Tears of the World

I bought this amazing 45 last week by Robert Moore, "Tears of the World", on the Blue Candle label. It's a record that has just captivated me with the incredible soulfulness of his delivery, especially the chorus where it is punctuated by the horns. Unlike the chorus, the verses are sparse, a bluesy groove, featuring piano and bass and only a touch of the horns. And I love the last line of the first verse, how he moves from being very serious, and then breaking out the rhythm he's established with a specific example. Gets me every time. Following are the words to this tune, which are still very relevant today. Highly recommended 45 here.


Tears of the world keep falling,
Oh, but one day we won't have to cry no more
no, no, no
(x2)

I've been down a crooked road, I've been down a straight road
I've been down a high road, I've been down a low road
I've had some bad times, oh how I had some good times,
Drinking and gambling, and listening to my friends tell a bunch of lies.

I said tears of the world keep falling,
Oh, but one day we won't have to cry no more
no, no, no
(x2)

I hear the news man talking, it's enough to scare you to death
People talk about the birds in the trees,
Polluted air 'bout to choke them to death
Don't it make you kinda wonder, where we're gonna go from here?
If anybody knows the answer, shout it out so the world can hear

I said tears of the world keep falling,
Oh, but one day we won't have to cry no more
no, no, no
(x2)

Things are gonna get better one day,
Oh, we won't have to cry no more....

Trespassin'

Rummaging through the boxes for a tune I haven't spun in a while and I pulled out this great 45 by The Ohio Players (yes, those Ohio Players) on the Compass label, "Trespassin'".

A tightly wound groover, "Trespassin'" has this great guitar line with just a touch of effect on it. Then there is the percussion, like the well placed tambourine and the bit of conga under it all (that I just noticed - and I've only had the 45 for 8 years!). The horns add such a powerful punch, whether it's the quick stabs or the full sound of the chorus. And then there are the lyrics....about trespassing.....which I'll leave to the song itself. Check a soundclip here.

Watermelon Man.....Wabble

Here's a quality latin 45 that showed up this week, Ray Terrace's "Watermelon Man.....Wabble" on Jubilee. It has become my favorite version of the Hancock classic, overtaking the splendid Mongo Santamaria 45 on Battle. It's just a bit rougher, has a bit more punch, than any other versions I've heard (although maybe not as dancefloor-friendly as the Mongo 45).

I found a soundclip on Tamla63's website here. Highly recommended site, as there are some quality tunes there.

Take Me

I'm trying to get back into my earlier schedule updating this blog. Unfortunately, added responsibility at work (for the same pay...) and not as many records coming in makes that difficult. Anyway, here's a purchase from a couple years back that is quite good and shouldn't set you back much, maybe $10 tops, Betty Everett's "Take Me" on Uni.

"Take Me" has a real driving rhythm (thanks to the guitar and bass) that is buoyed by an interplay of horns and strings. The drums have a stutter-step pattern that the horns and strings seem to feed off of, creating layers behind the vocals. The vocals are strong yet soothing, and loud enough so as not to be overwhelmed by the music. The song builds, and by the end it so intense it's nearly cacophonous. Some horns are hitting the lows while the trumpets are reaching over the top and the strings are moving in between. Nice.

Yes We Can

After being at a trade show in Dallas all week, cut off from my music and having no time for the internet (OK, I had time for a few bids on e-bay), I must say it's good to be home.

Here's a classic tune by Mr. Lee Dorsey that I found last month that has consequently been on heavy rotation. A mellow groover, this tune has some great elements: tight drums, very nice guitar plucking, organ bubbling in the background, and the topper: great socially-conscious lyrics. Oh yeah, there are the great horn bits, too. All around, just an amazing tune.

If you don't know this tune, I recommend you google out a soundclip, and then buy one of the reissue CDs that are out there.

Ridin' High

Couldn't find anything about this 45 on the internet, although I remember reading somewhere that the flip side, "Slums of the City", is the same tune as the New Establishment 45 released on United World. Not sure if it is the same recording or an another recording of the tune. Any knowledge that could be shared would be appreciated.

Anyway, "Ridin' High" starts off with a bit of fuzz guitar, and then settles down into a great soul tune with some nice percussion underneath congas and tambourine over the drums). The lyrics are about being young and not seeing the end - that bit of life when you don't see your mortality - and it's sung with a gravity, a weight, that almost seems at odds with the groove, which is played at a brisk pace.

A highly recommended 45.