Every now and then I get to perform exorcisms. A customer drops off a (usually out of print) LP and I get to lift the evil sounds of that lost rock, funk, soul or unholy punkness right off that ungodly piece of possessed wax and reassemble, nay, trap them onto a clean, smooth digital CD. Clean enough again for the consumption of the righteous. I might not necessarily agree with my actions, but you do what you must do.

Last week I got to transfer a Willie Hutch LP from 1975, two years after he wrote and recorded the earth-shaking soundtrack to “The Mack.” Hoping to just re-purchase it on CD, the gentleman had brought in the LP to show me exactly what he was hoping to find. For some reason the CD was let to disappear into the ever-growing, ever-hungry, seedy underworld that we will from here on out refer to as the Alleyways of the Post-Print. Errrr, it’s outta print. Has been for a while. The LP is “Ode to My Lady,” a smooth crooned, slow-funk tribute to something he couldn’t quite shake from his mind. His powerful, though sometimes hushed vocals conjure memories of Sam Cooke and multitudes of other amazing Motown greats (Hutch put out a handful of records on Motown). The guitar playing is perfect and hooky with that slick ease of funk guitarists who know and respect their instrument, that Curtis Mayfield style. All in all it was a fun LP to transfer – something that I might not have gotten a chance to hear otherwise!

Since I Found You Everything’s Alright
Ode To My Lady (great instrumental!)
Love Power
Talk to Me

Enjoy!

Just added another blog in the sidebar there to the left last week.

POWER POP! CRIMINAL$

A great blog remembering past power pop bands. They run through the last 4 decades, so everyone’s bound to find something they love. Me, I love it all. I stumbled across it looking for some information on the Neighborhoods and boy did I find it. Plus some older local bands. Find some time to kill and check it out.

Definitely check out the two compilations that were recently released on the blog. “Raiders of the Lost Hook.” There are currently two volumes up dedicated to slinging at us some of the best, lost hooky gems. I think the criteria for the comps is that the band released one great single, album or EP and then disappeared back into obscurity never able to recreate it. The best kind.

Enjoy!