The mission of The Department of Afro-American Research Arts and Culture to identify the global significance of the creative contributions pioneered by an international diaspora of Blackness
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Monday, February 11, 2008

Melvin Van Peebles - Don't Play Us Cheap (1972)







1. You Out up the Clothes in the Closet of My Dreams
2. Break That Party and Opening
3. Eight Day Week
4. Bowsers Thing
5. Book of Life
6. Quittin' Time
7. Ain't Love Grand
8. I'm a Bad Character
9. Know Your Business
10. Feast on Me
11. Ain't Love Grand
12. Break That Party
13. Someday It Seems That It Just Don't Even Pay to Get Out of Bed
14. Quartet
15. Phoney Game
16. It Makes No Difference
17. Bad Character Bossa Nova
18. Quarter
19. Washingtons Thing
20. (If You See a Devil) Smash Him


Blaxploitation.com
A two record set from the prolific Melvin Van Peebles of Sweet Sweetback fame. Taken from a musical comedy, as you'd expect there are plenty of vocal or ensemble numbers. They're backed by a really groovy jazz band comprising strong horn section, back line, guitar and piano. And these cats can play! Once let loose on the instrumentals you get to hear them let rip properly. Check out the excellent funky soul jazz of 'The Washingtons Thing' to hear the best cut off the album - buy for that track and you won't regret it.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Various Artist - Cooley High (1975)



1. Baby Love - Diana Ross & The Supremes
2. Fingertips - Stevie Wonder
3. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) - Four Tops
4. Stop! In The Name Of Love - Diana Ross & The Supremes
5. Luther's Blues - Luther Allison
6. Dancing In The Street - Martha & The Vandellas
7. Beechwood 45789 - The Marvelettes
8. OOO Baby Baby - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
9. (You Can) Depend On Me - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
10. Cleo's Mood - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
11. Money (That's What I Want) - Barrett Strong
12. You Beat Me To The Punch - Mary Wells
13. 2 Pigs And A Hog - Freddie Perren
14. My Girl - The Temptations
15. Sweet First Love - Freddie Perren
16. Three AM...I Love You Mama - Freddie Perren
17. (I'm A) Road Runner - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
18. Mickey's Monkey - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
19. Haulin' - Freddie Perren
20. Cold Blooded - Freddie Perren
21. It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday - G.C. Cameron
22. Reach Out I'll Be There - Four Tops


This soundtrack features Motown artist and several well-known hits.

Norman Whitfield - Car Wash (1976)


1. Car Wash
2. Six O'Clock Dj-Lets Rock
3. I Wanna Get Next To You
4. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
5. Zig Zag
6. You're On My Mind
7. Mid Day Dy Theme
8. Born To Love You
9. Daddy Rich
10. Richard Pryor Dialogue/Rich Reprise
11. you Gotta Believe
12. I'm Going Down
13. Yo Yo
14. Sunrise
15. Righteous Rhythm
16. Water
17. Crying
18. Doin' What Comes Naturally
19. Keep On Keepin' On


Blaxploitation.com
An undisputed classic soundtrack. One of the few tracks guaranteed to get a funk fan moving at a wedding disco, 'Carwash' is a great funk album. Norman Whitfield, the producer responsible for turning the Motown sound into funk, wrote some seriously groovy tracks for the Richard Pryor movie. 'Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is' and 'Zig Zag' are only two of the great tracks on this album. But you already knew that, right?

Ed Bogas - Black Girl (1972)



1. Black Girl (sung by Betty Everett)
2. B.J.'s Step
3. Get Me To The Bridge (sung by Rodger Collins)
4. Mother's Day Song | Power (trumpet solo: John Hunt)
5. Mother's Day Song II
6. Black Girl Cue (saxophone by Sonny Stitt)
7. No World For Dreamers
8. I Am Your Mailman (sung by Rodger Collins)
9. What It Is
10. Earl (Still A Pearl)
11. Chock-lite Puddin (organ solo by Merl Saunders)
12. Black Girl Cue II
13. Chock-lite Puddin' Cue
14. Sister


Blaxploitation.com
Once again Fantasy called on their regular artists Ed Bogas and Ray Shanklin to put together a soundtrack to a movie that received good reviews from the white critics of the time. The music has a happy feel, an exuberance which is obviously present in the film. It's mainly instrumental and of a high standard, featuring big name jazz players of the 70's. Look out particularly for "B.J's Step".