Deceased Persons

 

When I was doing some research on the Internet over the past few days, I realized that today is the anniversary of the deaths of two personalities who are inextricably linked to music. On 10 August 2008, Isaac Hayes died of a stroke at his home in Memphis just two weeks before his 66th birthday. Hayes was a soul musician who wrote several chart breakers for Sam & Dave and worked as a member of Bookter T. and the MG's with Otis Redding and Wilson Picket. In 1969 he released his debut Hot Buttered Soul not knowing that this record was his masterpiece. With his distinctive bass-baritone voice and his spoken words I will call him a forerunner of rap and hip hop.

Isaac Hayes - Walk On By

One year earlier on this day Tony Wilson, a British record label owner, radio and TV presenter, nightclub manager and impresario passed away after he suffered a longer time on cancer. Without him Factory records and Hacienda nightclub didn't exist. Manchester's music scene is impossible without him.

Bill Withers RIP

Bill Withers died last Sunday at the age of 81 but it was reported just yesterday. He had an incredible talent in writing great songs. It is evidenced in the mass of cover versions of his songs. Also other artists like Isaac Hayes played his songs in live concerts. He was a bit of a poet in his songs and many are familiar with his songs. Another great one is gone. This is a footage that shows his abilities of playing live in the early 70's in German TV-show Musikladen.

Rest easy Bill and may you be reunited with your Grandma.

ByThe Time I Get To Phoenix

Last Saturday night I was in the mood for some soul music and grabbed out of my records Hot Buttered Soul by Isaac Hayes. I didn't listen to this record for a long long time and was astonished how fresh and new this record is. You can dive into Mr. Hayes' baritone voice and his music. According to my opinion By the time I get to Phoenix is one of the first soul songs that turned away from classical songwriting. Isaac Hayes introduces us to this song with eight minutes speaking to built up slowly a climax of horns, organs, strings and vocals. With this album his Scientology activities may be forgiven.

Isaac Hayes - By The Time I Get To Phoenix

You'll Disapear

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A few month ago I already posted some tracks from the New York based musical collective The Phenomenal Handclap Band. In recent days I listened a few times to their first record from 2009. Founded by the two DJs Daniel Collas and Sean Marquand the make an incredible mix of Rock, Disco, Soul, Electronic and Psychedelia. Someone reviewed the album as 65 minutes of slightly spacy live-band psych-disco, Hawkwind jamming with Isaac Hayes with percussion from the Incredible Bongo Band. If that sounds like a party, well, it is a party; you'll want to grab a drink and do your damndest to have a good time. I hear also influences from Sly and the Family Stone and Tom Tom Club.

Enjoy

Phenomenal Handclap Band - You'll Disapear

Phenomenal Handclap Band - 15 to 20

One Woman

Back from vacation and had a relaxed weekend to get over the jetlag from the journey. It's good to be back home again and listen to the music I used listen to. For me it is a good start into the working week after a few weeks off. I think this is one of the best records Isaak Hayes have ever made. Especially the long version of 'Hot buttered soul'. One woman is a very smooth song about a man who can not decide between two women.

Her loving arms are there to greet me/ Ooooo tender lips are there to meet me/ That's the way I start my day/ Whoaaaa, too bad/ so sad/ it dosen't end that way.

Isaak Hayes - One Woman