Posted on Ephemera

In Heavy Rotation: Versus – On The Ones and Threes – Merge

Versus – Erstwhile

August was such a whirlwind of a month that somehow I failed to mention one of the happier developments of the summer, the release of new music from Versus! “Secret Swingers” remains perhaps my favorite Indie-rock record of the 1990s, and as fan of the band I’d been enduring rumours of reunions for years, until video began to emerge in 2008. “On The Ones & Threes” represents the first new record from the Baluyut Bros. + Fontaine Toups in something like 10 years, and the band doesn’t disappoint this long time fan with this new music. “Erstwhile” is maybe the best track on this new collection of songs, beginning with a sample-ready slow tempo drum beat and plaintive vocals from Ms. Toups, before things get a bit more epic towards the middle when Richard joins in to sing his verses. Here’s to hoping the partnership will last longer this time around and that there’s even more music to come.

Posted on Radio

Be Our Guest: The Gories on KPFK’s Melting Pot

The Gories on KPFK’s Melting Pot: September 5, 2010

Still finding it a little hard to believe that I got a chance to interview Mick Collins, Dan Kroha and Peg O’Neill of the Gories. Some of it I’m sure is because I never thought the Gories would get back together, but once I heard they had and were playing in LA, I just never thought this interview was actually going to happen…but it did and here’s the audio to prove it. We talk about how the band got back together, how the Gories originally formed and a few other choice stories including one about recording in Memphis with Alex Chilton.

Posted on Radio

Breakdown: September 5th on KPFK’s Melting Pot

Today’s show was notable for one big major reason, Dan, Mick & Peg of the Gories showed up at the KPFK studios and we had a 30 minute interview about the band, from the early moments playing around in Detroit to these recent reunion shows they’ve been doing (Still a chance to win tickets to the Sept. 8th show here in LA, see the post below!). This is one of my favorite interviews of all time, even though I barely ask any questions, basically, I just sat there and had the three of them trade stories. In the show there’s also new music from Dungen, Fabienne Del Sol, Aloe Blacc, Pollyn feat. Freddie Gibbs and classic material from the Minutemen, Marianne Faithful and more.

Melting Pot on KPFK #14: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #14: Second Hour

Playlist: 09-05-2010

{opening theme} Booker T. & the MGs – Melting Pot – 7” (Stax)

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The Minutemen – This Ain’t No Picnic – Double Nickels On The Dime (SST)
Daddy Cleanhead & the Chuck Higgins Band – Something’s Going On In My Room – Lost & Found (BBE)
Fabienne Del Sol – Ce Jour La – On My Mind (Damaged Goods)
Terry Stafford – Try My World Little Girl – Dr. Goldfoot & the Girl Bombs: Original Soundtrack (Tower)
The Pepper Pots – Young Girl – Now! (Black Pepper)

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Aloe Blacc – Life So Hard – Good Things (Stones Throw)
Franciene Thomas – Too Beautiful To Be Good – 7” (Tragar)
Chicano Batman – Itotiani – Chicano Batman (Unicornio)
Marianne Faithful – If I Never Get To Love You – Marianne Faithful (London)
The Clientele – Tonight – Bonfires On The Heath (Merge)

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Bertrand Belin – Y’en A-t-il – Hyper Nuit (Cinq7/Wagram)
Belle & Sebastian – Stars Of Track & Field – BBC Sessions (Matador)
Flamin’ Groovies – I Saw Her – Shake Some Action (Sire)
Uppers International – Neriba Lanchina – Afro-Beat Airways (Analog Africa)
Cut Chemist – Addis to Adidas – Sound Of The Police (A stable Sound/Soul Kitchen)
Joao Donato – Lunar Tune – A Bad Donato (Blue Thumb)

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Interview with the Gories
The Gories – Nitroglycerine – I Know You Fine, But How You Doin’ (Crypt)
Interview with the Gories

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The Gories – Thunderbird ESQ – I Know You Fine, But How You Doin’ (Crypt)
The Black Angels – Bad Vibrations – Phospene Dream (Blue Horizon)
Beak – Backwell – Beak> (Invada)
Pollyn feat. Freddie Gibbs – Falling Out Of Place – Shake Out The Other Way EP (Self-Released)
Dungen – Brallor – Skit I Allt (Mexican Summer)

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{closing theme} Dungen – C. Visar Vagen – Tio Batar (Kemado)

Posted on Ephemera

Giveaway: The Gories @ the Echo September 8th!!!

{Congrats to ticket winners Roger P. and Eric L. who get to see the Legendary Gories!!!}

One of the single most influential garage bands of all time, Detroit’s legendary The Gories have reunited and are playing a couple of shows here in Los Angeles, tonight Sept. 5th at Spaceland and Sept. 8 at the Echo. I have one pair of tickets for some lucky bastard out there (though I will be giving away more pairs on the radio show later today), let me know how bad you want to see the Gories at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com

In case you needed an introduction or a reminder, here’s a classic…

Here they are reunited from July 2010:

Posted on Ephemera

What Does It All Mean? Sylvia Striplin – You Can’t Turn Me Away

I’ve been thinking about this track a lot since finally tracking down the original 12″ during my recent Birthday binge. Rhythmically it’s one of my favorite all time songs, even before Biggie and them sampled it for “Get Money,” and stands directly next to “Daylight” at the top of Roy Ayer’s productions. Striplin’s vocals, slink and slide all over that rhythm, making this song one of the most enduringly enjoyable listens I’ve ever had.

By sheer coincidence I was listening to this in the car on my way to Amoeba Hollywood and by the buyers counter they had the DVD of Obsessed. As I was watching Stringer Bell from the Wire trying to convince the girl from Heroes that nothing was really going on between them, I started thinking about this song and now I honestly can’t decide if this is a situation where this woman is pleading with a man to recognize that her love is what is real and what is best for him or if this woman is seriously stalking this man, fatal attraction style?

One their face, I don’t think the lyrics really help to answer that question, instead it’s something about the way Striplin sings, (especially in the second half when she’s seems to be everywhere thanks to overdubs) which seems to sound a bit dangerous, slightly unhinged and borderline unstable. Instead of this plea for this man to respect her love, some parts of the song almost sound like a threat.

Don’t Try, Don’t Try,
To turn me away,
‘Cause you can’t!

It’s like this woman is the one who really gets to decide when the relationship is over, no matter what her lover thinks. Maybe not, but now it’s stuck in my head…what do you think?

Sylvia Striplin – You Can’t Turn Me Away

Sylvia Striplin – You Can’t Turn Me Away – from a 12” on the Uno Melodic label (1980)

(Chorus)
You Can’t Turn Me Away
You better believe in your heart I always want to stay

Don’t try to turn me off
When you think you found somebody new, No No Noooo
Don’t Try (3x) to Put me Down
Just because she came around, and I said that you can’t

Chorus (2x)

You know in your heart I’m the best for you
So don’t try (3x), to turn me away
Don’t try to put me down
Just because she came around
Don’t Try (2x) to turn me away, ‘cause you can’t

Chorus (2x)

You know in your heart I’m the best for you
Don’t Try (3x) to put me Down
Don’t think that you can put me down, oh no
Just because she came around and you can’t

Chorus (2x)

I Need Your Lovin’ I’ll Never Give In (Baby You Got It)
I Need Your Lovin’ I’ll Never Give In (Baby I Need It) + (Chorus & Vocalizing) (at least 7X)

Posted on Dig Deep

Dig Deep: Joe Henderson – Multiple – Milestone (1973)

Joe Henderson – Tress-Cun-Deo-La
Joe Henderson – Bawaata
Joe Henderson – Turned Around

Super super busy this week with classes beginning again over at CSU-Long Beach, so just very quickly let me say that this record remains my favorite of Joe Henderson’s extremely solid 1970s output (a close second though would be The Elements, also from 1973 and with guest work from Alice Coltrane and Charlie Haden). A major reason for that is the track that leads it off, “Tress-Cun-Deo-La,” which is not only one of my favorite Joe Henderson tracks from this period, but one of my favorite Jazz Funk tracks of all time, especially in the early going as the rhythm settles and a soul clap comes out of nowhere, before things get a little spacey. On “Tress” Joe Henderson is almost a one-man band, overdubbing his vocals (in Portuguese?), sax and flute together with a super tight rhythm section consisting of Jack DeJohnette and Dave Holland plus guitar work from James “Blood” Ulmer. “Bwaata” has a very “Bitches Brew” fusion funk feel to it whereas “Turned Around” is pretty much just straight funky. Seriously deep, through and through.

Cheers,

Michael

Posted on Ephemera

Giveaway: Stereo Total @ The Echoplex September 3rd

{Congrats to all the winners, Nicole K., Becki P., Lizette G. and Sergio E.!!!}

French/German art rockers Stereo Total will be performing at the Echoplex this Friday along with Oaktown’s the Hawnay Troof and the seriously buzzworthy Kisses  from here in Los Angeles.  If you want a pair of tickets to go see these bands, just drop me a line at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com before 12noon on Thursday, September 2nd!

Stereo Total – I Wanna Be A Mama

Hawnay Troof – Front My Hope

Kisses – Bermuda

Posted on Radio

Be Our Guest: Clifton aka Soft Touch on KPFK’s Melting Pot

Clifton James Weaver III is one of the hardest working DJs in LA, spinning at some of Los Angeles’ best underground spots, including the Legendary Deep Funk weekly Funky Sole, 60s mod+indie/brit pop haven  Club Underground, LoveLife! at the Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown and just about everywhere else he can throw down some wax with his trademark style.  This past Sunday Clifton came in to Melting Pot to do a guest DJ set during our end of the month all vinyl show and gave us 35+ minutes of nitty gritty from his 45 collection.

Guest DJ Set from Clifton James Weaver III aka Soft Touch on KPFK’s Melting Pot

Selections:

The Rolling Stones – 2,000 Light Years From Home
Noonday Underground – When You Leave
Belle & Sebastian – Legal Man
Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & Trinity – Black Cat
Rhinoceros – Apricot Brandy
Wendy & Bonnie – It’s What’s Really Happening
Six Feet Under – She’s Not There
Lou Rawls – Season Of The Witch
The Telescopes – Celeste
The Samurai – Fresh Hot Breeze Of Summer
Lena Rios – Eu Sou Eu, Nicuri E O Diabo
Tony Morgan & Muscle Power – Racial Segregation

Posted on Radio

Breakdown: August 29th on KPFK’s Melting Pot

Sunday’s show was our second end of the month freeform 100% all vinyl show. Several of the records I featured were things that I picked up during a birthday inspired records binge, in addition to newish wax from Cut Chemist, Best Coast, Brilliant Colors and Chicano Batman. At the top of the second hour we have a guest DJ set from Clifton James Weaver III aka Soft Touch who is a resident DJ at many different nights all over LA, including Underground, LoveLife! and the legendary Funky Sole. Full playlist will be up tomorrow…

Melting Pot on KPFK #13: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #13: Second Hour

Playlist: 08-29-2010

{opening theme} Boris Gardiner – Melting Pot – Is What’s Happening (Dynamic)

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Phil Ochs – The War Is Over – Chords Of Fame (A&M)
Mel Brown – Swamp Fever – The Wizard (Impulse!)
Freddie King – Going Down – Getting Ready (Shelter)
Booker T. & The MGs – Chicken Pox – Melting Pot (Stax)
Humble Pie – Groovin’ With Jesus – Thunderbox (A&M)

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The Jackson 5 – Medley: Walk On/The Love You Save – Goin’ Back To Indiana: Original Soundtrack (Motown)
Yachts – Love You, Love You – 7” (Radarscope)
Brilliant Colors – Never Mine – 7” (Slumberland)
Tiger Trap – Treasure – Sour Grass EP (K)
Mike Curb – Teenage Rebellion – Teenage Rebellion: Original Soundtrack (Sidewalk)
Yuzo Kayama – Violet Sky – All About Yuzo Kayama (Toshiba)
The Gories – Casting My Spell – 7” (Get Hip)
The Naked Angels – Vegas Pickup – Naked Angels: Original Soundtrack (Straight)

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Chicano Batman – Sonhatl – Chicano Batman (Unicornio)
Zoo – If You Lose Your Woman – Zoo (Mercury)
Albert Ayler – Free At Last – New Grass (Impulse!)
The Corporation – India – The Corporation (Capitol)

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Guest DJ Set from Clifton aka Soft Touch

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Cut Chemist – Westside (excerpt) – Sound Of The Police (A Stable Sound/Soul Kitchen)
Best Coast – Each & Everyday – Crazy For You (Mexican Summer)
The Flying Burrito Bros. – Hot Burrito #1 – The Flying Burrito Bros. (A&M)
Louis Armstrong – St. James Infirmary – Louis Armstrong & Earl Hines (Columbia)

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{closing theme} Kenny Baker – Mississippi Waltz – Plays Bill Monroe (County)

Posted on Ephemera

In Heavy Rotation: The Budos Band – III – Daptone Records

Budos Band – Raja Haje

This week is the first of the semester at CSU-Long Beach where I teach classes, so expect the posts this week to fairly brief in length, at least until Friday…The Budos Band’s new record makes some very subtle changes to their formula. Still all instrumental, still very funky, but there’s a slight broadening of the sound, with less of a focus on the more up-front African elements of prior records, looking even further East for inspiration on “III.”

Posted on Radio

Breakdown: August 27th on KPFK’s Global Village

Had the pleasure of filling in for Sergio Mielniczenko on Friday’s Global Village at KPFK. Our tastes are very similar so I figured it would be a smooth transition and give me a chance to play a couple of newer things with the all vinyl edition of Melting Pot coming up this Sunday (with a guest set from Clifton James Weaver III aka Soft Touch of Funky Sole, Underground, Sonic and others!). Also got a chance to chill with Shawn Lee and chat about his latest projects and music in general. The interview begins just about at the top of the second hour. Mr. Lee is a real cool cat, well versed musically and has a great approach to making music, which we discuss during the interview. Enjoy!

KPFK’s Global Village 08-27-2010: 1st Hour
KPFK’s Global Village 08-27-2010: 2nd Hour

Playlist: 08-27-2010

{opening theme} Quantic & his Combo Barbaro – The Dreaming Mind pt.2 – Tradition In Transition (Tru Thoughts)

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Tita Lima – Mundo Pequeno – Possibilidades (Label A)
Pacifika – Chocolate – Super Magique (Six Degrees)
Malombo – Sangoma – Next Stop Soweto Vol. 3 (Strut)
Tim Maia – Bom Senso – Racional Vol. 1 (Seroma)
El Chicano – Viva Tirado – Viva Tirado (Kapp)

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Lloyd Miller & the Heliocentrics – Rain Dance – Lloyd Miller & the Heliocentrics (Strut)
Thiever Corporation – Satyam Shivam Sundaram – It Takes A Thief (ESL)
Aloe Blacc – Miss Fortune – Good Things (Stones Throw)
Quantic & his Flowering Inferno – Cumbia Sobre El Mar – Dog With A Rope (Tru Thoughts)
El Michels Affair – Hung Up On My Baby – Babylon Central: Original Soundtrack (ESL)

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Seu Jorge & Almaz – Pai Joao – Seu Jorge & Almaz (Now-again)
Charades – Aguaceros – Revolucion Solar (Bcore)
Betty & the Werewolves – Tu Veux Jouer – Teatime Favourites (Damaged Goods)
Gal Costa – Sebastiana – Gal Costa (1969) (Phillips)
Ihre Kinder – Komm Zu Dir – Cloud Cuckooland (Finders Keepers)
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Flowers – Heritage EP (Choice Cuts)

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Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra – Punjabi Lullaby – Miles Of Styles (Ubiquity)
Shawn Lee – Who Are You? – Sing A Song (Ubiquity)
Shawn Lee feat. Bei Bei and Georgia Anne Muldrow – Willingness – Into The Wind (Ubiquity)
Live Interview with Shawn Lee

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Shawn Lee & Bei Bei – Hot Thursday – Into The Wind (Ubiquity)
Cut Chemist – Eastside (excerpt) – Sound Of The Police (A Stable Sound/Soul Kitchen)
Fela Kuti – Authority Stealing – Authority Stealing (Kalakuta)

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Bertrand Belin – Nord De Tout – Hyper Nuit (Cinq7/Wagram)
Sun Kil Moon – Church of Pines – Admiral Fell Promises (Caldo Verde)

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{closing theme} Baden Powell – Canto De Xango – Tristeza En Guitar (MPS)

Posted on Dig Deep

Dig Deep: Latimore – More More More Latimore – Glades (1974)

Latimore – Let’s Straighten It Out
Latimore – Put Pride Aside
Latimore – Ain’t Nobody Gonna Make Me Change My Mind

Recently picked this up at the West Side records show, during a two-week birthday inspired records binge. Originally I heard this record as part of the original Barnes family record collection. It’s hard to determine if my Mom or my Dad picked this one up, both of them were fans of deep soul and down home blues and this 1974 record straddles the line between both worlds. Me, I was never really fond of “down home blues,” but I love super deep soul and Benny Latimore delivers on this record on that front big time.

“Let’s Straighten It Out” is one of my all-time favorite deep soul slow jams. First off, there’s the sound, smoky and spacious yet strangely minimal at the same time with those sparkling organ lines Latimore lays down and that extra crispy high-hat from the drummer Robert Furgeson. The instrumental intro goes on for so long you’d think the musicians got so locked into the groove they forgot it was supposed to be just an introduction to the vocals.

Eventually the vocals do come, with that iconic opening line, “Sit yourself down girl and talk to me,” and the repeated calls of “Let’s Straighten It Out.” From Straight butta to melted butta in your ears. Latimore’s voice is sorta like a more countrified version of Isaac Hayes, heavy in tone and drenched in soul. I especially love how he’s able to shift emotions slightly throughout the song, sometimes from word to word in his phrasing, sounding frustrated, confused, concerned, sympathetic, playful and even suggestive throughout.

“Ain’t Nobody Gonna Make Me Change My Mind” works almost as a follow up to “Straighten It Out” similar vibe, slightly different message, but so damn smooth. My other fave from this record “Put Pride Aside” rounds out the trilogy of lovin’ with some additional words of wisdom from our man Benny Latimore. It’s no surprise after a single listen that “Let’s Straighten It Out” was a hit when originally released, #1 on the R&B charts, and even charting well on the more “mainstream” Billboard chart too. That might explain why, even though I see this record fairly often, I rarely come across a copy that’s in very good condition. Sometimes that’s just the mark of a popular record, other times it’s the mark of a classic and this one is a classic through and through.

Cheers,

Michael

Posted on Ephemera

In Heavy Rotation: Cut Chemist – Sound Of The Police – A Stable Sound/Soul Kitchen

Cut Chemist – Sound of the Police: Eastside (Excerpt)

Is there any doubt that Cut Chemist is one of the most innovative and interesting turntablists working today? If there was, his new mix “Sound Of the Police” should clear things up considerably. This mix was originally put together for an opening stint on the bill for Mulatu Astatke’s concert at last year’s Timeless Composer Series (which has been documented beautifully by the folks at Mochilla). If it were just a mix of super rare African and African diasporic music from around the globe, that by itself would warrant it being one of the best mixes of the year, but what makes this one truly unique is the manner in which Cut Chemist put it together. One turntable, one mixer and a loop pedal. It’s something that needs to be seen live (I was lucky enough to see a similarly styled set at Funky Sole a couple months ago) to fully grasp how much skill is required to pull off a mix like this, but thankfully what remains most important is the music and that is also the number one reason you should pick up this stellar release.