BOBBY REED - THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR LOVE

(originally posted on 7/12/11)

Today's selection is a record that I've dreamed of owning for years; incredibly rare, I've never had the guts to snatch up one of the copies that turns up in top condition for heart stopping prices. Recently, this copy came up for sale in rough shape but I don't trip on condition. Unless there's skips, I'm just happy to have these records around in any state.

Unfortunately, THIS ONE HAD A HORRIBLE SKIP. Undisclosed by the seller who stated "excellent sound quality". Uh huh. Kinda like saying, this car is in mint condition, except for the smashed fender.

As anyone who has ever crossed over the big ponds knows, transatlantic jetlag can cause people to do odd things; for me, it means when I come home from Europe I tend to be up way too early in the morning. This particular morning, with headphones on, I slapped this platter on the turntable and just about wept when I heard the SKIP. I HAVE had pretty good success getting skips out of records, but this one was really bad and I didn't have much hope. I spent about 20 minutes on it then gave up for a while and listened to a few more discs in the "to listen to" piles. Something about my love for this song made me come back to skip doctoring, and I think if you've read this far, as soon as you hear the organ intro of this song you just might understand my insanity.

Here's what I do with vinyl record skip removal in a nutshell- first, figure out WHERE it skips. Then, I take a stylus needle and trace through the groove that I have put just a dab of dish soap (for lubricant) on a q-tip and wipe it over the groove. Odds are you when running the needle SLOWLY and lightly thru the groove, the needle will get hung up on the skip, where I'll gently rub the needle thru the groove to clear out the damage.

It took many tries (about 2 hours) but the skips (yes, after I fixed one I found another on the adjacent groove) are GONE. And when you hear Bobby Reed's voice come in so sweetly after that glorious organ intro, you will understand why. Or, you are simply in the wrong spot on the internet.

Bobby Reed is from Washington, DC and released a small handful of singles before hooking up with the amazing Van McCoy for this sublime release. Very little is known about him, although he released at least one more 45 after this one.

from 1970...

BOBBY REED - THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR LOVE

THE O'JAYS - HOLD ON b/w WORKING ON YOUR CASE

(originally posted January 6, 2009)

This Ohio based group (who later became one of the bastions of the Philly Soul scene) released many great 45's in the 60's, and this one is my favorite by far. From the gorgeous vocals to the uplifting groove, this sound is the epitome of '60's soul, and in my opinion it simply does not get any better than this.

A typical formula for soul 45's in the 60's seemed to have been a ballad on one side (usually the a side) with the b side being a dancer...It's a rare treat when both sides are uptempo as we have here. Both sides are absolutely gloriously uptempo soul.

from 1967...

EUGENE BLACKNELL & THE NEW BREED - GETTIN' DOWN

Oakland, CA's Eugene Blacknell released a handful of cool 45's over the years, but his guitar mastery and band leadership skills were sadly confined within the bay area.

This record would be legendary if only for the intro drum break, and by the time the band comes in with a super funky bed of percussion, organ stabs, and bubbling bass, we're already in funky heaven. It all sets the stage for Eugene himself to come in with a fried out fuzz and wah-wah drenched guitar part that is simply unbelievable.

One of the bands I play in is the LA based Wyldewood Green - this record is essentially the template of what we're cookin' up.

from 1972...

EUGENE BLACKNELL & THE NEW BREED - GETTIN' DOWN