What Are You Listening To?

[JazzyRandy]

Kings Go Forth The Outsiders Are Back 2010

Milwaukee funk/old-soul circa 2010. The mastering sounds irritatingly tinny, as if they were shooting for an "authentic" old school sound. Instead, it comes off as unprofessional. The music on the other hand is very well done and deserving of a much better mastering job. Reminds me slightly of Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, but with male singers, better songwriting, and the band takes different take on the ol' soul sound. A better take in my opinion.

Very well done and much deserving of a wider listening audience.

[dudemanxx]

I've got some Mos Def over here! It's a good, refreshing break from this mainstream garbage

[JazzyRandy]

Mos is always a good listen!

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



Now this is what r&b should sound like. Yea, I know, living in the past again. That's fine. I'll accept that. The Drifters were formed in 1953 in NY. Clyde McPhatter would be the man the group was built around. Signed by Ahmet Ertegun of the newly formed Atlantic records, after he quit The Dominoes. Clyde had solo aspirations and left the group early on and the lineup changes were numerous over the years. The next lead of note would be Johnny Moore who had been a member of a little known group called The Hornets. The groups recordings regularly entered the r&b charts of the 50's, but they still lacked that crossover to the pop charts which was much needed to be deemed a success. There Goes My Baby would be the song that provided that. With yet another lead vocalist of Benjamin Nelson (later a name change to Ben E. King), that 1959 hit would reach #2 on the pop charts, and the first of many to follow. Nelson would soon depart to be replaced by Rudy Lewis who would be the lead for the hits Up On The Roof and On Broadway. This would be the peak years, in the early 60's and the recording of Under The Boardwalk would top it off. The lead there would go to Johnny Moore and this would be the groups last big hit. This best of collection covers the previous mentioned hits plus more.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Some Kind Of Wonderful

Best Track - Under The Boardwalk

Oh, when the sun beats down and burns the tar up on the roof
And your shoes get so hot you wish your tired feet were fire-proof
Under the boardwalk, down by the sea, yeah
On a blanket with my baby is where I'll be

(Under the boardwalk) out of the sun
(Under the boardwalk) we'll be havin' some fun
(Under the boardwalk) people walking above
(Under the boardwalk) we'll be faling in love
Under the board-walk (board-walk!)

From the park you hear the happy sound of a carousel
Mm-mm, you can almost taste the hot dogs and French fries they sell
Under the boardwalk, down by the sea
On a blanket with my baby is where I'll be

(Under the boardwalk) out of the sun
(Under the boardwalk) we'll be havin' some fun
(Under the boardwalk) people walking above
(Under the boardwalk) we'll be falling in love
Under the board-walk (board-walk!)

Oooooh, under the boardwalk, down by the sea, yeah
On a blanket with my baby is where I'll be

(Under the boardwalk) out of the sun
(Under the boardwalk) we'll be havin' some fun
(Under the boardwalk) people walking above
(Under the boardwalk) we'll be falling in love
Under the board-walk (board-walk!)

1) There Goes My Baby - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3HXy9mGPpI
2) (If You Cry) True Love, True Love - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn_029vnArM
3) Dance With Me - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8SwsKjdOyc
4) This Magic Moment - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A73f2AzKBAY
5) Save The Last Dance For Me - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-XQ26KePUQ
6) I Count The Tears - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j9aDGstcfk
7) Some Kind Of Wonderful - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tve1HuFJeq8
8) Up On The Roof - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP8OVzVzR6o
9) On Broadway - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WFgPtxsRa8
10) Under The Boardwalk - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THL5jTWl3ek
11) I've Got Sand In My Shoes - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HgFPc0r_K0
12) Saturday Night At The Movies - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2q4dWwibX0

3's - 5
2's - 7
1's - 0

Grade - 2.4

[CRAZY-HORSE]

Neil Young does a good version of "on broadway"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uw5QoMmH1g audio

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



Hell, this could be a greatest hits for me. And it does include my favorite Stevie Wonder song of all. Guess that means if there was a best album poll this would win. Stevie at his best. Hard hitting social commentary lie at the heart of most of these songs, drugs, poverty and a well deserved jab at Nixon. The album went to #4 on the charts (#1 r&b), with singles of Higher Ground (#4 pop, #1 r&b), Living For The City (#8 pop, #1 r&b) and Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (#16 pop, #2 r&b). The album would also take the grammy that year for album of the year.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Jesus Children Of America

Best Track - Living For The City

A boy is born in hard time Mississippi
Surrounded by four walls that ain't so pretty
His parents give him love and affection
To keep him strong moving in the right direction
Living just enough, just enough for the city...ee ha!

His father works some days for fourteen hours
And you can bet he barely makes a dollar
His mother goes to scrub the floor for many
And you'd best believe she hardly gets a penny
Living just enough, just enough for the city...yeah

His sister's black but she is sho 'nuff pretty
Her skirt is short but Lord her legs are sturdy
To walk to school she's got to get up early
Her clothes are old but never are they dirty
Living just enough, just enough for the city...um hum

Her brother's smart he's got more sense than many
His patience's long but soon he won't have any
To find a job is like a haystack needle
Cause where he lives they don't use colored people
Living just enough, just enough for the city...
Living just enough...
For the city...ooh,ooh
[repeat several times]

His hair is long, his feet are hard and gritty
He spends his love walking the streets of New York City
He's almost dead from breathing on air pollution
He tried to vote but to him there's no solution
Living just enough, just enough for the city...yeah, yeah, yeah!

I hope you hear inside my voice of sorrow
And that it motivates you to make a better tomorrow
This place is cruel no where could be much colder
If we don't change the world will soon be over
Living just enough, just enough for the city!!!!

La, la, la, la, la, la,
Da Ba Da Da Da Da Da Da
Da Da Da Da Da Da
Da Ba Da Da Da Da Da Da Da

1) Higher Ground - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8dK0iEzi1M
2) Visions - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJVErpWLDQo
3) Living For The City - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc0XEw4m-3w
4) Golden Lady - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA6OCGLCUec
5) Higher Ground - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wZ3ZG_Wams
6) Jesus Children Of America - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM4wvq8MtHA
7) All In Love Is Fair - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCNMy5NeEGQ
8) Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkBUx6Zn6mo
9) He's Misstra Know-It-All - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL5wei4phz0

3's - 6
2's - 3
1's - 0

Grade - 2.7

[CRAZY-HORSE]

i got this one on vinyl also MH, just ordered the cd version....is it possible to sound better on cd?
2.7 is a good call,Stevie at his best.

[JazzyRandy]

Pharoahe Monch Desire 2007
[ATTACH=CONFIG]693[/ATTACH]
One of my top 10 albums of 2007!
For those that care, that list included, in no particular order:
Abram Wilson - Ride! Ferris Wheel To The Modern Day Delta
Alicia Keys - As I Am
Amir Sulaiman - Like A Thief In The Night
Dave Holland - Pass It On
David Murray - Sacred Ground
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War)
Maktub - Start It Over
Me'Shell Ndegéocello - The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams
SF Jazz Collective - Live 2007: 4th Annual Concert Tour
and the aforementioned Desire.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

MARVIN GAYE "what's going on" 1971. vinyl/cd

one of the finest recordings ever in the rock era.
and the first by a black man to raise issues of poverty,social injustice,police brutality,war,love and peace at the same time.
sadly for the world, these issues and social problems are still with us today, which makes this album still relevant in a lot of ways now.
to offset the biting social commentry of the lyrics we have sweet orchestrations,multilayered vocals and the sophistication of great soul music, along with the beautiful vocals of Marvin Gaye at his best.
this along with Stevie Wonder's "innervisions" album, reviewed by Music Head a few posts back are the most important records ever made by Afro-Americans(blacks in general). along with Motown compilation albums these are the only two Motown albums you need to own.
the album reached #1 R&B,#6US, the title track #1R&B,#2US,"mercy mercy me" #1 R&B,#4US,"innercity blues" #1 R&B,#9US, strangely enough the album and singles failed to chart in the UK, however "save the children" did make it to #41 as a double a'side in the UK.

tragically in 1984,Marvin Gaye was gunned down by his father aged 40.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

worst track: n.a
best tracks: what's going on & innercity blues

tracks:

1. what's going on***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDb4Ss9OJ64 live
2. what's happening brother***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRsc6QMTnb4 live
3. flying high(in a friendly sky)***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpcdBltxdkc audio
4. save the children**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLSBB8EpyVg live
5. God is love***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5jc9mY6v-U audio
6. mercy mercy me(the ecology)***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMJ2nt162mM audio
7. right on**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh9tU8O1LfY audio
8. wholy holy**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXnRyGpeH0o audio
9. innercity blues(make me wanna holler)***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsTf27XJM6k live
bonus cd tracks
10.God is love***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOWoIE2mS...re=related audio
11.sad tomorrows***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAkRlW5qKVo audio

3s=8
2s=3
1s=0

rating 2.7

[JazzyRandy]

...along with Motown compilation albums these are the only two Motown albums you need to own.

:eek: Not if you love great music. There are many many many many more Motown albums I need to own. But you're right that this is ONE of the Motown albums anyone should own. Fine review.