Record Lection #10-Herbie Hancock “Mwandishi”

I’m pretty sure I heard this record for the first time when I was on acid at 19 years of age. I remember my friends and I being very enamored by the optically subtle record cover. “Whoa, he’s like, LOOKING at himself dude!” The song Ostinado in particular had us in a state of hypnosis for all night. We noticed that everybody who was in the band had alternate African names and we fantasized that perhaps they had all taken Yage bark and had an epic jam session in the Amazon jungle and returned to civilization with brand new monikers and cleansed spirits. That probably didn’t happen, but we were very young and pretty high. Plus we didn’t have any insights into the african language, which was probably  Herbie was at (one of) his peak(s) during his 60s Warner Brothers heyday and he slyly was able to slide in this trippy mindbender in the middle of a series of expensively produced dancefloor jazz like the funky and accessible “Fat Albert Rotunda”. Hancock always had a hand in the pop and avante-garde sections of the record store, and anybody with an interest in galactic keyboard workouts and alternate time signatures should definitely dig deep into his catalog from any era of his career!, However complicated or spacey this review might sound, this is very beautiful listen and definitely a nice companion to his more famous works and a sister record to his album “Sextant” which he recorded during his Columbia stint.  Mwandishi is a pretty deep scene even without the LSD, but don’t expect a groove tube like Chameleon or Rock-it. I can still hear me say “Dude, I think I can see mySELF in that mirror!!” My spine still twitches a little when I hear this album……

Record Lection #9-AC/DC “74 Jailbreak”

Absolutely my favorite moment by this band. “Back In Black” and “Highway to Hell” will always be the icons in the public’s eye but I didn’t really feel the full brunt of the power which is AC/DC until I saw the video for the title track on Headbangers Ball when I was 13. The raw look, and hairy charisma are in full display as Bon Scott relays a hard luck tale of penitentary escape. Scotts voice is in full throttle on this single and the riff is in my opinion one of Malcolm Youngs finest, if not one of the best in the history of Rock N’ Roll. During early era of the band, AC/DC had more youthful pluck and had an immediacy that in a few years later and another vocalist later had turned into a grizzled snarl by the 1980s. For some reason I always picture shirtless pasty high school dropouts working on Trans Ams in their driveways with the sun beating down on their dirty dishwater mullets when I hear these sounds, but it doesn’t make me any less of a fan. In fact, quality time spent with their 70’s output will reveal a quality hard blues band that even crosses the line into punk at times. They have an unbelievably militaristic and successful musical formula (spartan drums, simple rhythms, sophomoric sexual metaphors, Angus solos on top) that hasn’t changed in their extremely long standing career spanning multiple decades. It definitely wasn’t broke, so they obviously didn’t fix it. Brian Johnson may have been an able  replacement, but the true spirit of the band died with Bon Scott in the back of that car. If you need more proof of this, the exciting and eyecatching 12” cover says it all!  I want that red SG btw……

Record Lection #8-Dyke & The Blazers “So Sharp!”

 I bought this incredible collection in Japan while I was on tour. The cover looked very exciting and I had read before about this cat named Dyke who supposedly had a funkier band than James Brown. My listening station session did not disappoint. The song that did me in was the funkiest version of “You are my Sunshine” you will ever hear and the whole record totally jumped off of the needle! Arlester “Dyke” Christian was a Buffalo, NY bandleader who formed a heavy R’N’B band that was eventually recruited by the O’Jay’s to Phoenix, AZ to back up them up. While down in the desert, he wrote and recorded a song called “Funky Broadway” which became a minor hit and is often referred to as the first song to use the word “funky”, a most glorious legacy if there ever was one (There is apparently a very lively Broadway in both Buffalo and Phoenix) His later records notably feature the musicians that went on to form The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band (“Express Yourself”), and this very groovy career is totally devoid of filler (Dyke is a member of the ’27’ club of famously dead musicians).  I’m not gonna say The Blazers music tops the JBS but…….I’m just sayin you should check it out. My copy is a reissue and I do not care! This shit rules! It’s so live and energetic. Definitely fuel for many a private headphone sanitarium or upbeat dance party. I’ve since been able to find some 45s that have further solidified the myth of Dyke, and he has never let me down, but the best stuff is on here. Thanks Kent Records!!

Record Lection #7-Shocking Blue “Shocking Blue”

This was my unattainable holy grail for about 5 years of my life. It all started because I absolutely HAD to have the original version of “Love Buzz” because I heard on a cool girlfriends cassette. It wasn’t really that hard to find, it’s just that I was always with someone in the record store that either found it first or needed it more. I would make a cassette of it, wear the tape thin, lose that tape, then make a copy of someone else’s record, and then start the whole process all over again. When I finally did start to find copies, I would give them away to friends that I believed NEEDED to hear it. I have found an utterly unanimous reaction of joy every time I witness anyone hear it for the first time. In fact, you could say that singer Mereska Veres towering wail is probably undeniable. It is vulnerably feminine and wonderfully feminIST at the same time. The cry of the ultimate female warrior is also your nourishing mother. But the music, THE MUSIC, is also sublime. A beautiful mix of psychedelic americana with eastern influences that create a sort of Scandinavian soul that has yet to be replicated. A comparison to Jefferson Airplane might be apt in less thoughtful cases but Shocking Blues overall concept and execution are so much more powerful. Sometimes I would be djing and I would just let a whole side play because every song was good. I may have gained and lost friends because of their opinions of this album back when I was more idealistic. This is the last copy I purchased for 20 bucks at Green Noise. I will probably give this one away too. I will feel so good about it…..

Record Lection #6-Mighty Diamonds “Right Time”

The cover speaks to the harmony within. Here, we have the three lead singers of the dynamic reggae group The Might Diamonds, naked, proud, black, and fierce. Their certain focus, blemished skin, and unkempt hair show that they are defiantly opposite of the type of appearance that the upper crust wanted for the good proper Jamaican. They have instead set their gaze on the prospect of African repatriation and reparations for the oppressed and the poor on their own island home, the ultimate Rastafarian credo (albeit on a major label like Virgin) I first heard the title jam on a documentary called Roots Rock Reggae and the molasses rich group singing instantly got me open. Indeed, The Diamonds were one of the front runners of the militant three part harmony craze of the late 70’s roots reggae scene and creators of many sublime hits, the best of which are included in this collection. There was many an afternoon my friends and I would vibe out hard on “Poor Marcus”, a tribute to the great revolutionary Marcus Garvey (this song encouraged me to learn more about him) and “Why Me Black Brother” and dig the groovy militarism. The voices are amazing, the music unstoppable, every song a classic. This stuff was recorded at such a perfect time in Reggae music and is certainly in my top 5 of the genre. Besides that is there a more badass picture of any band? The definition of rough and rugged, a true band of the people speaking the language of the suffering. Love….. (Taken with Instagram)

Record Lection #5-De La Soul “Buhloone Mindstate”

I wouldn’t say this is the best De La record (this distinction might be impossible when analyzing this groups incredible career) but this one is probably my favorite. This may have do with the many memories I have of a senior year driving out to my girlfriends house in the country getting REALLY stoned and blasting this in my first car. Our little group of friends would sit around and carefully dissect each song and ask ourselves questions like “what does ‘Stickabush’ mean?” and “does this mean that Black Sheep really Were members of Native Tongues?” this was a world that we all desperately wanted to be a part of and desperately wanted all of their inside jokes to be ours. While De La Soul is Dead and Stakes Is High were epic collections of songs, this one feels like an introspective concept record, effectively changing upbeat quantity into introspective quality. I have no knowledge of what changed within the group between ‘Dead’ and ‘Mindstate’ but with comparative listening the differences become obvious.  Pos’ lyrics become more personal and emotional.  The contributions of Trugoy the Dove, normally the abstract counterpart of the group, are substantially reduced. There is even more of a live element present in the tracks, most notably a cameo from funk legend Maceo Parker. There is even an amazing skit that doesn’t even feature a member of De La, but a highly skilled Japanese duo thoroughly wrecking shop over a few seconds of a spare drum beat (I would rewind this 30 seconds of music constantly).  In spite of this turmoil, the results are no less timeless or effective.  I came of age to cuts like “Breakadawn” and “I am I be” still so deep, inspiring, and poetic when I think about them today. With every listen and I’m transported to a world of first loves, sunshine by the lake, and learning how to skateboard. On top of all that it is an undeniable hip hop masterpiece!!……..”I am Shorty I be 4’11”…..ahhhh.

Record Lection #4-Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express “Closer To It”

I was flipping through some discount records records in a Tuscon AZ while on tour with Dub Narcotic Sound System.  I stop my furious thumbing to look at this very intriguing dust jacket and paused for a second because I had never heard of him at the time and I was transfixed by very interesting vehicle that was illustrated. Steve Gamboa from The Make-Up looks over my shoulder and says “Thats a great one. His other stuff is kinda cheesy but that one is an absolute gem.”  To me, this was quite an endorsement! And,  To make my decision exponentially easier, it was only a dollar! To this day it might be one the best dollars I have ever spent! (except for double decker tacos at Taco Bell and McDonalds cheeseburgers) The song “Happiness is just around the Bend” is my particular jam, and a constant in my DJ sets. The vibe is so warm and positive and the sounds rest perfectly between soul-funk and early disco. Brian pounds and conjures his wide expansive chords and dexterous lines on his magic Fender Rhodes with gospel like impunity, and his band is obviously put together from crack session men well versed in progressive jazz. Literally a cosmic locomotive bound for the edge of Oblivion. Steve was right though, Auger didn’t get much better than this, save for a few sojourns with the amazing Julie Driscoll, but this is one of gateway sounds that led to a love of underground disco music. Fortunately for the financially handicapped,  I still see this record a a lot when I go rummaging through the dollar bins and I implore anyone who likes well intentioned and executed 70’s dance music should not keep that dollar in your pocket. I feel like I can never resist  buying copies of this, I guess I’m afraid of wearing it out…. (Taken with Instagram)

Record Lection #3-ESG “Come Away”

ESG “Come Away”-I received this record as a gift from a friend of mine who knew I would love it. I had already heard the self titled record EP and was already transformed by its optimistic minimalism. This however hit me hard as a fully realized album with a (slightly) matured sound. These songs were a little more refined, possibly a little sassier. Olivia and I would obsess over every nuance from the nasty bass, to the popcornish bongos, and the dont-fxxking-touch-me vocal delivery. In fact we absorbed the vibe do much that we formed the band C.O.C.O. in an attempt to emulate their grooves. I think what drew us in was the stark honesty and playfulness, much like The Shaggs with a healthy dose of James Brown. As a searcher for the perfect beat, I constantly look for what I would call sheer honesty in music. While quality music production is not necessarily reliant on the truth, you can sense that this talented family is performing what truly lies inside of them, they BELIEVE that they are funky and they don’t really fucking care what anyone thinks about that. The ham fisted cut and pasted and gaudy orange sleeve belies their punk rock influence and intention while the carefully placed boom box taking center stage of the composition tell you that these are strong black women from the streets of NYC. Their blackness ever present in the countless samples their simple songs have spawned.  Since Olivia and I’s fateful little discovery and subsequent appropriation, ESG has enjoyed a much deserved renaissance and started playing shows again to much admiration and acclaim and you can hear their pilfered styles in any band wanting to bridge the gap between slam and gogo dancing. I even heard they are playing their last show this summer. Unfortunately I won’t ever get a chance to see them but their effect on my philosophy of music and the world are incalculable. I will always be in debt to the Scroggins sisters and their brother Tito.

Record Lection #2-Lennie Hibbert “Creation”

Lennie Hibbert is the only reggae vibraphone player I can think of and at least the only one you need to know. When I was 21 Dub Narcotic Sound System visited the Studio One store in Brooklyn and that was, and still is, one of the best days of my life. I just stood and stared at the haphazard shop with all of the classic Studio One LPs looking like they were shoved into the wall fixtures. Added to the scene was random videos, electronics, and random appliances that only added to the charm. Glowing through all of the detritus was this faded and cheaply photographed cover with a rather normal looking fellow looking optimistically into the future. I was only recently removed from my devout rude boy phase but the reggae vibes never left my bloodstream. Now, I was here practically at ground zero, in the house of the man that partially changed my way of thinking about music, and I was going to by a record from him!!  I mean, a Jamaican vibes player recorded by Coxone Dodd!! Thats a win, honey!! You absolutely cannot lose with some late 60’s Studio One.  Despite the novelty Lennie’s vibes sound very comfortable on these classics rhythms, possibly even more than the great Augustus Pablos melodica (purists will find that last comment sacrilege) Anyways, I had to wait over a month to hear it and I DEFINITELY was not disappointed. One side has Lennie working over some solid versions while other side is pure jazz groove. Quite the economy I would say. you can spin this record twice and no one would be the wiser, unless one of your patrons happens to hip to this unique and delightful slab.  To this day, it is always in my crate when I DJ and I chill to it at home often.

Record Lection #1-V/A “Wanna Buy A Bridge?”

I used to have this thing where I wouldn’t pay more than 10 dollars for a record. It seemed to be pretty logical “keep it cheap” you know? The great Madlib once said that he never paid more than 10 dollars (That ethos seems to be harder and harder as these days. One day I was in a record store in Columbus and this record was on the wall for 25 dollars. My friend said “That’s pretty good”.. I could tell by his reaction that this was going to be my favorite record. It was the best 25 dollars I have EVER spent, and the ripple effects of that purchase have a priceless effect on my life and my loves. When I finally got back home from that tour I spent many an hour trying to properly absorb every incendiary sound on this collection. Inspiration seemed to be attacking my brain from every angle. Essential Rough Trade classics like “Aerosol Burns” by Kleenex are paired with indispensable classics like “Part Time Punks” by Television Personalities. I listened to it over and over, feeling ever hard beat, every sarcastic vibration. This was the album that not only showed me how to be a punk, but also showed me that punk rock is a lifestyle and a general ethos rather than a fad or distinguishable style invented by society. No, punk is so many things, an attitude that cannot be tamed by gender. Yes, I DID wanna buy a bridge! But instead I got a fucking Interstate freeway straight into an identity I have and will keep until I have decided to hate art. I think that everything I have done musically since I’ve heard this comp can be traced back to one of these incredible songs. Today it is still one of my most favorite records in my collection and probably always will. It was fate that led my friend to push towards going over my used album budget and to this day I am still in debt to him even if he does not know it. I’m convinced he knew it would change my life.