Jimmy Jules - The New Year

This 7 inch is very expensive. Two months ago on eBay, it was sold for 300$. Jimmy Jules released a single entitled "The New Year / It's Impossible" on his own label called Jim Gem Records. Both of these songs were included on the album entitled “Xmas done got funky”. Arranged and produced by himself. His real name is Charley C. Julien.

Note: The above posted single is not played in full

Holidays...

I will be off for about 3 days. I’ll get back for more soul music.

The New York Community Choir - Help 1981

The New York Community Choir is one of the most famous groups of gospel. They recorded many albums since 1970. This album was recorded on Myrrh Records in 1981 entitled "The Gathering". I have chosen the wonderful track entitled "Help". Lead vocals by Clyde Gamble. Written by Benny Diggs and Joseph Joubert. Produced by Benny Diggs.

Note: The above posted single is not played in full

Merry Christmas

The Whispers - Funky Christmas 1979

One of R&B music's most beloved and consistently popular vocal groups. The Whispers recorded two Christmas albums. The first on Solar Records in 1979 entitled "Happy holidays to you" and the second on Capitol Records in 1994 entitled "Christmas Moments". From the first christmas Lp I have chosen the track "Funky Christmas". Co-written by Nicholas Caldwell. Produced by Whispers. In 2008 released DVD entitled "Christmas with the Whispers".



Note: The above posted track is not played in full

Rosie Haynes - He can't fail 1978

An unusual/obscure gospel album, because she sings and plays the sax as well. Rosie Haynes recorded two albums on Sound of Gospel Records in 1975 and 1978. In this 1978 album Dennis Coffey helped on the arrangements together with Marian Lampkin. Produced by Bernie Mendelson and Marian Lampkin. You can enjoy Rosie Haynes. I have chosen two tracks entitled "He can't fail" & "Pay day".

Note: The above posted singles are not played in full

Lonnie Hill - Cold winter in the ghetto 1984

Lonnie Hill born in Tyler TX, proceeded his move into the Gospel world. After advancing in this escapade, he met and performed with a multitude of famous artists such as the renowned Gospel Keynotes. He also shared the stage with other well-known artists such as James Cleveland, the famous Staple Singers, The Mighty Clouds of Joy and the multi-talented Stevie Wonder. Lonnie's talents never seemed to end, especially in the music industry were he has also performed with the fabulous Mr. Edward Hawkins and the talented Isaac Hayes. Later in his music career, Lonnie decided that he wanted to explore more than the Gospel industry.

As he made the transition from Gospel to Rhythm and Blues, Lonnie released his first album entitled "You got Me Running" with his hit singles "Galveston Bay" and "Could It Be Love". His singles were at the top of the charts for 6 weeks in England. This christmas song was originally released in 1984. However, I have the 2002 version as released on Expansion Records.

Note: The above posted single is not played in full

Luther Vandross - I listen to the bells 1995

This stellar 1995 Christmas album is not your typical release of holiday standards. In fact, Luther helped pen most of the songs on this album. He had also recorded 2 great Christmas songs as LUTHER back in 1976 on Cotillion Records and were included on the compilation LP "Funky Christmas". From the in 1995 CD , I choose the duet "I listen to the bells" with Darlene Love.

The Stylistics - When You've Got Love, It's Christmas All Year Long 1992

This track is for the fans of Stylistics and Christmas music lovers. Released in 1992. Co-written and produced by Jeff Tyzik.

Rev T.L. Barrett - Lord's Prayer 1979

Pastor, musician, and motivational speaker the Reverend Thomas Lee (T. L.) Barrett was born January 13, 1944, in Jamaica, Long Island, New York. His father, from the Mississippi Delta, was a part-time gospel performer with the Southern Wonders. At the age of nine, Barrett's family moved to Chicago, Illinois, and Barrett continued to struggle in school. When his father passed away while Barrett was still a teen, he returned to New York and found work in a hospital removing brains from cadavers at the age of sixteen.

By that year, Barrett's musical talents were being noticed, especially his ability on the piano. He began performing at the Waldorf Astoria and the New York City Village Gate, as well as in several church choirs. He gave up his job in the hospital, and in addition to his music, he was working as an executive shoeshine man. Feeling the call to the ministry, Barrett attended Bethel Bible College and passed the New York State Board of Regents ministerial exam. After marrying a young woman from New York, Barrett returned to Chicago in 1967. The following year, he was named the pastor of Life Center Church of God in Christ, and in 1968 he began purchasing airtime on local radio stations to spread his ministry. By 1973, he was a regular on WBMX, and he remained on-air there until switching to WJPC in 1980.
He has also recorded five albums and several sessions of taped sermons. The most known album is entitled “Do not pass me by” on Gospel Roots in 1976. TL Barrett sings with the Youth for Christ Choir.
Also he recorded two tracks entitled “Lord’s prayer” and “Said it long time ago” on Gospel Roots in 1979. Distributed by T.K.Productions. Produced by Roger Phillips.





Note: The above posted single is not played in full

HOLIDAYS UPDATE

From this day forward until the end of the year, I'm going to post several Gospel and Christmas tunes.

Dr James Polk

Dr James Polk on piano with Ray Charles



Dr. James Polk was born into a musical family and grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. He excelled in all music classes in elementary, junior and senior high school. James moved to Austin, Texas to attend Huston-Tillotson College where he graduated in 1962 with a B.A. Degree in music education. He taught band in Elgin, Texas and later moved to Massachusetts to work at the Rodman Job Corp as entertainment director. He returned to Austin to work for IBM as a Buyer in Production Purchasing where he stayed for ten years. He left IBM to join the Ray Charles Orchestra in 1978 as organist, pianist and later writer, arranger and conductor. James moved back to Austin in 1988 after living in Los Angeles for ten years. He went back to college and received his Master of Music Degree at Southwest Texas State University ’91. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Huston-Tillotson College ‘95. He retired from teaching in 2006 and he received his Professor Emeritus status of Jazz Studies in the School of Music at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.
Dr. James Polk arranged two songs for Ray Charles that were nominated for Grammy Awards (Ain't It So - 1979, and I Wish You Were Here Tonight - 1983). He also arranged the Ray Charles Christmas CD

Discography:
Just Plain Funk (Single) 1969
Power Struggle (Single) 1969
Ain't It So (LP) 1979
I Wish You Were Here Tonight (LP) 1983
You Know The Feeling (LP) 1984
Jamad (LP) 1992
May I Come In (LP) 1998
When Evening Comes (LP) 2001
Go With The Flow (LP) 2007

Dr. James Polk is in the studio working on another wonderful cd project hopefully completed by the end of December 2008

I was the bidding winner on October 27. I bought this album for 100$. In my opinion is one of the best jazz/funk albums. The sound quality is amazing. All the tracks were written by James Polk. I chose three tracks from this Lp.

James Polk & Co - Rini (sample)



James Polk & Co - Subtle feeling (sample)



James Polk & Co - You are the best (sample)



Note: The above posted singles are not played in full

Moments- Baby let's rap now 1980

The Moments are Harry Ray from Long Branch, New Jersey (joined in 1970, replacing John Moore, who had replaced John Morgan), Al Goodman was born in Mississippi, and Billy Brown from Atlanta, Georgia. In 1968 Al and Billy replaced two of the original three members Mark Greene and Richie Horsley. But after a decade with Joe and Sylvia Robinson’s Stang/All Platinum label, The Moments had to move on. We had different ideas from them (Joe and Sylvia Robinson) and we felt had gone as far as we could in the business together. The group admitted it never wanted to change its name. But, as Goodman explained, “the company owned (The Moments), so we just settled for something new. Why Ray Goodman & Brown ? Well, we deliberately didn’t want a groupified kind of name. And because no one can take our real names away from us."

The Moments recorded this single on Sugar Hill Records in 1980. At that time they were recording also as Ray Goodman & Brown. This single isn't the last one as Moments with members of Harry Ray, Al Goodman and Billy Brown. Composed by T.Keith & Moe Moore. Produced by T.Keith & J.Chase. Tommy Keith was lead member of First Class. In fact the last one is entitled "Record Breaking Love Affair" in 1981 on the same label.

In a recent court case, for copyright infringement. A Federal judge has ruled "BABY LET'S RAP NOW" be credited Mark Roberts, Tommy Keith, Moe Moore. This information can be verified at BMI.com or with the United States District Court, S.D. New York.

Thank you very much Mark Roberts for your info.

Note: The above posted single is not played in full

Hilary

Born in Glens Falls, N.Y. in 1951, Hilary didn’t begin to study music in earnest until she was 19, but once she got started she didn’t waste any time. She studied at Boston’s Berklee School of music, at New York University and in Brooklyn with tenor saxophonist Bill Barron. She acquired a wide range of playing experience, working with (among others) an all-woman rock band, a Calypso group, a variety of Latin and Brazilian bands, and a ten-piece woodwind ensemble led by the great saxophonist-composer Sam Rivers. In 1978, George Butler, a man known as a perceptive judge of young talent, signed her to Columbia. For her debut album, Hilary flew out to Los Angeles, where she surrounded herself with the cream of that city’s session musicians and enlisted the services of the very hot Wayne Henderson as producer.



The mood on Just Before After Hours is decidedly funky in the best sense of that rather overused word. Hilary writes and plays in a very danceable groove because that’s the way she feels it. “I listen to, and have learned from, all kinds of music: jazz, classical, Latin, Brazilian, R&B and funk,” Hilary says. “I think however, that my first and probably most enduring inspiration comes from the giants of mainstream jazz. I could never grow tired of listening to Coltrane, Miles, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and all of the acknowledged masters. I think that my own music is a reflection of the many, varied present-day influences I have been subjected to but the heart and soul of the music that I feel is, I hope, to be found in the same source from which other jazz artists have found their inspiration.”
It’s not a coincidence that what Hilary feels and what’s happening now are one and the same, just as it’s not a coincidence that the good-looking woman on the cover of this record and the impressive musician on the record are one and the same. It just so happens that one of the things that’s happening now is Hilary herself.
Strings arranged by George del Barrio
Vocals arranged by Augie Johnson
Produced by Wayne Henderson

Note: Biography by Peter Keepnews

The above posted track is not played in full

George Frye - Keep-on Keeping-on 1981

This mega rare album recorded at Worldwide Audio Long Beach, California. Most of the musicians are unknown.

Drums: Danny Woolfolk, Dan Renoux
Bass: Mike Wiggins, Eric Ward
Keyboards: Joel Gains, Tony Tanner, Ed Tet
Synthesizers: John Crowe
Guitars: Joe Clark, John Vestman, Michael Da’Loua
String: Arranged and performed by John Vestman
Background vocals: Caroline Brookins, Candy Hardaway, Crystal Blake, Chris Wright, Jerry “Jericho” Jackson, John Vestman
Horns & Wood Winds: Richard Howell, Kenny Scott, Brian Duran
Inspirational Leader: Tommy L.Ray – Frye Family
Produced by John Vestman and Chris Wright



This album is dedicated to George Frye’s parents

From this album I chose two tracks entitled "Keep-on Keeping-on" and "You're the one". I want to mention that "You're the one" version from album is a bit different of the other version of single.

Note: The above posted tracks are not played in full

The Bay Brothers - Baby don't give up 1980

The Bay Brothers was an obscure, little-known blue-eyed soul group. They recorded some tracks on Millennium Records in 1980-81. In 1980 they recorded two tracks "Baby don't give up" and "Magic in her love". In 1981 they recorded the famous track entitled "What does it take (to win your love)". Many other Artists or Groups have recorded this track. Also they recorded single entitled "Love never comes easy". From 7 inch in 1980 I chose killer track entitled "Baby don't give up". Produced by Lou Hokenson & Ernie Sorrentino.



Note: The above posted single is not played in full

George "Kat" Katsakis

George Katsakis, aka: "Kat" was an original founding member of the Royaltones. The Royaltones had three instrumental hits on the top 100 charts around the world. "Poorboy", "Flamingo Express" and "Our Faded Love". All Royaltone recordings featured George on saxophone.



"Our Faded Love" was the first recording that featured George on the clarinet and has been re-recorded for his most recent CD.
Trivia Fact: "Our Faded Love" was the last instrumental featuring a solo clarinet to appear on the Billboard Top 100 charts.

George was the saxophone soloist who performed on all the Carlton recordings by Jack Scott. The Royaltones were also the back up recording band for Del Shannon.

George has appeared on NBC Today, Dick Clark's American Bandstand and Saturday Night Beechnut Show as well as numerous local television and radio shows around the United States.

Nightclub appearances include Caesar's Palace (Las Vegas, NV), Harrah's (Lake Tahoe and Reno, NV), Fountain Bleau Hotel (Miami, FL) and the Latin Quarter in Tokyo, Japan. Appearances in other countries include China, Thailand, Philippines, Okinawa and Taiwan. George has also appeared at the Howard Theater (Washington, D.C.), The Royal Theater (Baltimore, MD), and The Brooklyn Paramount and Apollo Theater in New York.

George has appeared on the same bill with: Redd Foxx, Connie Francis, Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Julius La Rosa, Cozy Cole, Neil Sedaka, Sonny James, Harry James, Sam Butera, Don Cornell, Bobby Rydell, Jack Scott, Jerry Butler, Little Anthony & The Imperials and The Dave Clark 5 and many others.

I chose the instrumental entitled "You'll never find" (originally recorded by Lou Rawls). He told me that this track was recorded about three years ago.

Thank you very much Mr.George.

Mavis Staples - Love gone bad 1983

Born Jul 10, 1939 in Chicago, most of Mavis Staples' career has been as a lead singer for the Staple Singers. According to ROLLING STONE magazine, she was voted as the 56th greatest singer of all time. In 1983 she recorded on Phono Records the single “Love gone bad” produced by Brian Holland and it's not the Chris Clark recording written by Holland-Dozier-Holland. This single was included on her self-titled album in 1984. As a single it reached #75 on Billboard's R&B singles chart in January 1984.
However, the 7" single is a bit different from the LP track. Originally the album released in 1984 as "Love Gone Bad,". The album didn't come out when it was completed, but years later (1995) on HDH Records. The re-release was also renamed to "Mavis Staples". Which one you think is better? Please tell me your opinion.



This is 7 inch


This is Lp track


I would really appreciate your comments

Note: In my opinion this 7 incher should be more expensive on Ebay