Monday, March 29, 2021

VA - An Alternate History of Popular Music [2011] (2 x CD)

 


ALTERNATE HISTORY OF POP MUSIC

VA - An Alternate History of Popular Music [2011] (2 x CD)

Promo only limited 2xCD sampler of the Numero Group from 2011. Never sold in stores. Presented in a striking 4-panel card board digipack style, clear plastic trays, disappointingly  no inserts/booklet.

This is not merely a casual compilation of old musty 45s, nor is it a sort of Sampler Collection that allows you a chance to "get to know" The Numero Group. In fact, the title really does say it all: this compilation allows the listener to experience An Alternate History of Popular Music, taking us from 1959 (with the invention of the blues by a woman named Niela Miller, all the way to 1985, the year that disc died with this swan-song track by Golden Echoes. If those names aren't familiar to you, don't worry. The music in between is just as, if not more-so, unheard of.

The beauty of The Numero Group releases is their careful selection. While the artists may be unfamiliar, these tracks embody the zeitgeist of the era in a way that feels entirely appropriate. You can picture this history unfolding, as black artists dominate the charts, while later white artists integrate into this form of music. A world where funk and soul were the standard pop tunes to arrange yourself around, and where gospel is even more tied to mainstream culture than ever... through music. It is all here, and it is a fascinating document of what could have been. And than, in and of itself, is the primary benefit of living in The Age of The Reissue: experiences like this are possible. The Numero Group understands that collectors are not merely obsessive compulsives with an eye for small pressings and imported vinyl (though that may be the case, too). In collecting, we ourselves are assembling a musical universe all our own, where certain artists loom larger than others, according to our own vision of Popular Music. In this collection, you can sit back and listen as someone else's musical universe assembles before your ears. How cool is that? (musicnsoft.yoo7.com)

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Track lists

CD1

01 - Niela Miller - Baby Don't Go To Town

02 - Fern Jones - Strange Things Are Happening Every Day

03 - The Dontells - Moaning And Crying

04 - A.C. Jones - Oh Baby

05 - Syl Johnson - Try Me

06 - Frank Williams & The Rocketeers - Show Me What You Got

07 - Stormy - The Devastator

08 - Them Two - 08Am I A Good Man

09 - George McGregor & The Bronzettes - Temptation Is Hard To Fight

10 - Pisces - Motley Mary Ann

11 - Voices Of Conquest - O Yes My Lord

12 - The Chantells - World Of Soul

13 - Performers - Mini Skirt

14 - Shirley Ann Lee - There's A Light

15 - Syl Johnson - Same Kind Of Thing

16 - Mourning Sun - Where's Love Gone Today

17 - Mourning Sun - Benashaw Glenn

18 - Pisces - A Flower For All Seasons

19 - Pisces - Sam (Ft. Linda Bruner)

20 - Donald Thomas - Calling Me Home

21 - Jennie Pearl - Maybe In Another Year

22 - Trevor Dandy - Is There Any Love

23 - Syl Johnson - Concrete Reservation

24 - Little Ed & The Soundmasters Band - It's A Dream

25 - Marion Black - Who Knows

26 - Joe King - Speak On Up

27 - Angela Alexander & J.D. Saddler - Don't Make Me Kill You

28 - Annette Poindexter & Pieces Of Peace - Mama

29 - Sharon Clark & The Product Of Time - I'm Not Afraid Of Love


CD2

01 - Eddie Ray - Wait A Minute

02 - Pastor T.L. Barrett - Like A Ship

03 - Deliverance Echoes - Heaven

04 - Creations Unlimited - Crystal Illusion

05 - Lowlands Studio Band - Lizard

06 - Harvey & The Phenomenals - Soul & Sunshine

07 - Kool Blues - I'm Gonna Keep On Loving You

08 - Father's Children - Dirt And Grime

09 - The Majestic Arrows - If I Had A Little Love

10 - Shira Small - Eternal Life

11 - Little Chris & The Righteous Singers - I Thank You Lord

12 - Promise - I'm Not Ready For Love

13 - Wee - Try Me

14 - Procedures - Give Me One More Chance

15 - Ebirac All-Stars - Plena Matrimonial (Ft. La Calandria & Ramito)

16 - Willie Wright - I'm So Happy Now

17 - Millionaire At Midnight - Coit Tower

18 - Boys - Please Change Your Mind

19 - Jackie Stoudemire - Invisible Wind

20 - David Kauffman - Kiss Another Day Goodbye

21 - Golden Echoes - Packing A Grip

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11 comments:

  1. This sounds amazing BB. Gotta try. Love the obscure, the forgotten, the unheard...play on...thanks.

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  2. Looks interesting...many thanks.

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  3. Thank you very much, another exciting compilation!
    I just wonder if the chorus on "MOURNING SUN - Where's Love Gone Today" is the original. Or whether it was CROSBY-STILLS-NASH & YOUNG who invented this chorus in their song "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"?
    Cheers

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    Replies
    1. Hi WOODY,
      Yes very similar. I suspect the song was originated around 1967-1968.
      The Morning Sun formed when the Beaumont, Texas group the Six Deep broke up in 1967. From the Six Deep were Bob Welch bass, David Everett guitar and Bill Donley drums, and with them were Don Lackey lead guitar and Jeff Griffin on keyboards...
      We had several follow up songs recorded, including one titled “Where’s Love Gone Today” – a very Hollies-like tune – but as I related earlier, it fell by the wayside when we opted out of any touring/promo commitments. Things sort of went their way then as folks were moving out of the area and heading off in different directions. I stayed around for another year, gigging with a local band called Kirk Williams and the Daytrippers, a nice cover band, but with little of the innovation and creative spirit of Six Deep, et.al. I graduated from college and moved to Houston where I started a career in the semiconductor industry. Fast-forwarding a lot, I recently “retired” from Intel Corporation and live in the Sacramento area.
      In 2010, the Lowland recording of “Let’s Take a Walk in the Woods” was reissued from an original tape on the LP and CD Local Customs: Lone Star Lowlands, a compilation of various acts that recorded at Lowland Studios. Also included are an unreleased Mourning Sun song, “Where’s Love Gone Today” and three by Bobby Welch, “Benshaw Glenn”, “Yellow River” and “Laughing Girl”.

      Suite- Judy Blue Eyes was 1969

      It was a very fertile time, who knows.

      Cheers
      BB

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    2. Thank you for this interesting background information. And that can also be seen here again and again, that mutual influences have been of great importance in the development of this genre!

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  4. Hi!

    Thanx for this one. Many "new" artists = "new" hears here. Who decides what is "alternative"? Guessing it's the non Hits?

    Cheers!
    Ciao! For now.
    rntcj

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  5. What a wonderful premise for a collection! Thank you!

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    Replies
    1. Hi festoonic,
      Hope you enjoy this wonderful set.

      Cheers

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