Monthly Archives: March 2008

Impression-ism.

Monday: March 17, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Soul Leave a comment

Artist: Impressions
Title: Times Have Changed
Year: 1972
Label: Curtom
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.5/5.0

Front

Review
WHEW!!! Let me just say, Curtis Mayfield is the man!!! But the group…AS A GROUP…were better off without Curtis as a vocalist, but instead, having him as a writer and producer.
This album is a testament to that. Credit to the writing and production, it’s out of this world, and very powerful because it comes from a political standpoint, off the jump. The Impressions make a strong stand and state their position on the war…they are AGAINST it. “Times Have changed”, that’s what the majority of this album is all about. These cats are preaching love, and nobody can be mad at that. Leroy Hutson takes over as lead singer, and for those that know, Leroy is the man!

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About the sound, this album has hardcore drums, deep bass that walks it out, string arrangements, congas, and horns. It’s really a sound of strength, with some funky grooves to push it along, and the listener right along with it. I’m still trying to find my way back home! POWERFUL. I think the guys hold this group together vocally, even without Curtis, which is good, and the different sound that their voices create is refreshing…

Check out the sound!

Stop The War

Inner City Blues

This Loves For Real

Design
This cover really gets across the point that the group is trying to make. That times have changed. The photography is what drives this cover. The front and back cover shows a damaged building and ground, while the inside cover shows the group standing in a military graveyard, basically saying end the war, we’re losing all these soldiers! I wish more musicians today would take these types of visual stands with their cover art, not just through their lyrics. This is bold stuff, really think about it. The tone and the mood is very cold, although the colors are very warm, that’s the power of good photography, the locations/environments, facial expressions…COLD…the colors overall…WARM. Props to Hal Wilson on the photography. Finally, a small detail that’s not visual to you all out there in cyber space, the three members of the group, and the group name, are embossed on the front cover.

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Additional info on the Impressions

45 King.

Sunday: March 16, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Video 1 Comment

45 King does his thing here, killin’ it with this mix on two Vestex portable turntables. Most of these 7-inches that he’s spinning are rare too…enjoy.

Additional info on 45 King

Ghettooooooooooo.

Friday: March 14, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Jazz, Soul Leave a comment

Artist: The 24-Carat Black
Title: Ghetto: Misfortune’s Wealth
Year: 1973
Label: Enterprise
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0

Front

Review
Rare jazz right here…a one-time thing. One of the local record shops that I frequent, got me hip to The 24-Carat Black. The owner of the shop was telling me that when he thinks about jazz, he thinks about the sound of this particular record. The sound is far from traditional, especially for a 1973 recording. As great as this record is, the group never made a second album due to poor promotion and low album sales, today however, dj’s, producers and record collectors alike, are ALL trying to get their hands on this rare gem (I was lucky enough to find an original pressing of this record, SEALED, yea I’m proud…so what!!! lol…and yes, I opened it). I am a huge fan of this record because it tells a story in a sense, of poverty, the ghetto, the individuals…the life. The vibe is there, and the sound is amazing (sick drumming and keys), the singing is on point, too…sit back and enjoy the grooves.

Check out the sound!

Synopsis Two: Mother’s Day

Ghetto: Misfortune’s Wealth

Foodstamps

24-Carat Black (Theme)

Design
As great as this album is, I absolutely HATE the cover! Well…I hate the typography, it’s extremely hard to read. The face is hard to see, but rightfully so, it’s 24 Carats of blackness!!! Anyway, the back cover type is centered and creates a NASTY rag. Folks I’m sorry, this is just my humble opinion…

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Additional info on The 24-Carat Black

Kisses.

Wednesday: March 12, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Jazz 2 Comments

Artist: Jack McDuff
Title: Kisses
Year: 1982
Label: Sugar Hill
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 3.5/5.0

Front

Review
A different sound for brother Jack…

But definitely a sound that I can dig. I remember when I found this album, I was completely taken back by the way that the music came across…I based my initial judgement on the year of the record, the label, and the style of the musician that I was familiar with. Like any great musician, Jack didn’t hit me with the same style of music twice. The more I listen, the more I fall in love with this record. What’s the sound? Just imagine if maple syrup…or honey, could play music!…Yea…that’d be it.

I must note that this effort is definitely ahead of it’s time. One of the reasons that not a lot of people know about, or overlook(ed) this release. A lot of record collector’s base their interest in a record simply on hearsay…but I am totally AGAINST that, I usually find that my favorite LP’s are records that nobody has EVER mentioned to me before. Anyway, this is one of those records that I stumbled upon, and thought that I would share with you all…

Check out the sound!

Primavera

Night Fantasies

Design
How can you not love this cover? Nice lips on the front, accompanied by some sweet type! Designed by Hemu Ghia Aggarwal. What I like most is the font that was used for the word “kisses”. Looks to possibly be a tweaked version of Elephant, a font designed by Herb Lubalin, but I may be wrong. The sharp contrast between “Jack McDuff” and “kisses” kind of drew me in as well, I’m not such a fan of the outlined font, but it still seems to work here. Small detail, but worth a mention, notice the leg of the “k” swooping down, just above the lip, almost mimicking the shape of the top lip?…designer’s know…that was INTENTIONAL. Straight-forward cover, in concept and execution.

Additional info on Jack McDuff

A Beautiful Voice.

Tuesday: March 11, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Soul 1 Comment

Artist: Syreeta
Title: Self-titled
Year: 1972
Label: MOwEST
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 3.0/5.0

Front

Review
SYREETA! A lot people don’t know that she used to be married to Stevie Wonder…but indeed she was. That leads me to my next fact, the man himself produced this album. As for Syreeta, this was her first release I believe (don’t quote me on that). Nevertheless, this is a solid LP. I was mainly intrigued by a powerful song on here called “Black Maybe”, the second I heard it, I knew I had to buy this record. Her voice is beautiful (think birds chirping on a summers sunday morning) and the lyrics really make you STOP, DROP, and LISTEN. Stevie keyed us in to some nice synthesizer sounds on this record, really unusual for 1972, at least the way he brought them to the top shelf in the way that he arranged it. Some of the songs are passable, due to the fact that they’re not as strong as I’d like them to be, coming from two amazing talents in Stevie Wonder and Syreeta. But still, a good album with several gems.

Check out the sound!

Black Maybe

Baby Don’t You Let Me Lose This

Design
Again we have an album cover rocking out the picture in picture effect, don’t look close enough and you may just miss it here. But overall this is a simple cover, seeing as though the album is self-titled, there’s no need for any conceptualization, so it is what it is…SYREETA.

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Additional info on Syreeta

Masked Marauder.

Monday: March 10, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Boogie, Funk 3 Comments

Artist: Mandre
Title: Self-Ttiled
Year: 1977
Label: Motown
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0

Front

Review
Okay, i’ll be the first to say that I fronted on this album for about two years straight! That was a huge mistake on my part, because when I finally decided to listen to this record, I was a fan…INSTANTLY. This groups new life (as MANDRE) is the result of a failed record label, Capricorn. Capricorn was the label that was home to the group MAXAYN. After Capricorn, MAXAYN disappeared and re-apppeared on Motown as MANDRE (which is the lead performer, Michael Andre Lewis). They brought this space funk with them upon their return, a sort of solar groove or something. But to make this long story short, they are amazing, innovative in style and delivery. Enjoy.

Check out the sound!

Solar Flight (Opus I)

Third World Calling (Opus II)

Interlude

Design
Funky air brushed illustrations grace the front and back covers, and I love them BOTH. Notice the keyboard makes the smile on the front of the non-detailed mask. Subtle moves like that are great. The logo is nice as well, its look, is how the music feels, that’s a hard move to execute…designers know…

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Additional info on MANDRE

Get The Griddles Ready.

Sunday: March 9, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Jazz 2 Comments

Artist: Roger Glenn
Title: Reachin’
Year: 1976
Label: Fantasy
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0

Front

Review
Again, the Mizell Brothers hold me down. Sky High Productions!!! Okay, I bring to you, an underrated, unknown, underexposed…legend, none other than Roger Glenn. An amazing jazz flutist (basic, alto, and bass), vibraphonist, percussionist and vocalist. Reachin’ is such a feel good album, this joint feels like Spring 76′…in a nutshell. There is a banger (one of many) on this album called “Rio”, where Glenn brings the sound of Brazil to life, and does it very well! That track hits home EVERY time I give this record a listen. In fact, there is a nice latin vibe overlaying this record in a sense. Now another aspect of this album that I love is that the Mizell Brothers showed their versatility with the production, showing that they can help to create dope albums without the strong presence of drums. This album is led by the flute, synths, percussion, and vibes…at least those are the instruments that jump out at me instantly (on most tracks, not all of them). To wrap things up, I will add that this was Roger’s only solo effort, and a damn good one at that…but his other work was done as a studio/session musician, producer and composer. Be prepared for a jam-session-esque type of record.

Check out the sound!

Don’t Leave

Rio

Design
Beautiful cover!!! First, the font used for his name on the cover, is something that I have never seen, but I need to find out what it is and add it to my font collection. One has to appreciate that kerning, to create the illusion of equal space between the letters, although the space is nowhere near equal. Then to track the letters of the word “Reachin’”, to span the width of the photography, all of these little details which most consider minor, or don’t even consider at all I should say, make this a beautiful treatment of type, and ultimately make this cover work as a whole. GESTALT! On the back cover, I must say that I am digging the layout and placement of copy, follows a nice grid, you’ll also see a photo of Roger Glenn himself, with the caveman beard and afro, flying at a high altitude over alpine mountains…do I even have to say how dope that is??? I don’t think I do…the image speaks for itself.

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Additional info on Roger Glenn and the Mizell Brothers

Webo.

Saturday: March 8, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Boogie, Jazz, Soul Leave a comment

Artist: Webster Lewis
Title: Let Me Be The One
Year: 1981
Label: Epic
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 3.5/5.0

Front

Review
Look, if you’re not smooth, don’t even bother with this post. Webster Lewis is for the smooth crowd. But that’s why i love his music, and particularly this album. His sound is super cleaned-up, and he pays close attention to detail. Looking for grooves, nice synth and keyboard work, this is your guy. The sad thing is that not many people know of Webster Lewis. here’s your chance to find out…

Check out the sound!

El Bobo

Dancer

Design
Look at how fresh his jacket is! Okay, back to the design…simple, clean, and effective. I like the border framing the photography, and the sophisticated serif font of choice here, definitely representative of Webster Lewis’ music. The lighting effects on the photos are pretty cool too, the beiges are brought to the front to keep the overall tone consistent, and you can really start to see the colors being brought out on the front cover. Nothing mind-blowing, but a solid cover for sure.

Additional info on Webster Lewis

Back Stabbers.

Saturday: March 8, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Video 2 Comments

Good ol’ Saturday mornings!!! Check out Eddie and the fellas get their step on! I swear, these groups had real talent, all the way-round’. Pay very close attention to the signature back stabber dance…enjoy.

Additional info on the O’Jays

Refresh.

Friday: March 7, 2008 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Soul 1 Comment

Artist: The Miracles
Title: Renaissance
Year: 1973
Label: Tamla
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 5.0/5.0

Front

Review
Now this is what a love album is supposed to sound like! A mix of ballads, funky tracks, and grooves. The Miracles are another group that survived just fine once the star of the group left (in this case, Smokey Robinson). I found out about this album through a mix that was done by one of my favorite producers/dj’s…Madlib. He did a Motown mix some time back, and there was a Miracles song that he had thrown in there, and I was instantly like, “WHOOOOAAAAA, what’s that!?!?!?!?”. I had to get on the hunt asap, after about three weeks of searching, I found it in a record spot that I frequent in Brooklyn. Happy, I came home and instantly played the record, and to my surprise, EVERY track on this album was a smash!!! Therefore placing this LP in my favorites grouping. These guys were far from traditionalists on this album, that’s what I love about it, the writing and execution of songs is phenomenal. This is also the LP that introduced William Griffin as the new lead singer of the group, and he somewhat filled Smokey’s shoes I think, bringing a new sound to The Miracles, adding Griffin definitely hit the refresh button for these guys and gave them a whole new life. Get this album, it’s a necessity!!!

Check out the sound!

What Is A Heart Good For

I Don’t Need No Reason

Nowhere To Go

Design
These cats pulled off the look and feel of the renaissance period, but with afros! LOL! You have to love it. Really dark in tone with these glowing gauntlets, salmony skin tones, and grainy photography. It’s not like the greatest cover of all, but I like what they tried to do. The failure here is the front cover font, it’s not LEGIBLE, which is a HUGE design no-no. It’s too thin, and the color blends into the background waaaaay too much. They didn’t credit the designer here, hmmmmmm…I wonder why?

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Additional info on The Miracles

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