Allen Toussaint - From A Whisper To A Scream (1970)

By 1970, when this album was recorded, Allen Toussaint was already a New Orleans legend on several fronts: as pianist, arranger, songwriter and producer. In the 60's, he had written and produced hits for Irma Thomas, Art and Aaron Neville, Lee Dorsey and others, and his compositions had been covered by a range of artists, including Otis Redding, The Yardbirds, The Rolling Stones and The Who. Though not technically his debut, this marks his true start as a solo artist. The proper title for this release is a little confusing; it was first released as "Toussaint" on the Scepter label, and re-released in the 80's as "From A Whisper To A Scream" by Kent. The album is split into two parts: Side 1 is the "vocal" side, and Side 2 "instrumental." Vocal highlights include the title track, "Sweet Touch Of Love" (used recently in an award-winning TV commercial for Axe deodorants) and "Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky" (covered by the likes of Lou Donaldson, Claudia Lennear and O'Donel Levy). The breadth of Toussaint's influence in the music world is vast; other artists who have recorded his songs include The Judds, Devo, Robert Palmer, The O'Jays, The Band, Glen Campbell, The Pointer Sisters, Boz Scaggs and Herb Alpert, to name just a few. Legend indeed!

Album info at Discogs:

Toussaint

From A Whisper To A Scream

CD available at Amazon:

(amazon.com) Toussaint

(amazon.ca) Toussaint

(amazon.co.uk) Toussaint

Gil Scott-Heron - Small Talk At 125th And Lenox (1970)

Gil Scott-Heron died just over a week ago, on May 27th, 2011. One of THE black musical pioneers of the 70's, his death passed almost as a footnote; I didn't learn of his passing until several days later when "R.I.P." posts of his better known albums suddenly started appearing on other blogs. Out of the limelight since the early 80's, it's hardly surprising that his end went almost unnoticed; at the same time, the loss of the man many consider the father of Rap and Hip Hop (a title Scott-Heron actively avoided) should probably have received greater coverage. As a high school and college student in the 60's, Scott-Heron studied writing and poetry, and it was through these media that he first garnered attention. He first gave serious consideration to music as a medium for expression in 1969, after the Last Poets played a concert at his university, and in 1970, his debut album, "Small Talk..." was released. Mostly spoken-word, in a live setting and with minimal accompaniment, the album took on varied themes, from the hypocrisy of many black "revolutionaries," to the superficiality of TV and mass consumerism, to the ignorance of the white middle classes regarding difficulties faced in inner-city ghettos. Highlights included "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," possibly his best known song, along with the title track, "Enough" and "Everyday". This album is hard to find on CD - hopefully his passing brings Scott-Heron's music renewed attention, and a re-issue of his catalogue.

Album information on Discogs:

Small Talk At 125th And Lenox

Syl Johnson - Is It Because I'm Black (1970)

"Is It Because I'm Black" is yet another candidate for the "Best Album I Never Heard" prize. At the time of release, Syl Johnson had been living and recording in the Chicago area for several years. Like many black artists of the time, his writing often took on social issues such as poverty and equality, and with this album, these themes became a unifying focus, to the extent that "Is It Because I'm Black" is considered by some to be the first black, political concept album, and a precursor to such classics as Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and Sly & The Family Stone's "There's A Riot Going On." The title track is a drawn out, bluesy, gritty groover, with Syl pleading the case for his race. The song reached #11 on the R&B charts, and was also a minor hit on the Pop charts. "Concrete Jungle," another highlight that broke the R&B top 30, draws parallels between the black experience and that of Native Americans, with the difference being location of their reservations. The album closes strongly with "Right On," a rambling, energetic funk masterpiece. Definitely worth a listen, if you can find it.

Album info. on Discogs:

Is It Because I'm Black

Available as part of 2-for-1 CD on Amazon:

(amazon.com) Dresses Too Short & Is It Because I'm Black

(amazon.ca) Dresses Too Short & Is It Because I'm Black

(amazon.co.uk) Dresses Too Short & Is It Because I'm Black

Earth, Wind And Fire - Earth, Wind And Fire (1970)

Drummer and EWF primary songwriter Maurice White got his musical start in Chicago as studio percussionist at Chess Records, backing up the likes of Etta James, Fontella Bass, Sonny Stitt and Ramsey Lewis. White joined Ramsey Lewis as a member of his trio in 1967, and remained with Lewis' group for 3 years. This period helped shape not only his musical vision, but also concepts of performance and staging. After leaving the trio, White went on to form a new group, the Salty Peppers, with some friends. This group, after moving to L.A., adding several new members and signing with Warner Bros., would become Earth, Wind And Fire (named after the three elements in White's astrological sign). The self-titled "Earth, Wind And Fire," released in 1970, was the group's debut and one of two albums (the other being "The Need Of Love") released on the Warner label. The album combined a big horn sound and jazz and latin influences with the emerging funk style. Though there were no hit singles, the two Warner Bros. albums laid the groundwork for the hits that would come after the group moved to Columbia Records in 1972.

Album info. at Discogs:

Earth, Wind And Fire

CD available from Amazon Marketplace:

(amazon.com) Earth, Wind And Fire

(amazon.ca) Earth, Wind And Fire

(amazon.co.uk) Earth, Wind And Fire

Margie Joseph - Makes A New Impression (1970)

Margie Joseph wasn't as famous or critically acclaimed as Aretha Franklin, but had a very similar voice and style. She recorded a series of excellent albums during the 70's, of which this was her first. The album was recorded in Memphis and Muscle Shoals, with overdubs done in Detroit giving the collection something of a Motown feel. "Makes A New Impression" isn't quite as slick as her later albums, but this rawness is part of the album's charm. Margie's extended cover of The Supremes' "Stop! In The Name Of Love" is reminiscent of some of Isaac Hayes' longer tracks, and the highlight of the record.

Album info. as usual from Discogs:

Margie Joseph Makes A New Impression

Available on 2-for-1 CD from Amazon:

(amazon.com) Make A New Impression & Phase II

(amazon.ca) Makes A New Impression & Phase II

Shuggie Otis - Here Comes Shuggie Otis (1970)

Son of the famous bluesman Johnny Otis, Shuggie recorded this, his first album, with assistance from dad, when he was just 16. Not all the tracks are memorable in their own right, but there are enough nuggets in the collection to make it a worthwhile purchase. Influences are all over the place, from Hendrix to B.B. King to the Crusaders, and the talent that gave the Rolling Stones reason to invite him to join when Mick Taylor left is well evident. Shuggie's best work would appear in 1974 with his 3rd album, "Inspiration Information," the album which, when re-released in 2001 on David Byrne's Luaka Bop label, brought this talented but neglected artist the acclaim he so richly deserved.

Album info. at Discogs:

Here Comes Shuggie Otis

Available as part of 2-for-1 CD on Amazon:

(amazon.com) Here Comes Shuggie Otis & Freedom Flight

(amazon.ca) Here Comes Shuggie Otis & Freedom Flight

Maceo And All The King's Men - Doing Their Own Thing (1970)

Maceo Parker, leader of this troup, started out playing with James Brown in 1964. In 1970, Maceo and a bunch of his Brown bandmates took off for two years when they got tired of JB's shenanigans, and this was their first album project. During their time together the group produced two albums and toured extensively. In 1974, Maceo returned to working with Brown, and also spent time in the late 70's working with Parliament and Bootsy Collins. "Doing Their Own Thing" is a funk bomb, as is "Funky Music Machine," the group's 2nd album of 1972.

Track info. from Discogs, as usual:

Doing Their Own Thing

Album available on Amazon:

(amazon.com) Doing Their Own Thing

(amazon.ca) Doing Their Own Thing