Eccentric Soul

[king ubu]

I scored lucky yesterday and picked up two of these releases... (got a third one a while back). Playing it now:

here's what dusty says about it:

Not much of a cover photo, but one of the most amazing collections so far from the Numero Group -- a richly archival project that finally brings to light the lost efforts of the short lived Tap Records label! Tap was the brainchild of Jeremiah Yisrael -- an ambitious producer, and legendary perfectionist -- so much so that he often put more effort into these indie productions than you'd find at bigger label projects of the time! Most material here dates from the years 1981 and 1982, and the music is a mix of club, modern soul, boogie, and a bit of hip hop -- nearly all of which hardly got any exposure at the time. The booklet not only tells the tale of the label and Yisrael's career, but also Numero's efforts in resurrecting these lost tapes from a very moldy near-death experience -- a narrative that's almost as exciting as the music in the package. And the package is pretty great too -- not only because of the 24 page, full color booklet -- but also because of the supplemental book that reproduces lost sheet music and studio notes from the Tap sessions. Amazing stuff throughout -- well worthy of another deep bow for the Numero team -- with a total of 14 tracks that include "Breakout" and "We've Had Enough" by Arnie Love & The Lovettes, "Invisible Wind" and "Guilty" by Jackie Stoudemire, "Missy Missy Dee" by Missy Dee & The Melody Crew, "So Nice" by Annette Denvil, "Rub A Dub Dub" by The Fabulous 3 MCs, "Don't Stop Dancin" and "Run Away Hide From Love" by Jackie Stoudemire, and "Breakout" by Magnetism. Also features two tracks from 1971 -- "Does He Really Mean It" and "Love Which Way" by Bonnie Freeman.

This is only just the beginning... the story behind it is truly hard to believe. One Teddy Thompson (who had small acting parts in several big productions, including one along Sophia Loren and one in the Bond flick "Live and Let Die" in 1972 - no listing on IMDB though) turned Jeremiah Yisrael, self-made producer, paranoid maniac, sect founder (Jewish fundamentalist/fanatist)...

There's not even an entry on Wikipedia, it seems... but this is an utterly fascinating reissue, picking the best sides Thompson/Yisrael produced on his label "Tap Records" in 1981/82, one side from 1980, and tagged at the end of the CD (probably no on the vinyl version) two tracks from 1972.

I don't know any of the artists involved (Arnie Love, Jackie Stoudemire, Missy Dee, Annette Denvil, Fabulous 3 MCs, and in 1972, Bonnie Freeman), but some of this stuff is terrific, kind of disco-soul (standout are the Jackie Stoudemire tracks, I think, but I need more time with this disc), and some early rap, including the great Missy Dee & the Melody Crew cut "Missy Missy Dee". Much of it was done in very expensive productions, Gene Redd (instrumental in the success or at least the beginning of the career of Kool & the Gang - again no wiki entry or anything much about him on the webs, it seems) having been the partner/arranger/musical mastermind behind Yisrael.

Some more info and samples can be found here:

http://www.numerogroup.com/catalog_detail.php?uid=00331

[B. Clugston]

Great label. The two Cult Cargo releases feature some great, funky music from Grand Bahamas and Belize, respectively and are highly recommended.

[king ubu]

I have the Grand Bahamas one, will post about it later on... but for now, I'm tremendously fascinated by this Tap compilation!

[B. Clugston]

Ordered this today. Sounds good.

http://www.numerogroup.com/catalog_detail.php?uid=01049#

Light: On The South Side

$60.00 (BOOK+2LP)

Between 1975-1977 Chicago's South Side night clubs were a little lighter. Not just because of a lanky white guy skulking about, but rather because of the camera and strobe light he carried. Michael Abramson hit Perv's House, Pepper's Hideout, The High Chaparral, The Patio Lounge, and The Showcase Lounge, not to capture the artists on stage, instead popping off a half dozen rolls every night on the crowd. Light: On The South Side gathers for the first time over 100 of these images, as Numero shines its own strobe on yet another dark corner of the past. The 132-page hard back book features photos, an ephemera section, and an essay by Nick Hornby. Housed in a gorgeous slipcase with the 12X12 book is Pepper's Jukebox, a seventeen track compilation of the kind of funky Chicago blues heard from the stage and the Wurlitizer. The deluxe 2LP set is packaged in a sharp gatefold jacket with two inner sleeves crammed to the gills with label scans and stories. All in all, it's the classiest Numero record ever made, spotted easily from across the room with it's near 2" spine.

[jostber]

I bought these a couple of months ago, so much great music here!

V.A.: Eccentric Soul - Twinight's Lunar Rotation

V.A.: Good God! - A Gospel Funk Hymnal

Catherine Howe - What a Beautiful Place

Edited August 18, 2009 by jostber