I regularly talk myself into believing that doing a radio show consisting entirely of soul records will be easier to put together than doing one of some other genre, primarily because in theory you don't have to "mix" the songs. It never seems to work out that way, tho, since what you gain in technical simplicity you lose in running time - 45s only lasting two or three minutes and some seconds. Plus (DJ instincts being difficult to deny once ingrained), you don't actually really gain that much in technical simplicity anyways when you're somewhat particular about trying to keep everything flowing somewhat smoothly. The new edition of "Across 135th Street" hopefully does just that - going from funky R&B to faster x-over to mod/boogaloo-ish stuff and 60s classics before settling back down into a nice mid-tempo lilt.
Even tho the show's named after the closing Caesars' hit ("Friends, Romans, and countrymen - lend me your ear"; group pictured above), my favorite opening song lyric of the latter section actually comes courtesy of the one and only George Clinton on the Fantastic Four tune, which goes: "Sorry if I sound conceited but I think I'm better than you." (Some context arrives by the next line: "If you had this girl of mine then you'd be bragging too.") I love how even Clinton's pre-funk 60s stuff had that distinctly oddball quality to it. (This one provides another fine example.)
Anyways, let it flow. Nifty RBMA embedded player and playlist below. Enjoy!
Early Clover & the Georgia Soul Drifters - Think It Over
Bobby Bland - I'm So Tired
John Blount - Bad Town
Jimmy Jones - Do What Comes Naturally
Al Reed - Shake 'Em up
Eddie Bo - What You Gonna Do
Herb Day - Shakin' In My Boots
Chuck McLean - My Lover's Vow
The Ethics - I Want My Baby Back
Jesse Fisher - You're Not Loving a Beginner
Hartfield Brothers - Sweet Somebody
Neil Reed - Gonna Find a Way
Jimmy Lomax & the Vows - Come On Home
Gene Chandler - There Was a Time
Billy Butler - I'll Bet You
Bobby Byrd - I'm Lonely
James Brown - Shhhhhhhh (For a Little While)
The Gaturs - Yeah You're Right You Know You're Right
The Rondells - Get In the Corners
Richard Marks - Cracker Jack
The Main Attraction - I Got Love For My Baby
The O'Jays - I'm So Glad I Found You
The Precisions - If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely)
Four Tops - Don't Bring Back Memories
Lee Williams & the Symbols - It's Everything About You (That I Love)
Myron & E w/ the Soul Investigators - On Broadway
Out of Sights - My Woman's Love
21st Generations - Hey James
Virgil Henry - You Ain't Sayin' Nothin' New
Betty Lavette - Only Your Love Can Save Me
Falcons - (I'm a Fool) I Must Love You
Major Lance - Sweeter As the Days Go By
Creations - A Dream
Elements - Just to Be With You
The Cruisers - Mink and Sable Mable
Sheryl Swope - Can't Get Him Off My Mind
The Majjestee's - Let Her Go
Louis Curry - A Toast to You
Fantastic Four - (I'm Gonna) Live Up to What She Thinks
Ray Lewis - Too Sweet to Be Lonely
The Caesars - Get Yourself Together
3 comments:
Thanks for this. Such a great set with a smooth flow. This has been on heavy rotation at the office.
//Milton
The mix sounds great. Very nice taste. Is there any way you could actually put a link to dl it rather than stream? My ipod is asking for it.
Thnx for the positive feedback. Unfortunately, no DL available on the RBMA shows - but if you've got an iPhone you can DL the RBMA Radio app & roll mobile w/ it that way.
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