ABSOLUTELY MONSTER track from JAZZ FUNK master Airto Moreira, who spread gemms during the 70s and the 80s.

This track is from 1989 actually, but it sounds damm 70s so I have no shame posting it!

Sampled by Basement Jaxx in their first album

Airto Moreira

Samba de Flora (1979)

Top notch pop rock 1979 track from Robert Palmer, one the rare rock singer who incorporated and played with old skool funk/blues sounds from players like the Meters

Robert Palmer

Love Stop 1979

Hi Folks

So far I never posted any video on the blog. I will start today and will break the rule twice, as the video I want you to watch is not 70s focused, although it is related to the 70s indirectly.

This short documentary, sponsored by the fashion brand Diesel, was made by Orlando Von Einsiedel. It shows how skate is helping rebuild society in Kabul Afganistan. The topic and the images are incredibly powerful and beautiful.

We tend to forget that a simple thing as skating means freedom actually, and that what may seem leisure for us is a life saver for others. It's a deep message to remind us how we should enjoy simple things and cherish them. But also how we should share them with more people.

Skate was born in the 70s, and as an ocasional skater myself I felt this video had its place here

Skateistan.org, the website

Great disco at Soundsofthe70s today with this special pick:

Alton McClain - More of you 1979 (Polydor)

Robert Brookins / Madeline Carroll / Terry Mc Fadden

Guitars: Paul M. Jackson / Wah Wah Watson / L. Marlo Henderson

Percussion : Jack Ashford

Drims: James Gadsen

Bass: Nathan L. Watts

Original 1979 US pressing LP vinyl rip with 1979 Accuphase (Japan) HIFI system

"More of you" is a great 1979 disco track from Alton McClain second album. The quality of Alton's band (see the lineup) and music surely had to do with producer and arranger Frank E. Wilson as well as to the fact that Alton was friend (and eventually married) with legendary songwriter producer Skip Scarborough. The band arrived late in the 70s and was bound to be short-lived as time changed...

Although the counter speaks, comments are always welcome!

Super cool 1979 Jazz-Funk-Disco-Reggae from Airto Moreira best album from where also comes the legendary "Toque de Cuica" track.

Airto Moreira - Movin on up (Warner 1979)

arranged by Marcos Valle and Airto Moreira

Hi folks. I gathered here some nice piece of 70s music to warm your home (and soul) now that cold is coming. I am listening a lot of soul jazz lately, some nuggets are included here. I hope you will enjoy this set and the cover.

Sounds of the 70s present

INTERIOR GROOVES

a compilation for home and soul

1 - Eddie Harris - That Is Why You're Overweight (Soul jazz)

2- Gwen McCrae - I Got Nothing To Lose But The Blues (Soul)

3- The Dynamic Superiors - Leave It Alone (Soul)

4- Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Show Us a Feeling (Soul jazz)

5- Alton McClain & Destiny - Sweet temptation (Disco)

6- George Soule - Get Involved (Soul)

7- The 107th Street Stickball Team - Tell her I love her Latin (Boogaloo)

8- Cal Tjader - Gimme Shelter (Soul jazz)

9- Horace Silver - The Jody Grind (Soul jazz)

10- Dizzy Gillespie & Lalo Schifrin - Wrong Number (Soul jazz)

11- George Duke - Bring It On Home (Jazz - Funk)

12- Charles Earland - Asteroid (Soul jazz)

enjoy full compilation here

* *

Teaser from the SOUNDSOFTHE70S INTERIOR GROOVES compilation.

I love this track from the monster intro to the chorus, so funky...

Eddie Harris

This is why you're overweight (1976)

download on the arrow

Mongo Santamaria is one of the funkiest 70s conguero ever.

In 1978, he did one of the best move in his career by teaming up with William Allen, genius producer of Roy Ayers infamous Don't stop the feeling.

The result is a superb crossover of latin, funk and disco as only the 70s could give birth.

See by yourself with this amazing track.

Mongo Santamaria

Hey you sexy thing

from the album A la Carte, 1978

Jimmy Ruffin

Too busy to think about my baby (Motown 1966)

fantastic pure Motown sound from 1966, inicitally issued under another title ("i know how to love her"), and then sung by Jimmy Ruffin's brother David Ruffin, lead singer of the Temptations... Majors tricks..

Composed by Norman Whitfield and Barett Strong, no less.

I love the intro... pure genius

I read this today on MSNBC website:

"WASHINGTON — The number of people in the U.S. who are in poverty is on track for a record increase on President Barack Obama's watch, with the ranks of working-age poor approaching 1960s levels that led to the national war on poverty (...) some 45 million people in this country, or more than 1 in 7, were poor last year"

I love the 60s and 70s but how sad is it to see that the U.S. has lost 40 years when it comes to wealth distribution... because this is the real problem in the U.S., there is money, but it is still way too much concentrated in the super-rich hands.

Incredible rendition of this 70s composition, to my opinion one of the deepest ever written in the decade.

The original song was composed by Leonard Caston and Terri McFaddin and included in their one and only Motown LP in 1974 (great LP by the way). I recommend listening to the original before or after listetning to this version. Original track can be heard here

This track is well know to disco afficionados thanks to the New York Community Choir disco cover, first re-issued in the legendary DISCO SPECTRUM vol.2 compilation

Maria Muldaur - I'll keep a light at my window

Southern winds 1978

ps: Soundcloud counter shows more than 55.000 plays... soundsofthe70s circle of partisans is growing!

Today on the menu another Soul Jazz gemm, by guitarist Howard roberts, from his 1967 LP Jaunty jolly & guilty.

The theme is Walk Tall, written by Joe Zawinul while playing in the Cannonball Aderley Quintet.

Amazing theme, absolute groove.

Howard Roberts

Walk tall - 1967

monster version of this top classic by George Gershwin, composed in 1935. This version by Johnny Watson comes from the 1967 LP "2 for the price of one" he did with Larry Williams

So SOUL JAZZ !

Larry Williams and Johnny Watson

Summertime (1967)

hi folks

I will start my own recipe of musical ingredients to complement the one from the SOUL KITCHEN soundtrack

ingredient one : GREEN ONIONS, this time the cover of Mongo Santamaria of this legendary track written by Booker T. and the MG´s

delicious...

watch the movie by the way...

Mongo Santamaria - Green Onions

Soul Bag - Columbia 1968

Super cool instumental DISCO track by Bob Crewe, versatile musician/songwriter better known for the hit Lady Marmelade he also composed.

Monster horn section as usual with Bob Crewe...

Disco Tex & the Sex-o-Lettes

Hot Lava (1976)

Times are changing...

I felt like like compiling 70s tracks talking about changes, all sorts of changes, sentimental, cultural and social...

Past only become past when changes occur, individuals, people and nations must constantly evolve (and learn from their mistakes). The idea of progress, change, is actually what defines History and gives it a direction either good or bad.

Only dumbs and loosers never change their mind and opinions. Anyone should reconsider its lifestyle, opinions etc on a regular basis and embrace C.H.A.N.G.E.S.

C.H.A.N.G.I.N

Soundsofthe70s.blogspot presents 70s rare groove made of change

1 Marlena Shaw - Pictures and memories - Disco

2 Esther Phillips - Changin' - Modern Soul

3 Clydie King - Long Road Ahead - Soul

4 James Brown - New Breed - Funk

5 Betty Lavette - Waiting For Tomorrow - Soul

6 Lonnie Smith - It's Changed - Jazz

7 Charles Kynard - Change up - Acid Jazz

8 Ralph Robles - Yesterday - Latin

9 Jimmy Sabater - Times Are Changin' - Latin

10 Black Sugar - The Dawn Of My Madness - Latin

11 High Inergy - We Are The Future - Soul

12 Brown sugar - I'm Going Through Changes Now - Disco

13 The Eight Minutes - Looking For a Brand New Game - Disco

14 Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - Change - Funk

15 Janinha - Amanhã - Brasil

16 Balança Povo - Novo Dia - Brasil - Funk

17 Brazilian Singers - Um Frevo Novo - Brasil - Samba

Teasers :

Marlena Shaw - Pictures and memories (1977)

enjoy full compilation here

p.s.: I know we are all very busy and short of time, but take some to share comments. I appreciate to understand what is behind the thousands of downloads of the individual tracks or compilations.

From the 1975 album The legendary zing album by the Trammps, one of these monster tracks with a built-in groove that smoothly builts up again and again.

Note that this LP is considered the first Disco LP ever edited, by the band who would later sing the huge Disco Inferno.

"Prior to their disco fame the Trammps released Rubber Band as a single in 1975 on Buddah a real soul gem that has featured on more than one occassion in modern hip-hop.

It was sampled as the basis for the Game’s release ‘Hate It Or Love It’ getting re-worked & chopped-up by the legendary production team of Cool & Dr.Dre. J Dilla used it for ‘Dilla Says Go’ from Donuts."

Trammps - Rubber band (edit)

Buddah records 1975

4 years and half later (yet...) Sounds of the 70s shows 400.000 hits and not a single file deletion. This is why you won't find big hits here, music is free, rare and good (occasionaly...)

stay tuned

Angela Bofill became Dave Gruisin favorite in the late 70s and this fortunate cooperation gave birth to 2 great albums in 1978 (Angie) and 1979 (Angel of the night) mixing jazz, soul and disco vibes in a very rich and delicate way.

so 70s...

Angela Bofill - What I wouldn't do

from Angel in the Night (Arista 1979)

Orginal vinyl rip - 320 kbps EAC mp3

Does this monster bass ring a bell to you?....

Locksmith, Far beyond

Unlock the funk - Arista 1980 (produced by Harvey Mason)

Orginal vinyl rip - 320 kbps EAC mp3

Another majestic production by Gene Page for Nancy Wilson, dated 1974, is the track Streetrunner from the LP All in love is fair. Nancy wilson is at her pick again here, backed by really deep strings arrangments that give her energy to release profound vibes

A very beautiful piece of 70s music...

Nancy Wilson - Streetrunner

from the 1974 RCA LP All in love is fair

Original vinyl rip - 320 Kbps EAC mp3

Do you recognize the intro? If not, then I know for sure that you never listened to any EBONY disco mixes... Great track from this RCA soul band rare LP, under the command of genius 70s arranger and composer BERT DE COTEAUX (The one behind Marlena Shaw much acclaimed and downloaded "Think about me" track I posted earlier).

Rhythm - Are you ready for this RCA (1976)

Orginal vinyl rip - 320 kbps EAC mp3

As you noticed I am hooked up on Divas... so let's keep on with the serie since I can see that I am not the only one here in this mood

Let me present you Merry Clayton, most famous for being the other part of the Rolling Stone Gimme Shelter duet with Mick Jagger in 1969.

The track I suggest today is a cover of a classic Bob Dylan composition, but as you will see, in a splendid soul rendering, from her great 1975 Keep your eyes on the Sparrow Lp.

This LP and the other 3 are availble on itunes by the way. Emotions and her 1971 albums are fantastic too.

Merry Clayton

Rainy day women # 12 & 35 (1975)

Orginal vinyl rip - 320 kbps EAC mp3

enjoy and share your comments

A brief post for a great track from Jerry Butler in a much more Disco Funk than usual, surely because of the presence of Michael Sutton on the composing. Great piece of 70s music!

Jerry Butler - I don't want nobody to know (Motown 1976)

Original Accuphase system vinyl ripping & 320 EAC kbps mp3

I was searching for a theme for the first 2010 compilation and realised that I still had to give my definition of 70s "love" songs.

By love songs I do not refer to cheesy orchestral 70s disco but rather to deep songs from soul to jazz that reveal either in joy or pain love sentiments from their composers. The 70s were again a huge territory for many songwriters to express in words and notes their deepest love sensations.

Sounds of the 70s presents

L.O.V.I.N grooves

20 out-of-print 70s songs to break your heart

(vinyl rip 320kbps)

1 Linda Evans - I've been searching

2 Glady Knight & the Pips - Friendly persuasion

3 The Love Machine - Very Special Moment

4 Marlena Shaw - Feel Like Makin' Love

5 Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose - Big Time Lover

6 Martha & The Vandellas - The Tracks Of My Tears

7 Gentle persuasion - Gotta lotta love

8 Esther Satterfield - Love Music

9 Lou Donaldson - Love Walked In

10 Chemise - She can´t love you (original 12" mix)

11 Teo Dore - Love message

12 Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - You'll Stay In My Heart

13 Eddie Harris - When A Man Loves A Woman

14 Johnny Bristol - Love Takes Tears

15 Bobby Womack - I'm In Love

16 Grey & Hanks - Love's In Command

17 Minnie Riperton - Baby, This Love I Have

18 Dee Dee Bridgewater - Love Won't Let Me

19 Trevor Dandy - Is There Any Love

20 Destruments - Love (Interlude)

enjoy and comment!

Extract teaser : Linda Evans - I've been searching (1979)

SPECIAL MONSTER DISCO POST

This week Obama had a major reform passed on the American Congress, a reform that will change the balance of power between the people and a greedy insurance system, unwilling to assume any risk inherent to the business. Obama definitely entered in History by achieving this, following a social trend iniciated in the 60s (Medicaid, 1964) and the 70s.

To celebrate in a 70s Disco mood I propose this superb track from Ullanda McCullough, from the out of print 1980 album she did backed by Ashford&Simpson. As you can expect, arrangements are explosive and sweet at the sametime, I just love this sound...

Ullanda McCullough, Bad Company (1980), mp3 320kbps (vinyl rip)

(Note that I upgraded some elements of my HiFi system, the sound is even better now)

One of the best labels in re-edition of super-hard-to-find 60s/70s music (ace records) has strike again with a splendid compilation of material composed by the trio Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson and Josephine Armstead.

These 3 genius met in NY in the mid-60s (they were 20 years old) before they separate and that Ashford and Simpson left to Detroit for Motown (you know the rest of their success, check my previous posts). Nick, Valerie and Josephine had all started writing music in Church Gospel groups, Valerie had learnt the Piano by ear (isn't it genius?..). Each had joined NY in search of a fertile ground for work, Nick was inicially homeless for a time in the Big Apple (a bench in Bryant Park Manhattan says "Nick was here").

During 3 years (1964-1967) the trio scored superb compositions for a big number of chart-busting groups like the Shirelles, Betty LaVette, Aretha Franklin from R&B labels as VJ, Scepter Records, ATCO, Wand.

This compilation is a must-have for any 60s/70s collectors, it is absolutely good from track 1 to 24, great remastered sound and the notes are really well documented. I will post one teaser track but of course do not count on me to go further, this is great work by the guys at Ace Records /Kent soul and and it needs to be respected.

The Diplomats - Love ain't what it used to be (Wand 1965)

Ashford, Simpson, Armstead

from the Compilation

The Real Thing - the songs of ASHFORD, SIMPSON & ARMSTEAD

(Ace Records 2009)

download of the track with the right arrow in the box

1979, Capitol records, Hollywood : it had to be disco.

Freda Payne jumps late on this train with the "Hot" LP. I picked the track that best meet with my expectations from this Capitol period. The song builts up perfectly, in a Patrick Adams way, backed by a nice strings section, James Gadson on the beatbox and Lee Ritenour on the guitar.

Freda Payne - Savin'it (Capitol 1979)

320kbps mp3 original vinyl rip

In a previous post I presented the "Hits, remixes and rarities" compilation of (Nickolas) Ashford & (Valerie) Simpson Warner Bros years.

I feel I need to pay more tribute to this extraordinary couple who ranks so so high within the category of the 70s multi-talented composers-musicians-singers. Besides their own hits they composed dozens of 70s anthems like "Ain't no mountain high enough", "The Boss" for Diana Ross, "Clouds" for Chaka Khan.

To my opinion, almost every thing they did is between good and pure genius... until 1981. After this year, as most artists who had crossed the whole 70s scope, they didn't feel "at home" in this new synthetic-digital-pop environnement and the novelty they had brought was impossible to repeat a decade later.

The more I listen to their discography from 1973 to 1981, the more I understand how their style built-up, particularly thanks to a rythmic section that reached perfection with genius bass player Francisco Centeno who complemented perfectly Valerie Simpson's piano skills. Francisco Centeno who can also be noted for his role in the monster disco LP "Rap-O-Clap" by Joe Bataan, equals Bernard Edward from the Chic tandem or Marcus Miller and Louis Johnson in the way he made bass guitar a key element in the rythmic section and give it a funky bouncy fat sound. You can spot Francisco Centeno in great shape here, live with Aretha.

I will share with you a great track extracted from the double live LP "Performance", although this track and 2 more from this LP were recorded in studio only.

This Show is available at Itunes, Spotify, Amazon etc... so I will only share one track as a "promo" initiative, and strongely recommend you to get the full LP, excellent all the way through (check out the "Clouds" medley...)

Ashford & Simpson - It shows in the eyes (320 kbps)

full album "Performance" available on itunes and dustygrooves