RarePhillySax

I have wanted to present this album since I started to operate my blog. As I remember it was about in 1996 when I found this album in Athens on Ipokratous Street. I noticed immediately that producers on the album were James Mtume and Reggie Lucas . I said : " Oh my god ! ". I had already another album entitled " Love affair " by Gary Bartz which was released in 1978 on Capitol Records. I was very curious to go to my home, so as to hear this album. I could not hear it in the shop. Two hours later I said : " This album is not only one of the best soul/jazz/funk albums but also the best album !!! ". I was really amazed. What can I say about Gary Bartz ? I need many days to describe everything about him. I have recently read an article describing Gary Bartz when someone saw him in a club in Baltimore. He said that " Gary Bartz play two solos on every song, one at the begining and one at the end ". Gary Bartz is an alto and soprano saxophonist...

Big George Collier is an unknown singer with a great voice. He was lead singer of the group called Columbians , from Columbia, South Carolina in the late 60s. The most known song from the group was entitled " Forever More " in 1968. The short-lived group (1966-1969) consisted of 10 members. After the Columbians , he worked as an actor and as a "hired voice". He has performed in films including “ The Ride ” and several others. He also appeared as Ludacris’ father in one of his music videos and participated in numerous local and national radio and TV commercials. He did appearances in various night clubs, hotels and festivals with his band. One of them was the club " Scarlett O'Hara " in which he appeared in the mid 70s. He sings at church, he has appeared with the Savannah Symphony and did guest appearances around GA, NC and SC. In 1984 he released a single entitled " Free at last " on Imagery Records. '' Free At Last '...

Last year many people learnt about the great singer Sir James Randolph. Almost all the people are looking for his album which was released in 1981. I had the pleasure to present this album on my blog . However some real collectors know and the singer Jimmy Randolph who became known from the late 50s to mid 70s. Recently I bought the record " You have to lose love " by Jimmy Randolph which was released on Honey Bee Records in 1978. I want to mention that I heard this song for the first time by  Paul Collins Radio Show some years ago. In fact when I learnt about Jimmy Randolph, I did not know anything about Sir James Randolph. When I bought the album " The Sophisticated Funk Of Sir James Randolph " in 2009 by Sir James Randolph, immediatelly I started to looking everywhere about Sir James Randolph and Jimmy Randolph, so as to get more info about them. I understood that he was the same artist but I needed confirmation. I managed to come in conta...

Montage was an obscure jazz group from Wisconsin which was formed about in 1975. The group started to play at the local jazz nightclubs. In 1977 they had a prestigious collaboration with The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra . They played in  Jimmy Sardino's jazz club in the late 1977. It was then that they decided to record an album. For this reason, they came in contact with David Dillon who was a local investor, so as to back them financially. David Dillon wanted to help the group release an album but he also wanted to promote the group through jazz festivals. To prepare for the forthcoming album and tour, Montage strengthened with the guitarist John Zaffiro . Zafiro was an excellent addition. He played more into straight ahead jazz than jazz-rock. He joins keyboard player Tom Sandquist , sax player Bob Rebholz , drummer Paul Reedman , percussionist John   Seydewitz, bassist Tom McGurr and vocalist  Marcia Cunningham.   The album is already...

All people know this singer mainly from the album " Shining Star ". Ira Watson is a great talented musician and a multi-instrument player. How many people know that Ira Watson appeared in the mid 70s as bassist when he played for the group called Skip Mahoaney and the Casuals? In 1974 Ira Watson participated on the album " Your funny moods " which was released on DC International Records. He also co-wrote a song " I'm looking away from my past ". Two years later Ira also participated as a bassist on their second album entitled " Land of love " which was released on Abet Records. At that time Ira Watson also played bass for the group called Exceptions from Washington. Member of this group was Mark Greene who previously was original member of the group The Moments . Exceptions recorded an album but unfortunately it was never released. In 2007 Mark Greene released these songs on CD as " The Moments Featuring Mark Greene ...

Albert "Duke" Jones  was born in 1952. Trumpeter Albert Jones is known to all friends as " Duke ". He began playing trumpet at the age of nine. In elementary school and through White Plains High School, " Duke " played and formed a band. In the beginning Duke Jones and Porter Carroll formed a band called " Newban " and they released two albums on Guiness Records. Later they changed their name to Atlantic Star . I want to mention for the history that founding members of the Newban and later Atlantic Star were only Duke Jones and Porter Carroll. Allthough he was a founding member of the famous group Atlantic Star he went to a solo career. He joined to The Starship Orchestra . In 1979 he played for Norman Connors on the album " Invitation " on Arista Records. He also played on the self-titled disco funky album by Fingers. In fact Fingers ( Chris Adams and Michael Ford)  released an album on RCA Records in 1979. It was recorded ...

Randy Cone is lesser known but very good singer and songwriter. His real name is Acey 'McCone . He has written many songs. One of them was entitled " Honey I don't mind " which was released by John Byrd on 20th Century Records in 1974. In 1975 he wrote a song for the singer Buddy Causey. Causey released a single on Capitol Records. This 45 includes the great song " There's A Way ". The other song " I'll Lean On You " was written by Randy Cone.  In 1976, John Edwards recorded again the song " Honey I don't mind " which was previously recorded by John Byrd. The song was included on his album " Life, Love And Living ". John Edwards then joined The Spinners. In 1976 Randy Cone wrote one more song for the Canadian singer Norris Vines and his band The Luvlines . Norris Vines released a single " Give In / Feel The Warm " on Smile Records which is sought after between the collectors. Acey McCone wrote th...

Charles Anthony Stewart is an obscure artist who released a single " Bingo / Stepping out " on his own label called Charles Anthony . Probably it was released in 1984 because the vinyl doesn't mention anything about the year of release. FAQS mentions that date of creation is 1984. " Stepping out " is a fantastic song which was written by himself. Produced by Jim Schrader and James Hargrove. Note: The above posted single is not played in full

J.J.Nichols is an unknown singer who released the single " Dancin lady " in the mid 70s on NAMI (North American Music Industries). This label from New York was owned and organized by Lou Guarino in 1972 with the purpose of acquiring the EMI/Capitol Records. Lou Guarino became known the years 1959 through 1962, when he and Lenny Martins were responsible for producing and marketing many of the groups from the Pittsburgh area. Lou Guarino Lou Guarino wrote this song along with Phil Lipati. Lou Guarino was also producer and co-arranger. Lou Hemsey was co-arranger as well. Lou Hemsey Lou Hemsey is a composer, orchestrator, mastering engineer, editor, screenwriter, film director and producer. I came in contact with Lou Hemsey but he doesn't know anything about J.J.Nichols. He told me that he was the sole arranger but Lou Guarino put his name down after discussion. Lou Hemsey loved working with Lou Guarino. Note: The above posted single is not played in full # ...

I had the pleasure to present Freddie Gorman and this fantastic song four months ago . As I remember when I heard the song " Love has seen us through " on the forum " soul-source " some years ago, I said oh my god and I started listening to it non stop. I tried to find the long version of  " Love has seen us through ". Finally I managed to find it. It was released only by Rene Records in 1980. It was also included on the EP on Airwave Records which was released by Freddie Gorman under the name Freddie Gee. There is a strange thing. Some guys pay $300 to buy this EP. Unbelievable !!! They don't know the real name of the artist. They think that he is an unknown artist. Sample (Long version) Note: The above posted single is not played in full

Nora Bernstein is an unknown singer from New York who appeared in the early 80s when she released two singles on The New York Music Company. The first single is entitled " November / Mister " and the second is entitled " Matter of time / Bound to love " which were released in 1983. " Mister " is a great song with nice arrangement and fantastic vocals. It was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, New York City. Composed by Nora Bernstein and Marsha Bernstein Lee In the single " November / Mister " great musicians appear such as Horace Ott on piano, Bernard Purdie on drums, Hiram Bullock on guitar and Wilbur Bascomb on bass. Also Jack Cavani on guitar. Background vocals by Maretha Stewart, Ullanda McCullough, Barbara Massey and Terry Textor. Produced and arranged by Horace Ott. Enjoy " Mister " !!! One year later Nora released an album on the same label entitled " Foreign legions ...

Ace Spectrum were formed in the early 70s by Elliot Isaac and Ed "Easy" Zant . The two other members of the group were Aubrey Johnson and Rudy Gay . They started to record at RCA Studios in New York, on August 23. Between 1974 and 1976 the group released three (3) albums entitled " Inner Spectrum " in 1974, " Low Rent Rendezvous " in 1975 and " Just Like In The Movies " in 1976 respectively. The last album " Just Like In The Movies " was recorded at Atlantic & Media Sound Studios, New York in 1976. The members were  Elliot Isaac  and  Ed "Easy" Zant. The two new members were Lawrence "Dee" Coley and Frederick "G" Duff . The musicians were Jerry Friedman, Jeff Mironov and Jesse Cox on guitars, Derek Smith and George Butcher on keyboards, Dwight Brewster on synthesizers, Bob Babbitt on bass, Jimmy Young and Herb Lavell on drums, Carlos Martin on congas and Phil Kraus, Ted Sommers on percussion. ...