“I wanna be someone so bad, but you keep putting your foot on me.†- In the 40 years since Syl Johnson exited Chicago’s Twinight label for Memphis’ Hi Records concern, the world has been struggling to grasp and package the early years of this legendary soul man’s career. Endless compilations, botched bootlegs, and shabby two-fers litter his section card, ear and eyesores all. Four years in the making, Complete Mythology is by far the most exhaustively researched and meticulously presented work from The Numero Group to date.
Encompassing the first fifteen years of a career that spans half a century, Complete Mythology not only covers his obvious hits but shines a light into the dark corners of a true musical visionary. Born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi, Johnson sang and played with blues artists Magic Sam, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and Howlin’ Wolf in the 1950s, before recording with Jimmy Reed for Vee-Jay in 1959. His break was to come recording for Twinight Records of Chicago in 1967. Johnson dominated the label as both a hit maker and producer, providing such hits as “Come On Sock It to Meâ€, “Different Strokes†(one of the most heavily sampled songs in the history of recorded music–paid homage by N.W.A., Kid Rock, Michael Jackson, J. Dilla and dozens others), “Is It Because I’m Black†(which reached Number 11 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1969), among many more.
Included on the 81 track, 6LP+4CD box (both formats included) are re-mastered versions of no less than twenty eight singles from the Twinight, Federal, Cha-Cha, Tmp-Ting, Special Agent, and Zachron labels, facsimiles of the Dresses Too Short and Is It Because I’m Black albums, ten previously unreleased tracks and detailed track by track notes from acclaimed music historian Bill Dahl. The fifty-two page booklet contains a thirty-five thousand word essay, scores of previously unpublished photos, a sampling index, and complete discography—all presented in a lavish hard bound box. For the uninitiated this is history, for those familiar this is respect for one the greatest musical artists of our time.
Track-list & Soundclips:
CD 1:
| 01 | Teardrops | clip | ||||
| 02 | Little Sally Walker | clip | ||||
| 03 | A Half Love | clip | ||||
| 04 | Falling In Love | clip | ||||
| 05 | Try Me | clip | ||||
| 06 | Do You Know What Love Is | clip | ||||
| 07 | Come On Sock It To Me | clip | ||||
| 08 | Different Strokes | clip | ||||
| 09 | Dresses Too Short | clip | ||||
| 10 | Same Kind Of Thing | clip | ||||
| 11 | Is It Because I'm Black | clip | ||||
| 12 | I'm Talkin Bout Freedom | clip | ||||
| 13 | One Way Ticket To Nowhere | clip | ||||
| 14 | Thank You Baby | clip |
Recorded over a feverish two months in Berlin, Germany during the second half of 2010, renowned New Zealand hip-hop soul icon Ladi6's sophomore album The Liberation Of... is a heart warming work fluid in sound, content and scope. Handcrafted while Ladi6 was in the midst of a sprawling six month European/UK tour which saw her grace stages alongside the likes of Gil Scott-Heron, Mos Def and Mayer Hawthorne, The Liberation Of... was produced by Parks and respected German hip-hop producer/DJ Sepalot (of Blumentopf). With session features from drummer Myele Manzanza (of Electric Wire Hustle), German backing vocalist Esther Adams and Fat Freddy's Drop horn player Toby Laing, counting in at 10 songs deep, The Liberation Of... offers a unique blend of modern Antipodean soul'n'beats music and contemporary European grooves. From the vibrant "claps and synth" soundscape of lead single 'Bang Bang', to the hypnotic mid-tempo magic of 'Like Water', the surprisingly up-tempo feel of 'Jazmine D.L' and beyond, The Liberation Of... takes the template Ladi6 and Parks set forth on her 2008 debut album Time Is Not Much and stretches it into new, previously untapped avenues of sound. Be it the digital funk of 'Goodday' or the jazz referencing arrangements of 'Koln', as the emotional and musical successor to Time is Not Much, The Liberation Of... maintains a firm emphasis on the qualities we associate with Ladi6, detailed well-thought lyrics, smoky vocal delivery and sophisticated danceable modern rhythms. The Liberation Of..., much like Time Is Not Much, looks set to under the clarifying light of live performance and repeat listening, Â smoulder into the hearts of listeners across the planet.
For Album Release Tour details check here
Soul Jazz continues its travels through contemporary UK underground dance music (Box of Dub, Steppers Delight, Future Bass) with 'Riddim Box' a new compilation of the most unique, left-field and innovative UK Funky releases of the recent past mixing together Grime, House, Dubstep, Dancehall and R and B to stunning effect.
'Riddim Box' brings together some of the most innovative artists and creative UK producers with this stellar selection of twisted left-field tracks from celebrated names such as Shystie, Kode9, Crazy Cousins alongside exclusive cuts from LV, Grievous Angel and more.
With its roots in the UK Garage scene and emerging out of the union of Dubstep and House, UK Funky draws a line from the original sounds of jungle and drum and bass and dancehall through to the newer UK dance music variants such as Grime, Dubstep and 2-Step.
The album is available as a double-CD in heavy-duty casing as well as two heavyweight volumes of super-loud double-vinyl. VINYL - VOLUME 1 A1. Altered Natives - Rass Out A2. MJ Cole - Volcano Riddim A3. NB Funky - Riddim Box B1. Tubby T - Ready She Ready (Seiji Remix) B2. Sunship featuring Warrior Queen - Almighty Father (Solid Groove Remix) C1. Zumen featuring Aaron Phiri and Leafnuts - Rolexxx C2. Hard House Banton - Sirens D1. Ghosts on Tape - Predator Mode (Roska Remix) D2. Donae'o - African Warrior (Instrumental) VINYL - VOLUME 2 A1. Stereotyp versus Al Haca - Blaze 'n' Cook (Radioslave Remix) A2. Kode9 - Black Sun B1. Lil' Silva - Pulse vs Flex B2. LV - Crossfire C1. Omar and Zed Bias - Dancing (Instrumental) C2. D Malice - Gabryelle (Refix) C3. Grievous Angel - Move Down Low (Dubplate Mix) D1. DVA - Natty D2. Shystie - Pull It (Ill Blu Remix) D3. Crazy Cousinz - Attract
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