Archive for March, 2011


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Here’s the 81st Mix for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by Musicology, there’s some classic Soul Music on here from Mid 60’s to Early 70’s, Its called, Soulnaissance Volume 1!                       


Its features Delfonics, Stylistics, Chi-Lites, Dramatics and Intruders to name but a Few!


Check Out WebPage For Track Listing and Download.

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Around July of 1982, I was getting on Alright at The Sandringham Hotel, but things were starting to get a bit awkward, As I said in Previous posts, my Head Chef was my Former Teacher at College, a few Years earlier, and when I went for the Interview, I did state about not Working too many Nights, which he Agreed to!


Anyway with other People off work (sick) and things picking up, I was being asked more and more, to work Nights here and there, which at first was not too bad, but after about 1 Month, it was Happening all the Time, so in the end I had to go and see the Head Chef, now I cant exactly remember what Happened, I think he might of said “its Tough” but in the end I had to see the Hotel Owner, who asked if I could stick with it, for a little while!


This I did do, but in the end, it was just liked I worked all the nights I was working, so in the end,  I handed in my Notice  and left within a few Weeks!


I remember the Head Chef was not too happy, but I did get a Reference from him, although He did have a little dig about Working nights, and he also got his own back a few Years later!


About 5 years after, this incident, I was Working in another Restaurant, as Second Chef (although this night I was Acting as Head Chef, as He was off Duty) when I was asked to go out into the Restaurant to meet Somebody, who said he knew me!


So when I got into the Restaurant, I was Surprised too see the Head Chef from The Sandringham having a Meal, which I had Cooked, this was the first time I had seen him, since we Worked together. 

To my Surprise, in front of who ever he was Dining with, started to go about how I had cooked his Meal and it was not how he had taught me at College (years previous) I believe he had eaten “Beef Stroganoff”




I had used Fresh Cream in the Dish, which he never did! Most Chefs do things slightly different!


My answer to him was “I work here now and this is how my “Head Chef” wants this dish prepared and Cooked, so this is how I will do it! and then I went back into the Kitchen, I bet he did not leave a Tip that night!

He did not like that, and I think that was the last Time he spoke to me, but on saying that I cant remember the last time I saw him!                          

HAPPY DAYS!



As for Music around this Period, CHANGE had their Third Album (out of 6) Released, it was called” Sharing Your Love”


It was their 3rd most Successful Album in the U.S, The Best Track on Album was “The Very Best In You” it reached Number 16 in the U.S R&B Chart!


Of course “Changes” first Album featured Luther Vandross on Lead Vocals.


DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM
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I gave my external Fluval 205 Filter a partial clean for the First Time after that had been going for about 1 Month, I did this at the same time a did a Small water change,  so  I could Clean it with water which I gotten out of Tank, I only Cleaned half of the Sponge (leaving the other half for a couple of more weeks) the reason for this is, if I was to Clean all the Filter at once, I would lose all the valuable Bacteria, I had built up over the previous few weeks!


At the same time, I had a little change around in tank  (as previously explained why!) I decided to move to Large Air Stone to the other side of the Tank, to accommodate the Plastic log where the large plec, lays around!


After I sorted this out, I decided to turn back on the External filter, this was the first time this had been turned off, since I started the Tank, so I was a bit worried about turning it on, as i didn’t know what was going to happen when I pushed them 2 switches back down!

What a gush there was for about 10 seconds while the Filter fills back up again (with water from the tank), then silence, it was all O.K!


After about a minute or so , I had a funny noise coming from the Filter, like a whooshing/gurgling sound, I tried everything to sort it out, it sounded like an Air lock or similar.


After going through the Manual & looking on the Internet, I decided to write on one of the Forums, I got plenty of replies, mostly saying I should give the Canister a good Shake, I did this, but still the same noise!

Then it dawned on me, as I sat there looking in the Tank, the Air Curtain Bubbles were being sucked into the Intake Pipe and down into the Filter, the second I moved the Air Curtain, the Noise Stopped, what a relief , that was sorted! 

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Here’s the 80th Mix for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by Stevie G, there’s some classic Soul / Funk/ Jazz /Rap Music Tracks on here, Its called, An October State Of Mind!                       

Its features Cameo, Bob James, George Clinton, John Legend and Atlantic Starr to name but a Few!

Check Out WebPage For Track Listing and Download.

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In this Series of Posts, I will writing about a Particular Classic Soul/Funk Album from the 60’s 70’s and 80’s


The one’s that stand out in my Mind, as The Best Soul/Funk/Jazz/R&B Albums ever Released. All of them, I purchased as Vinyl many Years ago and also I have them on CD today.


You may have a Differing view (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!


# NUMBER 3


AL GREEN……..CALL ME


This was Al Green’s 6th Album Release and the 5th on the Hi Record Label, it came out during the Summer of 1973 and was Produced by the Great Willie Mitchell.


It Contained 3 Singles:                        US POP / US R&B / STATUS


You Ought To Be With Me                    3              1             GOLD
Call Me (Come Back Home)                10              2                 “
Here I Am (Come And Take Me)         10              2                 “

This Album is widely Acknowledged as Al Green’s Masterpiece, in fact in 2003 it was Voted by Rolling Stone Magazine as the 289th Greatest Album of all Time!


Al Green is also “Rolling Stones” 65th Best Artist of All Time!


I Myself have made a Few Compilations of Al Green’s Music, and they always include 7 out of the 9 Tracks from this Album!


I could not say which is my Favorite Track, but Tracks 2 and 7 would be probably be the main Choices!


Have a Listen to the Tracks, although there cannot be a Soul Music Fan out there who has not heard of these before, but you never know!


The Track Listing:

  1. “Call Me (Come Back Home) – 3:03
  2. “Have You Been Making Out O.K. – 3:42
  3. “Stand Up – 3:25
  4. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry – 3:10
  5. “Your Love Is Like the Morning Sun – 3:09
  6. “Here I Am (Come and Take Me) – 4:14
  7. Funny How Time Slips Away – 5:33
  8. You Ought to Be with Me – 3:15
  9. “Jesus Is Waiting – 5:36

Album Personnel
Al Green – Vocals, Producer
Willie Mitchell – Producer, Engineer
Charles Chalmers – Background Vocals, Horn Arrangements
Howard Grimes – Drums
Jack Hale – Trombone
Charles Hodges – Organ, Piano
Leroy Hodges – Bass
Mabon “Teenie” Hodges – Guitar
Wayne Jackson – Trumpet
Ed Logan – Tenor Saxophone
Andrew Love – Tenor Saxophone
The Memphis Strings – Strings
James Mitchell – Baritone Saxophone, Horn Arrangements
Donna Rhodes – Background Vocals
Sandra Rhodes – Background Vocals
Archie Turner – Piano
Al Jackson, Jr. – Drums

Me and the Wife had the Pleasure of Seeing Al Green in Concert last year, it was Probably our Best Night of last Year, he was Great, Check out my Previous Post!

As you might know if you have read any of my Posts before, Al Green is my Favorite Singer, as Slave are my favorite Band!

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DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM “CALL ME” & 17 OTHER AL GREEN ALBUMS!

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Here’s the 79th Mix for F.S.V.B, Its a bit different from the usual Mix, its a Tribute to Slave Bassist, who Died last Week, its Features some of Slaves Greatest tracks and of course Mark Adams on Bass!


Go to EJ FLAVORS Website for all Track details and Download!
Slide, Just a Touch of Love,Wait for me, Party Lites, Snap Shot, Watching You & more!

Also checkout this In-depth story and more Slave Music!

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After about 1 week with the Tank Running with about 14 Fishes, you need to start cleaning up after the Fish, as I said previously, I brought a gravel Cleaner which you worked by hand, this turned out to be no Good, so I brought a Battery Operated one, this was much Better, most of my Muck comes from the Large Plec I have, so a Good Tip, if you don’t want loads of Fish Mess don’t get a large Plec!


By now I was also Changing about 10% / 15% of the Tank Water at least twice a Week, this is a Vital part of keeping your Tank and Fishes Healthy, the easiest way to do this, I have found is to buy a couple of Large Buckets and a Large Measuring Jug, I did use a Piece of tank Tubing, to siphon the Water out, but this takes too long! 

When I put the Water back into tank, I use a Mix of Hot and Cold Tap Water and not Forgetting some “Aqua Plus” for the Chlorine and Metals in the water and I also use some “Cycle” for the Ammonia and Nitrite.


I also on a Weekly Basis do a few Tank Water Tests, I purchased a API Freshwater Master Test kit from Ebay, these are Expensive, around £25, some places £30!  but if you look you can find a Bargain, I got mine for about £16, it had been used a couple of times, but as I use the High PH test (for Cichlids) and not the Low PH (what had been used), I would say I had about 95% of the tests left in the Kit!

This kit tests for Ph, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate in the Water, they are very Accurate, unlike my Original Test Kit I got from Nutrafin, see Here for details! 


Another thing I do on a Weekly Basis is change the Tank Decor around, some Fish tend to stay/defend in the same Places or Hideaways, by having a change around, this prevents this and also stops the Tank Boss chasing every other Fish about, if they go into his territory! 


I am now seeing a Couple of Catfish around the Tank, as I moved some bog Wood around, what they used to hide under all the time! 

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Something a bit different this Week, I found up some older Photos of me and Susan from 1977 and 79. These first 3 Photos were taken Outside and Inside of the Shop, where  Susan used to work,  it was Her Father’s Shop, it sold Leather Good’s, for example, Bags Purses etc, it was called Regent Leathers, the other Photos are on a Day trip to London! Some are a bit damaged, but still great Memories!

Susan worked there for a couple of Summer’s, the first being 1976 and 77, in early 1977 was when I came along, although I did actually go to the Shop in September of 1976, I took a College Friend down to have a look at Susan, who was working, little did I know some 35 years later, we would still be Together!

That was a Great period of my Life, I was working in a Great Hotel, I had no Debts, no worries, I had a Car and I had a Great Girlfriend! How things were going to change for me in about 1 Year’s time!

I used to spend a lot of time in the Shop, I sometimes used take Susan to work in the Car and Pick her up after Work, one Day I remember Driving her to work about 9 am, and I smashed into the Car in front of us, I still remember it was a Volvo!

That was a Great Car I had, it was a Morris 1800, We called it “Bessie”, I remember I had  stickers above the Window Wipers on front windscreen, it read “SPRINT 1800” What a Child I was!


The other 2 Photos were taken in London, we had a Day Out with Susan’s sister and her Boyfriend, it was, I believe our first time out without nathan who was Born about 8 Months previously, we were having a Drink outside a Cafe!

It was a Coach trip, we went around “Madam Thussand’s” Buckingham Palace etc, another place we went to, was “The Planetarium”  I remember this well, as I fell asleep during the Show!


Another thing that always sticks in my Mind concerning this day was, as I said about us being away from Nathan for the first time, well it was also my Mother’s First time at looking after Nathan, on her own!

And what a Mess, she made of that, when we got Nathan home, he was Crying a lot as I remember, so Susan went to change his Nappy, well I will always remember, the state of Nathan’s Bottom, I don’t think My Mother had changed his Nappy all the time we was in London, his rear was RED RAW, he had Bleeding Blisters on there, all this and I thought my Mother said she was Great with Kids!


This I’m afraid was what we were going to get from my Mother, over the Years!
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Music from 1977, there was a Great Album Release from “The Brothers Johnson” called “Right On Time” It was their Second Album to be Released on Qwest /A&M Records, it was Produced by Quincy Jones, it also contained the following 3 Singles! with US R&B and US Pop Chart Placings:

Strawberry Letter # 23 1 5 Right On Time
“Runnin’ For Your Lovin” 20 107
“Love Is” 50

The Album Tracks were as  follows
Runnin’ For Your Lovin’
Free Yourself, Be Yourself
“Q”
Right On Time
Strawberry Letter 23
Brother Man
Never Leave You Lonely
Love Is

The Best tracks on the Album were “Strawberry Letter 23, “Right On Time” and “Love Is”
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Here’s the 78th Mix for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by Matthew Africa, there’s some classic Soul and Funk Music Tracks on here, Its called, 2 Busy Saying Yeah 24 Live at SweaterFunk!

Its features Cameo, Bernard Wright, Gap Band and Dayton, Mtume and Aurra to name but a Few!

Check Out Web Page For Track Listing and Download.

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          SUGAR HILL RECORDS

The Original Rap / Hip Hop Record Label, formed in 1979 (and Surprisingly only in Business for about 7 Years) by Husband and Wife, Joe and Sylvia Robinson, Milton Malden  and with the Financial Backing of Morris Levy, who already owned Roulette Records.

Sylvia Robinson who had already had an Hit Single, reaching Number 1 in the US R&B Chart in her own right some 6 Years previous with  “Pillow Talk” under the name of just “Sylvia” incidentally she had hoped that “Al Green” would Record this Track, but he turned it down as he thought it was too Risque and it was against his Religious Beliefs! 

The First Release from Sugar Hill Record’s was “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugar Hill Gang, in August 1979, they Released several different Versions, the Longest being 15 Minutes in total!

Although not the First Rap Release or Band, “The Sugarhill Gang”

were Credited for being the First Group to Popularise Rap / Hip Hop Music! It was also the First Rap record to get into the US Pop Charts at Number 36.

In early 1980 the Robinson’s brought out Morris Levy’s Share in Sugar Hill Records.

SHR had some of the Biggest/first Rap stars including:
GrandMaster Flash and the Furious five, Sequence, Kool Moe Dee, Treacherous Three and the West Street Mob!

By 1986 SHR had Signed a Controversial Distribution Deal with MCA Records, which ended up in a Lengthy Court Room battle and eventually the Record Label had to Close Down!

They had by this time Amassed in Total, 26 Gold Records!

Nearly some 10 years later “Rhino Records” had Purchased all the Master Tapes from SHR, and then went about “Re-Releasing most of the Music made by SHR!

In 2002 the Recording Studios used by SHR in Englewood, New Jersey was Destroyed by Fire!

Other Artists to have Recorded for the Label were :
Funky Four Plus One, Viola Wills, Spoonie Gee, MomentsPositive Force, Melle Mel, Candi Staton, Trouble Funk, Phillip Wynne and Sylvia!

Some of the Biggest Tracks were:

Sugarhill Gang:  Rappers Delight, 8th Wonder, The Lover in You and Apache.

GrandMaster Flash: On the Wheels of Steel, The MessageIts Nasty and Scorpio.

GMF and Melle Mell: White Lines

Positive Force: We Got The Funk

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