The Pharcyde – Bizarre Ride
One of my all time favorite Hip Hop album’s produced by Jay Dee. This album stayed in my walkman cassette player on constant rotation for 2 years. It has everything for me, from fat hip hop beats, uplifting samples and humor within its rap lyrics. Imani, Booty Brown, Fat lip and Slim Kid Tre went on to make Labcabincalifornia album but then later all split up.
James Brown -Give It Up Or Turn It Loose
With Clyde Stubblefield on drums and Bootsy Collins on bass, you have one of the best rhythm sections – and that’s why this record has so much energy, it just hurts! The Conga breakdown section makes me want to bust a breakdance move every time I hear it. James Brown squeals like a pig getting its balls cut off! R.I.P James.
The Ramsey Lewis Trio – Upendo Ni Pamojo
I dug this record out from a charity shop which turned me onto Jazz and R&B. Double bass and drums provide the perfect backdrop for Ramsey’s piano playing. His technique is outstanding with rich textures of cosmic Fender Rhodes and piano playing. From the very start to finish, the entire album is an absolute masterpiece. From discovering this LP, I then went on to buy as many Ramsey Lewis albums as I could find, and so far have over 45!
Ray Charles – IV Got A Woman
Recorded live, this version starts with Ray singing solo with minimal keyboards and then launches into fast swinging Jazz drums that tears the roof off every time I play this when I DJ. I normally don’t buy live albums due to them usually being badly recorded, but I’m so glad I did buy this version as it sounds incredible.”
Tower of Power – There Is Only So Much Oil Left in the Ground
This song is featured on a Warner Brothers compilation album which was originally sold for 59p back in the 70s. Whenever I see it in charity shops I buy it for friends or fellow DJs as it’s such a great track. Tower Of Power have one of the tightest horn sections in the world and come off sounding like the biggest Funk band known to man-kind. The melody, his voice, the Hammond organ, the drummer are all so on point it hurts. This record still blows me away every time I hear it.
Cream- Disraeli Gears
I picked this album out of my parent’s record collection when I was 10 years old – something about that luminous cover really drew me in. Within 2 minutes of playing the vinyl, I was transported to another world from which I have never returned. Ginger Baker on drums is good enough, but to add Jack Bruce on bass and Eric Clapton on guitar – you’ve probably got the best three piece of all time, class.
Stevie Wonder- Innervisions
After a lot of years of listening to 70s rock and blues standards, I needed something with a bit more oomph. As it happens I found the Innervisions album (or rather it found me) on holiday in a villa in Lanzarotti, it must have been left behind by some gutted cool cat. From the first track to the last I was mesmerised by every single note. As I had only heard Stevie’s 1980s tunes, which to be honest turned me off him, I was blown away by this perfect album, the hunt for all of Stevie’s early music began…
Steely Dan- Pretzel Logic
For me one of the best rock/jazz crossover albums. Hearing this album opend my mind to other great jazz musitians such as Bob James and George Benson. Donald Fagan is one of life’s great front men, not so much because of his voice but for his lyrical sence and awareness. Anyway with Michael McDonald on backing vocals who cares!
Elbow- Leaders of the free world
Asleep In The Back was the first album I ever bought of Elbow and for me they were my secret band, but when Leaders of The Free World hit, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. Guy Garvey is a modern day lyrical genius and his words for me are like a painting. Even now that the secret is out, Elbow still remain to be one of my favourite all time bands. Guy has had a big inflence on the way I write today. Then again all the artist that I love are all huge story tellers, that’s why I’m a singer I guess!!
Richie Havens – Portfolio (or any album by him for that matter)
Smoove first introduced me to Richie Havens when he recorded this album from vinyl to cd, but without any song breaks which meant I had to listen to the whole album and it really took my breath away. His vocals are so full of depth and his song writing is so good.
