Southern Soul and Blues
@ Soul-Patrol.Com
ANNOUNCEMENT: BLUES @ RadioIO.com (There's a New Sherrif In Town)
This is quite possibly the worst kept secret on the internet.
If you go to the following link:
http://www.radioio.com/channels/blues
You will see the smiling face of a young man born in Kings County Hospital in the "People's Republic of Brooklyn." It should be no surprise to anyone who has known me for longer than 5 minutes that the RadioIO Blues Station would become a part of the "Black Music Suite" of channels there. I first became a huge fan of "da blues" during the 1980's during the period of time when I became completely turned off by the so called "R&B" then being played on the radio. Since I was living in Houston Texas at that time it became very easy for me to become a fan of "da blues" despite my NYC origins. I was "taken to school" by some older brothas who taught me everything that I needed to know about "Delta Blues", "Chicago Blues", Texas Blues", "West Coast Blues", "Acoustic Blues", "Electric Blues", etc. At the same time during the 1980's, "blues" was becoming "mainstream" as a result of the popularity of artists such as Stevie Ray, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Mason Ruffner, Jeff Healy and others. There was a very active blues concert/festival scene involving these artists along with many of the "masters" that I was involved with as well, during my time in Texas.
All of this "blues education" I got in Texas helped me to form not only a true love for "blues music", but also allowed me to place the culture (political & spiritual) surrounding the history of "da blues" from Africa to Slavery to Jim Crow to Northern Migration to Integration in a more accurate perspective, then I could have ever previously imagined. After all I was from Brooklyn....LOL
I actually took over the station about a month ago and haven't done much with it, except to listen to the existing 4,500 song library, solicit feedback from the existing listener base and also from some of the folks around here on Soul-Patrol who are well schooled in "da blues."
The existing 4,500 song library is quite eclectic and deep, containing lots of material from "the masters", lots of "blues-rock", lots of acoustic, lots of electric, stuff from the 1920's, lots of jump blues, lots of big band blues, lots of contemporary blues (1980's - today), lots of "classic soul/funk" (Etta James, Ray Charles, Meters, Bo Diddley, Booker T & MG's, Al Green, etc) and some current day HARDCORE SOUL (Bettye LaVette, Solomon Burke, Sharon Jones, Robert Randolph, etc).
Last night for the first time I added some new releases to the station, and I added music that kinda/sorta fits with the existing mix. Some new releases featuring covers of the "masters" (etc; Eamon Walker, Jeffrey Wright, Kim Wilson/SOUL7, Mick Hucknall, Mos Def), Some "blues rock" (ex; Lester Chambers, Marc Broussard, Gary Lee & The Catdaddys, etc), some "hardcore soul" (Ryan Shaw, Stan Mosley, Leela James, Lou Wilson & Todays People, Jill Gsharp, Larry Taylor, Pat Cooley, The Climates, etc). And finally, some Classic Soul/Funk/Rock from our boy FATS GALLON taken from the just released reissue of his classic album F.A.T. ("Funky And Tough").
That's just a start and I'm sure that it will evolve...
Check it out and let me know what cha think?
Blues @ RadioIO.com
http://www.radioio.com/channels/blues
Buddy Guy - Forty Days and Forty Nights
Denise LaSalle - Mississippi Woman
Eamon Walker - Smokestack Lightnin'
F.A.T. - How Can I Explain
Gary Lee & The Catdaddys - Freeway
Gary Lee & The Catdaddys - NiteTrain
James Hunter - 'Til the End
Jeffrey Wright - I'm a Man
Jeffrey Wright - I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man
Jill Gsharp - My Man
Kim Wilson/SOUL7 - Juke
Kyle Jason & The Soul Power Movement - Thank You
Larry Taylor - Jody Got Your Girl and Gone, Pt. 1
Leela James - It's a Man's Man's Man's World (single edit)
Lester Chambers - Love Ya Mama
Lester Chambers - Evil & Wrong
Lou Wilson & Todays People - Heard It Thru The Grapevine
Marc Broussard - Hard Knocks
Melissa Young - Rock With Me
Mick Hucknall - Father Up the Road
Mick Hucknall - I'll Take Care of You
Mos Def - Nadine
Nas/Olu Dara - Bridging the Gap
Pat Cooley - Older Woman Younger Man
Rue Davis - The Last Time
Ryan Shaw - Do The 45
Ryan Shaw - I Found a Love
Ryan Shaw - Memphis Train
Solange Knowles - 6 O'Clock Blues
Stan Mosley - Barstool Woman
Stan Mosley - Something U Got
Sweet Angel - Sweet Angel - Women's National Anthem
The Climates - Out of Control
The Revalations (Featuring Tre Williams) - I Don't Want To Know
The Revelations Featuring Tre Williams - He's a Hustler
The Revelations Featuring Tre Williams - Heavy Metal Blues
The Soul of John Black - Black John
Walter "Wolfman" Washington - Shake Your Booty/Funky Thing, Pt. 1
Blues @ RadioIO.com
http://www.radioio.com/channels/blues
--Bob Davis
Album Review: Leela James - "Let's Do It Again"
(Black American Standard Music - Where All da Party People At?)
I'm not quite sure why I'm even bothering to write this review. I already know that some of yall aren't going to like the album, Leela James - "Let's Do It Again". That's cuz it's...
:::HARDCORE SOUL:::
Really and truly I don't really have to say much more than this album is simply...
"One that you wait for your parents to be away for the day, roll back the carpeting in the living room & dining room, remove all of the good glasses & plates that might break, invite your friends over, fry up some chicken wings, break out the paper plates & plastic silverware, get a few bottles of Boones Farm/T-Bird and run the whole M*therF*ckin album from end to end and then run it back it again..."
Any of yall who ever lived in the projects knows exactly what kind of a party I'm talkin about. The album Leela James - "Let's Do It Again", can easily provide ALL of the music that you need for a party in the projects!!!
(Am I allowed to use the word FONK around here?)
This album exists in an "alternate universe" that's sweaty, it's funky, there's no health food, the term "dow jones industrial average" doesn't exist in our vocabulary, and political correctness is something that we aren't bothered with!!!
IT"S STANK/NASTAY.....(review continued here)
--Bob Davis
Album Review: Lou Wilson and Today's People - Money Talk
 In this economic climate it is easy to recommend the newest release by Lou Wilson and Today's People "Money Talk". For an hour or so you will forget your money problems (well maybe). This is the most fun yes I said fun, I've had listening to a cd in sometime. These songs will take you back to a simpler time when people wrote from their hearts and the mantra might as well been "keep it simple stupid!" These songs are crisp and clean in arrangements , for example listen to the musicians on Money Talk, horns more crisp than corn flakes, takes you back to those funky horn sections of the late 60's and the 70's.
I do not hesitate when I say Lou Wilson is one of those talents like Al Green, Bobby Womack, B.Rush, BB King, and other great one of kind voices who with one listen will sear their sound into the recesses of you mind. His phrasing is truly a joy to hear on songs' like "Settle down", "Dog in the House", "Heard it through the Grapevine", and one of my favorites "Taking over my Baby's mind". Lou reinvents the pronunciation for the word Alien, and it brings a smile whenever he sings it. There is a velvet pebble in the throat of Lou that gives him a smooth but graveled unique and strangely comforting sound. That makes it another one of those sad examples of wonderful talent who has gone virtually unknown while artists of lesser ability get undo praise and hero worship for doing nothing of note.
The tone of this cd is straight old school and will take you were you really want to go and that is a good place. Forget the cares of the day for a few moments enjoys Lou Wilson as he sings "Roots of my Heart" and "If it ain't broke, don't try to fix". One is a Blues flavored ballad that may bring tears to your eyes like it did to mine, the other a mid tempo joint that would have made Willie Hutch and Johnnie Taylor both smile because it is their suit size also, and Lou wears the hell out of it. Look there are many more words and a few more songs. But the bottom line is this is that cd that will make you Find out who Lou Wilson is and where he has been and what he has done!
--Enorman
Concert Review: Mel Waiters at the Reno/Tahoe Blues Festival
Photo by G. Wyndham
 This is your West Coast Soul-Patrol correspondent filing a report on the star studded 4rth Annual Reno Tahoe Blues Festival. The two day event continues to attract upwards of 10,000 patrons of the Blues to the lush landscape of Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno, Nevada.
The August 15-16, 2008 event featured the likes of Gladys Knight, The Whispers, Jonny Lang, Mavis Staples, Latimore, Bobby Rush, EC Scott, Betty Wright, Ernie Johnson and Mel Waiters.
We caught up with and interviewed Mel Waiters, Gentleman of Southern Soul after his blistering 90 minute Sunday set. A confident and generous bandleader, Mel Waiters gave props to his Righteous Sidekick Jesus Christ as well as ample leads to the other two talented vocalists in his revue Chandra Callaway and Sang'n Clarence. You heard me, Sang'n Clarence. He also showcased his great band. The name of the band? Hit It And Quit It. In our conversation, Mr. Waiters declared, "This is a business and to be successful you have to treat it as such. I make sure my organization looks good when they walk on stage." Indeed, they dispensed visual soul, spirit, class and energy.
A San Antonio native, steeped in the traditions of the church, Mr. Waiters secured his first professional gig at the ripe old age of nine. Being paid for what came naturally was a good feeling for the young Mel Waiters. He also did many successful years as a radio DJ. But the changing face of radio and the uncertainties of club DJing ultimately steered him back into performing. Right about that time, Mel purchased his first synthesizer. It was a Roland Juno I. Put it on layaway at Mid-County Music in Beaumont, Texas. Waiters said it took all of eight months to pay for the $700.00 keyboard. He jokes, "I thought I would never finish paying for it!"
He wrote a song called I Thought I Could Hit It And Quit It. Originally Mel presented it to the great Buddy Ace. Buddy wanted to record it, but his producer at the time, Leon Haywood didn't like the song and they passed on it.
Waiters decided to record it himself and when Baton Rouge radio DJ E. Rodney Jones broke the record a hit was born. Malaco records came calling and Waiters found himself recording and releasing back to back to dance records, Got My Whiskey and Hole In The Wall. In the artist's own words, I worked forever and a day and I'm still working. It's been lucrative and a lot of fun".
Mel unfailingly, at every show, gives more than just the obligatory passing reference to Jesus Christ in his performances. He states, "when you come from where I do, you pretty much keep Jesus up in there, cause you know where your solid rock is. There are so many things that are fake out in the world that I'm simply unwilling to fall for."
Very popular in the South and on the East coast, Waiters is excited by his recent performance forays out West. Having recently worked Inglewood, California, in addition to Reno, the Waiters troupe looks forward to increasing bookings on the left coast.
At the time of our interview Mel Waiters was under contract to Malaco Records, yet proud of the fact that he is fully self contained as an artistic entity. He has produced himself during his eleven year tenure at Malaco and has a solid fan base.
"I try to record music that the people that I know can relate to", says Waiters. "I don't stray from the genre that I started in. I've been pretty successful with it. I chose to reinvest the monies I've made into my career. I have a state of the art recording studio in my home. I can walk from my kitchen into my studio. Any button they push at Malaco, I can push at home and deliver them a finished product when I walk in their door. I've prepared myself to break away and stand on my own. But, I'm more humble now than I was in the beginning. It seems as though I am continually melting down. My colleagues, friends and advisors tell me I should be more firm in the business. I've helped so many people on this circuit, in this business. The standard bearers say that once you reach a certain level of professionalism, you don't do things like that. What I do on stage with my vocalists and background singers is unheard of. Generally, when one reaches this caliber of entertainment, you don't showcase other talents in your revue as much as I do. I've produced CD's on Chandra Calloway and Sang'n Clarence on my label Brittney Records that are successful. I've also helped many people outside my organization."
To those fans he has yet to acquire, Mel Waiters forewarns folks keep their eyes and ears pealed for his sounds of positivity and undercover spirituality. "I'm the new blessed legend. I'm really working incognito for Jesus."
As Soul-Patrol goes to press, we have learned that Mel Waiters lost his grandmother, Mrs. Vivian Waiters who passed on January 8, 2009. Mel Waiters unfailingly acknowledged her at every performance for making him the man he is today. Mrs. Waiters was 99 years of age.
For more information and updates on Mel Waiters and his record label Brittney Records, please visit www.melwaiterslive.com
--T.Watts
Album Review: Taj Mahal - Maestro
 Sometimes there is much more than meets the eye. Most people are scared of the Blues, however they have never been scared of Taj Mahal. He has always been the type of Blues artist that was embraced by the mainstream. At the same time it always seemed to me that Taj Mahal always saw that his purpose as an entertainer was to educate Americans about both the roots and influence of their own music. In effect, Taj is almost like the ultimate subversive because he has managed to infiltrate a world where he's not supposed to be. On the album "Maestro", he easily moves from "chicago blues" to "delta blues" to "b3 organ jazz" to "world music" and even throws in some "led zep licks." He's got an all star cast including such names as Los Lobos, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, George Porter, Ivan Neville, Leo Nocentelli, Angelique Kidjo and others. As Taj flows between these musical styles you can see him smiling in his minds eye, because he knows that he's got you wondering just what's going on, but at the same time, he knows that you can't turn off the music, simply because you are enjoying the adventure. And that my friends is the very best way to educate someone, by not telling them beforehand that your purpose is to to educate them.
The album ends appropriately enough with the Willie Dixon/Bo Diddley classic "Diddy Wah Diddy". This song is a perfect exclamation point for the album because it's blues/r&b/rock/country all at the same time and what could be more American than that combination? Don't be afraid of it, just embrace it, it's just Taj Mahal, takin us to skool once again!
--Bob Davis
Album Review: Angel - Nu Soul Stew
I wanted to wait a minute before writing the review of this album. I have actually had this music in my hot little hands now for about three months. I could have written the album review a few moments after I listened to the whole thing for the first time. All it takes is one listen in order to be hooked, no need for a second or third listen. However I wanted to wait. I wanted to play the music both on Soul-Patrol.Net Radio and on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com and just let people hear it first. In the meanwhile I have been watching it rise up the music (internet & terrestrial) charts around the country. However those charts are meaningless. What does mean something is the smile that will appear on your face, the moment you start playing this album. That smile will remain on your face, because when you find yourself immersed in the "real thing", that's exactly what's supposed to happen.
Classic Soul is a genre that seems to be getting a whole lot of attention these days. When someone wins 5 Grammy Awards doing a style of music that has been "underground" for so many years, most people notice and some people imitate. Angel Rissoff is an artist who doesn't have to "imitate" anything, cuz he is the "real deal." He didn't start doing Classic Soul music last week or last year. He's been doing it his whole life and over the past few years he has been at the forefront of creating BRAND NEW "Black American Standard Music" in a world that thinks that term almost always means "oldies...."
(review continued here)
Concert Review: Tre Williams & the Revalations @ the Key Club in Newark, NJ
 I haven't attended as many concerts this year as I might have liked to. However damn near all that I have attended have been tremendously uplifting, and this one is yet another example of that.
http://www.soul-patrol.com/funk/revelations.htm
As I have been saying for the past few months, we are truly at a tipping point for our culture going forward and a new culture is going to evolve out of what once was. I am far from being alone in making that prediction. The results of the past Presidential election are something that many people have pointed to as the start of a new culture going forward. While that is true in some ways, what this really is just a matter that it's time for a new generation to take over and it's time to begin the new century in earnest. What we are seeing is that the people who are going to be the leaders of that inevitable shift in time, beginning to emerge. Clearly people like Barack Obama and not people like John McCain represent the future leaders. And in time others we will watch as others emerge in government, business, sports and other arenas. It's all merely a function of time...
In music and in Black music specifically we see artists like Ledisi, Conya Doss, Krunk Movement, Nadir, James Hunter, Global Noize, Homemade Jamz Blues Band, Nikka Costra, and others emerging as the leadership of moving Black music forward in the future. As much as I like artists like George Clinton, Mavis Staples, Sly Stone, Smokey Robinson and others, these individuals do not represent the future leaders of Black music, they represent the past...(Click Here to Read The Rest of this review + More Reviews + Video)
Tre Williams is...
THE
REAL
THANG
--Bob Davis
earthjuice@prodigy.net
James Hunter - Profile, Album Review & Concert Review (6/2008)
 JAMES HUNTER
Yesterday I became immersed in 360 degrees of James Hunter. I listened to his fantastic new album called "THE HARD WAY" for the first time yesterday. This album was so good that I actually listened to it 4 TIMES yesterday, despite the fact that I have dozens of unopened brand new releases stacked up on this desk, awaiting my review. "THE HARD WAY" is a totally compelling masterpiece of artistic vision that is so all consuming, that it is very difficult not to hit the repeat button after hearing it. In fact, "THE HARD WAY" is so revolutionary in concept and brilliant in execution that I was forced to "check myself" and ask others to take a listen to it, simply because I wanted to be absolutely certain that I wasn't missing something important. In fact as tempted as I am at this moment to put it into the CD player, I refuse to do it. That's because I know that if I play it right now, I will be tempted once again not to listen to any other music today, which would be unfair to those dozens of other artists whose albums are sitting on my desk still unopened. The reason why I selected "THE HARD WAY" to listen to in the first place from the stack of dozens of unopened albums sitting on my desk right now is because I was scheduled to interview James Hunter, prior to his performance at the World Café Live in Philadelphia last night....(continued)
--Bob Davis
earthjuice@prodigy.net
Report From The Blues and Spirit Symposium at Domenican University
L-R: Bob Davis, Bob Jones (Legendary Chicago Blues Songwriter, Bruce Iglar of Alligator Records)
I had planed to put report of my visit to Chicago to participate in the Blues and Spirit Symposium at Domenican University, but it slipped away from me. Two recent events reminded me that I needed to get this out to yall ASAP.
--Janice Monti, the organizer of the Blues and Spirit Symposium at Domenican University in Chicago, was given the Sister Mary Clemente Davlin Diversity Leadership Award.
--I attended the Keb Mo/Robert Cray show last week @ the Keswick Theatre in Philadelphia.
Please read the articles as well as the summaries of the topics (How to Represent Black Music in 2008, the future of record labels, tips for indy artists, etc) that I spoke on at the Blues and Spirit Symposium at Domenican University in May/2008. Also, listen to the broadcast that we did from WHPK - Chicago with brotha Gary Tyson while I was out there. And there are a few more surprises...
It's all posted on the web at the following link as well:
http://www.soul-patrol.com/dominican_blues_spirit_2008.htm
Check it all out and let us know what cha think?
Thanks in advance...
--Bob Davis
609-351-0154
earthjuice@prodigy.net
Taj Mahal Interview/Profile
(Blues Cruise Diary)
 When I started this piece it was going to be a diary of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise of that embarked from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 13, 2008.
Looking back through my notes though, perhaps the only worthy note I made was on day 1 where I wrote:
Bumped into Irma Thomas. "Not doing bad for an old broad," sez she upon my inquiry. Claimed a little frustration at being given bad directions. I introduce myself as the author of the feature article on her that appeared in the Feb/Mar 2007 issue of BLUES REVUE Magazine. After a warm handshake we pledge to hook up later…"
It became clear before the first day was done that the diary concept would fall short in terms of conveying to the Soul-Patrol readership the tons of fun, music, history and information that was forthcoming from the artists on board.
Taj Mahal, the "Grand Marshall" of the cruise afforded me an opportunity for an exclusive interview, most certainly African in its points of origin, yet globally universal in its content. There is no question in my mind that it belongs on Soul-Patrol.
Approaching the halfway point in the weeklong cruise, the ship docked at the island of St. Croix. Taj came off the ship to headline the St. Croix Music Festival. He reached the stage at about 9:30 p.m. after a daylong lineup of great music. The crowd was jubilant and in the zone. I noticed that during some up-tempo numbers, Taj's singing voice slips into what I perceived as kind of an "alter ego", lower register voice that seemed to inject spurts of party down, dancing energy into the crowd. I asked Taj about that alter ego and he clarified my perception by saying, "that voice exists deeply in Africa. It's a spirit channeling voice. You find it in West Africa, Central and South.....(continued here)
--T. Watts
Ike Turner - R.I.P. - by Phil Arnold - artist administrator, manager, agent for Ike Turner 1999 - 2007
(Southern Soul/Blues)
 Most of yall don't know the name of Phil Arnold.
He is a good friend of Soul-Patrol.
The fact that you don't know his name isn't really important. What is important is that he is also a good friend to all of you, even if you never realized it till just this moment.
Take a look at what Phil has to say about Ike Turner and his relationship with him and please consider Phil's words, the next time that you read something in the "mainstream press" about Ike Turner....
-------------
California - April 4, 2008
Ike Turner - R.I.P.
by Phil Arnold - artist administrator, manager, agent for Ike Turner 1999 - 2007
I have procrastinated commenting about his passing. In vain disbelief I refused to acknowledge the loss. It is as if I was trying to convince myself that the longer I waited, the less Ike Turner was dead. I was not alone in denial; nor was I alone in concealing my fears and suspicions about what caused his death. I often told him "it was a privilege to work with you, and even more of an honor to know you; and if you had been a blue-collar worker I would still be just as proud to know you." I knew Ike Turner, the man, as well as the myth.
After kicking his drug habit in jail, Ike stayed clean for about 16 years, which is a fact. He was proud of that. When he spoke at LA-area high schools in 2004-05 for "Blues Schools" his quote was "Stay in school, stay off drugs, don't make the same mistakes I did, respect yourself, and others will follow." He was not a hypocrite. After prison, Ike was noted for helping others turn away from drugs. The successes should remain anonymous - and so should the failures; you know who you are. Honor his sacrifice by helping yourself. Get help. He actually fell backward reaching out to help someone else.
But, questions remain: Why - and - How? Ike responded to a cry for help, and went to the wrong place at the wrong time to rescue a crack addict he knew. Ike said, "Smoke blew up in my face, and that is all it took - that first big whiff." He was the fireman who went into the burning building one too many times. Ike was totally ashamed of his very recent
drug relapse. He secretly entered rehab several times. But the
paparazzi would hear of it, and he would quickly check out. He hoped he could secretly recover......Continued at the following link....http://www.soul-patrol.com/soul/iketurner.htm
Album Review: Denise LaSalle - Pay Before You Pump
(Classic Soul/Southern Soul)
 In listening to this album, I am reminded that sometimes I think we take all of this far too seriously. Most of the time we really just want to listen to some music that is intended to do little else besides make us smile when we hear it. That is exactly what Denise LaSalle's "Pay Before You Pump" is intended to do. There isn't anything complicated going on with this album. All it is are some hellified funky azz southern fried grooves (this is what an R&B band is supposed to sound like and I want them to play at my funeral!!!), with songs full of wisdom/common sense all sung by one of the greatest voices in all of Black music. Take the song "Mississippi Woman" (which will certainly be added to the playlist of Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com) for example, when I first got this album and started to play it, each time I would get stuck on "Mississippi Woman". It's SOOO DAMN FUNKY that it needs to be hidden away from the white kids in the U.K. or else it might just win 5 Grammy Awards.
However as good as it is, "Mississippi Woman" hardly tells the tale of this album. Don't sleep on "Hold On Tight" (a monster slow jam), the first cut "Pay Before You Pump" is one of those really well written "double entndre" songs that nobody seems to write anymore, "I Need a Working Man" is yet another phi slama jammin FUNK joint that's filled with the kind of advice that ONLY an "experienced Black woman" can provide. There's more here, that's for sure. Do you like Black music and you are looking for the REAL THANG? Then do yourself a fava and DON'T SLEEP ON DENISE LASALLE, because I have a feeling that if you were to "sleep on Denise LaSalle" (that you might just get yo' be-hind whupped!!!)
http://www.eckorecords.com/denisebottom.html
Look for these songs playing as as "buzz cuts" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com
Album Review: Teeny Tucker - Two Big M's
(Blues/Soul/Rock n' Roll)
 This is a fun album by Teeny Tucker, daughter of Tommy Tucker ("Hi HeelSneakers".) It's tribute album to Big Maybelle and Big Mama Thorton. You have heard all of these songs before and if you are a fan of either artist you will love the "Two Big M's". Big Mama Thornton is the originator of the classic song "Hound Dog", that most people think was an original tune by Elvis Presley. Big Mama Thorton was paid a flat $500.00 for "Hound Dog" and three years later Elvis Presley made it a hit and got paid millions. On the other hand, Big Maybelle was the original singer of "Whole Lotta Shaken Going On" and later made a hit by Jerry Lee Lewis. She also got paid pennies and died broke while Jerry Lee Lewis made millions. Big Mama Thornton was a songwriter in her own right. She wrote the classic song "Ball & Chain" which Janis Joplin made into hit. However if you are "culture bandit", you will want to skip the one original song on the album, the title track entitled "Two Big M's". I don't think that Teeny would mind me mentioning a portion of the lyrics:
"You were pioneers with a crossover style
Your presence and power would make folks bow
"Hound Dog", "Rockhouse" and all the great tunes were cool
They only became hits when someone stole them from you"
Overall this album is a powerful presentation of classic songs, originated by two Black women that today few Blacks know anything about whatsoever. However students of the history of Rock n' Roll know all about Big Maybelle and Big Mama Thorton, they know their history. http://www.teenytucker.com
--Bob Davis
Look for these songs playing as as "buzz cuts" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com
Album Review: Various Artists - HoneyDripper Soundtrack
(Jazz/Funk)
 This is a great album, I like it a whole lot, it's the soundtrack for a period movie called "Honeydripper", that was released in 2008. On one hand it's hard to classify if you try to think about it in conventional terms like Pop, Blues, Gospel or Country. It's the type of an album that modern day terms like "Roots Music" or "Americana" were invented for. Unfortunately the purveyors of such terminology usually will use those terms as a disguise for identifying "country music that people who don't like country music like" and therefore the terms get misused. The soundtrack for that movie features artists like; Mable John, New Beginnings Ministry, Hank Williams, Lil Green, Keb' Mo', Danny Glover, Memphis Slim, Gary Clark Jr, Barrence Whitfield, and Ruth Brown.
I'm tempted to call it a "Rock n' Roll" album, but that wouldn't quite be true either, however all of the songs on "HoneyDripper" represent what is certainly the "DNA of Rock n' Roll." When taken collectively, this is without a doubt the music that inspired Little Richard, Harvey Fuqua, Louis Jordan and other geniuses involved in the creation of Rock n' Roll. It's music from the 30's, 40's and early 50's. Some of it is taken from the vaults and some of it freshly recorded for the movie soundtrack (some recorded live). Some of this music is highly spiritual, and some of it is highly erotic, a perfect reflection of the conflict involved in the creation of Rock n' Roll itself. An album that contains songs by both Hank Williams and Memphis Slim, it illustrates just how little difference there was at one time between "Blues" and "Country". This is an album that is well worth investing a few pennies in, it will help you to think about just how all of this music we listen to today, got started and every song will give you something to smile about.
http://honeydripper-movie.com
--Bob Davis
Album Liner Notes: Billy Jones - "My Hometown"
(Blues/Soul/Funk/Southern Soul/Urban)
 Billy Jones is one of the "good guys". He is a young man from Arkansas who is truly interested in advancing/extending "Great Black Music from the Ancient to the Future" and making sure that it is available for future generations. As such he is one of my personal musical heroes. We don't have enough artists like him and hopefully he is going to inspire others
Upon closer inspection we can see that there is truly a method to the madness of the man who calls his music "BLUEZ". Imagine for a moment that you could take the music of the following artists and somehow blend them all together Ike Turner, Chuck D, Hendrix/Stevie Ray Vaughn, Johnnie Taylor, Clarence Carter and Jimmy Reed. Throw in just a little bit of Richard Pryor/Dolomite and then you begin to understand why the music of Billy Jones is so important.
On his new album "My Hometown" (Ghetto Bluez) he brings the Blues up to date and talks about the real problems and opportunities of "Bluez People", without falling into the stereotypes created 50 years ago. It's a modern album about modern life for people who live in the present. Slow jams, upbeat songs, love songs, message songs, acoustic and electric guitar with strong lyrics, that provide not only a description of modern life (complex relationships, violence, social issues, etc.), but also some of the solutions for what ails you.
Billy Jones is the kind of artist that's worth getting excited about. He wants to change the world, one listener at a time and here in the year 2007 it's an awfully exciting thing to be able to be a fan of an artist who believes that music can still be a vehicle for change. Understanding the status quo is one thing, but understanding it and deciding to do something about it is quite another, even if that means creating a new genre of music that rises from the ashes of what has come before it.
In the end, "Blues" is about life and "Bluez" is all about making life better and who could possibly be opposed to that?
Click here to get more info about Billy Jones - My Hometown
--Bob Davis
Commentary - A Real Blues Artist and Innovator (by Chick Willis)
("Blacks & Blues")
 Intro: I find this letter to be both disheartening and yet inspirational to me on a personal level at the same time.
You see I always try to learn something from those who have come before me, since they have seen more and done more, they usually have something of value to offer to me. Although it is usually not possible to right the wrongs of the past, it doesn't mean that we can't change our current behavior in order to effect change in the future. That is something that we have absolute control over and our failure to change our own behavior may in some cases be just as bad as was the original injustice.
My hope is that people read this piece, absorb what Chick Willis is saying and figure out for themselves if there is any modification of behavior that they can do on an individual basis in order to influence the future.
And even if upon some reflection, you find that there is nothing that you can personally do within your own behavior that can effect any changes, one of the things that I know that you can do is to circulate this email to other people who might be willing/able to challenge themselves to change their behavior in an attempt to make the future just a little bit better?
--Bob Davis
....(click here to read the rest of the Chick Willis's commentary)
--Bob Davis
earthjuice@prodigy.net
Concert Review: The Blues Is Alright Tour 2007 - Marvin Candy Licker Sease, Mel Waiters, Shirley Brown, Bobby Blue Bland, Floyd Taylor, Johnnie Taylor Revue (March 2, 2007 ~ Columbus, Ohio)
The Blues Is Alright Tour 2007 arrived in Columbus stop number 10 on a scheduled 19 city tour ended in Columbus, Ga, March 25Th loaded with the veterans of soul to set Columbus and the Palace Theatre on fire. Mission accomplished and we've not seen the end of the noise yet. Young entrepreneur Julius C. Lewis (my maiden name-no relation) hooked this lineup up so it is alive and jumping right out the shoot. Chatting with him briefly afterwards he is a young black man on a mission. I certainly intend to keep close tabs on this brother to encourage him to draw close to Professor Bob Davis and the international Soul-Patrol community. Those of you who know anything about me know I'm about being about it and doing it on a win win premise.
Anyway: It do be about the show. Believe it or not everything was on time, tight, polished, professional and off the enjoyment scale. Opener was the ever young and athletic Bobby Rush. Bobby treated the men to eye candy with singer/dancers who gave got it so hot up in there the management had to put on the air condition. Next came Theodis Ealey who did his thing. Handsome, sexy Latimore told the young men to do it right "so you don't have to be all up in there all night!"
Then came young Floyd Taylor and his Johnnie Taylor Revue), Floyd paid homage to his dad and his dad's best friend Tyrone Davis. Floyd did a medley of both men's famous hits and entertained us with some of his own. I personally had the pleasure of meeting Johnny in Harlem years ago so it was a double pleasure for me to see and hear his lookalike son. And yes-- Floyd got his daddy's pipes if y'all wondering. The man can "sang."
The entire lineup was a phenomenal treat. Marvin "Candy Licker" Sease, Mel Waiters, Shirley Brown and the incomparable Bobby "Blue" Bland. All the favorites, all the juke jumpin, stompin in the middle of the building show stoppers. Folks got to feeling good after a few libations and were hand dancing in the aisles, men and women cried, laughed, shouted, got up out they seats and moved--some of 'em got to running! Hands stayed up in the air applause broke out unexpectedly, men shouted and women swooned. It was truly a sight to be seen. Sometimes it was hard to tell if I was at a blues convention or Sunday night at church....(click here to read the rest of the review)
LISTEN TO: Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band - "Master of the Game"
Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band - Master of the Game: 1.Mean Evil Woman 2.Masters Of The Game 3.The Real Deal 4.A Fool Named Me 5.Woman In Kansas City 6.Sweet Landlady 7.Black Cat Roun My Do 8.Wake Me Up In San Francisco 9.A Nickel And A Nail 10.Just The One 11.Warm Rain Fallin 12.Cabranito 13.I'll Take Care Of You (HOSTED BY ENORMAN)
LISTEN TO: Chairmen of the Board: "All In The Family"
Chairmen of the Board: "All In The Family" - Give Me Just A Little More Time, It Will Stand, All In The Family, You Gotta Crawl Before You Walk, The Blacker The Berry, You’re The One, The Bottom Line, Three Women, Handsome Man, Somebody’s Sleepin’, I’ll Be There For You, Bless Your Heart, It Ain’t What You Do (it’s the way you do it), Shoulda’ Woulda’ Coulda’, Gone Fishin’, It Ain’t Easy Bein’ Me, Bonus Track The Blacker The Berry (Extended Mix), Pay To The Piper, Chairman of the Board
LISTEN TO: Booboo Davis - "Drew, Mississippi"
Soul-Patrol.Net Radio Introduces Booboo Davis (& his genre busting album) - "Drew, Mississippi": Booboo Davis/Drew, Mississippi: Funkadelic - Intro, 1.Tell Me What To Do 2.Let Me Love You 3.Who Stole The Booty 4.Drew Mississippi 5.Got To Make It Right Now 6.Tryin To Survive 7.Got The Blues In My Heart 8.Made Me Cry 9.Walking Down A One Way Street 10.Standing In The Cottonfields, Andreus - Outro
LISTEN TO: SOUL COMES HOME
(Stax Records & Memphis Soul LIVE)
LISTEN TO SOUL-PATROL'S 90 MIN. BROADCAST OF 'SOUL COMES HOME (Celebration of Stax Records and Memphis Soul Music ): Eddie Floyd, Jean Knight, William Bell, BookerT. & the MG's, Little Milton, Isaac Hayes, The Bar-Kays w/Chuck D, Michael McDonald, Carla Thomas/Michael McDonald, Al Green Solomon Burke, Sir Mack Rice, Rance Allen, Mavis Staples
LISTEN TO: Candi Staton - "His Hands"
LISTEN TO Candi Staton - His Hands on Soul-Patrol.Net Radio(Hosted by Kevin Amos - The Funkoverlord)
Album Review: Trudy Lynn (w/Calvin Owens Blues Orchestra) - "I'm Still Here"
(Jazz/Blues/Soul)
 Ya know how when you read about the history of late 20th century popular music in one of those books authored by a former employee of Rolling Stone Magazine, they always refer to this somewhat mysterious musical genre known as "jump blues" as being one of the precursors of Rock n' Roll? I suppose them mean for "jump blues" to be some sort of a "missing link" or "rossetta stone" holding the key to the true primordial forces that created "Rock n' Roll". For a more accurate depiction of what "jump blues" might be, go back and look at the movie "Lackawana Blues" and study the house party scenes.
Well the songs on Trudy Lynn's new album entitled feels like "jump blues" 2006. And it's an excellent fusion of Trudy Lynn's fiery/sultry Texas Gulf Coast soul singing fused with the uptown blues of the Calvin Owens Blues Orchestra that's guaranteed to get any party moving. Fast jams and slow jams, movin & grooving this album sounds very much to me what "jump blues" might sound like in 2006, had the term not been relegated to the scrapheap of music terminology. Along the Texas Gulf Coast in places like Houston, Galveston, Port Arthur and Beaumont, they still have "house parties" just like the ones we saw in the movie "Lackawanna Blues". Lucky for us that is the case because, take it from me, those kinds of parties can sure be a heck of a lot of fun and there are few unemployed Rolling Stone Magazine writers in attendance at these parties. And lucky for us an album like Trudy Lynn (w/Calvin Owens Blues Orchestra) - "I'm Still Here" exists, so that people who throw these type of "house parties" on Friday nights on the Texas Gulf Coast (or anyplace else) can continue the tradition so that it can continue into the future.
--Bob Davis
CD Review: Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band - "Master Of The Game"
(Southern Soul/Blues)
 In the liner notes for "Master of the Game" it says: "For their Delta Groove debut the tight as a drum road tested band entered the studio at the height of their powers. "Master of the Game" showcases a set of powerful Payne/Edmonson originals augmented by fresh arrangements of great songs by the likes of Johnny Taylor and Bobby Bland. "
If we take a serious look at the history of Black music, one of the things that we will find is that it has rarely ever been just one thing. It's always been about fusing together many different styles Today when people see terms like "Nu/Neo Soul" it brings to mind a "revival of a kinda jazz/funk/vocal groove" that brings to mind artists like Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, Donny Hathaway, etc. However this particular style is not the only one that is undergoing a "revival" in Soul music today. Back in the 1970's the sound of Memphis as represented by Stax and Al Green was one of the dominant forces in music. Listening to the title track of the new album "Master of the Game" by the Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band has my mind floating back to those days. The song has got this absolutely wicked organ/horn section combination going on and it's combined with a story with a headline that reads "When it comes to playing a fool baby, I'm a master of the game". This is the overall musical feel of the entire album and I like it. So with that type of historical backdrop in mind, I think that this is the type of an album that's going to be opening more than a few doors as well as a few minds. Today the term that is used is "Southern Soul". When I think of the term "Southern Soul" it brings to mind music from artists like Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Betty Wright, Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Al Green and others from the past. Today "Southern Soul" takes it's inspiration from that period/sound and brings it up to date in a way that will make you smile. In some ways it's a shame that we let the names of the categories divide us as music fans, when what we should be doing is listening to the music. For example, does anyone here remember and artist named Joe Tex? Well if you do, then when you listen to the song "Sweet Landlady" from the album "Master of the Game', your mind will immediately go back and start thinking about the music of Joe Tex. See in my mind anybody who is reviving the musical style of someone like Joe Tex deserves all of the props in the world.
There are some people who try to treat Soul music as if it's a "museum piece". Then there are those who know that it has a future and seek to carve out a path for it that uses the past for guidance. I think that the Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band is doing a pretty good job of clarifying the some more of details of that path.
--Bob Davis
CD Review Booboo Davis - "Drew, Missisippi"
(Traditional Blues/Revolutionary Hip Hop/Blues in Technicolor)
 "This isn't the type of an album the you are going to buy as a result of going into a record store. Somebody has to turn you on to it!!! This is the type of an album that you are going to make a special trip to the record store to go and get. When you get to the record store they will of course tell you that they don't have it in stock and they have never heard of it. And then they will tell you "let me check and see if I can order it for you". And when they go into the "back" (that mysterious place inside of the record store that we all think is where they keep the "gold"....lol) we are standing there waiting and hoping that when they come back that "they can order it". When they come back, they say "we can order it, and it will be here on Friday"... You breathe a sigh of relief and in your head quickly re-arrange your entire Friday schedule so that you can get to the record store as soon as possible!!!
So what does this album sound like??? Well I think that it's what Muddy Waters or John Lee Hooker would sound like if they were young "bluesmen" in 2006. Back in the early 1990's when I first came on the internet, I belonged to a Blues discussion forum and I wrote a piece that compared the lyrics of Muddy Waters and Ice Cube. Of course my point was that the lyrical subject matter of BOTH Muddy Waters and Ice Cube songs are EXACTLY THE SAME. And of course the other people in the discussion forum thought I was crazy to mention Muddy Waters and Ice Cube in the same sentence. I always thought that piece was one of the best pieces of musical analysis that I have ever written, unfortunately I no longer have it otherwise I would post it for you. The reason I mention it today is because ever since the day I wrote that piece I have been waiting for this album to appear, and now it has.
The only album that I can think of to compare it to is Jimi Hendrix - "Are You Experienced" or perhaps to Miles Davis - "In A Silent Way". This is a revolutionary piece of art that fuses together musical styles that when you say it, most people would flinch, however after you hear it, the art makes absolutely perfect sense and you realize that whomever the people are that created this are to be thanked for creating such great and innovative art, that is so far outside of the mainstream, that if the mainstream ever got a hold of it, that the mainstream itself would be "compelled" to change!!!
The idea of doing this is hardly new. Many "blues artists" have tried to do this over the past 10 years, however not one that I have ever heard has perfected it, till now. As soon as you listen to this album, you will know that you have discovered something special, in fact it sounds like it could change the lives of many people, if enough people would bother to listen."
Click here to get more infor about Boo Boo Davis - Drew, Missisippi
The Legendary Candi Staton's New Southern Soul CD - "HIS HANDS" & Concert Review
 Now after over twenty years as a gospel vocalist, with over a dozen best selling gospel albums, two of which captured Grammy nominations, Candi Staton makes her triumphant return to her southern soul roots with 'His Hands', a stunning album that captures the soulful sounds of her celebrated early '70s Muscle Shoals recordings. Plus now she's touring and Soul-Patrol was at one of her first concerts with a detailed review...Click here for more info
Chairman of the Board - All in the Family
 Brand new Southern Soul CD from the LEGENDARY Chairman of the Board! The fifteen track CD features the R&B rendition of the title track “All in the Family”. Also featured is the Chairman’s new southern soul single “The Blacker the Berry” and “You Gotta’ Crawl Before You Walk,” featuring a soulful performance by Danny Woods as lead vocalist. The new Chairman of the Board CD called “All in the Family” arranged, remixed, written and produced by General Johnson.
BENNY LATIMORE: EARLY YEARS
 Born in Charleston, TN in 1939, Benny Latimore was influenced by country music, his Baptist church choir, and the Blues. WLAC, via the strong evening signal from Nashville, was a favorite in Latimore’s youth.
In a career spanning over 35 years and beginning with recordings in the 1960s for Miami music legend Henry Stone, the gems on this CD were cut on the Dade label long before Benny’s success on the Glades/T.K. label. These early recordings for Dade are solid deep soul, graced by Latimore’s deep, sultry voice.
Included on this disc are the much sought after 1965 hits, "I Can’t Go On Anymore" and "Rain From the Sky", originally recorded on Stone’s Blade label. These are treasures that until now only a few collectors were lucky enough to have. Today we bring them to you for the world to hear.
"Sensational" really is the best word to describe Latimore. He proved to be extremely adept as both a superlative vocalist and keyboard player par excellence. Benny Latimore is Florida’s master soul stylist.
Soul Project Reconnection
 SOUL PROJECT/Reconnection is something special. The eight (count em!) talented and experienced vocalists all demonstrate great pipes AND a keen sense of interpretation. The songs reflect a rich R&B heritage-yet they stand on their own as viable, contemporary "pure songs". The playing is tasty and unobtrusive. In this case it takes no effort to experience the vocal performances and the melodies and lyrics. Songs range from the witty to the haunting. I think SOUL PROJECT/Reconnection may be the start of something big. Great "vision". Great work done by all....Nat Speir
ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS
BETTY WRIGHT
BOBBY WOMACK
CHAMBERS BROTHERS
IKE & TINA TURNER
IRMA THOMAS
JAMES BROWN
JB'S
LITTLE RICHARD
METERS
MILLIE JACKSON
NEVILLE BROTHERS
SAM COOKE
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN
SOUTHERN SOUL & BLUES DATABASE: Contains over 7,000 Southern Soul & Blues entries (EXCLUSIVE TO SOUL-PATROL)
Back to the Classic Soul Home Page
The intent of Soul Patrol, is to be a
celebration of Great Black Music From The Ancient To The
Future. It's all about Soul,
Jazz, Blues,
Rock,
Funk, and the
culture they
evolved from.
If you would like to ask a question about Soul-Patrol feel free to contact the owner Bob Davis.
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