nightshade (03:03)
17. The Vic Flick Sound - West Of Windward (02:59)
18. The Chris Barber Soul Band - Morning Train (02:28)
19. Brian Bennet - Tricycle (02:50)
20. Stanley Myers - Organ Fantasia in D Major (05:49)

 

hipsville dudes

Return Of The Instro-Hipsters, Volume 2

Return Of The Instro-Hipsters, Volume 2
Groovy Instrumentals From The UK 1965-1973

Nick Saloman of the Bevis Frond once again invites us to join him in the obscure pleasures of little-known pop, R&B, and jazz instrumental sides of the '60s and '70s with this collection. A number of the selections featured on Return of the Instro-Hipsters are so obscure that even Saloman isn't sure just who is responsible for them (though he offers some educated guesses on the artists behind such names as Sharks, Oliver Bone, and the Masked Phantom), but there are a good share of solid grooves and kicky melodies to be found here from a number of gifted little-knowns. If you went to the movies in the '70s, "Soul Thing" by Tony Newman will sound familiar, while flautist Harold McNair solos over a Dave Brubeck-influenced piano groove on "The Hipster," Jerry Allen demonstrates new uses for game calls on "Fuzzy Duck," Thunder Road's synthesized version of "Peter Gunn" beats Art of Noise's variation on the theme by more than 15 years, "The Brooke Bond Beat" by Cliff Adams may be the most swingin' tea commercial ever, and the Outer Limits serve up some tough, moody rock, appropriately titled "Black Boots." While there's a bit of "Space Age Bachelor Pad" ambience to this set, it's more a matter of evoking a period than obsessing over a particular sound or style; the disc doesn't wallow in camp for its own sake, with solid instrumental chops and strong songwriting the order of the day. Another solid offering from what's becoming one of the most consistently interesting reissue labels operating today.

Review by Mark Deming, Allmusic.com

 Tracklist:

01. D Cordell's Tea Time Ensemble - A Quick One For Sanity (03:08)
02. The 4 Instants - Discotheque (02:42)
03. The Roger Coulam Quartet - Simba (02:05)
04. Harold McNair - The Hipster (04:41)
05. Music Through Six - Floppy Ears (02:38)
06. Sounds Sensational - Night Cry (02:19)
07. The Masked Phantom - Fried Scampi (02:33)
08. The Johnny Harris Orchestra - Lulu's Theme (02:28)
09. Tony Newman - Soul Thing (03:14)
10. The Tony Evans Band - Beach Bird (02:34)
11. Kenny Clare - Hum Drum (01:53)
12. Sharks - Funkology (02:22)
13. The Outer Limits - Black Boots (03:21)
14. Cliff Adams - The Brooke Bond Beat (02:22)
15. Oliver Bone - Jugger Tea (02:56)
16. Thunder Road - Peter Gunn (02:14)
17. Jerry Allen - Fuzz Duck (02:51)
18. Paraffin Jack Flash - Blue & Groovy (04:15)
19. The Helmut Zaccharias Orchestra - Ton Up (02:37)
20. Ning - More Ning (02:44)

hipster2

The Mutants - Boogie De La Muerte

The Mutants - Boogie De La Muerte Mixture of 60's garage rock, surf, porn funk and manic psychedelia, the instrumental madness of The Mutants is a lost soundtrack for Russ Meyer's, Tarantino's and Aki Kaurismäki's films. Impossible to categorize, they call it "afro-garage-mambo".
The Mutants were founded in 1998 by Weijjo a.k.a Abnormal, who wanted to form an instrumental band after getting tired of difficult singers. Members were picked partly from his previous punk band "Isebel's Pain" and from locations you don´t want to know about. The sound of The Mutants has been wonderfully weird from the first beginnings, only to get seriously sicker since. After the first chaotic gigs with the usual rock instrumentation + organ, they needed to sound bigger. A Saxophone and percussion were added. The originally punk/surf/garage -based stuff is now smashed through Parliament/Funkadelic filter. The beats have been funkier since. You will love it with leather and rubber.

 Tracklist:
01. P.I.P.
02. Texas Rampa Mutant
03. Lady Boy
04. Erotic Doner
05. Romanow
06. Muerte Le Mutande
07. Rotko
08. Ribuli
09. Fraude De El Fierro
10. Backnang

deathdance

The Mutants - Death Cult

The Mutants - Death Cult
Mixture of 60's garage rock, surf, porn funk and manic psychedelia, the instrumental madness of The Mutants is a lost soundtrack for Russ Meyer's, Tarantino's and Aki Kaurismäki's films. Impossible to categorize, they call it "afro-garage-mambo".
The Mutants were founded in 1998 by Weijjo a.k.a Abnormal, who wanted to form an instrumental band after getting tired of difficult singers. Members were picked partly from his previous punk band "Isebel's Pain" and from locations you don´t want to know about. The sound of The Mutants has been wonderfully weird from the first beginnings, only to get seriously sicker since. After the first chaotic gigs with the usual rock instrumentation + organ, they needed to sound bigger. A Saxophone and percussion were added. The originally punk/surf/garage -based stuff is now smashed through Parliament/Funkadelic filter. The beats have been funkier since. You will love it with leather and rubber.

Tracklist:
01. Welcome To Death Cult
02. Port-au-Prince
03. Heavy Caramba!
04. Cps In Heat
05. Iron Jamaica
06. Mutants Death Cult
07. Serious Mojo
08. Jung'ala
09. White Trash Trouble Man
10. The Ghost Of Meadow Hill

killerdiller

The Mutants - Voodoo Blues

The Mutants - Voodoo Blues
Mixture of 60's garage rock, surf, porn funk and manic psychedelia, the instrumental madness of The Mutants is a lost soundtrack for Russ Meyer's, Tarantino's and Aki Kaurismäki's films. Impossible to categorize, they call it "afro-garage-mambo".
The Mutants were founded in 1998 by Weijjo a.k.a Abnormal, who wanted to form an instrumental band after getting tired of difficult singers. Members were picked partly from his previous punk band "Isebel's Pain" and from locations you don´t want to know about. The sound of The Mutants has been wonderfully weird from the first beginnings, only to get seriously sicker since. After the first chaotic gigs with the usual rock instrumentation + organ, they needed to sound bigger. A Saxophone and percussion were added. The originally punk/surf/garage -based stuff is now smashed through Parliament/Funkadelic filter. The beats have been funkier since. You will love it with leather and rubber.

Tracklist:
01. A Caligula
02. High Ride
03. Voodoo Blues
04. Sin Hipster
05. Lumbago
06. Stampede Caravan
07. Southern Far Out
08. Papa Simba
09. Move Along!

voodooyou

Red Hot Chili Pipers - Octane

Red Hot Chili Pipers - Octane 

Bagpipes with attitude. Drums with a Scottish accent. A blazing rock band and a show so hot it carries its own health warning. The Red Hot Chilli Pipers have rocked the world from New York to Beijing with musicianship of the highest order and a passion for pipes that will leave you breathless!
An abundance of energy--all the power of the Scottish bagpipe times three and an amazing rock band enhanced by brass, pipes, and drums. An unforgettable and unique sound. Modern classics and rock anthems fused with the adrenaline rush created by a passion for the Pipes! OK - not the best in the world but really fun. Cool versions of modern rock and some trad. thrown in. Good for parties to freak folks out.  

TRACKLIST

1. La Grange: La Grange / The Green Room (4:04)

2. Starlight: Starlight / Charlie Brown (5:16)

3. Time for Trad: The Kesh / Old Wullie’s Dog / Merrily Kiss the Quaker's Wife (3:12)

4. Fat Bottomed Girls: Fat Bottomed Girls / Fat Arsed Lassies (3:05)

5. Seven Nation Army: Roadhouse Song / Seven Nation Army (2:54)

6. Pressed For Time (4:21)

7. The Fallen (3:26)

8. Chasing Love (1:47)

9. The Way It Is: The Way It Is / Chasing Love (3:36)

10. Jump: Jump / Dancing Feet (3:42)

11. Neon: Neon / Wee Derek’s Song (3:22)

12. Everybody Wants to Rule the World: The Bung / Everybody Wants to Rule the World (2:58)

13. Wild Mountain Thyme (4:12)

14. Urban: Rip the Calico (4:18)

basdfkljgndsreohilu

VA - Kan-Gu-Wa and Chop Chop

Trick and Treat - - enjoy the madness.

First time on CD! The third and fourth volumes in the Exotic Blues & Rhythm series were released on limited edition 10" vinyl (500 copies per volume) and sold out in next to no time! Enjoy amazing and danceable tunes from the late 50s and early 60s - a handful of Popcorn dancefloor smashs, a few grinding Tittyshakers, awesome Rhythm & Blues - most of them with an exotic twist! 24 songs.

TRACKLIST

01. Ubangi Rock - Chaino
02. Kan-Gu-Wa - The Scholars
03. Man From Utopia - Donald Woods & The Vel-Aires
04. Haunted Lover - Carole Bennett
05. Little Doe-Doe - Curtis Knight
06. Ghost Train - The Electro-Tones
07. Big Foot - Googie Rene
08. Twistin' Fever - The Marcels
09. I Want Her Back - Dick Jordan
10. Rise Up And Walk - Troy Dodds
11. Voodoo Drums - Les Elgart
12. Volcano - The Three Suns
13. Chop Chop - Sandy Nelson
14. Don't Go - Vince Everett
15. Ali Ben Ghazi - Jack Hammer
16. Monkey See, Monkey Do - The Sherwoods
17. Johnny Lee - Faye Adams
18. I've Been True - Jannie Williams
19. Baltimore Jones - Chuck Miller
20. I Go (King-Kong) - The Go-Rillas
21. She's Mine - John Lee Hooker
22. Red Lips - Marty Hill
23. Little Indian Girl - Billy & The Moonlighters
24. Bullfrog - Johnnie Moore & His New Blazers

bongoz

VA - Katanga Ahbe Casabe: Exotic Blues and Rhythm

 Happy Halloween --- 

This reissue combines the first two volumes from the “Exotic Blues & Rhythm” compilation series named “Katanga!” and “Ahbe Casabe!” with two additional bonus tracks. This album is a colorful garden of delights consisting of R'n'B and rock'n'roll based songs from the 1940s to the early 1960s that all have this slightly exotic, dark and mystical feeling from the melody structures and instrumentation. Most of the tunes at hand sound astonishingly fresh and timeless. EDDIE COLE & THREE PEPPERS with their hypnotizing groover “Police” for example present a Caribbean mento with a mambo and rhythm'n'blues feel. The beat will drag you directly from your seat and make you swing on the dancefloor. This piece finds its roots in the late 1940s and demonstrates impressively how far even the predecessors of rock music already got in their development. The simple yet haunting lead vocal harmony makes this song a steaming hot all-time fave. And this is only one out of 26 rare gems. The album already starts magically with a gloomy bluesy tune named “Green onions” played by German composer and conductor Claus Ogermann, a cover of a BOOKER T & THE MG'S tune from 1962 with a rather specific basic melody that will stay with you forever. There is much more simmering popcorn rock and enchanting exciting pop from those old times to be found on this compilation and when you reach the “Ahbe Casabe” this is where the strange and quirky charme of exotica music captures your soul even more. The title track for example is a song from the late 50s written by proto hippie Ehden Ahbez that combines a Latin groove with a vocal melody speaking of dark backstreets in oriental cities. The album is rich on colors and the view behind the obvious you are allowed to take will open an entirely new world for you. The 1940s, 1950s and 1960s had much more to offer than what we already know and this is a field of diamonds you get to dig in when you spin this record. A nice little oddity is the bonus track “The riddle of the papawhos” by Danny Staton, based on old spirituals and gospels with a 1950s pop music base. The backing vocal effects here are more than strange somewhere between a deep gnarling and chipmunk style squeaking while the lead vocals on the other hand are soulful and striking as expected. The other bonus track by Kip Tyler named “Pu-Chun-Ga” is another outstanding mad Latin tune with wild female vocals and memorable lead melody. Tracks like "Shadow Street" leave you once more somewhere in between the jungle and a haunted oriental café in a town near the desert plains of Egypt. Next to master Ike Turner (still without his later wife and coming legend Tina) with his exotic surf instrumental “Katanga” from the first part, good old rock'n'roll pioneer Bill Haley should be the most famous contributor to this musical treasure chest. The sheer sensual stimulation you receive from these 26 songs will make you groove your mind away. Regardless where you are, these catchy Rhythm and Blues tunes will turn any place into a vintage dancefloor!

TRACKLIST

01. Green Onions - Claus Ogerman Orchestra
02. Nene Aman - Artie Barsamin & Orchestra
03. I'm Going Home - Prince Conley
04. Everything I Touch Turns to Gold - Joe Valino
05. Lucky Me - Chance Halliday
06. Apache - The Chiefs
07. Katanga - Ike Turner & His Kings of Rhythm
08. Where Were You? - Jimmy Rushing
09. Police - Eddie Cole & The Three Peppers
10. Hey! Little Woman - Sonny Til & The Orioles
11. Woke Up This Morning - Emmet Davis
12. Classie's Whip - Classie Ballou
13. Cleopatra Kick - Jack La Forge
14. Ahbe Casabe - Marti Barris
15. They Took John Away - Steve Arlen
16. Lucky Is My Name - Bruce Cloud
17. Thirteen Women and One Man - Dickie Thompson
18. Cleo - Rene Hall
19. Asia Minor - Machito & His Orchestra
20. Lament - Mamie Perry
21. Chick Safari - Bill Haley & His Comets
22. Big Bamboo - Lord Kitchener
23. Cleopatra - Jamie Coe
24. Shadow Street - Kip Tyler

hippy

Harvey Mandel - Shangrenade (1973)

Harvey Mandel - Shangrenade (1973)

Blues rock with funk and jazz rock fusion elements

In the mold of Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, and Mike Bloomfield, Mandel is an extremely creative rock guitarist with heavy blues and jazz influences. And like those guitarists, his vocal abilities are basically nonexistent, though Mandel, unlike some similar musicians, has always known this, and concentrated on recordings that are entirely instrumental, or feature other singers. A minor figure most known for auditioning unsuccessfully for the Rolling Stones, he recorded some intriguing (though erratic) work on his own that anticipated some of the better elements of jazz-rock fusion, showcasing his concise chops, his command of a multitude of tone pedal controls, and an eclecticism that found him working with string orchestras and country steel guitar wizards. Mandel got his first toehold in the fertile Chicago white blues-rock scene of the mid-'60s (which cultivated talents like Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, and Steve Miller), and made his first recordings as the lead guitarist for harmonica virtuoso Charlie Musselwhite. Enticed to go solo by Blue Cheer producer Abe Kesh, Harvey cut a couple of nearly wholly instrumental albums for Phillips in the late '60s that were underground FM radio favorites, establishing him as one of the most versatile young American guitar lions. He gained his most recognition, though, not as a solo artist, but as a lead guitarist for Canned Heat in 1969 and 1970, replacing Henry Vestine and appearing with the band at Woodstock. Shortly afterward, he signed up for a stint in John Mayall's band, just after the British bluesman had relocated to California. Mandel unwisely decided to use a vocalist for his third and least successful Philips album. After his term with Mayall (on USA Union and Back to the Roots) had run its course, he resumed his solo career, and also formed Pure Food & Drug Act with violinist Don "Sugarcane" Harris (from the '50s R&B duo Don & Dewey), which made several albums. In the mid-'70s, when the Rolling Stones were looking for a replacement for Mick Taylor, Mandel auditioned for a spot in the group; although he lost to Ron Wood, his guitar does appear on two cuts on the Stones' 1976 album, Black & Blue. Recording intermittently since then as a solo artist and a sessionman, his influence on the contemporary scene is felt via the two-handed fretboard tapping technique that he introduced on his 1973 album Shangrenade, later employed by Eddie Van Halen, Stanley Jordan, and Steve Vai. (By Richie Unterberger)

   

Tracklist:

01. What the Funk (Victor Conte) 03:06

02. Fish Walk (Victor Conte) 04:46

03. Sugarloaf (Harvey Mandel) 04:16

04. Midnight Sun II (Harvey Mandel) 03:42

05. Million Dollar Feeling (Coleman Head) 03:32

06. Green Apple Quick Step (Harvey Mandel) 03:09

07. Frenzy (Victor Conte, Coleman Head, Paul Lagos, Harvey Mandel) 04:32

08. Shangrenade (Harvey Mandel) 04:14

harveyman

Skinny Dip with Don Tiki

 The follow-up to Forbidden Sounds, Don Tiki's 2nd album again combines sweeping range of exotic, mellow, upbeat, and loungy tunes, moving the art of Modern Exotica forward into the new millennium. The vocals are more native/island sounding that your typical mainland-produced track from the 60's, but here it only adds to the atmosphere. It has my most favorite non-pc track of the genre – the very cool “The Natives Are Restless Tonight.” The liner notes are written by none other than Sven Kirsten, author of the Book Of Tiki. This is a must have for any Exotica collector to add to their collection. Pick this album up and listen to it, now. It's another glimpse into the almost non-existent genre of Modern Exotica.

1. All Quiet Flows The Don 2. The Natives Are Restless 3. Primitiva 4. Heat 5. Flower Humming
6. Bwana Banana 7. The Other Side Of The Moon 8. Wet Cave 9. Pinakbet 10. El Producto
11. Sweet And Sour 12. Axolotl 13. That Hypnotizing Man

 

skinnykinney

Diplomats of Solid Sound Plenty Nasty

This album from Iowa City s ambassadors of funk and soul, The Diplomats Of Solid Sound features for the first time, The Diplomettes. Having already cut 3 full-length albums, "Instrumental Action Soul" (Prescription Records - 2001), "Let´s Cool One"(Estrus Records - 2003) and "Destination Get Down!" (Estrus Records - 2005), you can hear the band growing stronger in sophistication and depth as they further ingested the sounds of 60s soul, R&B and deep funk. Cut to 2006 and The Diplomats became backing band to RnB/Soul legend Andre Williams & recorded "Aphrodisiac" with ´Mr. Rhythm´ released in 2006 on both Pravda and Spanish label Vampisoul. That same year they asked 3 gifted soul sirens (Sarah Cram, Katherine Ruestow & Abigail Sawyer) aka the Diplomettes to join the group and the rest as they say is soul history. This self-titled album is chock full of irresistible funk and soul bombs ready to melt your heart or make you shake it on the dance-floor. As an added bonus, Lack Of Afro put in a bit of overtime in the studio to sprinkle his magic on "Hurt Me So", giving it a skankin' reggae feel while retaining the silky smooth vocals.

01. Plenty Nasty (3:50)
02. Come In My Kitchen (3:23)
03. Hurt Me So (3:37)
04. Budget Fro (3:29)
05. Trouble Me (2:13)
06. Soul Connection (2:33)
07. Smokey Places (3:16)
08. Lights Out! (3:57)
09. B-A-B-Y (2:58)
10. If You're Wrong... (I Don't Want To Be Right) (3:11)
11. Hurt Me So (Lack Of Afro Remix) (3:50)

dliplomatzss

Calibro 35 ST

Digging through dusty vinyl crates led to the discovery of italian '60s and '70s film soundtracks, and as a result, Italian band Calibro 35 who specialise in creating playlists from cult Italian movies - some of which have been used in Quentin Tarantino movies.

It features a playlist that includes well known movie themes as well as rare compositions: from classic Morricone’s “Indagine su Un Cittadino al di sopra di Ogni Sospetto” to Micalizzi’s “Italia a Mano Armata” and Cipriani’s “La polizia Sta a Guardare” (both used by Quentin Tarantino in his movies), from “Milano Kaliber 9” (Luis Bacalov) to the experimental “Giornata Nera per l’Ariete” (Morricone again). Armando Trovajoli’s lost masterpiece “La Mala Ordina” (the original master was created during the ‘70s) has been re-recorded respecting its original structure and sound while the cinematic dancefloor hit “Gangster Story” will help you remember the chic Alfa Giulia car chases of the era. Cool groves throughout.


1. Italia a Mano Armata (3:12)2. Summertime Killer (4:04)3. Notte in Bovisa (2:13)4. Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto (3:44)
5. Milano calibro 9 (Bouchet funk) (2:39)6. Trafelato (4:33)7. Una Stanza Vuota (2:51)8. La mala ordina (3:14)9. La Polizia s'Incazza (2:20)
10. Preludio (2:56)11. Gangster Story (4:24)12. Spiralys (6:13)
13. Shake Balera (2:08)14. L'Appuntamento (5:02)

38caliberg

Reverend Horton Heat Reverend Ogandrum

Short, sharp blasts of grinding R&B, jazz chestnuts, and movie themes are the order of the day for this band. Comprised of guitarist Jim Heath (Reverend Horton Heat), organist Tim Alexander and drummer Todd Soesbe, the group was originally designed to just be a side project, but it then took on a life of its own. Old school rhythm and blues is where the band makes its mark and has the most success. Ray Charles' classic "I Got a Woman" is taken at an intense and churning pace, while "Honky Tonk (Side A & B)" is fueled by a roadhouse guitar solo and "Can't Be Still" gives the drummer some, leaving Soesbe in space for an over the top solo. Jam session jazz standards "C Jam Blues" and "Night Train" work well, as does the unexpected addition of Rahsaan Roland Kirk's "The Black and Crazy Blues." The only soft points on the disc occur when Heath steps up to the microphone to sing in a faux-hipster manner that quickly becomes tiresome. But this is only on a few tracks and is compensated for with the fun movie soundtrack covers "James Bond Theme" and the music from the atmospheric spaghetti western "Hang 'em High." This was a fun and enjoyable album, the group plays very well, but never takes themselves too seriously. The must be a hoot to hear live, and hopefully their next album will document their live performance.

1. Moovin' N' Groovin 2. Strollin' With Bones 3. A Shot In The Dark 4. Night Train 5. Honkey Tonk(Side A & B) 6. James Bond Theme 7. Bim Bam Baby 8. Can't Be Still 9. Experiment In Terror 10. Mardis Gras Mambo 11. Theme To Route 66 12. Hang 'Em High 13. Black And Crazy Blues 14. Ain't That A Kick In The Head 15. C Jam Blues 16. I Got A Woman 17. Groovin' 18. Time Is Tight

revhhtrevordm

Deodato - Prelude

What can I say - I'm in the mood. Seminal recording by Brazillian keyboardist - Eumir Deoadato and a supergroup of jazz stars puts this one at the top of my groove list. "Also Sprach Zarathustra " was his biggest hit and still holds its own today. Good for Valentine's day.

01. Also Sprach Zarathustra (R. Strauss, adapted by Deodato) - 9:01 02. Spirit Of Summer (Deodato) - 4:14 03. Carly And Carole (Deodato) - 3:41 04. Baubles, Bangles And Beads (A. Borodin, R. Wright, G. Forrest) - 5:20 05. Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Faun (C. Debussy, adapted by Deodato) - 5:13 06. September 13 (Cobham, Deodato) - 5:56

Eumir Deodato - piano, electric piano
John Tropea & Jay Berliner - guitars
Ron Carter & Stanley Clarke - basses
Billy Cobham - drums
Airto Moreira & Ray Barretto - percussion
+ strings & horns (including Hubert Laws - solo flute on Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Faun)

dpasz

Space - Best of

One of my favorite 70's "disco" groups. Infectious grooves - mostly instrumental with some actual songwritng skills and not thump heavy like so many others of that period. "Magic Fly" was a big international hit and will jog your memory when you hear it. Get your groove on - retro- that is.

01. Magic Fly (original version) (4:17)02. Running In The City (4:11)03. Just Blue (4:27)04. Carry On, Turn Me On (7:11)05. Ballad For Space Lovers (2:15)06. Air Force (4:12)07. Blue Tears (5:35)08. Secret Dreams (4:27)09. Prison (6:15)10. Let Me Know The Wonders (7:05)11. Baby's Paradise (5:22)12. Deliverance (6:36)13. Symphony (4:55)14. My Love Is Music (6:40)15. Magic Fly (Da Full radio mix '98) (3:51)

bosocp

Ronald Jenkees - Disorganized Fun

YouTube sensation keyboardist. 2nd release and really well polished. OUTSTANDING virtuosity. Think Keith Emerson for this generation. All done on midis and electronic keyboards - sounds like a throwback to the great MOOG discs of yore. Nothing cheezy here - just well aged funk. You will like it - except for the obligatory last two rap craps. So delete those and groove out.

01 - Disorganized Fun 02 - Fifteen Fifty 03 - Guitar Sound 04 - Synth One 05 - Throwing Fire
06 - Minimal MC 07 - Stay Crunchy 08 - Inverted Mean 09 - Outer Space 10 - Let’s Ride
11 - It’s Gettin Rowdy

rjgetrow

Soul Groovin - Speedometer Live

This was made in the 2009, but you would swear it was 1972; Speedometor speciaize in old school funk; boogaloo, organ jams, and fantastic vocal tracks that Maggie Joseph or Candi Staton have nothing on.

No modern production, no new flourishes, nothing but the CD to indicate this was not made in the 1970s heyday of funk.And I am licking it up all the way home. You betcha. Bring it on. I love it.

1. Speedopener 2. At The Speakeasy 3. Kool To Be Uncool 4. What Am I Gonna Do? 5. Answer To Mother Popcorn 6. Make It Alright 7. Kool & The Gang / Let The Music Take Your Mind 8. Four Flights Up 9. Soul Grooving 10. Am I Your Woman (tell Me So) 11. No Man Worries 12. Work It Out

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The Civil Tones – Vodka and Peroxide

The Civil Tones are back! Their third cd for Pravda Records is a great continuation of their soul-groove, jazzy influenced 60's vibe that they have perfected on all three of their cds. Vodka and Peroxide takes sudden twists and turns in tempo, feel and style, all within a catchy groove and Hammond organ laced melody. Recorded in their home town of St. Louis, "Vodka and Peroxide" adds horn arrangements to the guitar stylings of Robin Allen and organ grooves of John Holt. The rhythm section of Dave Hilditch on bass and John Kosla on drums rounds out the sound that sometimes reminds you of an old record on Stax out of Memphis. The trademark Civil Tones sound has been heard on many television shows such as Sex In the City and the Osbournes. Pour yourself a dry martini and enjoy...

1.Vodka and Peroxide 2. Gin Soaked Olive 3. Wasabi 4. Papaya 5. Junior's Back 6. Pocket Watch Chain Gang 7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (tv theme) 8. Mole 9. Happy Feet 10. Swingster 11. Checkmate 12. Super Love Bomb

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The Civil Tones – Soul Bucket

More good groove instro.

1. Soul Bucket 2. Tubed 3. Joe Flamingo 4. Sarcasm5. East Of East St. Louis 6. Papa Burger 7. Road Rage 8. The Return Of Sugar Dumplin' 9. Wings For Wanda 10. A Short Hello And A Long Goodbye 11. Billy Juarez 12. Strawberry Hill 13. Soul Bucket (Southside)

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The Civil Tones – Rotisserie Twist

The debut cd for the Civil Tones out of St Louis, MO is an instrumental tour de force that combines the instrumental sounds of soul, R&B, rock groove, and jazzy surf, to create a cd loaded with catchy riffs and guitar-organ grinds. The arrangements are the kinds of style you may find on an old Stax or Hi-Records disc. Sudden twists in tempo, feel, and style make this an interesting listen from start to finish. The Hammond organ, guitar, bass, and drums are the key instruments here, with a major groove at every turn.

1. Rotisserie Twist 2. Onions Only 3. Hurricane 4. Trepidation 5. Jug-R-Not 6. Sensible Shoes For Barbie 7. "H" Is For Harlot 8. The Bailiff 9. Dia De Los Muertos 10. Mall Driver 11. Gin Rummy

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