Sweet Linda Divine - I'll Say It Again

In part to fulfill my promise to post this track and also a chance for a moment of deep recognition of Linda Tillery. I went with my daughter and my lady to see Linda at the free UC Berkeley show. It was amazing. Linda was as zesty, interesting and full of soul as one could be. She takes a sec to rap with the audience in between songs and her musical canvas is impressive and vast. Linda, three other women, and two men all sat around Congas and Drums in a semi circle. The scats and melodies that came from all of their vocals were impressive. The history of music that they shared and presented was educational. I highly recommend their show if you've got kids. It was funny enlightening and happy. When I showed Linda the LP for her to sign she was amazed to see it after some time. But, other fans had stories of living in her same block and memories of certain 'music houses'. I did get a change to tell her how much her music affected me, and what it meant to me now being influenced by the Bay Area music scene.
When I initially posted a bit about Linda I couldn't quite find this LP. Now, that it's here in my clutches once again, we've got to get it on here. So, here we go. Another choice Linda Tillery offering and another heavy concrete piece of Bay Area soul music.




Sweet Linda Divine - I'll Say It Again

Linda Tillery - Freedom Time

Linda has got a large catalog of interesting work. She is a huge part of the local Bay Area music scene history. More importantly, an integral part of the Women's Movement here. The Women's Movement and the emerging Women's Music scene were interwoven and a part of an ever growing and expanding network.

Linda Tillery in 1978

In the seventies The Feminist Movement was alive and thriving here in the Bay. From restaurants to record labels women were 'doing it' on their own and showing other women they could 'do it' too. Women were making landmark moves. The social and political scene was closely knit with the emergence of just as radical of a Women's Movement in music. The same revolutionary changes and energy of the Women's Movement was also flowing through the same veins of the music scene. I remember that the social and political changes that were happening in the Bay Area made it an awesome place to grow up for me.
Part of what still makes it awesome.

My mom stood beside a entire UPS facility full of men, and threw packages just like them, doing what was considered 'men's work'. She was delivering parcels, and next, being a part of delivering women into the workplace. Then, in the East Bay the experiences continued...The mother of my closest childhood friend was involved in an all lesbian owned and run breakfast spot. In fact, it was the 'The Brick Hut' and often was the local hang for the 'Olivia Records' gang. Olivia Records was right around the corner from 'The Hut'. We used to go to 'The Hut' as kids on weekend mornings after hitting the Ashby Flea Market.

Musically and socially a climate of change was blowin' about in the SF/Berkeley and Oakland area. Rewarding on so many levels to be a kid amidst the diverse and active community here in the Bay. Then and now, still to this day.

Linda with The Loading Zone

Linda Tillery started with local Oakland based group 'The Loading Zone'. She must have been 16 or 17 years old during that time. She earned her place in that band by singing her heart out. She's featured as the singer on several tracks on the LP and they are the better tunes. This was a favored LP among funk collectors for the instrumental number 'Can I Dedicate'. Its an LP that is drenched heavy in soul, blues, funk and obviously modeled after Sly And The Family Stone. Big production with heavy and loud horns it has a trademark sound that was emerging in L.A. and the Bay Area. After Loading Zone broke up, she recorded an album for Columbia under the moniker Sweet Linda Divine. A nickname she had been known by throughout the Berkeley and Oakland area. More heavy funk and powerhouse vocals throughout this LP. It features the wicked 'I'll Say it Again' which is a cover of the Sandpebbles' 'If You Didn't Hear Me The First Time'.

The Sweet Linda Divine LP

Although it's a great LP, she didn't really come into her own until 1977 when she released her self titled LP on the all women owned and operated Olivia Records. It's a fantastic fabric of work, and considered by many the most intricate and musically rich releases for the label. This self titled LP by Linda Tillery on Olivia made considerable waves. Olivia also did a lot for women's music within this area, and also had a large staple of artists and releases. Linda became a producer at Olivia and played drums on countless releases as well. There's two fabulous tunes on this S/T in particular that I love..'Markin' Time' and the excellent 'Freedom Time' which has been re-released by Ubiquity on the compilation 'California Soul'. 'Freedom' is a monster tune, wickedly soulful and powerful. It has a 1:45 minute intro, but when it finally kicks in it's pure heaven. Something truly to be said for the power of sultry soulful sister vocals over slick and funky riffs and melodies. Although, its hard for me to pick just those two...again, it is a generally texturally rich and layered LP throughout. A good listen from start to finish. Not to mention it's incredible cover art, a mix of textures looking like burlap and sandpaper among other things. During the 70's she furthered her singing, producing, playing drums, and continued to work at Olivia Records. In addition she worked with other Bay Area artists' Coke Escovedo, Lenny White, Santana, and Boz Scaggs. Later in 1985 she released 'Secrets' on her own record label. It is an LP renowned by avid soul collectors as her true genius work and well known in modern soul circuit. Seems as though many of her releases are indeed loved by many different groups on many different levels. A life's work well received it appears.

To this day she's active as the leader of the Cultural Heritage Choir.
http://www.culturalheritagechoir.com/
They're playing a free show at Zellerbach Hall on U.C. Berkeley's campus. It's at 5PM, this Sunday Sept. 26th. I'm going to go.. you should too. I'm gonna take my daughter, show her just how important women in music can be.

In an interview in 1978 Linda was quoted as hoping her music would "give strength to other women as they too strive to attain the freedom that comes when restrictions based on race and sex are eliminated"
Linda was more than just a vocal powerhouse but a powerhouse of activism and inspiration.

Here's two tracks from Linda..
I Can't Please You by The Loading Zone
and
Freedom Time from her S/T on Olivia Records
But, bottom line is her entire catalog is highly recommended.
I couldn't find my copy of 'Sweet Linda Divine' but, when I do..I'll post it up.


The Loading Zone - I Can't Please You

Linda Tillery - Freedom Time

Shuggie Otis - Ice Cold Daydream

Whether in conversation or on this blog, I constantly reference Shuggie Otis. There's something truly beautiful and mysterious about him and his music. When I first scored his 'Inspiration Information' LP, I think I spent an entire week in my apartment with the headphones on. I was obviously blown away and affected, but it went even further than that. Somehow I had dreams those nights about Shuggie jammin' with the school band at Berkeley High. It was some kind of great hippie psychedelic soul jam session. I've often used that dream to describe his music, and although it doesn't encapsulate his 'sound' (as it's only my individual experience) Shuggie has created 'dream' music for his fans. He definitely left some kind of celestial imprint in my musical tastes.
In that LP he's etching out a new brand of 'Hippie Soul' (among other things) and with this LP he launched one of my all time favorite tracks EVER...'Strawberry Letter 23'.
This song 'Ice Cold Daydream' is on the flip of a 45 I have of 'Strawberry' and the opening tune on his 1971 'Freedom Flight' LP. This LP came out a year later than his previous more bluesy 'Here Comes Shuggie...' LP, but was light years beyond it. It was apparent that his sound was evolving and in 1974 when 'Inspiration' dropped it fell on deaf ears. Critics panned his moving away from the blues sounds and claimed he had lost his way. Years later it was of course discovered by soul enthusiasts, and heralded up there right along with other landmark Bay Area LP's like 'There's A Riot Goin' On' By Sly and the Family Stone. Then, it was re-released by Luaka Bop and it finally met with universal acclaim. As a result of his new found 'fame' I had to the chance to see him at Great American Music Hall in SF, but he was 'out of sorts' and almost canceled the performance. I had heard of people trying to reach him, and often knocking on his door with no response, or being told to 'go away' by Shuggie himself.
This is a sample of his more psych rock sounding stuff, but Shuggie is unconventional to say the least and his music knows few boundaries. In any instance of his music you'll hear vast varieties of both sound and mood and a bevy of unpredictable changes in the song writing. I'm posting this song 'cause i love it, but also I'll be heading down a 'rock' path in the next few weeks. There will be more Shuggie snippets to come in the future as I'm a huge fan. Thanks for letting me vent about my love for Shuggie, and have a happy Ice Cold Daydream.



Shuggie Otis - Ice Cold Daydream

Freddie Hughes - Sarah Mae

Mellow Saturday Morning soul.

That's what I'm feeling like right now.

That's exactly the mood I was put in when I first discovered this bay area soul 45. It's a tragic sounding story with Freddie pleading for her to come back home, definitely 'tear-stained' soul if I ever heard it. The backdrop is simple tight drums, a complex bass line, a nice piano melody and trickled with light synth. It's a masterful combination and had me hooked right from the beginning. I find it highly unlikely that this tune was much of a commercial success, but the bay area has always been diverse, so I know it had to get 'some' local radio play. Nonetheless, its a truly sincere tune that a few soul fans keep close to the chest. And, probably heralded and enjoyed now much more than then.
Freddie Hughes was closely aligned with the local blues scene here in Oakland, and I remember seeing him, and his name spattered throughout Oakland blues posters. I grew up mostly in Oakland, and since my brother was already playing bass in this circuit I had a great angle of insight. I remember seeing Freddie Hughes live somewhere and telling all my mod and soul loving friends that it was the most incredible man I had ever seen before. I told them that in his slick burgundy suit and with his captivating performance style it was the closest thing I could imagine to seeing Otis Redding. But, even better.. Freddie is drenched in good ole' Bay Area Blues, Soul and Funk. To this day, his version of "Take Me To The River" is smoking hot.

Freddie is a legend in his own right. He made absolutely beautiful soul records including his first LP 'Send My Baby Back' on the Wand label. He's not to be confused (which does happen-even I'm guilty of it at one time) with Fred Hughes of Brunswick fame. This is not the Fred of 'Oh Wee Babe' fame..yet, his caliber is the same or better. Freddie was born in Berkeley, and still performs here locally today. Oddly they had a performance yesterday at Berkeley's famous Cheese Board. AND, a performance tonight in Oakland at The Warehouse Bar & Grill. I highly recommend seeing Freddie Hughes in any capacity. Although I have not seen or heard his new band "Kickin' The Mule", I think it is NOT to be missed. Real talk folks.
Check the schedule here.
http://www.myspace.com/kickinthemule

One listen to "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You" and you'll know what you need to do...SEE THIS MAN. But, then it gets even deeper with "Do My Thing".... Are you convinced yet??

Support the cats that are still around and still 'doing their thing'!!
If you live in this area, you should really try to see him. Makes sense right?
I'm glad to share this super bluesy deep soulful "Sarah Mae" track, and even happier to spread the gospel of 'Freddie Hughes'

Freddie Hughes - Sarah Mae