George and Gwen McCrae - The Rub

This tune brings back a lot of memories for me. Back sometime ago one of the DJ nights I did was called Sunday School. It wasn't 'school' in the sense that we were trying to 'school' folks, or that we were wearing out any terms like 'don't sleep' or crate diggin phrase-ology like that. But, more that we were on the tip of being devoted in the sense that it was like a religion to us. That we 'wanted' to learn. I gathered some of my favorite DJ's at the time, picked out some bands and did a variety of things musically and genre wise with the night. This was between our famed night at the Ivy under the same name as this blog, and the ultimate demise of said such club. It was the last ride. In fact we started the Sunday School sessions knowing that the club was going to close. I remember we had new wave bands with hip hop bands, and rock groups with salsa funk bands all with DJ's playing reggae, rare groove, disco and boogie. You can see now why it was called Sunday School. We were out to learn whatever could by throwing it all in the mix. And, again it was an extension of the similarly themed Sound Boutique night. One of the cats at Sunday school turned me Onto this track. Such a great tune. One of my favorite local hip hop acts The Coup sampled this tune. It's interesting all the things going on with the Occupy movement, and proud to say Oakland seems to continually be a championing area for OWS. Boots Reilly of The Coup is majorly active within Occupy Oakland and I'm hearing a lot about hip hops involvement in OWS. It's good to hear and I'm glad to see the popularity of conscious rap making a possible larger scale comeback. This is taking into perspective that the 'concious' part or rap has all but disappeared. It's definitely time for hip hop to make a come back. And, I welcome it with open arms. On the slight condition it be good again. :) I hope it IS on the return. Or perhaps that's too ambitious, maybe we should call it a final stand. If it is indeed the case, I may just listen to it again.

What I'm hearing in the new stuff I do like. And, I'm hearing a lot. We just bought a used car late last year and haven't modified the stereo set up, so we're stuck with only radio. That's both good and bad. Good because there's stations like KPFA And UC Berkeley's KALX here. But, bad cause I'm a guy who will constantly update the iPod with the hot songs of the week (all the shit I'm fiendy for, but haven't acquired yet) and I can't bump them in the car. Oh well. But, again this has been good. Because the news on KPFA is excellent. And, updates of OO and OWS are both exciting and depressing depending on any given day, but essential nonetheless.

So, here at Sound Boutique we present another sampled track, but moreover an essential rare groove and underplayed funk track from two of my favorite CAT label recording artists. Always happy to expose originals as they make a huge pile of stock here at the Sound Boutique. Our deadstock originals NWT - New with the tags on.

George and Gwen McCrae - The Rub

Baba Yaga - Too Cool To Be True

Killer funk jam by this 70's era all women's band. Sounds a bit Afro influenced with these heavy horns piercing through the mix. This one was fit for the club both now, and then according to the lyrics. Swarming to the disco with those uniform denim blues. Look out. These ladies are fired up. Lead by a heavy break in the front, it's charged up with the same shit that's still going on these days..growling stomachs, high gas prices, and people looking for work. This release was distributed by local woman's label Olivia and you can get comprehensive deets and pics here. Probably the tastiest women's funk club tune I can think of and reminds me of the 'all-girl' live performances I saw today.

Yes, I'm still sick from last week and feeling like shit, but I had to make the trek outside in the constant rain to see my daughter perform at the G.R.A.S.P. (Girls Rock After School Program) in downtown Oakland. Sick as I was, I was busy sleeping all day and if she hadn't called to remind me, I may have slept right through it. Daddies, stay on ya toes! It was great (and a great program) to see my daughter rock the drums in her own style and I'm glad I took her to see the Girl's Rock Movie 2 to 3 years ago. I saw a total of 15 groups play one song each, ages ranging from 6 to 16 years young. I was looking at the attendance and over all high head count and thinking there is definite potential for my evolving all ages Oak-a-go-go TV show idea, developed from Chicago's own cable access show Chic-a-go-go. Check out what they do.

While in downtown Oakland, I caught a facebook mention of a record sale. Of course I had to check that out. Sick or not, I was already out there in the rain. I'm in full support of Oakland record shows, and even better when they are in the afternoon or at night. Great little swap at the Spice Monkey Loft organized by Geraldine of feelmygrooves.com and the new east bay multi-genre soul night called 'The Clearing' at the Kingsman's Ivy Room. It's held every third Friday, but April's date is scheduled for the 22nd. Heads up. Been meaning to re-stomp the Ivy Room and see the major re-vamping they've done since our crew was there so many years ago. Props to all those folks at the swap for toughing it out in the rain. Looks as though the Spice Monkey has some tasty food as well. Great idea..the wifey can grab a bite to eat, and I can chip away at our life savings on my compulsion with records.
So, all in all, a nice little day. Even though I felt like absolute crap. I hope I didn't infect anyone along my way. If so, my sincere apologies! Now I'm nestled back in our crib, nice and warm, hopefully nursing this very flu like cold on it's way out the motha-fuckin' door!


Baba Yaga - Too Cool To Be True

Carol Fran - I'm Gonna Try

Here's a wicked, wicked little soul stomper. This gift of passionate soul magic by Carol Fran is lead by a sledge hammer snare and a few tickles of piano. The bold and beautiful brass ruggedly wraps up Carol's delicious voice. I love how this song starts from scratch and builds up into this frenzy, and then calms down, and fires up again. Just a brilliant 60's soul tune.

I remember initially laying his down at the Ivy Room in Albany, California. Not long after scoring this 45, I played it at Soundboutique. Quite some time ago, and maybe father back than most can remember, or even know about for that matter, the name of this blog represented a Thursday deejay dance night at the Ivy Room. Those were seriously good times and the owners truly gave us the freedom to play what we wanted. This tune packed the floor the few times I played it, and we had prosperous run for that night. I'll always remember my conversation with the owner when we played Prince and AC/DC in the very beginning when the club was still empty and he said 'I think this is great...keep on doin' it' with a laid back satisfied look. They really did let us branch out and play what ever the fuck we wanted to. It was pop, commercial, underground, hip hop, soul, funk, rock, electro, nu-wave...whatever. Anything you could think of. Whatever our guest DJ's felt like playing. As long as you could dance to it. And, yes a lot of stuff like this Carol Fran 45. After all, I was involved so you could always count on a soul fix. We knew the owner had our backs when he paid to replace the blown sub woofer after our roasting of it with 'Under Mi Sleng Teng' by Wanye Smith.
That sub sonic bass is brutal even on a set of Meyers!

Carol Fran - I'm Gonna Try