GIL SCOTT-HERON - FREE WILL
A really
tremendous album from the legendary Gil Scott-Heron – and a set that stands as
one of his greatest statements from the 70s! The record is a wonderful example
of Gil's work in two different styles – sweet mellow jazzy soul, and harder
heavier protest poetry – the latter from his roots as a writer in touch with
the streets, and the former part of a brilliant new direction that he was
taking on the Flying Dutchman label. Side one features classic jazzy tracks
recorded with Brian Jackson – like "Free Will", "The Middle Of
Your Days", "Speed Kills", and "Did You Hear What They Said?".
Side two moves over to a much sparer sound – and has Gil reciting some of his
poetry with very heavy percussion, and a very righteous approach. The wisdom
and knowledge of those pieces is a perfect example of the kinds of issues that
were haunting black America in the early 70s – especially on the tracks
"No Knock", "The King Alfred Plan", and "Sex
Education: Ghetto Style". CD features 11 stunning bonus tracks –
alternates of songs on the album, and some very cool "breakdown"
tracks as well! ~ Dusty Groove
SONNY ROLLINS - AFTER THE BRIDGE
Rare
work from the RCA years of Sonny Rollins – all recorded during the time of his
groundbreaking albums for the label in the early 60s, but never issued until
this much later Japanese package! The title is quite apt – as the whole set
really shows the development that Rollins brought to his music in the years
after his classic album The Bridge – that open, freely expressive sound that
took his already-great approach to tenor and really pushed it into something
new – a bold, fresh style for the 60s that was full of power and freedom, but
which took a very different direction than the music of John Coltrane or Archie
Shepp. Music runs from bop standards to more thoughtful compositions – and even
in the mellow moments, Rollins is really mindblowing – working in small group
settings with players who include Herbie Hancock on piano, Jim Hall on guitar,
Thad Jones on cornet, and either Ron Carter or David Izenzon on bass. Titles
include "Afternoon In Paris", "Now's The Time", "I
Remember Clifford", "Django", "When You Wish Upon A
Star", "Travelin Light", and "Four". ~ Dusty Groove
SAM DEES - TAKE ONE: ORIGIN OF TWELVE 70s SOUL MASTERPIECES
Sam Dees
was one of the greatest unsung talents in 70s soul music – an important writer,
arranger, and general background talent who helped so many other singers hit
the heights – but who hardly ever issued much work under his own name! Apart
from key singles and an important album on Atlantic, the recorded legacy of
Dees isn't what it should be – given his impact on music, especially deep soul
– but fortunately, sets like this have come along to correct that lack! As part
of Sam's creative process, he would often record songs first on his own – not
as rough demo tracks, but as surprisingly well done studio versions to
illustrate the material – tracks that were often better than later versions of
his tunes, and most of the other commercial soul on the market. This sweet set
brings together 12 of those tracks – private recordings from Sam, of songs he'd
later give to singers like Loletta Holloway, Ben E King, and others – an
essential record from the great Dees, pressed up on super-heavy vinyl! Titles
include the previously unissued "Married But Not To Each Other" –
plus "Good Guys Don't Always Win", "Who Are You Gonna
Love", "Con Me", "Only Lonely People", "False
Alarms", "Standing In The Wings Of A Heartache", "The World
Don't Owe You Nothing", and "Black Tattler". ~ Dusty Groove
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