Got almost every album I've ever seen from Herbie, Ronnie and
Stevie. I remember getting "Thrust" but I can't get my hands on it at the
moment.(Man, I've got to get my tunes alphabetized!) I do remember the
cover though. It's got Herbie in this space ship cockpit. Have you seen the
"Man-Child" cover? Not really cartoonish but still very unique artwork.
That album BTW is one of my favs. Louis Johnson on bass; any comments on
Louis? As I was digging through my Herbie stack I passed "Sunlight" which
also VERY nice. I finally got my copy of "Dis Is Da Drum" and I'm all into
the latter half. Starts off weak but from #5 on, I'm all there. I'm kicking
myself for not getting that import pressing when I had the chance; I know
it had some additional tracks. Anyone got it and want to tell me what I'm
missing?
Now Ronnie is my man. I remember catching a show of his in the city
(S.F.) and talking with his bass player, Leon Johnson, who swore my sister
looked like Ronnie's wife. That lead us to joining them backstage after the
show where a saw a very tall (over 6' ) "Nice Guy" in Ronnie. His wife,
BTW, makes all his clothes!
>Also picked up a Ronnie Laws cd for cheap...it was his Fever Album from
>1976...some nice and groovy tracks to listen to while BBQing chicken
>wings in my back-yard (like yesterday!).
I became crazed over Ronnie's work with EWF keyboardist Larry Dunn.
(Ronnie played sax with them before his first release "Pressure Sensitive")
"Flame" and "Every Generation" are my favs. I think "Fever" was his second
release when he was produced by Wayne Henderson of the Crusaders. There's a
much different feel to Wayne's productions as opposed to Larry's. If you
like that soulful, Texas style (Ronnie and all the founding Crusaders were
high school buddies in Dallas; actually, Ronnie's a little younger) than
the earliest stuff is it. The music gets more electronic/disco later on
through the '80s. I actually still like "Mr. Nice Guy" which failed on the
charts. I've noticed Ronnie's been sitting tight on a jazz path lately but
I look forward to the time when he puts out another soul/R&B/dance album.
Now, Stevie's "Secret Life..." was the only album that didn't
impress me the first time through. Perhaps I should give it another listen.
Anyone else impressed by "Taboo To Love" from his latest? I think it's
beautiful and the album's strongest cut. Reminds me of his lovely ballads
from the earlier albums. From "Songs", I think the sequence of "If Its
Magic" and "I Am Singing" was brilliant. Listening to "Sensuos Whisper"..
yeah this tune's got a nice jazzy feel. Curious about a remix version.
Would be better without the sequenced bass-line; no variation aside from
the bridge! Stevie has always had some VERY deliberate and complex
bass-lines. Ever really listen to that clavinet on "Boogie Down Reggae
Woman"? That ain't no computerized track!
All this discussion is reminding me that there's much geniune music out
there. Sometimes I get discouraged listening to the radio. I'm amazed at
what people will settle for!
Michal the Milkman
Milkman@Quake.Net
(415) 328-2124