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By O-Dub 
In Part One, Matthew Africa and I broke down The Emotions’ “Blind Alley” based on its production and arrangement. For Part Two, we look at how it’s been used as a sample source. (My comments are in plain text, Africa’s are in italics).
In general when producers categorize samples, they often break them down into either “loops” or “breaks”. A “loop” is any sample that’s repeated end-to-end to create a continuous pattern. This is frequently done with basslines, riffs, drum parts or even a whole arrangement, but a loop can be anything that’s repeated. By contrast, a [...]
Continue reading BREAKING DOWN “BLIND ALLEY” PART TWO
By O-Dub 
Eli Wilson & Jeremy Aregood: Can I Change My Mind?
From digital single (2012)
This version of Tyrone Davis’s classic comes from the production/singer duo of Eli Wilson and Jeremy Aregood. I have to admit, I was slightly skeptical at first but where the song really came together was around :55, when the the main melody comes in on keys. This definitely has a “classic era D’Angelo” vibe to it, especially in how stripped down the arrangement is; throw in those funky electric keys and you get a smooth little modern take on an old school [...]
Continue reading CALL TYRONE
By O-Dub  The Emotions’ “Blind Alley” is one of my favorite Stax/Volt songs of all time and it’s been nearly eight years since I’ve written about it. I’ve been meaning to revisit it and do up something more elaborate after seeing how it got reissued in that Never To Be Forgotten boxset I just wrote about.
It’s been ages since I had done a post over at Soul Sides/Sliced and I decided to put “Blind Alley” through the treatment, joined by Matthew Africa.
Check it out: “Breaking Down ‘Blind Alley’”
In Part 2, Africa and [...]
Continue reading BREAKING DOWN “BLIND ALLEY” PART 1
By O-Dub 
Never To Be Forgotten: The Flip Side Of Stax 1968 – 1974
Light in the Attic created this 7″ reissue set for Record Store Day and it’s a very cool way to 1) pay tribute to one of the greatest labels in soul history and 2) break true fanatics off with 10 reissued 7″ singles, ranging from some of their better know hits (“BLind Alley”) to lesser known gems (“Them Hot Pants”). Killer packaging and a really impressive set of liner notes that features testimonials from Jim Stewart, Al Bell and others).1 I recently rapped with Light in [...]
Continue reading THE FLIPSIDE OF STAX
By O-Dub 
It’s been a while since our last podcast (I have another one in the clip – Lee Fields and hopefully, Leon Michels, to be shared after they come to town in a few weeks). This one was recorded live in Los Angeles a couple of weeks back with Pat Thomas, author of the new Listen Whitey: The Sounds of Black Power 1965-75, as well as the companion CD of the same name.
Pat and I talked about how he got interested in looking at the music of the Black Power Movement, how Berry Gordy funded one of the [...]
Continue reading THE SIDEBAR #27: PAT THOMAS
By James Cavicchia 
(Editor’s Note: James Cavicchia last contributed to us in ’09, writing about MJ, and I’m delighted to have him as a regular contributor now, beginning with this review of the new “Personal Space” compilation, curated by Dante Carfagna and released jointly by Chocolate Industries and the Numero Group. I have a review of this same album coming out on NPR in a week or so. –O.W.)
All selections below from Personal Space: Electronic Soul 1974-1984.
“Shouldn’t real freedom include freedom from memory?” – Geoffrey O’Brien
Shouldn’t the personal be able [...]
Continue reading THE SOUL OF DRUM MACHINES: THE PERSONAL SPACE ANTHOLOGY
By O-Dub 
Dusty Springfield: Crumbs Off the Table
Girls Can’t Do What Guys Can Do
From See All Her Faces (Philips, 1972). Also on Dusty In London.
I have an inexplicable habit of constantly under-regarding Dusty’s catalog…it’s as if every time I discover a cool new track by her I try to remind myself, “this is Dusty Springfield. She’s only one of the greatest soul artists in UK history. She probably has more stuff worth checking for.” But inevitable, I forget this small little point. This LP is just the latest reminder that [...]
Continue reading DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: NO CRUMBS
By O-Dub 
Jungle Fire: Comencemos (Let’s Start)
From digital release (Jungle Fire, 2012)
Phirpo y sus Caribes: Comencemos (Let’s Start)
From Parrilla Caliente (Phillips, 1973)
I recently got an email from the conguero of Jungle Fire, a L.A.-based Afro/Latin-funk band and he was kind enough to send along a couple of new tracks for me to peep. I just hit play without checking the song title and realized, “holy sh–, they’re covering Phirpo!” 1
Given that I think the Phirpo LP is pretty much the best Latin funk album ever, it’s cool [...]
Continue reading JUNGLE FIRE GETS IT STARTED
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