[acid-jazz] Soul-Patrol's 20 top CD releases of 2003

From: Bob Davis (earthjuice_at_prodigy.net)
Date: 2003-12-28 06:22:31

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    THE BEST OF 2003

    1. Barbara Mason - 'Greatest Hits'
    Please don't let the title of this poorly named CD fool you. This is NOT a compilation!
    This CD represents EXACTLY the type of NEW CD that our classic artists should be releasing
    today.
    If you are looking for an album that not only can you put on at "3am", but one that you can
    put on and then press the damn REPEAT BUTTON on your CD player, because you won't need another
    album for the rest of the night....
    (then this is the one that you need)

    2. Clinton Administration - One Nation Under A Re-Groove
    Very phunky indeed. I understand they have another CD on tap for 2004 (did someone say 'Sly
    Stone'?). I dig the concept, and I dig the end result. In my opinion we need more efforts like
    this to help extend OUR music into the future!
    http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_clintionadmin
    <a href="http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_clintionadmin"> Clinton
    Administration - One Nation Under A Re-Groove</a>

    3. Mandrill - 'Sunshine'
    We have been getting some GREAT feedback here on Soul-Patrol on this CD. The Wilson Brothers
    of Mandrill have reminded us that they can deliver THA BOMB quietly as well.
    http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_mandrill
    <a href="http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_mandrill"> Mandrill - 'Sunshine' </a>

    4. Miracles - 'Love Machine: The 70's Compilation
    Bout time that this under recognized group got some major props. People forget that after
    Smokey left, the Miracles were initially more successful than he was as a solo artist. This CD
    release finally gives the fans of the "Smokeyless Miracles" the Renaissance album plus the
    best of the 70's Miracles. With liner notes by Pete Moore of the Miracles this CD is sheer
    delight.
    http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_70miracles
    <a href="http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_70miracles"> Miracles - 'Love Machine:
    The 70's Compilation</a>

    5. Barry White - Millennium Collection
    The passing of Barry White this past year truly marks the end of an era in Soul Music, but
    fortunately we have this CD to give the uninitiated just a taste of what the "MAESTRO" was
    like.

    6. Tower of Power - "Oakland Zone"
    This CD proves that Tower of Power hasn't lost a beat over the years.
    Great songwriting and some STANK FUNK is delivered as ONLY Tower of Power can do it.

    7. Various Artists - 'Global Soul'
    This amazing CD from the Putamayo World Music should be something that you should strongly
    consider for your collection. This incredibly diverse compilation CD of artists from around
    the world offers us a glimpse into the future of what FUNK is going to evolve into on an
    international level.
    http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_putumayo
    <a href="http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_putumayo"> Various Artists - 'Only The
    Strong Survive' (Soundtrack) </a>

    8. Marcus Miller - The Ozell Tapes
    "Jamaica Boy" (Queens) and Miles Davis band alum Marcus Miller turns in a great 2 disc
    collection of live performances that just won't quit (perhaps he was inspired by his buddy
    Victor Wooten?). The Phunked up cover version of "SO WHAT" alone is worth the price of
    admission.

    9. Various Artists - 'Only The Strong Survive' (Soundtrack)
    This overlooked documentary movie contains an outstanding soundtrack featuring the likes of
    Isaac Hayes, Chi-Lites, Mary Wilson, Ann Peebles, Wilson Pickett, Sam Moore, Carla Thomas and
    Rufus Thomas. All of these artists are presented singing some of their all time great songs
    in live recent concert performances.
    http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_otss
    <a href="http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_otss"> Various Artists - 'Only The
    Strong Survive' (Soundtrack) </a>

    10. Marvin Gaye - 'I Want You' (CD Deluxe)
    Score another winner for our own super producer Harry Weinger as he takes this CD and makes it
    even better than the original by including more Marvin Gaye.
    http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_wantyou
    <a href="http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_wantyou"> Marvin Gaye - 'I Want You'
    (CD Deluxe) </a>

    11. Children On The Corner - 'Rebirth'
    Sometimes when a great artist passes away, their legacy dies with them. Our own Michael
    Henderson refused to let that happen in the case of Miles Davis. He reformed the Miles Davis
    band from the 1970's and in tribute to the spirit of the original band expanded on the
    original content of the legendary 1972 On The Corner LP and brought it straight into the next
    century.
    http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_cotc
    <a href="http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_cotc"> Children On The Corner -
    'Rebirth' </a>

    12. Marlon Saunders - 'Enter My Mind'
    It's a cool and crisp Jazz-Funk CD, with some STRONG vocals that will remind folks here of
    Donny Hathaway or perhaps Jon Lucien. (Although I am certain that the "mainstream" will refer
    to it as "neo soul"). There are several SLAMMIN songs on here, with a MEAN Jazz-Funk groove.
    There are also some badd azz slow jams here that make this a nice CD to throw into the mix
    when you are going to do a "saturday night road test" :). Most importantly Marlon Saunders
    shows us that he has a "social concience" on this CD.

    13. Mighty Sam McClain - 'One More Bridge To Cross'
    This CD was totally overlooked by all of the "black music experts" on the Grammy committee. I
    guess they will never put me on that committee? Well their loss is our gain because we know
    how great this CD is. In fact it's a revolutionary CD as Mighty Sam uses this CD to escape
    from the 'genre prison' that many of these "soul music experts" had him locked into. But let
    me not be too harsh of these "black music experts", maybe it's really the "message in the
    music" that scares them the most...
    http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_mightysam
    <a href="http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_mightysam"> Mighty Sam McClain - 'One
    More Bridge To Cross' </a>

    14. Andreus - 'Street Troubadour'
    Someone recently asked me the question...."Where is the next Curtis Mayfield"? Well Andreus is
    the answer to that question. Srew the damn 'neo soul' tag, this is the REAL DEAL. Plain and
    simple, nuff said!

    15. Earl Thomas - 'Soul'd'
    For those of you out there who think that 'Southern Soul' is the only worthwhile form of 'soul
    music', Earl Thomas might just be your ticket. However I don't think of him quite that way.
    For me this album screams out to me much the same way that Al Green's music hit me back in the
    early 70's for the very first time. It's full of great emotional stories about the up's and
    downs of life, love and people.

    16. Louise Perryman - 'Whisper My Name'
    Australian Louise Perryman fits neatly into the tradition of white women singing R&B music
    that Black people have accepted when they have heard the music! Sometimes Louise Perryman's
    voice reminds me of Anita Baker, sometimes she reminds me of Laura Nyro, and sometimes she
    reminds me of Maria Muldar. The music playing behind her sweet and sultry voice is kinda in a
    1970's Jazz-Funk mode, not unlike that of Minnie Riperton's 'Adventures In Paradise'.

    17. Howard Tate - 'Rediscovered'
    Rediscovered is one of the best CD's that I have heard in 2003. I noticed that this CD was
    announced as a Grammy Nominee. that would make the first time that ANY of my selections was
    ever nominated for a Grammy Award. The music here is not only great, but the story of Howard
    Tate's re-emergence after a 30 year absence is just as inspiring as that of Mighty Sam
    McClain.

    18. Temptations - 'Psychedelic Soul'
    If one ever needed proof that Dennis Edwards was a more than able replacement for David
    Ruffin, then one would need to look no further than this wonderfully produced 2 disc
    compilation which covers the Temptations career from the late 1960's thru the 1970's. This is
    SUPER FUNKY stuff that you could just put on at a party and let it rip!

    19. Ken Clark Organ Trio - Eternal Funk
    This is some 'natural born funk' with a slow cookin groove.

    20. Legendary Escorts - R&B Menagerie
    Great comeback CD from these 'legendary' group. Hopefully this CD will find a wide audience.
    Independently produced, this is an excellent CD that works in the best tradition of the
    Escorts past with several 'covers' of their classic material and some brand new original tunes
    which update their sound and make this a great CD. Perhaps some of those 'black music experts'
    on the 2004 Grammy nominating committee will find the time to take a listen to this CD?
    http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_escorts
    <a href="http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_escorts"> Legendary Escorts - R&B
    Menagerie </a>

    BEST BY 'GENRE':
    (hell, I don't know nuthin bout no 'categories', but I figure thatn I can't butcher em up any
    worse than all of the "black msuic experts" who work at Billboard, Rolling Stone or who sit on
    the Grammy Committies?)

    **CLASSIC SOUL:
    Barbara Mason - 'Greatest Hits'

    **FUNK
    Clinton Administration - One Nation Under A Re-Groove

    **SLOW JAMS/DOO WOP
    Mandrill - 'Sunshine'

    **JAZZ
    Marcus Miller - The Ozell Tapes

    **BLUES
    Mighty Sam McClain - 'One More Bridge To Cross'

    **NU SOUL
    Marlon Saunders - 'Enter My Mind'

    Anyhow, this is the stuff that I listened to OVER AND OVER throught the year during the year
    2003. Hopefully if you decide to check out these CD's you will also find yourself doing the
    same thing!
     _________
    Bob Davis
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