On this show, I play “Jungle Jazz” by Kool and the Gang from their 1975 album Spirit of the Boogie. I mentioned on an earlier show that if all you know of Kool and the Gang is their wedding reception classics of the late ’70s and ’80s that you’ve been missing out. Here’s a chance [...]
On this show I play “It’s Your Thing” recorded by Dennis Coffey and the Lyman Woodard Trio. This is a fuzzed-out instrumental cover of the Isley Brothers’ hit, recorded in 1969 for Maverick Records. Dennis Coffey is a veteran Detroit guitarist. He was a session musician for Motown Records, and recorded dates including as a [...]
On this show, I play “You’re Gettin’ A Little Too Smart” by the Detroit Emeralds. The Detroit Emeralds were originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, where they got their start singing Gospel music. They moved to Detroit in hopes of breaking in to the music business with their take on Soul. They put out a handful [...]
On this show, I play “Confucious” by trombonist Don Drummond, from “The Best of Don Drummond.” This is one of the few original Jamaican records I’ve been able to track down. It’s not clear when this album was released, and from the sound of it, the tracks are taken from various recording sessions. My guess [...]
On this show, I play “Coming Home Baby” recorded by El Chicano on their 1970 album Viva Tirado. El Chicano is a band that got its start in the late ’60s in East L.A., and which made a name for themselves locally with their latino-influenced covers of popular jazz and rock tunes. Viva Tirado was [...]