Groovy, Sexy & Soulful Part 18
The George Martin Orchestra – Fillet of Soul New Orleans (1973)
From the James Bond movie ‘Live and let die’ (picture).
Matt Monro – From Russia With Love (1964)
Another track from a James Bond score.
Barbara Lewis – Workin' On A Groovy Thing (1968)
Detroit's own very smooth, suave and sophisticated soul diva Barbara Lewis goes for a solid, soulful approach on this title track of her last Atlantic album.
Noah – Sexy And I Know It (2012)
An acoustic cover of the LMFAO track. 'I got a passion in my pants...'
Young-Holt Unlimited – Soulful Strut (1968)
The trio consisted of Ken Chaney (piano), Eldee Young (bass, cello, vocals), and Issac Holt (drums), formerly of the Ramsey Lewis Trio. It became a #3 hit in the United States and went to #1 in Canada. Neither Eldee Young nor Red Holt is believed to have played on the track, which was the work of session musicians identified only as the Brunswick Studio Band.
Barbara Acklin – Am I The Same Girl (1968)
Although Barbara Acklin (married to Chi-Lites singer Eugene Record who wrote the song) recorded the track first, producer Carl Davis removed her voice from the track, replaced it with a piano solo by Floyd Morris and released the resultant track in November 1968 as ‘Soulful Strut’ credited to Young-Holt Unlimited.
Pleasure – Ghettos Of The Mind (1977)
Pleasure was a band from Portland, Oregon that blended soul, funk and jazz with a tough street edge that became a cult group on the underground black music scene of the late 70's. They are perhaps best known for their 1979 hit, ‘Glide’.
Rance Allen Group – Peace Of Mind (1977)
This Detroit-based, traditionally trained gospel family group were the first gospel musicians who incorporated rock, jazz, and soul into their songs. This sublime piece of work from their album ‘Say my friend’ has the amazing Mizell brothers at the production helm.
Carl Douglas – I Don’t Care What People Say (1974)
Jamaican born Englishman Carl Douglas is known for his disco novelty classic ‘Kung fu fighting’ (originally a b-side), but just a very few people knew at the time that he was a very decent soul singer as well. This is from his only success album in the US that was strangely called ‘Kung fu fighting and other great love songs’.
Atlantic Starr – Silver Shadow (1986)
This is a very nice uplifting track from their album ‘As the band turns’.
Odyssey – Who? (1974)
This is a ‘one single only’ disco project from synthesizer pioneer and movie composer Vangelis Papathanassiou (‘Chariots of fire’, 'Alexander'). The vulnerable vocals give this track a deeper meaning, I think. Greek singer Demis Roussos sang this song as well a couple of years later and called it ‘I dig you’. He did it with more self-confidence which gave the song a total different meaning. Vangelis and Demis played together in Greek prog-rock band 'Aphrodite's Child' in the 1960s ('Rain and tears').
The Real Thing – Love Takes Tears (1982)
Originally a Johnny Bristol track, but this is very well done by British band The Real Thing.
Christian Gaubert – Sweet Maryline (1979)
From the best compilation album of 2012, ‘Private Wax: Super Rare Boogie And Disco’, which came out on BBE Records in August.
Carol Williams – Can’t Get Away (From Your Love) [Laura Stavinoha Re-edit] (1982)
A cool edit from Dutch singer Laura Stavinoha, who recently released her nice EP 'Sweet life'.
Sanctuary – I Am Going To Love Him (1983)
Black Shag from Beat Electric writes this about the track:
‘As far as uptempo gospel boogie goes, I think this is pretty much the alpha and omega of all things. Sanctuary's 'I Am Going To Love Him' is of course written about Jesus, and whomever wrote it obviously felt strongly about the subject matter as the track bangs and is without doubt the best record the ever spotty Montage label put out. In fact I can't think of another good one, maybe that French language cover of Billy Jean as a ten million mile away second place. Tom Browne is the only notable on this cut, his solo lp cut sampled by Coolio or someone from that era, which must have been nice, lucky fellow. He never made much of his solo career but was one of the stand out session guitarists on the circuit, and I think his rhythm part on this is one of his best.’
Gladys Knight & The Pips – Taste Of Bitter Love [Scratchandsniff Re-rub] (1980)
Gladys Knight in her prime! Written and produced by Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson.
Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band – Winter Love [ET Edit] (1979)
Don Armando Bonilla (August 9, 1946 - November 16, 2002) formed the Second Avenue Rhumba Band with vocalist Fonda Rae and scored a #1 hit on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart with ‘Deputy of Love’ in 1979. Bonilla was also a percussionist with Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band. ‘Winter Love ‘ was featured in the 1980 horror film Maniac.
Spiders Webb – I Don’t Know What’s On Your Mind (1976)
Jazz funk band founded by the husband and wife team of bass player Carol Kaye and Kenneth Ronald Rice. The group recorded one brilliant album for Fantasy.
Larry Graham & Graham Central Station – Throw-N-Down The Funk (2012)
Former bass player of Sly & The Family Stone who is credited with the invention of the slapping technique, which radically expanded the tonal palette of the bass, although he himself refers to the technique as ‘thumpin' and pluckin'.
Two Door Cinema Club – Next Year (2012)
From their album ‘Beacon’.
Roberta Flack – Oh Darling (2012)
From her album ‘Let it be Roberta’, a collection of songs that are originally from the Beatles.
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