Soul Bands

Track Listings

1. I Second That Emotion - The Miracles

2. Get Ready - The Temptations

3. Baby It's You - The Shirelles

4. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) - The Delfonics

5. Hold Back the Night - The Trammps

6. Oh Girl - The Chi-Lites

7. Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back) - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

8. For Your Precious Love - The Impressions

9. Stoned Love - The Supremes

10. Saturday Night at the Movies - The Drifters

11. Hey Girl Don't Bother Me - The Tams

12. Always & Forever - Heatwave

13. One Fine Day - The Chiffons

14. I Just Can't Stop Dancing - Archie Bell & the Drells

15. Maybe - The Chantels

16. Feel the Need in Me - The Detroit Emeralds

Soul Bands,Various Artists,K-Tel Entertainment,Girl Group,Pop,Pop-Soul,R&B,Soul/R & B Collections,V/A Compilations

Soul Bands

Tracks:

Waterfall
Don't Tell Me
Mary
Comfort
Callin'
Outrage
Morning Light
Never Know
Yeah Yeah
If This World Was a Song
One of Those Days
Bubble
Kim

Amazon.com

The recently revived Stax label initiates its first release of new music with the appropriately named Soulive. The band's fifth studio effort, and first with a full-time vocalist, both solidifies and scatters the group's sound. By not utilizing high-profile guest vocalists, the focus is back on songs as opposed to the jazz-oriented jams of the past. Recent addition Toussaint acquits himself well, singing with old-school energy and passion that meshes with the group's similar slant. But it comes at the expense of the skin-tight Crusaders-styled approach, once a staple of Soulive's sound. A few instrumentals, such as the rather plodding "Bubble" and the Stevie Ray Vaughan-inspired "Outrage," allow the guys to flex their considerable chops, yet this is clearly the act's most controlled, song-oriented effort yet. Toussaint goes falsetto loverman on the syrupy closing ballad "Kim," but the album coheres most effectively when Soulive hit a mid-tempo groove, as on "Callin'," the opening Sly Stone heavy funk-rock of "Waterfall," and the handclap-driven title track. Toussaint's reggae roots emerge on "If This World Was a Song" and his dusky voice is also a terrific match for the grinding funk of "Morning Light." Most of the improvisational jazz the threesome built their reputation on is MIA, which is particularly noticeable in Neal Evans's B3 keyboards moving to a supporting role. But Soulive take a step forward into the past on this retro excursion, and the impressive results should expand their audience--although possibly at the expense of some established fans drawn to the band's less structured material. --Hal Horowitz

Customer Reviews:

Still cool but replaceable..........2007-08-03

This Soulive album is quite different. The stax-attitude and the decision to force vocal songs is cool, but unfortunately the band loses a lot of their uniqueness. I miss the tight, riff-based, barebone trio grooves, in fact that's why I love this band soooo much! This is still cool, but compare this record to the fantastic "doin' something" (for an example) to see what I mean. I'm a bit sad and hope that this record is just a "spin-off" in musical style.

New direction, Same infectious talent.......2007-08-02

Soulive has wandered down a completely new and exciting path. The addition of vocals and carefully sculpted and structured songs is a major change from the deep and dirty funk these guys once brought to their live shows. But their talent and song writing ability shine through brilliantly. Rather than focusing on individual merits through solos this album shows the bands ability to blend with one another and to put out consistent modern soul music that still manages to stay true to both the roots of the band and the origins of soul music itself. There are a number of Standout tracks such as "Waterfall" "One of Those Days" and the openly sweet and sexy album closer "Kim" (Written and sung by the group's drummer Alan Evans). This record is going to be a shock for longtime Soulive fans who expect the usual funk from the group but those fans who are open to new musical experiences will find that the talent and energy that have become a hallmark of Soulive are present throughout. Pick this one up, lay back poor some wine and dig.

Give it a minute to grow on you.......2007-08-02

OK. Looks like I'm going to have to come to bat for the best band of all time. I have big beef with Amazon's review of this album. 1st of all, throughout the years Soulive's staple has always been their ability to change their sound yet retain their local fan base. Many fans have their preference. Some loved the oldschool trio material,others loved the sound that came about when horns were added and now they have a full time vocalist named Tousaint who in my humble opinion fits the trio like Willie Mays' glove. For the last couple of years they've been experimenting with sit-in vocalist. Artists like Chaka Khan,Ivan Neville,Reggie Watts,Goapele and one night for some super-lucky people in Los Angeles....Stevie Wonder jumped on stage to jamm a few precious minutes. For those that are new to Soulive I'll admit that this album might not come out and bite you right away but as any long-time fan would tell you....it is a COMPLETELY different experience to hear them live. Neal Evans' organ/clavi/bass chops,Eric Krasno's guitar rifts and Alan Evans' tight pocket drumming are still killn'. I can absolutely garuntee that after you hear the new material live you'll be listening to this album over and over again.The sound is different no doubt but this is hands down their most complete album from top to bottom. Head to Soulive.com and check their tour schedule to see if they're shaking the walls at a club near you. Peace!

Royally disappointed.......2007-08-02

When I heard that Soulive was using a full time vocalist for this new album, I went into it with an open mind. As it turned out, they went completely astray from their traditional sound of raw, gritty umtempo instrumental funk jazz. Other than a few nice cuts such as 'One of Those Days', 'Outrage', and 'Comfort'; the majority of this album sounds like plain old lounge singing you can find on a cruise ship. I can understand an artist or group wanting to change up it's sound once in a while to do something different, but this dosen't work for Soulive. (It did'nt necessarily work for Kelly Clarkson either). These guys are way too good to put out junk like this. For their next album, they should really get back to basics, and re-establish the sound from their earlier albums that won over much of their fan base. 'Breakout' and their self-titled live album are their best efforts to date. Bascially, if you're a hardcore Soulive fan like me and want to support their music, buy it. If you're expecting this to sound as good as any of their previous work, don't waste your money.

Average customer rating:

Sco melds w/ the Boys
Not bad
That's Medeski, SCOFIELD, Martin, and Wood
A Very Good Album and a Very Good Combo!
A respectable production.

Out Louder
Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood
Manufacturer: Indirecto Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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III
Saudades
Critical Mass
Metheny / Mehldau
A Go Go

ASIN: B000HKDEJM
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Tracks:

Little Walter Rides Again
Miles Behind
In Case The World Changes Its Mind
Tequilia And Chocolate
Tootie Ma Is A Big Fine Thing
Cachaca
Hanuman
Telegraph
What Now
Julia
Down The Tube
Legalize It

Amazon.com

John Scofield is an organic mood these days. On Saudades, the recent release by Trio Beyond, the guitarist hooked up with Hammond B-3 man Larry Goldings (and drummer Jack DeJohnette) to pay tribute to Tony Williams' fusion-pioneering Lifetime. Here, in the role of guest artist, he revives his partnership with organist John Medeski--and bassist Billy Martin and drummer Chris Wood, all of whom backed him on his smartly grooving 1998 effort, A Go Go. As the crunching "Miles Beyond" demonstrates, MSMW has got fusion on its mind, too. But on what may be the futuristic Medeski crew's most aggressively varied effort, they also partake of spaced-out blues jams, Beatles balladry ("Julia"), full-throttle soul, rhythmically recast reggae (Peter Tosh's "Legalize It"), New Orleans tradition ("Tootie Ma is a Big Fine Thing") and a Brazilian-inflected tune on which Scofield makes like Wes Montgomery. The first album to be issued on MMW's own Indirecto label, Out Louder is a consistently enjoyable world tour that has just the edge and sense of surprise that has been missing on some of Scofield's and MMW's recent albums. --Lloyd Sachs

Customer Reviews:

Sco melds w/ the Boys.......2007-07-21

I really dig this release because first off, as has been mentioned, this is a quartet, not a star performer backed by a trio.

Having seen Sco live on two occasions this really surprised me a bit. He holds back a good bit and you don't hear too much soloing. He's playing the Marc Ribot card to a certain extent but is a little more atonal and not quite as bluesy as Marc's outtings with the band.

The winning track to me is Down The Tube. Scofield remarked that this was his favorite number also and for good reason. They set up and started jamming with the deck running and this is what you get. Fully improvised, porky distorted bass, steady funk play, odd trickets of atonal sound. It's the sickest funk I've ever heard.

As previously mentioned, this is a diverse outing. There is probably more variety on this disc than any other MM&W disc. Ninety percent is very accessible. Down The Tube would be the exception.

That's why I enjoy it.

Not bad.......2007-07-19

This is really nice. I had grown somewhat tired of some of John Scofield's outings lately but this is a nice return to form with this quartet. The starier "Little water rides again" rocks nicely and the album ends by a surprising cover of Legalize It.

That's Medeski, SCOFIELD, Martin, and Wood .......2007-02-14

I needed to fully digest this record before writing a review, so yesterday I put it on the stereo and listened to it for a few hours, back to back to back. What I came away with was a great collection of songs, albeit one masquerading as an album. But hey, with the sole exception of 1998's Combustication, that's what Medeski Martin and Wood almost exclusively produce these days.

Not that that's a bad thing, mind you. There are some superbly realized jams to be found here, not to mention r&b and straight blues that will require repeated listenings. And if that weren't enough, there is an ethereal and fragile rendition of the Beatles' Julia. Anyway, mix it all together and Bob's your uncle.

Or at least that's the theory.

There is, however, something about this recording that screams out to be highlighted. There is a measure of restraint that makes this album superior to anything Medeski, Martin, and Wood have done in the last nine years. Perhaps it is the presence of Scofield, but gone are the overblown performances of Uninvisible and The Dropper. What we are left with, rather, are scaled down recordings where interplay arrives subtly as opposed to occurring within an ever-increasing contest of volume and overflourish.

While this recording doesn't exceed the brilliance of Combustication (a pinnacle that may never be repeated), it is the next best thing, and one suspects the inclusion of Scofield in the group's name is a tip-off to that fact.

A Very Good Album and a Very Good Combo!.......2007-01-27

The thing one will notice right off about this album is that this music does not sound like a trio + 1, but a self-sufficient quartet that has been playing together for years. And unlike MMW and Scofield's previous meeting on "A Go Go" this CD is not attributed to one artist with guests, but to Medeski, Scofield, Martin and Wood AS a quartet. And this is fitting because these guys should play together more often. This music makes all four shine.

First off, the compositions on this disc are great, especially if you are used to the fairly structureless jams that MMW has been doing as of late. The songs on this disc, unlike those on "Dropper" and "Uninvisible" have strong melodies and seem to musically go somewhere - at least, somewhere recognizable. Contrary to what some may have thought, direction and structure do not hamper MMW, but (at least, to me) makes them stronger.

Scofield's very noodly sounding guitar fits in perfectly with MMW's rough-around-the-edges sound and production (this album certainly has more bite than "A Go Go" in part because it is on MMW's own label).

A variety of styles and sounds are explored here. We have the Meters-esque "Little Walter," the bluesy "Untill the World Changes It's Mind," the latin tinged "Tequlla and Chocolate," and the unexpected ballad "Julia" (have you ever heard Billy Martin on brushes??). These songs really do not get old (as both MMW and Scofield can do from time to time). All the songs (save for two; attribute that to personal taste) are very listenable; just tame enough to be accessible, just edgy enough to be interesting.

This is a CD that I will be playing for some time to come. I really hope these four musiciains release more material together as I believe this to be a combo that brings out the best in eachother.

A respectable production........2007-01-19

I'm an MMW fan who owns three of their previous albums and have seen them perform live. Although Out Louder is a pleasure to listen to, I was a bit disappointed. I always thought MMW could use a guitar in their line up to spice things up a bit, in fact I thoroughly enjoyed Scofield's "A Go Go". I guess I expected Out Louder to build on that album, but I think it fell short. I would have liked to hear more standout guitar work. If your a fan, it's worth adding to your collection, if you're not, check it out anyway. It's MMW after all.

Average customer rating:

Spiritual
wow
HOLY moly this is good
Funky Gospel
4-1/2 stars -- Religious, nutritious

There Will Be a Light
Ben Harper & the Blind Boys of Alabama
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Diamonds on the Inside
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Fight for Your Mind

ASIN: B0002MPPVK
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Tracks:

Take My Hand
Wicked Man
Where Could I Go
Church House Steps
11th Commandment
Well Well Well
Picture of Jesus
Satisfied Mind
Mother Pray
There Will Be a Light
Church on Time

Amazon.com

Jam Nation hero Ben Harper tones down his lap-slide guitar flash in favor of the holy spirit for this blend of originals and gospel classics, his first full-length album with the historic singing group. They've worked together before, on the Blind Boys' excellent Higher Ground and Spirit of the Century, but here the pairing that Harper has termed "a spiritual soul movement" sounds like an outright tent-revival mission. His fevered wah-wah strutting and sweet high voice take their places in the chorus alongside the raw-throated howl of Blind Boys leader Clarence Fountain and his fellow bass George Scott, who plead for salvation like powerful old lions on "Take My Hand." The group's alto, Jimmy Carter, sails over the funky, hiccupping blues beat put down by Harper's Innocent Criminals on the classic "Satisfied Mind." The best cut may be Harper's "Picture of Jesus," a country-music-informed adventure in old-school church harmonizing with the passionate power to touch souls. --Ted Drozdowski

Amazon.com

Ben Harper Photos

More from Ben Harper

Welcome to the Cruel World
Diamonds on the Inside
Both Sides of the Gun

Live From Mars
Fight for Your Mind
Live at the Hollywood Bowl

Customer Reviews:

Spiritual .......2007-04-06

I've listened to this CD many times, never get tired it, and find it esspecially uplifting listened to on a Sunday Morning, Amen!

wow.......2007-02-15

Ben Harper, the Road Warrior in the flesh lays down some truly spiritual and inspirational music with some of the greats of the Gospel world. All it took was one listen and I was hooked. Easily the most accessible and easy to listen to of Harper's work. Fans of gospel, country, alternative rock and blues-rock alike should definitely pick this one up. The vocals, especially on "Wicked Man" might even conjure some memories of Little Feat for some. Great album. The world needs more like this one.

HOLY moly this is good.......2005-09-30

What a combo! Ben Harper, road warrior, jam master and granola hero, teams up with the ageless grammy award winning gospel warriors.....this has the potential for 2 outcomes: 1) something that just flat out won't work or 2)something very very special.

Well.....it is option #2!!!!

With old southern standards and brand new originals, the crew reaches deep into gritty southern soul roots and captures the ghosts of the past. You can feel the emotion and passion in each song. You almost think you are in a tiny church somewhere smack in the middle of the Mississippi delta!

I recommend this for any lovers of gospel music. I also do the same for any lovers of classic sould r&b.

Funky Gospel.......2005-09-02

Bought this CD because I heard the track "Satisfied Mind" on public radio and just had to have it!! This CD is well worth the money just for this track alone. The rest of the CD is great if you are into the origins of funk. Some of the tracks get a little too Gospel for my taste. There are some sweet guitar solos and truly excellent blues riffs scattered throughout the more upbeat tracks. I would definitely suggest buying this CD after buying it I am very intersted in checking out more Ben Harper and more Blind Boys of Alabama fare.

4-1/2 stars -- Religious, nutritious.......2005-07-20

This is my first time picking up a Ben Harper record, as well as a Blind Boys of Alabama record. To me, Ben Harper has always been talented, and the Blind Boys of Alabama have always been known for making great songs (STUPID videos, but great songs). But now Ben's funky, light rock and the Blind Boys' spiritual flavor joined forces on There Will Be a Light, and as another reviewer put it, this marriage works.

The traditional "Mother Pray" is definitely a highlight, as well as their cover of Bob Dylan's "Well, Well, Well". Other songs not to be missed are "Church On Time", the title track, and "Picture of Jesus". And when the religious aspect is rather oblique, it's still impressive, as evidenced by the single "Wicked Man".

Even the instrumental track "11th Commandment" is good. Basically, There Will Be a Light is an album that should satisfy contemporary fans and gospel fans alike, and while you might not want to pay full price for a 38-minute album (although somehow it seems longer than that), you'll definitely get your money's worth if you pick it up.

Anthony Rupert

Average customer rating:

All the singers on the album have soulpower
top 20 on my ipod
It's Soulive but not as ALIVE as they can be
Break Out, to where?
Now This Is What I Was Lookin' For!

Breakout
Soulive
Manufacturer: Concord Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Soulive

ASIN: B000A7DVN6
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Interlude 1
Reverb
Got Soul
Cachaca
Back Again
Break Out
She's Hooked
Crosstown Traffic
Take It Easy
Vapor
What Can You Do
Interlude II
Freedom
Glad Ta Know Ya
Interlude III

Customer Reviews:

All the singers on the album have soulpower.......2006-08-12

Will the new album "Break Out" be the breakthrough album to a broader audience for Soulive? That's up for you to decide after listening to their funky soul music with strong guitar playing and a hot portion of jazz.
Soulive is formed by Neal Evans, Alan Evans and Eric Krasno together with a horn section consisting of Rashawn Ross and Ryan Zoldis. The vocalists on "Break Out" are Chaka Khan, Reggie Watts, Ivan Neville, and Corey Glover. There are fifteen tracks on the album including three interludes and four instrumentals. The music from Soulive is not soul for softies. The guys are here to play and once they got the soul engine started they keep it running until the end in interlude III. Guest musicians like Robert Randolph and percussionist Danny Sandownick fully contribute to the music.

In their guitar playing Soulive might remind you of the Isley Brothers who fully used guitars too back in the 70-ies. Another example of their love for guitar you'll hear in the beautiful cover of the 1968 version of crosstown traffic from guitar legend Jimi Hendrix. In between this funky rocking soul music you'll get some cool latin sounds as well like in the song cachaca. All the singers on the album have soulpower which is an essential part of Soulive.

top 20 on my ipod.......2006-08-02

I really enjoy this album. I wouldn't have come across this group within my usual musical circles, however, they were on NPR and I enjoyed how articulate they were when discussing their music and when excerpts were played I was hooked. This is a great album for working, driving, hanging out at the gym. I really enjoy this one.

It's Soulive but not as ALIVE as they can be.......2006-02-21

For me, the real Soulive can be heard in their fantastic Turn It Out album. That one really showcases the band in its true form - the core of the band is an extremely tight and exciting rhythm section, with wonderful melodic licks from the guitar and organ. That's all I need, personally, and this new album gives us that in places (Reverb, Breakout, Take It Easy) but much of the album seems to have covered over the main nerve of creativity within the band.

Perhaps this is due to the higher production values on the record, which are very clean but not as raw and visceral as on Turn It Out. Also, the guest vocals are pleasant, and there are some quite happy multi-instrumental jams on show, but for me this all is gloss over what I really want - Soulive jamming it hard as a 3 piece and letting the juices flow!

I suppose the best way to experience this is to see the band live, so if they are in your town get some tickets straight away!
I'm still in love with this band, although this album doesn't give me the kick I get from some of their earlier work. This CD is growing on me though, as it reveals sophisticated depths...
Give it some patience, and this becomes a mellow treat. It might not get you freaking out on the underground as you listen to it on your iPod though...
p.s. That is a reference to me listening to Turn It Out on the London Underground. Can't help going crazy to Soulive!)

Break Out, to where?.......2006-02-19

Break Out has a strong soul flavor, which a lot of vocal tracks. The best song is "Got Soul" which sounds instantly familiar (if they're copying someone else's song they do a great job). The other vocal songs are okay. The instruments, though, are lacking on this album. There isn't much to keep it interesting, save for some sharp horn lines. It's easy to believe these songs would be great heard live in a sweaty club and the volume turned up to 'earthquake'. This CD just isn't very compelling.

Now This Is What I Was Lookin' For!.......2005-12-02

I have been a fan of Soulive since I first read a MODERN DRUMMER interview with Alan Evans in '01. After I read the article I decided to check out the "Doin' Something" CD and wasn't disappointed. I loved the sound of the band and couldn't wait for future releases. Welllll... the material that they recorded before (but released after) "Doin' Something" was a little raw but had excellent material, but I didn't count that as "new" stuff". "Next" really let me down- material wasn't quite as sharp, production was too glossy sounding for my taste and drums sounded weak. Then there was a live album and a remix album- both good, but I wanted something from the studio that would hit me like "Something". Finally it came with "Break Out"! It hit me from beginning to end, maybe even a lil harder than "Something". The material was fresh and on-point, had very good guest vocals, and there was definitely a different plan in mind (to my ear) as far as the production. The organ sound seemed a just a little further back in the mix, guitar and horns (most notably the trumpet) took a more prominent lead, and the snare had a little more body to it. Overall, a great sounding CD that shows some growth of the Soulive sound. Personal favorites: Reverb (too funky!!), Break Out, Take It Easy, Vapor, and What Can You Do. Pick this up if you are a fan!!

Average customer rating:

Exceptional
The groove never stops
groovy, funky, and out of this world
another great MMW cd
Avant-garde jazz disguised as greasy funk?

Shack Man
Medeski Martin & Wood
Manufacturer: Gramavision
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Friday Afternoon in the Universe
Combustication
The Dropper
It's a Jungle in Here
Uninvisible

ASIN: B00000322O
Release Date: 1996-10-15

Tracks:

Is There Anybody Here That Love My Jesus
Think
Dracula
Bubblehouse
Henduck
Strance Of The Spirit Red Gator
Spy Kiss
Lifeblood
Jelly Belly
Night Marchers
Kenny

Amazon.com essential recording

Released in 1996, Shack-man may be the quintessential MMW disc. From the opening cover of the traditional spiritual "Is There Anyone Here that Love My Jesus" to the mellow swirls of the closing "Kenny," the emphasis is on the almighty groove; though John Medeski (here pumping everything from Hammond B-3s to toy pianos) and bassist Chris Wood are much flashier players, it's drummer Billy Martin who really gets (and keeps) the party going. The laid-back, sunshine-and-palm-trees vibe of Hawaii (where Shack-man was recorded) creeps into some of the tracks, but the overall feel is more New Orleans than Waikiki. --Dan Epstein

Customer Reviews:

Exceptional.......2007-02-23

This is undoubtedly one of the best works by MMW. I think this cd should be owned by anyone who is into Medeski Martin & Wood, because it really kind of shows you what they are all about.

The groove never stops.......2007-02-04

This is my third MMW CD, and I cant really pick a favorite, but I like this one a lot. The funky B3 always sounds so great and soulful. The cool grooves really set a mood the puts me in my own soulful mood. There are quite a bit of styles here, I hear some hiphop along with the funk stuff. The best tracks are "Is There Anybody Here That Love My Jesus" and "Bubblehouse". "Friday Afternoon in the Universe is also a good album.

groovy, funky, and out of this world.......2005-07-30

this was problably the 3rd mmw cd that i listened to and this was the cd that made me realize had amazing they are..
this album is the first one where mmw takes it to a more electronic, groovy sounding kind of level..

if you have just gotten into mmw, this is a cd that must be bought..

A DEFINITE HEAD BOPPER

another great MMW cd.......2005-07-12

What more can be said than another great cd from start to end with the awesome song bubblehouse stuck in the middle. If you get a chance to see them live, do, you wont regret the decision, they are one of the best jazz jam bands around.

Avant-garde jazz disguised as greasy funk?.......2004-04-04

I purchased this CD after a friend turned me on to a live recording of this material plus the fact that I Love A Go-Go by John Scofield. This music is a brilliant blend of jazz and greasy funk. If you are like me you will first be turned on by the eternal greasy groove and the quirky keyboard lines. Some of this album is jam and a little repetitive but it cooks so well that you don't seem to care. After I got past the funk and started really listening a little deeper I found a sense of great interplay and structure that develop in some of the tunes.
Billy Martin is one of my favorite drummers but he could frustrate most bass players by pushing and pulling the beat like a rubberband. Give credit to Chris Woods' since of feel, it can't be beat. John Medeski is......John Medeski! Who else could overdrive a clavinet through a wah pedal until it feedbacks? There are avant-garde moments throughout this disc but they're not overwhelming (like free jazz).

Average customer rating:

Gotta love that vibe
say huh???
Hands down the best MMW!
MMW always good music
Typical MMW.. non-typical music

Friday Afternoon in the Universe
Medeski Martin & Wood
Manufacturer: Gramavision
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Shack Man
Combustication
End of the World Party (Just in Case)
It's a Jungle in Here
Uninvisible

ASIN: B00000322D
Release Date: 1995-01-24

Tracks:

The Lover
Paper Bass
House Mop
Last Chance To Dance Trance (Perhaps)
Baby Clams
We're So Happy
Shack
Tea
Chinoiserie
Between Two Limbs
Sequel
Friday Afternoon In The Universe
Billy's Tool Box
Chubb Sub
Khob Khun Krub (Thai For 'Thank You')

Amazon.com

They may attract Sufi-dancing Deadheads to their rock-club shows and they may have connections to lower Manhattan's art-music scene, but when you get right down to it, Medeski Martin & Wood are just a jazz organ trio. Organist John Medeski, drummer Billy Martin, and bassist Chris Wood don't work a whole lot differently from the old Jimmy Smith Trio; they get a good groove going, add a catchy hook and then improvise changes on both the rhythm and the melody. They may take more liberties than Smith ever has, but that familiar combination of a thick organ sound and funky drum patterns is still the core. The third Medeski Martin & Wood album, Friday Afternoon in the Universe, is the best reflection yet of the trio's live show, for 13 of the 15 tracks feature no guests, just the interaction among the three principals. And that interaction has been honed by three years of extensive roadwork into a genuine give-and-take. There's no parade of disconnected solos here, no fast, flashy playing for its own sake; the three players move as one through impressionistic, atmospheric patches into driving funk grooves and then off onto spacey tangents. Medeski plays some piano and synthesizer, but everything he plays has the thickened textures associated with a B-3 organ--thick enough to make three pieces more than sufficient. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

Gotta love that vibe.......2007-01-22

I love this cd. Totally chill, even with their (sometimes loud) sound experimentation. This album was my introduction to Medeski Martin & Wood, and it made me a big fan.

say huh???.......2006-10-26

Just for starters, I am an avid MMW fan, and I need everyone thinking about getting an MMW album to think about this......DONT start with this one.....I have a real hard time understanding the other reviewers because to me, this is the least comprehensive album of their genius ever put out by them(I have every MMW release). Im not saying its bad, but if you want the best start with Uninvisible, Combustication, or End of the world party (if you dig grand piano, go with Tonic)....the other reviews are totally mad. Claiming that this is the most inspired and round about album they ever made is like saying the Beatles made better albums before Revolver.....take it from someone who has seen MMW five times in three years and skip this one for next to last (last being Shackman) However, I am not so corny to think Im always right, and in dealing with jazz albums, it is totally subjective as to what is the best....

Hands down the best MMW!.......2006-08-29

I have all the MMW albums through the latest - End of the World Party - and Friday Afternoon in the Universe is, in my opinion, their definitive album. It has all the elements that make MMW special - sensuous, funky grooves flowing in and out of free-form improv sections, a sense of freedom within structure and perfectly demonstrates the band's passion for their music. Three consumate musicians playing with supreme intuition and a overriding feeling of joy and discovery. I'm a drummer, and I can honestly say that Billy Martin never sounded so creative, so alive, so inspired. And even though I'm not a keyboard player, I have to say that this is probably John Medeski's most varied, most transcendant, most adventurous playing on record. If you are buying your first MMW album, this should be it. If you are already a MMW fan and are considering picking adding this to your collection, do it IMMEDIATELY! You won't be disappointed. This is pure MMW at the height of their game.

MMW always good music.......2006-03-31

The first thing i heard from MMW was combustication, from there i just fell in love with this guys. Amazing the way the can go from a cool electronic simple jazz in some albums to a complex kind of latin jazz in albums like Tonic, sometimes in the same album, sometimes in the same piece. Another amazing thing is how they make music that is always cool, even 11 years after, thats the thing with this album, love it.

Typical MMW.. non-typical music.......2005-10-30

It's typical Medeski Martin and Wood in that it dances throughout your soul, letting you know how amazing these guys are. Songs like "The Lover", "Last Chance to Dance Trance (Perhaps)", "We're so Happy", "Chinoiserie", "Sequel", and "Chubb Sub" are all special in their own way. Yes, I know that this is almost every full-length song on the album, but all deserve being mentioned. It took me a couple of times to listen to the cd to realize that the shorter songs kind of serve as intros (particularly, "Paper Bass" and "House Mop"). I would say that if you are an MMW fan, you HAVE to have this cd, but most likely you already do; but if you are a new fan, this is a great introduction to them, although each one of their albums has its own distinct sound. ENJOY!

Average customer rating:

Best Garcia Live disc available!
Live At Keystone, Vol. 1 [LIVE]
you gotta have this on vinyl - get the cd

Live at Keystone, Vol. 1
Merl Saunders & Jerry Garcia
Manufacturer: Fantasy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Live at Keystone, Vol. 2
Keystone Encores, Vol. 1
Fire Up Plus
After Midnight: Kean College, 2/28/80
The Jerry Garcia Collection, Vol. 1: Legion of Mary

ASIN: B000000XD4
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Keepers
Positively 4th Street - David Grisman
The Harder They Come
It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
Space
It's No Use
Merl's Tune

Customer Reviews:

Best Garcia Live disc available!.......2001-05-02

I have absolutely loved this album since first getting it as a record in the 70's. It is the (along with the 2 other Keystone recordings) Garcia album that I keep coming back to over and over. Jerry's singing is as soulful as on any recording he ever made. His gitar playing during this period is a bit more sparse than during later periods, but is as emotional as it gets. Although "Space" and "merls tune" are a bit lacking compared to the Dead's jams, all the other songs are classics. On "It's too late" (my personal favorite) Jerry makes his gitar sing. Merl's keyboards complement Garcia very well. He gives Jerry the room to shine shine shine. If you buy only one Garcia album this is it. (Vol 2 and Keystone Encores rate a close 2nd and 3rd.)

Live At Keystone, Vol. 1 [LIVE].......2000-08-10

Get this. Get all of the Keystone releases. John Kahn is a fantastic bassist who provides an interesting contrast to the Dead's bass player, Phil Lesh. His playing helps bring out plenty of sweet lyrical magic from Jerry's guitar.

you gotta have this on vinyl - get the cd.......2000-01-20

Positively & It Takes A Lot To Laugh are classics in themselves - everything else is candy and its way sweet candy - you wont be disappointed - get this CD

Average customer rating:

Best album by the samples
Daydreamy.
A Great CD
The best sampling of "The Samples".
I Love This Band--I Love This Album

The Last Drag
The Samples
Manufacturer: What Are Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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No Room
The Samples
Autopilot
Transmissions from the Sea of Tranquility
Here and Somewhere Else

ASIN: B000001HZA
Release Date: 1993-09-24

Tracks:

Little Silver Ring
Everytime
Still Water
Eatonville
The Streets In The Rain
When The Day Is Done
Taxi
Carry On
Conquistador
Misery
The Last Drag
Darkside
Nitrous Fall
Prophet Of Doom
Playground
Smile For The Camera

Customer Reviews:

Best album by the samples.......2007-01-04

Hands down the best album for the Samples. Just friggin buy it.

Daydreamy........2005-08-16

Reminiscent of Toad the Wet Sprocket (remember them?). Sweet yearning lyrics and equally evocative voices. They're easy to listen to and folksy. Nothing's too refined, which is one of the reasons I like them. You get the feeling they're playing in the back of some little cafe by the highway, as they drive through the heartland of America. A friend of mine didn't like this quality and made some complaint about their time being off. Well... I'm no drummer, but I think I enjoy a really wide spectrum of music and I'm difficult to please. The Samples please me. The Last Drag was my first intro to them. Little Silver Ring is such a great song, and for some reason I love When the Day is Done. I get this goofy nostalgia-laden image of a battered farmer in the Dust Bowl and his young son working all day and coming home to something comforting like, oh, cornbread and grace. I know, ridiculous, but that's not to be helped and certainly not this album's fault.

A Great CD.......2004-11-11

I was introduced to the Samples on Onion River Radio, (the best place on the Internet to be introduced to new artists.) "The Prophet of Doom" was playing and immediately caught my attention. I ordered this CD from Amazon and had to wait several weeks for it to come in. It was well worth the wait. There mix of clever hooks and ethereal guitars is incredible. A good introduction to this band. I can't believe these guys have been around for so long and this is the first that I've heard of them. I'm sure I'll be buying more of their stuff in the near future.

The best sampling of "The Samples"........2004-03-02

"The Samples" have many good albums out, including "No Room" and "Autopilot", but "The Last Drag" is possibly the best of them. It's just a really pleasing 16 songs. They manage to sometimes sound like an alt-country or jam-band, but other times sound like they could have come from the alternative scene. Whatever your perspective though, they're really good. The album starts strong with "Little Silver Ring", "Everytime", and "Stillwater", but most of the rest is as good. I also love "Streets In The Rain", "Prophet Of Doom", and "Carry On", which sounds kinda like "C.S.N.". Overall a great disc, and a good live show. I think I'll go see them this Friday.

I Love This Band--I Love This Album.......2003-10-15

I've been a fan of The Samples for several years now. I first bought their "Outpost" CD as an experiment, and then went on to pick up every Samples disc I could find. They represent a sound that's been all but missing for a long time in mainstream rock and roll. Real songs, played by real musicians who really don't seem to care an awful lot if they never get any airplay. They can rock with the best of them when they want to (check out the live CD, "Underwater People"), and then display a quiet sensitivity rarely found in rock music since at least the 70's, without sounding at all dated. The musicianship and songwriting are unsurpassed by anyone I can name. There isn't a Samples album I don't like, but this is my personal favorite. They really don't rock very hard on this album-- it's mostly kind of spacey, with touches of psychedelia just beneath the surface-- and it's absolutely great. If you're unfamiliar with this band, buy this CD. If you don't instantly love it, send it to me-- because if it's possible to wear out a CD, I'm gonna need another copy someday.

Average customer rating:

great tuba
Truly "What's Going On"...
A vital and heartfelt tribute to the people and city of New Orleans

What's Going On
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Manufacturer: Shout Factory
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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This Is The Dirty Dozen Brass Band Collection
Sing Me Back Home
Funeral for a Friend
Out Louder
The Town and the City

ASIN: B000GRTQS4
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Tracks:

Whats Going Onfeaturing Chuck D
Whats Happening Brotherfeaturing Bettye LaVette
Flyin High (In The Friendly Sky)
Save The Children
God Is Lovefeaturing Ivan Neville
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)featuring G. Love
Right On
Wholy Holy
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)featuring Guru

Amazon.com

Of all the life-affirming music made in response to Hurricane Katrina, this is perhaps the most radical achievement--a recontextualizing of Marvin Gaye's early-'70s classic in the wake of the devastation of New Orleans. Joining the Crescent City's leading brass band are an array of guest singers who give the interplay a different dynamic from Gaye's silky sophistication. From the harder edge that Public Enemy's Chuck D gives the opening title track through the redemptive prophecy provided by Guru on the closing "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)," the album takes the spirit of Gaye's social commentary and adds a contemporary twist. Among the other highlights, Bettye LaVette wrings every ounce of soul from "What's Happening Brother," Ivan Neville leads the call-and-response spirituality of "God Is Love," and the Dirty Dozen transform "Save the Children" into a symphony of syncopation and saxophones. Released to mark the first anniversary of the hurricane, with some proceeds benefitting relief efforts, the album deserves to have the staying power of Gaye's original. --Don McLeese

Album Description

On August 29, the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band will release their reinterpretation of Marvin Gaye's classic LP What's Going On. Thirty-five years after its original release, the political and social themes of the album are just as relevant as ever. Along with many others along the Gulf Coast, the members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band lost their homes to Katrina. Their take on What's Going On is not only an attempt to express their feelings about this tragedy and other current events, but also a tribute to the spirit of their hometown of New Orleans.

Guest vocalists Chuck D, Ivan Neville, G. Love, Guru and Bettye LaVette contribute to album, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each copy of What's Going On will go to the Tipitina's Foundation, benefiting the music community of New Orleans.

Customer Reviews:

great tuba.......2007-06-08

Since my son plays the tuba a friend suggested this cd to me and I think it is wonderful. He makes the tuba sound like a guitar!! we love it.

Truly "What's Going On"..........2006-12-01

Combining superlative musicianship, the inspiration of Marvin Gaye's original album, the immediacy of the new arrangements, contributions from legendary guest artists, and the enormity of the calamity (Hurricane Katrina) that inspired this undertaking, this is a B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L recording!

And not just because of the good intentions.

Anyone who is in tune with Marvin's vibe ie anyone who's got S-O-U-L, will appreciate and enjoy the groove on this jam.

If I'm mixing metaphors, I apologize. Just a caucasian dude with a lifelong love of soul.

A vital and heartfelt tribute to the people and city of New Orleans.......2006-08-30

Anyone who loves New Orleans music was devastated by the disaster wrought by Katrina last year. Despite the painfully slow recovery the city is making, there are glimmers of hope and reasons to rejoice. This album is one of them.

The Dirty Dozen Brass take on Marvin Gaye's classic LP and do it up N'awlins style. At the same time, they make the point that the problems--war, poverty, ecological disaster, drug abuse, racism--that Gaye sang about 30 years ago are still prevalent. However, this album is anything but a downer. Like the New Orleans tradition of the funeral march, in which the band plays a dirge on the way out to the cemetary and party music on the way back, the Dozen give us a reason to dance all over our troubles, as Pete Townshend once put it. Get this album today (proceeds benefit NOLA musicians) and start dancing.

Black Banjo Songsters of North Carolina and Virginia

Average customer rating:

Good stuff
Well Worth Your Time and Money
Great Historical Document
A torch that is being passed on, Black Banjo Old & NEW
African American influence on American music

Black Banjo Songsters of North Carolina and Virginia
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Smithsonian Folkways
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

African Banjo Echoes in Appalachia: A Study of Folk Traditions (Publications of the American Folklore Society New Series)
Ballads, Banjo Tunes, And Sacred Songs Of Western North Carolina
An Untamed Sense of Control
Black Appalachia: String Bands, Songsters And Hoedowns
Altamont: Black Stringband Music

ASIN: B000001DJP
Release Date: 1998-02-17

Tracks:

Coo Coo - John Snipes
Coo Coo - Dink Roberts
Old Rattler (Fox Chase) - John Snipes
Georgia Buck - Dink Roberts
Georgia Buck - Joe Thompson & Odell Thompson
John Henry - James Roberts
High Sheriff - Dink Roberts
John Hardy - Dink Roberts
Garfield - Dink Roberts
Old Corn Liquor - Dink Roberts
Old Corn Liquor - Joe Thompson & Odell Thompson
John Henry - Joe Thompson & Odell Thompson
Love Somebody - Joe Thompson & Tommy Thompson
Long Tail Blue - John Snipes
Ain't Gonna Rain No More - John Snipes & Tommy Thompson
Going Where I've Never Been Before - John Snipes
Black Annie - Dink Roberts
Old Blue - Dink Roberts
Going Away From Home - John Snipes
You Don't Know My Darling - John Snipes
Jaybird March - Etta Baker & Cora Philips
Going Up North - John Jackson
Sugar Hill - Homer Walker
Momma Don't Allow - Irvin Cook & Leonard Bowles
Shortnin' Bread - Leonard Bowles
Shortnin' Bread - 'Big Sweet' Lewis Hairston
Fox Chase - John Tyree
Roustabout - Dink Roberts
Cookin' In The Kitchen - John Snipes
Coo Coo Bird - Rufus Kasey
Fox Chase - Dink Roberts
Little Brown Jug - Joe Thompson & Odell Thompson

Amazon.com

This is more than just another excellently researched, heavily-annotated, and well-recorded Smithsonian Folkways disc of archival old-time sound. Like recordings of fife and drum music, this collection documents a rich African American musical tradition that was all but lost by the 1970s. The textbooks tell us that the banjo was brought to America by enslaved Africans, but the majority of musicians who've recorded with that instrument are white. While many of these modal, story-based folk songs will be familiar--"Coo Coo," "John Henry," "Shortnin' Bread"--there's an edge to these versions that's firmly rooted in the blues. Black Banjo Songsters is an essential compilation of claw-hammer-style banjo playing and deep, Appalachian singing. It happens to redress a historical wrong, but it's also a grand recording of deep, raw folk. --Mike McGonigal

Album Description

The sounds and social history of African American banjo playing--32 superb instrumentals and vocals, recorded between 1974 and 1997. Extensively annotated with performer's life histories, tunings, lyrics, bibliography, and discography. The banjo's gourd ancestors came to the Americas with enslaved Africans, forging the link between West African griots and performers of 20th-century blues and string-band music. 64 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

Good stuff.......2006-11-11

There's nothing like old timey black banjo music. I really like to listen to the melodies and rhythms that sound the least western. This is the dawn of American music. Track 30 is the strangest version of Coo Coo I have ever heard.

Well Worth Your Time and Money.......2006-06-21

Not for the faint of heart or the common folk music revivalist, this stuff is the real deal. You won't find anything like it anywhere ever again. Both the book and CD are excellent.

Great Historical Document.......2005-07-30

This CD is a great historical document showcasing, as the title says, black banjo songsters of Nth Carolina and Virginia namely John Snipes, Dink Roberts, Joe and Odelle Thompson and some others. Then why only 3 stars? Well as I said it's a great historical document but I found the recording quality and sound can at times be a little difficult to sit through. Don't get me wrong there are some great tracks here including Old Blue by Dink Roberts, Jaybird March by Etta Baker and Shortnin' Bread by Lewis Hairston to name a few. I would have liked to hear more of Etta Baker even though she is 'primarily' a guitar player. I bought this CD not long after getting into old time banjo (I play old time banjo myself) back in 1998. I already had the 'North Carolina Banjo Collection' (see my review), which is superior in my opinion, because it showcases more artists and styles, and I later bought 'Kentucky Old Time Banjo' (see my review) which I like best out of all three CD's.

A torch that is being passed on, Black Banjo Old & NEW.......2004-09-09

The pickers and players on these recordings are not only preserving the history of the African American origins of the Banjo, of the African American origins of both frailing/clawhammer/knocking/rapping or whatever you want to call down picking, as well as Carolina two finger pikcing. Moreover, by issuing these recordings Scott Oddell and Cece Conway, helped these pickers to light the torch to pass the flame on. From all over the country and beyond, Black banjoists are reviving, extending and enriching what our elders here have done.

Today, one of the most dramatic innovative Blues performers, like Taj Mahal, Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Otis Taylor have picked up the banjo. Otis will be coming out with a recording including Kep Mo, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Corey Harris, and New Orleans tenor and six string banjo master Don Vappie that seeks to recapture the banjo for Black folk in February 2008. The last several years has seen the resurgence of several African American string bands playing this music including the Carolina Chocolate Drops and New York's Ebony Hillbillies.

April 7-10 2005 at Appalachian State University with the able and friendly assistance of Dr. Cece Conway, we will be held the first Black Banjo Then and Now Conference. We united elder Black banjoists and fiddlers like those on these recordings as their virtual descendants among younger generations of Black folk from middle schoolers on up with t national and international scholars of the banjo, unblack banjo pickers and fiddlers.

While this music sounds bluesy, exhibiting their common African American heritage, this music is different from the Blues. It arose separately and probably earlier as a descendant of banjo sounds Africans brought to the New World and fiddling Africans who had played bowed fiddles in Africa who mastered the violin they found in America (although some made folk fiddles that were hybrids between African fiddles and the violin). Distinctly African in its origins, this music interacted with European-American folks sounds to produce the string band music that powered European-American rural and mountain folk dancing.

All the artists on this recording are from the generation of African Americans who developed the Blues in its second generation. Indeed, several of the artists including those with some of the most archaic sounds like Dink Roberts and Odell Thompson were also very skilled Blues guitarists. Several others here like Homer Walker have recorded great blues recordings elsewhere (see the digital library of the appalachian's magnificent online site for multiple recordings, interviews and pictures of all of the Virginia and West Virginia based artists here except Josh Thomas.) Speaking of Thomas, the bulk of his music remains unreleased, but his banjo playing was drenched in the blues and he recorded several blues songs.

These pickers in the Carolinas and Virginia, represent the last traditional expression of Black banjo playing that once was heard in New York City, San Fransisco, Chicago, New Orleans, and other cities as well in the country. Their music has inspired a new generation of Black banjoists that keep the banjo ringing.

Conway and O'Dell have even more recordings of Black banjoists prepared for a second double volume of this wonderful history making music

African American influence on American music.......2003-10-13

I'm African American and learning how to play the banjo. I tried this CD out from the library and I was very impressed with the old time style banjo music from blacks. And I didn't know that Etta James played the banjo. The song Jaybird played by Ms. Jamess was so beautiful.

It's unfortunate that we don't see many African American playing banjos today and how they contributed the banjo to American culture.

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