Local Chicago Music
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Maybe the oldest rap music you’ll ever hear…
Cadillac Jack by Andre Williams Andre Williams rapping about the Southside of Chicago with doo-wop backing by the Dells back in 1968. Produced by Charles Stepney. Local Chicago Chess Records magic. Dig it.
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Cult Movie of the Week: Sparkle
Not unlike many movies that are labeled as “Blaxploitation”, the soundtrack to Sparkle (1976) is often regarded more highly than the film itself. A Curtis Mayfield-produced gem sung by Aretha Franklin, the soundtrack to the movie is glorious… but laden with its share of controversy. What’s controversial? First, the film is a pre-Dreamgirls rags-to-riches story…
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The Five Stairsteps… in a World of Fantasy
Produced by Curtis Mayfield, the Burke brood had a number of hits years before the Jacksons hit the scene. Have a listen to an early television appearance… Chicago’s own….I dare you to step to this underage smoothness… more about “The Five Stairsteps“, posted with vodpod
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Hi-Fi White: Foodstamps, Bulldogs, and Hollywood
Wilbur White was a nightclub singer on the South Side of Chicago whose bluesy growl wielded so much power that he was nicknamed Hi-Fi. He’d been in the clubs since the 1950s, and although I hear he put on a knockout of a show, that never translated into record sales. Speaking of knockouts, he…
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B.J. the Chicago Kid’s in “Denial”
I am a sucker for samples of “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys. Seriously. I love that song. Anyway, “Denial” by B.J. the Chicago Kid is another fresh local record that has got the Darkjive seal of approval (the track was produced by Scoop Deville, and was originally used for a record by “Hot Dollar”…
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Ain’t No Love Lost…a lost Curtis Mayfield gem
The year was 1972. The Year of his “Superfly” soundtrack (arguably, one of the best albums ever to come out of Chicago), and Curtis Mayfield could do no wrong…including this record, produced by Mayfield (and arranged by Rich Tufo). A sixteen year old Nashvillian named Patti Jo says to some Cassanova, “ain’t no love lost“. …
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Come With Khari Lemuel
Local artist/instrumentalist Khari Lemuel performing his song “Come With Me” with Yaw (video by Bobby Rocwell)….Super talented brother who I’ve seen perform live multiple times. His voice combines some of the best elements of Chicago Soul’s legacy: rootsiness, spirituality, truth, and beauty. Below, Khari’s composition “Good Morning Love” summons the power of Curtis Mayfield (and…
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the Twinight Revue is Coming
The Chicago-based record label Numero Group has brought together several veteran local soul acts from the short-lived (local) Twinight Record label (circa late 60s- early 70s). Among them will be: Renaldo Domino, Syl Johnson, and the Notations. They’ll perform Saturday at the Park West on Armitage Avenue in Chicago. Tomorrow on Chicago Public Radio’s morning…
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This Love is Real
The Lovelites were a young female group out of Chicago featuring Patti Hamilton on lead. They gained notoriety in the late 60s for their song about teen pregnancy called “How Can I Tell My Mom and Dad (that I’ve Been Bad).” Here in Chicago, though, they are best known for “My Conscience”…a record penned by…
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Cult Movie of the Week: Shaft in Africa
I will start with the disclaimer: I am not really a blaxploitation film lover. I’m a lover of their funky romps-of-soundtracks. That said, I dig Shaft in Africa despite its more reserved soundtrack. Why? It’s titled Shaft…..in Africa! Not only Africa, but, specifically, Ethiopia… a country that holds a lot of romance for me because…
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