Today, I am posting a record that I really dig. I found this record among a bunch of other killer records in an antique store while I was in San Antonio and like a lot of great records I found down there, I know next to nothing about it. The limited info that I've found out about this record has been pretty useless- Jimmie Lee Gaston was a gospel singer and preacher from Dallas who recorded this record. Hmm. Well, thats all I got.
In spite of knowing next to nothing about Jimmie Lee Gaston, this record is a motherfucking killer. Both sides slay. Both sides start out a little slow with some truly beautiful guitar playing and then kick into a stomping gospel shuffle with incredible background vocals.
In my opinion, aside from the recordings of Rev. Louis Overstreet and Rev. Charlie Jackson, this is one of the greatest gospel records I have ever heard. Please if you know anything about this record post a comment. Seriously, do your self a favor and listen to these two sides and make sure you have a blessed day.
I think I'm going to have a great Valentine's Day this year, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the pain that love can bring. In that spirit I present you with my favorite of all heartache songs.
And ladies listen to the words on this one, as Billy says "I ain't never gonna cry, I've been a man since I was a child!"
In case you ain't heard, Baltimore and DC just got walloped by one helluva snowstorm. I've spent most of the weekend shoveling out but that don't matter too much cuz Baltimore city hasn't come near my neighborhood with a snowplow! Well that sucks for a lot of reasons, but it gives me a good opportunity to smoke a lot of cigarettes, drink a case or two of budweiser and most importantly share this record with you. In the words of my good friend Bazooka Joe Diddley, "I take novelty records very seriously," and creepy novelty records about monsters the more seriously still. Well in that spirit, this record that I have for you today is a real humdinger.
The Abominable Snow-Man by The Copycats on the Prince label is a record that is in a league of its own. A halloween record about a snow monster. Well it don't get better than that. At least not in the middle of a blizzard. Dig it here baby!
Here is a new acquisition that I really dig. The first side is a stomping jive talk tale of a hep rat that joins the army, travels the world and gets marooned in the jungle somewhere. The flip side turns into a wild jungle romp when Mr. Ratamacue is captured by cannibals travels to Arabia and becomes the "GI in the pot with the voodoo stew!" Dig it.
Alright everybody, I realize I haven't posted anything in a while, but that is all about to change. Thats right, The Slop is back and I'll be posting regularly again, well as regularly as I can at least. So sit back, relax and enjoy the records.
Here is a mix of sloppy RnB records I made quite a while back with some great 50's and 60's songles on it. In the last month I've left San Antonio, returned to Baltimore and been sent to Philadelphia to fight off a scab company union that is trying to divide workers who have been members of my union for the last three decades. So I've been pretty busy to say the least and I haven't been able to post many new blog entries lately.
I also believe that I have contracted swine flu and have been too sick to work for the last two days so here is a mix that I have posted in a few places before- so maybe you are one of the 15 people that has already heard it, but regardless I hope you like it. As usual if you like it post comments. I'll post the track list in a few days.
and if you want to download it just follow the link
I haven't posted anything for a while and figured I'd post some newly acquired RnB records that I've been into.
Billy Young- Glendora - Original Sound
This is a record that I have been searching for for years. The first time I heard the Down Liner Sect's rendition of the song I was completely blown away and couldn't believe a 60's British RnB band could come up with such a kick ass song! But it wasn't until years later when digging through records at a dealer's house that I discovered that a British RnB band did not come up with such a kick ass song, and the version done by the Sect had been pretty much stolen from this barely known RnB record by Billy Young. Unforetunately, at the time, the record in question was not for sale and from what I could gather very few copies were known to exist.
In the last few years it seems that a few more copies have surfaced but for the most part it is one of the greatest songs that no one has heard. I was super excited to find a friend selling a copy a few months back and bought it as quickly as I could. Enjoy it!
Also more can be read about the singer, Billy Young on the Georgia Soul blog here.
Lester Young- Down to The River- Barry
No not that Lester Young. This is another flea market find and a record that I had never heard before. Until I did a little research, I was under the assumption that this was some weird foray into the world of RnB by the accomplished tenor player. And while a weird foray into the world of RnB it most certainly is, the tenor player it is pretty certainly not. It turns out that that Lester Young died in 1959 and this record was recorded for Barry Records in 1961. This is none the less a super cool and strange record to my ear as it sounds like a Sonny Terry blues bopper with horns arranged by Charles Mingus! On top of all that, mister Lester Young does some serious testifying about getting the man who stole his woman! It might be an aquired taste for some, but for me this record is definitely a killer.
Billy Boss and The Bosstones- Sweet Ruby Red Lips- Guyden
This record is another one that I had never heard of before I found it. It starts out sounding like its gonna be an up tempo party record and then quickly turns into a down and dirty RnB grinder that really moves. The bass and drums on this record are out of control and who ever Billy Boss was he sure could belt out a song!
Lloyd Nolen- Fun Fun- King
I cannot find anything out about this record, which is a shame because this is exactly what an RnB record should sound like in my opinion. Unlike the flip of this record, "What's Happening in Here?" which is a bland Fats Domino type stoller, "Fun Fun" is a rocking and rollicking party record that is pretty unconventional. The guitar and drums (or drum?) are incredible to my ear and the entire "orchestra" that is backing up Lloyd sounds like its made up of cave men. Enjoy.
The Chestnuts- Don't Go- Mercury
This is a great vocal group record and here is what I have to say about it: I love this record and I love every record that sounds like this record. Chants. Primitive Drumming. A Pleading Man. No Strings. A record doesn't need anything else.
