News
INTERVIEW with Skeme Richards
Maybe it's the hopping on and off planes or the constant drone of song requests but something about the DJ world can chew a mans passion for music up before a great majority of folks get their foot in the game. Want to be a DJ? It's 90 percent Radio Shack and U-Haul with a splash of librarian and a touch of talent. Not many are cut out for the long haul, but trust me when I say that Skeme Richards was built for this. He lives to travel, collect, and play records. The passion he exudes is palpable and with more years under his belt than most he's got every right to hand out cigars and wax about the past, choosing instead to have both feet firmly planted in the nitty gritty of this mess, holding the torch to guide the way and all whilst searching for the perfect hamburger. -THE BAG MESSENGER
THE BAG MESSENGER: When did you first get into collecting and at what point did records enter that picture for you?
SKEME RICHARDS: I would have to say unofficially I became a collector around the age of 6 which was during the beginnings of the Star Wars craze and until this day I still own every figure that I received as a kid. Records have always been in the picture for me starting with getting a Show n Tell Record Player and Viewer in 1970’s but as a young adult record became important in 1981 which is when I first started to DJ and was able to buy 12” on my own.
THE BAG MESSENGER: You collect a wide range of stuff, what are some of your favorite pieces?
SKEME RICHARDS: That’s always a tough question for me to answer because as a collector I only acquire things that I have a personal attachment to, things that I remember or have a connection to growing up, it’s all about quality over quantity. But as for favorites number 1 on the list would be my 1981 Stern Muhammad Ali pinball machine, out of 2917 made less than 50 are known to exist and only about 10 are mint (which includes mine). Any of my 1970’s GI Joe with Kung Fu Grip figures and definitely my vintage movie poster collection especially the Shaw Brothers Kung Fu posters and pictures collection. But I collect so much from old race tracks and train sets to vintage magazines.
THE BAG MESSENGER: How has nightlife evolved since you got in the game.
SKEME RICHARDS: Night life has made various transitions over the years, when I first started going out to parties / clubs in Philly to hear R&B, Hip Hop and Dance Classics it was primarily a Black audience going to Center City, then in the early 90's I started seeing more diversity in the crowds but we all shared the love of good music. No matter if it was "popular" music on the radio or underground hit's, good music was everywhere around us and the DJ's stressed playing good music, the club owners spent good money on amazing sound systems and wanted to hear it and they wanted people to dance to it because that’s what makes a party. Fast forward to the present and all that has changed, DJ's only care about their paycheck, club owners only care about how much they are making at the bar and the partygoers only cares about getting drunk. And to top it off the music has become more segregated similar to how it was with Hip Hop in the 80's where only "urban" people listened to it.
THE BAG MESSENGER: What's up with Hot Pea's and Butta? When did you guys start?
SKEME RICHARDS: Hot Peas & Butta officially started in 2008 and it was a way to present people with good Funk, Soul and Rare Grooves on 45 while showing rare footage to tie the whole night together which Supreme La Rock and myself have been doing with guest DJ's ever since. Once Elroy Jenkins our graphic designer got involved it took the visual aspect to another level and since then we've done gallery exhibitions, worked with the Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra, created comic books all in between traveling the globe doing parties in Japan, Germany, Switzerland, London, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York and countless other places.
THE BAG MESSENGER: You're on the road a lot traveling sometimes for months at a time. What's the key to a well packed bag?
SKEME RICHARDS: It took me along time to figure it out but it really all comes to not only the flexibility of the bag and it's layout but also in how you fold and roll your items. Most people put socks in their shoes but I usually line the outsides with mine, bulky clothes should definitely be kept to a minimum while every corner and pocket should be utilized. I can use the same bag for a weekend getaway that I could use for a week long stay, but when it comes to being away for a month, less is definitely more for various reasons especially if you're a collector and planning on returning home with gems you've found along the way.
THE BAG MESSENGER: What's the oddest thing you've picked up on a trip and flown home with?
SKEME RICHARDS: I've come home with a lot of items from records and toys to sneakers and art which are usually concealed and packed well but the oddest thing would be two 1970's giant Shogun Warriors in the box. I didn't want to pay to ship them home which is what I normally do with large items so I tied a string around both boxes and carried them like a suitcase. If you know me then you know I keep my collecting habits somewhat quiet in public but I got a lot of strange looks and equally as many "hey what's that?" from people who wanted to hold hour long conversations which tends to drag out flights that are already long enough.
THE BAG MESSENGER: What are some of your favorite places to play?
SKEME RICHARDS: Some of my favorite places to play are those with not only a great sound system but those with a great vibe, a certain aesthetic and people who really appreciate the music. The Room (Japan), Club Asia (Japan), Madame Jo Jo's (London), Plan B (London), Lo-Fi (Seattle), Echo (Los Angeles), Le Lido (Switzerland), Bohannon Soul Club (Germany), Sound Holicity (Korea) and LPR (NYC) with special mention to Table 50 in NYC which doesn't exist anymore.
THE BAG MESSENGER: Best burger so far?
SKEME RICHARDS: I’ve had great burgers around the world but I have to say the most consistent with excellent quality of beef and great bun has to be Fathers Office in Los Angeles. I think it's the bacon jam spread that they use on it which makes it perfect and it never fails.
THE BAG MESSENGER:You've got a lot on your plate, how do you stay productive on the road?
SKEME RICHARDS: I'm always inspired by what I see when traveling especially when in Europe, everything from being in railway stations to art, fashion and people just riding bikes through the streets. All of these elements keep me mentally taking notes so once I get back to the hotel it straight to the computer to jot these things down but that then leads to coming up with ideas to build around those inspirations which leads to back and forth emails with Elroy Jenkins or Supreme La Rock and it steamrolls from there.
THE BAG MESSENGER: Favorite slept on flick?
SKEME RICHARDS: Favorite slept on flick I would have to say Seijun Suzuki's 1966 Tokyo Nagaremono (Tokyo Drifter). It's a Yakuza film with a great storyline, shot visually well with amazing scenery and it's definitely a starting point for where Quentin Tarantino draws inspiration from on a lot of his films.
THE BAG MESSENGER: Any last words of advice for the people?
SKEME RICHARDS: Do what you believe in and believe in what you do, if you're an artist live that passion to the fullest, compromise to get what you need or want but don't sacrifice your art nor creativity just to please the masses. Buy into quality not into quantity.
Keep up with Skeme on www.hotpeasandbutta.com and on twitter @hotpeasandbutta
Little Big Things The Mix Tape
My friends Personify, Froz One, and I recently made a mix to highlight some of the records we've been playing at our monthly "Little Big Things" party here in Philadelphia. The result is an eclectic mix of 7 inch funk, soul, disco, and boogie. Enjoy- Case
The Little Big Things Crew brings you their first release: Little BIG Things - The Mix Tape, an all 7-inch mix of funk, soul, disco and boogie tunes mixed, cut and scraped by Philadelphia crate diggers Personify, FROZ1 and Case Bloom. We dug deep in our collections to compile a mix guaranteed to have your deck on blast from start to finish. Little records - BIG TUNES. Bang it loud and enjoy. And next time you're in Philly, be sure to check out The Little Big Things Crew at The Trestle Inn's Souled Out every 2nd Friday for the best whiskey sours in the city, Go-Go dancers, and the illest funk, soul, disco, boogie and latin 45s.
Little BIG Things - The Mix Tape Track List:
1.) Sisters Love - Now Is The Time
2.) Rudy Love & The Love Family - Does Your Mama Know
3.) The Turtles - Buzz Saw
4.) Jimmy Norman - Gangster of Love Part 1
5.) Chuck Womack and The Sweet Souls - Ham Hocks and Beans
6.) B.E.H. - In the Middle of Blind Alley My Mind's Playing Tricks on Me (Little Big Things Edit)
7.) Mocambo Allstars - The Next Message (Kenny Dope Mix)
8.) Lee Fields - I’m The Man
9.) Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Band - What Can You Bring Me
10.) The Meters - People Say
11.) Lou Courtney - Hot Butter N' All Part 1
12.) The Herb Johnson Settlement - Damph F'aint
13.) Jimmy Jones - Time and Changes
14.) Bernard Wright - Chillin' Out
15.) Crown Heights Affair - Move Your Body and Soul
16.) Brother to Brother - In The Bottle
17.) Joe Bataan - The Bottle (La Botella)
18.) Gil Scott Heron - New World Revolution
19.) Kool & The Gang - Caribbean Festival (Disco Version)
20.) Bobby Hebb - Sunny '76
21.) Crown Heights Affair - Dreaming on a Dream
22.) Freeez - Southern Freeez
23.) Secret Weapon - Must Be The Music Instrumental
24.) Skyy - Here's To You
25.) D-Train - You're the One for Me
26.) Donald Byrd - Think Twice
27.) The S.S.O. Orchestra - Faded Lady Instrumental
28.) George McRae - Look at You
29.) Gwen McRae - Funky Sensation
30.) Linda Clifford - Runaway Love
31.) Universal Robot Band - Dance and Shake Your Tambourine
32.) Ronnie Laws - Always There
33.) Weldon Irvine - I Love You
On the road with DJ Apt One in Europe
What’s up Bag Messengers and music lovers everywhere? This is DJ Apt One reporting from Philly, just back from traversing the great cities of Europe – DJing in Paris and London and environs but also doing what DJs do best, stuffing my bag full of so much dusty vinyl in Berlin, Barcelona and beyond that I thought I might have to start throwing away clothing just to find a place to put it all! Figured I’d debrief with my buddies at Tucker and Bloom, since I lugged a crispy green North to South Messenger Bag prototype with me and took it to battle. So I’m here to give you a rundown on my favorite spots in the EU to find all the gems to put in your bag.
SpaceHall (Berlin)
I hopped the U-Bahn from the artists paradise and warehouse-all-night odyssey of Freidrichshain over to Kreuzberg and after a quick stop at the Biergarten for a tall Hefewiezen, I spent almost a whole afternoon at the gigantic SpaceHall shop. This is the place for twelve inches – dance music specifically. Three big rooms of wax and an adjacent CD store to boot. Takes a while to get through. While the huge techno room is definitely the draw, for me, the draw here was the nice collection of pricey but hard-to-find German and Dutch disco 12 inches from the 80s.
Best find – Mike Mareen – “Double Trouble”
Betino’s (Paris)
My buddies Dee Dee Hey and DJ Moar of Venice Beach hipped me to Betino’s, which is as much a barber-shop style hangout for DJs as it is a record store. Tucked in the poppin 11th Arrondisement, this place is all about the funk and soul. Their selection of modern, vinyl-only re-edits is really hard to top.
Best find – Joubert Singers – “Stand On The Word Remixes”
Music Avenue (Paris)
I got rolled to Music Avenue after the crew from the shop came out to my show at Panic Room in Paris. I wasn’t planning on dropping by – at this point in the tour I was wondering how much more vinyl I was willing to lug on trains, planes and automobiles. I was glad I came through. Unlike most European record spots, this spot blended the “curated” shelves with some good bargain bin action. The 12s were pretty great too – good reggae and of course, my favorite digs – disco. For DJs on the road – they’ve got equipment in there as well, in case you need to replace anything you’ve lost or broken along your travels.
Best find – Firefly – “Your Door?”
Flashback (London)
Essex Road has some good shops, and Flashback doesn’t disappoint, except when you find the “only 5 records at the listening station, one listening session only” direction by the turntable. I guess it keeps it moving but I wanna know what the hell I’m buying when you’re charging London prices. Anyway, well-curated selection at this spot, including lots of good funk and soul and some really nice English-pressed 12” 45 RPM disco joints. In case you haven’t figured out by now, I don’t even stop near the “Rock” section, so it’s anybody’s guess how good that stuff is at any of the places I’ve discussed.
Best find – Ganymed – “It Takes Me Higher”
Haggle Vinyl (London) Haggle, a bit north on Essex Road, is probably the European store I visited that is most similar to spots I prefer in America. It’s basically just a room stuffed with records, including huge dollar bin sections and an expansive selection of modern soul and disco 12 inches and LPs, most of which aren’t worth a listen. I love the experience of sorting through large piles of miscellanea to find what you came for because you inevitably stumble upon things you didn’t set out to find. The notable thing about Haggle is that all of the records are cataloged and stored behind the counter, and only the sleeves are on the floor. A bit annoying because you can’t check labels for information, especially with 12” hip-hop or dance records that have blank sleeves.
Best find – Monyaka – “Go Deh Yaka (Go To The Top) Club Mix”
INTERVIEW with DJ,Producer, and designer QUESTION
This interview has been sitting on the shelf for longer than I care to disclose and for that Iapologies. In mydefenseI can only say that when Dj Marsellus Wallace first reached out to me aboutinterviewinghis friend Question I really didn’t have any idea who the man was. Mike (Marsellus Wallace) is deep in the record game and so when he told me Question was up on his stuff it stood as a very strong co-sign.
As is usually the case for me, beginning writing is the toughest part, and thus introducing a man I have yet to meet had me caught up in a furry of unfinished drafts. I did the social media thing in attempt to get to know him and we did the email thing a few times, but I still felt like like my writing was doing his work a disservice.
Question has his hands in a myriad of projects at all times and is a veteran in multiple fields. He’s a talent as a producer, designer, and as a DJ, and is constantly working in each of those respective mediums. Just watching the flow of material from my computer screen was enough to have me second guessing myself. Should I use this blog post to feature the new album or cover the podcasts he’s been doing, or should I focus entirely on some of the new album art he’s cranking out? I wanted the timing of the post to work for both of us, but what has now dawned on me is that the flow of projects won’t stop, the design work won’t be less impressive, and the best thing to do is just lay it out. So here it is. The timing was a bit shaky, but I’d rather you get there eventually than never at all.
-THE BAG MESSENGER
THE BAG MESSENGER: When did music first come into your life?
QUESTION: I’ve been exposed to music pretty much as long as I’ve been alive. My mom sang in a church choir and pops had a nice record collection so I was plugged in at an early age.
THE BAG MESSENGER:When did buying records enter the picture for you?
QUESTION:I bought my first record in 1983 and I STILL got it til’ this day. It was Renegades of Funk – Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force. The collection didn’t get thick til’ I entered high school, that’s when I pretty much spent lunch money to buy records.
THE BAG MESSENGER:How did you first discover hip hop?
QUESTION:I’ve got Afrika Bambaataa to thank for that! After Planet Rock came out, there was just no turning back for me.
THE BAG MESSENGER:When did you get your first set of turntables?
QUESTION:I didn’t get my first pair of 1200’s until I was in high school. Before that, I was on some super budget belt driven joints!
THE BAG MESSENGER:Any early experiences you care to share?
QUESTION:I got my first gig doing house parties with my pop’s home stereo amp and speakers for $20 bucks, and I was 15 at the time. I had to bring an electric fan to put on top of the amp or it would over heat and the party would be over! I kept saving the money I made to get better equipment. It took some time, but it was worth seeing your hard work pay off.
THE BAG MESSENGER:How did you get involved with design, and production?
QUESTION:There’s two things that has remained consistent in my life and that’s music and art. When I was a kid, I used to draw for hours while listening to music. Both crafts have been with me ever since. I worked in radio from 94’-99’. My college years consisted of doing live radio mixshows on the weekends, while I went to school in the weekdays. I left radio right after I got my degree in Multimedia and Graphic Design and started working full-time in the action-sports industry. I started my own design consultancy in 2002, and I’ve been blessed to work with everyone from industry leading skate companies to lifestyle and streetwear brands. As for music… I was always fascinated with beats & sampling in general. I picked up my first sampler which was the ASR-10 back in 95’. I learned how to sequence on it and the keys was a bonus since I knew how to play. I moved up to the MPC-2000 and I was hooked from then on. I started doing remixes at first, then started working on my own sound. I still use my mpc but i’ve migrated a lot of my production to Ableton Live in late 2009.
THE BAG MESSENGER:Did those two come into your life, through hip hop, or were they things that you picked up along the way?
QUESTION:Somehow I knew I was going to do both. I have identical high respects for design and music in general. As for beat production, a good friend of mine named Soulo was in a group called The Sound Providers and he inspired me to put my music out there. Another key figure is my man Freddie Joachim who actually opened me up to digital production, both these guys have helped me craft my sound.
THE BAG MESSENGER:How would you describe your production style?
QUESTION:My music is primarily a mixture of obscure jazz samples, heavy beats, and live orchestration. I was heavily inspired by jazz music and it was just natural for me to go that route. I also have a lot of soul and funk influences, and that pretty much completes my sound.
THE BAG MESSENGER:What does your production setup look like these days? How has it changed?
QUESTION:My current setup is pretty basic – mpc2500, macbook pro, my record collection, and my drums, but I recently picked up a vintage 73’ Fender Rhodes piano in mint condition.
THE BAG MESSENGER:Where do you find inspiration, be it for design, or production?
QUESTION:Pretty much everywhere. For design, I sometimes dig through my record collection. Album cover art always sparks ideas, then I end up playing records all day haha! Oddly enough, I tend to listen to full albums when I’m designing. I’ll hear something and stop working immediately, pull the record back and start chopping samples on the spot. If i’m deep in a project and hear something, sometimes i’ll just write the song name on a postit and stick it on my screen so I don’t forget to go back to it later.
THE BAG MESSENGER:Has Serato changed the way you get down? Are you still buying records?
QUESTION:Serato is definitely a convenience. It’s a blessing for people like me, I wouldn’t want to lug a rare record around or cue burn an only copy. There’s a certain discipline you get from digging crates and collecting. I don’t think I can ever stop buying records. I’ve edited my collection massively in the past decade and only kept what I consider “essentials”. I just don’t have the room so I gotta cut the fat.
THE BAG MESSENGER:What kind of things are you looking for these days?
QUESTION:Nothing in particular really. Lately i’ve been picking up a few obscure joints like Les Baxter’s 101 Strings, some 60’s psyche funk. There’s only a few spots to dig around SD, but I love diggin’ at the swap meet. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
THE BAG MESSENGER:Any interesting digging related stories? Favorite finds?
QUESTION:Most random digging story. I was in New York in the les and I ran into this guy sitting on a crate of records so I asked him if he was selling, he replied “only if you’re buying!” The man ended up being a collector who is about to lose his home. He walked me into a store front filled with records from floor to ceiling. I was there for at least 3 hours. I ended up buying extra baggage to haul my findings.
THE BAG MESSENGER:What is the Beat Kitchen? How long has that been going on? Who is involved?
QUESTION:The Beat Kitchen is a collaborative project with DJ Charlie Rock (Rock Steady Crew / Dojo Soundz). Charlie and I go way back, he used to come out to the jams I’m spinning at and i’d do my set while he kills it on the dance floor. We wanted to do a once a month event that primarily focuses on the music we liked. We play everything from golden era hip hop to afrobeat, bossa nova and funk. The Beat Kitchen started it in January this year, and runs every 2nd Saturday of the month. We’re still trying to build up the night and it just keeps getting better.
THE BAG MESSENGER:What is Analogue Studies?
QUESTION:Analogue Studies is a music hub that holds my blog, current releases, projects etc… I launched it in 2009 as a networking tool, basically another way for my fans and like minded individuals to connect.
THE BAG MESSENGER:What are you working on now?
QUESTION:I’ve got a few collaborative projects in the works, and another album for an early 2012 release.
THE BAG MESSENGER:What can we expect to hear from you in the future?
QUESTION:I’m preparing to work on a live instrumental project with my good friend Freddie Joachim. We’ve been talking about this project for some time now and it’s going to be interesting as it unfolds. Stay connected:
Wax on Film Photo Contest
We here at Tucker and Bloom love our records and so when we we’re approached by our friends at Flea Market Funk and Dust and Grooves about supporting a contest centered around record collection photography we we’re imidiatly intrigued. Check out the details below. We are sending a North To South messenger bag to the first place winner and there are a ton of other cool prizes.
Wax On Film: A Vinyl Photo Contest is an opportunity for vinyl collectors of all walks of life to showcase their true love for vinyl. It’s put together by Jamison Harvey of Flea Market Funk and Eilon Paz, of the acclaimed vinyl documentary photo site Dust & Grooves. The mission of this photo contest is to help preserve vinyl heritage, as well as the artists that make it, just as our contestants do with their collections. We want you to submit photos of your own vinyl collection!
We urge you to be creative with your photography. It could be a straight on shot, a collage, a digitally manipulated image, or any other creative art piece in the medium of photography.
Submissions will be judged by Jamison Harvey (DJ & creator of Flea Market Funk), Eilon Paz (Photographer & creator of Dust & Grooves), influential world famous DJ Rich Medina, Brian Ho (art director & creator of Dreams In Audio) and Brian Cross aka B+ (photographer & film maker from Mochilla). All finalists of the contest will be featured in articles on Flea Market Funk as well as Dust & Grooves.
First Place:
1 Tucker and Bloom North South DJ Bag
1 Nixon RPM Headphones
1 Rare Byrds 45 Poster
1 Listen Clothing and 1 101 Apparel Tee
1 Cultures of Soul 7” test pressing of The Darling Dears “I Don’t Think I’ll Love Another”
1 Hot Peas & Butta Limited Edition Print
1 Tropicalia In Furs: Brazilian Guitar Fuzz Bananas 3D LP
5 Truth and Soul Records 7” records
Second Place:
1 Nixon Crux Messenger Bag
1 Nixon RPM Headphones
1 Rare Byrds 45 Poster
3 Truth and Soul Records 7” records
1 Cultures of Soul 7” record
1 Listen Clothing and 1 101 Apparel Tee
1 Hot Peas & Butta Limited Edition Print
1 Tropicalia In Furs Brazilian Guitar Fuzz Bananas 3D LP
Third Place:
1 Nixon Crux Messenger bag filled with Nixon Trooper Headphones
1 Rare Byrds 45 Poster,
1 Truth and Soul Records 7” record
1 Cultures of Soul 7” record
1 Hot Peas & Butta Limited Edition Print
1 Listen Clothing and 1 101 Apparel Tee
5 Runners Up:
1 Truth and Soul Records 7” record
1 Listen Clothing or 101 Apparel tee
* Prizes are subject to change without notice, based on availability.
* Finalists will be announced no later than April 2nd, 2012.
* There is no limit to the number of images each artist may submit.
* Submission is open to all persons over the age of 18.
* Artwork should be submitted as a digital file.
* Maximum file size: 2MB
* File Format: JPEG
* Images should be saved at 72dpi
* Color Profile: sRGB
* Images should be no larger than 1400 pixels on their longest dimension.
* File names should consist of: Artist name_Artwork name_Sequence Number
* On the caption field please write your full name and a valid email address so we can contact you in case your submission wins.
Send all submissions here
Emynd and Kenny Meez Motown Remix Pack
In the mid 1940s Jamaicans finely tuning their radios could pick up weak signals from American coastline cities like New Orleans, as well as broadcasts from American military bases stationed around the island. These American stations were playing popular American music, and unknowingly created a demand for similar sounds on the island of Jamaica.
This exposure to early American R&B and bebop unquestionably influenced the skank and horns of early Jamacian ska, and became the backbone for modern Reggae. Many of these early Ska releases we’re interpretations of popular R&B hits, and so it is only natural that some fifty years later we have a proper reversal.
Philadelphia Reggae producer Kenny Meez (Federation Sound System) and producer partner in crime Emynd(Cross Faded Bacon) have taken a slew of Motown hits and made them rocksteady dancefloor ready, complete with mixable intros. Play them everywhere you can…who knows what your influence could spark.
-The Bag Messenger
Emynd & Kenny Meez – Motown Reggae Pack Part 1 by CrossfadedBacon
The End Is Near: A Black Jazz Mix by DJ Froz One
Black Jazz Records was a Jazz label founded in Oakland California by Jazz pianist Gene Russell in the early 70s as an alternative to traditional Jazz. They had a seven year run of releases, the majority of them being funky, spiritual, and criminally slept on. Contributing blogger and avid record nerd Froz 1 lovingly compiled a mix of label highlights, and it is perfect company for the on set of fall. If you see him in the streets buy him a coffee and give him a hug. You owe him at least that.
-THE BAG MESSENGER
Click here for a free download of “The End Is Near”
As a side note, the entire Black Jazz catalogue of master tapes is for sale on Craigslist. Just saying.
The Isley Brothers - Givin' It Back
First and foremost, Ron Isley is a genius. Whether serving as the soundtrack for the obligatory “generic party scene” in popular film (”Shout“) or as the theme to your post-Valentines Day dinner events (”Between The Sheets“), the Isley Brothers’ music has stood the test of time. While the aforementioned tunes are probably two of the most popular picks from the Isley Brothers’ discography, let’s speak on one of their most criminally under appreciated outings: Givin’ It Back.
Before diving right into the excellence that is 1971’s Givin’ It Back, let’s take it back to September 21, 1959… the week that “Shout“ debuted on the Billboard charts. This is a period in time where all of those crappy dollar bin LPs you see at the thrift spot are vying for the number one position on the charts (think the soundtrack to South Pacific vs. The Kingston Trio vs. Johnny Mathis). BUT, the singles are where it’s at, and the Isley’s have an absolute hit. Week 1, “Shout“ reaches #82. Week 2, it reaches #72. Ultimately, the tune wouldn’t reach higher than #47 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it puts the brothers Isley on the map.
One month later, Johnny O’Keefe, an Aussie TV show host, recorded a version of the song that would reach #3 on the Austrailian charts. No big deal, right? The Aussies aren’t exactly pumping out pop gems in the late 50’s, so it would only make sense that the cover version would chart this high. As the years pass, the Isley Brothers ride the wave produced by “Shout“, probably satisfied that they made the charts, all while working on new material to share with the world. Fast forward to March of 1962, and suddenly, Joey Dee and The Starliters are in the #6 spot with their cover of “Shout“! During this time, the Isley Brothers’ version reappears on the charts topping out at #94, just to throw a little more salt in the wound.
Just two months later, they return the blow with the release of “Twist And Shout“ in June of 1962. This time around the Isley Brothers had themselves a hit for the first time since 1959, and would peak at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100. One year later, The Beatles would record a cover of “Twist And Shout“ that would go on to peak at #2 on the charts once the single was finally released in the U.S. in 1964. Ousted again!
So, being the genius that he is, Ron Isley notices this pattern. I’m willing to bet he lost some sleep over this chain of events, and while he didn’t necessarily plot his next move with Joey Dee and the Beatles in mind, he certainly kept it on the back burner. Five years go by and the Isley Brothers still aren’t getting the respect they deserve. While signed to T-Neck, they crank out some more hits, including 1969’s “It’s Your Thing“, all while being neglected by the major R&B labels. By 1971, the Isley Brothers are ready to unleash their answer to their original tunes/arrangements being blatantly ripped off by other artists, and achieving more recognition in the process. It’s time to give it back.
I’m not even going to get into how high Givin’ It Back charted, how it was received, or anything like that. Basically, the Isley Brothers took popular rock tunes of the time, covered them, and absolutely crushed the originals. I know a lot of people would disagree with that statement, but hear me out. The Isley Brothers took these songs and made them theirs, whereas Joey Dee, The Beatles, and countless others took the Isley Brothers’ songs and tried really hard to sound like the Isleys. Sadly, I don’t see this record too often in the bins, and when I do, I scoop them and pass them off to my friends. So I suggest you do the following: A) become my friend B) hit your local record spot and do some hunting or C) snag it off iTunes for $6.99.
Tracklist w/ original performer listed:
1. Ohio/Machine Gun (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young / Jimi Hendrix)
2. Fire And Rain (James Taylor)
3. Lay Lady Lay (Bob Dylan)
4. Spill The Wine (Eric Burdon & War)
5. Nothing To Do But Today (Stephen Stills)
6. Cold Bologna (Bill Withers, who actually plays on Givin’ It Back)
7. Love The One You’re With (Stephen Stills)
Soundclips:
- Josh
North To South Video
Here is a quick video we shot for the North To South messenger bag. Its a sort of day in the life, featuring DJ Apt One, Cosmo Baker, Danophonic, and Case Bloom. The usual dose of shopping for records, eating sandwiches, and goofing off. Enjoy
Dilla's Rock Crates Mixed By Bowls
Bowls is no stranger to record stores. When we both lived in the same city, I felt as if I was perpetually in a race against time. Speeding from shop to shop, stretching to snatch at records before he got his hands on them. I would often see him later to compare finds, only to hear that he had already seen the records I bought, silently passing over them, tallying their worth, and moving on to other things.
That is Bowls in a nut shell, quality over quantity. He isn’t looking to own every good record (where would he put them all?), only the ones that he loves (believe me those are plenty of enough). The same applies to his mixes. Many break mixes are crammed full of short clips and sound bites, they play the samples your familiar with in the way you are familiar. In contrast, these two mixes give the listener space to hear the decisions a producer makes, and room to appreciate the process of selection.
Much like Bowls, Dilla had no desire to use everything. He took his time, selecting finds, and moving on. The selections on both of these mixes are well thought out. Do your self a favor and let these two weed out the dreck, I promise you won’t be disappointed. -THE BAG MESSENGER
DJ Nuts Disco E Cultura Vol 3
The Disco E Cultura series by Brazilian DJ Nuts is a great piece of work, and Volume Three is no exception. Expect a wide width of Brazilian music, and top notch mixing. Have a nice week folks!
-THEBAGMESSENGER
DJ Marsellus Wallace Interview
Some people pick up a hobby and barely scratch the surface. Others dive in head first and sink into the murky waters below. This degree of dedication varies depending on the complexity of the culture. When it comes to collecting records, one thing is certain. The pond is deep. If you do decide to jump in, and start really fishing around, eventually you will see DJ Marsellus Wallace in full deep sea snorkel gear, unearthing seldom seen treasures.
- THE BAG MESSENGER
MARSELLUS WALLACE: I got into collecting records about 6 years ago, pretty much when I started Djing. I just loved the deep sound that vinyl had to offer. Man, I slept for so long. I started out collecting 1st run pressing hip hop LP’s. That was the juice for me man. That and scratch records. I still collect all of that, but my tastes have changed quite a bit.
THE BAG MESSENGER: What kinds of things are you looking for these days?
MARSELLUS WALLACE: These days I am into sound library records. Whether its labels such as Peer, Themes, Music De Wolfe, Telemusic, Chappell…I don’t care. I gotta have it all! I am a huge fan of Italian and French soundtracks as well. Pretty much anything funky with an open drum break makes me happy though.
THE BAG MESSENGER: How did you discover your love for original sound track recordings?
MARSELLUS WALLACE: When I first heard Dj Shadow’s recordings…WOW! I was mind blown! I was so impressed with how he interpreted himself through rare grooves and filthy drum breaks. It wasn’t until way later that I started understanding his message between the lines. Then…I heard the Dusty Finger compilations. I must say that Danny Dan the Beat Man is 100% solely responsible for my addiction to European funk and 70’s television themes.
THE BAG MESSENGER: Any interesting digging stories?
MARSELLUS WALLACE: My closest loved ones tried to have an intervention with me about my vinyl addiction. Its serious I suppose
THE BAG MESSENGER: Favorite finds?
MARSELLUS WALLACE: Manzel – Midnight Theme (Test Pressing).
THE BAG MESSENGER: How deep in the crates are you?
MARSELLUS WALLACE: I don’t know, the deeper I go I realize that I still have got a lot to go. As spoken by the true master, I am a student of this. It’s quality…not quantity right? At the rate things are going, I’ll be out of the house in no time lol.
THE BAG MESSENGER: Whats the story with these soundtrack recordings?
MARSELLUS WALLACE: A lot about the history of library recordings is unknown. Composers/musicians used different aliases. Even in the early 70’s there was this sort of “big brother” group that used to enforce the rights of the artists. The artists could care less about the $$$, they just enjoyed doing sessions. Obviously somebody was getting paid off of the so-called “equal rights” of the musicians. So many were forced to use different names and aliases. They would even record secret underground sessions. How dope is that? Too have such a passion for music and family, that you are willing to break the law for your love of the funk. Other than that, the larger percent were designed for television or movie scores. Instrumentation that interprets a certain feeling or intended theme.
THE BAG MESSENGER: Favorite crates to dig in?
MARSELLUS WALLACE: I love going to the dirty dirty man. TN has some great spots. In San Diego I mostly go through thrift stores, weekend swap meets, and Access Hip Hop. I also do a lot of business with local and private sellers. Maybe this sounds crazy, but I don’t want to put my local spots on blast. They got enough traffic as it is ha!
THE BAG MESSENGER: Has Serato changed the way you get down?
MARSELLUS WALLACE: I don’t use Serato. But it would be nice to have doubles of everything. I think it’s a great tool. But it’s just not on my want list of things for I need for DJ’ing.
THE BAG MESSENGER: Every DJ has a horror story or two….what is the worst thing to happen at a gig?
MARSELLUS WALLACE: Ha ha!!! One time I was rocking a party in Ocean Beach at a complex on Saratoga. There was a balcony above me with some drunk chick that got the woosey’s and yacked all over me, my decks, mixer, and all up in my crates. She had pasta that night. (editors note. gross)
THE BAG MESSENGER: What are you working on now? Whats up with this new mix tape?
MARSELLUS WALLACE: Right now I am putting the finishing touches on a mixtape called “Shelf Arrangements”. It is basically a mix of library, rock, and breaks. I am also working on a project with 2 emcee’s. They are called Kaus and Craze. This will be my 1st album with all production and beats my myself. With the help of many others to come, I am looking forward to the journey.