Jandek- One Foot In The North (1991)

The world's first conceptual outsider artist or an eccentric isolate from Texas?

For an artist about whom virtually nothing is known, reams of paper and pixels have been devoted to the mysterious representative from Corwood Industries. Don't believe me? There is a wikipedia entry for each of Jandek's 53 albums; an honor not shared by, say, Eric Clapton. Jandek exists somewhere between the usually separate worlds of outsider art and brand marketing, tirelessly promoting himself through massive mailings of his self-produced albums to college radio stations in the 1980s and 90s while simultaneously constructing a musical and photographic portrait of an artist so singular, so vulnerable, and so odd as to defy description. In doing so he built up a cult following that adheres to the literal meaning of the term (an excerpt from a fan site describing the cover of this album: "[...]In the lower left is the corner of a piece of furniture (a table?) with a cup or candleholder sitting on it. It looks like he’s in dense fog, except he’s indoors. Actually, it might be just his shadow[...]"; it goes on and again there is an entry for each album).

It has been said that Jandek manages to fall within the traditions of "Blues" and American "Folk" or "Primitive," somehow without sounding anything like them, and that's as good a description as I can manage. Leap in with both feet and you won't be disappointed.

One Foot In The North

Boris Gardiner- Guiding Light/Sledgehammer (1975)

An extra special scratchy treat from Jamaica courtesy of Botched Surgery. If you're a fan of 70s reggae you probably already know the name of Boris Gardiner (or Gardner, as here- as noted earlier Jamaican pressings have a flexible take on standardized spelling). Gardiner is probably best known as a bassist, as he anchored the low end of the Upsetters after the departure of Family Man Barrett and was present on several seminal Black Ark releases from the late seventies. If you're not especially obsessive about the roots rock, you may know Gardiner's name from his oft-anthologized killer "Melting Pot," a staple on dancefloors for 30 years, and still going strong. What you may not know, however, is how talented an arranger/bandleader/musical impresario Boris Gardner is.

Take a look at the lineup on these sides. With the exception of the vocalists almost everyone is an unknown, to me at least. Regardless, under Gardiner's guiding light they could easily give any other group of the time a run for their money. Side A is a sweet and soulful vocal piece with some very pretty three-part harmony, but it's the flip that really shows how talented these cats are. "Sledgehammer," a rough take on "Shaft," is a nice mid-tempo instrumental stepper, with some great horn solos. Why these guys (particularly Frank Aird on trumpet and Fitzbert Martin on sax) didn't record more is baffling.

At any rate, get it while it's hot!

Mahotella Queens- Izibani Zomgqashiyo (1977)

Hello all! My apologies for ducking out for a while- rest assured I've knocked the icicles off of my beard, climbed out of hibernation and sloughed off most of winter's lingering lethargy. In celebration of the first Spring day up here (it snowed a lot on the true equinox) I've decided to preempt myself and post a tingling thriller of exuberant beauty, Mahotella Queens' 1977 Izibani Zomgqashiyo. Do you remember when you listened to music as a child and spun around until you fell down dizzy with glee? This music will make you remember. It will get you high. Four-part female vocal harmony. Male basso-profundo "groaner" melody. Dueling quicksilver-fingered guitarists. Kinetic bouncing bass. Mgqashiyo: "the indestructible beat." Cut the roof off of your car and listen to this record.



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[Original Liner Notes]

It is a known fact that things come and go, but I say MAHOTELLA QUEENS are here to stay. You will agree with me after listening to this album, "IZIBANI ZOMGQASAHIYO" which is their latest.

Izibani Zomgqashiyao means the lights of Mgqashiyo and surely everybody knows that Mgqashiyo is an African kind of beat which will never die. In other words it can be quoted as an indestructible beat.

Mahotella Queens is a group of five girls which was formed in 1964 by Mr. R. Bopape, who was then a then a talent scout. They've cut many LP's and seven singles since then which many have become famous. You all remember "MARKS UMTHAKATHI" LPBS 9 which was one of their greatest albums ever cut. You will also remember that they won the 1975 Radio Bantu Best Group of the Year. These girls are sometimes accompanied by their male groaners Robert Mbazo Mkhize, Potatoes Mazambane or Joseph Mthimkhulu, who have now formed the fast growing Abafana Baseqhudeni, and of course not forgetting their backing, the everlasting Makhona Zonke ["Jack Of All Trades" -ed.] Band.

The girls are back in a big way, their first track in this album, "ZIBUYILE NONYAKA" (They Are Back This Year), confirms everything. Listen to this track and you will agree with me. Every track in this album is great and meaningful as it sends to you true messages. Mahotella Queens fans have been missing their sweet voices on records because they have been out on tour performing shows. So they are back as I already mentioned and this is what they bring you back in SWEET MUSIC.

The Mahotella Queens, Emily Zwane from Brakpan, Thandi Radebe from Dube (Soweto), Beatrice Ngcobo from Durban, Thandi Nkosi from Emdeni (Soweto) and Caroline Kapentar from Bloemfontein are the best Mgqashiyo entertainers in Southern Africa.

You all know Mahotella Queens, the mistresses of Mgqashiyo, so listen to this album and enjoy yourselves with Mahotella Queens and of course let me tip you, this music is for both the young and the old, so make no mistake it is superb.

-MARKS MANKWANE

Esther Marrow- Sister Woman (1972)

Good day all. Today's post is a nice little gem from 1972 on Fantasy, courtesy of Esther Marrow, née Queen Esther Marrow. There are some killer grooves, a couple of nasty breaks, and a great (shifting) band throughout, though the real focus is the angelic pipes of Ms. Marrow, who got her first big break singing in the first "Sacred Concert" that Ellington put on in 1966. For an excellent read check out her biography here, although it does curiously omit any mention of her excursions into worldly music, including another killer album on Flying Dutchman, Newport News, Virginia, from a couple of years earlier.

A nice mix of gospel, soul, and just a pinch of funk, the album features the song-writing and arranging talents of the formidable 70s Fantasy stable of artists, and throughout projects a nice balance of documentary-style slices of urban life and "love is the answer" positivity. Be sure to check out the Jimmy Johnson/Ralph McDonald break on "Things Ain't Right."

Sing it sister!


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[Original Liner Notes]

Side 1
1. Woman In The Window 3:14
Arranged by Bobby Scott
Bernard Purdie-Drums
Bobby Scott-Piano
Cornell Dupree-Electric Guitar
Richard Tee-Organ
Chuck Rainey-Bass
Ralph McDonald-Percussion
Walter Raim, Sal Detroya-Guitars

2. Ghetto 4:20
Arranged by Richard Tee
Jimmy Johnson-Drums
Cornell Dupree-Guitar
Keith Loving-Rhythm Guitar
Gordon Edwards-Bass
Richard Tee-Piano
Paul Griffen-Organ
Ralph McDonald-Conga

3. Trade Winds 4:45
Arranged by Richard Tee
Idris Muhammad-Drums
Cornell Dupree-Guitar
Keith Loving-Rhythm Guitar
Gordon Edwards-Bass
Richard Tee-Piano
Ralph McDonald-Conga

4. Turn On To Jesus 6:09
Arranged by Richard Tee
Jimmy Johnson-Drums
Cornell Dupree-Guitar
Keith Loving-Rhythm Guitar
Richard Tee-Piano
Warren Smith-Percussion
Ralph McDonald-Conga
Gordon Edwards-Bass

Side 2
1. Rainy Night In Georgia 5:40
Arranged by Bernard Purdie
Bernard Purdie-Drums
Cornell Dupree-Guitar
Richard Tee-Organ
Chuck Rainey-Bass
Paul Griffen-Piano
Ralph McDonald-Percussion

2. Things Ain't Right 3:33
Arranged by Richard Tee
Jimmy Johnson-Drums
Cornell Dupree-Guitar
Keith Loving-Rhythm Guitar
Gordon Edwards-Bass
Richard Tee-Piano
Ralph McDonald-Conga

3. Ask Me To Dance 3:19
Arranged by Bobby Scott
Bernard Purdie-Drums
Bobby Scott-Piano
Cornell Dupree-Electric Guitar
Chuck Rainey-Bass
Ralph McDonald-Percussion
Specks Powell-Vibes

4. And When I Die 5:15
Arranged by Bernard Purdie
Jimmy Johnson-Drums
Chuck Rainey-Bass
Cornell Dupree-Guitar
Ralph McDonald-Conga
Warren Smith-Percussion
Richard Tee-Piano

The Horn Section:
Seldon Powell-Baritone Sax
Frank Wess-Tenor Sax
Jimmy Owens, Snooky Young-Trumpets
Tony Studd-Trombone
Buddy Lucas-Harmonica
Voices: The Reflections
Horns and voices arranged by William Eaton, except "Woman In The Window" arranged by Bobby Scott.
Produced by Jim Rein and Esther Marrow
Supervision: Ozzie Cadena
Engineer: Rudy Van Gelder
Design: Tony Lane
Photos: Nima Yakubo

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.- Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break The Silence

Please listen to this speech.

Peace!

The Emotions- Peace Be Still (1973)

Though I'm technically breaking my rules here (this is in fact available in another format- the newly released Wattstax Deluxe Soundtrack), I view it as a necessary corrective, given that everyone I've ever talked to about this group seems to be unaware of their formidable soul/gospel chops. The group in question is of course The Emotions, composed primarily of three Hutchinson sisters: Jeanette, Wanda and Sheila (later Jeanette was replaced by a fourth sister, Pam). The arrangement, on this track at least, is handled by dad Joe. Why, you ask, would people be unaware of such a smoking, shouting powerhouse team? Well these Emotions are considerably more famous for their later work, including the worldwide smash hit "Best of My Love" (as in "woah-oo woah-oo! you got the best of my love....woah-oo woah-oo!"), which went platinum in 1977. Before this, however, they released several albums on Stax and Volt, and generally tore things up in live shows and in the studio. Below is the clip from the movie Wattstax, and though the mp3 upload lacks the preaching intro, the sound quality is considerably better.

You got the best of my love.