New Orleans Funk

"New Orleans: The Original Sound Of Funk 1960-75" in 24 tracks.

The 39-page booklet starts with making a case why New Orleans is different and why this is especially true for funk from New Orleans. New Orleans: you'll find Allen Toussaint, The Meters (+ solo Nevilles), Dr. John and even more New Orleansish 'Bo Dollis & The Wild Magnolia Mardi Gras Indian Band' among others. The text describes the New Orleans angle with all sorts of factors contributing to New Orleans funk, very informative. Coupled with short descriptions of the featured artists and many photographs, finished with a bibliography for those who want to learn more. Excellent quality, value for money.

Why? Tsk, don't pretend you didn't know volume 2 was released this year. To be continued asap.
Soul Jazz, 2000

New Orleans Funk

The Soul Of Money Records volume 2

Soul by label: LA based Money records, soul from the 2nd half of the 60's and 1973 (the label had several phases of existence, see booklet). A few previously unissued tracks and no really big names, save for Bettye Swann perhaps, or hits. A mix of everything: ballad style works, up-tempo poppy tracks and a funky organ instrumental (the TKO's ?!?). Music quality varies and you can tell which are the '70's tracks, I don't think you'll find it a boring set: vocal efforts are great and/ or funny.

In every other respect a typical Kent release: background on the label, the artists, pictures (mainly from disk-labels). I know nothing of volume 1, according to the booklet it's similar and hints in the text suggest there may be enough material for a volume 3 but there's probably considerable research needed to attribute tapes to people. "Compilation, archive research and notes by Ady Croasdell".
Kent / Ace, 2006

The Soul Of Money Records volume 2

Donny Hathaway - Come Back Charleston Blue OST

I don't have time to properly update this blog so I cut back on the description and I promise to bring something different than Donny Hathaway soon (although I've more of him lined up too).

"Music composed and conducted by Donny Hathaway supervised by Quincy Jones". Quincy Jones' contribution isn't completely negligeble but this is very much a Donny Hathaway album. At least it's made mainly by Hathaway but musically it's not a typical artist album but a soundtrack. Expect more blues and jazz than soul, written to support the movie set somewhere before WW2. The movie can't be labeled as "blaxploitation" but comes close enough, it's not out on DVD and probably not really worth seeing anyway. The inspiration for the film was found in the novels by Chester Himes which are probably more interesting to check out.

I think it was a very interesting project to work on for Donny Hathaway. I guess he had considerable artistic freedom and a complete orchestra to work with whilst having the experienced Quincy Jones at hand if he didn't know how to continue. The result can be interesting for you, perhaps in its own right, perhaps more as an alternative view on Donny Hathaway. It was released in 1972 after his "Live" album.

Booklet contains the context: Hathaway's state, the movie, how the two got together with numerous quotes from Jones and info on Chester Himes, the book, the individual songs and the rest of Hathaway's career. Basically everything relevant, in no less than 7 pages. The CD comes with 2 bonus versions of 'Little Ghetto Boy'.
Atlantic / Rhino, 2007

Donny Hathaway - Come Back Charleston Blue OST

Donny Hathaway - Donny Hathaway

Donny's 2nd album, 9 + 2 tracks, 1971. There are some differences between 'Everything Is Everything' and this album. If "Everything" is best described as Soul, 'Donny Hathaway' is then very much Gospel. Hathaway got an early career start singing gospels with his grandmother, from the age of three. His grandmother thus had a profound influence on the musical shaping of young Donny but she also had a strong (negative) opinion on popular music. Perhaps this album was shaped to please his grandmother. Apart from 2 tracks, all the songs are written by other people which leaves more room to hear how Donny Hathaway deals with music and most importantly how his voice sounds. Remember, this is a guy who apparently thought he couldn't sing! It's really the next album, it shows musical development and a more elaborate approach to recording. There must be a meaning too to the fact that this album has no title other than the name of the artist prominently on the sleeve, together with an intriguing image with hints of racial struggle and/ or devotion.

The first album is quite open and catchy, you 'get it' instantly, this one is less easy to grasp immediately. At least, I had to hear it a couple of times before it grew on me. I don't consider 'Donny Hathaway' a "deeper" album than 'Everything Is Everything', just more self-conscious and elaborate. In fact, they make a great pair which is not that strange considering they must have been made in pretty much the same time.

The CD package is similar, the booklet as neat and complete as 'Everything Is Everything'.
Atlantic / Rhino, 1993

Donny Hathaway - Donny Hathaway