Even though I’m a big sports fan, I didn’t mind hositng the show on Super Bowl Sunday yesterday. If I hadn’t done the show, I wouldn’t have been able to pay tribute to Don Cornelius or been able to bring in Adrian Younge for a guest DJ set and interview. I recently just said quite a lot on Don Cornelius, but what I wanted to do in the tribute was to give some of the flavor of the show, especially in those early truly groundbreaking days. So you hear a little bit of the Soul Train Gang talking to the artists, incredible performances exclusively done for the show from James Brown, Bill Withers and Aretha Franklin and can hear the soul clap and party atmosphere of the Soul Train Line as Graham Central Station’s “Release Yourself” plays in the background. Most of all you hear Don Cornelius’ voice and his signature closing wishing us all “Love, Peace and Soul.”

The whole second hour is given over to an amazing guest DJ set mixed live at the station earlier in the week by Adrian Younge, who also sits in to discuss his new album Something About April (Separate Post Coming). In between there’s also a few new tunes, from Lee Fields, Ana Tijoux, The One & Nines as well as classic material from Syl Johnson, Rebirth and J Dilla (celebrate Dilla Day, his birthday on the 7th, by playing your favorite Dilla tunes). Next week it’s fundraising time and we’ll have a pretty cool music sweepstakes for my show, until then enjoy this week’s show.

Melting Pot on KPFK #74: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #74: Second Hour

Playlist: 02-05-2012

{opening theme} Booker T & the Mgs – Melting Pot – 7” (Stax)

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Don Cornelius Tribute Set:
James Brown – Super Bad – Best of Soul Train DVD (Time Life)
Bill Withers – Use Me – Best of Soul Train DVD (Time Life)
Graham Central Station – Release Yourself – Best of Soul Train DVD (Time Life)
Aretha Franklin – Rock Steady – Best of Soul Train DVD (Time Life)

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Syl Johnson – Different Strokes – 7” (Twilight)
The One and Nines – Make It Easy – 7” (Cotter)
Lee Fields & the Expressions – Faithful Man – Faithful Man (Truth & Soul)
Ana Tijoux – El Rey Solo – La Bala (Nacional)

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Boogaloo Assassins – No No No – Single (Self-released)
Rebirth Brass Band – Let’s Go Get ‘Em – Rebirth of New Orleans (Basin Street)
Sureshot Symphony Solution feat. The Mighty Pope – Mr. Fortune & Fame – 7” (Self-released)
J Dilla – Anti-American Graffiti/Geek Down – Donuts (Stones Throw)

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Adrian Younge – Guest DJ Set & Interview – Recorded Live At KPFK (KPFK Archives)

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Adrian Younge & Venice Dawn – It’s Me – Something About April (Wax Poetics)

I’m truly sorry it took so long to get this posted, but I had a problem with the first recording of the audio and wanted to make sure that was straight and clear when we put this up. Etta James was such a fantastic singer, with such incredible range of emotion and consistency over her 55+ year, that it would have been a disservice to post anything other than the best quality I can for her tribute. During the two hours I more or less stick to a chronological order, from her start singing gutsy R&B on the Modern & Kent labels, to her crossover turn when she started at Chess, to her “comeback” with 1968′s Tell Mama recorded in the equally legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals to all her other “comebacks” in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and over the last ten years. It’s amazing listening to her final recordings from last year’s The Dreamer and considering that here was a woman well into her 70s, and still capable of bringing down the house with her voice, style and the emotion expressed in both. Thank you for sharing your talents with us Etta James…we will never forget you.

Etta James Tribute on KPFK’s Melting Pot 01-29-2012: First Hour
Etta James Tribute on KPFK’s Melting Pot 01-29-2012: Second Hour

Etta James Tribute: 01-29-2012

Etta James – The Wallflower (Dance With Me Henry – Etta James Sings (United Superior)
Etta James – Be Mine – The Complete Modern & Kent Recordings (Ace)
Etta James – Market Place – The Complete Modern & Kent Recordings (Ace)
Etta James – Tough Lover – The Complete Modern & Kent Recordings (Ace)
Etta James – Crazy Feeling (Do Something Crazy) – The Complete Modern & Kent Recordings (Ace)
Etta James – W-O-M-A-N – The Complete Modern & Kent Recordings (Ace)

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Etta James – If I Can’t Have You – The Chess Box (Chess)
Etta James – At Last – At Last! (Argo)
Etta James – Stop The Wedding – Etta James Top Ten (Argo)
Etta James – Waiting For Charlie (To Come Home) – The Chess Box (Chess)
Etta James – I Want To Be Loved – Sings For Lovers (Argo)
Etta James – One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) – The Chess Box (Chess)

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Etta James – I Just Want To Make Love To You – The Chess Box (Chess)
Etta James – Next Door To The Blues – 7” (Argo)
Etta James – Something’s Gotta Hold On Me/Baby What You Want Me To Do – Etta James Rocks The House (Chess)
Etta James – (I Don’t Need Nobody To Tell Me) How To Treat My Baby – The Chess Box (Chess)

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Etta James – Tell Mama – Tell Mama (Cadet)
Etta James – I’m Gonna Take What He’s Got – Tell Mama (Cadet)
Etta James – Almost Persuaded – Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions (MCA/Chess)
Etta James – I Worship The Ground You Walk On – Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions (MCA/Chess)
Etta James – I’ve Gone Too Far – Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions (MCA/Chess)

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Etta James & Sugar Pie Desanto – In The Basement Pt. 1 – 7” (Cadet)
Etta James – Sweet Memories – Etta James Sings Funk (Cadet)
Etta James – I Never Meant To Love Him – The Essential Etta James (Chess)
Etta James – Deep In The Night – Deep In The Night (WB)
Etta James – Damn Your Eyes – Seven Year Itch (Island)

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Etta James – Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be) – Mystery Lady: The Songs Of Billie Holiday (Private Music)
Etta James – Body & Soul – Mystery Lady: The Songs Of Billie Holiday (Private Music)
Etta James – The Sky Is Crying – Blues To The Bone (RCA)
Etta James – Cigarettes & Coffee – The Dreamer (Verve Forecast)

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Etta James – I’d Rather Go Blind – Tell Mama (Cadet)

Last week was rough and tough, 3 legendary performers passing away in the same week! We paid tribute to two of them on this week’s show, honoring Jimmy Castor at the start, and Johnny Otis at the end. In between we have a little new music from the Dirty Three, Michael Kiwanuka, Neverever, Sonnymoon, Sureshot Symphony Solution and a couple others. At the beginning of the second hour there is an interview and performance with Barry Adamson (separate post upcoming), where we talk about his career and he plays 3 songs just with acoustic guitar. If you’re a fan of Adamson, you’ll likely be as surprised as I was hearing him in this new light. Next week we’ll definitely have a tribute to Etta James…

Melting Pot on KPFK #72: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #72: Second Hour

Playlist: 01-22-2012
{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – 7” (Stax)

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Jimmy Castor Bunch – It’s Just Begun – Super Breaks (BGP)
Jimmy Castor Bunch – Troglydyte (Cave Man) – It’s Just Begun (RCA)
Jimmy Castor – Southern Fried Frijoles – Hey Leroy! (Smash)
Jimmy Castor – Ham Hocks Espanol – Hey Leroy! (Smash)
Jimmy Castor Bunch – L.T.D. (Life Truth & Death) – It’s Just Begun (RCA)

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Michael Kiwanuka – Home Again – Home Again EP (Communion/Polydor)
Emily King – Every Part – The Seven EP (Self-Released)
Sonnymoon – Goddess – 2012 EP (Plug Research)
Gonjasufi – The Blame – Muzzle EP (Warp)

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Neverever – Venus – Shake-a-Baby (Slumberland)
The Dirty Three – That Was Was – Toward The Low Sun (Drag City)
Dengue Fever – Only A Friend – Cannibal Courtship (Fantasy/Concord)
Katalyst feat. Stephanie McKay & Buff 1 – U Can’t Save Me – Deep Impressions (BBE)
Sureshot Symphony Solution feat. Coultrain – Chair On The Ceiling – A Good Look EP (Self-released)
Barry Adamson – The Big Bamboozle – Oedipus Schmoedipus (Mute)

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Barry Adamson – Interview & Performance – Recorded Live At KPFK

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Barry Adamson – If You Love Her – I Will Set You Free (Central Control)
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Your Funeral, My Trial – Your Funeral, My Trial (Mute)
Johnny Otis – Cold Shot – Cold Shot (Kent)

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Johnny Otis – Signifying Monkey – Cold Shot (Kent)
Johnny Otis Show – Country Girl – Watts Funky (BGP)
Vera Hamilton – But I Ain’t No More (G.S.T.S.K.D.T.S.) – 7” (Epic)
Johnny Otis Show – Watts Breakaway – 7” (Epic)
The Vibrettes – Humpty Dump – 7” (Lujon)
Johnny Otis Show – Goin’ Back To LA – Cold Shot (Kent)

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{closing theme} Dungen – C. Visar Vagen – Tio Batar (Kemado)

Generally for these first couple of shows in the new year I don’t have a lot of new records to play, but here in 2012 we’re seeing quite a few quality releases in our early shows (perhaps showing what a strong year musically 2012 will be!). Yesterday’s show features brand new music from The Dirty Three (first album in 5+ years!!!), Frankie Rose & the Outs, Ana Tijoux, Lee Fields & the Expressions, Hunx (without his Punx), and Adrian Younge & Venice Dawn. The show starts with a short tribute to MLK, with tribute tracks from Jose James and Max Roach, and in the middle an excerpt from his final speech. What’s always struck me about the “Mountaintop” speech is King’s awareness that the threats against his life were becoming far too real (he was assassinated the very next day), but despite those threats and all he had endured in the past, he had great faith that this nation would one day live up to its ideals. Though there has been at times slow, at other times stunning progress since his murder, we still haven’t achieved his dream. Our work to make this place better than its been, remains to be done. Part of the reason why I prefer to play multiple genres, is that I want to bring together different types of people with these different sounds, to surprise people who thought they were only Indie or Hip-Hop with music they might not have listened to otherwise, breaking down all the little barriers we erect that keep us from each other. Bridging those gaps and bringing “us” together is what this show, every single week, is about musically, a small testament to men and women like Dr. King who worked so hard to give everyone an opportunity to just be themselves, live and love.

Melting Pot on KPFK #71: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #71: Second Hour

Playlist: 1-15-2012
{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – 7” (Stax)

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Jose James – The Dreamer – The Dreamer (Brownswood)
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – “I’ve Been To The Mountaintop” excerpt – Free At Last (Gordy)
Max Roach & the JC White Singers – Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? – Lift Every Voice And Sing (Atlantic)

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Lee Fields & the Expressions – Walk On Thru That Door – Faithful Man (Truth & Soul)
Allah-Las – Catamaran – 7” (Pres)
Los Nombres – Todos – Los Nombres (Numero)
Hunx – Always Forever – Hairdresser Blues (Hardly Art)
The Sureshot Symphony Solution – Mr. Fortune & Fame – 7” (Self-Released)

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Echocentrics feat. Tita Lima – We Need A Resolution – Echoland EP (Ubiquity)
Love – Doggone – Out There (Blue Thumb)

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Adrian Younge & Venice Dawn – Two Hearts – Something About April (Wax Poetics)
The Dirty Three – Rising Below – Toward The Low Sun (Drag City)
The Lions – Jungle Struttin’ – Jungle Struttin’ (Ubiquity)
Fela Kuti – No Agreement – No Agreement (Knitting Factory)

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Ana Tijoux – Shock – La Bala (Nacional)
Bright Moments – Travelers – Natives (Luaka Bop)
Wu Tang Clan – Da Mystery Of Chessboxin’ – Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers) (Loud)
Sroeng Santi – Nam Man Pang – Thai Funk Vol. 1 (Light In The Attic)

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Frankie Rose & the Outs – Know Me – Interstellar (Memphis Industries)
T. Dyson – It’s All Over – Personal Space (Chocolate Industries)
14KT – Pick Up Sticks – A Friendly Game of KT (Mellow Music Group)
Barry Adamson – The Vibes Ain’t Nothing But The Vibes – Oedipus Schmoedipus (Mute)
Alpha – Silver Light – Stargazing (Nettwerk)

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{closing theme} Dungen – C. Visar Vagen – Tio Batar (Kemado)

Here’s our first real show of 2011, (since last week we were focused on looking back on 2011), with a lot of brand new music, a few that slipped under the radar last year and a couple things that hopefully we’ll get in 2012. Show begins with a short tribute to Sean Bonniwell of the Bonniwell Music Machine who passed in late December. Also gave a shoutout to the Fela! Musical that’s at the Ahmanson until Jan. 22nd, (and did a giveaway for the cast’s upcoming performance at the Troubadour) if you’re a lover of Fela’s music, I can’t recommend this show enough. Now that 2012 is here, looks like it will be a fantastic year for music!

Melting Pot on KPFK #70: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #70: Second Hour

Playlist: 1-08-2012
{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – 7” (Stax)

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Bonniwell Music Machine – Talk Talk – Nuggets (Rhino)
Bonniwell Music Machine – Bottom Of The Soul – Bonniwell Music Machine (WB)
Bonniwell Music Machine – Unca Tinka Ty – Ignition (Sundazed)
Bonniwell Music Machine – The People In Me – Where The Action Is (Rhino)
Bonniwell Music Machine – Dark White – Ignition (Sundazed)

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BlackStar – Fix Up – Single (Self-Released)
Quadron – Baby Be Mine – Recorded at KPFK (KPFK Archives)
The Avalanches – Etoh – Since I Left You (Modular)
Broadcast – The Little Bell – Ha Ha Sound (Warp)
Shimmering Stars – Believe – Violent Hearts (Hardly Art)

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La Sera – Please Be My Third Eye – Sees The Light (Hardly Art)
Shin Joong Hyun – Pushing Through The Fog – Beautiful Rivers and Mountains (Light In The Attic)
Thee Oh Sees – Carrion Crawler – Carrion Crawler/The Dream (In The Red)
Captain Beefheart – Owed T’Alex – Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) (Warner Bros.)
The Menahan Street Band – Eyes On The Prize – No Time For Dreaming: Instrumentals (Daptone/Dunham)

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Sahr Ngaujah and Cast – Water No Get Enemy – Fela! Original Broadway Cast Recording (Knitting Factory)
Fela Anikulapo Kuti – Sorrow, Tears and Blood – Sorrow, Tears and Blood (Knitting Factory)
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble feat. Phil Cohran – Black Boy – Bulletproof Brass (Choice Cuts)

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Shawn Lee’s Incredible Tabla Band – Let There Be Drums – Tabla Rock (Ubiquity)
Jose James – Trouble – Single (Self-released)
Emily King – Radio – The Seven EP (Self-released)
Catpower – King Rides By – Charity Single (Matador)

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Sea Lions – I Loved Her So Much – Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sea Lions But Were Afraid To Ask (Slumberland)
Soonthorn Sujaridchan – Sara-a-more Sara-r: Kee Mao Lae – Thai Funk Vol. 2 (Light In The Attic)
Georgia Anne Muldrow – Seeds – Seeds (Stones Throw)
David Bowie – Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise) – Diamond Dogs (RCA)

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{closing theme} Dungen – C. Visar Vagen – Tio Batar (Kemado)

***Honorable Mentions: Phonte – The Good Fight, The Sandwitches – My Heart Does Swell (live at KPFK), King – The Story, M.E.D. – Blaxican, The Echocentrics feat. Tita Lima – Jardim, Real Estate – Municipality, Real Estate – Green Aisles, WildCookie – Something About Those Days

5. The Strange Boys – “Doueh” – Live Music (Rough Trade)

The Strange Boys – Doueh

Two things stick out to me about “Doueh” (which honestly I have no idea how to pronounce, I just say “Doo-eh” on the air) and are responsible for it being in my Top 5 songs of 2011. First, it’s in the interplay of the guitars. “Doueh” is one of the rare places where the Strange Boys’ love and knowledge of garage rock, country and gritty soul all come together at the same time musically. Though the rhythm stays the same virtually throughout, the guitars are constantly doing something a little different, from that main little strut and all the subtle variations throughout that (I’m not ashamed to say) always causes my shoulders to bounce, to the big wash of finger-picking that I supposed counts as a solo, even though it sounds like there are 2 or 3 additional guitar lines overdubbed along with the two main guitars. The way those guitars intertwine with each other shows how far this band has come in a short period of time.

The second big reason why this was my favorite song from the album Live Music and also one of my favorites of the year is the vocal performance of Ryan Sambol. That seems like a strange thing to say, because Sambol’s voice is not likely to win any competitions (I previously described it as a cross between Bob Dylan and Pat from SNL). It’s likely the quirky-ness of that voice keeps them from being major stars along the lines of the Black Keys or other bands, which given the most recent record from the Black Keys might be a very good thing. However, Sambol’s voice IS one of the more distinctive elements of the Strange Boys. On “Doueh” Sambol delivers maybe his best vocals to date, sounding sly and knowing when he remarks “my body betrays me, but I don’t betray it back,” but also fully confident, assured, forceful and strong in the 2nd verse, especially when he sings “I knew not a word, I couldn’t name a note, I swear I heard a language I didn’t know I spoke.” I don’t know where the Strange Boys are going to go from here, but it’s clear that Sambol and the boys have finally grown comfortable in their own skin and have found their sound and the best way to present it.

4. Lake – “Giving & Receiving” – Giving & Receiving (K Records)

Lake – Giving And Receiving

For my year end show, this track from Olympia, Washington’s very un-Olympia sounding Lake, was the only song that I also played during the summer’s “Best So Far” program. Here’s what I said about this track back in the spring:

“While there are several rather lovely tracks on this album, “Giving & Receiving” is one of the best, not just on this album, but that I’ve heard off of any album all year (I’m always fascinated in how quickly I know a great song when I hear it…after one listen I was absolutely sure that this would be in my year end list of Best of 2011). It has a very early summer, lazy slightly hazy sunday afternoon vibe with its slower than mid-tempo, but still not that slow and soulful beat. Eriksson’s vocals caress the listener with their sweetness, even though lyrically the song seems to point toward a more downbeat mood. I especially like the moment at the literal half point of the song, just before the tempo change that accompanies the “There used to be fish in the Ocean” lyrics, with all those layers of keyboards, subtle notes from the horns and Eriksson’s just slight humming in the background. Just plain gorgeous.”

Months later nothing has dulled my appreciation for the understated beauty and subtle soul in “Giving & Receiving.” The song isn’t just dreamy, it’s literally sounds like the soundtrack of a dream.

3. Katalyst feat. Stephanie McKay – “Day Into Night” – Deep Impressions (BBE)

Katalyst feat. Stephanie McKay – Day Into Night

“Day Into Night” was one of a handful of songs that were a part of my summer playlist in 2011. With it’s reggae riddim and soulful vocals from Stephanie McKay, it just has this late summer vibe that I found irresistible well into winter. For some time I was convinced that this was somehow a sample of Phyllis Dillon’s “Perfidia,” but it’s pretty clear that 9/10’s of the riddim & the vocal sample come from Desmond Dekker’s “No Place Like Home”:

To my ears at least McKay’s vocals DO seem connected to Dillon’s track, which is likely part of the reason why I’m so drawn to “Day Into Night.” Whatever the source material, McKay brings such emotion to her vocals that there’s no way not to pay attention and feel the deep soul she puts into her work.

2. Hunx & his Punx – “Lover’s Lane” – Too Young To Fall In Love (Hardly Art)

Hunx & His Punx – Lover’s Lane

Here’s what I originally had to say about this song from Oakland’s Hunx & his Punx:

“I’ve listened to this track probably 30 times this week and I’m still floored by the way the backing vocals tumble out in waves during the chorus. It seems rare to have multiple singers sing in harmony, yet retain distinctive voices, perhaps it’s a slight studio trick, but it’s something I haven’t heard too much before. The way all those voices come together and separate, particularly in the last third of the song, just kills me everytime. I can almost guarantee that this song will be one of my faves at the end of the year.”

After listening to hundreds of songs, Lover’s Lane remained one of my favorites of the year, and was probably the song I listened to on repeat more than any other throughout 2011. As if things couldn’t have gotten better, they actually made a video for the song:

Totally trashy, in a Jon Waters kind of way and simply adorable…and it’s fascinating to me that after listening to this song hundreds of times, it’s only through the video that I even noticed that there were some subtle organ notes in the background of the whole track. I’d focused on the swirling mix of vocals, Shannon Shaw’s endearing squeal at the end of “I Wanna Go,” the neo-60’s beat and great gritty guitar solo so much that I missed that entirely. With new music from Hunx in 2012 and future music from bassist/vocalist Shannon Shaw’s Shannon & the Clams, it’s likely my musical love affair with the members of this group will only grow.

1. Charles Bradley – “I Believe In Your Love” – No Time For Dreaming (Dunham/Daptone)

Charles Bradley – I Believe In Your Love

As much as I love “Lover’s Lane,” no other song thrilled me in 2011 as much as “I Believe In Your Love” from Charles Bradley & the Menahan Street Band. Here’s what I said earlier:

“In terms of the music, “I Believe In Your Love” also is a standout track instrumentally. Menahan works a Hodges Brothers Hi-Records inspired sound, from the drums and the main guitar, adds washes of organ in the right channel, horns primarily in the left, little bells during the verses, and all the elements come together and just explode with sound during Bradley’s chorus. In the vocal version the interplay is damn powerful, in the instrumental version, the intricacies of the rhythm are a marvel to behold, as is the entire album.”

When people tell me that “retro-soul” is just a copy of older better music, I use this as exhibit A. You never would have gotten this same kind of sound in the 1960s and early 1970s. It’s a thoroughly post-modern pastiche of the best elements of that classic soul sound, updated into something that only could come about in the 21st century. A post-modern retro-soul masterpiece and my favorite song of 2011.

Melting Pot's Top 5 New Releases of 2011

All this week on Melting Pot we’ve been taking a look back at 2011′s year in music. This post covers the best new records that I heard last year. In 2010, I had a really hard time picking my favorite records of the year, and essentially ended up with a 5 way tie for #1…that wasn’t the case in 2011. Some of it might have been how much more significantly busy I was this year as opposed to the prior, perhaps the music just wasn’t as strong as 2010, but there were very clear favorites this year, and my list of the top 5 new releases I heard in 2011 is below…let me know what your favorites of 2011 were in the comments or on our facebook page!

***Honorable Mentions: Headnodic – Red Line Radio (Brick), Amon Tobin – Isam (Ninja Tune), The Sandwitches – Mrs. Jones’ Cookies (Empty Cellar), Chain & the Gang – Music’s Not For Everyone (K Records), Hunx & his Punx – Too Young To Fall In Love (Hardly Art), Algodon Egipcio – La Lucha Constante (Lefse)

5. M.E.D. – Classic – Stones Throw

M.E.D. feat. Talib Kweli – Classic

Original Post

For much of 2011, I was thoroughly unimpressed by the slate of Hip-Hop releases, all the way up until the Fall. The last several months saw the release of a number of very good independent Hip-Hop releases, including this long-awaited LP from Oxnard’s M.E.D. Featuring production work primarily from the ever fascinating MadLib (plus assists from Karriem Riggins, Georgia Anne Muldrow and The Alchemist), and guest rhymes from Kweli, Planet Asia & Kurupt. M.E.D. is at his best when he’s anthemic as he is on “Where I’m From” and “Blaxican,” but even when he detours into very different themes on “Mystical Magical,” “Love & War,” “Classic” (with a breezy Phil Upchurch sample) and “Flying High,” he consistently shines brightly.

The amazing video for Blaxican (something that I’ll likely be using in my classes for years to come) in and of itself might have warranted inclusion on this list, but the depth and quality of the entire record deserves notice on this aptly named LP.

4. Phonte – Charity Starts At Home – Foreign Exchange Music

Phonte feat. Evidence and Big Krit – Life Of Kings

Original Post

For almost 10 years, Phonte Coleman has been my favorite MC, so it’s no surprise that this, his debut “solo” release is on this list. Charity covers much of the territory you’d expect based off of his work with Little Brother and Foreign Exchange, but Phonte’s verbal skills keep it all fresh. This album in some ways marks the long awaited reunion of Phonte with 9th Wonder, though the two have been collaborating quite a bit over the past year or so (and hopefully will be swinging into LA for some shows in 2012). 9th’s production graces the best tracks on the album, from the working man/mc anthem “The Good Fight” to “Life of Kings” a treatise on humility featuring Big Krit and Evidence along with Tigallo. I don’t know if they can mend things with Rapper Big Pooh, but as long as these collaborations continue you can expect to see Phonte’s music on these lists for years to come.

3. The Strange Boys – Live Music – Rough Trade

The Strange Boys – You Take Everything For Granite When You’re Stone

Original Post

I’m still a bit in shock that the Strange Boys released an album this good, so quickly after releasing last year’s Be Brave, which was also a pretty fantastic album. The casual listener might not note the growth between the two albums, but I certainly have. No longer content with being a garage band with a quirky singer, the Strange Boys are poised to get called up to the Show. Live Music is as good as Jeff Tweedy’s prime material with Wilco, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. It’s a record that really deserved to get much more press and airplay than it has. If I ever decided to record my dream album, the Strange Boys are exactly the band that I would want to back me up.

2. Charles Bradley & the Menahan Street Band – No Time For Dreaming – Dunham

Charles Bradley & the Menahan Street Band – Lovin’ You, Baby

Original Post

Nobody does soul reclamation quite like Daptone (Truth & Soul perhaps comes in 2nd), and with the pairing of the Menahan Street Band with Bradley’s powerful vocals, they’ve got a nice compliment to Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, certainly the best 1-2 punch in all of retro soulsville. I’ve already said so much about this album that instead of repeating myself, I’ll just quote myself from the review linked above.

“No Time For Dreaming is also a product of these specific times even though the sound is from 1960s. Though Bradley mines some of the same subjects, hard times, heartbreak & loss (particularly the death of his brother in “Heartaches & Pain”), there’s a righteousness in these songs that leans more towards optimism than depression. Whether it’s his pleading, “Got to make it right, all that I’ve done wrong” on “The Telephone Song” or on the title track, as he preaches “No time For dreaming, Go to get on up and do my thing.” Times maybe hard, but in line with James Brown’s most inspiring late 60s/70s material, Bradley wants us to get involved and get OURSELVES together. Even when things turn darker, such as on “The World” Bradley’s role is more of as a truth-teller, diagnosing the ills of the world not simply to gripe about them, but to bring to our attention the problems we experience and to get us focused on doing what we can to solve them (kinda like a musical sociologist!)”

No Time For Dreaming is a brilliant LP and hopefully just the first of many between Menahan and Mr. Bradley.

1. Real Estate – Days – Domino

Real Estate – Green Aisles

Real Estate’s Days is here for a simple reason. No other record met and exceeded expectations, or gave me as much joy in listening to it, as this the 2nd full-length release from these Jersey Boys. Last year’s Out of Tune 7” held out quite a lot of promise, and Days delivered in spades. A thoroughly listenable album, from start to finish, so good in fact that I really can’t pick a favorite track from the LP. If “Out Of Tune” hadn’t been released last year it might have ended up on my Top 5 Songs list, but there’s no way to chose from “Green Aisles,” “It’s Real,” “Municipality,” “Younger Than Yesterday,” “All The Same,” “Easy,” or “Three Blocks” for the best song of this LP. Thankfully they even kept a little of that easy going boardwalk spirit with the instrumental “Kinder Blumen.” For my money Real Estate is the best Indie-Rock band in all the world, and I can’t wait to hear what they have in store for us next.

Melting Pot's Top 5 Reissues of 2011

All this week on Melting Pot we’re taking a look back at the best music in 2011. Today’s post focuses on the best reissues of the year. 2011 continued the recent trend in just amazing reiusses, especially on the international front and for lovers of American soul music. Here is my list of the top 5 reissues I heard in 2011, let me know what you think and what was in your own top 5!

***Honorable Mentions: Those Shocking Shaking Days (Now-Again), Local Customs: Burned at Boddie (Numero), The Lijadu Sisters – Danger (Knitting Factory), El Rego – El Rego (Daptone), Life Is Dance: Plugged-In Sounds of Wonder at the Pakistani Picture House (Finders Keepers), Father’s Children – Father’s Children (Numero), Charles “Packy” Axton – Late Late Party 1965-1967 (Light In The Attic)

5. Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou – The First Album / Rob – Funky Rob Way (Analog Africa)

Rob – More

Orignal Post

Analog Africa always seems to deliver top shelf material, and this split LP/CD is no exception. Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou is an amazing group, and I’ll never get tired of hearing their sound, but I was really surprised by Rob, which I’d never heard before. I’m right now really wishing I had a residency someplace, just so I could see what dancers would do when I dropped the needle on “More.”

4. Shin Joong Hyun – Beautiful Rivers and Mountains: The Psychedelic Rock Sound of Shin Joong Hyun (Light In The Attic)

Shin Joong Hyun – I’ve Got Nothing To Say

Original Post

Light In The Attic had a very strong year (including twin reissues of material from the Louvin Bros.), but this collection of rock, psych and psychy rockin’ funk from South Korean guitarist Shin Joong Hyun was an ear-opener for sure. For me, Hyun’s music is at its best when it’s slowed down and spaced out, but the shorter, tighter and often funkier tracks, such as “I’ve Got Nothing To Say” (which sounds lifted from a film) are just as tasty.

3. Googoosh – Googoosh (Finders Keepers)

Googoosh – Digeh Geryeh Delo Va Nemikoneh

Original Post

“Truly Exceptional” just doesn’t seem to be a good enough description of how I feel about the music of Iranian songstress Faegheh Atashin, aka Googoosh. From the opening drums of “Shekeyat” I was completely hooked, every note that followed only continued to blow my mind. The story behind this music is just as amazing, with much of this music being banned (and in some cases destroyed) in Iran after the Revolution of 1979, making it exceedingly rare. In addition to often being seriously funky, the music and the singing from Googoosh is seriously beautiful and well deserving of many, many listens.

2. Mike James Kirkland – Don’t Sell Your Soul (Luv’N’Haight / Ubiquity)

Mike & the Censations – Victim Of Circumstance Part 1

I’ve been a fan of Mike James Kirkland’s brand of soul music since the earliest days of Luv’n’Haight and their reissue of his classic “Hang On In There.” Don’t Sell Your Soul brings together Kirkland’s early career with Mike & the Censations with his solo albums (on the double CD) and unreleased material (on the double LP). Highly recommended listening, deep deep soul with slyly socially conscious underpinnings on tracks that on their face appear to be “just” love songs. “Victim Of Circumstance” might just be the best “lowrider/oldies” track of all-time, the horns, the singing, the sentiment…just perfect. Hard to believe this was only the beginning, being his very first song. If you didn’t check it out before, be sure to check out my interview with the man himself, Mike James Kirkland for even more insight into this music and into this musician’s incredible career and world-view.

1. Boddie Recording Company, Cleveland Ohio (Numero)

Corinthian Singers – Why? (It’s A Shame)

Original Post

Last year when Numero went extra hard on the Syl Johnson “Complete Mythology” release, I didn’t think they’d be able to top that anytime soon. Instead, the intrepid crew out of Chicago, doubled down on a total soul excavation of Cleveland, Ohio’s Boddie Recording Company. Sifting through the 300 records and 10,000 hours of tape that the Boddie bunch recorded from 1958 to 1993, Numero raises their own super high bar and releases (on 3CD’s or 5LP’s) one of the most incredible love letters to underground soul music I’ve ever seen. A brilliant release and absolutely deserving of the #1 spot…now the question is how will they top THIS in 2012???

Melting Pot's Top Vinyl Finds in 2011

All this week I’m taking a look back at 2011, beginning with a look at my top 5 (and 1/2) vinyl records I dug up in 2011. I’m not sure 2011 was as spectacular as 2010 in terms of buying vinyl, but it was a pretty solid year as my collection slowly (and I mean slowly) regains it’s previous strength. I didn’t have nearly as much time to dig as I did the previous year, but I was able to bring back a number of records (and a handful of 45s) that I used to own and pick up a few new gems as well. As with last year, this list only includes things that I picked up in actual record stores (with an ebay assist on “5 1/2,” explained below), since to me at least buying records online (generally) just don’t count as digging.

So, here are my top 5 LP and 45 finds from 2011, I’d love to know what records you tracked down this past year, let me know what YOU dug up in 2011 here or on our facebook page!!!

***Honorable Mentions: Horace Tapscott & the Pan Afrikan People’s Arkestra – Flight 17 [Atomic Records, Burbank], Andrew Hill – One For One [Amoeba Records, Hollywood], Johnny Ace – The Memorial Album [Atomic Records, Burbank], A.C. Reed – Boogaloo Tramp 45 [Vamp Records, Oakland], Novella Nelson – Novella Nelson [Groove Merchant, San Francisco], David Axelrod – Songs Of Experience [Atomic Records, Burbank], The Racket Squad – Corners Of Your Mind [Records LA, Los Angeles]

5 ½. V/A – Sadma: Original Soundtrack – CBS [Records LA, Los Angeles / Ebay]

Asha Bhonsle & Suresh Wadkar – Yeh Hawa Yey Fiza

Original Post

This is a bit outside of my “record store only” rules with this list, but I feel like I should include this LP here because of the circumstances of discovery. If not for a facebook post from Records LA’s head honcho Scott Craig, I never would have had a clue that this record included a track sampled for one of my favorite songs of 2010, Gonajsufi’s “Sheep.” As soon as I saw that I had every intention of getting the record at Records LA, but by the time I got there, it was long gone…my impatience led me to the copy I now own via a dealer in the UK on Ebay. Another copy of Sadma came in later in the year to Records LA. If only I had been a little patient, this would be an unqualified #1 top find for 2011, instead it’s on the list but with an asterisk…

5. Harvey Averne Dozen – Viva Soul – Atlantic [Atomic Records, Burbank]

Harvey Averne Dozen – Free Advice

It’s fairly rare that I see this record, Averne’s first as a leader with his mighty latin soul outfit, The Harvey Averne Dozen. When I ran into it, just sitting pretty on the famed wall of records at Atomic, I couldn’t resist the temptation to take it on home (if only it were quite so easy to track down a coat just like the one Averne is wearing on this cover…sharp!). “You’re No Good” is one of my fave Latin Soul numbers of all time and the version of “The Word” on this album is a solid Latin B-boy number if I ever heard one. At some point this year I’m sure I’ll feature this record in a post of its own, but for now, just dig on “Free Advice.”

4. Ice Water Slim & the Fourth Floor – I Don’t Understand It / Dream On, Dream On – Hawk Sound 7” [Vamp Records, Oakland]

Ice Water Slim & the Fourth Floor – Dream On, Dream On

Scored this in a trade with Sean Sullivan (who runs the excellent Sound Boutique audio blog) at VAMP, a fairly new record store that Sean Boogie can often be found behind the counter, located in Oakland’s Lake Merritt area. Aside from being a Johnny Otis production, which is intriguing enough, “I Don’t Understand It” sounds A LOT like Sly & the Family Stone from this same period. So much so that I wouldn’t be surprised if this was some kind of Sly off shoot. Interestingly enough, I haven’t been able to dig up any information on Ice Water Slim, but I’ve just never heard of Otis and Sly working together so it doesn’t make total sense. I know “Slim” cut at least one other 45, but other than that there doesn’t seem to be any google-able information out there on him. All I can say is this is a pretty cool 45, with the bubbling funk of “Don’t Understand It” and the simply dreamy (though not Sly Stone sounding at all) slow groove of “Dream On, Dream On” on the flipside.

3. The Posse – You Better Come On Out And Play / That’s What Makes Us Happy – E.J.K. 7” [Records LA, Los Angeles]

The Posse – You Better Come On Out And Play

The Posse were a Detroit area group, produced by Eddie Kendricks on his own E.J.K. label. “You Better Come On Out And Play” is so so very good. It grabs you immediately with that great 30+ second introduction, where each instrument gets added into the rhythm before the vocals finally come in and, just as every beat digger would hope, you get a slightly different and totally clean version of that rhythm breakdown at the very end…Simply Breaktastic.

2. David Porter – Victim Of A Joke – Enterprise [As The Record Turns, Hollywood]

David Porter – I’m Afraid The Masquerade Is Over

Original Post

Already said quite a bit about this LP, though interesting I said very little about it’s signature tune, the otherworldly “I’m Afraid the Masquerade Is Over.” What really trips me out is that it was only when I tracked down this record this past August that I realized that Dale Warren, of 24 Carat Black fame, arranged this monster. From the horns, to the strings, to the drums, bass and piano, Warren’s style is all over this production and his involvement helps to explain why this song sounds like few others in the Stax/Enterprise catalog. A classic above all classics.

1. Clarence Reid – Masterpiece/Down The Road Of Love – Alston 7” [Records LA, Los Angeles]

Clarence Reid – Masterpiece

Original Post

Speaking of classics, I still can’t believe my good fortune in tracking this down, and getting it for the insane price of $3…I had to cover my mouth just to keep from screaming, ’cause this one’s a Masterpiece!

Here we are at the start of a new year taking a look back at the year in music for 2011. As with last year’s show I’ve put together a special web only mix of “honorable mentions,” though next year I may just drop that title, ’cause in truth, the web-only set simply includes all the other things I would have liked to have had in the live program, but just couldn’t because of time constraints. All week I’ll be running through my favorite music from 2011, including many of the records from this show, Enjoy!

Melting Pot’s Best of 2011: Honorable Mentions
Melting Pot’s Best of 2011: First Hour
Melting Pot’s Best of 2011: Second Hour

Melting Pot’s Best of 2011: Honorable Mentions (Web Only Mix)
{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – Melting Pot (Stax)

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Bing Ji Ling – Hypnotized – Shadow To Shine (Tummy Touch)
Love Inks – Can’t Be Wrong – ESP (Hell Yes)
DJ Shadow – Circular Logic (Front to Back) – The Less You Know The Better (Verve)
Charles “Packy” Axton – Holiday Cheer w/ the Martinis – Late Late Party 1965-1967 (Light In The Attic)
People Under the Stairs – Too Much Birthday – Highlighter (Piecelock 70)
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou – La La La La – The First Album / Funky Rob Way (Analog Africa)
Hypnotic Brass ensemble – Champion – Bulletproof Brass EP (Choice Cuts)

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Clean Break Intro for Samuel L Jackson reading adam Mansbach’s – Go The Fuck To Sleep (Audible.com)
Lijadu Sisters – Lord Have Mercy – Danger (Knitting Factory)
Crystal Stilts – Sycamore Tree – In Love With Oblivion (Slumberland)
Kode9 & the Spaceape – Black Smoke – Black Sun (HYperdub)
Ikebe Shakedown – No Name Bar – Ikebe Shakedown (Ubiquity)
Wild Cookie feat. Anthony Mills & Freddie Cruger – Freddie Cruger & Anthony Mills Are Wildcookie (Tru Thoughts)
J. Rocc – Chasing The Sun – Some Cold Rock Stuff (Stones Throw)

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Wanda Jackson – Thunder On The Mountain – The Party Ain’t Over (Third Man)
Nostalgia 77 – Sleepwalker – The Sleep Walking Society (Tru Thoughts)
Jean Claude Vannier – Au Desespoir Des Singes – Roses Rouge Sang (Finders Keepers)
Robin Hannibal – Voltaire – Bobby EP (Plug Research)
Damon & Naomi – Helsinki – False Beats And True Hearts (20/20/20)
La Sera – Dedcated To the One I Love – Devil Hearts Grow Gold 7” (Hardly Art)

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Shin Joong Hyun – J Blues 72 – Beautiful Rivers And Mountains: The Psychedelic Rock Sound of South Korea’s Shin Joong Hyun (Light In The Attic)

KPFK’s Melting Pot Best of 2011 Playlist:

Ocote Soul Sounds – Speak Truth To Power – Taurus (ESL)
M.E.D. – Blaxican (Video Mix) – Classic (Stones Throw)
Boogaloo Assassins – No No No – Recorded Live At KPFK (KPFK Archives)
Katalyst feat. Stephanie McKay – Day Into Night – Deep Impressions (BBE)
DJ Lengua – Perdido – Cruzando (Club Unicornio)

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Hunx & his Punx – Lover’s Lane – Too Young To Fall In Love (Hardly Art)
Le Nombre – Loving You – Burned At Boddie (Numero)
Headnodic feat. Latyrx & Kat – Movin On Up – Red Line Radio (Brick)
Algodon Egipcio – Los Temas Turbios – La Lucha Constante (Lefse)
King – Supernatural – The Story EP (Self-released)
Astrobal – Message From Kobe8 – Poetry & Science Fiction (Plug Research)

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Boom Clap Bachelors – Andres Haender – EP (Plug Research)
Shabazz Palaces – Are You…Can You…Were You (Felt) – Black Up (Sub Pop)
The Echocentrics – Jardim – Sunshadows (Ubiquity)
King James Version – He’s Forever (Amen) – Boddie Recording Co.: Cleveland, Ohio (Numero)
Amon Tobin – Journeyman – Isam (Ninja Tune)

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The Sandwitches – My Heart Does Swell – Recorded Live At KPFK (KPFK Archives)
Shimmering Stars – No One – Violent Hearts (Hardly Art)
Mike James Kirkland – Don’t Sell Your Soul – Don’t Sell Your Soul (Ubiquity/Luv’n’haight)
Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs – Rest Of Your Life – No Help Coming (Transdreamer)
Chain & the Gang – For Practical Purposes (I Love You) – Music’s Not For Everyone (K Records)
The Gang Of Harry Roesli – Don’t Talk About Freedom – Those Shocking Shaking Days (Now-Again)

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Charles Bradley & the Menahan Street Band – I Believe In Your Love – No Time For Dreaming (Dunham/Daptone)
The Strange Boys – Doueh – Live Music (Rough Trade)
Vieux Farka Toure feat. Derek Trucks – Aigna – The Secret (Six Degrees)
Googoosh – Shekayat – Googoosh (Finders Keepers)
Phonte – The Good Fight – Charity Starts At Home (Foreign Exchange Music)
Thundercat – Golden Boy – The Golden Age of Apocalypse (Brainfeeder)

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Brave Irene – Good Ideas – Brave Irene (Slumberland)
Hemant Bhole – Sansani Khez Koi Baat – Bollywood Bloodbath (Finders Keepers)
Amor De Dias – Late Mornings – Street Of The Love Of Days (Merge)
Real Estate – Municipality – Days (Domino)
Lake – Giving & Receiving – Giving & Receiving (K Records)

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{Closing Theme} Dungen – Oga, Nasa, Mun – 7” (Third Man)