Chicago Soul
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Bobby McClure’s Peak Of Love 1966
Dress super-clean and meet me at the basement party tonight. Chicago Soul at its finest from one time Soul Stirrer Bobby McClure. more about “Bobby McClure Peak Of Love 1966“, posted with vodpod
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Garland Green “Jealous kind of fella” 1969
A beast of a Chicago Stepper cut by Chicago’s own Garland Green. Oh, and he says, he’s not Jealous nor Violent in real life… he even released a song called “Don’t Think I’m a Violent Guy”. Good to know. more about “Garland Green “Jealous kind of fella”…“, posted with vodpod Someone who could “never lose”…
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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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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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Cassius and Sonji Clay: Love and Boxing
Sonji Clay and Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay), circa 1965. Awwwwww. Note his puppy dog gaze… Here in Chicago (back in the mid-60s), Cassius was flirting with the Black Muslims, superstardom and love (with a local singer named Sonji)…. According to Ali’s one-time doctor, Ferdie Pacheco, “[Ali’s first Wife,] Sonji was a pert, very pretty…
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Yaw: 100% Juice, 100% Soul
According to Yaw, he is “100% juice to do what [he does] – no high fructose corn syrup… But really, [he’s] just a b-boy trapped deep inside a soul singer”. And he’s got one of the most masterful voices to ever come out of Chicago. Often found gigging across town, he is just as likely…

