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.

Lenny White - Venusian Summer

If you like your funk orchestral, over 10 minutes long and can handle long solos, then this is for you. While the word epic is overused (not least by me), these two cuts from Lenny White's 1975 album are truly worthy of the word. Prince of the Sea is subtitled "The story of the young prince becoming Neptune". It starts slowly and sweetly, almost silent for the first 30 seconds and passing three minutes before any drums kick in, giving a soft and rolling introduction. Fusion heavyweights Al Di Meola and Larry Coryell then take turns strutting for the remainder of the track, with brief piano interludes from Onaje Allan Gumbs (who also appears on the very different tracks by Cecil McBee and Phyllis Hyman also posted on this site). Venusian Summer Suite, in two parts, is subtitled "The haunting Venusian maidens lured starships to their doom" and is dedicated to the crew of the Starship Enterprise. The first part, called Sirenes is performed by the Brooklyn Syntharmonic Orchestra & Inner-Mission Choir Orchestra. It is eery and fearful, sounding indeed very much like atmosphere music from an early episode of Star Trek. After about four and a half minutes it breaks into part two, Venusian Summer itself. This is pulsing music, with clavinet, acoustic piano, minimoog, and stand out flute from ex Jazz Crusader Hubert Laws. Watch out for the surging synths after about 8 minutes 20.

Lenny White - Prince of the Sea

Lenny White - Venusian Summer Suite

Paperclip People - The Secret Tapes of Dr. Eich

I love Carl Craig
He loves Carl Craig
She loves Carl Craig
We love Carl Craig
You love Carl Craig
They love Carl Craig

Released together as an album OVER 10 (TEN) YEARS AGO.

Paperclip People - Throw
Paperclip People - The Climax
Paperclip People - Clear and Present

Quaid - Dollar

A quick one today. Jack from The Horse Latitudes shared with me a Joseph Quaid version of Dollar after the Billy Paul post a couple weeks back. It's always good to hear different takes on a tune, and this time it's given a more Detroit under the skin feel.

Dollar (Quaid Dub)