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 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 58

1. A Fest Do Santo Reis – Tim Maia
2. Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty – Herbie Mann
3. You Left The Water Running – Sam & Dave
4. If You Got It Flaunt It – Ramsey Lewis
5. A Message To You Rudy – The Specials
6. Knock On Wood – Rueben Wilson
7. Leave My Woman Alone – Albert Lee
8. Thank You – Joe Thomas
9. Space Captain – Joe Cocker
10. Better Days – Joe Pass
11. Clean Up Your Own Backyard – OC Smith
12. Save Me – Aretha Franklin
13. You Never Get Too Big – Doug Sahm
14. Serenade to a Soul Sister – Horace Silver
15. Way Back Home – Bernard Purdie
16. Little Esther’s Blues – Esther Phillips
17. Waymaker – Mylon LeFevre
18. Macongo – Hugh Masakela
19. If You’re Ready – Jimmy McGriff
20. Put Your Weight On – Fillmore Street Soul Rebellion

http://rapidshare.com/files/263780593/Deep_Tracks_58.zip

This compilation was inspired by Tim Maia's ebullient A Fest Do Santo Rei. Don't ask me what he is talking about but it is a wicked groove that feels like a Caparihna and sand between the toes. I have always loved the live recordings Ramsey Lewis did in the late sixties for Cadet. The vibe, with the clapping and shouting, reeks of the Southside on a Saturday night. If you listen closely you can hear the glassware tinkling on the tables. A Message to You Rudy was one of the great early ska covers that those of us who grew up in the 80's discovered through gringo ska revivalists The Specials. A moment of inspired genius it is not but damn fun nonetheless.

Reuben Wilson is a godfather of the jazz funk scene who continues to perform to this day. This track taken from one of his Blue Note offerings appears for the first 1:10 to be a rather rote cover of Eddie Floyd's brilliant Knock on Wood. The bridge however leads us in anther direction. And of course what happens at 1:11 is a stunningly funky jump by Leon Spencer Jr. onto the bass pedals of his B-3. And we are off and running...

Joe Cocker was obviously insane by the time his Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour hit the Fillmore. Despite the imminent collapse of his vocal chords, he takes a ride with the Space Captain and it looks like he'll never come down. Of course if he had lost his way, he need only reach out to the dexterous Jimmy McGriff for his take on the Staple's gospel soul hit, If You're Ready Come Go With Me. So let's go.