Deep Tracks 79

1. That’s Life – James Brown
2. Nadia Soleil-Théo Blaise Kounkou
3. The Fuzz-Roy Ayers
4. Roll Your Own-Larry Rice
5. Country Living-The Stylistics
6. Hey Now-Ray Charles
7. I'm a Hi-Ballin' Daddy-Tiny Bradshaw
8. Got To Lose Your Way-The Haggis Horns
9. Raindrops-The Pioneers
10. New Day, New World Comin'-Billy Paul
11. Monkey Man-The Specials
12. Aprieta-Joe Cuba
13. Junkshop-The New Apocalypse
14. Time to Get Down-The O'Jays
15. Down Here On The Ground-Grant Green
16. The Hen-Louis Chachere
17. Step It Up & Go-Kenny Baker & Josh Graves
18. I Found Out-THE ELECTRIC FLAG
19. Let The Four Winds Blow-Snooks Eaglin
20. The Move-Lonnie Mack
21. Dee abe beto biara-Eric Agyeman

http://rapidshare.com/files/308136178/Deep_Tracks_79.zip

What can be said about one of the baddest hominids to ever go bipedal? James Brown was many things to many people. Interestingly I think he considered himself a much more adept singer than conventional wisdom suggests. This cover of a tune owned by Sinatra, That's Life, reveals a more ambitious Brown trying to reflect back on his jazz roots.

Billy Paul was at the center of the Philly sound and he was a soulful son of a gun. Talented and under recorded, Paul seems all but forgotten now. But in the seventies he was right there with Harold Melvin and Gamble and Huff defining a new urban soul sound.

Two legends of bluegrass, Josh Graves and Kenny Baker, come together for this great dobro tour de force. Graves would made his name with Flatt and Scruggs and Baker who played fiddle with Bill Monroe are two of the most important sidemen in bluegrass. Step it up and go shows they could make mighty music on their own.

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.