the3WM

Stepping into the Unknown: Podcast

This is the podcast for the article you can find here. [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com/2011/12/12/stepping-into-the-unknown-danger-generosity-and-the-buddhist-mind-on-the-wonhyo-pilgrimage-podcast/] The post Stepping into the Unknown: Podcast [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com/2014/04/01/stepping-into-the-unknown-podcast/] appeared first on the3WM [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com].

Funky Seoul Corner 18: Lightnin’ Hopkins’ ‘I Like To Boogie’

By Scott Freeman [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fsc.jpg]Lightnin’ (sometimes spelled Lightening) Hopkins (nee Sam John Hopkins) is a blues legend, but he belongs on Funky Seoul Corner because the blues is soulful.  Lightnin’ was a prodigious singer, songwriter, and guitarist from the mid-1940s until his passing in 1982.  The first thing you may be wondering is how he got the name “Lightnin.”  An Aladdin Records executive gave him that name when he first started recording.  Apparently the exec felt that Sam was too dull. Thus, Lightnin’ was born.   You can find oodles of information on this man.  Just go to Wikipedia here [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightnin%27_Hopkins] for his biographical sketch; you can also find many videos, some of them live, on YouTube.  Just enter “Lightnin’ Hopkins” and your computer will do the rest. I have nothing further to add about the man and his music that you couldn’t find elsewhere on the net.   I tried to pin-point when Hopkins’ “I Like to Boogie” was recorded, but I couldn’t be any more specific than the mid-to-late 60s.  This was the era that he recorded for the Prestige label.  It must be during this era, too, because the electro blues style of the track was certainly indicative of the times. The post Funky Seoul Corner 18: Lightnin’ Hopkins’ ‘I Like To Boogie’ [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com/2013/02/11/funky-seoul-corner-18-lightnin-hopkins-i-like-to-boogie/] appeared first on the3WM [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com].

Funky Seoul Corner 17: Bobby Womack’s ‘Across 110th Street’

By Scott Freeman [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/fsc17.jpg]The Web can be an amazing site at times. A while back I was aimlessly surfing around when I stumbled across “Unsung: Bobby Womack.” [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xs5ke4_unsung-documentary-bobby-womack-generation-soul-disco-funk_music] After watching this 37 minute documentary about the life of Bobby Womack, I needed to figure out what this “Unsung” documentary was all about. Turns out that “Unsung” is TV One’s bio series that showcases R&B and hip-hop artists, some well-known and some less well-known. “Unsung” is in its fifth year, so it’s been airing for some time now, although it was the first time for me to see it. In addition to Bobby Womack, I have seen Bootsy Collins and Billy Preston. Kudos to TV One for offering some cool subjects. These kinds of documentaries are right up my alley! Anyway, part of the Bobby Womack documentary discussed the making of “Across 110th Street.” If you didn’t know already, “Across 110th Street” was an early 1970s (1972) blaxploitation flick. Starring Anthony Quinn, this film is a classic mob and cop story. I was surprised when I first saw it about a year back because it was quite good, actually. Well worth a view! (In fact, just writing about the movie makes me want to see it again.) The “Unsung” documentary shows Bobby Womack talking about the film and the music for which he composed the soundtrack. He talks about watching the movie. And after seeing it without any music, he says, and I will paraphrase here, “After I saw it I said to them (the filmmakers), this is about the ghetto. I know about the ghetto. Man, I can write songs about the ghetto with my right hand. And I’m left-handed!” And, indeed, the song “Across 110th street” is about the ghetto! “Across 110th Street” is a tune that I have played once while DJing, although I wound up playing it a second time that night due to an audience request—a request that I had to grant, I might add, because the song is ridiculously good. It is a classic, without a doubt, that chronicles street survival in the early 70s. If you’ve never heard it before you should listen to it here. The post Funky Seoul Corner 17: Bobby Womack’s ‘Across 110th Street’ [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com/2012/10/20/funky-seoul-corner-17-bobby-womacks-across-110th-street/] appeared first on the3WM [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com].

Funky Seoul Corner #16: Ruby Andrews: Everybody Saw You

By Scott Freeman [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/F.S.C.-16.jpg]Ruby Andrews (nee Barbara Jean Stackhouse) is a soul singer based out of Chicago. She primarily recorded for the Zodiac label, also from Chicago, from 1967 to 1972. Of the fourteen 45s she recorded during this time frame, her biggest smash was “Casonova (Your Playing Days Are Over)” in 1967. This track reached #51 on the U.S. Pop charts and #9 on the U.S. R&B charts. You can easily track this tune down on YouTube. For this installment of Funky Seoul Corner we go a wee bit later in Ruby Andrew’s career to 1970. “Everybody Saw You” is a typical offering from Ruby. You’ve got soul, you’ve got groove, and you’ve got dynamic changes within the track. This track was a minor hit in its own right, reaching #118 on the U.S. pop charts and #34 on the U.S. R&B chart. Even though I own three Ruby Andrew’s 45s, I believe I have yet to play one of her tracks when I DJ. If I did, I would have to play her when I’m spinning a mellow mid-tempo set. Problem is, only rarely do I get a chance to play my slower paced tunes. I wish I had the opportunities, but most of the time I play I feel the need to spin the up-tempo numbers to keep the audience captive. All the same, I love her stuff and offering her up on Funky Seoul Corner is a great way to showcase her talent. In doing my customary research on Ruby Andrews, I also came across a very interesting and well-written article by Natalie Elliot on the Oxford American: The Southern Magazine of Good Writing website. (Here is the link, if you are so inclined: http://www.oxfordamerican.org/articles/2011/dec/05/ruby-andrews/) Titled“Ruby Andrews: Mixing with an Obscure Soul Goddess,” Eliot seems to have gotten her information about Ruby Andrews from Andrews herself! The article gives the reader the low-down on music and her life, giving fascinating details about her years growing up and cutting records for Zodiac. I figured I would just give you the link to the page instead of just quoting everything from that article and pasting it here. Hope you enjoy! [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/F.S.C.-16.jpg] The post Funky Seoul Corner #16: Ruby Andrews: Everybody Saw You [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com/2012/07/12/funky-seoul-corner-16-ruby-andrews-everybody-saw-you/] appeared first on the3WM [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com].

Funky Seoul Corner 15: Dee Edwards’ ‘You Say You Love Me’

By Scott Freeman [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/F.S.C.-15.jpg]http://thethreewisemonkeys.com/?attachment_id=16236Now it’s time to turn the clocks back to 1962 and go to Detroit, Michigan,USA.  Dee Edwards, born Doris Jones, records her first single as a solo artist, “You Say You Love Me,” at the young age of seventeen.  It would be the only single she records for Tuba, just one of the many Detroit record labels at the time; and like many of the local labels, Tuba managed to survive for just a short time, releasing about a dozen 45s in its lifespan. Very much a ballad, “You Say You Love Me” is one of those tunes that just seem to float along.  Although not strictly a doo-wop song, the listener can hear elements of doo-wop, especially with the vocals of the backup singers.  While I love the tune, I never have an opportunity to play it out because it is just too mellow for most of the venues I play at, which is why I feature it here for your own perusal. Dee Edwards would record for several Detroit labels throughout the 60s and into the early 70s. Her last Detroit single on the De-To label, “I Can Deal With That,” was recorded in 1975.  Production tailed off from the mid 70s as she left Detroit for New York City to focus on her family.  Several of her 45s from her Detroit years catch a fair price when auctioned and always seem to generate interest from bidders.  I also remember finding “You Say You Love Me” on a private seller’s site asking a C note for a mint copy, but you can usually find a used 45 for much less…. For those interested in listening more to Dee Edwards, you can also go to YouTube and do a search on “Dee Edwards.”  You will then be presented with a plethora of possibilities.  My personal preference for this type of search is to try to find the icon for the specific 45 I am looking for.  Chances are strong that I will be able to hear, and maybe even see, the actual 45 being played!   This feature is important especially if I am using YouTube as a cross-referencing tool.  For instance, I locate a potentially interesting 45 on-line, but I have no way to listen to it and the track is unfamiliar to me.  I would then search on YouTube.  You would be surprised how often this works!  Enjoy the song!     Sound file is for educational purposes only. The post Funky Seoul Corner 15: Dee Edwards’ ‘You Say You Love Me’ [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com/2012/04/16/funky-seoul-corner-15-dee-edwards-you-say-you-love-me/] appeared first on the3WM [http://thethreewisemonkeys.com].