JOB APPLICATION and ANITA BAKER

The Time was now around September of 1988, and Two Things were Happening in our Life, Firstly I had the Bankruptcy Hearing to Sort Out and I was Looking for a New Job!

I had a Choice of 2 Different Jobs I would have Preferred to get at that Time, One was a Chef or the other was a Butcher, the Kids were 10 and 8 Years Old, so I Needed if Possible to get a Day Time Job, so it was Looking Likely I was going to go back into Butchery!

As for the Bankruptcy, Everything was just about Sorted out, apart from the  Money, I had to Pay to go Bankrupt, I think at that Time it was £100, which I did Eventually find, Cant Remember how I got this, but I did!

So One Late Septembers Day I had to go to Norwich for the Bankruptcy Hearing, One thing I do Recall is, I was Not Suppose to have a Car, so I went to Norwich Early and Parked Near the City Centre and had to Walk to the Building in Chapel Field Road, which was about 15 Minutes Away, I Cant Really Remember too much of what happened, all I can Recall is being Told what I can do and what I Cant do Financially, for about the Next 7 Years! 

After about 2 Hours of Listening to all that, I was on the way Home to see Susan and the Kids, as was Very Glad that all the Stuff was Over!

But as it Turned Out, that Day was the Start of a lot of Financial cr@p We were going to Suffer over the Next Few Years!

On the Job Front, I was Very Lucky, because the Local County Council were Advertising for a Cooks Job, about 10 Minutes from where we Lived, so I Phoned up for All the Details, and was Told all about the Job over the Phone, it Sounded Great, 8am to 3pm, 5 Week Days a Week!

This was the Ideal Job for me, I had Never had a Chefs Job Before where I got all Nights and Bank Holidays Off, so I asked the Centre Manager to Send me an Application Form. 

But there was only a Couple of Draw-Backs with this Job, I could see, and they were, I was going to be a called a Cook instead of a Chef, that was No Problem and Secondly they had Never had a Male Cook before, they had always been Female, so it was going to be Difficult in getting in there, in the First Place! 

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Now for Some Music, Around Late 1988, The Best Female Soul Singer “Anita Baker” Released her 3rd Solo Album to Date, on the Elektra Record Label, it was called “Giving You The Best I Got” 

The Album Reached Number One on both Pop and R&B Charts in the US and it also Charted in the Uk at Number 9!

The Second Single Release from the Album was a Great Track called “Just Because” what a Great Track this was, it Reached Number 1 on the R&B Chart and Number 14 on the “Hot 100” Chart.

The Song was Written by Alex Brown, Sammy McKinney and Michael O’Hara and Produced by Michael J Powell, he was the Founder Member of “Chapter 8” who Anita Baker had Sung with a Few Years Earlier!

             

“Just Because Lyrics”

When I think about how much I’m loving you
No limitations, no set of regimented rules
I’m amazed how much this love has touched my life
And the commitment that we share is a welcome sacrifice

This must be, sweet fatal attraction
My life-long date with destiny
Love this strong, it just brings out the passion
I never knew was here in me

I love you just because
I love you just because
Just because I do, my darlin’

Emotions more than words can help me say
I love you, baby, just because you’re you
Just because you’re you

You’re a diamond in my mind. a treasure found
A precious gem to me. you’re so nice to have around
I’m so glad I took the path that led to this
And it’s amazin’ loving you, I’m doin’ things
I never thought I’d do

I don’t know, there ain’t no explanation
Of why I’m sharin’ love at last this way
I won’t try to work out all my reasons
I’II use these words to simply say

I love you just because
I love you just because
Just because I do, my darlin’
Emotions more than words can help me say
I love you, baby, just because you’re you

I love you just because
I love you just because
Just because I do, my darlin’
Emotions more than words can help me say
I love you, baby.

Could it be that there’s more to this than meets the eye
Maybe that’s the reason why
All I know is when I’m in your arms it feels all right
I’II hold you tight and I come alive

I love you just because
I love you just because
Just because I do, my darlin’
Emotions more than words can help me say
I love you, baby, just because you’re you

[til fade]

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THE 185th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here’s the 185th Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, it Called “MixTape #4”  its been Mixed by Fog City Soul Radio and it Features some Great  Tracks From: Ohio Players, The Moments, Mtume, Earl Klugh, Lamont Dozier, Chi-Lites, DJ Rogers and Eddie Kendricks.

For a Full Track Listing and Download, Go Here!

WHO’S THE GREATEST FUNK BASS PLAYER # 10 VICTOR WOOTEN

In this Series of Posts, I will Writing about the Artist’s who are in My “Who’s the Greatest Funk Bass Player” Poll. 

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, its been Running for a Few Month’s, so if You haven’t already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post’s, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on Each Artist, One Every Other Week, This Week is the 10th and Last Artist on the List! 

ARTIST NUMBER 10…………..VICTOR WOOTEN

Victor Lemonte Wooten was Born on 11th September 1965 in Mountain Home, Idaho USA.

His Parents Pete and Dorothy Wooten were in the Military!

Victor was the Youngest of 5 Brothers, they Moved to Hawaii when Victor was Very Young.

All the Brothers were Musicians, and Victors Brother Regi Learned him to Play the Bass at the age of 2 Years.

By the Age of 6, Victor was in a Band, formed by his Bothers which was Called “The Wooten Brothers” 

They Toured Night Clubs and Theatres as a Support Act, they Supported Curtis Mayfield and his Band. 

By an Early Age, Victor had learned to Play the following Instruments: Bass, Double Bass and the Cello.

Before he had Left High School, The Wooten Brothers had been the Opening Act for Various Soul, Funk and Jazz Bands, such as War, Ramsey Lewis, Stephanie Mills,  Maze, Dexter Wansel and The Temptations! 

The Wooten Brothers Released their One and Only Album in 1985!

Victor Wooten was a Founding Member of the Band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in 1990, they Released their Debut Album in that Same Year, it was “Self Titled”

The Band has now Released 14 Albums from 1990 to the Present Day, the Last One being  2012, VW has also been involved with ” 2 Albums with “Bass Extensions” 2 albums with “Vital Tech Tones” and One with “Greg Howe”

He has also Released 9 Solo Albums, between 1996 and 2012,

but the Best Project he has been Involved with, was S.M.V Back in 2008, he Recorded  and Toured with Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller!

Over the Last Few Years Victor Wooten has Won Many Awards for his Bass Playing including “Bass Player of the Year” by the Magazine “Bass Player” in Fact he Won this Award for 3 Years Running, No other Bass Player has Ever Achieved this, he has also won 5 Grammy Awards!

A Selection of Victor Wooten Tracks

The Full Album by SMV… THUNDER

Victor’s Jam Live!



SMV PLAYING THUNDER LIVE, VICTOR WOOTEN, MARCUS MILLER AND STANLEY CLARKE



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THE 184th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here’s the 184th Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, it Called “A Musical Tribute to the Genius of Willie Hutch”  its been Mixed by Fog City Soul Radio and it Features some Great  Tracks From Willie Hutch, including: Brother Gonna Work it Out, I Choose You, Out There, Baby Come Home, Wichta Lineman and I Can Sho’ Give You Love!

For a Full Track Listing and Download, Go Here!



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BANKRUPT and RONNIE DYSON

The Date was now about Late Summer Time of 1988, I had Closed Down the Takeaway and with the Debt I had Accumulated through that, I was advised to go Bankrupt, Which I did!

After Speaking to Several Different Companies and People (who know about these Things) I was Advised about a Couple of the Most Important Thing’s to Concern us at that Time, The Main Thing was Our House, We were Actually in a Council House, so this Could Not be Taken from Us, and Secondly, we had a Car, which I had only Brought about 2 months Earlier (I had Swapped my Van for a Morris Marina) so this Would have been Taken off us by the Official Receiver.

Obviously I Needed to Keep our Car at that Time, Not Least for, I was Started to Look for a New Job and Needed Transport for Job Interviews!

I was Advised by Somebody, to Start Parking Our Car, Somewhere else at Night Times and Not Outside Our House, this I did for a Couple of Weeks, this was in Case of Bailiffs Visiting!

Thankfully Bailiffs Never Did Visit Our House, but we did have Somebody from the Receiver’s Office come Round, this was to Check on Our Belonging’s etc, and to see whether I had Told The Truth in about our Circumstances!

I Remember this Period of Time, being a Strain on us (me and Susan) and Our Kids, not to Mention my Mother who had put Her House up for Security on the Takeaway!

The Landlord from the Takeaway Wasted No Time in Trying to get Money from Me Personally and Via the Official Receiver, as I have said Previously, that Bloke was a Tw@t, who I Did Not Like.

I Believe Nowadays, if you want to go Bankrupt, you can do so on the Internet, back in the 80’s it was a Bit Harder than that, I can Remember Several Trips to Norwich to see the Receiver on my own, Trying to Sort things out, I Never Wanted Susan with me, as I thought I had got into that Mess, she had Nothing to do with that, so I had to Sort it out Myself!

After Several Weeks of being Treated like a Murderer and Sending Papers Backward and Forward to the Receivers Office etc etc, I got a Date for the Bankruptcy Hearing, I believe it was early October Time of 1988, so at Last things were going to be Resolved!

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Cover of Ronnie Dyson

Now for some Music, Back in 1971 Actor/Singer Ronnie Dyson had  his 3rd Single Released on Columbia Records, it was a Cover Version from 1970’s Hit from the Delfonics “When You Get Right Down To It” 

What a Great Voice “Ronnie Dyson” had, his Version of the Song in my Opinion is as Good as the Delfonics!

Ronnie Dyson Released some Great Music for around a 13 Year Period, He Seemed to be Very Under Rated in the Music World for Some Reason!

This Track Reached the Chart Position of Number 37 on the US R&B Chart, the Delfonics Version had Reached Number 12, but Ronnie Dyson’s Version did Achieve Something that the Delfonics Did Not Manage, it got to Number 34 on the UK Pop Charts, his Only Ever UK Chart Entry!

During his Career “Ronnie Dyson” Released 7 Albums in Total with  13 Singles also Released.

Ronnie Dyson Died in 1990 from Heart Disease.

                                   

THE 183rd MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here’s the 183rd Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, it Called “Mix Tape #3″  its been Mixed by Fog City Soul Radio and it Features some Great Old Tracks From 60’s & 70’s by Various Artists, including: Sylvia, Gene Chandler, Leroy Hutson, Four Tops, Jean Carne, J Blackfoot, Ronnie Dyson, Jerry Butler and Mavis Staples!

For a Full Track Listing and Download, Go Here!



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WHO’S THE GREATEST FUNK BASS PLAYER # 9 VERDINE WHITE

In this Series of Posts, I will Writing about the Artist’s who are in My “Who’s the Greatest Funk Bass Player” Poll. 

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, its been Running for a Few Month’s, so if You haven’t already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post’s, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on Each Artist, One Every Other Week! 

ARTIST NUMBER 9…………..VERDINE WHITE

Born on July 25th 1951, in Chicago IIIinois, Verdine White is the Bassist of Earth Wind and Fire.

His Older Bother is “Maurice White” who was the Founder of EW&F.

His Father “Verdine White Sr” was a Doctor and also Played the Saxophone in his spare time.

Verdine Grew up Listening to Miles Davis and John Coltrane  amongst others!

While still at School at the Age of around 15, Verdine  saw the Double Bass being Played in Music Classes and Decided that was what he wanted to Play!

Eventually he was taking Double Bass Lessons from Radi Velah of The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, this led to Advice from his Father and Maurice to take up the Electric Bass.

So at the Weekends he was also Learning the Electric Bass from “Louis Satterfield” who Worked for “Chess Records”

Satterfield was a Session Bassist and Trombonist at Chess, incidentally, Satterfield eventually became a Member of EW&F’s Backing Horn Section “The Phenix Horns”

Verdine White later Begun Working the “Chicago Club Scene” with Various Local Bands.

In 1970 Maurice White had Moved to Los Angeles to Hopefully “Get a Record Contract” with his Band , which was called “Salty Peppers”

Maurice White was soon to Rename his Band “Earth Wind and Fire” and he also asked his Brother “Verdine” to Join him in L.A. which he did in June of 1970!

Earth Wind and Fire Started Working on their Debut Album, Straight Away and By February of 1971, it was Released!

It was Called “Earth Wind and Fire” it was a Moderate Hit, Reaching Number 172 on the Pop Album Chart and number 24 on the “Black Album Chart”

The Second Album was Released by November of the Same Year (1971) and called “The Need of Love” it had More Success, it Reached Number 89 on the Pop Album Chart, but it also Contained EW&F’s First Pop Top 40 Hit Single “I Think About Lovin’ You” 

After 2 more Albums, their 5th Album Release in 1974 Entitled “Open Our Eyes” Reached Number One on the US R&B Charts!

Then the Following Year in 1975, Earth Wind and Fire Released their 6th Album Entitled “Thats The Way of the World” this was to go to Number 1 on both US Pop and R&B Charts and this was to Start a Run of 8 Albums (over a 12 Year Period) up until 1987 to Achieve Very High Chart Placing on both the US Pop and R&B Album Charts.

EARTH WIND AND FIRE DISCOGRAPHY

19 Studio Albums

4 Live Albums

17 Compilations

62 Singles

           EW&F Albums have Achieved the Following  Status:

11 x Platinum Albums

3 x 3 Platinum Albums

2 x Double Platinum

9 x Gold Albums

And Their “Best of Volume 1” Achieved 5 X Platinum

EW&F have had 8  Number 1 US R&B Singles!

Their Biggest Ever Single was “Shining Star” which Reached Number One on both US Pop and US R&B Charts in 1975!

Verdine White and Earth Wind and Fire are Still going Strong to this Day and they have Won Numerous Awards over the Years, Far Too Many to Mention in this Post!

           Have a Listen to Earth Wind & Fires Greatest Hits

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THE 182nd MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here’s the 182nd Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, it Called “Zapp Mix, 8-24-12”  its been Mixed by DJ Pinky and it Features some Great Tracks by Zapp, including: More Bounce to the Ounce, Do It Roger Do It, Dance Floor, I Can Make You Dance, Midnight Hour, Doo Wah Ditty, Computer Love and I Wanna be Your Man!

For a Full Track Listing and Download, Go Here!

TAKEAWAY CLOSED! and SAM COOKE

The Date was around Late Summertime of 1988, the Takeaway Trade Never really picked up too much during that Summer, and things were getting Worse, Trade was Dropping and in turn that Meant I was Making Hardly any Money, and I can Remember the Takeaway Lack of Business was starting to  effect my Family Life!

I was doing a lot of Arguing with Susan and Moaning at the Kids, so things Needed Changing, I had put a Lot into the Takeaway and Did Not want to Close it for Good!

I Cant Remember what Day of the Week it was, but I do Remember Susan Phoning me up one Night, to see how things were Going, and as Usual, Not Too Much was Happening, she then asked “How I was Feeling” I Remember saying to her, I Felt like Putting my Head in the Deep Fat Fryer!

Now that wont have done me a lot of Good, I know, but that is How Bad I Felt, Susan said Straightaway, “Shut that Bloody Shop Down and Come Home”

And for once in my Life, I Did Not do Too Much Thinking of the Concequences of what will Happen, I just Turned Everything Off and Walked out of the Takeaway!

I got into my Van and went Straight Home, I Remember Susan and the Kids, being Very Surprised and Very Happy when I got there!

That in Hindsight was Probably the Worst I had Ever Felt in my Life about “My Job or My Working Life”

I Remember the Next Day after it all Settled Down, I thought to Myself “What the Hell am I now going to do about a Job, Now”

I also had to Contact the Landlord, to tell him what had Happened, and I Knew then, this was when my Troubles were Really Going to Start, I Did Not Like him either!

I had a Lease on the Takeaway, I Cant Remember “How Long it was For” but, I knew he (the Landlord) was going to want that Paid Up or he would go after what was “Put up as Collateral, on the Takeaway” and that was “My Mothers House”

I then had to seek Advice from Various different People, including, Citizens Advice Bureau, Business Advice Places, a Solicitor etc, what a Nightmare that all was!

After doing all this for a Couple of Weeks, the Outcome was amongst other things, I had to Straightaway go, Bankrupt!

What a Shock this was, I was like Most People of my Age (around 30), had some Debt through being Married with Kids etc, but this was Really Something Else, they were Going to go through my Life and Finances etc like I had never Experienced before and have not Experienced Since!

As this would eventually Turn Out (the Bankruptcy), Apart from One other Incident in my Life, Would Probably be the Worst Period of Time in my Life!

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As for some Music, I think I may have Featured the Following Track before in this Blog, but who Cares, this I reckon is One of the Best Soul Records Ever Released!

It was Written and Recorded in 1963, so its now 50 Years Old, It was not actually Released as a Single until about 2 Weeks after Sam Cooke was Killed on 11th December 1964!

The Song is the Great “A Change is Gonna Come” what a Fantastic Song this is, it was Later to be used by the “Civil Rights Movement” in the USA during the 1960’s.

This Song was a Change of Direction for Sam Cooke, as he had Previously Recorded Songs for the “Pop Market” and Feared he would Lose his “White Fans” if he Recorded a Song about “Discrimination and Racism” in the US during the 1960’s!

The Song Peaked at Number 31 on the US Billboard Top 100 and Number 9 on the US R&B Singles Chart. 

This Song been Recorded by Many Great Soul Artists over the Years, including amongst others, Al Green, Otis Redding and Luther Vandross, it has also been Voted by the  Magazine “Rolling Stone” at Number 12 in the Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 





I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I’ve been running ever since
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

It’s been too hard living but I’m afraid to die
Cause I don’t know what’s up there beyond the sky
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

I go to the movie and I go downtown somebody keep telling me don’t hang around
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knockin’ me
Back down on my knees

Ohhhhhhhhh…..

There been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long
But now I think I’m able to carry on
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

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• Sam Cooke, Rhythm Man
• Sam Cooke “A Change Is Gonna Come”- Sam Cooke Born This Day 1931

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THE 181st MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here’s the 181st Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, it Called “Slow Jams “No One Else Comes Close””  its been Mixed by DJ Kumbi and contains Various Soul Artists and Bands, it Features some Great Tracks by: After 7, Freddie Jackson, Kool & the Gang, Babyface, Atlantic Starr, Luther Vandross and Brian McKnight Amongst others!

For a Full Track Listing and Download, Go Here!

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• 1988 and MICHAEL JACKSON