Observer

For me, this is one of those feel good songs. A tune that has put me on the floor many times. The group, James Walsh Gypsy Band, was originally from Minneapolis and was formed in 1962 as The Underbeats. By 1969, they had changed their name to Gypsy and took up residency at The Whiskey A Go Go on Sunset Blvd. During that time, they released their biggest hit in 1970 with “Gypsy Queen Part 1”. Eight years later this tune come out, and it couldn’t be much more different than what they had put out during their Prog Rock days. . #vinyl #soulvinyl #soulvintage #soul #soul45 #soulmusic #45rpm #vinyl #vinyljunkie #vinylrecords #vinyllovers #somafm #soulrecords #soulfulmusic #vinylcollection #minneapolis (at Edge Of The Western World) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClcY9nqvcCO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Friday night here in San Francisco and thinking about music, as usual. This time, a dutch release from 1982 on the FUNK tip. Sumy, or Kenneth Sumter, is the artist in focus here. Born in 1957 in Dutch Suriname, he eventually made that trip across the Atlantic and ended up with a record deal with Philips in the Netherlands after starting his own label, Sumy. This little bomba right here is “Funkin’ In Your Mind”. . #vinyl #soulvinyl #soulvintage #soul #soul45 #soulmusic #45rpm #vinyl #vinyljunkie #vinylrecords #vinyllovers #somafm #soulrecords #soulfulmusic #vinylcollection #onlineradio #funk (at Edge Of The Western World) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClaUQc5O4Xl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Here’s something from the Vimla label out of Holy Springs, MS. This was released 49 years ago as I write this, and man, what a killer track. Drums and bass. This starts out with a rhythm that I an only describe as “uncertain”, but this kicks in to an assertive groove about a minute+ in to it. This was the b-side to “Somewhere In Mississippi”, which was a great ballad, but at the moment, this tune does it for me. This is “Take The Time To Go Crazy” by Samuel T. Robinson, and it’s from 1973. Dig? . . #vinyl #soulvinyl #soulvintage #soul #soul45 #soulmusic #45rpm #vinyl #vinyljunkie #vinylrecords #vinyllovers #somafm #soulrecords #soulfulmusic #vinylcollection #onlineradio #holysprings #funk #mississippi (at Edge Of The Western World) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZGVpaeLg_J/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

It’s been awhile since I posted a record, so here’s one from Tito Ramos off of his “Where My Head At” LP from 1972. The album as well as this track was produced by the legendary Larry Harlow, El Judio Marvilloso. . #latinfunk #venezuela #vinyl #soulvinyl #soulvintage #soul #soul45 #soulmusic #45rpm #vinyl #vinyljunkie #vinylrecords #vinyllovers #somafm #soulrecords #soulfulmusic #vinylcollection #onlineradio (at Edge Of The Western World) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClHldtMyGsB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The man, the legend, the son of Greek immigrants, the father of Shugie. I have said it before, but man do I miss his Saturday morning radio show. Born Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes, he spent a lifetime promoting music and racial equality through art. His stories were endless. This is a great song to start a Saturday off with by Ioannis, aka Johnny Otis. Here he is telling us to KEEP THE FAITH! . . #keepthefaith #vinyl #soulvinyl #soulvintage #soulmusic #45rpm #vinyljunkie #vinylrecords #vinyllovers #somafm #soulrecords #soulfulmusic #vinylcollection #onlineradio #vallejo (at Vallejo, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz3ZzkpptV1/?igshid=1aigx7h8e6j4o

Derrick Harriott, being the bad motherfucker that he is, released this version of the Billy Paul performed Gamble / Huff classic, “Brown Baby”. From 1973, check it out. . . #vinyl #soulvinyl #soulvintage #soulmusic #45rpm #vinyljunkie #vinylrecords #vinyllovers #somafm #soulrecords #soulfulmusic #vinylcollection #onlineradio #reggae #reggae45 (at Oakland, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzWTorKpstB/?igshid=dfro5uhdgd48

Busy week, so it’s been kind of quiet around here. Here’s something to chew on. (at Amado's) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzRoNO5pKuU/?igshid=lafcbhdmj1dd

This is Bab Bab Umar Soul of the Pisces with D.D. Soul Main Connections Band out of #nyc in 1970. The tune is “Come On With It Part 1”. I see this described a lot of ways, but what I don’t see in descriptions are what I feel are the Afro-Funk undertones in this track. This rarely comes up, but if anyone is interested, I’ll sell it to ya’. . . #vinyl #soulvinyl #soulvintage #soulmusic #45rpm #vinyljunkie #vinylrecords #vinyllovers #somafm #soulrecords #soulfulmusic #vinylcollection #onlineradio #funk (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzLkmiOpQ5B/?igshid=3irkuugs5kt3

#myfathersjukebox I don’t think there was a record that was played more than this one at my father’s nightclub. I would hear this record sometimes many times a day. The only other record that came close in terms of plays was probably The Skyliners “Since I Don’t Have You”. Maybe the latter just caught my attention more, but El Chicano’s “Sabor A Mi” was massive at Sluggo’s. The emotion is pretty nearby for me. . . #vinyl #soulvinyl #soulvintage #soulmusic #45rpm #vinyljunkie #vinylrecords #vinyllovers #somafm #soulrecords #soulfulmusic #vinylcollection #onlineradio #chicano #oldies (at Fresno, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzBLVcSpvDj/?igshid=eynpxkqknrpl

Another example of some Philadelphia Soul. The People’s Choice released this track in 1971 and it was the b-side to their number 9 R&B charted hit, “I Likes To Do It”. They later went on to score a number 1 hit on the same chart with “Do It Any Way You Wanna” four years later. I’ll have to dig that up to post as it’s a great track as well. This is “Big Ladies Man”. . . #vinyl #soulvinyl #soulvintage #soulmusic #45rpm #vinyljunkie #vinylrecords #vinyllovers #somafm #soulrecords #soulfulmusic #vinylcollection #onlineradio #funk #soul45 (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/By-r1Vpj4hF/?igshid=gubsze3z3xai

Another form of art for this post. This photo is from the Brixton Reggae Festival In 1974. It’s a beautiful photograph that was used for what may be my favorite compilation of all time “Darker Than Blue” on the “Blood & Fire” record label. The photographer was Chris Steele-Perkins. If you’re not familiar with him, do yourself a favor and Google him or check out his portfolio on Magnum Photos. I think you’ll agree that he is an artist of considerable talent. . . #brixton #london #reggae (at Brockwell Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/By77zQDJf1U/?igshid=oxe6av1av7vl

One of the many great songs penned by Philly’s own Barbara Mason. I believe that this was released on another label two years before this release, which dates to 1972. This is “Yes, It’s You”, and another example of her incredible talent. . . #vinyl #soulvinyl #soulvintage #soulmusic #45rpm #vinyljunkie #vinylrecords #vinyllovers #somafm #soulrecords #soulfulmusic #vinylcollection #onlineradio #souldies #oldies #phillysoul #philadelphia (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/By6CM5nJGo3/?igshid=1gdd6dlvz431s

One of the many great songs penned by Philly’s own Barbara Mason. I believe that this was released on another label two years before this release, which dates to 1972. This is “Yes, It’s You”, and another example of her incredible talent. . . #vinyl #soulvinyl #soulvintage #soulmusic #45rpm #vinyljunkie #vinylrecords #vinyllovers #somafm #soulrecords #soulfulmusic #vinylcollection #onlineradio #souldies #oldies #phillysoul #philadelphia (at Outer Sunset, San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/By6A-lCpvP_/?igshid=1bkkr411k26s

It’s Tuesday and time for another 45 of Soul to grace your ears! This one is from Maybelle Louise Smith, bka Big Maybelle. By the time she recorded this, in 1966, she had a few years on a lot of her contemporaries of this era. This came out during the same year as the ? & The Mysterians recording. This is “96 Tears”. . . #vinyl #soulvinyl #soulvintage #soulmusic #45rpm #vinyljunkie #vinylrecords #vinyllovers #somafm #soulrecords #soulfulmusic #vinylcollection #onlineradio (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/By3IxjMJEbE/?igshid=1egldkuvjcee7