THE SHOW STOPPERS - AIN'T NOTHING BUT A HOUSE PARTY

Can't think of ANYTHING better for new year's eve than this cooker!

The Show Stoppers were a Philadelphia group that included brothers Laddie & Alec Burke (who themselves were siblings to Solomon Burke!), and this song was written by the Vibrations' Carl Fisher (under a pseudonym!) who also wrote "Storm Warning" for the Vibrations around this time (all familiar names if you've been following this blog for any length of time.

So friends, have a happy and SAFE new year's, and I hope the new year is filled with peace and prosperity!

from 1968...

THE SHOW STOPPERS - AIN'T NOTHING BUT A HOUSE PARTY

MAMIE P. GALORE - YOU GOT THE POWER

Transplanted to Chicago via her stints with Ike & Tina Turner and Little Milton, Mississippian Mamie Galore added a RAW powerhouse vocal styling to far too few records. If you ain't mesmerized by the incredible opening hook, by the time Mamie steps in with her vocal if you ain't movin' I'm afraid to tell you that you must not have a pulse.

from 1966...

MAMIE P. GALORE - YOU GOT THE POWER

NED TOWNS - BINGO b/w HOW CAN YOU BABYSIT A MAN

Here's another example of a record that I had practically forgotten about. If you're ever curious about how I pick stuff for the blog, it typically goes like this; when I get something new/exciting/rare/etc that typically takes top priority and gets posted quickly. However, I have well over a thousand other records that have already been digitized over the years and have never been used on the blog sitting in reserves. This is one of those; thanks to my trusty itunes playlist of available jams and the SHUFFLE mode, this song came on and I had simply forgotten how fun the record is.

I am very happy to see that Ned is still at it, in Las Vegas. Starting life in Memphis, he moved to New York City and was signed to Atlantic records, cutting this gem (the b-side 'How Can You Baby Sit A Man" is a cool deep soul cut as well, which I believe is the one that got him signed.)

from 1965...

NED TOWNS - HOW CAN YOU BABYSIT A MAN

GUEST POST....ERIC COLIN!

A true "brother from another mother", Eric Colin is not only one of the finest DJ's on the scene, possesses an incredible knowledge of great music in all shapes and forms and is also an incredible drummer and all around raconteur. I am very pleased to have a guest posting from him! The photo is him and I (me on the left, Eric on the right) from this past September when we had a friendly turntable dual at the Burlington Bar in Chicago which was one of the most fun nights I've ever had DJ'ing. Here's what Eric has to say...

YACO LARA – VIEJO TOM
Columbia Records 1972

I’ve have no idea what it was with the Spanish in the 60’s and 70’s and their penchant for making monster dance records.
Perhaps it was the proverbial “something in the water theory” but god damn, it was a trend that even their crooner types got in on.
Case in point is Yaco Lara; a native of Valencia Spain (I think) who has been making records either solo or as part of a group since the late 60’s but even more to the point is his monster B-Side from 1972 entitled “Viejo Tom”.
Made for the dance floors and proven to get you movin; this is record is a veritable bunch of do’s (as opposed to don’ts) crammed into a mere 3:25.
More horns than you can shake a stick at, a propulsive, prominent bass, female backing vox and Yaro’s predilection for taking his voice into a glass shattering falsetto!
I could liken this record to some of Tom Jones funky as hell late 60’s moments shot through the mind set of a bull fighter and we might have something approximating this wicked groove!
So kick back enjoy this cut and raise a hearty glass of Rioja to Mr. Lara and his death defying vocal range!

LANDY - DOCTOR GOOD SOUL

Landy is Landy McNeil, who was a small player in 60's soul (and briefly a member of the group the Corsairs), eventually forming a group called We The People in the early 70's then apparently fading out from view entirely. This is an excellent one-off single he released on the Moonshot label. Not sure if he was from North Carolina (as the Corsairs were); wherever he is from, this record definitely captures the Chicago soul sound, right at the moment when that sound was about to disappear completely.

from 1969...

LANDY - DOCTOR GOOD SOUL

THE FALCONS - I'M A FOOL (I MUST LOVE YOU)

While the Falcons began recording in Detroit in 1955, by the time this record was cut, NONE of the original (or for that matter replacement Falcons) were still in the group (former members at this point included Eddie Floyd, Wilson Pickett, and Mack Rice). Producer and manager Robert West took on another group called the Fabulous Playboys, renamed them the Falcons and began recording records in the current Detroit sound. While this reeks of exploitation, the records were truly wonderful.

from 1966...

THE FALCONS - I'M A FOOL (I MUST LOVE YOU)

BOOKER T & THE MG'S - JINGLE BELLS

Happy holidays, everybody. Now, let's swing with Booker, Steve, Duck and Al!

from 1967...

BOOKER T & THE MG'S - JINGLE BELLS

VAN - EVERY DAY IS LIKE A HOLIDAY / FEED THE FLAME

Cut by William Bell for the Stax/ Atlantic Soul Christmas LP release, "Every Day Is Like A Holiday" is a favorite Christmas style song that doesn't go over the top oozing with Christmas sentiment (although I admit I'm a sucker for lots of Xmas music). I wanted to feature the William Bell version, but I don't have it on 45. Then I remembered this gem that I picked up at Domino Sound Records in New Orleans (one of the best little record stores on the planet, as a matter of fact).

Turns out "Van" is Van Broussard, one of the progenitors of the Louisiana "swamp pop" sound; this 45 finds him in deep southern soul mode and both sides are truly excellent. Luckily for you, while researching this record I flipped it over and played "Feed The Flame" and I had forgotten how incredibly haunting the song is (written by the genius Dan Penn/ Spooner Oldham duo). "Feed The Flame" was also issued nationally on Mala records, but with a different flip side.

Merry Christmas, everybody.

from 1968...

THE COMPANIONS - BE YOURSELF

Quite simply, what can be better than having someone to tell you "just be yourself". As for me, during the holidays, I am especially thankful to have someone in my life who not only tells me to be myself but encourages my obsessive record related behavior and tolerates the kind of time that I put into said obsession, including this blog! She's a keeper, for sho.

This is a gorgeous record that is shrouded in complete mystery. seems to be the only record cut by this Philadelphia group, and no one even seems to know when it was cut! Quite often, records have matrix numbers in the run off groove that have date codes. Not this one. Almost as if it were meant to be a mystery from the minute it was cut. I love how the singer almost chokes a few times reaching for certain notes. Sublime. I'm guessing at the year...

from c1966...

THE COMPANIONS - BE YOURSELF

EARL KING - COME ON (PART ONE)

One look at the record shown in the scan and you wouldn't think it would play at all, right? It actually sounds pretty good, with only some surface noise on the quieter parts. I wish this 45 could talk; its previous owner certainly played the hell out of it, and I bet it rocked many a party in its day. While this record is somewhat easy to find (although not cheap), I'm happy with this beat to shreds copy, and it's a testament to the durability of the 45 RPM single.

As so many others, I first heard this song as recorded by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and while that version is certainly incredible in its own right, the original by Earl King is simply outstanding with its slow burn feel, not to mention the liberty it takes with timing for dramatic effect (although in itself "Come On" it was a remake of King's song "Darling Honey Angel Child" recorded by King earlier in 1960). Thankfully, New orleans musician Earl King made quite a bit of dough from the Hendrix cover version, and he continued performing up until his death in 2003.

from 1960...

EARL KING - COME ON (PART ONE)

GODOY COLBERT - BABY I LIKE IT

While there isn't much in the way of biographical information about Godoy Colbert, his name pops up quite a bit on the fringes of doo wop, soul and gospel music as both a vocalist and writer. This release was a one-off for Revue records, right around the time he sang on the Exits "Got To Have Money" (a previous 45 of the day) and shortly before he joined the group the Free Movement. Such a smooth voice!

Sure sounds great on a grey December morning, with such a superb upbeat (and uplifting) sound.

from 1968...

GODOY COLBERT - BABY I LIKE IT