Higher Ground: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, and the Rise and Fall of American Soul
SoulCulture.co.uk (Free subscription) | 11/19/2009
The latest issue of Wax Poetics [my favourite music magazine] is out now – with features on Curtis Mayfield and Spike Lee. The issue includes: Re:Discovery – Melvin Van Peebles, Manfred Krug, Marvin Gaye, Judgment Night OST, John Carpenter Roc Raida – The Grand Master Shadows And Phonographs – This sinister role of the turntable in Hollywood classics Brotherman [...]
Blackadelic Pop (Free subscription) | 11/17/2009
Darkest of night, with the moon shining bright/There’s a set goin’ strong, lotta things goin’ on/The man of the hour has an air of great power/The dudes have envied him for so long/Ooooh, Superfly … Curtis Mayfield, Superfly (1972) Samples and Covers/List from The Breaks.com Superfly : (Curtom 1972) * “Pusherman” Cam'Ron ft Brotha’s “D Rugs” Cookie...
Pandora (Free subscription) | 11/16/2009
Baile funk, aka funk carioca or bailes funk, is a good example of how dance music conventions can be and often are shaped by the people and for the people. The DJ doesn't necessarily define the sound but does nurture and develop it. And, mash it up with the sound of other cultures thousands of miles away that share similar experiences. In this case, that experience was using the spirit of music and...
Blackadelic Pop (Free subscription) | 11/15/2009
It’s been a long time coming. In fact, for the past eight years and thirty-seven issues, we’ve wanted to do a Curtis Mayfield cover. It finally worked out for our unofficial Film/Hustler Issue, in which we take a look at Mayfield’s epic soundtrack recording Super Fly . New York writer Michael A. Gonzales pulls from his own 1996 Curtis Mayfield interview as well as tapping Curtis associates,...
Sunset Gun (Free subscription) | 11/10/2009
I'm feeling blue. I need Green. From my archive of Al... Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson, Curtis Mayfield, Ike Turner…they are all gone dammit. Gone. How any self respecting (or self flagellating) Christian thinks I should believe in God is beyond me. Not that I need God necessarily, or that I don't believe (in something), and yet, when I hear that true soul survivor,...
Blackadelic Pop (Free subscription) | 11/09/2009
You would think that a person who has their name misspelled as many times as I have would be more sensitive to getting other folk's name right. However, when it comes to my new pal and unsung guitarist Craig McMullen, who played with Curtis Mayfield from 1970-1973, I keep mistakenly writing his surname as McCullen. What kind of writer would I be if I didn't have an excuse. You see, ax-man extraordinaire...
The Devil Has The Best Tuna (Free subscription) | 11/08/2009
Morningbell Genre: Psychedelic / Rock / Rock Gainesville, Florida, United States Florida-based quartet Morningbell (the answer to the obvious question is yes) is set to release its fourth album on their own non-profit label, Orange Records . The new LP, Sincerely, Severely , is due out on December 1st , and is somewhat of a departure from their Lips -inspired psychedelic rock and a significant step...
Smart People I Know (Free subscription) | 11/08/2009
Night Music, first known as Sunday Night, was a short lived show that lasted for 2 seasons — 1988-1990 — but had some great musicians on it. If you go here on YouTube, you can see great videos from the show of Marcus Roberts, Youssou N’Dour, Sting, Curtis Mayfield, the Pixies, Sonny Rollins…the list goes [...]
Traces of a Stream (Free subscription) | 11/06/2009
The songs of the 60's were really inspirational to me so I choose two songs that I love from that era. Curtis Mayfield's "We're A Winner" and James Brown's "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud". This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple: 1. Anyone can participate; any music genre 2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999 3. No...
Mirror On America (Free subscription) | 11/05/2009
To Be Invisible - (Curtis Mayfield) -performed by Gladys Knight Someday We'll All Be Free - Donny Hathaway
Thighs Wide Shut (Free subscription) | 10/31/2009
The 25th Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Anniversary Concerts - Night 2 Madison Square Garden Rocktober 30th after Thursday's all-time time-edness we knew there was no possible way that Friday's show, even with or w/o Clapton in the line-up, could ever match it. damns, we hate beings right, and the show being 2ish hours shorter than the previous one didn't help splatters much. Jeff Beck is a fine guitarist...
The Vinyl Word (Free subscription) | 10/27/2009
For lovers of lists, here's one I found on the internet. Not a bad selection I have to admit. The Best R&B Male Singers according to DigitalDreamDoor.com http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/ 1. Jackie Wilson 2. Sam Cooke 3. Clyde McPhatter 4. Marvin Gaye 5. Tony Williams (Platters) 6. Curtis Mayfield 7. Smokey Robinson 8. Al Green 9. Roy Hamilton 10. Little Willie John 11. Solomon Burke 12. Ben...
Blackadelic Pop (Free subscription) | 10/23/2009
Just finished writing a long essay on the making of the Curtis Mayfield's celebrated Superfly soundtrack for Wax Poetics Issue 38. Featuring interviews with arranger Johnny Pate, guitarists Phil Upchurch, Craig McCullen, Jean Paul Bourelly, actor/director Fred Williamson and writers Barry Michael Cooper and Darius James, the tentatively titled "Gangster Boogie: Curtis Mayfield and the Makings...
Notes from a Different Kitchen (Free subscription) | 10/23/2009
I love this dude (pause) - he's like a hip hop Curtis Mayfield . This video looks a little low budget though! [via illRoots.com ] Related : Behind the Scenes of the "Bulletproof" Video: Part 1 | Part 2
Toppa's Tales (Free subscription) | 10/23/2009
A happy list this. Songs that I think could be okay to be played at my funeral. Talk Talk - Life's what you make it The Doors - The end Michael Andrews / Gary Jules - Mad World The God Machine - It's all over Radiohead - Pyramid song Nirvana - Dumb Sonic Youth - Society is a hole Squarepusher - Smedley's melody Thom Yorke - Black swan Antony & The Johnsons - Hope there's someone Arcade Fire - Black...
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