Karriem Riggins murders his set during a Stonesthrow tour this spring. He actually spun better records than Madlib this go-round. Which is TOUGH to do.

Props to Karriem!

Best viewed here <~~~~~

Artist: Blackbyrds
Title: Cornbread, Earl & Me (Original Soundtrack)
Year: 1975
Label: Fantasy
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.25/5.0

Review
I have had this record for a while now, but didn’t get deep into it until one night while watching the DVD (courtesy of Latia), I noticed that the movie had a pretty nice score! I told her, as we watched the film, “Bay I’ve got this record…but I don’t remember it sounding this good!”, I couldn’t wait to give it a second listen.

The second time around listening to the record, after seeing the movie obviously, I fell in love with it. Honestly, it’s a different sound for the Blackbyrds, a sound that I wasn’t expecting on my initial listen. But it’s great, it’s refreshing, and the vibe definitely fit with the feeling and the plot of the movie.

There is so much great material on this LP, I decided to post tons of clips! Enjoy…

PS: Go buy this movie, it’s really good! (For what it is). Also, this is Lawrence Fishburne’s first movie, he was like 12 years old or so. But whatever you do, don’t read the back of the cover like my girlfriend did, the back cover spoils the entire film, lol! (Plain ol’ bad descriptive writing)

Check out the sound!

Cornbread

Wilford’s Gone

The Gym Fight

Mother/Son Talk

Riot

Candy Store Dilemma

At The Carnival

Check out the vid!

Best viewed here <~~~~~

Design
It’s a soundtrack cover, with no concept or theme…other than being urban. Not much to say here, it’s pretty generic. However, I DO like the frilly type on the cover. The photography is pretty bad though.

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Additional info on Blackbyrds

One of my favorite tracks, “Who Do You Love?” by Bernard Wright.

I dug the video up on YouTube just to share with you all. Be sure to notice the effects used in this video, and keep in mind that it was released in 1985. Great conceptual work and execution of this vid, to support this amazing single.

Best if viewed here <~~~~~

Artist: SINE
Title: Happy is the Only Way
Year: 1977
Label: Prelude
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 3.5/5.0

Review
In an attempt to bring the energy into your Friday, I decided to review and share another classic underground boogie record, produced by the great Patrick Adams. This time he uses the alias, SINE. Anybody who knows anything about Adams, knows that he brings the energy, the tracks that make you dance, and those signature synthesized weeeeeet-weeeeeeetz throughout his tracks. This album reminds me a lot of the Atmosphere Strut LP, but this LP tends to be a little more party oriented.

One of the things that draws me to Adams-produced records is his ability to create and release tension on the track. Just when you’re itching for a change-up, or for the chords to let you fly free…BOOM!…it happens, and your soul is at ease. It’s truly “feel-good” music. The track that I have selected to post for your listening pleasure is called “Mosquito Walk”, it definitely gives an example of his (Adams) versatility.

Check out the sound!

Mosquito Walk

Design
I love the font that’s used for “SINE”. However, the lockup of the name with the title is a bit weak and could be much stronger. Again, the subject chosen is a young black woman, who looks like she wants … (whoever is looking at the cover)! I think she knows what she wants, LOL. It’s a pretty soft-core shot, but pretty intense…something sexy about it though. I tell you what, these cover concepts were definitely created to sell more records, sex sells. Period.

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Additional info on SINE

Artist: Loose Ends
Title: Look How Long
Year: 1990
Label: MCA
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0

Review
In my opinion, this is the BEST Loose Ends LP, ever! And original member Carl McIntosh completed this album all by himself. The drama? Well the other two members of the group (Jane Eugene and Steve Nichol) couldn’t get their ISH together, and had several creative differences with McIntosh and the group split. McIntosh kept the name Loose Ends, and proceeded to release 1990’s Look How Long, single-handed, with vocals from local talent that he scouted as the ideas for songs came to his mind. He produced, arranged, wrote, and coordinated this ENTIRE album. Now do you get the meaning of GRINDING?

McIntosh fused hip-hop breaks with synthesized sounds, and electric pianos to create this LP. I must add, the sound is light years ahead of its time and could survive in the soul/neo soul/r&b game TODAY. Period.

GO BUY THIS RECORD ASAP! That’s all I have to say…

Check out the sound!

Symptoms of Love

Don’t You Ever

Don’t Be A Fool

Design
As much as I love this album, the cover art sucks! The photography is bad, the typography is bad…the graphic elements are cheesy. The only props that I can give here is that the spacing is worked out quite nice, and I kinda dig the teal and gold color scheme. Sorry, but I had to be HARSH on this one.

Dear Mr. McIntosh, next time GRIND on the cover art, too!…

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Additional info on Loose Ends

Artist: The Visitors
Title: Neptune
Year: 1972
Label: Cobblestone
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 3.0/5.0

Review
The Visitors, from Philadelphia…representing on the alto and tenor saxaphone(s). They definitely have their own stlye, the way that the two brothers play off of one another is quite amazing. They write their own music as well, which is not bad…not necessarily my style in jazz, but it’s worth a listen. That said, the track that I’ve chosen to feature on the blog, was actually written by John Coltrane, a famous tune, “Naima”. What’s interesting about this is that Naima Coltrane is the first cousin to Earl and Carl Grubbs (The Visitors). So they did a cover of this classic material, and it’s nothing less than AMAZING.

Check out the sound!

Naima

Design
Bold and serious. A very cold feel to the cover, overall. But I like it, from the color palette, to the varsity lettering, and simple typographic treatment. The photography seems like nothing at first glance, but really take a second to examine it, there’s a nice abstract approach here. Some of the image has been removed as well, this was most likely a post-production technique…OR…maybe when the photographer was exposing the film, he/she (not credited) could have blocked out the walkway in the image. As I stated before, a minimal move, but it adds something that makes this not just another “photo cover”. Be sure to notice the hard contrasts and the deep shadows.

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Additional info on The Visitors

YES! A very strong alternative to iTunes. I had been checking Waxpoetics daily, waiting for their digital store to open. Well today my jaw dropped and my eyes lit up when I saw that it was live…24/7 access to rare material, the stock will be growing weekly.

I can’t thank Waxpoetics enough for taking this BIG step in online music retail, offering what other retailers don’t…HARD TO FIND VINYL in digital format.

* DAP * to the whole WaxPo staff.

Visit the online store here:
Waxpoetics Digital Store

Peace.

One of my favorites, but one of the most slept on Jackson 5 tracks…EVER, Blame It On The Boogie 1978.

Check out the cheesy motion effects used throughout! Just plain awesome-ness.

Props to Randy Jackson for rockin’ the Charlie Browns w/ the sport coat, fresh!

Enjoy.

Best viewed here <~~~~~

Mixed By: Flwrpt.
Title: Three.
Year: 2008
Flwrpt Rating of this Mix: 5.0/5.0

The Message
As the third installment to my mix series, I present you with “Three”…

Upbeat grooves, some rare, some familiar, but regardless…I hope you can all relate to the vibe of the music.

Obviously I called the mix “Three” quite simply because it’s my THIRD mix, but also because it’s going to hold you all down this summer…THREE months, and there are THREE genres of music covered here, being soul, funk, and jazz. Enjoy.

Check out the sound!

Download Here: (Right-Click + Save As…)
Three.

OR

Listen Now:

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TO YOU ALL
Viewers, I apologize for the maaajor lack of updates on the blog. Know that I am working on updates, new features, etc. I will be back soon…STRONG.

Peace.

Artist: Al Jarreau
Title: Look To The Rainbow (Live in Europe)
Year: 1977
Label: Warner Brothers
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 5.0/5.0

Review
For the grown folks.

Check out the sound!

Rainbow In You Eyes

Take Five

Better Than Anything

Burst In With A Dawn

Additional info on Al Jarreau

Artist: Kool & The Gang
Title: Light Of Worlds
Year: 1974
Label: De-Lite
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 3.0/5.0

Review
This is a good record. I am not a huge fan of Kool & The Gang, honestly, but lately I’ve been picking up some of their earlier work (1970 through about 1974), and I really like the sound that they had before going commercial. Earlier on, the sound was raw, it was dirty, it was like basement funk or something, block-party funk. You can’t beat that! Light of Worlds, an easy find for those that are interested, it’s definitely worth a listen and a purchase.

Check out the sound!

The Fruitman

Summer Madness

Design
Totally different than most Kool & The Gang covers that I’m used to. This one is a little less intriguing, feels a bit mystic to me actually. It doesn’t evoke the feeling that the sound evokes. I can appreciate the dotted type treatment a little, but overall this cover is kind of dull…MINUS the pop colors of blue and red overprinted color.

Additional info on Kool & The Gang

Artist: Fred Wesley and the JB’s
Title: Damn Right I Am Somebody
Year: 1973
Label: People
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0

Review
A gem! One of the best Fred Wesley and the JB’s records of all-time! Recorded during the same session as the famous James Brown LP, The Payback…Damn Right I Am Somebody is as funky and as soulful as they come. Expect that signature JB’s sound, Fred Wesley horns, and hard hitting guitars throughout. This is definitely a versatile piece, because they break the formula a bit, which makes the album memorable, and not just “another JB’s joint”. They offer different sounds with this record as well, which makes it that much more unique.

Check out the sound!

Damn Right I’m Somebody

You Sure Love To Ball

Blow Your Head

Design
This is a great cover! From the painting, to the type, down to the composition. It’s definitely telling a story, a story of strength and power to the people! Notice the chains on the young black male on the right, hmmm…I wonder what the JB’s could be symbolizing? I have an idea, that in some cases, the black man is being held down in society, starting from a young age…I’m almost positive that the JB’s were hinting at that. There is a ton of symbolism in this cover art, but I will let you as the viewer make your own interpretations. This was released during very political times in the African-American community, so the passion behind it was very strong I’m sure. Now…INTERPRET!

Additional info on Fred Wesley

Artist: The Education of Sonny Carson (Soundtrack)
Title: Self-titled
Year: 1974
Label: Paramount
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 5.0/5.0

Review
An amazing blaxploitation soundtrack, that not many people are aware of. I think viewing the movie will definitely help identify with the music. The Education of Sonny Carson is a classic, I’m not going to give away the story, but it’s about Brooklyn NYC gangs in the 70’s, amongst other things. BUY IT!

Leon Ware lends his talents for lead vocals here, delivering a very strong performance. The sound is very gritty overall, very heartfelt in a sense (at times), but it gets across the feeling of storytelling, through sound. Simply by listening one can imagine what would be going on in the film at that point.

A rare piece of material, and a special one! Enjoy…

Check out the sound!

The Rumble

Exercise Run

The Robbery and The Chase

Girl, Girl, Girl

Where Do I Go From Here? (Sonny’s Theme)

Check out the vid!

Design
As much as I love the record, this cover is HIDEOUS! LOL! They spent ZERO money on creating it, obvious, right?…

Additional info on The Education of Sonny Carson

Artist: Patrice Rushen
Title: Straight From The Heart
Year: 1982
Label: Elektra
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0

Review
This is the 80’s at its best, a definite classic. Patrice Rushen delivers a VERY solid lp here, bringing tracks that make the listener feel good, feel bad, dance, sing, etc. She leads all vocals, and plays keyboards and synthesizers. Straight From The Hrart, it’s truly an experience.

Check out the sound!

Where There Is Love

You Remind Me

Forget Me Nots

Design
The only thing I’m really feeling about this design is the grid on the back cover. What I do think is interesting, however, are the crazy beads in her hair, that musta took hours right? lol…

Additional info on Patrice Rushen

Artist: The Main Ingredient
Title: L.T.D.
Year: 1970
Label: RCA
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 3.5/5.0

Review
This is the Main Ingredient’s first LP…just…ya know, one of those great soul albums of the early 70’s! All created prior to Cuba Gooding, Sr. joining as lead singer. The original lead vocalist was Donald McPherson, sadly he passed away unexpectedly after the release of this LP…with leukemia.

This album is packed with harmony. The vocal arrangements are what draw me into every track on this particular record. The background vocals are strong as well.

Check out the sound!

Magic Shoes

I Was Born To Lose

Can’t Stand Your Love

You’ve Been My Inspiration

Design
Grainy photography is never a bad thing…to me. The typeface is pretty different for the era, which is the early 70’s. Take a look at their poses…classic New York swag!

Additional info on The Main Ingredient

Artist: Mandre
Title: M3000
Year: 1979
Label: Motown
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 2.0/5.0

Review
Hmmm…I wonder where Andre Benjamin of Outkast came up with his alias, as Andre 3000? If I had to take a wild guess, I would say that he was influenced by the legendary Michael Andre Lewis, who went by the stage name of Mandre, and titled his last LP M3000 (which stood for Mandre3000). Get the connection?

This LP is actually not that good, and I hate to say that, for the simple fact that Mandre was such a great group early on, as Maxayn, and later with the first Mandre album. This was the groups final album, M3000. They did NOT go out with a bang. In fact, the only two tracks that are worth a listen, I have included in this post, and they SAVE this album for me. I expected so much more from a group with so much talent, it came to a point where they let the electronic equipment control them, and completely take over their signature musicianship.

Check out the sound!

M3000 (Opus VI)

L’Oasis

Design
I like the logo a lot, with the reflection…this cover is pretty bold overall. Not quite sure what the back cover represents, it’s a little out there, but it’s fitting for the sound of this record. But it’s definitely an eye-catching cover, I just wish the music was consistent.

Additional info on Mandre

Artist: Aleem featuring Leroy Burgess
Title: Casually Formal
Year: 1986
Label: Atlantic
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0

Review
You have to be a fan of 80’s music to really appreciate this album, it really captures the essence of that 1986 sound…and captures it very well. I LOVE this record, bottom line. The Aleems are twin brothers (Taharqa & Tunde-Ra Aleem) who teamed up with a buddy, Leroy Burgess (the king of boogie and former Black Ivory lead singer), who just so happened to live in the same building as they did in Harlem growing up. Turns out that the album was completed by the twin brothers alone, but they did not like the way that their vocals sounded on the tracks, so they asked Burgess to join the group as lead singer, and to help write, produce and compose some of the tracks. That was the best move that they could have made, because this turned out to be a CLASSIC underground boogie and soul lp. The sound is really synthetic…REALLY synthetic, some of the tracks were produced using programs on the 1986 Apple IIc computer…that shows that they embraced the technology, as well as the switch to electronic instruments and synthetic sounds. I can dig that, because a lot of musicians who made the switch were heavily scrutinized by traditionalist elitists. The Aleems featuring Leroy Burgess actually made beautiful music, and the arrangements by the trio are fantaaaaaaaaaaaastic! They all play instruments, so they understand chords, and they had a formula for “feel good”…so the sounds were something of beauty, the electronic instrumentation was on point.

Herbie Hancock put it best…”the electronic equipment is like an axe, it can be used to chop wood to build a house, or it can be used as a weapon to slaughter your neighbor. With synthesizers, they can produce sounds that hurt the ears, or produce beautiful sounds that draw you in…”. So it’s really about WHO is using it and HOW, not WHAT you use.

Enjoy.

Check out the sound!

Think

Stay

Loves On Fire

Design
The design is definitely cheesy. But you MUST give it to these grown men for going hard enough to rock out with white tuxedo jackets and dress shirts, with red bow-ties and cumberbun’s!!! LOL!!! They also have on some sort of weird Wrangler-looking denim with the snow white Reebok’s on…not to mention that these cats are captured in mid air (shaking my head in shame)…and Leroy Burgess has the nerve to sport a jerry-curl (he’s still the MAN though!). The photographer and stylist should have been fired immediately!!! LOL!!!

I will say, however, that although the props on the back cover (specifically the table and chairs) are lame, the composition and the idea…I like…which is that a tab was paid, and a couple split, to get home and reeeeeeeeeeeeally get the night started.

Additional info on Aleem featuring Leroy Burgess

Artist: Elaine Brown
Title: Self-titled
Year: 1973
Label: Black Forum
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 3.5/5.0

Review
Let me start off by saying that Elaine Brown was the former chairperson for the Black Panther party, she was a Panther from 1967 to 1977 (which is the year that they disbanded). She is a very strong, very outspoken black woman! As for her music, it was ALL about the struggle of African-Americans, it was about what she saw, what she felt, and what she wanted others to see and feel. She also was all about STRENGTH! Her lyrics are very deep, they’re all printed on the sleeve of this lp, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to read through them. From the tracks that I’ve posted, listen CLOSELY to what she’s saying.

This album was released on Black Forum, a very political driven label, and a sub-division of Motown. Most of the records under this division are rare, definitely out of press and were not re-issued.

The self-titled lp Elaine Brown was produced by Fonce Mizell (of the great Mizell Brothers), and Freddie Perren…so that alone speaks for the quality of the music. They set the mood for this record, and it’s almost like story-telling music, the sound is amazing to me. Her voice is VERY unique, really a different vocal pattern, but it’s ownable, and original.

Check out the sound!

Child In The World

I Know Who You Are

Design
This cover is great. From the very accurate pencil drawing, to the African pattern gracing the border. The font is bold, which it needs to be, because everything about her music is BOLD. Her record cover feels…how her music sounds…

Additional info on Elaine Brown

Artist: The Players Association
Title: Self-Titled
Year: 1977
Label: Vanguard
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.75/5.0

Review
All I can say is…WOW! (Spelled backwards…WOW) This is another one of those records I saw in the record store, intrigued by the record label (because I’m used to only seeing disco 12′ releases from Vangaurd, not full LP’s), and gave it a listen. After hearing the first track…I knew that I was buying this lp…PERIOD. I love finding records like this, obscure, and that possess an amazing sound quality. This particular piece demonstrates two styles coming together, boogie, and mellowed-out soul grooves. I’d particularly like to point out “Moon In Pisces”, which is my favorite track on the record, (and not just because I am a Pisces), but this song has a really distinct sound that was ahead of its time in my opinion, similar to RAMP, it almost sets the listener up for what (neo soul/soul) music would become for this generation. Some of the other tracks that I’ve chosen to feature are high-energy, feel-good tracks that are deserving of something other than simply dancing, it’s LIFE music.

Check out the sound!

Moon In Pisces

I Like It

Hustlin’

Design
Not really the greatest cover, but the model that they photographed is interesting. She becomes almost sculptural. There’s no concept, so there’s not much to say about this cover, I’m not exactly sure of what message they want to get across, if any. And I’m definitely not a fan of the font chosen. With a group named The Players Association, they are supposed to have a nice lockup…not this random Shakey’s Pizza looking logo.

Additional info on The Players Association

Artist: Isaac Hayes
Title: Joy
Year: 1973
Label: Enterprise
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 2.0/5.0

Review
NOT one of Isaac Hayes best releases, honestly. So this review will be quick. I posted this lp anyway, due to the fact that the title track “Joy” is a winner, and a must-hear. Funky, groovy, and has a killer drum break throughout…ALL 18 minutes of this masterpiece of a song…yes, 18 minutes! The rest of the album is of a much lesser quality. With that said, enjoy the one track I’ve posted for this record.

Check out the sound!

Joy

Design
I really like the typeface used for this record cover, it’s also debossed (look closely). I must add, however, it seems a bit odd seeing Isaac Hayes in a major prance here (his ballet leap), it’s something I wouldn’t expect from him. Flipping to the back cover, check out this chain linked vest…only a celebrity can pull this off…only a celebrity.

Additional info on Isaac Hayes