Al Greene (Al Green) “Back Up Train”

Al Greene (Al Green)

“Back Up Train”
( LP Hot Line Records, 1967 )
Catalog # HL 1500

Tracklisting:
A1 Back Up Train (2:17)
A2 Hot Wire (2:58)
A3 Stop And Check Myself (1:43)
A4 Let Me Help You (1:45)
A5 I’m Reachin’ Out (2:42)
A6 Don’t Hurt Me No More (2:15)
B1 Don’t Leave Me (2:00)
B2 What’s It All About (2:00)
B3 I’ll Be Good To You (2:07)
B4 Guilty (2:55)
B5 That’s All It Takes (Lady) (2:17)
B6 Get Yourself Together (2:20)

Personnel:
Howard Fritzson – Art Direction
Lynn Goldsmith – Photography
Margery Greenspan – Design
Anthony Heilbut – Liner Notes
Palmer E. James – Producer
Joy Gilbert Monfried – Project Coordinator
Curtis Rodgers – Producer
Leo Sacks – Reissue Producer
Abe Vélez – Packaging Manager
Mark Wilder – Mastering

Review:
Nearly forgotten by all but serious soul fans, Back Up Train is Al Green’s debut. Released in 1967, when he was still billed as “Al Greene” and before he worked with producer Willie Mitchell, the record is a perfectly serviceable slice of slightly sweet period soul — perhaps a little generic, but never less than pleasant. Much of the record was either written or co-written by the album’s producers, Palmer E. James and Curtis Rodgers, who were not just part of Hot Line Records, but in the Creations, Green’s previous backing band. Though they’re fine as producers, they didn’t have strong material as songwriters, never producing something as limber and memorable as Green’s lone songwriting credit, “Stop and Check Myself.” Musically, this number, along with a few other cuts, suggest the tight, sexy sound of his seminal Hi albums, but they’re nowhere near as seductive as those slow grooves, nor are they as effortless. Still, it’s possible to hear their roots throughout the record. Green’s voice, while not as smooth as it would be just a few years later, shows enormous talent, he’s equally comfortable with ballads and funky workouts, and the production, while dated, is quite appealing in how it falls somewhere between the grit of Memphis and the sweetness of Chicago soul. Back Up Train is good enough that if Green hadn’t gone on to greater work, this would be the kind of record soul fanatics would treasure and trade, speculating on what might have happened if Green had been given another shot. Of course, Green went on to bigger, better things, and this stands as no more than a footnote to his career, but it’s an interesting, enjoyable footnote all the same.
By Stephen Thomas Erlewine (AMG)

By Celo

Marvin Holmes & Justice ”Summer Of ‘73” & ”Honor Thy Father”

Marvin Holmes & Justice

”Summer Of ‘73”
( LP Brown Door Records, 1973 )
Catalog # MH 6573

Tracklisting:
A1 Summer Of ’73 (3:27)
A2 Love Don’t Mind (4:16)
A3 Tell The Truth (3:15)
A4 Got To Be There (3:45)
A5 Keep On Keepin’ On (2:40)
B1 Marcel’s Place (3:31)
B2 I Can’t See You (3:06)
B3 All Night Into Day (3:10)
B4 Kimani Mdogo (2:35)
B5 Don’t Worry (2:11)

Notes:
Also reissued on Kon-Kord Records
Format:Vinyl, LP
Country:US
Released:1973

Review:
A killer little indie soul set from singer/guitarist Marvin Holmes — one that’s quite different than his better known work for the Uni label — and done in a great blend of jazz, soul, and funk styles! The album’s got that great genre-crossing sound that was going down heavily in Holmes’ Bay Area scene of the early 70s — a feel that clearly draws heavily on the full spirits of the Justice ensemble, working together a blend of rolling rhythms, soaring horns, and some great rough-edged vocals that almost have a southern funk approach! The jazzier tunes have a warmish groove that almost shows traces of So Cal Latin — especially in the way the rhythms bubble along — and titles include “Marcel’s Place”, “Love Don’t Mind”, “Tell The Truth”, “Got To Be There”, and “Kimani MDogo”. Also includes the nice, nice instrumental, “All Night Into Day”, which has a nice weird sample groove to it!
© 1996-2009, Dusty Groove America, Inc.

”Honor Thy Father”
( LP Brown Door Records, 1975 )
Catalog # MH-6581

Tracklisting:
A1 You Better Keep Her (4:13)
A2 Motherless Child (3:48)
A3 She’s A Dancer (2:59)
A4 Honor Thy Father (3:38)
A5 Find Yourself (3:45)
B1 Take The Time Out (3:17)
B2 Neighbor Neighbor (3:27)
B3 Kwame (3:12)
B4 Gimme Some Tonite (Part I) (4:56)
B5 Gimme Some Tonite (Part II) (2:44)

Notes:
Also reissued on Kon-Kord Records (KON-KORD 6581)
Format:Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Country:US
Released:1975

By Celo & Pier

Joanne (Jo Ann) Garrett ”Just A Taste”

Joanne (Jo Ann) Garrett

”Just A Taste”
( LP Chess Records, 1969 )
Catalog # 1548

Tracklisting:
Unforgettable
Depend on Me
Walk on By
We Can Learn Together
Ain’t No Way
Foolish Me
This Bitter Earth
A Thousand Miles Away
Soul Town
It’s No Secret

Note:
Absolutely classic soul/funk record with the killer version of Walk on By (drums used and abused by DJ Shadow); also It’s No Secret, Soul Town. Produced by Andre Williams

Review:
Chess omitted Garrett’s first two singles but added two excellent replacements: Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way” and Dionne Warwick’s “Walk on By.” Garrett’s pretty soprano soars on the Heartbeats’ “Thousand Miles Away” and is spunky on “Soul Town.” Local hits “It’s No Secret,” “Depend on Me,” and “Unforgettable” are tasteful Chicago soul. An excellent album that’s nearly impossible to find.
By Andrew Hamilton (AMG)

Biography:
As a 15-year-old student at Chicago’s DuSable High School, Joanne Garrett won a recording contract with Chess Records for finishing first in a Regal Theater talent show, no small feat considering Chicago’s vast talent pool. The deal produced “Stay by My Side,” a huge local hit, in 1966.
She followed with Dee Clark’s “You Can’t Come In” (March 1967) and a remake of the Heartbeats’ “Thousand Miles Away” (1968), with the Dells (uncredited) providing backing vocals on the A-sides. Garrett left Chess in 1968 to record for Duo Records and another label. With Andre Williams producing, she cut “That Little Brown Letter” backed with “I’ve Gotta Be Loved” in 1968 on Duo; later in 1968 she cut “One Woman,” arguably her most popular recording. Chess emptied their vaults and released “It’s No Secret” and “Unforgettable” b/w “We Can Learn Together” in 1970, but they were strictly local.
Despite her age, Chi-town producers recorded Garrett in a Dinah Washington-esque vein, but that changed on her sole release for Don Robey’s Duke/Peacock setup in Houston, TX, where she waxed Barbara Hammonds’ “I’m Under Your Control” b/w “Sting Me Baby”; it was her first record in three years, but the 1973 release duplicated her previous paltry sales figures and the Duke stay was brief. A final single, “Don’t Abuse Your Faithful Love” b/w “Charlie Boy (We Got to Love One Another),” credited as The Rock With Joanne Garrett, appeared on Scorpio Records; it flopped, and sadly, after a good start, Garrett rarely saw the inside of a recording studio again. Her flops became popular Northern soul items.
By Andrew Hamilton (AMG)

By Pier

Freddi Henchi & The Soulsetters “Dance”

Freddi Henchi & The Soulsetters

“Dance”
( LP The Records Company, 1972 )
Catalog # 1001

Tracklisting:
A1 – I Want To Dance, Dance Dance (3:45)
Written-By – Larry Wilkens
A2 – Under Pleasure (3:30)
Written-By – Fred Gowdy , Larry Wilkens
A3 – Piranha (2:53)
Written-By – Larry Weiss , Scott English
A4 – The Thrill Is Gone (5:37)
Written-By – B.B. King
A5 – It’s All Downhill (2:49)
Written-By – David Arnold (4)
B1 – Big Mama Jackson (3:24)
Written-By – Fred Gowdy , Larry Wilkens
B2 – Funky To The Bone (3:39)
Written-By – Larry Wilkens
B3 – Fire (2:34)
Written-By – Jimi Hendrix
B4 – I Like Funky Music (3:23)
Written-By – Fred Gowdy , Larry Wilkens
B5 – Mr Goodtime (3:10)
Written-By – Larry Wilkens

Personnel & Credits:
Bass – Jessie Escoto
Drums – Epifanio Guerrero
Executive Producer – Phil Gillin
Guitar – Larry Wilkens
Organ, Piano, Clavinet – Arnold Andrews
Producer – Hadley Murrell
Vocals – Fred Gowdy, Larry Wilkens, Marvin Graves

Review:
Great Blend Of Funk, Soul And Psych Rock. Rare Funk Dope Only Isued In Canada-Usa & France.
The French Issue Is The Best & The Rare One !!! With Nice Picture Of The Band On Back Cover.
Great Funky Rock Sounds With Organ , Piano , Clavinet , Bass , Guitar , Drums !!!
Powerful Funk Bomb. Rare & Recommended.

By Celo

Barney Wilen “Moshi”

Barney Wilen

“Moshi”
( 2xLP Saravah Records, France, 1972 )
Catalog # SH 1028/29

Tracklisting:
A1 Moshi (17:00)
A2 Giulde’s Song To Binkirri (2:55)
B1 Gardenia Devil (6:00)
B2 14 Temps (4:50)
B3 Bamako Koulikaro (3:50)
B4 Afrika Freak Out (6:20)
C1 Zombizar (7:20)
C2 El Hadji (0:24)
C3 Chechaoun (12:00)
D1 Tindi Abalessa (10:25)
D2 El Hadji (1:00)
D3 Balandji In Bobo (3:06)
D4 Sannu Ne Gheniyo (5:20)
D5 El Hadji (0:20)

Personnel & Credits:
Artwork By – Henri Touitou
Composed By – Barney Wilen (tracks: B1, B4, C1, D4),
Caroline De Bendern (tracks: B1, C1, D4)
Producer – Pierre Barouh
Recorded By – Daniel Valancien

Notes:
Gatefold cover. Recorded in Studio Saravah.
“Gardenia Devil” is taken from a poem of the chinese people.
All other uncredited composed by tracks based on traditional folk songs.
Reissue of the 1972 album with a different cover and number.

Review:
Rare French 2LP free Jazz folk afro, A wild and groundbreaking record recorded by the great French tenor player Barney Wilen! Although he got his start as a bebopper in the 50’s, Wilen sort of dropped out of sight by the end of the 60’s and only emerged from time to time to cut strangely experimental sides. This record is unlike anything he ever made, and features a wild mix of African rhythms, ambient sound, and Wilen’s deep deep tenor. By this point, Wilen had been absorbing a lot of different influences, from Coltrane, to Pharoah Sanders, to some of the European free players, and his sound is a weird mish mash of styles that weaves in and out of all the stuff on the record. It’s a haunting bit of afro jazz and funky noise, with some cuts that are spacey, and others that are nice and funky. Includes the cuts “Afrika Freak Out” and “Zombizar”, plus lots of other goodies!
From Dusty Groove America

By Celo

The Pyramids “Birth Speed Merging”

The Pyramids

“Birth Speed Merging”
( LP Pyramid Records, 1976 )
Catalog # 30935

Tracklisting:
A1 Part 1. Aomawa (5:29)
A2 Part 2. Birth/Speed/Merging (7:40)
A3 Part 3. Reaffirmation (7:33)
B1 Jamaican Carnival (6:39)
B2 Black Man And Woman Of The Nile (16:22)

Notes:
Recorded at His Master’s Wheels Studio in November, 1975.

Review:
We’re getting to the point now where EM Records could sell us pretty much anything. We’ve come to trust them that much. Whether it’s singing saws, some lost psych oddity, sixties symphonies made entirely from bird calls, space age bachelor pad music, or lost jazz funk artifacts, they have such a knack for unearthing true gems, and then lovingly compiling liner notes and photos and extra tracks so that the final product is almost as impressive an -object- as it is a piece of music. The newset mysterious missive from EM is this long lost mysterious jazz record, originally released in 1976. We haven’t been able to glean too much about The Pyramids, there are no liner notes (if that tells you how obscure this recording was/is) and a Google search turned up almost exclusively Japanese language sites. But don’t let the lack of background keep you from enjoying this record, cuz it’s definitely one of the most amazing rediscovered free jazz gems we’ve heard in ages. And it’s not just free jazz, all wild swirl and skronk. Instead it’s an exotic blend of Don Cherry’s Orient, Funkadelic’s Maggot Brian, some Art Ensemble Of Chicago, with wild Eastern sounding tribal rhythms, shuffling jazzy post bop, fluttering flutes and skronking horns, chanted vocals, droning buzzing ragas, seventies psychedelic free folk, propulsive krautfunk jams, some totally chaotic free jazz here and there, octopoidal drumming and wild shrieking sax, haunting percussive soundscapes, replete with strange creaks and whistles, and then before you know it transforming before your ears into what sounds like traditional African music with warm muted thumb piano melodies, chanted harmonies, bird calls, and sweetly melodic flute, rollicking bass heavy grooves under wild hand drums and carnivalesquee noisemaking.
The final track, the 16 minute long “Black Man And Woman Of The Nile”, is a mellow slow burning groove, with a throbbing bass riff, warm rich sax runs, shuffling percussion, the whole thing a laidback, sun drenched, barefoot funkjazz jam, warm and dreamy and hypnotic, with a short break in the middle for a brief skronky freakout, and then straight back into it, eventually drifting off into abstract ambience, softly moaning horns, dreamy melodies and barely there percussive chatter. Awesome!.
From Aquarius Records

By Celo

Eddie Horan ”Love The Way You Love Me”

Eddie Horan

”Love The Way You Love Me”
( LP HDM Records, 1978 )
Catalog # HDM-2002

Tracklisting:
A1 Love The Way You Love Me (3:26)
Written-By – D. J. Emile, E. Horan
A2 When I Fly With You (3:50)
Written-By – E. Horan, H. Murrell, R. Jackson
A3 Concert By The Sea (3:33)
Written-By – D. J. Emile, E. Horan, H. Murrell
A4 Man Without His Woman (3:33)
Written-By – D. J. Emile, E. Horan, H. Murrell
A5 Love So Easy (4:00)
Written-By – D. J. Emile, E. Horan, H. Murrell
B1 Turn My World Back Around (5:33)
Written-By – D. J. Emile, E. Horan, H. Murrell
B2 Can’t Do Without You (4:38)
Written-By – D. J. Emile, E. Horan, H. Murrell
B3 The Dancer (5:27)
Written-By – D. M. Blumberg, R. M. Jackson, R. Jackson

Credits:
Arranged By – Ray Jackson
Engineer – Paul Aronoff
Mastered By – Bob MacLeod
Producer – Hadley D. Murrell
Producer [Associate] – Eddie Horan, Ray Jackson

Notes:
Loaned For Promotion Only – Not For Sale
Manufactured and Distributed by Amherst Records
1978 Transcontinent Record Sales, Inc.
Format:Vinyl, LP, Album, Promo
Country:US
Released:1978

By Pier

John Mayall ”Jazz Blues Fusion”

John Mayall

”Jazz Blues Fusion”
(Live)
( LP Polydor Records, 1972 )
Catalog # 5027

Tracklisting:
1. Country Road 7:16
2. Mess Around 2:51
3. Good Times Boogie 9:17
4. Change Your Ways 3:45
5. Dry Throat 6:39
6. Exercise In C 8:32
7. Got To Be This Way 6:54

Personnel & Credits:
Steve Katleman Photography
Eddie Kramer Engineer
John Mayall Guitar, Harmonica, Piano, Keyboards, Vocals, Producer, Design
Billy Mitchell Sax (Tenor)
Blue Mitchell Trumpet
Freddy Robinson Guitar, Vocals
Ron Selico Percussion, Drums
Clifford Solomon Saxophone
Larry Taylor Bass, Guitar (Bass)
Nancy Throckmorton Photography

Review:
Jazz Blues Fusion is a Live album by John Mayall, the first side is from a gig in Boston on 18th November 1971, and the second side was selected from two concerts at Hunter College, New York on 3rd and 4th December 1971.
From Wikipedia

By Andy

The Next Movement ”Never Stop Dancing!”

The Next Movement

”Never Stop Dancing!”
( LP GEC Records, 1980 )
Catalog # LC-700

Tracklisting:
A1 You’re The One (7:34)
A2 How Did We Get To This (The Letter) (4:42)
A3 Crazy ‘Bout Your Lovin’ (4:01)
A4 Kid Stuff (5:37)
B1 Sweat It Out (6:20)
B2 For Lovers Only (3:23)
B3 Nightstalker (5:51)
B4 Never Stop Dancin’ (5:02)

Notes:
Also known as “The Next Movement” with different cover art.
Format:Vinyl, LP
Country:US
Released:1980

Comment:
The Next Movement is a Chicago R&B vocal group that was formed in the ’70s on the city’s south side. As young kids, they idolized the popular harmony groups of the ’60s and ’70s such as the Temptations, Jackson 5, Dramatics, The Dells and the Chi-Lites. The group decided on the name “Next Movement” because their dance moves were so smooth they were always asked “what’s the next move?” The young group’s 1st official release was “Girl, Why You Want To Take My Heart” in 1972 on the local Interplanetary label. That was followed 2 years later with “Everywhere You Go (I’ll Be Around)” on Crown Town and garnered them an appearance on the upstart TV show “Soul Train.” The group was asked to perform in Las Vegas with Redd Fox at the Thunderbird in 1976. In 1980, they recorded an album “The Next Movement”. The mid-tempo groover “Never Stop Dancing” received national radio play. In 1984, Next Movement was signed by music industry veteran Gus Redmond and the classic stepper’s tune “More Love” was released. The next year, the group had their first national hit in the formative years of the House Music movement of Chicago entitled “All I Do”, which hit the Billboard R&B charts at #49. Both were arranged by the legendary Tom Tom.
Next Movement was chosen to perform at Oprah Winfrey’s 1989 New Years Eve Party where she proclaimed them the best vocal group in Chicago. The group’s 1991 release “Let’s Work It Out,” became a club hit and a dance classic.
In 1992, Next Movement returned to Las Vegas and began performing in showrooms and lounges. 2006 finds the group still touring and performing at the finest casinos and showrooms across the country. Tony Rankin and Smooth “C” of Radio station V-108 in Las Vegas have proclaimed them the best showband in the entertainment capital of the world. With the highest honor that can bestowed on any performer and a new lineup featuring the 2 original members Carnell Haywood & Samuel Thomas, Jr., with newcomers Donald Albert and Sergio, the group is still making a name for themselves 34 years later. The legend continues.
From SBP Productions

By Pier

Jean Carn ”When I Find You Love”

Jean Carn

”When I Find You Love”
( LP Philadelphia International Records, 1979 )
Catalog # JZ 36196

Tracklisting:
A1 When I Find You Love (5:11)
A2 My Love Don’t Come Easy (5:11)
A3 Start The Fire (3:58)
A4 All I Really Need Is You (3:45)
B1 Lonely Girl In A Cold World (4:22)
B2 What’s On Your Mind (4:11)
B3 Give It Up (4:06)
B4 Was That All It Was (3:58)

Credits:
Executive Producer – Dexter Wansel

Notes:
Format:Vinyl, LP
Country:US
Released:1979

Review:
Issued in late 1979, When I Find You Love comes closest to the breath and depth of Jean Carn’s self-titled dazzling debut for Gamble & Huff’s Philadelphia International Records. Touting the production talents of Dexter Wansel, Jack Faith, and the duo of Jerry Butler and John Usry, its tracks scored on many different levels. “My Love Don’t Come Easy,” with its come-hither groove, was a mid-charting R&B favorite. “What’s on Your Mind,” “Give It Up,” and particularly “Was There All It Was” became dance club hits. Other highlights include the sweepingly romantic “Lonely Girl in a Cold Cold World,” the gentle, quiet title track, and the radio-aired album cut “Start the Fire.” The album was reissued as a 1999 Westside two-LP single CD (When I Find You Love/Sweet and Wonderful), and some of its tracks appear on Closer Than Close: The Best of Jean Carn, The Best of Jean Carn & the Jones Girls, First Ladies of Philadelphia Soul, and Greatest Hits of Philadelphia: 1976-1986.
By Ed Hogan (AMG)

By Pier