Deep Tracks 77

1. Give It Up-The Eliminators
2. Cocoa-Assagai
3. Give More Power To The People-The Chi-lites
4. Boo On You-Chuck Jones & Company
5. Black Strap Molasses-Johnny Hammond Smith
6. No One Knows -Jimmy McGriff & Junior Parker
7. Take Us Down To The River-Michael Naura
8. Midnight Hour-Phil & Friends
9. Hey Western Union Man-William Bell
10. La Cosa de Ritchie-Bobby Matos
11. Welcome-Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil
12. Mystery Tour-Peter King
13. Think People-Vernon Garrett
14. L.A. Sunshine-WAR
15. Dirty Roosta Booga-Jimmy Smith
16. Molly and Tenbrooks (take 2) --Bill Monroe
17. Better Days-Joe Pass

http://rapidshare.com/files/299767593/Deep_Tracks_77.zip


This one tracks from disco to afro-prog to deep soul and then off to some early bluegrass. Assagai is name of a slender spear carried by the Bantu tribesmen in Africa. Here it is an Afro-rock band from South Africa, active in the early 1970s in London. It consisted of five members: Louis Moholo, Mongezi Feza, Bizo Muggikana, Fred Coker, and Dudu Pukwana. They recorded for the British label Vertigo Records. Cocoa is a wicked groove on any continent.

In my less than humble opinion, Jimmy McGriff is as deep a B-3 player as has ever kicked the bass. Always bluesy he found a perfect match in legendary blues singer Jr. Parker. By the late sixties Parker was far removed from his fifties hits like Mystery Train but he still knew how to break it down and he had a distinctive voice that meshed well with McGriff's front of the church sensibilities.

William Bell might be less well known than his contemporaries like Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, or for that matter Jerry Butler, the author, but jesus he had some pipes. The recording feels like he didn't need a mic to be heard over a big band.

Deep Tracks 76

1. Shakin' In My Boots- Herb Day
2. One Monkey Don't Stop The Show (Part 1) - Honey Cone
3. Black Coffee - Willie Bobo
4. Your Lies - The Falling Martins
5. Hot Sauce- George Braith
6. Mama Told Me Not To Come – Odetta
7. Skate Now - Lou Courtney
8. Dujii - Kool & the Gang
9. I Saw The Light - The Easter Brothers
10. Till I See You Again - The Dells
11. Feelin' Alright - Wade Marcus
12. Nadia Soleil - Théo Blaise Kounkou
13. Jive American Jive No 1 - Bra Sello
14. Kansas City - Flatt & Scruggs
15. Jivin' – Deodato
16. Washita Love Child - Jesse Ed Davis
17. At The Club - Ray Charles
18. You're Coming Home - Esther Phillips
19. The Semi Colon - Nekwaha Semi Colon
20. Cheatin' Girl - Stu Gardner
21. Coming Home - Chuck Armstrong

http://rapidshare.com/files/297001612/Deep_Tracks_76.zip

Willie Bobo, like Mongo Santamaria, was able to capture a significant following by blending R&B with latin jazz and boogaloo. Black Coffee is a classic dark brew posing as a pop instrumental. The kind of stuff he made a living at.

George Braith began playing pretty straight ahead stuff on Blue Note notwithstanding this little latin groover. Times have changed and Mr. Braith's music with it. In the intervening years he has invented the undoubtedly popular and easy to play "Braithophone."

Théo Blaise Kounkou is a Congolese singer with an unbelievably sweet voice and somehow his french works perfectly with the lighter than air music. Obviously I have no idea what the lyrics are about but the song is arranged beautifully and the band jumps off the record. I've only seen a few albums by this guy and they are all filled with this kind of music.

Deep Tracks 75

1. I’m Gonna Make It Alright – Paul Pena
2. Teeth and Tongue Will Get You Hurt – The Five Keys
3. Do Me Right – The Detroit Emeralds
4. Thief in the Night – The Gladiators
5. Walkin’ the Chalk Line – Tiny Bradshaw
6. Sweet Inspiration – The Derek Trucks Band
7. Walking In Sunshine – Clyde Bowling
8. Capoeira – Deodato
9. New Day Comin’ – Billy Paul
10. Hang Em High – The Funky Strings
11. You’re Welcome to the Club – Little Milton
12. I Need You – The Blackbyrds
13. Ramblin’ – The Marshall Tucker Band
14. Bus Dem Shut – Bob Marley
15. I’m Traveling On and On – Bill Monroe
16. Let’s Clean Up The Ghetto – The Philadelphia International Allstars
17. Pow! – Willis Jackson
18. It’s In You – Raw Soul Express
19. Sleep On Dream On – The Beginning of the End
20. I’m A Fool For You – The Undisputed Truth

http://rapidshare.com/files/297001615/Deep_Tracks_75.zip

Paul Pena (died October 1, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist of Cape Verdean descent. His music from the first half of his career touched on Delta blues, jazz, morna, flamenco, folk and rock and roll. Pena is probably best known for writing the song "Jet Airliner," a major 1977 hit for the Steve Miller Band and a staple of classic rock radio; and for appearing in the 1999 documentary film Genghis Blues, wherein he displayed his abilities in the field of Tuvan throat singing. The little bit of his recorded output that is available is a revelation. This if from his ultraobscure first album Paul Pena which has never been released on cd.

The "Detroit Emeralds" formed as a vocal harmony group in Little Rock, Arkansas, and originally composed of four brothers. In 1970, they joined the Westbound record label. While touring in Memphis, Tennessee, they recorded some demo tracks at the Hi recording studios, run by producer Willie Mitchell, to which they then added vocals and strings back in Detroit. This approach worked and brought them another hit, "If I Lose Your Love", which was followed by a run of successes, including this track which made the R&B Top 10.

Willis "Gator" Jackson (25 April 1932 - 25 October 1987) was a great American soul jazz tenor saxophonist. Active from the late fifties into the seventies, Jackson had a rich, lush sound and loved to work in organ trios. He always seemed to be the archetype of the b-3 trio smoking in the back of the bar.

Deep Tracks 74

1. Windy City Soul – The Dells
2. Rock My Soul – Elvin Bishop
3. Blue Yodel #6 – Merle Haggard
4. Iyole – Kanda Bongo Man
5. Take The Highway – Marshall Tucker Band
6. Love and Happiness – Monty Alexander
7. One More Shot – Carl Perkins
8. Pickin’ for the Lord – Larry Richardson
9. Workin’ My Way Back – The Unifics
10. Delta Lady – Joe Cocker
11. Memphis – Don Covay
12. Over in the Glory Land – The Stanley Brothers
13. I’m Blue – The Sweet Inspirations
14. Let Me Build – Jackie Wilson
15. Ramblin’ Man – Clinton Kings and the Virginia Mountain Boys
16. Moon River – Pony Poindexter
17. Back When Mafia – The Mighty Diamonds
18. It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) – Billy Preston
19. Caste Your Fate to the Wind – Grant Green
20. Cleo’s Mood – Sugar Loaf
21. Let It Roll – Eddie Bo (R.I.P.)

http://rapidshare.com/files/293922726/Deep_Tracks_74.zip

I guess a blog is all about patting one's back and this is another chance for me to congratulate myself on a fine mix of cross genre fun.

We start with a rip of Chicago soul courtesy of the Dells. Not some slo jam ballad, this banger lifts unbelievable harmonies and a fantastic lead. A brilliant tune. Formed in 1952 after attending high school together, the Dells' repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul, disco and contemporary rhythm and blues. Unlike many of their contemporaries, the group's lineup did not change much from 1960 and consisted, until 2009, of falsetto leader Johnny Carter (died August 21, 2009), baritone lead singer Marvin Junior and background singers Mickey McGill, Verne Allison and Chuck Barksdale.

Kanda Bongo Man, born 1955 in Inongo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a prominent soukous musician. As the singer for Orchestra Belle Mambo in 1973, he developed a unique new sound influenced by Tabu Ley. His solo career only started to take off after moving to Paris in 1979 where his music started to incorporate elements of then-vibrant zouk music (originating in the French West Indies). He his first solo albums, "Iyole" in 1981 and "Djessy" in 1982 were hits.

Monty Alexander's loping riff on Al Green's classic Love and Happiness might be the finest use of the Fender Rhodes piano ever. An incredible head bobbing groove that is just too tight.

Ahh Hillbilly Gospel - my guilty pleasure. This nuggest courtesy of Larry Richardson who just passed away a couple of years ago. Born August 9, 1927, in the Galax area of Virginia, Richardson was a highly-rated old style mountain banjo player, someone who epitomised the early days of bluegrass music. He was from the old school of lead/tenor singers, crystal clear and high and real lonesome.

Deep Tracks 73

1. Go Cat Go – Carl Perkins
2. Kirikisi – Sir Victor Uwaifo
3. The Son’s Gonna Shine – Earl Taylor
4. Bump Miss Suzie – Big Joe Turner
5. She Came In Through the Bathroom Window – Joe Cocker
6. Lonely, Lonely Man Am I – Chuck Jackson
7. Sexy – Gino Dentie
8. The Sweet Life – Rueben Wilson
9. Man’s Worst Enemy – Shades of Brown
10. Psychedelic Afro-Shack – Orlando Julius
11. Woodstock – Barry Miles
12. I’m A High Ballin’ Daddy – Tiny Bradshaw
13. Como Baila Murieta – El Guayabero
14. Back in Town – Boyoyo Boys
15. Barefoot Boy – Cousin Joe
16. Gwam Okwu-Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe
17. I Just Want to Celebrate – David Ruffin
18. 007 – Desmond Dekker
19. Mama of My Song – Jackie Wilson
20. Travelin’ Man – Albert King
21. The Unsilent Majority – Ramsey Lewis

http://rapidshare.com/files/289615888/Deep_Tracks_73.zip

This is a smoker. Sometime in the late 90's Carl Perkins did a "comeback album" of duets with some interesting people. It shows what a phenomenal talent Perkins is. On this little ditty he shares time with Tom Petty.

Kirikisi from the "Guitar Boy" Sir Victor Uwaifo is an infectious groove from a truly talented African guitarist. Sir Victor Uwaifo (the 'Sir' is apocryphal) is a Nigerian musician, writer, sculptor, and musical instrument inventor, born in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria in 1941. He is famous for his joromi music. Now you know why.

I was really struck by how much Chuck Jackson's "Lonely Man Am I" provides a bass line that would reappear many times later in reggae. Tremendously soulful tune.

Deep Tracks 72

1. Take Me To The Pilot – Odetta
2. No More Doubt – Oteil & The Peacemakers
3. Wait on What You Want – Paul Pena
4. The Bus – Billy Preston
5. You Ain’t Going Nowhere – Cliff Waldron
6. Makambo Biale – Bantous De La Capitale
7. Roll On – JJ Cale
8. Traveling Shoes – Elvin Bishop
9. Anti Love Song – Betty Davis
10. I Want A Chance For Romance – Hector Rivera
11. Hitchcock Railway – Jose Feliciano
12. A Knife And Fork – Kip Anderson
13. Sabotage – Hank Marr
14. A Mile Out Of Memphis – Carl Perkins
15. California Dreamin’ – Bobby Womack
16. Riding That Midnight Train – Earl Scruggs, Ricky Scaggs
17. Function at the Junction – Ramsey Lewis
18. Moanin’ and Groanin’ – Bill Withers
19. It’s Your Thing – Booker T. & The MG’s
20. Deep Elum Blues – Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band

http://rapidshare.com/files/283754633/Deep_Tracks_72.zip

Odetta was one of the most important folk musicians of the 20th century who passed in 2008. I can't say that folk music is the top of my list but this isn't a folk tune at least not in terms of the performance - because Take Me to the Pilot is a classic traditional tune. The arrangement here is unique and taken from the 1970 album Odetta Sings.

Oteil Burbridge is the bass player for the Allman Brothers Band and for his own band featuring his brother Kofi. A cool piece of modern funk.

Les Bantous de la Capitale is one of the longest-lasting and most influential groups in the musical history of the Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). Formed in 1959, the band played a major role in the introduction and growing popularity of boucher, which vitalized the Cuban-influenced rumba, and soukous. This rollicking bit of rhumba flys out of the speakers.