Ronnie Laws - Pressure Sensitive

Rushing off to the bush to see the Rangers, but before I go, here's what's been rocking my world this morning...

Ronnie Laws - Momma - Pressure Sensitive - 1975
Ronnie Laws - Nothing to Lose - Pressure Sensitive - 1975

I should also let you know that this album has the original of Always There made huge in the 90s by Incognito. I'll post it later if you want it...

Daasebre Gyamenah - How Far?

Thanks to my colleague Nii, I have some Ghanaian high life to share with you today. This album, from 2004, is really charming. Soothing and light like an ice-cold chablis. The really understated, slightly over quantised, production contributes to the effect, but it's the singing & harmonies that steal the show. I don't know much about him, but a web search brings up stories of his arrest on drug charges after stepping off a flight in London in July '06. Rather than coming across as a bad boy though, disarmingly, his lawyer says Daasebre does not want people to visit him “because he is scared. He has not gone through this kind of situation before and he does not exactly know what is happening." It appears he is still remanded in custody, with a verdict expected in May.

Daasebre Gyamenah - Onongbo
Daasebre Gyamenah - Enye Aduro
Daasebre Gyamenah - Odo Bekase Makye

New York City

I'm off to my old stomping ground New York tomorrow, to catch up with some old friends and do a little work I guess. To keep you entertained in the meantime, a gimlet triplet of NYC greats...

Miroslav Vitous - New York City - Magical Shepherd - 1976 (booty-shaking storm trooper)
Oddysey - Native New Yorker - 12" - 1977 (opening credits of Cagney & Lacey)
Ahmad Jamal Trio - Autumn in New York - Ahmad's Blues - 1958 (super-sophisticated shuffle)

Paulinho Da Costa

For those of you that didn't check out Loronix for some Paulinho Da Costa as I suggested, here's something nice I found there. Driving bass, plenty of brass and alternating keys, guitar and sax solos all given plenty of pace by the percussion.

Paulinho Da Costa - Simbora - Agora - 1976

Juan Atkins

Juan Atkins (second from left) with Kevin Saunderson, Eddie Fowlkes, and Derrick May.

Speak to the average denizens of Motor City and they have absolutely no idea whatsover the impact their home town's underground music has had on the world, and European bedroom producers in particular. Shame. Here are four machine-funk slices of space-age Atkins magic.

Model 500 - Starlight - Deep Space - 1995
Infiniti - Skyway - Skynet - 1998
E-Dancer - Heavenly (Juan Atkins Mix) - Heavenly - 1998
Model 500 - Ocean to Ocean (Global Mix) - Transmat 14 - 1990

Wilton Felder - Inherit The Wind

Is this track the definition of a guilty pleasure? Ignore the spoken word intro and the title. Get over the dentist waiting room feeling. Console the taste nazis in your head with the fact that Wilton Felder was one of The Cruaders, that this is Bobby Womack singing, and it's Paulinho da Costa on percussion (hear more of him at the excellent Loronix). Groove on to the mid-tempo jam and play air sax to the hook. Don't you know life is worth living? Your destiny is sure.

Wilton Felder - Inherit The Wind - Inherit The Wind - 1980

Black Ivory - What Goes Around

Oh QPR, why do you make life so difficult? 3 minutes away from a famous victory at promotion-chasing Derby and we concede an equaliser. To make it worse Southend get a winner and we're back in the bottom three. Just gotta keep believing.

Enough of that...time to put a smile back on my face and some pep in my step. The Patrick Adams managed, Vince Montana arranged Kwanza debut 45 from Black Ivory, released in the summer of 1974. Available on the second release from the excellent Créme De La Créme series of compilations which I strongly recommend you buy.

Black Ivory - What Goes Around (Comes Around)

Stanley Cowell - Regeneration

A trio of songs from Stanley Cowell's 1975 Regeneration album in answer to Soup's request for more Strata East. Allmusic.com describes it as "a jazz-infused pop album with strong African roots" and notes that Spike Lee's dad plays bass. Positive soothing music that speaks for itself.

Stanley Cowell - Trying To Find A Way
Stanley Cowell - Thank You My People
Stanley Cowell - Travellin' Man

Another track from this album can be found closing my earlier mix

Teena Marie - Wild and Peaceful

Teena Marie's strong 1979 debut owes a lot to Rick James. This is especially evident on the familiar opening track I'm A Sucker For Your Love which he wrote and lent his distinct style. But there's a lot of variety too. Teena's version of The Temptation's tune Don't Look Back gets me moving and smiling every time - it sounds like that first day of a holiday once you've got the hassle of the airport out of the way and you're on the way to the beach with the top down. I'm Gonna Have My Cake (And Eat It Too), though, is a strange one with many elements that would normally turn me off. It's over the top, sentimental, self pitying and sounds a bit too much like a show tune. But her vocals carry it once you get into them and they just strengthen until about three and a half minutes in when she starts scatting. It just starts to really swing in a dinner jazz style - complete with a drum break down and some nice George Benson-style guitar. I shouldn't like it but I can't help myself, and ultimately I'm always disappointed by the rather sudden ending, wanting it to just keep on jamming.

Teena Marie - I'm A Sucker For Your Love
Teena Marie - Don't Look Back
Teena Marie - I'm Gonna Have My Cake (And Eat It Too)

Deniece Williams - This Is Niecy

Niecy's first album under her own name is great from start to finish. Good songs, good tunes, good production and sweet good feelings all the way through. I'm tempted to post the whole 7 track album here, but that doesn't seem fair so please do try and buy it - there's not a single duff song. If you do get it you'll find one whole section that's been sampled by Ian Pooley among other delights. The first track here, Free, is probably the best known. It's slowed down and impeccable. But she's just as potent on the more up-tempo numbers. It's Important to Me has got a kind of hokey feel, but addictive nonetheless, and Cause You Love Me Baby continues to bring the smiles.

Deniece Williams - Free
Deniece Williams - It's Important to Me
Deniece Williams - Cause You Love Me Baby

I also posted what I think is the best track from this album earlier.