All reviews by themack
Dannie Richmond: In Jazz For The Culture SetInteresting stab at pop-jazz by longtime Mingus Associate Dannie Richmond. The album consists of about half pop and rock (Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind”, Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen”, etc) covers which actually work into jazz better than one would expect, and half light originals penned by various players and contributors to the date. Gary [...]
David Hemmings: HappensEven though I knew what this was when I found it, I didn’t have high hopes for it being good. I figured guy from Blow Up + record that bombed = bogus psych moves. I mean, come on, how good could it be? The guy was an actor!
Deirdre Wilson TabacKind of a hard album to describe – a bit too horny to be “folk funk”, but a bit too whussed out to be “horn rock”. It would seem that “the Tabac” was the brainchild of producer Sonny Casella – who, in the liner notes, reminds us that “You got to dig it to dig [...]
John Braheny – Some Kind Of ChangeExcellent Folk/psych album. This is Braheny’s only album and it’s still relatively under the radar. On the small Cali label “Pete”. definitely worth seeking out. has a 8+ minute intrumental psych melter “Silver Cord”. great stuff
John Keating: Space ExperienceJohnny Keating was yet another victim of the whole “a Moog will make me appear younger & hipper” syndrome. But overall this is really a pretty decent cheesey listening Moog funk lp. Of the mostly contemporary (at the time) pop covers that the album is comprised of, his version of “I Feel the Earth Move” [...]
Johnny Guitar Watson: BADWay above average lp of 60’s soul instrumentals by Johnny “Guitar” Watson. Unlike some records of this genre and era, there is a raw edge to the sound – it doesn’t get bogged down in late 60’s production gimmicks, or overly bombastic horns like so many others. The cover reads “the fantastic piano & guitar [...]
Johnny Harris: MovementsOften called “The David Axelrod of the U.K.” – and while some of the tracks on this U.K. only lp do have that brooding orchestal funk vibe that has become synonymous with Axelerod – I really don’t feel anything on here is nearly as creative or engauging as Axe’s best work. Not to say that [...]
Lalo Schifrin: Mannix OSTWhen I heard Lalo’s soundtrack to the movie “Bullit” I became so smitten that I spent about a year searching for his other soundtracks. About the time I had roughly 75% of them, I realized that none were really quite as good. This one, the soundtrack to the 60’s detective show “Mannix”, is one of [...]
Los Angeles Negros: Y VolvereThe Los Angeles Negros must have been one of the more popular Spanish language pop/rock groups of the 70’s ’cause they have about 30,000 lp’s – most of which sound vaguely similar. This on being possibly their best, and definitely their best known due to the Beastie Boys sampling the track “El Rey Y Yo”. [...]
Michael Small: Klute OST“Hens teeth rare” soundtrack that was allegedly pressed illegitimately from the get go. And believeably so – as originals are unbanded and notoriously shoddily pressed. I have heard this dismissed as a “two tracker”, but it’s about as a good as any soundtrack I’ve heard of this era. If you are looking to find a [...]
Rick Morano-At the Top of the MarqCool private press lp out of PA. Has a pretty unique and darn funky cover of “Proud Mary”. The music backing is great, but Rick’s voice sounds out of place, but it kind of adds to the charm of the song. Cool record that’s worth checking for.
Shades of Joy: Music of El TopoOne of my favorite soundtracks ever! And a somewhat confusing record. First, there are two versions – the film score on Apple (which I hear is to be avoided) and this bay area jazzfunk jam “inspired by the film” by the Shades of Joy on Douglas.
The Late Show – Portable PopGreat indy power-pop album from 1980 on the Rave label. Really Great stuff. Modern power pop music with very 60’s sunshine pop esque harmonies. The vocals are great and the musicians are great. I really enjoy this album. It was recently reissued so get your cop on.