Haul of Records

The Blackbyrds

The Blackbyrds have a pretty special place in my record collection.

I didn’t know the band name until the late 1990s when I started seeking out the original samples to my favorite hip hop songs.

A handful of people may remember them as one of the first groups that caused me to go on a record rampage looking for their material. The Blackbyrds became a group whose music I was determined to own.

I am old enough to say I remember hearing Walking In Rhythm playing on AM Radio as a child.

Years ago, a Suite Delight guest DJ brought the Flying Start album into the mix.

I came to the conclusion that if The Blackbyrds had two hot songs that were on two different albums then I would have to acquire all of The Blackbyrds albums.

A compilation called Classic Funk Mastersounds introduced me to Do It Fluid.

The incredibly funky groove was hypnotic and forced to explore their discography.

I was fortunate to have been able to see what the album covers looked like and, in some cases, hold the albums on vinyl in my hands. They were among the first non-James Brown/Motown/Stax/Volt artists that started my funk music exploration. I was also introduced to the world of record pricing where I started to see the monetary value for albums of that caliber.

I was even more fortunate when I entered a Montreal bookstore to see the entire Blackbyrds discography minus the Night Grooves greatest hits and George Duke-produced album on the floor among other jazz and funk records.

I was even more fortunate when I discovered and bought CD reissues of the first four albums from a Plateau record store that has since gone out of business.

I've noticed that when the chance presents itself, I reach for the first two albums.

There is something about their brand of funk that screams hip hop even if there aren’t samples to be found within it.

The jazz legend Donald Byrd was instrumental in the creation of The Blackbyrds' music and passed away in early February 2013.

The Suite Delight new time slot is Tuesday morning 2-3am EST on www.ckut.ca & 90.3 FM.

If you haven't already, please make yourself familiar with the link below for more of your favorite show and mine.

Below are some playlists of podcasts to bring you up to speed. Click here to download them and more.

DJ Solespin - The Goods (April 2014) Playlist:

1. Aries: Planetary Motivations
2. Black Heat - Love The Life You Live
3. The Ohio Players - Walt's First Trip
4. African Music Machine - Black Water Gold
5. Dyke & The Blazers - Let A Woman Be A Woman
6. All The People - Cramp Your Style
7. Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Fire Weaver
8. The Blackbyrds - Blackbyrds Theme
9. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Try Me
10. Paul Simon - Mother & Child Reunion
11. Greyhound - Black & White
12. Jackie Mittoo - Toronto Express
13. Ken Boothe - Look What You've Done To Me
14. Delroy Wilson - Ain't That Peculiar
15. Eric Donaldson - Cherry Oh Baby
16. Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Israelites
17. Tomorrow's Children - Sister Big Stuff
18. The Bar-Kays - In The Hole
19. Wilson Pickett - Hey Jude
20. The 5 Stairsteps - Dear Prudence
21. The Band - Up On Cripple Creek
22. Al Green - I'm Glad You're Mine
23. Gene Chandler - Groovy Situation
24. Q65 - Get Out of My Life Woman
25. Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm - Gettin' Nasty
26. Clarence Reid - Masterpiece (Kenny Dope Edit)
27. Bo Diddley - Hit Or Miss
28. The Headhunters - God Made Me Funky
29. Richie Havens - Handouts In The Rain
30. Bill Withers - Kissing My Love
31. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - I Second That Emotion

Linda Rondstadt

The Latin Music USA documentary is one of the most informative I've seen in a long time.

The 4-part documentary gives the history of Latin jazz, rock and pop music in America.

I had no idea popular music owed so much to Afro-Latin rhythms. It is unbelievable to think that some of the most innovative and ground-breaking music from The Rolling Stones & Beatles owe something to the deep roots and influences of Latin music.

The second part, dealing with Salsa music, was of particular interest to me. I have had a remote interest in Salsa music but had not done any research to better educate myself. I learned more about the Fania All-Stars that I had only known of by name.

Days before I watched the documentary, I visited the Fania website which was graciously giving away a Hector Lavoe download. I did not hear the download but heard enough from the documentary to know I really like Hector Lavoe. He was a fantastic singer and the song below caught my ear.

I’m torn between loving Boogaloo and Salsa most but I believe my heart and feet are centered in Salsa.

I’ve had a little crush on Linda Ronstadt since childhood. She looks very similar to Melanie, another singer I respect, but has a stronger voice. It is no accident that I added her to my Lady Macbeth Mix, the first one I created for 8-Tracks. The documentary told me that Ronstadt was of Latin origin. I had no idea Linda was Latina! It might explain why I was drawn to her. She was adorable as the video footage of her performing Bob Dylan’s I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight proved.

I'm thankful to PBS, Latino Public Broadcasting & Jimmy Smits for the documentary. I finally got the lessons in Latin music I had been yearning for.

The Shocking Blue

With regards to The Shocking Blue, my luck appears to be better in finding the album with Venus more than finding the album with Venus and a clean sleeve.

I was at a Plateau record shop and found a copy of the album I just mentioned for $8.

I would've left with it but the first songs on each side were warped. I made the tough decision of leaving it there.

I've been fortunate to find two copies of the album with their smash hit and they each have tears in the top right corner where the price tag used to lay.

The tear is where a band member's face is and makes him look like the inspiration for Mike Tyson's tribal face tattoo.

In 2008, a non-warped record was placed in my hands. That was my best dig discovery for the year.

I can't complain about those vinyl copies. They have stood the test of time and have been spun on my Suite Delight show and in DJ sets whenever I got the chance.

I love the album so much that it reaches near-retirement stages. I'm a few cuts away from having played the entire album on my show.

I managed to find more Shocking Blue songs to play last year and will do what I can to spread them evenly throughout upcoming shows.

Who would have thought the band that sang Venus originally would be so close to my heart?

I have Mark Ronson to thank for that. A while back, I was listening to an East Village Radio show and heard a song that blew me away! It was called Send Me A Postcard and quickly became obsessed.

The flame was lit from my first time hearing Send Me a Postcard.

After two CDs and vinyl copies of their Venus album, the way I’ve added The Shocking Blue’s music to my collection is shocking.

I went to check the playlist and was expecting to see some modern rock band, not the group that sang Venus! I immediately went on a hunt for music by The Shocking Blue.

MF Doom

I didn’t see MF Doom coming.

When I realized who the MC making me have an interest in hip hop again was, I was dumbfounded. I didn’t think there was anyone making hip hop worth my time or money until I heard MF Doom.

In 1989, 3rd Bass featured an MC named Zev Love X on their single The Gas Face. KMD’s debut Mr. Hood was released in 1991 and their second album was shelved because of its controversial title. Zev Love X changed his name to MF Doom and over the course of the last decade has become one of hip hop’s most notable figures. He teamed up with Madlib to produce what I and many consider to be the best hip hop album of the last ten years, Madvillany.

MF Doom found himself on my favortie MCs list after one listening of Kookies and the Madvillainy album. I desperately needed good hip hop at the time I heard him and think he was the perfect fit, mask and all. I still find it hard to believe he would emerge years later as a contender for my mic champion even though I was aware of him dating as far back as 1991. It just goes to show that any artist is capable of turning out masterpieces under the right circumstances. I wasn’t too blown away by Born Like This but hopefully the next Doom project will give more bang for the buck.

The Suite Delight new time slot is Tuesday morning 2-3am EST on www.ckut.ca & 90.3 FM.

If you haven't already, please make yourself familiar with the link below for more of your favorite show and mine.

http://suitedelight.podomatic.com

Below is the 1st Anniversary CKUT podcast to bring you up to speed. Click here to download it and more.

The Suite Delight - April 1 Playlist:

1. James Last - Inner City Blues
2. Scrimshire - All I Do feat. Stac
3. Aloe Blacc & The Grand Scheme - The Dark End Of The Street
4. Greenwood Rhythm Coalition - Guajira '78 (Colman Bros. Remix)
5. Omar - Ghana Emotion (Una Mas Trio Remix)
6. Bob Marley & The Wailers – Get Up, Stand Up (Thievery Corporation Remix)
7. Mo Kolours - Bomptious (Shafiq Husayn Remix)
8. Fashawn – The Ecology
9. Jazz Spastiks - Move (Remix) feat. Apani B Fly
10. Moka Only - More Soup feat. MF Doom
11. Fat Joe - John Blaze Ft. Nas, Big Pun, Jadakiss & Raekwon
12. Jadakiss - Why (Remix) feat. Styles P, Common, Nas & Anthony Hamilton
13. Naughty By Nature ‎– Guard Your Grill (Smooth Mix)
14. EPMD - Total Kaos
15. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Robes feat. Earl Sweatshirt & Domo Genesis

The Suite Delight 1st Anniversary CKUT Playlist:

1. The Monkees – Mary, Mary

2. Harmonica Paul – Motherless Child

3. Eddie Kendricks – Date With The Rain

4. Yellow Sunshine – Yellow Sunshine

5. Magic Disco Machine – Scratchin’

6. The Incredible Bongo Band – Bongolia

7. Lack of Afro – P.A.R.T.Y. (Instrumental)

8. The Jimmy Castor Bunch – Troglodyte

9. Booker T. & The M.G.s – Lady Madonna

10. GZA & Ras Kass – Lyrical Swords

11. RZA & MF Doom – Biochemical Equation

12. Camp Lo – Luchini

13. Digable Planets – 9^th Wonder (Blackitolism)

14. Danger Mouse & Jemini – Ghetto Pop Life

15. Hi-Tek – The Sun God

16. K-os – The Love Song

Rotary Connection

I looked forward to a 30-minute DJ set to commemorate the crate-digging celebration of Record Store Day 2013.

As I packed my record bag, I made a last minute decision to bring a compilation of rock breaks. When I arrived at the first store, a couple standing beside me asked about a group with Rotary in the name.

I asked if they were referring to Rotary Connection. The lady said yes and we briefly spoke about Minnie Riperton’s former band. I explained that I was not a fan of the band’s brand of music but acknowledged the songs I did enjoy. The man with her said he loved their orchestral and eclectic vibe.

I reached into my record bag and showed them the compilation containing a Rotary Connection cut called Life Could and told them they should seek it out when possible.

As I prepared for my DJ set at Death of Vinyl record store, I felt it would be ideal to play Life Could at my earliest convenience. A young man approached the turntables apparently enjoying the tune. I asked him if he knew what he was listening to and he stated he hadn’t. I showed him the compilation and told him the band name.

He replied that he remembered the name from Waxpoetics Magazine. When I told him whose vocals were gracing the song, he had a moment of total recall. I can only imagine what he was writing into his phone was a gentle reminder to reach for Rotary Connection.

YouTube doesn't allow me to add a video with Life Could on the blog but allowed me to view vintage footage of my songstress early in her career.

Waxpoetics

I love Waxpoetics Magazine.

I’ve treasured it from the moment I realized it was the only real music magazine I have left to buy since The Source, Rap Pages & Vibe Magazines’ early–mid 1990s prime.

It is truly a valuable source of musical information.

The latest Waxpoetics issue on the shelves is happening in my life and I rejoice inside a little until the novelty wears off.

I’m even happier to pick up back issues like I did at the WFMU Record Fairs and Dreambeat Conventions, the bi-annual record conventions in Montreal.

One of my most significant memories linked to Waxpoetics magazine happened on Record Store Day 2013.

I looked forward to a 30-minute DJ set at Montreal's Death of Vinyl record store to commemorate the crate-digging celebration day but had to make stops at other stores just to make sure I didn't miss out on anything.

As I packed my record bag, I made a last minute decision to bring a compilation of rock breaks.

When I arrived at the first store and starting browsing through the racks, a couple standing beside me asked about a group with Rotary in the name.

I reached into my record bag and showed them the compilation containing a Rotary Connection cut called Life Could and told them they should seek it out when possible.

YouTube doesn't allow me to add a video with Life Could on the blog but allowed me to view vintage footage of my songstress early in her career.

Waxpoetics allows us to read more beyond into the stories behind the albums, songs, and videos that we have access to. I couldn't be happier that we have access to Waxpoetics.

Montreal crate diggers and music connoisseurs were dealt a blow when it was announced that the downtown Chapters bookstore is closing. That unfortunately means there will be one less venue to get Waxpoetics in the city. I'm pretty resourceful and will inquire as to whether the Indigo store blocks away will now carry the magazine.

John Holt

I was looking online for inspiration for one of my Suite Delight playlists only to find disappointing news.

Through some browsing a blog I visit primarily for hip hop I discovered that Jamaican music legend John Holt died a few days before.

I bought a 2LP reggae compilation called Reggae Going International from the Pop Montreal record fair weeks ago which included Holt's Stick by Me.

Two of my go-to compilations, Paul Weller's Under the Influence and the iconic Norman & Joey Jay Good Times, have Ali Baba on them. The fact that the compilers are from the United Kingdom doesn't escape me.

The fact that John Holt covered The Bee Gees' Morning of My Life proves to me that the respect was mutual. Funny enough I was convinced Morning of My Life was Holt's composition until I checked the song writing credits. Holt's version was the only one I had heard until my Bee Gees blitz of recent years.

Speaking of checking song writing credits, Blondie's The Tide Is High was written and performed by John Holt in the 1960s. No wonder parents and family friends loved that song so much!

On the Friday before his death, I unsealed the Reggae Going International compilation (earlier than I originally planned) and played Stick by Me during the weekly mix down session at Montreal’s Death of Vinyl record store. That was the first song I ever played from the package and unknown to me it was somewhat in memoriam to the man.

RIP John Holt and thank you for the timeless music that crossed generational lines.

Mavis Staples

I was listening to a local university radio station one afternoon and the show playing two songs featuring Mavis Staples inspired me to write about her.

The first song I heard was The Weight. As I heard the song for the first time, I was unsure if it was Mavis covering The Band’s legendary song solo or a Staples Singers song. The host stated it was a family affair.

I'll Take You There is easily the most important Staples Singers song where hip hop is concerned.

Let's Do It Again is also prime Staples Singers. However, If You're Ready (Come Go With Me) is unforgettable for me for sentimental reasons.

There is an incredible cover version of Buffalo Springfield's For What It's Worth by The Staples Singers. To my knowledge, it was recorded before they were signed to Stax/Volt.

I have yet to listen to any of her early solo albums. They have not crossed my music purchasing path either. I would buy them even without having heard a song from either of them because I know I would be hearing tracks upon tracks featuring one of soul's music's legends.

My current interest in Mavis Staples comes at a convenient time.

July marks her birthday month and I learned of a new album featuring a cover of Funkadelic's classic Can You Get To That. Check it out as well as her early recordings.

Minnie Riperton

I remember hearing Loving You on the radio while I was young. I would know the singer hitting the highest notes I had ever heard as Minnie Riperton and hold on to those nuggets of information from childhood. Aside from those details, I also knew she died young. It would be years before I broaden that scope of knowledge.

I have BBE’s Strange Games & Things compilation to thank for making me take more notice of Minnie Riperton. The CD introduced me to Riperton’s Reasons when the only ones that concerned me were those of Earth, Wind & Fire. The rock grooves backing Riperton intrigued me because it was a far cry from her legendary love ballad. Ironically both songs are on the same album, Perfect Angel, which I was happy to have copped from a CMJ trip in 2009.

I love mid/late 1960s to early 1970s music regardless of the genre but have had something of a hard time with her former group Rotary Connection. I don’t know how to place Rotary Connection. The difficulties I’ve had in finding a danceable groove from the group have not made me study their music any further nor have the desire to do so.

I Am The Black Gold of the Sun is the only stand-out song from the group’s discography because of big wig producers and compilers like Gilles Peterson reaching for it. I felt that her Come To My Garden would be a regurgitation of Rotary Connection records. Les Fleurs could easily have been a Rotary cut but because it is a solo song, I see it as where her style blooms. And as always when she hit those high notes take my breath away.

I had heard some of her later 1970s Minnie material but was not moved much. It is quite possible Angel & Adventures In Paradise are her best albums.

Perfect Angel is my favorite Riperton record for sentimental reasons. However, I anticipate owning and listening to Adventures in Paradise one day to see if it will sway my vote. Earlier in April, I was listening to the first side of my Perfect Angel vinyl and was surprised she hits the high notes on so many songs in succession.

Micheal Jackson has a song called Gone Too Soon. I believe that applies to Minnie Riperton. She was a rare and special talent that the world would not hear more from. As sad as it is she is no longer with us, we can at least rejoice in the fact that her music still is.

Lastly, I came to the realization that I renamed my show The Suite Delight after Minnie Riperton’s Reasons made such an impact on me.

Please make yourself familiar with the playlist and link below.

Click here to download.

Playlist:

1. Robert Glasper Experiment - Perservere feat. Snoop Dogg, Lupe Fiasco & Luke James
2. Outkast - Prototype
3. Shad - He Say She Say
4. A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebaum
5. Keith Murray - Get Lifted (Erick Sermon Remix)
6. Theophilus London - Life of a Lover (Remix) feat. Blu & Jesse Boykins III
7. Edo G - Righteous Way
8. Donovan - Get Thy Bearings
9. Rare Earth - Born To Wander
10. Minnie Riperton - Reasons
11. Clarence Carter - Patches
12. Roy Ayers Ubiquity - The Memory
13. Easy Star All Stars - Time (Groove Corporation Remix)
14. Elaquent - The Official
15. J Dilla - Last Donut of the Night