LOU COURTNEY - I WATCHED YOU SLOWLY SLIP AWAY

Ahhh...Today is memorial day here in the states. Truly, this blog is all about memories; either memories of long forgotten records or creating new memories in hearing a great old record for the first time and wondering how such great music goes relatively unheard for 40+ years.

While I've featured a number of great Lou Courtney records in the past (remember those?) this is the earliest I own by him and MAN OH MAN what a powerful side it is.

from 1965...

LOU COURTNEY - I WATCHED YOU SLOWLY SLIP AWAY

DEON JACKSON - I NEED A LOVE LIKE YOURS

With one of the sweetest voices in all of soul music, Deon Jackson released a number of fine singles and even though he hit big with the excellent "Love Makes The World Go Round", never got the fame he truly deserved. The material was always top notch, and this Ann Arbor, MI native (recording for a New York label via Ann Arbor producer Ollie McLaughlin).

Sadly, by 1969 Deon had stopped recording, leaving behind a run of great singles (of which this is one of the last)

from 1968...

DEON JACKSON - I NEED A LOVE LIKE YOURS

THE PERSUASIONS - I"LL GO CRAZY

Quite simply one of my favorite ever covers of a James Brown song!

While the singer can't match the raw grittiness of JB (and how many can?), he lays out some very impressive screams nonetheless. I am much more enamored with the almost punky energy that this British band hits the song with.

Don't know anything at all about the Persuasions; in fact, they're not even listed in Terry Rawlings excellent "British Beat" book.

from 1965...

THE PERSUASIONS - I"LL GO CRAZY

HOWARD TATE - SWEET LOVE CHILD

One of the finest voices in all of music, Howard Tate also has a remarkable story. Despondent, homeless and addicted to drugs throughout most of the 1980's, he managed to pull himself together to become a counselor and preacher by the mid 1990's. Found by a DJ in 2001, he was reunited with producer/ songwriter Jerry Ragovoy for an album and he has also been touring. I can attest to the fact that his voice is still as powerful as it was when this record was cut, as I was lucky enough to see him in New Orleans last year.

from 1968...

HOWARD TATE - SWEET LOVE CHILD

IRENE AND THE SCOTTS - I'M STUCK ON MY BABY

Apparently a one off, and what a GLORIOUS one off it is!

From what I can tell, Irene (last name unknown) was a singer from Chicago who was backed by the Chicago based Scott Brothers on this track that was cut in Detroit. Produced by Motown man Bob Babbitt and co-written by Ray Monette (later a member of Motown act Rare Earth) this is somewhat of a Chicago-Detroit soul summit, aka the stuff dreams are made of!

Irene shows one HELL of a voice on this track that has it goin' on from start to finish. excellent song and superb performances. A top notch record.

from 1967...

IRENE AND THE SCOTTS - I'M STUCK ON MY BABY

LARRY WILLIAMS - BAD BOY

From what we know about Mr Williams, a song with a title like this could very well be autobiographical!

Of course, made famous by the great Beatles cover version, the original is no slouch. George Harrison copped quite a few of the hot lead guitar licks from this version which is raw and sizzling. While the Beatles also raised the key and played it as a relatively straight beat number, the original has a menacing bump and grind that could easily be the soundtrack to a juvenile delinquent street fight!

from 1959...

LARRY WILLIAMS - BAD BOY

Great clubs! Installment two; THE BURLINGTON BAR, CHICAGO!

Thanks to my pal Eric Colin, last September we hosted a night at a newer hot spot in Chicago's Logan Square area...The Burlington Bar!

With an excellent layout and perfect lighting, I knew upon entry that the Burlington was gonna be a gas. Then, as we were setting up I couldn't help but notice a vintage "Light Brite" setup above the DJ booth with letters that spelled out 'No Requests". How very direct and very Chicago (and much appreciated!) It's always nice to play records at places where the people who run the bar don't expect the DJ's to pander to any kind of music which can be heard at dozens of others places in any city around the world.

This was one of those nights that felt like it was over as soon as it began, thanks to the excellent atmosphere in the bar and the TOP tunes that spun all night. Not sticking to any format other than dancers, Eric & I spun soul, garage, psych, European beat all to a great response and immense personal satisfaction. Staff at the bar was super friendly and the pints went down SMOOTH.

Great clubs! Installment one; THE BOOGALOO, LONDON

In this new series, I welcome guest posts! Write me if you would like to write up a favorite club of yours- either if you DJ a night or are a punter who loves a certain spot!

It had been a dream of mine for many years to spin some records in London, and thanks to friends Dean Chalkeley and Gavin Lucas (aka G The P) that became a reality in early May when I was booked as a guest at Dean's night, "Shake!".

It's immediately apparent when walking into the Boogaloo that this is a class joint and the type where a music aficionado is right at home. The jukebox is FREE and loaded with great music, and there's a framed portrait of Iggy Pop immediately to the right when walking in. Lou, who runs the bar, is a very friendly lady and was incredibly hospitable to us and our crew the whole night as well (cheers, Lou!)

The room filled up early and everyone was primed to dance and groove all night. I met many web friends and fans of the blog that night and it was just simply the greatest of times.

Between the amazing jukebox and the superb lineup of DJ's spinning everything from 50's rock & r'n'b to sixties sounds and beyond, the Boogaloo is my hometown bar albeit thousands of miles away. I cannot recommend it enough! Located at 312 Archway Road London N6 5AT. Check out their homepage!

JACKIE DAY - BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

This song, like so much of Los Angeles soul, has an upward propulsion feel but something about it has a haunting feel in the ears of this listener. Perhaps it's the way the vibraphone plays those simple sustained notes, I just don't know.

Jackie Day was born in Shreveport, LA moved to San Francisco (to pursue her dream as a professional singer) as a young adult then met and married sax man Big Jay McNeely and relocated to Los Angeles in 1960. Somewhat of a mysterious figure (she had left the music business completely by 1970 to focus on parenting, and died in 2007), there are some great photos of Jackie posted here. Jackie was the writer of this brilliant track as well.

from 1966...

JACKIE DAY - BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

GENE CHANDLER - DON'T HAVE TO BE LYING BABE

Anybody who has been around this blog for a while would certainly be aware of my love of Gene Chandler- I've featured over a dozen of his singles since the beginning of this blog!

This track from '72 is one that honestly took a while to grow on me, and those strings practically push it into being a proto-disco number. While I have nothing against disco for the most part, this ain't no disco blog by any stretch!

However, in listening to this song again recently I was bowled over by the overall energy and the fact that, yes, there is a truly great song living under those swirling strings. And I've grown to kinda like the strings as well.

from 1972...

GENE CHANDLER - DON'T HAVE TO BE LYING BABE

BABY LLOYD - THERE'S SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND

Baby Lloyd (Lloyd Eugene Stallworth) was one of James Brown's backing singers and only released two singles on his own- this one was produced by boss James Brown.

While JB was entering his birth-of-funk high intensity period in '65, this productions hearkens back to earlier JB ballad work but with a very dreamy, 3:00 AM recording session quality thanks to the yearning vocals of Baby Lloyd. I really dig the understated lilt to this record.

from 1965...

BABY LLOYD - THERE'S SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND