Lace The Tracks With Stacks Of Artifacts

Time for yet another round of Scholar Says...

Visit 33 Jones to cop a couple of joints from Redman's new mixtape, Live From The Bricks. Hopefully these tracks will get your mind right for the first full-length LP that the good Funk Doctor has blessed us with since Malpractice dropped in 2001. Red Gone Wild: Thee Album is scheduled for release on 3/27/07. We'll see if Def Jam brings it...

Get On Down With The Stepfather Of Soul, and download an amazing tune by Gloria Walker---"Walking With My New Love".

If a slice of psychedelic funk sounds appealing right now, head over to Dilated Choonz to acquire "Big John Is My Name" by The Undisputed Truth.

Cop the instrumental version of "The PJs" (Pete Rock w/ Raekwon & Masta Killa) via the almighty Spliff Huxtable.

Check out this interview with Noam Chomsky, in which he clearly articulates "why Bush does diplomacy Mafia-style."

Visit Headphones On to download "Melting Pot" by Booker T & The MG's and "Hold On! I'm A Comin'!" by Sam & Dave.

Speaking of Booker T, "Soul Sanction" is currently available by way of Some Velvet Blog. Also included in the post are songs by Eddie Floyd and Isaac Hayes.

I would have included links to individual posts, but Black History Month was absolute madness over at Biochemical Slang. Go kick it with Vik if you wanna get an education, and cop some superior tracks by Stevie Wonder, Tupac, The Chi-Lites, The Clipse, Curtis Mayfield, Bob James, Bill Withers, Betty Davis, Ann Peebles, Millie Jackson, Ice Cube, and more. This spot is so thorough, it makes me seriously consider laying Souled On to rest...

I talked about this quite a while ago, but my readership has just about tripled since then---check out Blue Note: Over 1000 Great Jazz Album Covers.

Those with more eccentric/eclectic taste in album cover art may want to take a walk through Frank's Vinyl Museum.

Cartoon Network's Adult Swim and Def Jux have joined forces to give us an album for free and legal download. Cop Definitive Swim here, featuring tracks by Aesop Rock, Mr. Lif, Cannibal Ox, El-P, Cool Calm Pete, and more. Not as cool as Chrome Children 2, but hey---still worth every penny. You figure it out...

Visit The Revolution Will Not Be Televised to download mp3s by J Dilla, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Black Milk, and more.

O-Dub recently posted a rare soul gem by Donny Hathaway over at soul sides---"Lord Help Me". Much respect to my reader Debs, who brought this to my attention right away...

Before leaving soul sides, make sure you hit up those two Masta Ace joints from Grand Masta: The Remix And Rarity Collection.

Visit Martini & Jopparelli's Music Selections to download "It Takes Two" by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, as well as the original songs they sampled on the cut---"Think" (Lyn Collins) and "Space Dust" (The Galactic Force Band).

Sample seekers will also love this post at 1-800-SASSBUCKET, featuring the original tracks sampled on "Black Republicans" (Nas/Jay-Z) and "Why U Wanna" (T.I.).

More outstanding sample sources can be found at this is tomorrow, where you can d/l songs by The Jackson 5, Lonnie Youngblood, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and Southside Movement.

Peace to mangare, a blog that was gracious enough to link Souled On not once, but twice.

Further gratitude is extended to the Love Unlimited sound system for giving up some of their "music blog love".

Until next time, soul children...be easy like Sunday mornin', and all that good shit...

Word From Your Moms:

"I have learnt silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers."---Khalil Gibran

Deep Into The Groove

"My Hang Up Is You" ---The Skull Snaps

Although The Skull Snaps remain somewhat of a musical obscurity, crate diggers have helped to make their self-titled debut album somewhat of a cult classic. After the band released this effort in 1973, they pulled a disappearing act, creating an air of mystery that has fascinated and intrigued record collectors for decades. Interest in the LP has also largely been driven by the fact that it's been sampled countless times by a variety of hip-hop artists. The opening drum pattern on the track "It's A New Day" has been utilized too many times to mention. According to most of the sources I've read, Dooley-O was the first artist to sample the song, followed by Eric B & Rakim, MF Doom, DJ Shadow, Diamond D, Showbiz & AG, The Pharcyde, Redman, Gang Starr, Public Enemy, Peanut Butter Wolf, Erik Sermon, Digable Planets, and many others.

Since a great deal of attention has already been focused on "It's A New Day", I decided to feature a different track from the LP. After all, this album is much more than a treasure trove for sampling artists---it's an exceptional recording that deserves to be appreciated on its own merits. While the group is generally labeled as funk, most of the tracks on the LP bear a distinctly soulful element. For example, "My Hang Up Is You" is a powerful love song, reminiscent of qualities exemplified by groups such as The Temptations and The Dramatics.

The wisdom that this song imparts is the necessity of feelin' your loved ones way more than dope. All I need is you baby, and I'll be super high 'til I die..."I don't need no dope to feel like I wanna fly..."

In 2004, the Skull Snaps LP was re-issued by Aztec Music, and Ten12 Records has also recently released a couple of 12" singles by the group. View their complete discography here.

"New Bell"---Manu Dibango

Manu Dibango is an incredible vibraphone player and saxophonist who's renowned for developing a sound that's a hybrid of jazz and traditional Cameroonian music. He's successfully experimented with many other styles as well, including spirituals, reggae, soul, the blues, and more.

Adding to his relevance to music history is the fact that his "Soul Makossa" single (1972) is widely considered to be one of the first disco records to hit the airwaves. People who don't love disco may not accept that distinction as a worthwhile claim to fame, but it's actually quite an outstanding record. Michael Jackson loved it so much that he stole a little bit of it for "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". Because karma is such a bitch, Jackson eventually had to pay Dibango compensatory damages.

Once again, I wanted to focus on an underdog choice---the jazz/funk/African groove called "New Bell". It's my favorite track from the Soul Makossa LP, which speaks volumes considering how truly brilliant the entire record is.

Hopefully you won't allow the pervasive fear of "world music" to interfere with your willingness to give this record a chance. If you know what's truly good for you, you'll at least give it a spin.

"Imagine"---DJ Nu-Mark & Pomo

When I first learned that this duo had covered John Lennon's most famous solo recording, I wasn't particularly interested in hearing the results. I've never been a big fan of Nu-Mark's crew (Jurassic 5), and I still don't know shit about Pomo, except that he's a hip-hop producer from the West Coast. Furthermore, I couldn't really conceive of the song sounding particularly dope on the wheels of steel. Fortunately, an insightful friend forced me (at gunpoint) to listen to it. As it turns out, it was somewhat idiotic that I put up such a defiant resistance before simply giving their rendition a try. Sadly, I think my friend may still bear a few scars from the incident.

In truth, the Blend Crafters LP (2004) was a relatively solid effort overall, and the jazzy hip-hop vibe of the "Imagine" instrumental has always struck me as one of the strongest cuts on the album. It's easily one of my favorite interpretations of the song now, but let's keep that between us. My friend would probably be all pissed off and bitter if he only knew...

"Supermarket Blues"---Eugene McDaniels

"Supermarket Blues" is a priceless track from Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse, a controversial album which succeeded in making quite a few people uncomfortable when it was released in 1971. After all, it's abundantly clear from the tone of Heroes that singer/songwriter McDaniels was extremely frustrated with the political, social, and racial climate at the time when he recorded the album.

Although more than 35 years has passed since this record was released, mainstream America still doesn't particularly understand or want to hear the voice of the angry black male. As just one example, think of the backlash that ensues when MCs throw verbal darts at unethical police practices such as racial profiling. Apparently, it's still not entirely acceptable to fire shots at "The Man", even when the attack is only verbal.

Consequently, one can only imagine what the overall response must have been at the time when Heroes was originally released. Its merits as an outstanding jazz recording were undoubtedly overshadowed by a fear of what was perceived as militance on McDaniels' part. It was widely rumored that Spiro Agnew (Vice President during Richard Nixon's Reign Of Deception) contacted Atlantic Records demanding that the record be pulled off the shelves. Whether that's true or not isn't all that important. The tale manages to illustrate just how threatening McDaniel's musical message was perceived to be.

"Supermarket Blues" relates an incident in which the narrator gets a critical beatdown when he is merely trying to return a can of peas to the grocery store. Parts of the song sound humorous and/or awkward now---the 70s slang realistically has some bearing on how the song is interpreted in today's terms.

That said, this record is every bit as relevant now as it ever was. However unfortunate it may be, the concept of unwarranted racist brutality isn't nearly as outdated or antiquated as one would hope...

A more general overview of McDaniels' career can be found here.

"9th Wonder (Blackitolism)"---Digable Planets

I'm not all that proficient at making best-of lists, but if I were to name some of my favorite hip-hop artists, Digable Planets would definitely be somewhere in the mix.

This track is one of the stand-outs from their Blowout Comb LP (1994), an album featuring a seamless blend of jazz, hip-hop, and trippy bohemian rhymes. Incidentally, the joint also boasts the distinction of being the inspiration for the moniker adopted by the soulful hip-hop producer of the same name.

I could go on about how essential this record is, but why bother? I'm sick to death of typing right now, and the track itself sounds better than anything I could possibly say about it. Listen and simply nod your head in agreement...

Word From Your Moms:

"If you don't like what you're doing, you can always pick up your needle and move to another groove."
Timothy Leary

Variations On A Non-Existent Theme

"T Plays It Cool"---Marvin Gaye

The soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Trouble Man (1972) is one of those records that seems to fall through the cracks of most people's music collections. Although the LP offers a strong selling point in that it was entirely scored by Marvin Gaye, it's never been nearly as celebrated as more popular contenders such as Shaft (Isaac Hayes) or Superfly (Curtis Mayfield). One possible reason for the oversight is that the album is mostly instrumental, and is much more oriented towards jazz than fans of Gaye's typically soulful sound would likely expect. Additionally, the soundtrack no doubt suffered from its placement in time between two of Marvin's most widely revered recordings---What's Goin' On (1971) and Let's Get It On (1973).

Despite all of this, Trouble Man is certainly not without merit. It produced a few undeniable gems, such as the title track, and the smooth, infectious groove of "T Plays It Cool". According to everything I've read on the subject, Marvin felt a deep connection with jazz, and saw scoring the soundtrack as an opportunity to further explore his enthusiasm for the genre. In order to more fully understand the musical genius of this legendary recording artist, it seems essential to keep this particular record from getting too dusty.

"I Love You"---Eddie Holman

Eddie Holman is generally only mentioned when talking about his most popular record, "Hey There Lonely Girl". While he may be considered a one-hit wonder as far as most people are concerned, soul and gospel fanatics tend to have an awareness of his career that extends beyond this famous recording.

No disrespect to "Lonely Girl", but I've always had a much greater appreciation for some of his other recordings---"I Love You" being just one example. The track may have been released in 1970, but it's one of those timeless soul records that still rings true for anyone who's ever loved...and possibly even lost. The sense of urgency that Holman's vocals convey perfectly captures the essence of what makes him such a tremendous soul singer.

Although "I Love You" was a only a minor hit when it was originally released, it got a second wind in 2002, when it was revived on "Heaven" by Nas (from the God's Son LP).

More info about Holman's career can be found here and here.

"You'll Find A Way"---dead prez

I'm sure that others may disagree, but I've always believed that dead prez has been exiled to the underground largely because they're too overtly political to enjoy a great deal of mainstream and/or commercial success. Despite the fact that it wasn't widely embraced by the hip-hop community, their debut album Let's Get Free (2000) was highly acclaimed by critics, and managed to earn them comparisons to other politically-conscious artists like Public Enemy and X-Clan.

While I personally can get down with most of the sentiments that these guys spit on their first record, I still have to be in the proper mindset to listen to most of the tracks on the LP. "You'll Find A Way" stands out in that regard---I've probably played it at least a thousand times. It's an incredibly uplifting instrumental that seamlessly blends hip-hop and jazz elements into one exceptionally satisfying recording. I know it may sound fucked up, but this joint gets me just as high today as the very first time I heard it.

"Move Your Hand"---Lonnie Smith

I first heard this track after acquiring Blue Note Trip: Saturday Night/ Sunday Morning (2003). It's one of those records that I still regret not having listened to much sooner.

Dr. Lonnie Smith is not to be confused with either the baseball player of the same name, or Lonnie "Liston" Smith, another legendary jazz musician. Dr. Lonnie is widely known for his mastery of the Hammond B-3, an instrument he has referred to as both "the monster" and "the love of my life". He has played on and/or composed more than 70 recordings throughout the course of his relatively prolific career, and has kept company with many other icons of jazz, such as George Benson, Lou Donaldson, and David "Fathead" Newman.

Since encountering this track, I've sought out many of Dr. Lonnie's other musical efforts. However, this particular groove continues to be a favorite. This song originally appeared on an album with the same title, and was recorded in 1969 at Club Harlem in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Prior to its release, Smith was primarily popular in the Northeast region of the United States, but this effort gained him some well-deserved attention from a much wider audience base. One listen and you won't need to question what all the hype was about...

"Let It Slide" ---OC

This joint is from OC's debut LP, Word...Life (1994). The world at large may be immune to this record's existence, but many hip-hop enthusiasts properly recognize it as an underrated musical gem. The production on the LP was largely handled by Buckwild, who crafted some of the nicest jazz-rap beats you're ever going to hear on any record. For his part, OC served up some fairly elevated wordplay that meets a higher standard than most "rappers" today will ever see.

"Let It Slide" isn't necessarily the dopest track on the LP, but it's one of the joints I've listened to most consistently. It showcases OC's storytelling abilities rather nicely, and like I said, the beats on this record are astronomical.

OC has had a rather lengthy run in the hip-hop game. In addition to his solo material, he's also been affiliated with D.I.T.C., Crooklyn Dodgers, and the Hieroglyphics crew. If you know nothing about his legacy, go here to get familiar.

Eat these with a spoon, and call me in the morning...

Word From Your Moms:

"Great artists suffer for the people."---Marvin Gaye

Just Because I Really Love You

Against all odds, I present yet another episode in my persistent accumulation and distribution of all things dope:

I was tempted to do a Dilla tribute post this past weekend, but I knew that many of my favorite bloggers would have the ways and means to honor the first anniversary of his death on a much larger scale than I possibly could have. This is definitely not an exhaustive list, but here are links to a few memorial posts that seem especially worthy of mention:

Biochemical Slang remembered Dilla by posting many of the original songs that he sampled on Donuts.

As part of their tribute, Best Foot Forward posted Thomas Bangalter's "Extra Dry", a song that Dilla sampled on Slum Village's "Raise It Up".

Ear fuzz also posted several of his sample sources---download an excellent selection of tunes by The Three Degrees, Ahmad Jamal, Rene Costy, Jackson 5, The Cyrkle, and Stan Getz.

One more original song that was sampled on Donuts is available via this zShare link---d/l Lil Brown's "Light My Fire". All props due to Travis at WYDU for sending this my way.

Oliver Wang blessed soul sides readers with a couple of extra-nice unreleased Dilla instrumentals.

Finally, Fresh at 33 Jones and Trent at BEATS and RANTS both offered quality posts with a generous number of links to all things Dilla.

R.I.P. James Dewitt Yancey...

In other parts of the blogosphere:

Several tracks by The Last Poets are currently available for download at Diddy Wah, as well as a couple of tracks that group member Jalal Mansur Nuriddin recorded as Lightnin' Rod. "Sport" is one of the songs that's featured---a groovy little jam that's been sampled by Smiff-N-Wessun, The Beastie Boys, Wu-Tang Clan, Ultramagnetic MCs, Chubb Rock, Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five, Black Moon, and more.

The Roots are currently working on their new album, and ?uestlove is lending a hand on Al Green's upcoming LP. Read more @ Nobody Smiling.

Visit Martini & Jopparelli's Music Selections to download "Greedy G" by Brentford All Stars, "Get On The Good Foot" by James Brown, and "I Know You Got Soul" by Eric B & Rakim.

Autopsy results released this week implicate an accidental drug interaction in the death of Gerald Levert. More info via this article at SOHH.

Download "Fat Mama" by Herbie Hancock and Esther Phillip's version of "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" courtesy of Feed Me Good Tunes.

A few nice joints are available at this is tomorrow---"The Williams" (Nicolay ft. Supastition), "Survival" (Koolade ft. Masta Ace), "Hard Margin" (The Creators w/ Mos Def & Talib Kweli), and "Rock On" (Beatless w/ Quasimoto/Madlib).

Moistworks is featuring mp3s by Solomon Burke, Jimi Hendrix, Billy Preston, and The Wailers.

Oh Word is steadily compiling their list of 50 Incredible Rap Songs You Need To Hear Right Now. Cop 1-10 and 11-20 right now, and don't forget to check back in for the rest later this week.

1-800-Sassbucket.com is featuring the instrumental versions of some miscellaneous tracks by Jay-Z, Nas, AZ, Black Star, and El-P.

Read George Bush's hilarious "Valentine Message to the American People" at Gallery of the Absurd.

Download several cover songs by Richie Havens at hahamusic.

Visit Motel de Moka to download "Concrete Jungle" by Bob Marley and "Ruler of My Heart" by Irma Thomas.

Download Peanut Butter Wolf's Valentine's Day Mix courtesy of Stones Throw. It features an impeccable selection of soul tracks by artists such as Bobby Womack, Archie Bell & The Drells, Marvin Gaye, New Birth, and more.

J Blow recently posted some dope joints at all up in your earhole. Cop tracks by A-Trak (w/ Little Brother), Syl Johnson, Platinum Pied Pipers, and remixes of songs by Q-Tip and The Pharcyde.

Download Eddie Bo's "Every Dog Has Its Day" via Dilated Choonz.

I know---sometimes this shit's worse than the acceptance speeches at The Grammys, but I need to thank a few blogs for giving up the link props:

ear fuzz: The final authority on all things funk and soul. I've been introduced to more great records by these guys than you could possibly imagine.

In Dangerous Rhythm: Colin Dilnot has an amazingly extensive knowledge of soul music. I visit him to get an education.

Biochemical Slang: I don't know how else to put it--Vik is my kinda people.

Martini & Jopparelli's Music Selections: "Righteous music selections by some cool people in Italy"---'nuff said.

Cold Rock Da Spot: Jaz is proving to be consistent in offering up incredible hip-hop joints. Dude's generous, and his taste is impressive---don't sleep.

From Da Bricks: Dan Love not only shares great records, his writing is actually pretty interesting and insightful as well. We all know what a refreshing change that can be...

...and the living is easy: Playlists from Tom and Marty's radio show in Melbourne---featuring "the finest and freshest in soul, funk, hip-hop, beats, and other varied pieces".

J.U.S. Music: This is one of those spots that could really blow up under the right circumstances. Recent posts have featured artists such as Diamond D, Kev Brown, Funky DL, and Lone Catalysts.

Whales Are Gangsta!: I appreciate that this site linked me and all, but I can't seem to translate most of the content. From what I've gathered, it has something to do with music, lawnmowers, and fat dorks holding binoculars.

It's Valentine's Day, soul children. Do a little dance... Make a little love...

Get your collective freak on...

Word From Your Moms:

"Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love."---Albert Einstein

I Am, Therefore I Be...

"Let It Be Me"---The Sweet Inspirations

The Sweet Inspirations were the brainchild of Emily "Cissy" Houston, mother of Whitney Houston, and aunt of Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick. The original line-up included Cissy, the Warwick sisters, and Doris Troy. Dionne and Doris left shortly after the group's inception, and Sylvia Shemwell stepped in to replace them. The group didn't even have a name at that point, but they served as back-up singers for quite a few soul artists in the early '60s---Garnett Mimms, Wilson Pickett, and Aretha Franklin to name just a few. Dee Dee parted ways with the group in 1965, at which point Estelle Brown and Myrna Smith came on board, forming the line-up that would be most familiar to their fans.

Although they enjoyed a great deal of success as session singers, it wasn't long before Atlantic signed the group to record some of their own material. Their amazing version of "Let It Be Me" (1967) was one of their first offerings, and it remains one of the most beloved songs in their catalogue.

"Let It Be Me" is a reworking of a French song by Gilbert Becaud called "Je T'Appartiens" (1955). The first English version of the song was recorded in 1957 by an actress named Jill Corey, but a myriad of other artists would eventually follow suit. The Everly Brothers recorded the most famous version in 1959, but covers by Betty Everett & Jerry Butler (1964), Glenn Campbell & Bobbie Gentry (1969), and Willie Nelson (1982) all managed to crack the Top 40. Nina Simone released three recordings of the track, Elvis performed a live version, and artists such as Nancy Sinatra, The Righteous Brothers, Bob Dylan, and Tom Jones also offered renditions of the song.

I've actually heard most of the versions I just mentioned, but there's something magical about the unique touch that The Sweet Inspirations put on the track. That said, I wanted to post another rendition of the song that I truly love:

"Let It Be Me"---Roberta Flack

There was a point in my music listening "career" when I was highly skeptical of Roberts Flack's contribution to soul and R&B. I got it in my head at some point that she was little more than the queen of the midnight slow jam, and as a result, her artistic merits were highly suspect in my opinion. It wasn't until later that I bothered to discover the beauty of her first two LPs (First Take and Chapter Two), as well as the legendary duets she recorded with Donny Hathaway.

This version of "Let It Be Me" appears on Chapter Two, an album Flack released in 1970. It's a bit of a slow burner in the sense that the intensity builds over the course of the track, and it breaks your heart in a completely different way than the Sweet Inspirations version. The musical arrangement may have been somewhat of a travesty if it had been coupled with any other vocalist, but Roberta's incredible pipes lift this track into heaven and beyond. After listening to this record, it's easy to understand why Les McCann once said: "Her voice touched, tapped, trapped, and kicked every emotion I've ever known."

By way of a soul challenge, I'd be interested to know which of these two versions of "Let It Be Me" you prefer. It may be an apples and oranges dilemma for some of you, but I'm sure that others will have a strong opinion one way or another. Drop some knowledge if you have any thoughts...

"Be My Beach"---Funkadelic

Since I was already on my "be" game, I decided to throw this groovy little track into the mix. This song was written by George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and Bernie Worrell, and is one of many fabulous joints that blessed their Let's Take It To The Stage LP (1975). Bootsy's vocals are just as tripped out and sleazy as you might expect, as evidenced by this classic lyric: "Think that she's the only freak been born/ As a matter of fact, she's not the only sand at the beach/ Or to be exact, there's a whole lot of beaches." Amen...

"I Am I Be"---De La Soul ft. Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, and Pee Wee Ellis

If you're a hip-hop fanatic who's unafraid to sling a pack on your back every once in a while, then there's really no good reason why you shouldn't love De La Soul.

"I Am I Be" is from the group's third LP, Buhloone Mind State. The rapping on the joint is mellow and smooth, while the beat is laidback and jazzy (with some invaluable assistance from The JBs, of course). This record may not be the one to change your mind if you haven't been officially converted yet, but if you have even a passing interest in the group, checkin' this out is mandatory.

"Damn If N Let It Be (Guttamix)"---Bushwick Bill

I can predict with some accuracy that this track will be downloaded less frequently than any of the other mp3s included in this post, but really...you should cop this. Mentally unstable, one-eyed rapping dwarves are an endangered species in the hip-hop game, you know...

Bill is perhaps best known for the fact that he makes up (almost) 1/3 of The Geto Boys. However, he's also released quite a bit of solo material, including the LP that this track was taken from, Gutta Mix.

Bushwick has a great voice, and when he isn't talkin' all sorts of crazy shit, he can be downright lyrical at times. His greatest drawback is the fact that he's certifiably insane, but that's also a part of his appeal. If you don't know the whole story about how dude got drunk, lost an eye, and helped to create an album cover based on the fiasco, you'd better start googling.

Anyone who's listened to Bill's records can tell you that he's a violent little misogynist. His distorted perception of sistas/women obviously comes straight from his wounded eye, making some of his rhymes a little difficult to digest at times. This joint shows Bill in a more contemplative and reflective mood than he usually illustrates on wax. Take a walk through the back alley of a very interesting mind...

Word From Your Moms:

"Insist upon yourself. Be original."

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

**both quotes courtesy of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Only The Strong Survive

"My Way"---Aretha Franklin
Aretha is a soul goddess of such epic proportions that a formal introduction to her legacy shouldn't be required for anyone who regularly visits this site. She's released a number of amazing cover tunes over the span of her career, but her version of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" stands out as unique because most of her fans have never had an opportunity to hear it. She recorded the song in 1970, but at the time, it was released exclusively on an Italian compilation. For whatever reason, the track wasn't released in the U.S. until this past year, when it appeared on the Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Sisters LP. At any rate, it's a stunning rendition of the song, and Aretha's vocal performance is every bit as engaging as you might expect.

"Subwoofer"---Count Bass D
Despite the fact that Dwight Farrell is a multi-talented producer/ MC with a fairly extensive discography, many hip-hop fans still don't acknowledge his work. "Subwoofer" makes reference to Subroc, MF Doom's deceased brother, but D also name-checks several other celebrities on the joint. It's hard not to appreciate a guy who can philosophize about Spinderella, Jeffrey Dahmer, Desmond Tutu, and Timothy McVeigh on the same track---at least for me. If this is your kind of dope, you can purchase the Dwight Spitz LP (2002) here.

"Survival Of The Fittest"---Mobb Deep
It depresses me to think that there's a whole new generation of hip-hop babies out there who are under the impression that Mobb Deep always sucked. Not true. In fact, The Infamous (1995) was the very definition of grimy when it first hit the streets---and I mean that in the best possible way. Nas, Ghostface, Raekwon, and Q-Tip all made guest appearances, contributing to the powerful chemistry that made this record an undeniable masterpiece. Unfortunately, Havoc and Prodigy have steadily fallen off over the years, to the point where they have become somewhat of a parody of themselves (Black Eyed Peas, anyone?). Hangin' with 50 Cent was a bad enough idea---let's just hope they never try to revive their career by cutting a record with Fergie...

"Honey Dove"---Lee Fields (Problems LP version)
Many soul fans have heard the version of "Honey Dove" that Fields recorded with The Expressions. The Truth & Soul label released it as a 7" in 2004, and later re-issued it on a compilation called Fallin' Off The Reel, Vol. 1 (2006). The track was championed by a number of music bloggers and writers last year, but I don't remember anyone mentioning that Fields had previously released the track on his Problems LP (2002). Both versions of this song can easily be described as soul perfection, but the original happens to be my personal favorite.

For anyone who's interested, the Problems LP has an overall funkier and more uptempo vibe than "Honey Dove" might suggest. As a bonus, I'm posting one other track from the album that will give you an idea of what his music sounds like at the other end of the spectrum:

"Clap Your Hands"---Lee Fields

View his complete discography here.

Word From Your Moms:

"Once you label me you negate me"---Soren Kierkegaard

Over Breaks Dug Out Of Crates

I'll gladly initiate, if you promise to appreciate:

It always amazes me how I can go a lifetime without encountering something at all, and then suddenly, I'm exposed to it repeatedly. Such was the case with Carolyn Franklin. I was aware of her by name only, but didn't remember ever having heard any of her records. I knew that she had provided background vocals for Aretha Franklin (her older sister), but for whatever reason, I never checked out her solo material. That changed just recently, when I acquired her song "Sunshine Holiday", and about a week later, a friend exposed me to "You Can Have My Soul". Yesterday, I encountered her again by way of ear fuzz, where you can download two of her tracks---"What Cha Gonna Do" and "I Don't Want To Lose You". Take a minute to check her out---I can almost guarantee you won't consider it a waste of your precious time.

"The Fuzz" is also featuring a couple of joints by Three Times Dope---"I Ain't Try'n 2 Hear It" and "I Got It". Both tracks are from their LP Live From Acknickulous Land (1990), which might be considered "old school" hip-hop by today's standards. Unfortunately, plenty of heads are still sleepin' on this trio outta Philly, so make sure you aren't the last one to smell the coffee...

I should have mentioned this a while ago, but some of my peoples will definitely want to know about There's That Beat! The Rare Soul Fanzine. Through the website, you can order their quarterly publication, which primarily focuses on Northern soul artists and records.

Cop a few J Dilla mp3s over at the jesus piece. In addition to "Wild", the selection from Ruff Draft that I posted, you can also download another song from the reissue, "Take Notice" (w/ Guilty Simpson). If that's not generous enough, two other joints produced by Dilla are also included in the post---"Off Ya Chest" (Frank-N-Dank) and "Reunion" (Slum Village).

Travis at Wake Your Daughter Up recently posted The Coup's Steal This Album for free download. Regardless of how you feel about bloggers uploading entire albums, you can't argue with copping a record that begs to be acquired by way of the "five-finger discount".

Speaking of The Coup, Boots Riley has recently been invited to be the keynote speaker at UC Berkeley's Black Graduation Ceremony---further details are available here.

As some of you may already know, Wu-Tang Clan's "Hollow Bones" featured a sample of "Is It Because I'm Black?" by Syl Johnson. Both tracks can currently be obtained courtesy of sneakmove.

The good people at Stones Throw Records are offering Chrome Children Vol. 2 for free (and legal) download. The compilation features tracks by Madlib, MED, Oh No, Aloe Blacc, Percee P, and more.

While we're talkin' samples, head over to Palms Out Sounds to download songs borrowed for tracks by Jay-Z and DJ Quik.

Interestingly, marijuana is now being tested for a drug that will allegedly suppress appetite. Soon to follow is a cheap wine that will counteract nausea and vomiting, as well as a snortable cocaine-based medication to alleviate sinus pain and post-nasal drip...

Download "Here But I'm Gone" by Curtis Mayfield via the horse latitudes.

I like posting Pete Rock joints so frequently that I've often contemplated writing a blog that focuses specifically on his recordings. Guess there's no need for that---this site is already doin' it, doin' it, and doin' it well...

Once again, Keith Olbermann has put George Bush on blast by pointing out the similarities between Dubya's rhetoric on Iraq in 2002 with the bullshit he's spitting about Iran in '07. Watch the video clip via Crooks and Liars.

Download joints by OC, Main Source, and Lord Finesse by way of this is tomorrow.

Cop one of my favorite RJD2 tracks over at Covert Curiosity---"Good Times Roll Pt. 2".

Little Brother and 9th Wonder have officially parted ways. Read all the sordid details at HHG.

Download "Zero Point Pt. 1 & 2 (45 Version)" by the incredible Kashmere Stage Band at The Mark Out.

Visit floodwatchmusic to d/l "Come Go With Me" by Teddy Pendergrass.

Cop "My Block" by Scarface courtesy of hahamusic.

As always, JT has been posting some fantastic stuff over at Feed Me Good Tunes. This post features tracks by Gil Scott-Heron, Five Deez, MMW, Skyzoo & 9th Wonder, Five Deez, and Max Roach. One of his previous posts included songs by Paul Pena, Eldridge Holmes, Ahmad Jamal, and Eugene McDaniels.

If you've never been to Tennessee, this may be the year to go---Memphis is celebrating 50 years of soul. Check out all of the events they have scheduled, and get some assistance in planning your expedition.

Before I peace out, I'd like to thank the following spots for recently linking Souled On:

Audiversity

Mainstream Isn't So Bad...Is It?

surviving the golden age

And much gratitude to Jody at The Side Street for giving me such mad props, whether I deserved them or not ; )

Word From Your Moms:

"When suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool." ---Chinua Achebe

Life Is A Quest---Love Is A Quarrel...

"The Show" ---The Roots
In 1997, Priority Records released a compilation called In Tha Beginning...There Was Rap. The LP featured a collection of old school hip-hop tracks covered by a variety of rappers who reigned supreme in the mid-nineties. It could have been an ingenious idea (at least from a marketing perspective), but for the most part, the results were pretty damn disappointing. Sean Puffy P. Diddy Combs could have kept his version of "Big Ole Butt", and Coolio's take on "Money (Dollar Bill Y'all)" was equally unnecessary. That said, I always thought that The Roots actually did a pretty tremendous job covering "The Show", a classic hip-hop joint that was originally recorded by Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh. Hear how The Roots flipped the joint, but be sure to pay respect to the architects by checkin' this video of Rick and Fresh performing a live medley of their tracks.

"Best Part"---Self Scientific
I'm sure that a lot of the hip-hop fanatics in the house are already somewhat familiar with this L.A. duo. Chace Infinite and DJ Khalil may not have gotten much respect when it comes to commercial success, but the consistent quality of their musical efforts has helped them become an essential component of hip-hop's underground for the past several years. "Best Part" is one of my favorite joints from their 2001 LP, The Self Science. Although Chace's rhymes tend to be more thoughtful than the garbage a lot of MCs are spitting these days, it's the production that succeeds in making this track so dope. Khalil killed it, resuscitated it, and laid it to rest all over again with this beat.

"Drunk Man"---Eddie Harris
This tune is perfect for the early morning hours when I'm up smoking one last cigarette before I drag my tired and intoxicated ass to bed. If you give this a listen, maybe you can relate. Eddie played several instruments, but was mainly known as a jazz tenor saxophonist. He released some popular records during his lifetime (1934-1996), but his experimentation with various styles and uncanny sense of humor sometimes caused critics to be skeptical of his work. Don't let that scare you away---this track should give you an idea of what an innovative and electrifying musician he truly was. More info about Harris' legacy can be found here and here.

"Street Of Tears"---Black Heat
Black Heat was a '70s funk group who briefly recorded for Atlantic Records. They only had one song that cracked the R&B Top 50 ("No Time To Burn"), so their music has become somewhat of an obscurity over the years. Sampling artists have sought out their infectious rhythms and grooves fairly often, however, especially their track "Zimba Ku", which has been utilized on joints by Eric B & Rakim, NWA, Kool G Rap, Souls Of Mischief, Pete Rock, People Under The Stairs, and more. "Street Of Tears" is more of a soulful ballad than a funk jam---you may recognize that 9th Wonder flipped it on "3:16" by Murs. Interested peoples may want to start with a "best of" compilation of the group's recordings called Declassified Grooves.

Word From Your Moms:

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."---Mahatma Gandhi

I Amaze And Astound/ Rhythm Up And Down

The wisest people in the world listen twice as much as they speak:

"Brothers On The Slide"---Cymande
Although Cymande's music is frequently classified as funk, their sound was also heavily influenced by jazz, soul, Afro-Carribean rhythms, and many other musical styles. "Brothers On The Slide" appeared on their Promised Heights LP, which was originally released in 1974. It was one of three solid albums that the group released in the early '70s, but widespread interest in the group wouldn't peak until 20 years later, thanks in large part to crate-digging DJs and producers. Their songs have been sampled in joints by Masta Ace, The Coup, EPMD, The Fugees, Smiff-N-Wessun, De La Soul, Busy Bee, Cash Crew, and more. This particular track was sampled by Poison Clan in 1995 for a track called "Peep Da Flavor" that appeared on their Strait Zooism LP. More recently, MF Doom borrowed it for "Cedar", one of the joints on Special Herbs Vol. 7 & 8.

"Flow On (Pete Rock remix)" ---Lords Of The Underground
Lords of The Underground often get overlooked these days, but they were somewhat of a staple of the early '90s hip-hop scene. They released a few successful singles, such as "Chief Rocka", and BET named them Best Rap Group of the Year in 1993. The group got their first viable opportunity after being introduced to Marley Marl, who invited them to record in his studio and helped to craft their unique sound. Pete Rock put his spin on a couple of their tracks in 1994, this being one of them. I don't care what anyone says, Pete's nicer with the remixes than just about anyone...

"Creation"---El Michels Affair
No matter what kind of music you like, I recommend giving El Michels a listen. Soul, funk and jazz fans have finally begun to acknowledge their excellence, and most hip-hop enthusiasts ate up their instrumental covers of several classic Wu-Tang joints, as well as their live collaborations with the group. "Creation" appears on their Sounding Out The City LP, a record you should go forth and purchase without the slightest hesitation.

"When You Come To The End Of Your Road"---Bobby "Blue" Bland
It's misfortunate that Bobby Bland's work isn't more widely celebrated and recognized, especially since he's placed 51 songs on the R&B Top 40 charts throughout the course of his lengthy musical career. In part, this cultural oversight may be due to the fact that only a few of his tracks enjoyed any crossover success on the almighty pop charts. His discography offers a lot of amazing selections to choose from, but I decided on this particular song because it's fantastic and I thought it might lead some of my sample seekers to dig a little deeper into Bland's collection. In case you suffer from drug-induced short-term memory loss, RJD2 flipped this track on his "Final Frontier (remix)". Here's a short bio and discog if your interest has been piqued.

Word From Your Moms:

"In examinations, the foolish ask questions the wise cannot answer."---Oscar Wilde

The Voice Of Reason Somewhere In Between

Aspiring to great things requires beginning with little ones:

As many of you will have heard by now, Alice Coltrane left the earth this past Friday. She was not only the widow of one of the greatest jazz artists of all time, but was also an incredibly talented and innovative musician in her own right. Quite a few sites and blogs have posted tributes in the last several days---some of the best can be found at los amigos de durutti, audiversity, ear fuzz, BEATS and RANTS and/or floodwatchmusic.

Visit Mainstream Isn't So Bad...Is It? to download three live Nina Simone tracks---"Sunday in Savannah", "Mississippi Goddam", and "Why (The King Of Love Is Dead)".

Cop the latest Common joint circulating around the blogosphere ("Play Your Cards Right" ft. Bilal) at Between Thought And Expression.

I may have said this before, but Dee Dee is my hands-down favorite Warwick. Dionne is the only other one I can think of, and she fucked up her relationship with me when she became a "psychic friend" some years ago. Dee Dee, on the other hand, is cooler than a fan. Thanks to la case de l'affreux thom, you can download a few of her songs right now---"I (Who Have Nothing)", "That's Not Love", and "It's Not Fair".

If you're feeling adventurous, you should definitely give a listen to Bird Peterson's remix of "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" (Birdman and Lil' Wayne). Cop it via 1-800-SASSBUCKET.com---at the very minimum it will make for a great conversation piece.

The number of disco tracks I can stand for longer than 20 seconds is relatively small...believe me. However, I recently listened to "Give Me Your Love" by The Sisters Love and discovered that it's a pretty spectacular recording. The Sisters have also been labeled as jazz, funk, and soul, so it may not take a gigantic leap for you to appreciate this song as much as I do. The mp3 is currently available at another night on earth.

If you haven't already copped Raekwon's Prelude To Only Built For Cuban Linx 2, there's a link to d/l it via Berkeley Place. Speaking of The Chef, you can currently download "Trees" (w/Mathematics) @ Nah Right and "Verbal Intercourse" at Moistworks. The latter post also includes some classic Nas joints, lookin' all the way back to "Live At The Barbecue".

33/45 is currently featuring several tracks by The Blackbyrds and Barry White & The Love Unlimited Orchestra.

Maybe you've heard of Jaguar Skills by now---he's the DJ who mixed over 800 hip-hop joints into a set that only lasted about 40 minutes. You can view the complete track list at MistaJam. From there you can head over to Jag's MySpace page, which includes a link you can follow to cop the entire mix.

Some good tunes have been featured over at The "B" Side lately---check out "Open Letter To The President" by Roy "C" and "Super Rappin' Theme" by Grand Master Flash and The Furious Five.

Fans of Smif-N-Wessun/ The Cocoa Brovaz may want to visit from the polo fleece to the jesus piece to cop "Like A Champion" and "Super Brooklyn"..

FPSA is featuring three tracks from Mos Def's Tru3 Magic LP, as well as a few songs from the latest John Legend record, Once Again.

Download two tracks by Junior Walker & The All Stars courtesy of Feel It.

Cop "Smile" by Trae (w/ Styles P) over at The Rap Up. Rizoh also recently posted "Not A Criminal" by Chamillionaire (w/ Kelis).

Format Magazine posted an article about hip-hop album covers that have been inspired by comics---link spotted via the almighty Spine Magazine.

Lastly, peace to Cuts & Rhymes and The Classic Soul Network for givin' respect to Souled On. They are both quality spots, so hit 'em up whenever you can...

I also recently updated the links in the sidebar---show my people some love by paying them a visit.

Word From Your Moms:

"Ten persons who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent"---Napoleon Bonaparte

The Language Of The Unheard

A few essential ingredients for a soulful Sunday afternoon:

"You Ought To Be With Me"---Al Green
This has always been one of my favorite tracks from Call Me (1973), which many soul fans seem to consider the quintessential Al Green album. The LP garnered a fair share of critical acclaim at the time of its release, and also achieved commercial success on the strength of a few hit singles. This is another track that has frequently been mined by sampling artists---perhaps most memorably on the RZA-produced joint "260" that appeared on Ghostface's Ironman LP. One of Ghost's comrades in the Wu, Masta Killa, also released a track that borrowed from the song:

"Pass The Bone (Remix)"---Masta Killa
I might have thought it was reprehensible for Masta Killa to release a track with the same sample as a well-loved joint by one of his Wu bretheren, but it ended up being one of the nicest tracks on his Made In Brooklyn LP. The way that producer Jig Sor flipped the sample was just lovely, and distinctive enough to put an entirely different spin on Green's classic recording.

"Requiem: 820 Latham"---The 5th Dimension
I've played this song for about ten of my "real life" friends so far, and I've concluded (based on observations of my relatively inadequate, and highly bizarre, sampling pool) that this is one of those tracks you either L.O.V.E. or H.A.T.E. I have personally developed a sincere appreciation for this song, despite the fact that I realize something about it might be a bit too melodramatic and overblown for some of my more thuggish peoples.

I first heard The Magic Garden (1967) LP quite a few years ago, and it didn't make much of an impression at the time. I'm a firm believer in the concept of "readiness" when it comes to music appreciation, and at that point, I couldn't fathom assimilating The 5th Dimension into the soundtrack of my life. Unfortunately, I didn't give this song a genuine listen until I heard the way MF Doom flipped it on "Krazy World" (from the King Geedorah Take Me To Your Leader LP). It seemed to me that Gigan mainly spit lyrical nonsense on the track, but I still had an inexplicable love for that melancholy, repetitive little beat . Obviously, I was pleased that Doom also released the instrumental version of the joint (on Special Herbs Vol. 3 &4) as "Benzoin Gum". Thought I would up that track, too, just in case some of you still have haven't copped it...

"Benzoin Gum"---MF Doom

"Wild"---J Dilla
As any serious Jay Dee aficionado can tell you, the Ruff Draft EP is one of his more difficult efforts to acquire. Originally, it was released on Dilla's own label, Mummy Records, and distributed by the German label Groove Attack. The record dropped in 2003, but was available exclusively on vinyl, and went out-of-print rather quickly. The EP marked somewhat of a shift in Dilla's musical perspective, and represented an obvious departure from the sound he had established earlier in his career as a producer for Slum Village, Common, The Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest, etc.

At any rate, Stone's Throw has announced plans to re-release the effort in March 2007, complete w/ alternate and instrumental versions. After listening to my advance copy, I'm guessing that the reviews are going to be a very mixed bag. I definitely don't think it will be as easy of a sell with hip-hop heads as Donuts or The Shining...we'll see how fucking psychic I am very shortly.

It's highly possible that if Dilla released an album with nothing but squealing pig noises accompanied by samples of a deaf man playing the kazoo, I'd still find a way to justify buying it. As a result, I don't feel qualified to write anything resembling a review. I'm just hoping that 110% of you will do the right thing and actually buy this record when it comes out. Fortunately for you, I decided it would be rude if I didn't post at least one track in the meantime...Appreciate.

Word From Your Moms:

"I submit to you that if a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live."---Martin Luther King, Jr.

All That Was And Will Be

I could keep offering poor excuses for why this link post is so delayed, but no one really cares that my boss pees herself because she's too lazy to move out from behind her desk, or that my 30-year-old brother won't stop playing with his My Little Pony Collection. I'm assuming that you want your links despite these ongoing conflicts in my daily existence...and I've finally gotten around to obliging you.

As always, let's do this chaotic, disorganized, anarchic, incoherent thing:

This week saw an exceptional Sample Wednesday at Palms Out Sounds, featuring original songs that have been utilized on Outkast joints. Download mp3s by Brothers Johnson, Eddie Harris, Isaac Hayes, Joe Simon, The Five Stairsteps, Allen Toussaint, Miles Davis, and more.

Travis at Wake Your Daughter Up posted a very impressive list of his 100 favorite songs of '06. You can cop every single joint he selected, including tracks by Bootcamp Click, The Roots, Little Brother, Lone Catalysts, Camp Lo, Soul Position, Nas, Jay-Z, J Dilla, Fatlip, Ghostface, Pete Rock, and many more. If you like hip-hop at all, you should definitely check him out: Part One Part Two.

Visit this post at Moistworks to acquire tracks by Joe Bataan, Al Green, Brand Nubian, Irma Thomas, and Toots & The Maytals.

A relatively insightful list of the Top Ten Creepiest Fast Food Mascots is available here. By the way, I now feel validated for being leary about eating sandwiches pushed by that possessed little Quiznos hamster/rat thing.

Download tracks by Public Enemy, Ultramagnetic MCs, and Wu-Tang Clan courtesy of floodwatchmusic. Also, don't sleep on floodwatch's post on RZA over at ear fuzz, complete with a few mp3s from the Japanese version of the Ghost Dog soundtrack.

Speaking of RZA's soundtrack work, this article from SOHH.com sheds some light on his involvement with the Afro Samurai series, and includes a link to view the first episode in its entirety.

Oh Word recently recapped a whole year of their undeniable "bloggy goodness"---don't be a fool and miss out on such treasures as "Crack Week" and "How The Fat Boys Nearly Bankrupted Sbarro" the second time around.

A couple of stellar joints can be copped by way of Afterbirth of the Cool---"People Say" by The Meters and Linton Kwesi Johnson's "Di Black Petty Booshwah".

Most of you have probably seen this already, but here's a blue-light special for the shut-ins: a free album that you can legally download--- Liberation by Madlib and Talib Kweli.

While we're on the subject of Madlib, many of his fans are aware of how frequently he's looked towards Melvin Van Peeble's discography for sampling purposes. Cop a few of Mel's finest recordings via Twelve by Twelve.

If you missed Keith Olbermann's heated reaction to Bush using the term "sacrifice" to justify his brainiac idea to send more troops to Iraq, take a moment to watch the video clip courtesy of Crooks And Liars. I only recommend this to those who can handle the truth...

In other news, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested today that Congress may deny Bush necessary funds to send additional troops to Iraq---read more here.

Check out Surviving the Golden Age to download a variety of hip-hop joints by artists such as Brother Ali, Royce Da 5'9, Lord Finesse, Ghostface, and more.

Visit this is tomorrow to download some classic tracks by George Benson, King Curtis, The Heath Brothers, and yet another track by Melvin Van Peebles.

This is stupid, but somewhat amusing---this weird guy plays Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" with his hands. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of time it would take to develop such an incredibly annoying talent.

Pay a visit to one of my favorite "new to me" music blogs---Get Downnn. Recently featured artists include Nina Simone, The Coup, Mos Def, Ghostface, and The Clipse.

I'm a little late in delivering this one, but JT at Feed Me Good Tunes recently posted some great songs by the likes of Roy Ayers, Quantic Soul Orchestra, Wilson Pickett, Common, etc.

Download "I Know You Got Soul" by Bobby Byrd over at The "A" Side.

Go see my friend Havas at A Three Minute Record to read his James Brown tribute and cop some hip-hop joints that were heavily influenced by The Godfather. The artists featured include Public Enemy, Digable Planets, Pete Rock, Organized Konfusion, Eric B & Rakim, and Brand Nubian.

As you know, there have been an abundance of James Brown tributes on the internet lately---far too many for me to mention. One of the most diligent has undoubtedly been The Stepfather of Soul, who has been posting some phenomenal records ever since JB passed away on 12/25.

Finally, WFMU recently posted a generous collection of mp3s by "a sassy stash of 60s and 70s soul sisters". Download tracks by Ann Sexton, Irma Thomas, Bessie Banks, Linda Jones, Millie Jackson, The Pointer Sisters, Sugar Pie De Santo, and more. Also includes the "Feelin' Bitchy Monologue Medley" by Steinski...

Hopefully you now forgive me for my lackluster ways...

Word From Your Moms:

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."---Shunryu Suzuki

With Your Bad Self

I hadn't planned on posting anything today, but hopefully you're willing to roll with me as I improvise along the way. I have a handful of exceptional joints that I've been wanting to bestow upon you---appreciate...and try not to hurt yourself:

"You Ain't My Brother"---The Soul Shakers
Tobias Kirmayer is a vinyl junkie, DJ, label owner and collector of rare funk records. He's released a few compilations of obscurities, including the collection that featured this particular groove---Movements: 14 Deep Funk Pearls. This is an amazing tune that somehow commands you to get up and get down---all at the same time.

"Gangsta Boogie"---Pete Rock/ Slum Village
I've been holding this one for a little while longer than I should have---it's one of the dopest joints on Pete's Masterpiece 01 mixtape. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that this would rank as one of the most laidback and enjoyable hip-hop tracks I heard in '06. Hopefully you'll agree...

"Mash It Funky (Just James Version)" ---dj BC
As you may recall, this is the same cat responsible for Wu Orleans---a mashup opus of Wu-Tang Clan plus dixie jazz tunes. This groovy lil' tribute to James Brown is one of the best I've heard so far.

"After Laughter Comes Tears"----Wendy Rene
Speaking of the Wu, this soul gem was featured as a sample on "Tearz", a joint from their classic Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) LP. Rene was a Memphis soul singer who originally recorded as part of a group called The Drapels, but signed a solo deal with Stax Records shortly thereafter. This song was released in 1964, and is considered by many to be her finest recording.

"Oochie Wally/ Right Now, Right Now"---DJ Swindle
Some of you will undoubtedly cringe at the thought of this entire mix---AlMatic: Nas Meets Al Green. There are a couple of reasons you may be inclined to prejudge this joint---"Oochie Wally" isn't exactly the greatest Nas track of all time, and some would consider it blasphemous to combine any rapper's lyrics with the sounds of a soul legend of Green's magnitude. As you may have noticed, I'm not exactly a "purist" when it comes to music appreciation. I consider myself more of a realist---if it bangs, it bangs. Don't be too uptight to at least give this a listen...

Word From Your Moms:

"All the good music has already been written by people with wigs and stuff."---Frank Zappa

A Time To Mourn, And A Time To Dance

With New Year's Day being just around the corner, I've been spending some time contemplating what my resolutions should be for 2007. I can always generate plenty of ideas about what I should be doing---the difficulty is in having enough discipline to assure that any changes I propose amount to something greater than a pool of little white lies.

At any rate, the only resolution I'm considering that would be of any relevance to you is that I intend to keep things flowin' in the right direction here at Souled On, and will continue to strive for greater things in terms of quality, content, and frequency. Let's hope (for our collective sake) that I'm not just blowin' smoke up all of our asses...

Anyway, I dug out a few more classics from the crate to tide you over until my next links post. Things get a little slow on a lot of sites around this time of year, but it should only take me a couple more days to serve you a relatively substantive post.

Wishing all of you peace, prosperity, and wisdom in the coming year. Hopefully these tunes will help you get started in the right direction:

"The Message From The Soul Sisters, Parts 1 & 2"---Vicki Anderson
As yet another tribute to the legacy of The Godfather of Soul, I decided to post a track by Vicki Anderson, one of James Brown's Soul Sisters. According to JB's autobiography, he thought that Anderson was the best singer he ever had in his revue. She claimed Anna King's spot in 1965, and continued with Brown until 1968, when she was replaced by Marva Whitney. However, she joined the revue again in 1969 when Whitney departed, and remained until Lyn Collins came on board a few years later.

This particular track by Anderson has been a popular resource for sampling artists---Above The Law, LL Cool J, The Geto Boys, Lil' Kim, Gang Starr, Big Daddy Kane, and Main Source are just a few examples. This is another...

"Son Get Wrec (Evil Dee remix)" ---Black Moon
Released in 1996, Black Moon's LP Diggin' In The Vaults contains several remixes and a few miscellaneous B-sides. In my humble estimation, it's one of the more worthwhile efforts at making the Anderson sample fit nicely into the context of a hip-hop joint. By all means, judge for yourself...

"Tighten Up My Thang"---Soul Children
The Soul Children were composed of Anita Louis, John Colbert (aka J. Blackfoot), Shelbra Bennet, and Norman West. Not only did Isaac Hayes and David Porter form this group, they also co-wrote the majority of their finest tracks. "Tighten Up My Thang" is one such example, a song from their 1968 self-titled debut. I'd venture to say that it's pretty difficult not to like this track---it has a certain infectious quality that makes me return to it time and time again.

As far as the sampling history of this song, right now I can only think of one example---"Fountain Of Youth" by Arrested Development. I'm sure that there are others---drop some knowledge in the comment box if you can remember any of them.

"Check It Out" ---(The Diabolical) Biz Markie
Even though The Biz has always been somewhat of a cartoonish character in hip-hop, I still couldn't help losing some respect for him after repeatedly being exposed to unflattering shots of his plentiful gut on VH-1's "Celebrity Fit Club". That said, I guess my post-traumatic stress disorder is finally going into remission, because I flipped this record today and thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. "Check It Out" is a joint from his 1989 LP The Biz Never Sleeps, and features a sample of Yvonne Fair's version of "Let Your Hair Down". It's hard to imagine that this track didn't somehow inspire Jay-Z's "Where I'm From" (from 1997's In My Lifetime, Vol. 1), although in fairness, Hov's version contained a sample of The Temptations recording of "Let Your Hair Down" instead. It can be argued that Biz's lyrics tend to be a bit sophomoric at times, but throwback joints like this can serve as a reminder of days when hip-hop was infinitely more innocent. Enjoy...

Word From Your Moms:

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma-which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."---Steve Jobs

I'm Going Away Tonight...

It goes without saying that the death of James Brown is a moment in time which must be respectfully recognized and observed. It's practically inconceivable to imagine what soul, rock, jazz, R&B, disco, funk, and hip-hop would have been without the many talents and pervasive influence of this legendary icon.

It's predictable that over the course of the next several weeks, thousands of music writers and fans will dissect this man's character, and analyze his numerous achievements through a microscopic lens. His personal life will be meticulously scrutinized, as will the validity of his entire musical legacy. He will stand accused of beating, cheating, lying, stealing, and just about any other transgression you can possibly imagine. He will be ridiculed for things like those crazy-looking mugshots, his tattoed eyebrows, and even his outspoken support for crazy-ass Richard Nixon. I don't know about you, but I'm bored with these articles and media segments already.

No matter how great or small our accomplishments, at the end of the day, we are all still just human beings. Nothing less, and certainly nothing more. Although he had character defects just like the rest of us, JB left us with some invaluable gifts of music, rhythm, and dance. I can imagine no greater tribute than sharing a few of these treasures with you:

"There Was A Time"
Just like the song "Think", JB recorded more than one version of this particular track. This one is from his Gettin' Down To It LP, and showcases Brown's extraordinary ability to blend several musical styles within the space of a single recording. This song is highly recommended listening for fans of soul, jazz, and/or funk music.

"Down And Out In New York City"
This track appeared on Black Caesar, a soundtrack to a blaxploitation film that JB released in 1973. This was a very prolific and pivotal point in the Godfather's career. The same year he also released another soundtrack (Slaughter's Big Rip-Off), and his much-heralded LP, The Payback. The emotional perspective on this particular track may come as somewhat of a surprise to "fans" who've only seen the "I Got You (I Feel Good)" side of Brown's discography.

"Get Up, Get Into It And Get Involved"
If the origin of this post hadn't arisen so unexpectedly, I could have used some degree of forethought to offer a more thorough exploration of the multi-faceted nature of JB's musical career. That said, I included this final track to illustrate yet another distinct element of Brown's musical legacy---his ability to make us move. From the dancefloor to the socio-political world around us, JB encouraged us to get out there and do our thing to the fullest extent. Ever notice how many of his tracks include a command to "get up"...and do something??? Like so many of his songs, this particular track has been sampled by a cornucopia of hip-hop artists---most recently borrowed for the Nas joint "Where Are They Now?". In the late '80s and early '90s, Public Enemy and Big Daddy Kane sampled the hell out of it, and The Beastie Boys, Organized Konfusion, Special Ed, and Kutmasta Kurt also took their respective turns utilizing elements of the track.

Although I'm still mourning the loss of one of music's most wonderful and spirited personalities, I'm also comforted in knowing that James Brown will live forever in terms of his influence on music and popular culture. There is no doubt he will be missed, but I have a feeling he would want us to quit cryin', "get on the good foot" and let the celebration begin...

Word From Your Moms (And The Godfather Of Soul):

"The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing"---James Brown

I've Seen Sunny Days That I Thought Would Never End

"Mama Soul"---Harold Alexander

This funky lil' sonic freakout is one of many outstanding tracks from Harold Alexander's legendary Sunshine Man LP. I haven't encountered very many musicians who can masterfully play a flute and make bizarre vocalizations through it at the same time---have you??? Throw in some schizophrenic scatting over a jazzy, soulful groove, and you have one extremely essential recording. If you've heard DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist's Product Placement LP, or "Deep In The Jungle" by Blackalicious, you will undoubtedly recall hearing elements of this song in the mix...

"Georgia (dj erb remix)"---Ludacris/ Field Mob

This remix is absolutely bananas. If this doesn't make you snap your neck, then something must be broken...

"Project Jazz"---Hell Raza/ Talib Kweli/ MF Doom

This track is from the mixtape Talib Kweli Presents Blacksmith The Movement, an effort aimed at drumming up some hype for the artists on his record label. As a whole, the release has some distinct low points, but this particular joint is pretty unfuckwitable. It didn't necessarily stand out at first, but this track became an undeniable favorite upon repeated listens. "This is something you're going to be able to pass down to your babies..."

"Fire And Rain"---Bobby Womack

This James Taylor song has inspired cover versions by a relatively diverse array of musicians, including Cher, John Denver, Herb Alpert, Lou Rawls, The Isley Brothers, and Skeeter Davis. I've always been intrigued by the lyrics on the track, but something about Taylor's folky, turtlenecked, lukewarm delivery made the song come across as sappier than it really needed to be. Taylor wrote this song while battling with depression and drug addiction, so a hint of melancholy is to be expected, but Womack's rendition takes the cake because it doesn't make me feel like I'm riding in an elevator. He rescued this track from its "adult contemporary" and "easy listening" status by bringing out the soul that was lying patiently beneath the surface...

I put a lot of heart into these selections, so enjoy. Just some early Christmas presents for my peoples and all.

I know that some of you have your eye out for a new links post. I'll definitely get around to it, but it's a must that I do some partying for the sake of the season. It takes a lot of time to coordinate and prepare for one of those posts, and I don't fuckin' feel like doing it right now ;) More stuff from the crates coming very soon, though...

Word From Your Moms:

"Jazz is the music of the body."---Anais Nin