Now That's What I Call 70's Soul

It's Friday, we don't tend to do that many music features on here but as the medium connects with what during this period was my main form of listening to it we'll look at the 3 LP version of a recent Now That's What I Call Music release.

Most of Now's releases are about periods of hits such as the iconic Now Numbered series from Now 1 in 1983 to 123 recently, the recent Now Yearbook series and it's sub series Vaults but they have done more genre focused compilations.

This looks to be a part of round up by decade of soul music they are attempting really aimed at those who have a general interest in Soul music but not having label or single artist compilations reminding me a bit of 90's bank holiday soul shows on BBC Radio that broadened your knowledge.

This is looking at 70's soul starting with Motown and Philly and going through to the like Earth Wind and Fire and the funk/soul of the Commodores.

The cd set uses four cds but by only using three lps the selection of necessity is tighter which makes it a most useful overview of this decade in soul.

Record One opens with one of the decade’s most recognisable love songs: Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together’, a US #1 and UK Top 10 hit that became his signature recording. It’s followed by Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’, the socially conscious masterpiece and title track from his landmark 1971 album, and Diana Ross’ Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, which topped the US chart and became her first solo #1. Stevie Wonder’s ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)’ remains one of Motown’s most joyful recordings and comes before Commodores’ ‘Easy’ introducing Lionel Richie’s smooth ballad vocals. 

The side also includes Bill Withers’ timeless ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’, a Grammy-winning classic, and The Stylistics’ lush ballad ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’, a UK Top 3 smash, before closing with Rose Royce’s beautiful ‘Wishing On A Star’, one of the most loved soul ballads of the era. 

Side Two opens with The Jackson 5’s ‘I Want You Back’ – the group’s explosive debut single opens the side. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles’ ‘The Tears Of A Clown’ became a UK #1 and is followed by The Supremes’ Nathan Jones’ showcasing the group’s evolving psychedelic-soul sound. Northern Soul classics from Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons with ‘The Night’, Chairmen Of The Board’s Top 3 smash ‘Give Me Just A Little More Time’ and The Trammps’ ‘Hold Back The Night’. The O’Jays’ joyous ‘Love Train’ leads to The Blackbyrds’ Walking In Rhythm’, before the side closes with the romantic classic ‘Always And Forever’ from Heatwave.

Record Two opens with The Temptations’ epic ‘Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone’, a Grammy-winning US #1 remains one of the most stunning recordings from the Motown catalogue, is followed by Isaac Hayes’ ‘Theme From “Shaft”’, an Academy Award-winner and a US #1 smash. More funk follows from Ike & Tina Turner, James Brown with one of his key tracks ‘Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine’, Edwin Starr’s powerful anti-Vietnam protest song ‘War’, and Sly & The Family Stone’s hugely influential ‘Family Affair’. The Delfonics’ sublime ‘Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)’ comes ahead of Billy Paul’s timeless ‘Me And Mrs. Jones’ which closes the side.

Side Two begins with the 1977 #1 from The Floaters with ‘Float On’, before the breathtaking vocals of Minnie Riperton on ‘Lovin’ You’. The Isley Brothers’ Summer Breeze’ and William DeVaughn’s ‘Be Thankful For What You Got’ have become enduring classics and are followed by a run of ‘80s pop-chart crossover hits completing this disc from Detroit Emeralds, The Moments Raydio and The Tymes’ #1 ‘Ms. Grace’.

Record Three opens with the unmistakable voice of Barry White and his US #1 hit ‘Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe’, before Aretha Franklin’s ‘Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)’, delivers one of her smoothest performances. Al Green’s ‘Tired Of Being Alone’ and Gladys Knight & The Pips’ ‘Midnight Train To Georgia’ are followed by minimalist soul classic ‘Why Can’t We Live Together’ from Timmy Thomas, and the side closes with a trio of defining ballads:- George Benson’s ‘The Greatest Love Of All’ Diana Ross’ ‘Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)’ and The Jackson 5’s ‘I’ll Be There’, their biggest hit…while over the last side Freda Payne’s #1 ‘Band Of Gold’, opens alongside Ann Peebles’ influential and much covered ‘I Can’t Stand The Rain’.Marvin Gaye’s sensual ‘Let’s Get It On’ became another US #1, while Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass deliver the contemporary standard ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now’. 

Three massive UK #1s are next…The Stylistics with ‘Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)’, The Three Degrees’ peerless ‘When Will I See You Again’ and Deniece Williams’ ‘Free’. This amazing collection closes with two timeless ballads: Earth, Wind & Fire’s ‘After The Love Has Gone’, a Grammy-winning classic, along with ‘Three Times A Lady’in its singles edit , a huge worldwide #1 for the Commodores.

This set is well worth it's modest price.

Mayday moves

Bit of a warm one in the Dorm, windows open, as old as the building gas fire turned off and much lighter girlie clothes on as I'm cleaning the odd record a few decades old with a new brush.

No, not a clothes brush but a soft fairly deep brush with velvet guards to take up the dust and debris it digs out of the groove as having got it out you don't want it staying on the record potentially being plowed back into it!

Some exciting news is we have a summer camp this year despite much weirdo politicking over the use of legal and fully authorized rooms that saw last years cancelled for some of us to the consternation of others who could see beyond the obvious that more more in means lower fees across the board.

Obviously  numbers and finding accommodation to fit all those interested is a challenge given there is a big jump in terms of prices once you're over eleven or so rooms so apart from  being sure you can fill them, for a few affordability may be an issue but sometimes you have to bite the bullet.

Post Covid, with international tensions "staycations" that's to say people taking vacations in the UK has risen so while it was the case places were cutting back on renewing facilities leading to tired rooms but they have spent more on this so that apart from demand has fed into this accommodation cost increase.

Millie Tant gets herself in a knot

 Wednesday had started fine although the legendary Grump had managed to confuse his going out that day with going out yesterday although the main thing he wanted for Wednesday tea wasn't in and I'd have to get it.

Get back in and have dinner to look at one site and the post of the mornung

Person A initial post:  Ed Miliband has vowed to 'double down' on his green energy drive despite fears it could push up prices.

I really loathe that man

My reply: Wherever we may be at personally when it comes to politics there's an general acceptance that the bigger issues at the moment is affordability (to domestic and business customers) and security of supply are more important as much as we'd all like to see better energy efficiency leading to lower usage and lower pollution. There are better alternatives than Mr Milliband has been touting.

Person B adds several hours later straight after my post:  "What if instead of energy it was trans issues? Violence against women and girls is more important than men masquerading as women.

We can take away trans rights now and give them back next year... maybe 2030... maybe 2050... oh fuck it, why bother?

Don't mind me."

This site has a high proportion of trans activists and this person is no exception.

You'll note the conversation had NOTHING to do with trans issues and as we're all aware policy priorities do change over time - politics is often described as the "language of priorities" often in response to world events.

If you wanted an example of the way some peoples actions give rise to the notion that Trans Activism can be toxic there you go.

Rewind...

We're back although I haven't got around to posting the first entry of the week elsewhere simply because my fingers and wrists were off for a couple of days and I needed to rest them.

While resting them thoughts went back to past years and the messy year that was 1984 that including great things such as the Los Angeles Olympics, the '84 Superbowl but a while set of issues with poor communications with people I needed to help me not talking to each other.

It was very much the year of the Walkman as it lived in my coatpockets with stash of tapes and my Pioneer Radio cassette recorder that I listened to radio to on and made recordings as I tended only to play records as special events so hardly surprising many of my lps and singles from them are in great shape.

Billy Idols Rebel Yell and the Footloose soundtrack were played a lot but one favourite was the cassette version of Rewind, a compilation tracks from the 1970's and early 80's by the Rolling Stones taking in many but all their UK singles in a generous 50 odd minute form split over two sides.

For good measure it was a XDR tm issue which meant better tape duplication, higher quality tape used to make it and dolby hx pro for better high notes.

Come the compact disc, that album was not issued until 1987 and then in a different form in the UK and Europe but actually in February 1985 it was issued in Japan briefly and recently a copy arrived here in mint condition.

Most Emi-Toshibi cds in Japan had this right pointing Black Triangle label design.

The rear had titles and track number in Japanese but the folded up booklet has the detail in Japanese and English which does help and some black and white pictures.

The album was related to a video - the first - commercially to show the promotional videos made for the singles you could buy and play on your Betamax or VHS recorder.

Playing this "vintage" cd with the running order of the tape I had certainly brought back a lot of memories.

Thoughts before off

 

We're off tomorrow for a little fun, which after the great gale force winds removing the facial boards and a tv that stopped working necessitating order a replacement to be fitted when I'm back  I'm really rather glad to be off.

It's a more "girlie" affair being Easter themed with games and that which is great while other bits of a musical project put off for a period due to issues with collector mentality affecting pricing although the items in question were very common place during the period of manufacturing were completed.

Recently demand seems to have dipped, perhaps those more into physically owing have dropped in number so they are offered at more reasonable prices unlike some they don't live in vaults with me but are used with care.

I just don't understand the whole notion of not using things for their intended purpose.

Summer looks

We're in April and while much is ailing in the World, Iran, the bullying insulting ways of Donald J Trump and friends and oil shortages coming into our front rooms on our tv's and internet devices it is time to talk a bit about summer attire.

In the somewhat convoluted history of this blog at one time we did talk a bit around fashion, looks and the like between the travel, music and current affairs as we started to establish the more little world blog.

As time went on that side was more dominant when it came to looks so most posts around the topic ended up on there and we became more the what didn't fit into that world space.

Summer brings challenges such as staying cool but not risking showing what the world doesn't need be it windy or just park benches with wide wooden slats. 

This really for me works based a bit more on more girl fashion without being too girlie and fairly practical starting with a baby blue polo shirt that breathes, is stylish  and easy to wash.

Shorts tend to be better for things like walking around lanes, spending time in the parks and gardens and these Puma PUMA Unisex Gestrickte Shorts Teamgoal Shorts WMNS, aimed mainly at girls and women who play soccer just do the job.

Classics and short, they do have material designed to wick away moisture which does help.

You do need something between your feet and footwear in the summer as much we use cooling gels and sprays to keep our feet dry and not smelling and these cute ankle socks are very much a girls thing but not excessively so.

Add sandals or trainers and it just works.

The right space for me is...

 Well four weeks on the war with Iran isn't over with much wishful thinking, outright lies and no meaningful regime change, more barefaced lies from the Prime Minister although to be fair some of his predecessors were almost as bad with chronic indecisiveness in the mix and the likelihood of The Lebanon being flattened by Israel just like Gaza which still hasn't been sorted.

Attempted political pointing scoring on one site either though they keep trying to say it's supposed to be free from adult topics lest it take them out of a more innocent headspace. To me you either keep the politics and adult topics out or you quit kicking up a fuss when some raise them but letting others put over the "approved" take of one group while not saying a thing about about Moby's inaccurate depiction of the song Lola as transphobic although many users there are trans.

Sometimes I feel glad to have this other side that can just colour and play ignoring much of that.