Re: [ARSCLIST] July/August issue of Black Grooves

[Aaron Levinson <aaron.levinson@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tom- One was recorded at Record Plant, Sausalito by Fast Jack Adams and 
mixed by no less than Tom Flye! The one name that seems to pop up 
consistently is a guy named Michael Lang. Gulf & Western distributed the 
first two, the third one- not mentioned in the reissue campaign was 
distributed by Island. That one, the last was recorded at Media Sound 
(NYC) and tracked and mixed by Bob Clearmountain! She thanks both Miles 
Davis and Gil Evans for their help as well... I gotta believe that she 
could not get the band she used out on the road as they were all with 
A-list groups and maybe a lack of a real booking agent contributed to 
her falling through the cracks. But I know, the more you dig the weirder 
it gets...

AA

Tom Fine wrote:
> Aaron -- here's what I don't get. SOMEONE put up money to get those 
> first-class musicians around her and use a decent (NYC?) studio. So 
> ... who? At least from the samples on the website, including the two 
> full-length MP3's one can download, the production sounds very good 
> for that era and the playing is first class. Did she cash in all her 
> connections in the scene and thus get an incredible value or was 
> someone there with money to record but not money to promote?
>
> -- Tom Fine
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Aaron Levinson" 
> <aaron.levinson@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 2:08 PM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] July/August issue of Black Grooves
>
>
> > Scott- Despite the amazing funakteer pedigree she was on a tiny label 
> > (Just Sunshine) and was in the mix when the giants were still roaming 
> > the earth, easy to be overlooked and poorly distributed. She was both 
> > unfortunately.
> >
> > Scott Phillips wrote:
> > > Amazing ! I grew up in this time frame. HOW did I miss her..?? I'm
> > > buying in as well.
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
> > > [mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tom Fine
> > > Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 9:00 AM
> > > To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] July/August issue of Black Grooves
> > >
> > > Let me chime in, from listening to the generous samples and complete
> > > MP3's on the website, the playing and production were top-drawer and my
> > > overall conclusion was "Prince way before Prince, and with more, er,
> > > testosterone!" Because Ms. Davis was pre-disco, she was not cursed with
> > > synthesizers and electronic drums. Just pure analog shag-carpet funk.
> > > She's no crooner, more a growler. Larry Graham's fingerprints are all
> > > over the two reissued albums, so it's super-bad. Just ordered both
> > > albums.
> > >
> > > -- Tom Fine
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Aaron Levinson" <aaron.levinson@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 9:38 AM
> > > Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] July/August issue of Black Grooves
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > Indeed. Brenda does us all a great service and I must say I read every
> > > single sentence of Black
> > > > Grooves each and every month.
> > > > As far as Betty "Big Freak" Davis goes, I have been a fan for many
> > > years. I own all of her albums
> > > > and believe me they are not easy
> > > > to find. I searched far and wide for years to track them all down. The
> > > fact that she is alive and
> > > > living in Pittsburgh, in the same state as your truly, was a bit of a
> > > welcome shock. For anyone
> > > > who loves funk Betty is really a treasure. Please support the folks
> > > behind this reissue campaign
> > > > and turn yourself on to some hip and very forward thinking music in
> > > the process.
> > >
> > > > AA
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Tom Fine wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I just got a chance to read thru this. First of all, thanks to Brenda
> > > for always posting an alert
> > > > > for a new Black Grooves update.
> > > > >
> > > > > Second, check out the article/bio about Betty Davis. Here's another
> > > article:
> > >
> > > > > http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7988212
> > > > > And here is the reissue label's website:
> > > > > http://lightintheattic.net/releases/bettydavis/
> > > > >
> > > > > Wow, this is smokin' hard funk! This era was just before my youth, so
> > > I missed all the more
> > > > > obscure artists from that time like Betty Davis. I'm very much
> > > enjoying the ability to discover
> > > > > her for the first time now.  Aaron Levinson, you gotta check this
> > > lady out if you don't already
> > > > > own the original vinyl!
> > > > >
> > > > > -- Tom Fine
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nelson-Strauss, Brenda"
> > > <bnelsons@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > >
> > > > > To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > > > Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 3:09 PM
> > > > > Subject: [ARSCLIST] July/August issue of Black Grooves
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > The July/August 2007 issue of Black Grooves has now been posted at
> > > > > www.blackgrooves.org.
> > > > >
> > > > > This month we're featuring two new books that belong on everyone's
> > > > > shelves-the Gospel Discography 1943-1970 from Eyeball Productions,
> > > and
> > >
> > > > > Third Coast by Roni Sarig, the first in-depth examination of southern
> > > > > hip hop. The 30th anniversary celebration of Tyscot Records continues
> > > > > with a new DVD that chronicles the history of the label through
> > > > > interviews and some great performance footage. There are several
> > > > > fabulous reissues, including the complete recordings of Polk Miller &
> > > > > the Old South Quartette, the iconic 1973 & 1974 albums by funk diva
> > > > > Betty Davis, and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson's masterpiece Kidney Stew
> > > is
> > >
> > > > > Fine. We're also taking a look at two of Koch's latest hip hop
> > > > > offerings-the RZA's soundtrack to Afro Samurai and Hip Hop Lives, the
> > > > > first collaboration between KRS-One and Marley Marl. Our reggae
> > > > > contributor takes a look at Black Chiney's latest riddim' CD, while
> > > > > providing an overview of this Jamaican dancehall style. And last but
> > > not
> > >
> > > > > least, we're highlighting new recordings by soul legend Howard Tate
> > > and
> > >
> > > > > the Pine Leaf Boys, a Louisiana-based quintet.
> > > > >
> > > > > SAVE THE DATE: On August 1, PBS Great Performances will be
> > > commemorating
> > >
> > > > > the 50th anniversary and rebirth of America's preeminent soul music
> > > > > label with Respect Yourself: the Stax Records Story. This new
> > > > > documentary includes never-before-seen home movies by Stax artists;
> > > > > outtakes of footage from the legendary 1972 WattStax concert; lost
> > > > > performances by Otis Redding, Booker T. and the MGs, and Isaac Hayes;
> > > > > and interviews with Isaac Hayes, Mavis Staples, Carla Thomas, Sam
> > > Moore,
> > >
> > > > > Booker T. Jones, members of the MGs, Al Bell, and Stax founder and
> > > > > co-owner Jim Stewart. Details can be found on the PBS website
> > > > > <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/stax/index.html> . The companion
> > > > > website is set to launch this Wednesday, July 25.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Brenda Nelson-Strauss
> > > > >
> > > > > Archives of African American Music and Culture
> > > > >
> > > > > Indiana University
> > > > >
> > > > > Smith Research Center, Suite 180
> > > > >
> > > > > Bloomington, IN 47408
> > > > >
> > > > > 812-855-7530
> > > > >
> > > > > bnelsons@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > >
> > > > > www.indiana.edu/~aaamc
> > > > >
> > > > > www.blackgrooves.org