"Here we go... here we go... here we go, here we go, here we go."Going through the stacks of vinyl, I found this release a few weeks ago and didn't think too much about it. After doing some research through "The Rap Records, 1st Edition" by Freddy Fresh, I began to realize the significance of this record. Released by Profile Records in 1985, the actual recording may have been in 1983, (They mention 83 in the cut.) That would make the song 25 years old at the time of this writing, Rap History. The more I listen, the more I like the rawness of the recording.

A very rare and collectible record. Extensive information about this record can be found at The Omens, Searching / Girl Get Away. There is also an interesting post from one of the former band members. This copy of The Omens plays very well for a record that is over 40 years old. There is no popping or clicking as the song plays, just light noise at the beginning and end, like any used record. The song Searching is an up tempo song with drums, tamborine, bass, guitar, organ, and the vocal lines. The song has a mixture of surf guitar and heavy fuzz effects.

Solomon Burke, The King of Soul! Ok, now we really are getting vintage on the music blog. This is a 78 rpm recording on Apollo Records. Both songs are a slow to medium tempo, blues progression. The arrangement is a simple blues progression. Walking In A Dream. Slow to Medium tempo song. Recorded at 615 Tenth Avenue in Manhattan, the sound production is very good, especially on his voice. His voice really comes through clear and defined. Solomon really had great mic technique. He adjusted his voice and distance from the mic really well. The sax solo comes through great also.

This is a really cool tune. It starts with sax and guitar doubling the same blues based riff. As the tune progresses, the guitar plays nice riffs around the vocal lines, but the tone really is very cool. The playing is very solid. Actually, the whole band is really good. Bobby delivers strong clear lyrics. His voice has a slight raspiness and is the featured line in the mix… right up front. Very cool song that is going on the personal mix for sure.

Artist: Bobby Bland
Release Date: 1957
Label: Duke Records
Tracks: Farther Up The Road, Sometime Tomorrow

This is the perfect record for the new year, 2010! Lonnie Johnson and Happy New Year, Darling on King. I wish it was my idea to post such a relevant title, but it was just coincidence. When the Lonnie Johnson records started appearing in the stacks, I took notice. The thing that sticks out in this recording is his voice and the guitar tone. The track Happy New Year, Darling has three instruments, guitar, bass, and piano. Lonnie is way up front in the recording and has such a great voice. Its an electric guitar, but I wonder what style….

There are two tracks, The Sun Is Shining and Baby, What’s On Your Mind? The Sun Is Shining is a bit faster, but still has a laid back blues feel. I really like the harmonica and guitar work on these tracks. Its amazing to listen to a musician play two instruments and sing. There are drums and bass which hold the song together, but Jimmy shines with all the rest. Its hard to production technique used, but one interesting sound is the reverb on the snare drum.. must have been the room itself. There are references to the Rolling Stones playing “The Sun Is Shining” in their early years.

This 78 rpm recording has made me a fan of Chuck Berry. Recorded in 1956, the two songs, Brown Eyed Handsome Man and Too Much Monkey Business, earned a #5 and #4 spot on the U.S. R&B charts. The songs are very catchy with lyrics like “She flew to Bombay to meet a Brown Eyed Handsome Man.” The recording/production of these songs is excellent. The guitar tone is very upfront in the song and clean. The other instruments have nice separation and work well together. There is an interesting little drum roll that could be sampled at the end of Too Much Monkey Business.

In the Vintage Fidelity vaults we recently found a record on the Federal label from 1953…  Billy Ward and His Dominoes singing Don’t Leave Me This Way and These Foolish Things Remind Me of You.  Both songs are slow ballads and took a little while to get used to the slower tempo.  After listening to this 78 a few times..  (The turn table spins as I work on the computer), I started to really notice the space and emotion in each song.

This is a great video. The commentator breaks down the process and explains how the whole system works. Nice job!