Oh please oh please oh please… just gimme just one more chance!

Live from Rahway Correctional in lovely New Jersey… The Escorts!

The Escorts were the brainchild of producer George Kerr. I’m short on time so I’m just gonna quote the group’s official bio from over here:

Originally, I didn’t feel like going but once I was in the prison and I heard all these musicians, I liked what I saw. I remember turning to my wife and telling her I thought it would be great to record the group. She thought I was out of my mind and that I was never going to get it done. I started talking to the prison warden and explained that I was a professional record producer and he had the same reaction.

and…

After the album came out, we got all these letters from people who wanted to see them. I went back to the Superintendent of Prisons and asked if we could do a show…” With much negotiation and with thirty policemen on duty to ensure security, The Escorts performed at Newark Symphony Hall, shackled on the way to and from the venue but clad in tuxedos and dress shoes for the show, which was a sell-out and major success.

The original lineup featured on this album: Reggie Haynes, Lawrence Franklin, Robert Arrington, William Dugger, Stephen Carter, Frank Heard, and Marion Murphy.

Artist: The Escorts [Myspace]
Album: All We Need is Another Chance
Year: 1973
Label: Alithia Records

I’m not sure if Miss Broadway qualifies for Epic Tuesdays….but for my money it has all of the requirements for a great, and yes epic, disco track. First off it clocks in at around seven and a half minutes….which for a disco track is moderate…but it’s what happens in those 7:30 minutes that truly makes the track epic. Miss Broadway contains 4 elements that make it one of my favorite tracks ever. A) Ridiculously tight and funky rhythm section…oh that trotting bassline! B) BAD-ASS vocals! I mean come on…my girl is belting it out. She sings with this almost punk attitude….you know she means business. C) Fiddle/Cello/Strings!! D) Funky-ass “Uh-huh…” breakdown.

All of these elements orchestrated into a seven and a half minute floor-burner spells epic to me…no? If not epic than a sick dance track that makes me happy-as-hell every time I hear it.

ARTIST: Belle Epoque
TRACK: Miss Broadway
ALBUM: Miss Broadway
YEAR: 1977
LABEL: Carrere

Wuzzzup ya’ll?! Apologies for going dark without notice here. What can I say… it’s SUMMER! Anyway, I’m back with a li’l treat.

EPIC! TUESDAYS!

Here’s a little slice of moody 60’s garage psyche w/ lots of organ soloing and a great beat. A few back Jay-Z took this li’l un ‘round the block on his “Public Service Announcement” cut so you know it is nice. Hope ya dig!

Artist: The Little Boy Blues
Album: In The Woodland of Weir
Year: 1968
Label: Fontana

Amazon has the reissue CD.

P.S. Just a heads-up that things might get a little sporadic here what with the nice weather and such. Subscribe to our RSS feed and let yr reader do the work!

EPIC!  TUESDAYS!

Doing my best to fill in for Mr. Fever here.  Figured the best way to do that would be to steal use a track he turned me on to a couple years back.  Here’s my one chance Fever, I won’t let you down!

ARTIST: Bobbie Gentry
SONG: Fancy
LABEL: Capitol
PRODUCER: Rick Hall

EPIC! TUESDAYS!

Ok friends, I’m digging myself out of a pile of work here so forgive the brevity of my comments. This one more or less speaks for itself though… and I think you’ll agree it is sufficiently EPIC!

It’s worth noting that my bromie Fingers originally brought this cut into my world (I will forever be indebted).

Artist: Minnie Riperton
Album: Come to My Garden
Label: GRT
Year: 1970

Amazon has the MP3s & CD.

EPIC! TUESDAYS!

Let’s just cut to the chase with this one shall we? 1st, I’m sorry. 2nd, yr welcome!

He’s sorta like a test pilot for the outer world…

For this week’s installment we have Irma Thomas updating and… expanding… upon (perhaps without the aid of prescribed meds?) her 1964 hit “Wish Someone Would Care.” Clocking in at a mammoth 12:30, imagine this is the soul “Sister Ray“… if only cuz that’d be awesome.

Anyway, get a pen and something to write on… this one packs all sorts of advice.

Artist: Irma Thomas [+] [+]
Album: In Between Tears
Production: Swamp Dogg
Year: 1973
Label: Fungus

GEMM has some vinyl fer ya!