Ever heard of Ike White, the guitarist? How about David Ontiveros? Or David Maestro? On the way to stardom, playing backup for Big Mama Thornton, Ike White disappeared into the prison system, serving life for murder. Tipped off in the early ’70s, record producer Jerry Goldstein decked out a trailer with recording studio capabilities and hauled it onto… Continue reading The Changin’ Times of Ike White
Tag: Soul
The Budos Band
Brotherhood of Men: The Budos Band Keeps Pushing On “I think there’s a sense of optimism and triumph because we made a record together despite the fact that we’re split between the coasts and it’s hard for us to get together,” says The Budos Band saxophone player Jared Tankel. “When we do get together and… Continue reading The Budos Band
Randall Bramblett Keeps the Fire Burning
Georgia music veteran Randall Bramblett jumps back into action on Nov. 13, when New West Records will release his latest solo album, Pine Needle Fire. By the time the Jesup-born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist launched his own recording career in the mid ‘70s with a pair of albums on Polydor, he was already a highly… Continue reading Randall Bramblett Keeps the Fire Burning
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ Covers Collected
Soul- and funk-ified cover songs are almost always a blast, because of the level of passion and energy pumped into the interpretations – think Stevie Wonder’s take on “We Can Work It Out,” or Otis Redding’s supercharged run-through of “Satisfaction,” or Aretha’s definitive version of Otis’ own “Respect,” for that matter. Sharon Jones & the… Continue reading Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ Covers Collected
Lightning Orchestra – Source and Deliver
Gunshot! Gunshot! Nanoo, Nanoo. What it is? Hip and Heavy, the number one contender for Best Boogie 2020: Jump back and dig this scene man. This here’s the skinny, the lowdown. I was beatin’ the drag down Cheshire Bridge, you know, the row with all the honeys on it? WHORES man, Ho Stroll ‘76. Now don’t… Continue reading Lightning Orchestra – Source and Deliver
Maceo Parker – Soul Food: Cooking with Maceo
Maceo Parker is a towering figure in the soul/jazz/funk universe. He would be important if only for his work with James Brown, documented on many live and studio releases from the middle 1960s through the late ’80s. But he’s done so much more: as a key member of Parliament-Funkadelic, Parker applied his talents in ever-widening… Continue reading Maceo Parker – Soul Food: Cooking with Maceo
Eddie 9V Finds His Soul at Blind Willie’s
The Georgia Flood were a blues-rock band that played around the region for a few years in the mid ‘00s, anchored by brothers Brooks Mason (guitar, vocals) and Lane Kelly (bass, vocals), grads of Oak Grove High School in McDonough. An outgrowth of their teenage classic rock cover band The Smokin Frogs, the strikingly gifted… Continue reading Eddie 9V Finds His Soul at Blind Willie’s
Status of the Greatest of and Latest of The Ladies Of…
The Ladies Of… could’ve named themselves Alabama Georgia Line, but we’re glad they didn’t. The truth is, even though Atlanta’s James Hall boasts the most name recognition of anyone in their lineup, they’ve included numerous members and collaborators among their ranks over the years and as it stands now there are more Alabamans involved than… Continue reading Status of the Greatest of and Latest of The Ladies Of…
CeeLo, Dan Auerbach Team Up for Soulful New Album
In its germinating stages, CeeLo Green’s forthcoming album wasn’t originally planned as an album. Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys – clearly on an ongoing campaign to wrestle the title of All-Purpose Cross-Genre Can-Do-No-Wrong Impresario of Nashville away from Jack White or Dave Cobb, depending on which one’s wearing the crown at the present moment… Continue reading CeeLo, Dan Auerbach Team Up for Soulful New Album
Another Month, More Bowie From the Vaults
Wasn’t it just last month we were telling you about a bunch of David Bowie recordings being excavated from the vaults? Well, there are more. And it would come as no surprise if the Bowie bounty continues steadily for many more years to come, if for no other reason than to counter bootleg releases of… Continue reading Another Month, More Bowie From the Vaults
Swamp Dogg Gets Back to the Country
Our ol’ buddy Swamp Dogg is known primarily for his boisterous (and often humorous) psychedelic soul music, but as he tells it, “if you listen to my records before I start stacking shit on it, I’m country. I sound country.” He aims to prove as much on his new album, Sorry You Couldn’t Make It.… Continue reading Swamp Dogg Gets Back to the Country
John Driskell Hopkins Offers His Finest Gifts
When he’s not performing with country music Twitter’s recent whipping boys The Zac Brown Band, John Driskell Hopkins gives back to Georgia music with projects like his third Christmas album, the R&B-inspired Our Finest Gifts. Hopkins cut his new album with cover song connoisseurs the ATL Collective and a handful of special guests, including Trombone Shorty… Continue reading John Driskell Hopkins Offers His Finest Gifts
James Hall & the Steady Wicked – All Horns and Halos!
James Hall and his band (one of several), the Steady Wicked, marked the release of their new album All Horns and Halos! with a lively show at the EARL on Nov. 22. If you didn’t make it, or forgot to pick up a copy, or spent all your money on beer, the 14-song collection is… Continue reading James Hall & the Steady Wicked – All Horns and Halos!
Beck Makes the Jump to Hyperspace
With a November 22 release date, Beck’s 14th album Hyperspace is also being touted as his most collaborative. Pharrell Williams’ participation, co-writing and co-producing seven of the album’s 11 tracks, might warrant that claim on its own, but beyond that Chris Martin (Coldplay) sings back-up on one song, Sky Ferreira does likewise on another and… Continue reading Beck Makes the Jump to Hyperspace
Southern Culture on the Skids, Part 1
Musical Mutations and Swamp Tones: Rick Miller of Southern Culture on the Skids Talks About the Sounds that Get Him Off Although I love their hokey sense of cornpone humor, and I wouldn’t alter a thing about them, sometimes it irritates me that so many writeups I read about Southern Culture on the Skids focus… Continue reading Southern Culture on the Skids, Part 1
Southern Culture on the Skids, Part 2
Pop culture always gets recycled. One of the stranger revivals, to me, was that period during the ’90s when easy listening, Tropicalia and so-called “space age bachelor pad” music made a brief mini-comeback. And your sound even touches on aspects of that. “I really love that stuff. And I tell you what, I was into… Continue reading Southern Culture on the Skids, Part 2
The Titos Make Tracks in Everchanging Atlanta
The Titos – probably a reference to band member Alex Lotito’s name, not handmade vodka – concoct the self-described “suburban soul” music heard on their first full-length album, out this month. Opening track “Whoever You Are” introduces The Titos as more than just capable garage-soul musicians. The song deconstructs urban gentrification by considering the constant… Continue reading The Titos Make Tracks in Everchanging Atlanta
Atlanta Drummer Yonrico Scott, 1955-2019
Consummate musician Yonrico Scott, a multifaceted talent whose remarkable percussion skills were acknowledged and respected throughout the music industry, died Thursday night, September 19 at 63 years of age. Born in Detroit, Scott began playing drums at age 7 with local gospel/church groups, studied under professional drummer George Hamilton Jr. as a teen, and majored… Continue reading Atlanta Drummer Yonrico Scott, 1955-2019
Sequoyah Murray Begins the Begin
New Thrill Jockey recording artist Sequoyah Murray is a musical weirdo in the best possible way, earning the multi-instrumentalist comparisons to Arthur Russell and a chance to work with avant-electronic producer James Ginzburg (Emptyset). For a potent taste of his immense imagination and musical masterworks, check out debut album Before You Begin, out Sept. 13. Standout… Continue reading Sequoyah Murray Begins the Begin
Mattiel – Satis Factory
The title of Mattiel’s second full-length album, Satis Factory, is somewhat apropos. She’s like the fore(wo)man of a hot smoking powerhouse, systematically cranking out jukebox sermons for the masses at a microdosed Bicentennial cookout. The growth of confidence between her releases is visible exponentially here. She has traded some of the wit for a little… Continue reading Mattiel – Satis Factory
Sara Rachele – Scorpio Moon
Part-time New Yorker, occasional Atlantan, and full-time creative force Sara Rachele’s multi-city connections helped achieve her ambitious live-to-tape vision for new album Scorpio Moon. The title track, recorded with members of the Dap-Kings, rolls the clock back to the blue-eyed soul heights of Dusty Springfield’s career. It features not only Binky Griptite and other members… Continue reading Sara Rachele – Scorpio Moon
The Southern Soul Singles of Lee Moses Compiled
Few details are known about Atlanta native Lee Moses’s life. He fronted the Royal Peacock’s house band The Showstoppers in the late 1950s and early ‘60s. He worked as a session musician in New York City in the latter half of the ‘60s, and recorded a handful of obscure soul/R&B sides of his own. He… Continue reading The Southern Soul Singles of Lee Moses Compiled
State of Georgia, Public Records Division
Intending to dive into the Record Store Day shenanigans on April 13 in hopes of getting your paws on one of those Sheena Easton “Sugar Walls” picture discs? Well, while you’re feverishly digging through the crates, you might wanna also keep an eye out for these special releases from some Georgia old-timers. Bingo Hand Job… Continue reading State of Georgia, Public Records Division
Song Premiere: Ruby Velle – “Nah Nah Please”
We’ve known Ruby Velle as the vivacious vocalist for Atlanta band the Soulphonics for many years. Last year, the ensemble released its second album, State of All Things, to much deserved acclaim. Also in 2018, Velle began issuing her own songs apart from the band, with different collaborators and producers. The first, the sassy and… Continue reading Song Premiere: Ruby Velle – “Nah Nah Please”
Mattiel – Customer Copy
If Mattiel Brown’s debut album struck you as a little retro, wait’ll you hear this. Everything on her follow-up EP sounds excavated from the ruins of an after-hours scooter-zoomin’/pill-powered Mod/soul/R&B dance party in a 1965 London flat basement. In other words, it’s invigorating, wild, raucous and full of life. It’s deliberately recorded by band leaders/songwriters… Continue reading Mattiel – Customer Copy
Liz Brasher – Painted Image
I first became aware of Memphis-via-Atlanta singer and musician Liz Brasher back when she’d share her gospel, soul and folk discoveries in a certain vinyl collector’s Facebook group. Her passion as a crate-digger, excited to find cultural touchstones and hidden gems at record stores and used book shops, proves as vital as her God-given musical… Continue reading Liz Brasher – Painted Image
The War and Treaty
Where the Loving Is At: The War and Treaty Speak to the Soul If you were moved by Mavis Staples’ masterful performance at this year’s CMA Awards, check out The War and Treaty. The duo of Michael Jr. and Tanya Trotter pay homage to Staples, Aretha Franklin, and other singers with church-grown soul; preserving classic… Continue reading The War and Treaty
Posthumous Charles Bradley Album Out Nov. 9
Sadly, we lost Mr. Charles Bradley to cancer on Sept. 23, 2017. In celebration of his life, on Nov. 9 (five days after what would have been his 70th birthday), Daptone Records will release Black Velvet, a full elpee of old school soul slow-burners that were never included on any prior Bradley album. Featuring material… Continue reading Posthumous Charles Bradley Album Out Nov. 9