Never thought that that the Black Eyed Peas made good music? Show 55 kicks off with a reminder that they could once make credible hip hop with some delightful nu-soul from frontman Will.I.Am. Such a shame about the ringtones and McMusic that pass for their current output! We continue on in a downtempo and mellow mood through an eclectic selection of hip hop, classic soul, columbian and disco records before finishing off where we began with a short medley of sublime nu-soul. Hope you like - get downloading!

1. Will.i.am - Lay Me Down
2. Lords of the Underground - No Pain
3. St Germain - Land of…
4. James Brown - You Can Have Watergate
5. Adriana Evans - Remember Love
6. Airto Mareira - The Happy People
7. The Latin Brothers - Las Calenas son como las Flores
8. Tuff Love - Born to Live
9. Cloud One - Patti Duke
10. Leroy Huston - Love the Feeling
11. Marlon Saunders - Love Seranade
12. Em-cee - Don’t Come Around
13. Sara Devine - Take me Home

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The last place you would expect a band specialising in authentic afro and latin soul to originate from is Canada, yet that is exactly what you get from Ottowa based Soul Jazz Orchestra. Formed in 2002 the 6 member band recreate the afro grooves of the 60s and 70s to devastating effect whilst delivering a message that is both political and spiritual.

The track from the latest podcast was taken from the band’s 2nd studio album, ‘Freedom No Go Die’ on the Do Right label and garnered extensive support from the likes of Gilles Peterson and Dom Servini. It’s one of those rare albums where every track is a winner and there’s no filler material whatsoever.

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This second tune used in show 54 of my podcast is a real favourite with me at the moment. The distinctive falsetto singing is a trademark of American singer, Eddie Kendricks.

Born in Alabama Eddie Kendricks was one of the cofounders of Motown legends, The Temptations who went on to become one of the most successful male groups of the 1960s. At the time Kendricks was responsible for writing most of group’s vocal arrangements and was even responsible for the group’s wardrobe.

Kendricks left the Temptations in 1971 and went on to sing a solo deal with Motown’s Tamla imprint. Though his solo career got off to a slow start, trracks from his 1972 album ‘People…Hold On’ was a staple of many New York disco DJs of the time. The epic ‘Girl You Need a Change of Mind is taken from that album’.

Also worth tracking down is the classic track ‘Happy‘ which gained notoriety when it was sampled by Max Sedgley for his track of the same name released on Irma Records. The tune was later re-released on Rob da Bank’s Sunday Best label where it would appear the sample had been re-created by a live singer.

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I thought it’d be rather nice if I started to give you a bit of background to some of the artists tunes I play in the podcasts - so here we go kicking off with the tune that introduces show 54.

Terry Callier is a Chicago born soul singer-songwriter and folk guitarist.  Born in 1945, he learned piano throughout his childhood before eventually going on to join doo-wop groups in his teens.  Eventually he would go on to audition for the now legendary Chess Records in 1962 where he then recorded his first single.  Callier went on to perform in clubs abd coffee houses in Chicago, taking with him his influence of the music of the great jazz saxophonist John Coltrane.

His first album, ‘The Folk Sound’ of Terry Callier was eventually released in 1968 after which he continued to write material for the Chess label.  This followed with three further albums: ‘Occasional Rain’, ‘What colour is Love’ and ‘I Just Can’t Help Myself’.

Show 54 of the podcast features ‘You Goin Miss Your Candyman’  taken from the album ‘What Color is Love’ which was originally released in 1972.  The song is a slight departure from the other tunes on the album, taking a more soulful approach to his usual folk sound.  The unnassuming guitar introduction makes the appearance of the huge bass that much more surprising and the song goes on through energetic peaks and troughs of energetic dancefloor friendly fare.

Terry Callier carried on performing until 1983 when he took the decision to retire from music and take classes in - of all things - computer programming and he eventually went on to pursue a degree in sociology.  It was only in the late 1980s that he re-emerged after British DJs rediscovered his old recordings and began playing them in clubs.  In 1991 Callier starting touring again and does to this day where he has since recorded five further albums.

There is good news for Manchester residents as he will be playing at band on the wall in October!

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Show 54 kicks off with some sublime soul from Terry Callier and Eddie Kendricks and then goes on to pick up the pace through a selection of choice disco numbers. We round off the hour with some dancefloor disturbing afro numbers, culminating in the modern classic by RSL - the awesome ‘Wesley Music’. Download it and Enjoy!

1. Terry Callier - You Goin’ Miss Your Candyman
2. Eddie Kendricks - Girl You Need a Change of Mind
3. Salsoul Orchestra - Take Some Time Out For Love
4. Melvin Sparks - Get Ya Some
5. The Fantastic Aleems - Hooked on Your Love
6. Clyde Alexander - Got to Have Your Love
7. Louise Freeman - I Can do it
8. In Search of Orchestra - Phenomena Theme (Inst)
9. The soul Jazz Orchestra - The Blind Leading the Blind
10. Irakeri - Por Romper el Coco
11. Marijita - MOther Africa
12. RSL - Wesley Music

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Youngblood Brass Band - Human Nature (part 2)

Australia’s Youngblood Brass Band turn ‘Human Nature’ into a dancefloor friendly killer - a vast departure from the original Jacko tune.

Blassport Gruppe - ‘Bad’

We are most likely to thing that our teutonic chums would have a traditional brass band parping out tunes at a beer festival rather than blasting out contemporary classics.  Checkout Blassport Gruppe’s awesome take on ‘Bad’ and dare I say I’d prefer a ‘live’ recording as opposed to the much cleaner sounding version you can find on Itunes which I think takes some of the soul and energy out the performance.  Anyway, enjoy!

Funky Butt Brass Band - ‘I want you back’

I’m not much of a fan of Jacko’s earlier work, preferring as I do his stuff from when he was a nipper - check out ‘it’s great to be here’ as an example.  I have to confess I don’t really know anything about these guys but they’ve knocked out a really cheeky version of ‘I want you back’.  If anyone knows of them then drop some recommendations in the comments!

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Gracious, it’s been a while since I’ve added a new podcast to this page.  Promise I’ll be more regular from now on!  Anyway, this time round it’s a bit of a technical treat as I’ve managed to cram 12 tunes into just over half an hour!  We kick off with a selection of blues, starting with the mighty BB King and building up through an assortment of jazz, soul, disco, funk, dubstep and dub.

Blues to dubstep in half an hour?  How does that work.  Get downloading to find out!

1. B.B King - I’ve Got Papers on you Baby
2. Little Joe Blue - Me & my Woman
3. Joe Turner - Morning Glories
4. Rusty Bryant - Night Train
5. Brother Jack McDuff - Teardrops from my eyes
6. Rodger Collins - She’s Looking Good
7. Bernard Purdie - Jimmy’s Back
8. The Endeavors - Who Shaft Where
9. Lil’ Waters Burning Flame - Do the Rope-dee-dope
10. Dusk - Focus
11. Ramadanman - Carla
12. Scientist - Scientist Wins the World Cup (side 1, track 1)

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A belated merry new year to one and all and we kick off this year’s podcasts with an hour long mix for you to download containing some of my favourites from the last year. Starting off once again with the awesome cover of “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” we journey through reggae, afro, soul, breaks and beats. Also, look out for the cheeky cover version of Britney Spears’ “Toxic” near the end!

1. Prince Fatty - Shimmy Shimmy Ya
2. Lloyd Young - High Explosion
3. The Dynamics - Downtown Barkings (Afrobeat Edit)
4. Peter King - Shango
5. Spanky Wilson - Kissing My Love
6. Helene Smith - You Got to be a Man
7. The Five Corners Quintet - The Devil Kicks
8. Povo - Shibab’s Habit
9. Omar - It’s So
10. Nicole Willis - Holdin’ On (Afronaut Remix)
11. Eddy Meets Yannah - Shamed
12. Waleoyejide - Africa Hot!
13. Quantic - Blackstone Rock
14. Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra - Toxic
15. The Village Callers - I Heard it Through the Grapevine
16. Freddie Wilson - What Would it be Like

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