disc 1
*
1. Bill Fay - Laughing Man - i like this piano to start. the guitar and vocals that come in later were initially unwanted, but they grew on me before the song was over.
2. Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe - this is a cool organ and i really like these vocals. yeah, i really like this. it just moves right along.
3. Annette Peacock - My Mama Never Taught Me How to Cook - i don't care for this song. i'm just not a big fan of this type of blues.
4. Lô Borges - Você Fica Melhor Assim - there's just something about how portuguese is sung that i really love. i can't quite place it because i also like spanish, but not italian. very cool. the music's not really up my alley, but no complaints. (edit: this is lo borges? this is the first song by him that i didn't love.)
5. João Donato - The Frog - again, neat organ. and i like the horns here, too. this has the potential to be great driving music because it feels like it's going somewhere itself.
6. Joe Bataan - Call My Name - the percussion stands out to me, especially the solid beat. this'll probably be stuck in my head for two days now. "call my name, call my name..."
7. Magnum - Evolution - again, the percussion's standing out for me. the horns and keys, too. the vocals aren't appealing, but they're not bad. i think it's just that i like the instrumentation so much.
8. Banda Black Rio - Maria Fumaca - hmm... i kinda like the guitars, but this one's overall not striking me.
9. Demon Fuzz - I Put a Spell on You - the original is one of my favorite songs, so i'll say this is an interesting take on it. the horns are cool.
10. Syl Johnson - Is it Because I'm Black? - for some reason, i just can't get into this. i've heard another version of this jam and this sounds like i should love it (has all the right ingredients), but i think it's in how it drags on and on that's keeping me from loving it. (edit: oh, so that's the original? okay, now i know.)
11. Tim Maia - Padre Cicero - when this song's upbeat, i dig it. when it's not, i'm zoning out.
12. Eugene McDaniels - Headless Heroes - i can't get into this. i don't think the vocals and music sound like they belong together.
13. Black Heat - Chip's Funk - i'm not a harmonica fan, so this song dies for me when that's in command. otherwise, i pretty much dig it. those little organ bits are really cool.
14 - 17. Black Nasty - It's Not the World, Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul - So Much Trouble On My Mind, Raulzinho & Impacto 8, Fugi - Revelations - i feel like i should like these because it's not so bad, but i've listened to this stretch about four times now and thought of nothing to say about any song. nothing really stands out to me.
18. Art Ensemble of Chicago - Theme De YOYO - this is way too long. it sounded like it kept skipping back a few minutes and repeating itself over and over.

disc 2
*
1. Wanda Robinson - The Meeting Place - spoken word over music is not my thing. the stereo component set thing was funny, though.
2. Archie Shepp - Invocation Ballad for a Child - spoken word, again. and short.
3. Archie Shepp - Ballad for a Child - oh, someone's singing. nice voice.
4. The Lost Generation - This is the Lost Generation - good vocals, not crazy about the music
5. Dóris Monteiro - É Isso Aí - totally dig this. the guitar and horns sound really good, definitely need to check this out.
6. Colin Blunstone - She Loves the Way They Love Her - now, this moves. the vocals stand out most to me.
7. The Montgomery Express - I'm Standing By - this is pretty good.
8. Rasputin Stash - The Devil Made Me Do It - yeah, good groove and wah-wah. i just wish it'd flesh out a little more, sounds like a ton of potential just waiting to break out.
9. Syreeta - Happiness - good lyrics, good vocals, smooth instrumentation. guitar sounds good. i love it around the 3:45 mark.
10. The Voices of East Harlem - For What It's Worth - big bass takes command. i never felt like it came together.
11. The Nite-Liters - K-Jee - yes! this is one of my favorites by the nite-liters.
12. Di Melo - Se o Mundo Acabasse em Mel - more portuguese vocals that i cannot dislike. this is serious. i like almost everything about it.
13. Minnie Ripperton - Reasons - this is alright.
14. Ike Turner & the Kings of Rhythm - Funky Mule - i like it, glad it's not ruined with some vocals. good horns and percussion standing out.
15. The Dramatics - Whatcha See is Whatcha Get - sounds good - catchy, and a bit repetitive as it goes on.
16. Leon Thomas - China Doll - i like listening to this guy.
17. Dom Salvador - Guanabara - yeah, i can get on this bandwagon. this has a lot that i like, flowing in and out very well. lots of instruments that i like playing good parts, too.
18. Edwin Birdsong - Theme from Callicoon - this feels like a downer after that last song, but it picks up.
19. The Eliminators - Loving Explosion - good sound, good vocals.
20. Mellow Candle - Vile Excesses - well, this is a curveball. i don't really care for it.
21. Nick Garrie - David's Prayer - good transition here, guessing this is a new path. not really into it either, though.
22. Mill Street Depot - You Won't Support Me - i like the strings and the vocals... getting better... yeah, i really like this now. it works nicely as a closer, too.

wow. this is a lot of music. i guess it's meant to be heard all at once. i sat in my living room with a book and a notepad and just jotted notes while reading and listening. i liked it pretty much. i never expect to like every single song on a mix, but there didn't seem to be any long stretches that i absolutely loved. they usually maxed out around 4-5 songs. considering how it jumped around so much, the flow was pretty good with solid transitions at most spots. i now have a lot to start searching out. overall, this was very enjoyable.

Thanks for the review. I'm glad you found a few things you like. I pretty much figured no one will like every song but hopefully every song has at least a fan or two.

It doesn't have to be heard all at once, but I tried to have decent transitions and flow but with enough sonic variety that you hopefully wouldn't grow bored with it if you do listen at once.
I started with some common themes holding the songs together but they kinda got lost by the time I was through. Hopefully it still works. I've noticed I tended to include a lot of orchestral work and a lot of piano/organ across genres. It wasn't necessarily intentional although I think it may be the common thread that makes it flow for me.

If you have any questions about any of the artists, ask away. That Joe Bataan is a smoker of an album...my favorite from last year and probably is the only song on the mix that's not at least 25 years old. If you like the DiMelo and Dom Salvador, I think Dusty Groove just put them both on sale for under $10. I really love and highly recommend both.

oohh, well, i may just need to make a trip down to dusty groove sometime in the near future for those.

i was actually wondering what the breakdown of time was for the mix since a lot seemed to be pretty old. i figured that most of it, especially the soul is late 60s or early/mid 70s.

btw, still considering these cd's, but haven't formulated thoughts yet. The one thing I will say? Annette Peacock sounds like she's either stoned or being pleasured in some way.

well I wouldn't put either past her...she was a participant in Dr. Timothy Leary's psychedelic experiments in the early 60's and the lyrical content of the song is completely sexual so that sexual voice is clearly purposeful. Whether any aids were used in achieving her voice I couldn't tell.

edit: not really worth a new post but you probably won't notice this now....just thought to add that its Mick Ronson on guitar on that song.

As you may have noticed in some of my previous mix reviews, I often conjure up some image in my head of what I'd be doing, or wearing, if a particular song was on. This may seem weird, but it actually kinda sets the tone for me!

disc 1
1. Bill Fay - Laughing Man - Interesting tune, but it makes me feel sad. 2/5
2. Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe - This sounds so retro, which to some may sound goofy, but I dig it. 4/5
3. Annette Peacock - My Mama Never Taught Me How to Cook - well, you saw what I said earlier. I actually think it's enjoyable in a farcical, porno soundtrack kind of way. 3/5
4. Lô Borges - Você Fica Melhor Assim - I really get a trippy tavern vibe from this cd so far, or a 70s cop show theme music... the sort of thing you might have heard in some dive in 1970s San Francisco. This one is fun. 3/5
5. João Donato - The Frog - On this one, I imagine driving a muscle car while wearing black vinyl go-go boots. 3/5
6. Joe Bataan - Call My Name - This is wonderful... I'm actually grooving out at my desk right now as I type this. Chair-dancing so to speak. 4/5
7. Magnum - Evolution - Good beat. I'm not as keen on the vocals. 3/5
8. Banda Black Rio - Maria Fumaca - Groovy. Interesting guitars, but I like the rhythm. 3/5
9. Demon Fuzz - I Put a Spell on You - Interesting cover, but doesn't do much for me. 2/5
10. Syl Johnson - Is it Because I'm Black? - I actually like this, and I like what he's singing about. It is a tad too long. 3/5
11. Tim Maia - Padre Cicero - I'm kinda with Z on this one... when it's upbeat, it's good... when it's downbeat, it's kinda boring.2/5
12. Eugene McDaniels - Headless Heroes - Now this one sounds like it belongs on Schoolhouse Rock... just change the words and make it about the three branches of US government or something. 3/5
13. Black Heat - Chip's Funk - it's alright. 3/5
14. Black Nasty - It's Not the World - this one doesn't do so much for me... maybe I'm getting soul'd out now. 2/5
15. Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul - So Much Trouble On My Mind - ok,changed my mind, now I'm getting the funk back. Where are my platforms? 4/5
16. Raulzinho & Impacto 8 - I've Got the Feelin' - this sounds very James Brown-ish to me, oh wait.. is this a cover? The vocals don't quite work for me though. 3/5
17. Fugi - Revelations - Good, but not really reaching me. 2/5
18. Art Ensemble of Chicago - Theme De YOYO - I don't like the free jazz instrumention of the horn section... that's the type of jazz that annoys me. Too long. 2/5

disc 2

1. Wanda Robinson - The Meeting Place - This is interesting. I enjoy it purely from a sociological standpoint. 4/5
2. Archie Shepp - Invocation Ballad for a Child - a little trippy, eh? 3/5
3. Archie Shepp - Ballad for a Child - I'm enjoying this. This is the same guy singing who did the spoken word on the previous track? Never woulda thunk it. 4/5
4. The Lost Generation - This is the Lost Generation - Dig the beat, and again, I enjoy the message. Why don't people sing about this kind of stuff anymore? 4/5
5. Dóris Monteiro - É Isso Aí - It's not bad... like her voice. 3/5
6. Colin Blunstone - She Loves the Way They Love Her - This one doesn't seem like it fits with the other tunes, but it's good. 3/5
7. The Montgomery Express - I'm Standing By - It's not bad, but I'm not entirely moved by it. 2/5
8. Rasputin Stash - The Devil Made Me Do It - aw yeah. I actually like the understatedness of it. 4/5
9. Syreeta - Happiness - Nice. 3/5
10. The Voices of East Harlem - For What It's Worth -ok, based on the last song, and now this one, we seem to be veering into spiritual territory. Not necessarily the sort of thing I enjoy in large doses. 2/5
11. The Nite-Liters - K-Jee - oh, this is good. Again with me chair-dancing. 4/5
12. Di Melo - Se o Mundo Acabasse em Mel - This is great! 4/5
13. Minnie Ripperton - Reasons - I had only ever heard "Loving You," so this is a nice departure (although she still does her dog whistle). 3/5
14. Ike Turner & the Kings of Rhythm - Funky Mule - I like the rhythm. Nice that Ike doesn't sing on this. 3/5
15. The Dramatics - Whatcha See is Whatcha Get – I listened to this earlier, and am now listening a second time. It’s resonating with me on the second listen. 4/5
16. Leon Thomas - China Doll – I’m digging this one too, but it drags on a bit too long. 3/5
17. Dom Salvador - Guanabara – hmm, I’m not feeling this. 2/5
18. Edwin Birdsong - Theme from Callicoon – not bad, but again, not resonating with me. 2/5
19. The Eliminators - Loving Explosion – this is a happy song. I like. 3/5
20. Mellow Candle - Vile Excesses – No offense, but this sounds like community theater. 2/5
21. Nick Garrie - David's Prayer – hmm, I’m getting a Michael Martin Murphey/Terry Jacks/Henry Gross vibe from this, which isn’t necessarily a good thing. It seems like a real diversion from the rest of it. 2/5
22. Mill Street Depot - You Won't Support Me – Nice voice, and a good choice to close out the cd. Sounds like something a depressed person would sing after a few too many (also sounds like a song I could see a drag queen performing to). 3/5


Overall, 3/5. I like this... it's definitely not the sort of thing I would have in my own personal collection only because I haven't heard of so many of these artists, so for that, thanks for introducing me! I think it's a good idea, and too many people (including myself) aren't as familiar with this genre and era.

Thanks for listening and the opinions.

Glad you like the Joe Bataan. That edged out Archer Prewitt for my #1 last year in the final weeks.

I agree in retrospect that a few songs are a bit long and don't work as well as I'd like in the context of the mix as a result.

Its not archie shepp on vocals on Ballad for a child. I'd need to check the liner notes to confirm but I think's its albertine robinson, a jazz vocalist whose also song background vocals on a couple of dylan albums. Archie isn't providing the invocation either...he's band leader, sax player and songwriter. I was originally going to have one disc be solely righteous, politically themed soul and jazz of this nature but I decided that might be an overdose for most and I wanted to include other stuff anyway. This probably fit more in the earlier version of the mix but hopefully it still works.

The Raulzinho song isn't to my knowledge a cover but it is very James Brown'ish in style. The vocals may sound a bit off because english is a second language for him. He's Brazilian and all other songs on the album are in portuguese. I was going to include something else but decided that for some, I might be overdoing the portuguese if I did. I probably should have risked it.

I'm bummed that no one seems to like the Voices of East Harlem. I really love them. I think it suffers from a poor recording quality. My source is a rip from vinyl. I've had the cd on order for two months but am still waiting to receive it in the mail. I realized that the sound quality suffered...I think I'm able to hear past it because I know what its supposed to sound like but I probably should have bumped it off the mix all considering.

Again thanks for the opinions.

Just got these today. Browsing over the tracklisting, I have no idea whether I'll like them or not. I'm usually pretty open about new music. Moreso than any of my friends. So I wouldn't be surprised if I do.

But I'm looking forward to my review, as much as you are.

disc 1

1. Bill Fay - Laughing Man 5/5
Perfect way to open a mix. A poetic blues ballad with some interesting guitar work, but I especially like the tone of the guy’s voice. The song ends way too soon. I’ve gotta find more about this Bill Fay.

2. Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe 3/5
Another great vocalist – that’s gonna crop up more than a few times on these Billy G mixes. In this case, the soulful rasp is underserved by an arrangement that makes me think Broadway Show, which might be my own issue to deal with. I haven’t dealt with it, though, so the criticism stands.

3. Annette Peacock - My Mama Never Taught Me How to Cook 4/5
I thought I had never heard of Ms. Peacock, but listening to this track wakes some long dormant memory. I quite like (very much like) the lower register of this woman’s voice, and she’s got spectacular timing, but that upper register is dodgy. An acquired taste, to put it kindly. But, contrary to the title, there’s some serious cooking goin’ on here.

4. Lô Borges - Você Fica Melhor Assim 3/5
I dunno. The music is interesting, but the vocals and melody dip into the cheese. Not enough to slop over the whole nacho chip, but enough to make me move to the cold cuts section, if y’know what I mean.

5. João Donato - The Frog 2/5
This reminds me of catching Sergio Mendez and Brazil ’77 on the Johnny Carson Show. Kinda sexlessly funky, like the theme music to a Bill Shatner cop show. Not doing it for me.

6. Joe Bataan - Call My Name 4/5
Oh we be funkin’ now. Nice laidback, effortless groove and, surprise, another vocalist with a soulful rasp (I’m not complaining, Billy, these are some awesome talents you’re uncovering). And as a plus… you know that flute that Josh Rouse effectively appropriated for "Love Vibration"? Well, this is the way it’s supposed to be done.

7. Magnum - Evolution 4/5
Still funkin’. Not as strong as a vocalist(s) as some of the other tracks, but mama DID teach these dudes how to cook.

8. Banda Black Rio - Maria Fumaca 2/5
Some seriously hot bass playing going on in this one, but it’s another of those TV theme song funk workouts that just kinda gives me the Shatner sweats (which is waaaay different than the Locklear sweats).

9. Demon Fuzz - I Put a Spell on You 5/5
Hmm. Interesting cover. Kinda slicks it up, throws it in a limo, and takes it downtown. Really starts to motorvate in the instrumental breaks, too. And yet more amazing bass playing. Okay, I'm a believer. Spell works.

10. Syl Johnson - Is it Because I'm Black? 5/5
Holy shit, this is pretty awesome. Heartwrenching soul ballad of epic proportions. And Syl buddy, if you don't mind me saying, yeh, I think it might have something to do with being black.

11. Tim Maia - Padre Cicero 2/5
A little bit of gospel, which isn't entirely unappreciated, but there's a hymnal quality to the backing vocals that really grates against the cheese of the lead. You may note, Billy, that I have a strange automatic negative reaction to the style of singing in some of these musics of, um, Latin origin. S'always been that way. I can just picture the moustache and the open collar silk shirt. Either I have a different sense of melody to our South American neighbors, or a guy like Tim Maia is their version of Robert Goulet. I'm assuming the latter.

12. Eugene McDaniels - Headless Heroes 2/5
Again, this is too easy listening for me. The electric piano sounds as smarmy as the vocals, which is too bad because I like the groove here.

13. Black Heat - Chip's Funk 2/5
It's obvious now. I've been ruined for this kinda music by bad '70s TV. It's a fine line - some funk sounds dirty and authentic while other slight variants sound like the soundtrack to a bunch of plaid-clad losers in platform shoes about to wife swap. Frankly, I don't remember the wives being all that either.

14. Black Nasty - It's Not the World 3/5
Okay, this leaves the cop show theme songs in the dust. Still a little too SMOOVE to really hit home, but working in the right direction.

15. Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul - So Much Trouble On My Mind 3/5
Funk of a decidely harder edge - in fack, there's more than a little James Brown goin' on here. I guess my problem with funk, in general, is that for about 60 seconds it sounds like the world's greatest jam, and then it doesn't go anywhere. Well, in this case it goes to a semi-psychedelic guitar wig-out so, like, hello George Clinton. That's two pretty major namedrops, so I guess if I was a true fan of funk this'd be the godhead, but for me this might be the longest 6 minutes this side of MacArthur Park.

16. Raulzinho & Impacto 8 - I've Got A Feelin' 4/5
Basically, a slow tempo rewrite of "I Feel Good". I do like the guy's voice though, and it's got the sense to stay within three minutes AND include a sleazy jazzy sax solo.

17. Fugi - Revelations 2/5
Spooky Christian pomposity. Fuck this guy - but the band can play my house party any time (provided, of course, they sign the "straight to hell" waiver).

18. Art Ensemble of Chicago - Theme De YOYO 5/5
Nine minutes? Who do these guys think they are, Sigur Ros? Actually, this is pretty damn cool. A soulful blues pierced by dissonant jazz, which twists into something both funky and calmly meandering. Got-dang there's been some hot bass playing on this mix. And that three letter word in the band name needs to be capitalized, 'cuz this is some serious A-R-T.




I still have to review Disc 2 - that'll be coming soon.

Top notch mix as usual, Billy! I love getting exposed to so much stuff I'd never come close to finding on my own. And there's some artists that I'll definitely be tracking down. In the meantime, I think I'm gonna start compiling mixes from your mixes (the best of Billy G according to Radcliffe) for some seriously quality listening time.

Thanks!

Did you cheat and look him up?



thanks for the review. I was jonesing for someone to get around to reviewing it so I appreciate it. You've had it for much less time then most of these slackers too.

I think you would really like Bill Fay. I think he sounds like a more experimental Lennon. That song is off "The Time of the Last Persecution" which is my favorite of his albums but all three are good.

That Art Ensemble of Chicago album has a lot in common with the Archie Shepp and Eddie Gale albums I sent you so I figured you would like that too. The vocalist on that track is Fontella Bass.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts on disc 2. I received your mixes in the mail yesterday. I haven't had a chance to listen yet but am looking forward to cranking 'em up when my hangover subsides.

Awesome. Doesn't look much like Robert Goulet though.

And thanks for the info on Bill Fay. I'll def look into him.


Well, they both stick stubbornly to the rock/country/indie axis, and it seems you've kinda left that stuff far behind - so hopefully you'll find something on 'em that's worth your time. Otherwise, feel free to dump on them.

Finally got this one finished. There's a lot here, and I had to listen to it more than the others to really be able to write any kind of review. I had the first disc done on Thursday, but things have been so busy for that I couldn't get finished with the second one until today.


Billy G - Mix for the Obners 3/6/06

Disc 1

1. Bill Fay - Laughing Man. I don't think I've heard Bill Fay before, but I really like the overall feeling of this song. It's kind of gently sad with a lot of nice supporting touches like the guitar towards the end, but somehow this song in particular really feels like it's missing something in being presented out of context. 3/5
2. Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe. I'm not too fond of this kind of soul and the sort of scat-lite thing that he's got going on at times. It's kinda loungey, and I honestly have never been able to like singers in the style of Sinatra et al. 2/5
3. Annette Peacock - My Mama Never Taught Me How to Cook. This song is pretty awesome in just about every way. I love her voice and delivery, and the band has a great subtle funk. My only complaint would that it seems to go on a little long. 4/5
4. Lo Borges - Voce Fica Melhor Assim. Nice short little number. Good guitar. 3/5
5. Joao Donato - The Frog. Very cool. It's really fun even if this sort of thing seems kinda cheesy now. 4/5
6. Joe Bataan - Call My Name. Whenever I glance over at the CD case, I think it says this guy's name is Joe Batman. Anyway, I dig this song even if some elements (flutes and some of the keys and vocals) have leaning towards a "softer" side of R&B that I'm not crazy about. 3/5
7. Magnum - Evolution. Pretty cool stuff. I've just (finally) been getting into Sly & The Family Stone lately, and this seems like it would be a good companion to that. I may have to pick up this album. 4/5
8. Banda Black Rio - Maria Fumaca. Everything is just so evenly and smoothly fused together that nothing really seems to stand out. I can't say that I really dig it. I could imagine this playing in the background in any number of places and not catching my attention. 2/5
9. Demon Fuzz - I Put a Spell on You. A pretty good rendition of this song, but I can think of at least three I like much better, including the original. I've never understood the popularity of covering this song. No one has ever approached Screamin' Jay on it, and every cover I've ever heard sounds muted and polite by comparison. 3/5
10. Syl Johnson - Is It Because I'm Black. I really like his voice, and I like how blunt and direct the song is. It's way too long, though, and I just don't think there's enough there to fill up those seven-and-a-half minutes. 3/5
11. Tim Maia - Padre Cicero. This is easily one of my favorites on the mix. I know I have very little frame of reference and that you're tired of hearing about them from all of us "indie kids", but when this song picks up it reminds me of a specific Os Mutantes song. I also love the feel in the more eerie-sounding, slower parts, which aren't like much else that I've heard. 4/5
12. Eugene McDaniels - Headless Heroes. I love those moments when I suddenly recognize a sample from a song I've known for years (The Beastie Boys' "Get It Together"). This is a really cool song in its own right, though. It reminds me of Pieces of a Man (well, remind me of either that or Sly Stone because I've heard so little politically-themed black music from the '70s), but I think I like this more than a majority of that album. 4/5
13. Black Heart - Chip's Funk. This has a really nice groove, and I like how the un-funky harmonica part pulls it in a different direction. I like it when a song feels like it shifts between genres. 4/5
14. Black Nasty - It's Not the World. I guess I've never been big on most slower R&B/soul songs. There are a lot of exceptions, but this one just ends up being kind of ho-hum to me. 3/5
15. Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul - So Much Trouble in My Mind. I'm a sucker for this stuff, though. I'm gonna have to look into these guys, too. 4/5
16. Raulzinho & Impacto 8 - I've Got a Feelin'. This also has a cool James Brown sort of thing going on, but I don't like it quite as much as the previous song. 3/5
17. Fugi - Revelations. I love the dark and vaguely sinister feel to this. Very cool song. 4/5
18. Art Ensemble of Chicago - Theme de YOYO. I've obviously done myself a disservice by neglecting to check out this group before now. This is great. The freeform breakdowns and solos rock, the overall groove is really nice, and the vocals are really good, too. It even manages to fill out all nine minutes without getting dull. 5/5

Disc 2

1. Wanda Robinson - The Meeting Place. Decent start to the second disc. Portions of the story are funny or interesting, but I think this functions mainly as a mood setter. The instrumentation is pretty light and elevator-ready, but the vocals have a nice attitude and delivery. 3/5
2. Archie Shepp - Invocation Ballad for a Child. N/A
3. Archie Shepp - Ballad for a Child. Maybe it's because I've never listened to much of this kind of music, but this particular kind of slow R&B ballad just never draws me in. 3/5
4. The Lost Generation - This Is the Lost Generation. This is really nice. Hard to explain why it works for me, but somehow the strings, flutes. etc. just really work with the overall vibe. The deep low end really drives it along, and the chorus sounds pretty cool, too. 4/5
5. Dorris Monteiro - Elsso Ai. It sounds like the mix has turned around here in terms of mood and theme. I really like the feel of this one, especially the horns and bossa nova (?) guitar. 4/5
6. Colin Blunstone - She Loves the Way They Love Her. There's a version of this on the recent reissue of Odyssey & Oracle that I like a little more than this one, but I still think this is a great song. 4/5
7. The Montgomery Express - I'm Standing By. I really like the chorus here, but I can't shake the feeling that this sounds a lot like another song. I can't think of which one, but I really like this one anyway. 4/5
8. Rasputin Stash - The Devil Made Me Do It. I dunno why, but I'm just not so crazy about this one. 3/5
9. Syreeta - Happiness. This one doesn't do a lot for me, either. It's got that feel-good gospel type sound that's just a little too sunny and sweet for me. 3/5
10. The Voices of East Harlem - For What It's Worth. Hm, another one that isn't really hitting me. None of these are bad, but I could take them or leave them. 3/5
11. The Nite Liters - K-Jee. I like this one better, but the somewhat light jazz-funk sound hasn't worn too well with me. 3/5
12. Di Melo - Se O Mundo Acabadesse Em Mel. This one is really cool. I like pretty much everything about it. 4/5
13. Minnie Ripperton - Reasons. This alright but kinda corny or something. A lot of the guitar and vocal wailing is a bit much. 3/5
14. Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm - Funky Mule. Just what you'd expect from the title. I like the breakdowns a lot. As far as I know, this is the first time I've heard Ike Turner. 4/5
15. The Dramatics - Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get. Doesn't really stand out from the pack, but it's OK. 3/5
16. [bLeon Thomas[/b] - China Doll. First song on this disc that just don't like. It's kinda silly, and while I don't necessarily mind that, it doesn't seem to have any major redeeming qualities. 2/5
17. Dom Salvador - Guanabara. I like how this develops about halfway through. Does a good job staying interesting for the duration. 3/5
18. Edwin Birdsong - Theme From Callicoon. The vocals don't do much for me, but it's a pretty cool song. I like when the big guitars come in. 3/5
19. The Eliminators - Loving Explosion. I don't really like this one. Not sure why, really, but in the context of this mix, it seems kinda forgettable and unnecessary. 2/5
20. Mellow Candle - Vile Excesses. Well, this is different. It's always funny how songs from the '60s to the '80s could mention unicorns in total sincerity. Anyway, I didn't much else from this one. 2/5
21. Nick Garrie - David's Prayer. OK, so that last song much have been used to transition into this one. This is a tad overwrought, but it really works. Also seems to tie back into the Archie Shepp song from earlier on in the mix. Nice and brief, too. 4/5
22. Mill Street Depot - You Won't Support Me. And we close with another slow/smooth R&B number. I just can't get into this, and I can't hide my disappointment that this disc doesn't close out on the incredibly high note that the first one did. Oh well. 2/5

Whew. Overall:

Flow - 5/5. You know what you're doing with this stuff. This thing is a monster, but it never went off track.
Surprises - 5/5. I expected the most from your mix, and I got it. Everything I gave a 4 to, I want to look into, and I have to get some Art Ensemble of Chicago now. Care to recommend a starting point?
Artwork - 3/5. Nobody's perfect.
Song Quality - 3.5/5

Final Score: 4/5

Best one so far (beating out FT), and probably going to be the best overall. I had high expectations, and they were met. Thanks!

Thanks for taking the time to review the mix drinky and for the kind words. I'm glad you found some things you want to check it. It makes it all worthwhile.

As far as Art Ensemble of Chicago goes, I only own "Les Stances a Sophie" which has a reputation for being their best album. So that's the only thing I can personally recommend. I don't know why I haven't gotten around to getting more. If you feel adventurous, these are the ones that are next on my shopping list:

Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fontella Bass (she's the singer on Theme De Yoyo and the wife of one of the band members but not a regular herself)
Brigitte Fontaine & Art Ensemble of Chicago -- Comme A La Radio
Great Black Music - Jackson in Your House

This is what dustygoove says about the Briggitte Fontaine collaboration:



I really want that one but I can only personally vouch for the "les stances a sophie" album.

I know exactly what you mean by the Bill Fay feeling incomplete and out of context. That album works much better as a whole piece than trying to pull one song off it. I really wanted to include something from him though because I really love his albums and don't hear any mention of it. I was struggling to find one song that would work on a mix and decided on that one but I purposely lead off with it because I knew it would be hard enough to work one transition to/from it, let alone two.

If that's the first Ike you've heard, I should mention that's about as funky as you'll ever hear him. Alot of his work is much more bluesy.

I really wanted to put a Di Melo track on there but had a hard time finding where I'd packed that disc when I moved. I glad I held out because he seems to be the most universally liked of everyone I put on this thing.

Hopefully some one will dig the Mellow Candle, but if you didn't care for it (being more inclined than most to enjoy early 70's folk) I'm not sure I expect anyone else to.

I tried to come up with a track-by-track review for this but I really couldn't. I have no prior experience with any of the artists on either disc so I can't really think of anything to say other than "good" or "okay".

I do like disc one for the most part. I'll probably rip these tracks to my main music folder. Disc two I found more tedious and didn't end up finishing.


My main complaint with these is the exact same thing I had to say about dnorwood's and FT's mixes. They're just too long. When a cd is 75 minutes long, I find it work to get through the whole thing in one sitting. I try to keep my mixes the same way I prefer a band's albums, around the 45-50 minute mark.

Obner folks seems to feel the opposite, believing in quantity over quality. But that's just my take on it.


I did enjoy this mix mostly, though. Lots more than I would have expected.

I agree that the temptation to fill up an 80 minute CD can be a bit overwhelming. I certainly gave in. Perhaps next time we can put a cap on the amount of songs (12 maybe?).

Disc 1

1. Bill Fay - Laughing Man. Kind of tricks you into thinking you are headed for sappy ballad territory, but quickly takes a turn into the more morose. That psycho blues guitar work towards the end was a fitting, yet unexpected touch. 3/5
2. Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe. This makes me think of the Welcome Back Kotter theme for some reason. Obviously it's more soulful than said sitcom theme, but it has the same type of rhythmic flow. 3/5
3. Annette Peacock - My Mama Never Taught Me How to Cook. I like singers like this. They sort of push your buttons the first time you hear them. She really knows how to wrap those words around your face. The blues guitar on this one is probably the best on the mix. 3.5/5
4. Lo Borges - Voce Fica Melhor Assim. I like that dirty muffled rhythm guitar sound on this. And it doesn't go on any longer than it needs to. 4/5
5. Joao Donato - The Frog. This is really fun. This is the kind of thing I can remember hearing on 70s films quite a bit. I like the way there are two different rhythm sections pounding away on the left and right speakers. And the horn solo that comes in at 1:23 closed the deal for me. 5/5
6. Joe Bataan - Call My Name. This is the catchiest track here. Kind of cheesey, but again, pure fun. Just keep Will Smith away from it because I can easily see him sampling it and turning it into "Gettin Jiggy Wit It part 2." 4.5/5
7. Magnum - Evolution. Now we're bringin' out tha funk complete with bongo drums. And that guitar solo in the middle is just sick. I like the way it's consistently panned to the middle and the right. What was with that "Owwwwww?" 5/5
8. Banda Black Rio - Maria Fumaca. Still funky but with more of a disco feel. The bass line really propels this one. 5/5
9. Demon Fuzz - I Put a Spell on You. Nice bangin' intro. This was never one of my fav songs but it is a quality cover. This isn't as sinister as Screamin Jay Hawkins' version. Helluva lot better than Manson's though. 3/5
10. Syl Johnson - Is It Because I'm Black. Again with the blues. It's hard to fault the guy for wanting to hammer his plight into your psyche, but it does go on a tad bit long. Quality music still. 3/5
11. Tim Maia - Padre Cicero. Nice falsetto. I like it when they bring in the shakers...maraccas (whatever they are) on the chorus. 3/5
12. Eugene McDaniels - Headless Heroes. Quite the socio-political theme here. I'm not big on the guy's vocal delivery. But I do appreciate the blues guitar and electric piano (or organ? I can't really tell). 3/5
13. Black Heart - Chip's Funk. Back to the funk. Man, this track seems to be one of the busiest on the mix. You have a horn section, harmonica, organ... 4/5
14. Black Nasty - It's Not the World. One of the least impactful on the mix, but the solo at 1:08 really stood out for me. 3/5
15. Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul - So Much Trouble in My Mind. A little better than the track before it. This one seems to be more along the lines of what I might expect from James Brown. 3.5/5
16. Raulzinho & Impacto 8 - I've Got a Feelin'. Was never big on this song. Kind of repetitive. Percussion is hardly sub-par but not mixed as well as the other tracks. I'm a sucker for a sax fill. That's what kept this at a 3 for me. 3/5
17. Fugi - Revelations. A little preachy. The blues guitar solo kept my attention for a bit. 2.5/5
18. Art Ensemble of Chicago - Theme de YOYO. This one kind of irritated me at first with its continuous blaring horn section. Very jazz based, which is a welcome change here. I'm fine with the female vocals. The tamborine person is a bit too prominent sometimes. A leetle long. 3/5

That was quite a journey. The music is clearly top notch. You just don't hear this type of thing anymore. A lot of these tracks have a certain familiarity to them and bring back a lot of childhood memories, even though I'm quite sure I've never heard any of them before. Quality mix. I'm sure I'll play it again. I haven't touched the 2nd one yet. Will get to it eventually. Thanks!

Disc 2

1. Wanda Robinson – The Meeting Place 1/5
Way too meandering, way too long, way too pointless. This is the kind of thing that gives spoken word a bad name. And I’m in the minority that believes spoken word ever had a good name. I gotta pass on this one.
2. Archie Shepp – Invocation: Ballad For A Child
A much better use of spoken word – employed here as an intro to the following song. Short, obtuse, and somewhat mysterious.
3. Archie Shepp – Ballad For A Child 5/5
Archie Shepp’s Attica Blues album hit me between the eyes last year. It’s exactly what I’d hoped for when I first heard the title of the Eddie Gale album Ghetto Music – something that reconciled brainy jazz with gritty rhythm’n’blues. And both Shepp and Gale might have succeeded on a level beyond artistry (read: financial remuneration) if the word "brainy" hadn’t fallen into its current 30 year pit of disrepute.
4. The Lost Generation – This Is The Lost Generation 4/5
An easy-going, mellow groove. Reminds me of the smooth r&b that adults used to listen to in the few days sandwiched between Sly & The Family Stone and disco. As a teen I would’ve hated it. Pretty cool, in other words.
5. Doris Monteiro - E Isso Ai 3/5
I kinda like this, even if it sounds like a Latin version of Petula Clark. I guess two things are at work in such a scenario: 1) there’s not all that much wrong with Petula Clark, and 2) that whole "Latin version" aspect adds a sheen of sexuality that was scrubbed off of the Brit counterpart.
6. Colin Blunstone – She Loves The Way They Love Her 5/5
Now, unless I’m wrong (and I very easily could be) Colin Blunstone was the original lead singer of the Zombies. This has all the same virtues of the Zombies – great melody and interesting arrangement and only fringely attached to rock and roll.
7. The Montgomery Express – I’m Standing By 3/5
Very similar in style and content to "This Is The Lost Generation", but somehow not resonating as deeply with me as that former song.
8. Rasputin Stash – The Devil Made Me Do It 3/5
More smooth soul. This one reminds me of bands like Osibisa and Earth, Wind, And Fire. Some interesting instrumentation – a little bit of jazzy funk (or is that funky jazz?) - really helps it along.
9. Syreeta – Happiness 5/5
This is a pretty great ballad, building up intensity as it trundles along. And I really like this woman’s voice. Her name seems vaguely familiar – did she work with Stevie Wonder or something? Anyway, I’ll certainly look around for more from her.
10. The Voices Of East Harlem – For What It’s Worth 5/5
Whoa. This is awesome. If anybody on this planet needed a good funkifying, it’d be that self-satisfied, smug Klansman Stephen Stills. Actually, in truth, the dude’s Klan status MIGHT be debatable. But that’s a debate for another time and place, right now we’re discussing the Voices Of East Harlem and how they just rescued "For What It’s Worth" from its own trite hippy cliches. Get, as they say, down.
11. The Nite Liters – K-Jee 2/5
S’allright. Dangerously close to the soundtrack to a ‘70s car chase sequence or a porno loop. Either way, there’s too much lip hair goin’ on.
12. Di Melo – Se O Mundo Acabasse Em Mel 2/5
I come from northern stock. That, in itself, can be the only explanation for my inability to groove to the South American rhythms in something like this. I mean, there’s something definitely funky happening, and the singer’s voice is okay, but overall it just doesn’t hit me.
13. Minnie Ripperton – Reasons 4/5
I would’ve liked Minnie Ripperton a whole lot more if I hadn’t been involuntarily subjected to her dog-whistle voice on "Loving You". This song is proof of that. It way more down’n’dirty than I ever would have expected from her. The dog-whistle shows up, of course, but in a way that’s actually kind of cool. Nice one.
14. Ike Turner & The Kings Of Rhythm – Funky Mule 3/5
Yeh, all the Ike I’ve heard is way more blues and rock’n’roll oriented than this. Which isn’t a complaint by any means. And, even though this is a funk instro, there’s no way this would’ve been used on a cop show soundtrack. Not even as a theme song. Well, maybe if the star was, like, a lone wolf cop of Arabic descent, but that didn’t happen until Monk.
15. The Dramatics – Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get 4/5
I’m less than crazy about the backing vocals, but everything else about this is damn fine. Reminds me of, say, the Stylistics but with dirt under their fingernails. Cool.
16. Leon Thomas – China Doll 2/5
I like the guy’s voice and the bassline, but the song itself is little more than a novelty (at best) and a shallow bit of cultural stereotyping (at worst).
17. Dom Salvador – Guanabara 2/5
Again, the band sounds pretty hot, but I just can’t appreciate this. Kinda wish I could, ‘cuz the women who dance to this stuff are generally muyo boo’ful.
18. Edwin Birdsong – Theme From Callicoon 5/5
Ah, that feels good. This is exactly the kind of soul/R&B that I like. Is all Edwin Birdsong up to this level? I’ve gotta seek this muffugga out. And that buzzing electric guitar is sweet.
19. The Eliminators – Loving Explosion 4/5
And we’re still in my neck of the woods. There’s a touch of Otis Redding in the vocals, which can only mean good things. Another one to jot down on the to-buy list.
20. Mellow Candle – Vile Excesses 3/5
Kind of innocuous and it sounds a little dated to my ears, as if it came out in the middle of ’67. Still, something charming about it.
21. Nick Garrie – David’s Prayer 3/5
I dunno. It’s kind of like a male’s version of Maureen McGovern’s "Morning After". Very melodramatic. Very earnest.
22. Mill Street Depot – You Won’t Support Me 5/5
This is interesting. A mix of a torch song, an R&B ballad, and a barely discernible touch of that Phil Spector girl group sound (which might be contained entirely in those swooping strings). I like this a lot.

Another very cool mix, billy g. Like I said before, I could take my faves off these two mixes and make a compilation that I'd rank as 80 minutes of the best music ever made. Awesome and awesomer. Thanks!

great song.
how is the version on billy g's mix different?
anybody...

Damn. I've gotta read other people's reviews BEFORE I write mine.

Edit: cases in point: I apparently stole both the cop show theme song and Minnie Ripperton's dog-whistle voice from dnorwood.

It beats me...I'm unfamiliar with the version others have mentioned. I guess the Zombies had recorded it once but never released it? Mine is from Colin Blunstone's first solo album.

I'm surprised that so many people dislike Eugene McDaniel's voice. To me, his pacing and phrasing is the biggest strength of the song...his vocals are like another instrument driving the rhythmn of the song.

I'm really glad I didn't include Minnie Ripperton's "loving you". It was never under serious consideration as it wouldn't have fit the mix well and I suspected correctly that it's cheese content was too high for most but I still love that song.

thanks for the additional reviews.



I agree entirely with this...it definitely isn't one of the stronger tracks esp. in terms of immediate impact. I think its a grower though and that solo is the main reason it made the cut to make the mix.



I only have one album by him so I can't make a universal statement but the one I have is pretty strong. It sounds like the barn Lenny Kravitz aims for but misses by a mile. I think its supposed to have more of a black rock component than most of his albums.

And I'm really glad that you -- someone finally -- appreciate the Voices of East Harlem. There's lot of "rescued" and reinterpreted songs on that album. Hearing it for the first time was one of my "wow" moments of last year.

I'm out of town but will resume my own reviews next week.

Thanks for the comments and I'm glad you found some things you enjoy. I wasn't really expecting that people would even try to get through 2 hours and 40 minutes in one sitting.

I disagree with the quantity over quality comment. I certainly didn't expect everyone to like everything on these mixes, but it would be pretty hard to predict what people would dig and not dig, and I figured it would differ by listener.

I'm not sure that anyone would find a 12 song mix by me to be any more cohesive and strong, and I'd have to exclude a lot of songs that some here might like more than the others that ended up getting included. There's no way for example that I could have justified devoting 8 minutes to theme de yoyo on an album length mix and the mill street depot song was really an afterthought since I had some space but it got a 5/5 from Radcliffe.

I figured that these would end up being samplers for most which hopefully provide an introduction to some great artists that you want to seek out but you wouldn't overwise have discovered. If you like enough of them and the flow that you'll go back to them for many repeat listens all the better, but I wasn't really expecting that would be the case for most.

Exactly. I don't know why anybody would complain about too many songs on a mix. That's just dickish.

Guess I'm a dick then. I'm a 18 tracks per mix and no more kinda guy.

Good to know you haven't settled on an arbitrary number...

And I guess I should apologize for my inconsideration and selfishness in sending you so many more songs than you're able to appreciate.