23 december, 2016

Syl Johnson - Ms. Fine Brown Frame b/w You Don't Have To Go (1982)

Born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi, he moved with his family to Chicago in 1950, where blues guitarist Magic Sam was his next-door neighbor. Johnson sang and played with blues artists Magic Sam, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and Howlin' Wolf in the 1950s. He recorded with Jimmy Reed for Vee-Jay in 1959. He made his solo debut that same year with Federal, a subsidiary of King Records of Cincinnati, backed by Freddie King on guitar.
Johnson began recording for Twinight Records of Chicago in the mid-1960s. Beginning with his first hit, "Come On Sock It to Me", in 1967, he dominated the label as both a hit-maker and a producer. His song "Different Strokes", also from 1967, is included on the breakbeat compilation album Ultimate Breaks and Beats.
Like other black songwriters of the period, he wrote songs at this time exploring themes of African-American identity and social problems, such as "Is It Because I'm Black", which reached number 11 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1969.
In 1971, the producer Willie Mitchell brought Johnson to Hi Records, for which the two recorded three albums, which generated a number of singles. Produced in Memphis with the Hi house band, these albums contained the hits "We Did It", "Back for a Taste of Your Love" and "Take Me to the River", his biggest success, reaching number 7 on the R&B chart in 1975. However, at Hi Records, Johnson was always to some extent in the shadow of Al Green, commercially if not artistically. Mitchell also chose to use mainly in-house compositions rather than Johnson's original songs.
After his years with Hi ended, Johnson produced two LPs for his own Shama label, the second of which (Ms. Fine Brown Frame, 1982) was picked up for distribution by Boardwalk Records. The title track of that album was Johnson's last hit record.

Tracklist

A - Ms. Fine Brown Frame  (3:46)
      Written-By – G. Crook, S. Johnson

B - You Don't Have To Go  (3:30)
      Written-By – J. Reed 

Credits 
Producer – General Crook

Notes
Released: 1982
Genre: Funk / Soul, Blues
Style: Chicago Blues, Soul

Label - The Boardwalk Entertainment Co 

Eddie & The Hot Rods - Do Anything You Wanna Do # Schoolgirl (1977)

Eddie and the Hot Rods are a pub rock band from Essex founded in 1975. They are best known for their 1977 UK top ten hit "Do Anything You Wanna Do", released under the name The Rods.
The group broke up in 1981, but have reformed reformed several times since, with singer Barrie Masters the only constant member.
The band was formed in Canvey Island during 1975 by guitarist Dave Higgs (who had previously played in the Fix with Lee Brilleaux), with drummer Steve Nicol, bassist Rob Steel, and singer Barrie Masters.
Before rising to semi-stardom in 1977, the Hot Rods underwent several changes in personnel: One of the first members to leave the band was Eddie himself, a dummy that featured prominently in the Hot Rods' early gigs and was discarded as the joke had worn thin. Otherwise, the band consisted of Barrie Masters on vocals, Pete Wall and Dave Higgs on guitar, Rob Steel on bass and Steve Nicol on drums. Ed Hollis (brother of Talk Talk's Mark Hollis) became their manager.
In May 1975, after building a live reputation, they secured a Saturday-night residency at The Kensington in London. This was followed in October by a joint residency with The 101ers at The Nashville, playing alternate headline sets. In November, after positive press reviews of their live shows, they were signed by Island Records.
With the addition of Douglas, the band was moved in a more radio-friendly direction. Their biggest hit came with the Douglas/Hollis collaboration "Do Anything You Wanna Do" in the summer of 1977, under their shorter, snappier name, The Rods. The song was featured on their 1977 album, Life on the Line.

Tracklist 

A - Do Anything You Wanna Do  (4:00)
      Written-By – Hollis, Douglas 

B - Schoolgirl Love  (3:23)
      Written-By – Masters, Douglas

Companies, etc. 
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Island Records Ltd.
Published By – Island Music
Published By – Anglo-Rock Inc.

Credits 
Arranged By – Masters, Higgs, Hollis, Douglas, Gray, Nicol
Producer – Ed Hollis

Notes
Released: 1977
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Punk

Label - Island Records

21 november, 2016

Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine (Remix/Edit) b/w Out Ta Get Me (LP Version) (1988)

"Sweet Child o' Mine" is a song by the American rock band Guns N' Roses, featured on their debut studio album, Appetite for Destruction (1987). Released in August 1988 as the album's third single.
Lead guitarist Slash has been quoted as having an initial disdain for the song due to its roots as simply a "string skipping" exercise and a joke at the time. During a jam session at the band's house in the Sunset Strip,[7] drummer Steven Adler and Slash were warming up and Slash began to play a "circus" melody while making faces at Adler. Rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin asked Slash to play it again. Stradlin came up with some chords, Duff McKagan created a bassline and Adler planned a beat. In his autobiography, Slash said "within an hour my guitar exercise had become something else". Meanwhile, lead singer Axl Rose was listening to the musicians upstairs in his room and was inspired to write lyrics, which became complete by the following afternoon. He based it on his girlfriend Erin Everly, and declared that Lynyrd Skynyrd served as an inspiration "to make sure that we'd got that heartfelt feeling." On the next composing session in Burbank, the band added both a bridge and a guitar solo.
While the band was recording demos with producer Spencer Proffer, he suggested adding a breakdown at the song's end. The musicians agreed, but were not sure what to do. Listening to the demo in a loop, Axl started saying to himself, "Where do we go? Where do we go now?" and Proffer suggested that he sing that.
The song is composed in the key of D flat major and played in the key of D major tuned down a half step on guitars and bass (as all their songs are). The ending solo is in E flat minor harmonic key.

Tracklist 

A - Sweet Child O' Mine (Remix/Edit)  (3:57)
      Written-By – Guns N' Roses 

B - Out Ta Get Me (LP Version)  (4:20)
      Written-By – Guns N' Roses 

Companies, etc.
Credits
Notes

Release: 1988
Genre: Rock 
Style: Hard Rock, Arena Rock 

Label - Geffen Records

02 november, 2016

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - I Should Be Your Lover (Airplay Version) b/w I Should Be Your Lover (X-Rated Version) (1980)

Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were an American R&B/Soul vocal group, one of the most popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. The group's repertoire included soul, R&B, doo-wop, and disco. Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the middle of the 1950s as The Charlemagnes, the group is most noted for several hits on Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International label between 1972 and 1976.
Source Records believed enough in H. Melvin & his Blue Notes to back them to album release.
Keep in mind that once Teddy Pendergrass left the group, for a solo career, Philly Intl. Records unceremoniously released Harold and the remaining group members. It wasn't the easiest going for the group and changing members thereafter. If listening to urban radio stations during time of this release, how can one not remember the now sought after song "I Should Be Your Lover"?
This is the best music ever, the lyrics the melody all made with real instruments and the artist sang from the heart. bands like the stylistic the dramatics, Delfonic's, four tops, blue magic, chilite's, Temptations etc. etc. etc.
All had the right notion of the meaning of love & heart ache. I'm sure everyone can relate bcuz we've all experienced this feeling in our lives.

Tracklist 

A - I Should Be Your Lover (Airplay Version)  (3:51)
      Written-By – K. Gamble-L. Huff, H. Melvin 

B - I Should Be Your Lover - (X-Rated Version)  (3:55)
      Written-By – K. Gamble-L. Huff, H. Melvin 

Companies, etc. 
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Source Records, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Source Records, Inc.
Manufactured By – MCA Records, Inc.
Published By – Assorted Music

Credits 
Executive-Producer – Logan H. Westbrooks
Mixed By – Harold Melvin, Ralph Bates
Producer – Harold Melvin
Produced by Harold Melvin For Million Dollar Records.

Notes
Release: (1980)
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Soul, Funk

From the Source LP, "The Blue Album" SOR-3197 

Label - Source Records

31 oktober, 2016

George Benson - Love X Love b/w Love Dance (1980)

"Love X Love" is a song written by Rod Temperton and recorded by American R&B/smooth jazz singer George Benson. Featured on Benson's Give Me the Night album, it was also released as a single.
In Britain, it entered the UK Singles Chart on 26 July 1980 and reached a peak position of number 10, remaining in the chart for eight weeks. In the US "Love X Love" made the Hot 100 and was a Top 10 soul hit.
The Qwest record label (a subsidiary of Warner Bros., run by Quincy Jones) released Benson's breakthrough pop album Give Me The Night, produced by Jones.
Benson made it into the pop and R&B top ten with the song "Give Me the Night" (written by former Heatwave keyboardist Rod Temperton).

Tracklist

A - Love X Love  (3:48)
      Written-By – Rod Temperton 

B - Love Dance (3:15)
      Written-By – Ivan Lins, Paul Williams 

Companies, etc. 
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Published By – Rodsongs
Published By – Kidada Music, Inc.
Published By – Brammus Music
Published By – Hobsong Music
Licensed From – Wea International
Marketed By – WEA Records B.V.
Distributed By – WEA Records B.V.
Distributed By – WEA Records NV/SA
Manufactured By – WEA Records B.V.
Manufactured By – WEA Records NV/SA

Credits
Producer – Quincy Jones

Notes
Released:  1980
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Soul

Label- Warner Bros. Records ‎

25 oktober, 2016

Country Joe McDonald & The Fish - I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag b/w Rock And Soul Music (1970)


"I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag" (also known as "The Fish Cheer") is a song by the American psychedelic rock band Country Joe and the Fish, written by Country Joe McDonald, and first released as the opening track on the extended play, Rag Baby Talking Issue No. 1, in October 1965 (see 1965 in music).
Musically structured in traditional ragtime, "The Fish Cheer"'s dark humor and satire made it one of the most recognized protest songs against the Vietnam War. Accordingly, critics cite the composition as a bona fide psychedelic rock song, and a classic of the counterculture era.
"The Fish Cheer" saw a more commercial release on the group's second album, I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die, which was distributed in November 1967. The song has been the topic of controversary and fame for the band since its release. An altered version of the rag that was performed in live performances, known as "The Fuck Cheer", subjugated Country Joe and the Fish to a television ban in 1968, for the vulgarity, but was applauded by concert-goers.
In addition, the song was a favorite among the hippie culture, and was featured in McDonald's set list at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. Decades later, McDonald had a lawsuit filed against him for allegedly infringing on the copyright of Kid Ory's tune, "Muskrat Ramble". McDonald denied these allegations and the suit was later dropped.


Tracklist 

A - I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag (2:50)
      Written-By – Country Joe McDonald 

B - Rock And Soul Music (2:10)
      Written-By – B. Melton, B. Barthol, Country J. McDonald, D. Cohen, Ch. Hirsch 

Companies, etc.
  • Licensed From – Vanguard
  • Printed By – CEO-tryck AB
Credits
  • Producer – Samuel Charters
Notes 
"Recorded Live at "WOODSTOCK" Pop Festival".
Released: 1968  
Genre: Rock, Blues 
Style: Blues Rock, Psychedelic Rock