Local Chicago Music
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Linda Clifford dishes it.
Here in Chicago, music fans know Linda Clifford as a singer affiliated with Curtis Mayfield’s camp in the disco era. But Clifford, a native New Yorker, is also a former Miss New York State, and at one time worked as an actress who played minor roles in major films like The Boston Strangler with Tony…
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a little Love & Happiness for your holiday
Wishing you candied yams, green bean casserole, pie and a touch of “Love and Happiness” from local group Gregory James Edition (led by keyboardist Gregory Bibb and guitarist James Norris) on Chicago’s own Dakar Records, from their album “Prophets of Soul” (1973). Found a GJE 45 on a recent trek. Killer, off-kilter funk. Oh, save me a plate.
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Spanky & Our Gang, Harmony in the Breezy City
Chicago has a vast musical heritage. It is known for electrifying Delta Blues, known for creating House Music, renowned for its particular brands of Chicago Soul and Gospel, and also known as contributing its own twang to 60’s garage proto-punk, jazz, and just about every other genre out there. Why not loungy folk-pop goodness? Spanky and…
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Dancing Girl – Terry Callier. Windy City Mellow.
I remember where I was when I first heard this: the local round-the-way record store. The carpet was checkered with the maytag logo in bittersweet on brown (harkening back to the store’s past life). There we stood in a communal experience that began with the shop owner saying, “You’ve got to hear this record”. We…
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Universal Mind Control: Common Double Vision
9image, Common at Army & Lou’s (75th & King Drive, Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood) Here’s the recently released alternate version of the video for Chicago-bred Common’s “Universal Mind Control”. Directed by Lil X, it was shelved in favor of Hype Williams’ robo-love version. Jive on. more about “Universal Mind Control: Common…
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Natural Four: Soul, if only for a moment
By way of the Bay Area, it’s Chicago’s own Natural Four. They signed to Curtis Mayfield’s Curtom Records in 1972, after five years without a hit, and within a year they gave us this blue light basement classic: “Can This Be Real.” Inexplicably, the Natural Four never reached the success they deserved, dissolving in 1976. Robert…
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Howlin’ Wolf (covering Howlin’ Wolf)
“Evil”. A fundamental Howlin Wolf record, created here in Chicago, back in the 1950s. A platter of standard electrified Delta Blues. Now, add Marshall Chess (son of Chess Records’ Leonard Chess), the turbulent and psychedelic 1960s, and some of the best jazz, funk, and soul studio players in the city. Remake and enjoy. Well that’s not exactly…
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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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Electric Mud: Electrified Delta Blues got a New Jolt
(“Tom Cat” by Muddy Waters) The late sixties in Chicago was a wild time. The Democratic National Convention and the Riots in 1968 labeled us as unruly, Serial Killer Richard Speck in 1966 labeled us as unsafe, and Martin Luther King, Jr., (marching in North Lawndale for equal housing in 1966), labeled us as a…
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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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