Hil St Soul - Pieces

I bought their album for like $40 based on hearing this song once! can't say the rest of the album lives up to this song because it definitely is the best song on the album, but if only for this song it would still be worth the $40!...The song is dayam catchy! melodically its a powerhouse and the lyrics at least is not your usual love song. Like the name of the album this song is copasetic and cool. nuff said just listen

Floetry - Floetic

This happy joyful vibe came off as the fiest single from their debut. The two ladies that make up floetry, natalie stewart and marsha ambrisious hail from london. I can't remember where they sampled the horn riff of the song, but they definitly made good use of it. Always reminds that fun is just around the corner when I hear this.

Note: I couldn't embed the proper mtv so this youtube clip comes courtersy of some humanities professor talking about black hip hop culture. If you want a better version youtube it yourself!

Jazmine Sullivan - Say I

This ones for all the independant and fearless ladies out there. This appeared on her debut but not long after she was dropped from her record label christina milan picked it up, so you may have heard her version, though I prefer the OG. This live version shows off the horns beautifully and its what I think makes the song. Again I wish Sullivan went back to the more funkier soulful jazzy numbers rather then the rnb lollypop she seems to be doing these days

Jazmine Sullivan - Braid your hair

Before Jazmine Sullivan went all radio/rnb/pop she has this fine jazz soul thing going on which I had quite an affinity for...I can only hope she goes back to the more sultry tunes like "braid you hair" it's like a cross between jill scott and floetry with a dash of ledesi thrown in. Now to be honest I can't be entirely sure she wrote this but since I give the song more currency than the artist so the proof is in the pudding with this one.

Johnny Osborne - We need love

Since I'm on a reggae theme, this one is one of my favourites, its more soul than reggae and it's got such a cool vibe. Always takes me back to a carribean sunset, girl on one side beer on the other and doing absolutely nothing but enjoying the moment....ahhhh

Heavy D - Queen Majesty

What do you know...big fella Heavy D did a cover of this curits mayfeild song to and looks like it was only released early this year. He's taken the reggae cue from Dennis Brown but has made it more funkier with an added riddim thrown in. I'd pay this...though I'll let you make up your mind which version is better.

Dennis Brown - Queen Majesty

Despite what reggae fans beleive, the original was not sung by the techniques, though they did make a very popular version, the OG was none other than curtis mayfield and was original titled "queen and the minstrel" Of all the versions this one stands tallest, dennis brown was a giant of reggae back in the day and in this version he brings back the soulfulness of mayfeild. One of Bob Marley's favorite musicians...need I say more.

Lauryn Hill - A change is gonna come

This was sam cooke's answer to bob dylans blowin in the wind...unfortunately it come out when the beatles were all the rage, otherwise it would have been an even bigger hit, nonetheless if you've never heard this tune you will after it sends chills down your spine. This version comes courtesy of lauryn hill, she keeps the essence and is probably the best version I've heard on this classic, though wyclef is slightly annoying with his adlibs. In a word poignant.

Tuomo - Don't take it too hard

Finnish soul at it's best, matter of fact this is soul at it's best. It sounds so ol its new. The purists will have no problem putting this track on rotation. It has the horns, the female male call backs, the blaxploitation sound, the jazzy melodic roll of the rhodes, the dramatic bridge and above all a white boy singing...yeah the dude has some serious soul. I have both his albums and I have to say they are both highly underrated, undertheradar and criminally ignored. He has yet to develop the cultish like following of lewis taylor though if he continues to produce consistent gems like this he probably will.

Katchafire - Who you with

These guys are keeping the reggae love burning in NZ, I was a bit late on these guys, but I'm sure glad to have been introduced to there music. I think these guys and fat freddy's drop in NZ are showing how reggae can and ought to be done in a contempory style. This track is a cross between ol skool rnb and ol skool reggae.

Peven Everett - Feeling you in and out

the way soulful house should be...

Little Beaver - Let the good times roll

I remember the first time I heard the rolling bass intro was a version Mica Paris did with the help of Raphael Sadiq on one of her late 90s albums. I knew it couldn't be a saadiq tune just didn't have his signiture so when I checked out the liner notes I was introduced to the music little beaver. This guy is under the radar of most soul aficionados because his albums are rare as platinum, I can only say thank god for youtube. This song is probably the easiest one to get acquainted with little beavers musical stylings, his other songs have more of a grittier edge and takes afew listens. You have to admit this song would make a great johnny walker commercial...let the good times roll...everybody...let it roll before you get to old....

Rae and Christian - Blazin the Crop

Ahhh the beat....it's all about the beat.....this intro track from their sleepwalking (i think) album is like a tour de force sounds like a half cocked pistol of you know what I mean, like it's egging you one for something epic.

Plantlife - When she smiles she lights the sky (4hero mix)

since the last post on jose was summery, I'll keep to the same vibe. Plantlife is headed by jack splash, their debut was critically acclaimed recieving accolades from musicians especially dj/producers who were at the frontiers of their craft. The album was full of potential hits, but again for some reason they must have been considered to edgy and out there and weren't even within radar of mainstream attention which I think they deserve. The original mix is just as summery as the 4hero mix but the 4hero mix really packs a punch. It's credible in it's own right as a house floor filler which I presume it is since it was released on one of those hed kandi compilations, but it's got enough soul to get the street cred it deserves for an urban rnb hit!

Jose Feliciano - Golden Lady

This is one of the rare times when I will say that the cover is as good as the original and when the original is sung by a monster (stevie) its a big call! Jose had a knack of doing brilliant covers, one of his most famous was a version of the doors "light my fire". This song however has everything you want for a summer song, obviously the melody is brought to you coutesy of stevie's genius but the latin guitar rythms provides the drive and momentum and the brazilian nuances really give you that sunshine vibe...a classic in classic covers.

Ed Motta - Caso Serio

This is the second post of Ed Motta, here he does a version of the Rita Lee classic covered by many other brazilian artists. Again Ed does it best when its just him and the guitar since like the first post, this song also has a monster of a melody.

Ed Motta - Azul da cor do mar

This is the first of 2 Ed Motta posts. After Tim Maia died the music industry in brazil paid tribute and who better to cover one of Tim Maia's most treasured songs than Ed Motta! If Tim Maia is the Father of soul in Brazil Ed Motta is the prince. Azul da cor dor mar is reminiscent of the older chess sound with hints of the gamble and huff touch, albeit with a truly brazilian hue. In this version it's just Ed and the guitar which is perfect because the song itself is melodically epic, vast and rich in cadence.

Sam Cooke - Bring it on home to me

The last post I talked about Bobby Womack, what many people don't realise is that Bobby Womack was part of Sam Cookes entourage when Sam was hitting it big. Not long after sam died of a gunshot wound outside his hotel by some crazed fan, Bobby Womack married Sams widow!... thats how much Bobby loved the guy I guess...[not!] emphasis added read the comment by Erik Green below

...anyway Sam died way too early, like all the legends he left a short but sweet collection of inpriring set of songs that continues to be covered by almost everyone in the business. This one is my favourite and was the intro to "Ali" the movie.

Bobby Womack - Harry Hippie

Bobby Womack is a real soul crooner, you can almost say he belongs in that elite group of the musician's musician. Many of his songs have been covered by other artist's one of his most famous is "breezin" made famous by George Benson and "If you think your lonely now" covered by KJ & JOJO, though not too long ago his career was given a boost when his blaxpoitation hit "across 110th st" was used in the movie pulp fiction or was it jackie brown? in any case this guy needs to be heard. I've picked Harry Hippie because its not only my favourite from him but its also carries lyrics that are different than your usual my woman left me and now I'm heart broken type of lyric. These lyrics are different, it's apparently inspired by his down and out brother.

Don Blackman - Hearts Desire

After listening to this funk gem, you will have joined a rare group to have experience this baddass. The vinly pressing of the original album still carries a heafty price tag if it wasn't for online music downloads and youtube, the price would buy you an expensive pair of sneakers. The song has everything thrown in with a deliberate funkyness. The punchy jazz keys, the murderous bass slap, dennis chambers on drums - that's right the same "on the one" funky dennnis chambers before he was on everyones drummer list, but above all its the jazz scat which makes this a true classic, when you first hear the scat it's quite awakening, it's unlike any other scat you hear, it's done with melodic precision and single handedly carries the songs motif. Anyway nuff said just listen and be enlightened

Bootsy Collins - Groove Eternal ft Bobby Womack and The One

This album came out when rnb was king, yet somehow this whole album was criminally overlooked! Bootsy is back to his good ol self again, and with the help of Bobby Womack and The One (rumour has it that The One is indeed Prince!) this is one funky number. The whole album itself is worth digging up groove eternal isn't even the best song (I couldn't find the one I wanted to post), you'll prolly find it at the bottom of the bargain bin.

Sly and the Family Stone - Hot fun in the summertime

This is before sly become really drug fucked with "There's a riot going on in America"...can you beleive it's been 40 years since this came out, amazing, sounds just as fresh today. The bridge replete with the band member call backs to yesteryears summer fun is what does it for me in this song. Its definitely a summer of love type song, no doubt the hippies of the era would concur

Sara Tavares - Balance

Your listening to the soulful rythms of Sara Tavares, the guitar lines would be enough to drift you off into the carribbean. Though she is from Cape Verde and she does have a following in portugul where she grew up.

In a word...hypnotic.

4Hero - Morning Child ft Carina Anderson

This song has got to be one of the best morning wake up songs ever pressed. The introduction is epic and never lets go once it's got a hold on ya. The rythm is compelling and it awakens your soul, its nothing short of a marching war cry for affirming your existence everyday and when the chorus kicks in it's as if rotory connection has come back for a reunion. 4Hero has definitely outdone himself and this is by far his best arrangement.

Nat King Cole - Aquellos Ojos Verdes

This is instant classic upon first listen. I only found out about this through the wong kar wai film "in the mood for love" Apparently Nat doesn't pronounce the spanish quite correctly but this rendition is so good even the cubans have forgiven him, in fact they love Nat's version of there songs, which I will post more in the future

Nat King Cole - Star dust

You haven't heard nat till you've heard his version of stardust, this music is timeless as evidenced by the fact that I was born 20 or so years later and simply find this song amazing. This will be part of my funeral song I think....funeral song number 2

Gil Scott Heron - Pieces of a man

Gil Scott Heron was way ahead of his time, seen by many as the architype rap artist because of his spoken word lyrical plays on the social climate of the day. This song is lyrical poignant. For maximum effect listen to this song on on a rainy day after you've just been laid off from work only to discover your partner has left you

O'Jays - I love music

This song has been cited as the birth of house music. Many of the chicago clubs experimented the soulful philly productions of gamble and huff and spun their own 4 on the 4 house versions. With the type of congo playing in the introduction by none other than Bill Cosby himself, it's no wonder this was prime picking for the innovators of house music.

Relax - Lightlive ft Tasha's World

...ode to hip hop...

soulful catchy mellow and with an anthemic chorus is the way to describe this song. This came out in 2002 and if they were based in the states it would been huge! As far as I know I think these guys hail from Germany, along with the likes of Joy Denelane they are the torch bearers of soul in Germany. Unfortunately I youtube thread says these guys have disbanded which is a shame.

Orange Pekoe - Love life

In keeping with the jap theme, I bring you Orange Pekoe! these guys are insanely talented especially the guitarist. Just goes to show music is presented best when done simply. Not sure how big these guys are in Japan, but it looks like they are well known enough to do orchestral concerts for their songs.

Nujabes - Lady Brown ft Ceis Starr

Nujabes can do no wrong! this is what real hip hop sounds like! Nujabes is the name of seba jun written backwards. One of the best beat makers alive today, J Dilla would be proud. is other tracks are worth checking out there is a really good mash of Aruarian Dance with Ameries One thing...just sit back and enjoy

Koop - Summer Sun ft. Yukimi Nagano

I've saved the best jap cohort till last... you will be hard pressed to hear a better feelgood song than this. Koop produce this track from their debut and Yukimi sings lead, she was only sweet 16 when she sung this song yet she sounds like a veteran. Along with Maia Hirasawa, Yukimi also hails from sweden and both have really unique voices that entices and appeals to the connisour, darn those bloody swedes!!! This came out in 2001 and as always with good music was not given enough air time....well definitely not here in Australia. Even the MTV puts a smile on your face. Yumkimi has gone on to do a solo album with her band little dragon which I will post in the future.

Rachael Yamagato

I could never understand why this song wasn't more of a hit. It's catchy, feelgood, soulful, written and sung by a gorgeous talent and has a certain feel to it you get when you know you've heard something thats not manufactured crap. Rachael hails from somewhere in the land of blue and red stripes. Definitly a summer track, one to take down the long highway with

Meiko - Boys with Girlfriends

As mentioned in an ealier post of Maia Hirasawa, Meiko is part of the up and coming japanese cohort of musical awesomeness, though I wouldn't rate her the same as Maia she definitely is miles ahead of from the rest of the bland bullshit the music industry is raping your ear with. Chorus is catchy and she writes her own songs and plays with honesty. In a word popilicious!

Benny Sings - We ain't going nowhere

Benny is so damn soulful and chilled, the thing I like about his ealier releases is that his arrangements are so simple, just proves all you need is a good melody...especially helps when anyone can hum to it which you will by the time you finish listening to it.

Blue eyed soul, along with remy shand, lewis taylor is definitely underrated by the music industry

Benny Sings - Champagne People

Benny Sings came out with this on one of his ealier album releases. He hails from Amsterdam and is defenitly underated. His songs are very melodic and chilled back, this song is something you would play in the evening with a wine glass in hand and a toke on the other. It has a memory lane effect on the listener...maybe because the song sounds so happy yet so sad at the same time.

Maia Hirosawa - Still June

Eerie is the word to describe this beuatiful piece and 40 seconds into it your hit with this heart wrenching tension-release cadance as part of the chorus... Maia definitley brings something new into the music scene and she hails all the way from sweden in case your wondering.

Maia Hirasawa - and I found this boy

This is one of the funnest songs ever....it will be on my summer soundtrack for sure! even the MTV is well done. Maia is just one of the many who belong in the half-cast jap cohort (meiko, yukimi nagano, rachael yamagoto) of musical awesomeness....will post more in the future in the meantime your allowed to dance like napolean dynamite upon hearing this song.

 

Raul Midon - Someday we'll all be free

Classic uplifting and inspiring song by Donny Hathaway being covered by Raul Midon, probably one of the most soulful singer/songwriter/guitarists out there today....the fact that he is vision impaired and choose the  guitar as an instrument and that trumpet thing he does....freaking amazing. 

This song is ideal as a funeral song