Here’s the 94th Mix selection for F.S.V.B, continuing the George Benson theme from the last Post. Its been submitted to the Website, Six Million Steps, by Alan Champ, its under the JJ Smoking Sessions # 38, there’s some Classic George Benson Tracks on here, including Breezin’, Nature Boy, The World Is a Ghetto, Nature Boy and I’m Gonna Love You More!
In this Series of Posts, I will writing about a Particular Classic Soul/Funk Album from the 60’s 70’s and 80’s
Jazz Guitarist George Benson Released his 16th Album “In Flight” in 1977, it was on Warner Brothers Records, and Produced by Tommy LiPuma, it was Recorded between August and November 1976, it also went Platinum.
The previous Album “Breezin’ was Released in 1976 and Proved to be George Benson’s First Crossover Hit, making him one of the First Jazz Musicians to Gain Mainstream Success!
The Album had some Great Musicians involved, including:
George Benson……Lead Guitar and Vocals
Phil Upchurch……..Rhythm Guitar
Ronnie Foster……..Electric Piano and Mini Moog
Jorge Dalto…………Clavinet and Acoustic Piano
Stanley Banks……..Bass
Harvey Mason……..Drums
Ralph Macdonald…Percussion
The Album featured 6 Tracks:
1…..Nature Boy…………………….5.58
2…..The Wind and I……………….5.04
3…..The World Is a Ghetto………9.41
4…..Gonna Love You More………4.37
5…..Valdez in The Country………4.29
6…..Everything Must Change…..8.07
I remember buying this Album in ’77, one thing that always sticks out in my mind, was the Birds on the Album Cover!
All the Tracks are Great, but if I had to pick One Favorite, it would have to be “Everything Must Change” The featured Piano solo is Great!
George Benson’s First Album Release was back in 1964, he was part of the “Brother Jack Macduff Quartet” the Album was called “The New Boss Guitar”
By 1966, George Benson had formed his own Quartet, and Released an Album under the name “The George Benson Quartet” entitled “Its Uptown”
George Benson went on to become, One of the Biggest Jazz Crossover Musicians ever!
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I had 4 Cory’s in the Tank, which the Cichlids seemed to get on with, but after about 3 Months I noticed the Cory’s had little pieces of their Fins missing, so it was about time I got a Smaller tank, in case of Emergencies, such as the Cichlids Picking on the Cory’s!
I starting looking on a Couple of Pets For Sale Sites on Facebook, eventually I found one such Site , It was just for Fish, so i joined, within a couple of days I found a Second-Hand Tank.
It was 50 Litre Tank, 24 ins x 12 ins x 12 ins in size, it came with a Filter and a brand new Heater, lid and lighting System and Stand, as the Heater was Brand new, the whole Set-Up was £40, which was not too bad!
I spent the rest of the morning Cleaning the tank etc, I also Cleaned my big Tank on the same day, so the 25% water change went straight into the New Tank, meaning it was ready for the Cory’s straight away!
Along with the Cory’s, I put my 2 Upside Catfish, in there as well, as I had seen the Cichlids chasing them around too!
They were much better in their new Tank and after less than a week, all their bitten Fins etc , had all grown back, that was £40 well spent!
Within 1 Month of the Cory’s moving Tanks, I had 3 lots of Eggs on the side of the Tank Glass, over a Week Period, but unfortunately, none of them were Fertilised, so they all Died. But it proved the Fish were better off in the New tank!
Here’s the 93rd Mix selection for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by George the DJ, its called “Father’s Day Mix 2011 (couple of days late, I know!), there’s some Classic Older Soul and New Soul Tracks on here, including some Luther Vandross, Eddie and Gerald Levert, Bill Withers, The Temptations, JB’s, Jaheim and Lil Wayne!
Trying to remember things that happened around this period is, I must admit is “Getting Harder” I believe I finally moved to the Cobholm Branch of the Co-op Butchery’s, around the October/ November time in 1982.
I was still using my Bike to get to Work, but it only took about 20 minutes to get there, which was a lot better than more than an Hour to Caister!
It turned out, there were about 3 Full-Time Women and about 3 Part-Time Women, who worked there, there was also a Shop-Manager, but I cant remember his Name, but I got on with him Great!
As I said previously, I was on my own in the Butchery Section, which was Great, but I had to do everything myself, Cutting & Displaying the Meat, serving the Customers, taking the Money, keeping the Book work up to date, Keeping my Section Clean & Tidy, but as I said, it was great being on my own!
As for our Home life, we were coming up to our First Christmas in our New House, which we had now been in just under 1 Year, we had moved into the previous January.
The House was alright, but the Area & the Neighbours were not that great, and little did we know then, we were going to spent another 11 Years in this House, apart from a 3 Month period around 1986 (3.5 years later), when we Moved to Norwich, which is about 20 Miles away!
As for the Music, a Great Album which was to be Released in a few months time in 1983, was 3 by Zapp, led by Roger Troutman, this was to be their 3rd Release out of 6 Studio Abums!
They had some Great Music Released up until Roger Troutman’s un-timely Death in 1999, along with his brother Larry (Band Member and Manager).
This Album had some Classics including “Heartbreaker” I Can Make You Dance and my 2 favorites “Play Some Blues” and Tut Tut (Jazz).
PLAY TRACKS BELOW OR TO DOWNLOAD, PRESS KADOO
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FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH STORY ABOUT ZAPP AND TO DOWNLOAD ALL THE ALBUMS VISIT HERE. INCLUDING BOTH GREATEST HITS COMPILATIONS!
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This Series of Post’s concerns in my Opinion The Best Bands/Artists of all time.
Soon after he also, along with Eddie Thomas (Impressions Manager) formed their own Record Label “Curtom Records” a combination of both of their Names.
Over the years “Curtom” had some Great Recording Artists including : The Five Stairsteps, Donny Hathaway, Linda Clifford, Leroy Hutson, The Natural Four, Staple Singers , The New Impressions and of course Curtis Mayfield.
In 1972 Mayfield released his 3rd Studio Album on “Curtom” it was the Soundtrack to the Movie “Superfly” it was a Pioneering Concept Album, with Songs about Drugs and Poverty!
It featured some Great Tracks including “Freddies Dead” Pusherman and of course the Title Track “Superfly”
The Album Topped the Pop and Black Albums Charts!
In 2003 the Album was voted on VH1 the 63rd Best Album of all Time.
After “Superfly” Curtis Mayfield was asked to Write and Produce for some of the Biggest Stars of the day, including: Gladys Knight and the Pips, Aretha Franklin and Mavis Staples.
But sadly Curtom was to Close by 1980, after 10 years in Business!
Between 1970 and 1997 Curtis Mayfield Recorded around 20 Studio Albums, 4 Live Albums and numerous Compilations, He also worked with 4 different Record Labels (apart from Curtom) including RSO, Boardwalk, Buddah and CRC.
Sadly on 13th August 1990 while Performing at an Outdoor Concert in New York, during High Winds, Stage Lighting equipment fell on top of C.M, Crushing him and leaving him Paralysed from the Neck down, it had Broken his spine in 3 places!
He was Unable to do most things and spent several years inactive, but in 1997 he released a New Album “New World Order” which he Recorded while Laying on his Back and Recording one line at a Time!
In 1998 Tragedy was to Strike again, when Diabetes caused CM to have his Right Leg Amputated.
The following year 1999 on Boxing Day, at the Age of 57 years, unfortunately Curtis Mayfield Died. He left a Wife and 9 Children and 7 Grand Children.
He Recorded some Fantastic Music in his Lifetime, One of my all time Favorite Tracks is “Move On Up” and there’s the Following: So In Love “Kung Fu” Do Be Down “To Be Invisible” I’m So Proud “Choice of Colours” Gypsy Woman “Its Alright” the List is Endless!
Here are a Few of the Awards , Curtis Mayfield has Won over the Years: Inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1991, as member of The Impressions, and as a Solo Artist in 1999, Won a Grammy Legend Award in 1994, Won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995 and in 2004 “Rolling Stone Magazine” Voted Him #99 Best Artist of All time!
DOWNLOAD ALL THE ALBUMS HERE ABOUT 24 OF THEM, I THINK, AND A GREAT IN DEPTH WRITE UP ABOUT CURTIS MAYFIELD!
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I carried on Cycling and Working for the Co-op Butchery in Caister for a few months in mid to late 1982, but in the end, I got a message from the Area-Manager, asking to give him a Telephone Call!
I remember this as it was unusual occurrence, anyway I Phoned him, and he asked me if I would like to go and be Butchery Manager in the Cobholm Branch, this as it turned out was not such a Big Deal, as only One Butcher worked there!
I would be in Charge, doing everything myself, all the Butchery, all the Shop Serving and all the Bookwork, but Best of all, I would be on my own, working in a Small Supermarket, with a Few Old Woman Shop Assistants!
I jumped at the Chance of Working there and as it turned out, it was a Great place to Work!
One thing I always remember about Leaving the Caister Shop, the Manager (Derrick) gave me a Great Reference (which would come in handy later, if and when I left the Co-op) it was also his Recommendation that got me the move to Cobholm, so I was always Grateful to Derrick!
A few years later when I finally left Butchery, to go back into Catering, I had a few Great Reference’s by this time and Derrick’s was one of them, but when my Future New Boss followed up the Reference given to me by Derrick, he discovered that Derrick had Died a couple of years earlier, which I was Sad to find this out, as Derrick was a Great Bloke and a Great Boss.
As for the Music around the later part of the Summer of ’82, A second Single for former Niteflyte Lead Singer “Howard Johnson” called “So Fine” it Reached Number 1 in the Dance Chart.
The song was on A&M Records and Written and Co-Produced by “Kashif”
I believe Howard Johnson only ever Released 3 Solo Albums, but this Track along with the Track Released in 1985 called “Knees” were his Best 2 Tracks!
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Funky-Soul-Vinyls-Blog 