The “1st & 15th” is a little segment I’ll be putting together that explains some of the vinyl records I’ve been purchasing month to month. One thing I’ve realized through my diggings so far is that the 70′s probably had the most original and innovative music ever to come out. Last week, I got into some Curtis Mayfield, George Clinton and Parliament, & a 2005 single that dissolved under the pressure. Check it out below.
Curtis Mayfield – ‘Curtis’
The first record I want to get into is the solo debut album by Curtis Mayfield. ‘Curtis’ came out in 1970 and was the first album Mayfield put out after leaving The Impressions. There’s a lot of political and social commentary on the state of America at the time on this record.
Overall, there’s some amazing grooves on this and Mayfield’s voice is really one of a kind. My favourite track on the LP is the spectacular “The Makings Of You.” This is the type of track you want to wake up to every morning while you make your coffee and cook up them bacon strips. A bunch of the songs on this album have been sampled by the likes of Pete Rock, Erick Sermon, Redman, Tha Dogg Pound & Kanye West.
Parliament – ‘Funkentelechy Vs. The Placebo Syndrome’
This wasn’t the first Parliament album I bought on vinyl but I consider this one, one of their best. Before even listening to the music, you have to take notice of the cover. It looks like one George Clinton is shooting the Bop Gun at another George Clinton, turning him into a coke-snorting pimp. Wicked.
The whole funk squad was a part of this album. You had Bernie Worrell on the keyboards, Bootsy Collins on the bass, Gary Shider on guitar and George Clinton heading the pack with his spaced out vocals. This album produced the classic 1978 track “Flashlight” which has been sampled countless times and it was the first #1 R&B hit for Parliament.
Stat Quo – ‘Like Dat’
The last track I want to get into is from former Aftermath, Shady employee, Stat Quo. This guy was the next guy signed to both labels after 50 Cent. Stat Quo was suppose to represent the South on the two major labels. Things didn’t work out and he was eventually dropped from the label after releasing “Like Dat” as his promo single. It doesn’t say on the vinyl who it’s produced by but I got a feeling it was produced by Eminem and mixed by Dr. Dre.
I just remember being in grade 12 waiting for his debut “Statlanta” to come out and when hearing this I thought for sure Stat Quo would be the next rap star. Oh well…let’s hope Kendrick can do it.
Hopefully, some of you enjoyed this segment as I’ll be continuing to do it every couple of weeks. While I dig around Vancouver looking for the best music out, new and old, I’ll be sharing my thoughts and reactions to the tunes. Stay tuned for some Thelonious Monk, a classic Too $hort record and more funk and soul!