Here’s one I’ve been meaning to post for a while now. These internets tell me Ellington Jordan (AKA Fugi) was a songwriter based in Detroit during the late 60’s. Fresh out of the clink, he scored a big ol’ hit with Etta James on the “I’d Rather Go Blind” cut. Sometime later, he was introduced to the band Black Merda (+) by Temptations singer Eddie Kendricks. They got together and laid down an album’s worth of mind-blowing blackrock which was promptly shelved by their label (anyone else notice a pattern? It’s like the new “platinum”). Blah, blah, blah… ancient history… irrelevant context… etc.

None of that shit really matters. All you need to know is that these stone-cold brothers cut some of the grittiest funk/rock/fuzz known. Take a listen. Tell me I’m wrong.

Artist: Fugi
Album: Mary, Don’t You Take Me On No Bad Trip
Year: 1968
Label: Chess / Cadet

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!

“Naw man… I want the band dressed in fox hunt uniforms standing in front of the Taj Mahal underneath a giant rainbow sprouting from hats belonging to mimes with a sexy white girl on a horse jumping over it…”

“How many times do we have to go over this!?”

To my ears these are the brackish waters between the funk and the disco. Sure, we aren’t riding white horses in Studio54 yet but you can hear where things were headed. Still, “Let Me Ride” falls on the right side of the fence (sorry disco freaks) and keeps things funky.

Plus… Rainbow-Casting Mimes!

Artist: Bloodstone
Album: Unreal
Label: London
Year: 1974

Amazon has the MP3s.

Brobots have spring fever! Out here in the NW, that usually means… it’s gonna rain.

The first 30secs of this cut are magical. Almost nothing out there on Ms. Morrison… sharing a name with a popular(?) wiccan author doesn’t help. Dang. What we do know is that she was a lead singer with the Edwin Hawkins Singers and cut the definitive version of “Oh Happy Day”. So, yeah, there’s that… YOU LISTEN!

Artist: Dorothy Morrison
Album: Brand New Day
Year: 1970
Label: Buddah

Unfortunately, looks like GEMM is yr best bet for this one.

FORGOT!… UNGHHHH… SORRY!… LOVER!… UNGHHH!…. SORRY!

EPIC! TUESDAYS!

What is it about covers that bring out the EPIC!..? Is it the admiration of the coverer? The desire to leave their mark? Fear of ruining a classic? It’s a mystery for the ages…

While we ponder, lets enjoy this week’s slice: The Mad Lads’ take on William Bell’s 1968 classic “I Forgot to Be Your Lover”.

Let me take a swing at summing things up for us:

1) Dude totally forgot
2) He’s feeling really bad about it and…
3) He’s… SORRY!… UNGHHH!

As an aside, If I could sell you tickets to my mind ride, you’d be in there all day son. Trust me here.

Artist: The Mad Lads
Album: A New Beginning
Year: 1973
Label: Volt

This album is out of print but Amazon has a decent best of CD & MP3s.