Mary Wells - Dig The Way I Feel

This is a tune brought in the shop by our friend Jesse. There's so much good stuff coming through the VAMP shop. If you're in the Oakland Area you gotta come through. Hit me up here for details or read other posts here that mention it.
I was kind of bred into soul music by the Chicanos and Mexicanos in my hood as a kid. They showed me how to crease my dickies and how to stand with my feet forming a V. I always hated converse, they were uncomfortable as hell. But, a derby jacket and a little pomade and I was good to go. The original San Francisco Miklo. This was a remarkable period for San Francisco. There were still bombs rolling the streets of the city blasting sweet soul music, beige creased dickies and black suspenders. Lowrider and Chicano culture was at an all time high in the Mission district of SF. I also remember once after relocating to the East Bay hearing an incredible Friday Night Oldies DJ on KPFA. The passionate and stylistic voice of the radio announcer speaking both English and Spanish and always embellishing in street slang. That was really a wicked show and that DJ should be a national treasure. Ah, those times I miss.

What really touched me about growing up in the hood and changed my life was the music. The Vato friend of mine from down the street left me with a handful of 45's that forever change my view. Oldies, funk, doo-wop and disco. Some of the most soulful music I had ever heard. Those nuggets left imprints that shaped my tastes to this very day. Parliament's 'Flash Light', The 'Theme From S.W.A.T.' and the hit oldies sound of Mary Wells and many others.

Mary's 'Two Lovers' and 'Don't Beat Me To The Punch' were in that beginning stack of 45's and were constantly played on my fisher price turntable. Still to this day I love that sound. As much as soul music and oldies are embedded in my soul, so was my love and respect for Chicano and Lowrider culture. It's no wonder that the two interests are so infused with each other. The devotion in the Lowrider and Oldies scene isn't any less intense than the manic and obsessive Northern, Deep Funk or Disco Scenes. We're still basically talking about records here. So, as you can imagine it's just as fathoms deep as any other record collecting circle, maybe even deeper.

When the wifey and I went out recently we stopped by the Casanova for an Oldies Night and release party for the Souleros Crew's piece in Wax Poetics and we had a fantastic time. Some of the nicest and friendliest folks I've met and a night of killer tunes. Some even I had to shout across the dance floor to any willing ear to tell me what was playing on the turntable. Great unknown oldies, Lowrider classics, Chicano Rock, and Latin Boogaloo groovers were being played.
The Souleros family host parties and dance nights with events featuring 'The Baddest Chola Contest' and performances from groups like Myron & E. These folks are doing it big and keeping the harmonies and sweet soulful sounds alive and well.

Not a good pic by any standards, but a terrific night of soul

The always visually pleasing art at Casanova

 Here's another fine tune by Mary Wells. It's from the same period as her 'Serving Up Some Soul' album for the Jubilee label. She had a hit on that LP with the tune 'The Doctor'. This was in 1968 long after she had left the Motown and Atco labels. In fact she had jumped aboard 20th Century as well for a short period, I think one album. This was her last volume of work before she completely abandoned the recording business. Mary had an incredible career of legendary soul tunes. 'My Guy', 'You Beat Me To The Punch', 'Two Lovers', 'The Doctor', an album dedicated to the Beatles, and a duet with Marvin Gaye...this gal has an impressive catalog to say the least.

Mary Wells - Dig The Way I Feel

The Bobbettes - Zoomy

Honestly I forget exactly how this came into the collection. But, never will I forget the Bobbettes. They are the best. The are crazy fun, hyper energy and oh-so soulful. I remember being majorly 'into' this 45 and madly searching for more like it. At the time I couldn't find what I was looking for, but later discovered more like it. Mostly it was within their own catalog. This is in part a sequel to my post about my wedding music cause the Bobbettes make me extremely happy. Plus burning around town in a drop top mustang for the week with these fine ladies playing out loud was a kick. I couldn't have picked a better soundtrack to our honeymoon. It's doo wop from the ladies and they ain't messin' around. Recording 'Mr. Lee' in 1957 that group was super young. The oldest being about 14 at the time of recording. They never had greater success than 'Mr. Lee' but the legacy they left is incredible. 'Zoomy' is their third single and released in 1958. Atlantic records dropped them fairly early in their career, but they pushed on well into the 70's and even have a few 80's joints on Sunnyview and again on Atlantic calling them the 'Bobbettes 1981'. These five girls from Harlem are incredible...judge for yourself. This is the creme of the crop for their excellent early sound. But, please check their entire catalog.

The Bobbettes - Zoomy

The Orlons - South Street

Let me first say,  I'm thrilled to be back at this. I've been busy beyond belief! Somewhere amidst my usual busyness I've found time to get married, take on a new business partner, grow my current business, and develop new biz endeavours. So, for me..things are hectic and my calender is packed. But, I get so much pleasure out of sharing tracks and appreciate so much the feedback we get here. So, I'm relishing in this moment and here we go... These have all been life changing things going on for me. Definitely the most 'life changing' was getting married. One thing that came to mind during 'getting married' was MUSIC. I literally woke up the morning of my marriage with the tune "Going to the chapel' in my head. I suppose that's not such a stretch considering what I was to partake in that day. But, it was remarkable the amount of these happy little 'fitting' tunes kept popping into my head. For some reason, the jingles from several 50's and 60's soul tunes were on my mind. I remember the last major life changing thing for me was the birth of my daughter, and that day too was blessed with music running through my mind. That time it was 'Lady' by Modjo. It was still being played on the radio and in the occassional car driving by at that time. 'Lady' is actually the brilliant Nile Rodgers and Chic masterpiece 'Soup For One' from the movie of the same name. That became the theme for my child's birth. So, this brings me to the story of how the Orlons became the theme music for my holy matrimony. From 'Going To The Chapel' to 'Don't Hang Up' the transition wasn't very hard. Actually it went...'Chapel' to 'Be My Baby' by the Ronettes and then 'Da Do Ron Ron' by The Crystals and 'The Wah-Watusi' by The Orlons. All within the tracks of my mind. lol. Yes, there is a strange 'Quadraphenia' thing happening here as well.
I pulled out (miraculous if you know me and my collection: I can NEVER find anything I want to play and hear) the several Orlons records I have. They're all so cute with pictures of them on the covers.  Wigs, white gloves, impeccable suits, and beehives several feet high. The more I dug through my 45's the more I dug the Orlons.
Most of their jams are full of energy and excitement. In fact most struck me as needing to be looped up and made into some kind of 50's and early 60's hip hop be-bop. The drums are punchy, horns tight, and vocals poppin. Everything is recorded nice and loud and all the elements are full and crisp.
The flip side here is 'Them Terrible Boots' another killer Orlons offering.

I'm still tripping on how this cat in the Orlons gets that voice so deep. Still also tripping that now I'm hitched. But, just another thing to thank the wife for...getting such lovely music stuck in my head.
I highly recommend getting a best of the Orlons LP or just plain downloading that shit. It's strikingly DOPE and fresh sounding even to this day.


(Actually the last time I had the energy and intent to 'up' a new post here on this blog, my trustworthy 'mediafire' site was not working. So, now that things are right again...)




The Orlons - South Street