Lalo Schifrin - OST The Liquidator (1966)

Dusty Grooves said:

An obscure 60s spy soundtrack from Lalo Schifrin -- done with a style that's a bit different than some of his other work at the time! There's still a fair bit of the trademark Schifrin elements -- bits of jazz, bossa, and Latin touches on the tunes -- but there's also a style here that's sometimes a bit more direct and dramatic, almost with a dark undercurrent that we're not use to hearing in Lalo's music. The film itself was something of a comedy, but a black one -- and the music really fits that unsettling spirit. Shirley Bassey sings the main "Liquidator" theme -- and other titles include "Boysies Bossa", "The Bird", "Riviera Chase", "Tilt", and "Bikini Waltz".

Even check out Moviegrooves.com for more info.


Dig this, Shirley kills it ...

The Meters - New Directions (1977)

Review (Rolling Stone Magazine):

The Meters define the steamy, hard-edged New Orleans funk sound much as the Section is synonymous with the soft-focus, blue-eyed soul of Los Angeles studios. Both work from clearly defined traditions: the rhythmically intricate ensemble philosophy of Dixieland survives in the Meters, while the Section is a group of virtuoso improvisation-alists who epitomize the "cool" (now "laid-back") Latin-jazz ambiance perfected by Wes Montgomery. In other words, the Meters play dance music, and the Section programs music for penthouse seductions.

New Directions and Fork It Over are both attempts to consolidate group styles into a commercial formula. Neither really succeeds, but a lot of fiery playing goes down before the verdict can be reached. The Meters tapped the Tower of Power horn section and pop/soul producer David Rubinson for New Directions, and the resultant sound is predictably commercial and facelessly funky R&B. This strategy doesn't utilize the Meters' collaborative ensemble instinct; instead, it breaks down the sound into individual parts held together by the arrangement. There are musical rewards—a bass line here, a sweating drum pattern there—but none of the looseness that lets this band fly.

The Section, meanwhile, tries its hand at fusion music, and there are moments—particularly guitarist Danny Kortchmar's "Suckers on Parade" and "L.A. Changes"—where the band pumps out a supple wash of tastetempting soul food. Leland Sklar's bass line on the opening track combines elements of "Car Wash" and Weather Report, a handy little move. But in the end, the album succumbs to a gloss of musical appetizers with no bulk to satisfy the desires they raise.

Check check this out ... and hey, talk to me people!!!

cheerz, SF

The Tymes - Turning Point (1976)

A sweet set of tracks from The Tymes -- certainly no "turning point" in their career, but a really strong record nonetheless! By the time of the set, the group was really rolling along strongly -- fitted here with 2 new female members, but coming together with a harmonic strength that shows their many years in recording -- and which is carried off here by some nice Philly mainstream touches, courtesy of arranger Richie Rome. George Williams' lead vocals are only slightly out front in the set, making it mostly a real group effort -- and titles include "The Reader", "Traces Of You", "It's So Good To Be Waking Up With You", "Love's Illusion", "All You Ever Wanted To Know About", and "That's The Breaks Of Love". (Dusty Grooves)

Get on the good foot & enjoy!

Allen Toussaint - Southern Nights (1975)

Allen Toussaint produced a kind of masterpiece with his first Reprise album, Life, Love and Faith, finding previously unimagined variations on his signature New Orleans R&B sound. For its 1975 sequel, Southern Nights, he went even further out, working with producer Marshall Sehorn to create a hazy vague concept album that flirted with neo-psychedelia while dishing out his deepest funk and sweetest soul. It's a bit of an unfocused album, but that's largely due to the repeated instrumental "filler," usually based on the theme of the title song, that pops up between every two or so songs, undercutting whatever momentum the album is building. That, along with a song or two that are merely average Toussaint , prevents Southern Nights from being a full-fledged masterpiece, but it comes close enough to that level of distinction anyway due to the brilliance of its best songs. There is, of course, "Southern Nights," which Glen Campbell later took to the top of the charts, but it's nearly unrecognizable here, given a swirling, trippy arrangement that plays like a heat mirage. Then, there are the songs that weren't covered, but should have been, like the nearly anthemic "Back in Baby's Arm," the rolling, catchy "Basic Lady," the stately "You Will Not Lose," or the steady-grooving end-of-the-night "When the Party's Over." Then, there are the songs that perhaps only Toussaint could sing, given their complex yet nimble grooves: witness how "Country John" seems like a simple, straight-ahead New Orleans raver but really switches tempo and rhythm over the course of the song, or how the monumental "Last Train" builds from its spare, funky opening to a multi-layered conclusion boasting one of Toussaint's best horn arrangements and vocal hooks. These disparate sounds may not be tied together by the interludes, as they were intended, but they nevertheless hold together because they're strong songs all bearing Toussaint's unmistakable imprint. They're so good that they nearly knock the "near" of off the near-masterpiece status for Southern Nights, and they're the reason why the album should be a part of any serious soul collection. (Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide)

listen here or buy it if you find it!

If you listen to the song "Southern Nights", that will be the hymn for the day, word!


cheerz 2U guys & girls!

Gene Harris - Tone Tantrum (1977)

KazaaaAAAaam!

Back again with a Blue Note - Beauty. Found this album some years ago and didn´t know much about it. But after all these years of digging, this setup made the bells ringin. You know the names like Dorothy Ashby, Jerry Peters, Harvey Mason, Donald Byrd, D.J. Rogers?!?! No, then go and search for these magnificent artists ... and if you don´t know about this album, go get it for yourselves!

Dusty Groove said:

Sweet sweet keyboards from the amazing Gene Harris -- one of his seminal electric sides for Blue Note in the 70s -- recorded between his earliest fame in the Three Sounds, and his later return to acoustic styles in the 80s! The sound here is equal parts jazz and soul -- as Gene's working with vocalist/arranger Jerry Peters, who brings in a good deal of his own groove to the tracks -- giving them a strong focus that's sometimes missing from other solo Harris sets. Both Peters and Harris play Fender Rhodes and other keyboards on the album -- alongside a variety of players that include Donald Byrd on trumpet, Harvey Mason on drums, and Chuck Rainey on bass. Tracks include the Peters tunes "If You Can't Find Love" and "A Minor", a two-part remake of Duke Pearson's "Christo Redentor", the sweet stepper "Peace Of Mind", and a strong vocal take on Stevie Wonder's "As".

Enjoy that folks!

cheerz

Walter Rizzati - OST Das Krokodil und sein Nilpferd / Io sto con gli ippopotami (1979)

Grau - Grau - Grau!

Now for something completely different (like the Pythons would say).
I was always searching for music from the Bud & Terence movies, ´cause they made and still make me feel happy when no sun is shining! And I believe that there is no one out there who don´t like them both guys. So, enjoy this (not so funky) but relaxing album by Walter Rizzati for this great movie.

I´m outtie!

Southern Exposure - Headin´ South (1979)

Yeah, let´s go headin´ south! If you take a closer look at the cover you will maybe recognize what the band could mean by entitling their album "headin´ south"! haha, good idea ... this chick is superb (and she looks like a Kylie Minogue clone, didn´t she???)

Credits:

This is a superb example for RCA disco sound ... just 4 tracks, but none is shorter than 6 minutes, like all the goodies from the disco era.
I bet my pants, when you play this in clubs these days, a lot of people will move their buts to this music pieces, so do I!
Nice keyboards and synths by Carl Marsh, funky guitar riffs Brian Russell & Michael Toles and some vocals by Debbie Cathey and Jimmie Jamison.


Video: "Love Is"



Enjoy it and take a ride, you won´t be disappointed if you´re down with RCA!

cheerz

Celi Bee & the Buzzy Bunch (1978)

A sweet campy disco classic -- and a record that's been close to my heart for years! Celi Bee may have had white hair and a hokey kind of look, but she won me forever with her incredible "Superman" -- a five minute homage to the man in red and blue, and the leadoff track on this debut set! "Superman" is a sweet disco number with lots of strings, heavy rhythms at the bottom, and an erotic vocal that seems to offer the big guy more action than Lois Lane ever did. The rest of the tracks follow in a similar sleaze disco mode, and titles include "Smile", "It's Sad", "Hurt Me Hurt Me", "One Love", and "Closer Closer".
If you find it, grab it if you can, it´s worth it!

Video: "Superman"



It´s disco time fellas!

peace