Mining the Audio Motherlode, Volume 126

Give the Drummer Some's
Favorite Downloads from the MP3 Blogosphere

With every passing Down East vacation, I become increasingly convinced that there really are no moose in Maine. Over the years I've seen bald eagles dive-bombing gulls, starfish the size of dinner plates and even a whale cruising badassedly right by my cabin—but never have I seen even one damn moose. Luring bears to your garbage is like taking candy from a baby, but what does one have to do to attract a dopey moose?

Other than not seeing a moose, the last two weeks were spectacularly restful. I did have a loon swim to within 20 feet of me and ululate its head almost completely off. That's almost as good as spotting a moose, right?

Glad to be back...

Norma Jean & Ray J ~ "Raising Hell"
(Blog: Funk My Soul)

Hell Is for Hoagies
"Norma Jean & Ray J’s “Raising Hell” is one helluva rare nugget. Released on the Hep-Me label in 1974, this has a remarkably polished sound and sophistication in the music to have warranted bigger names on the front of the album cover. And while Norma Jean and Ray J would never topple the likes of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, they have a crude chemistry that has a magic all of its very own. A wonderful wonderful left-fielder that I urge you to give a few plays for it to reel you in and in love." (By Trakbuv, at Funk My Soul)

Johnny Colón ~ "Boogaloo '67"
(Blog: Blue Beat in My Soul)

No Sophmore Jinx
"Johnny Colón is the most exciting new star on the Latin scene today. I am proud of playing a small part in his success. I was the first D.J. to play his first hit album Boogaloo Blues. I flipped when I heard it and immediately signed him for the Village Gate. He broke it up, and the rest is history." (Symphony Sid Torin, from the liner notes)

Eddie Robinson ~ "You in My Life"
(Blog: A Pyrex Scholar)

Bless the Ants and Elephants
"DOPE soulful gospel LP from 1979 courtesy of Eddie Robinson's own Ren Unlimited records . Features some ill electric piano work DON'T SLEEP!!" (By The Purist, at A Pyrex Scholar)

Cecil Gant ~ "Cecil Gant 1944-1945"
(Blog: Twilightzone!)

Pre-Pre-Revolutionary Egypt
"Cecil Gant jumped into the R&B world's consciousness during a war bond rally in downtown Los Angeles in 1944. The 29 year old pianist/singer made a great impression on many in the audience that day and so he was soon in a makeshift recording studio for the small independent Gilt Edge label. The first record released was "I Wonder" / "Cecil's Boogie" on Gilt Edge #501 billed as "The G.I. Sing-sation." Using hidden neighborhood pressing plants and black market supplies of shellac, the record got out on the streets and sold. The side sold in a big way, and so big that this was the record heard around the independent label world. It offered proof that a Black R&B performer on a small independent label could turn a big profit, and so the entrepreneurs cranked it up and the small indies began in earnest in Los Angeles." (From Cecil Gant: The Forgotten Pioneer, by J.C. Marion)

Bob Thiele Emergency ~ "Head Start"
(Blog: La Cintas Recuperadas)

Head/Heart
"Dedicated To Pee Wee Russell, Bix Beiderbecke, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong, Frank Teschemaker, Johnny Dodds, Jess Stacy, Frank Zappa, B.B. King, Bob Thiele Jr, Tenice and my father." (Bob Thiele, from the liner notes.)

Listen to my radio show Give the Drummer Some—Tuesdays 6-7pm, on WFMU and Fridays 9 to noon—on WFMU's web stream Give the Drummer Radio.
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Posted by Doug Schulkind on August 03, 2011 at 11:45 AM in Doug Schulkind's Posts, Mining the Audio Motherlode, MP3s, Music, The Internet | Permalink

Comments

FYI:
Never Get Out Of The Boat is now...

Willard's Wormholes
http://www.willardswormholes.com/

Stop by and see us.
Thanks,
Willard

Posted by: Willard | August 03, 2011 at 12:10 PM

I loved the Boat! Thanks for the update Willard—and thanks for persevering.

Posted by: Doug Schulkind | August 03, 2011 at 12:25 PM

Love Norma Jean & Ray J; love Willard's Wormholes - thanks Willard!; and love www.africangospelchurch.blogspot.com, but it's been disappeared!?! Anyone know what happened and if it's shown up under a different identity (please please)?!?

Posted by: Blogginator | August 05, 2011 at 04:30 PM