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    0 Woodstock Is Still Wonderful at 40

    Woodstock, the 1969 arts and music festival, is an important iconic cultural event because of the changing artistic and social norms the concert both magnified and challenged. August 15 - 18, 40 years ago this weekend, the harmonic happening happened. The historic gathering of close to 500,000 people in Woodstock, New York was not the first flower-power super show. Woodstock occurred 2 years after 1967's Monterey Pop, a legendary California gathering of contemporary music elite. We remember Woodstock Music and Art Fair for creating the formula for Live Earth, Live Aid, Farm Aid, and the subsequent gigantic song filled mega affairs yet to come. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong in the planning, execution, and organization of Woodstock. Just out of high school during the summer of 69', I wrote the organizers for ticket information and received disappointing news from them in a letter laced with typographical mistakes. In retrospect, with no tickets and no way to get there, it was a smart move for me not to attempt to go (from New York City) despite being just 80 miles away from the town of Woodstock. Hundreds of thousands attended, including the gleeful gate crashers who soaked in the spirit of free admission, free music, and frequent rain during the weekend. Woodstock, Monterey Pop, and many of the other Wal-Mart sized festivals have always been criticized for sparse representation of R&B and soul performers. Monterey Pop had Booker T & The MG's, Otis Redding, and Hugh Masekela. Woodstock had Sly & The Family Stone, Richie Havens, and Santana. Both featured Jimi Hendrix. Missing from these grand spectacles, real blues legends like B.B. King. Despite the booking lapses, it was still much easier to create a somewhat diverse concert bill in 1969 than what might be expected today. Woodstock had among others? Folk: Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Melanie, Tim Hardin Rock: Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Ten Years After Soft Rock: Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young Blues Rock: Canned Heat, Butterfield Blues Band Pop: Sha-Na-Na, John Sebastian Woodstock is given a pass for the technical quality of the concert recording. Admittedly, this was a tough job. According to the official documentation on the original vinyl 3 album set, 64 reels of 8 track tape were used to capture three and 1/2 days of music. Each day consisted of 18 continuous hours of performances. The final mixes are rough by today's standards. What stands out is the energy and passion of the performers as they were motivated to jam thanks to the responsive, enthusiastic crowd. In 1994 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Woodstock, a 4 CD collection was finally released with cleaner mixes. Melanie, Tim Hardin, and a few other performers who appeared in 1969 (but were not on the original record) got added to the updated release. Still, we remember this 60's defining event not so much for the music, but for it's social significance. Listen for our 40th anniversary Woodstock tribute on Powerhouse Radio on Friday, August 14, 2009, during the 11 am eastern hour. Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Sam Cooke Summertime

    Here's Sam Cooke in a lighter studio moment from way back in 1962. The photo is on the back of the vinyl release The Best of Sam Cooke. Producers Hugo & Luigi proclaim on the album jacket "he lives in the top ten," and Sam Cooke did, with these memorable favorites included in this collection: "You Send Me" "Only Sixteen" " Everybody Loves To Cha Cha Cha" "For Sentimental Reasons" "Wonderful World" "Summertime" "Chain Gang" "Cupid" "Twistin' The Night Away" "Sad Mood" "Having A Party" "Bring It On Home To Me" Discover much more about Sam Cooke in the PowerhouseRadio.com Archive. Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Con Funk Shun Steps Lightly but Brightly

    Con Funk Shun's 1977 album Secrets included the Michael Cooper inspired anthem "Ffun," one of their top songs. Michael, Karl Fuller, Paul Harrell, Cedric Martin, Louis A. McCall, Danny Thomas, and Felton C. Pilate II are all pictured here on what is the flip side of the lyric sheet insert included in Secrets. Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 A Creative Source Sure Shot

    On the flip side of this 45 rpm vinyl dj promotional copy, a famous New York City radio station music director inscribed the phrase "sure shot." I'm showing you the side without the writing, so you can get a clean look at this Sussex label 1973 original version of "You Can't Hide Love," recorded by Creative Source, and written by Skip Scarborough. This is the same song that became a big hit for Earth, Wind & Fire on their 1/2 live 1/2 studio double album, Gratitude, in 1975. Although billed as a "sure shot" by our mystery music director, this fate was not to be. "You Can't Hide Love" did not become a hit for Creative Source. Creative Source's version sounds closer to what you'd expect from the 5th Dimension or Friends of Distinction - a smooth blend of male/female harmony, but not nearly as progressive in production as the adventurous reincarnation by the elements of the universe, Earth, Wind & Fire. What makes this copy of the Creative Source song personally valuable to me is the calligraphy on the side of the disc I haven't shown you. New York City denizens have probably already guessed that the scribe was the famous dj Frankie Crocker, who picked this tune as a WBLS "sure shot" while I was working there. Yes, this is the actual copy of the 45 that was transferred to an audio tape cartridge and included the opening announcement voiced by Frankie who chimed: "It's another WBLS sure shot." Those were the days! Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 13 Blue Magic Lane is Home for 5 Philly Fellas

    Richard Pratt, Vernon Sawyer, Keith Beaton, Ted "Wizard" Mills (lead vocals), and Wendell Sawyer are the 1975 version of Blue Magic. This montage of photos is from the original inner jacket sleeve from their album Thirteen Blue Magic Lane. Wedged between 1974's Blue Magic (that included the hit "Side Show"), and their 2nd 1975 record The Magic of the Blue (featuring "Three Ring Circus"), Thirteen Blue Magic Lane wasn't unlucky with respect to several strong tracks highlighted by: "Chasing Rainbows" "Magic of the Blue" "We're On The Right Track" "What's Come Over Me" (with Margie Joseph) Blue Magic, from the city of brotherly love, textured "the sound of Philadelphia" to their own strengths using many of the city's top session musicians and producers during the legendary Gamble and Huff era. Even with the expectation of a signature ballad serenade, a Blue Magic show from my personal experience was always well paced, energetic, and lively. In 2008, a live in concert Blue Magic DVD was finally released. A classic soul gem to seek out if you can find it is the 1976 live double album featuring Blue Magic, Margie Joseph, and Major Harris, from which we occasionally play tracks on Powerhouse Radio. Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Mandrill Fencewalks to Morocco

    The classic soul "Fencewalk" funk ensemble Mandrill will be returning to the stage with some European and USA appearances during the 2009 tour season. One of their first ports of call will be at the northern tip of Africa: Tangiers, Morocco, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea. All the action happens at the Tanjazz Music Festival, featuring Mandrill on Friday, June 12th, and Saturday, June 13th. Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Vanessa Williams Celebrates

    Today, March 18th, is the birthday of singer, actor, and former Miss America Vanessa Williams. Her most recent CD, 2005's Everlasting Love, was striking in its creative brush stroke; adding new color to the canvas of 12 golden oldies. Among those put to the test, "Never Can Say Goodbye" (featuring George Benson), and "I'll Be Good To You" (The Brothers Johnson original). Blessed with a gorgeous voice, Vanessa has cruised the middle of the road mainstream with the airy hits "Dreamin'," "Save the Best for Last," and "Love Is" (with Brian McKnight). Her tempo crankers "The Right Stuff" and "Running Back To You" get the party started. With those 80's, 90's, and new millennium hits behind her, Let's look for some future magic from Vanessa Williams. Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Funky Funkadelic

    March 5, 1978 - "Flash Light" by Parliament is the number one R&B song. Here is Funkadelic, (their alter ego), with George Clinton holding court in the corner. Previous Post | Next Post

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    1 The Chambers Brothers Shout

    The weekend of February 12 - 13, 1971, The Chambers Brothers made their 4th appearance at Bill Graham's legendary Fillmore East in New York City. Here's the biography that was included in the official program that weekend (from an original hard copy in the PowerhouseRadio.com archive). "The Chambers Brothers, Willie, George, Lester and Joe were born in Mississippi and made their debut in Lee County's Mount Calvary Baptist Church." "At that time George was seventeen; Willie was eleven; Lester was nine; and Joe seven. Soon afterwards the family moved to Los Angeles and the Brothers continued to sing together in church groups." "Their first professional break came when they met the owner of a club called The Ash Grove, and from there they moved on to gigs in other local clubs." "In 1961 the Brothers turned professional, and for the next two-and-a-half years continued to concentrate on gospel songs and play small clubs and coffee houses." "When their emphasis changed to pop tunes and blues, they found themselves in need of a drummer. They met Brian Keenan one night at Ondine in New York, liked his playing, and asked him to join the group." "Brian was born in Manhattan, but raised in small towns in Ireland and England. When he was eleven, he returned to the United States, living in the Bronx." "One of his main hobbies was observing the street bongo-players and by the time he moved back to England as a teenager, he had his own set of drums. After living in London for several years, Brian once again returned to New York where he met the Brothers." ---------- Before The Chambers Brothers scored with several big hits while recording for Columbia, they recorded a series of tracks around 1965. The picture above is from Vault Records album #120 Shout, released in 1968, three years too late, masquerading as new product to compete with the hot Columbia material. Shout featured an 11 minute live version of a song originally made famous by the Isley Brothers. The other Shout tracks were recorded in the studio. Although the Chambers Brothers were ultimately more popular with the pure pop crowd than the classic soul fraternity, they are significant in the 60's landscape because they attracted an integrated audience with their soft psychedelics and gospel influenced vocals. The Chambers Brothers had the crossover appeal of a Prince, Michael Jackson, and Sly & The Family Stone. Here are my picks for the top 5 Chambers Brothers Songs: "Funky" "People Get Ready" "Love, Peace, and Happiness" "I Can't Turn You Loose" "Time Has Come Today" Previous Post | Next Post

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    0 Brook Benton Crosses the Soul Bridge

    I was about 5 years old when Brook Benton dominated the music charts, but older family members always listened to his records around the house. Benton was swept along by the new wave of late 1950's R&B, slowly morphing his easy listening approach to popular music into what I'd call pre-'Sam Cooke' soul. In 1984, just as the CD coffin was finally closing on vinyl albums, Mercury Records released a vinyl album Brook Benton: It's Just a Matter of Time - His Greatest Hits. Brook has a smooth, rich, deep, mellow voice, well suited for his mannerly disposition with songs. He serenades rather than shouts. Ann Rowena Harris, National Promotion Director of Urban Contemporary Music, Polygram Records, wrote the following liner notes on this 1984 album Brook Benton: It's Just a Matter of Time - His Greatest Hits: "It was just about the year that most teenage girls were swooning to Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson, the time of year when you prepared to go that last mile down the aisle for graduation." "You can imagine how we felt in the fall of 1959. For us, we knew it was just a matter of time." "That seemed to be the record everybody started playing because we all knew we were headed for better things that fall." "It was then that the golden voice caught hold, as if it were one big love affair." "That was the voice of Brook Benton, smooth and deep like fine wine. It was Brook's "Endlessly" that kept you motivated through those final exams." "Brook Benton was born, Benjamin Franklin Peay, in Camden, South Carolina, September of 1931." "His first record for Mercury, the luminous "It's Just a Matter of Time," reached No. 3 on the pop charts." "Starting in 1959, and on through the early 60's, the team of Brook Benton and producer/song-writer Clyde Otis remained on top, a place previously and regally occupied by his great predecessor, Billy Eckstine." "In 1970, after Brook and Mercury had parted company he recorded perhaps his greatest single, the gossamer "Rainy Night in Georgia." "Brook still reigned supreme." "Though it's been years since the last hit, the voice still remains. This album is a fitting testimonial. Brook Benton will always have what it takes." Four years after this tribute album was released, Brook Benton passed away in 1988. Previous Post | Next Post

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