Herbie Mann Memphis Underground

Herbie Mann always struck me as a creepy older uncle type dude who would show up at your parties and bum everyone out trying to smoke weed with them. Despite that, he made being a hairy flute player cool, was on Atlantic ,and always had a good ear for covers, so I pick up his lps when the price is right. That is how I grabbed Memphis Underground.
5 tracks.1969. The subdued and arty front cover is in stark contrast to the shirtless Mann working in the studio on the back cover. A shirtless,sweaty, hairy mess. That is more in keeping with his aesthetic.
Went immediately to the Sam and Dave cover which is pretty epic and gets the thumbs up-even if it misses the sledge hammer drum work of the original. Ripping guitar solos (Larry Coryell,Sonny Sharrock, and Bobby Woods) and sick vibraphone action(Roy Ayers) in addition to Herbie's flute fireworks.
I can't quite perfect an alliteration coup of "Herbie the hirsute flautist's funky fireworks make the track".
"Memphis Underground" is a 7 minute workout. Funky but not earth shattering. The guitar players step up. Sandwiched between this and "Hold On" is the 2 minute funky workout on "New Orleans" which seems like it deserved a more streched out treatment.
Side 2 opens with "Chain of Fools" and you know these jokers have to kick it up a notch to try and match Aretha's take on it. A slightly funkier take with an effected guitar solo that takes off with almost a sitar sound. Bass and vibes step up as the tune kicks out into the 10 minute time zone with kind of a krautrock groove..... (maybe I am getting carried away....)
He closes it out with "Battle Hymn of the Republic" which tragically is kind of snoozefest for most of it's 7 minutes.
This is a mid vaction post, I am doing more record hunting and riding then writing. No internet, etc. Plus with the TDF in shambles I am going with a "no comment" on cycling-excpet to Big Up Village Cycles in Westport MA-did an awesome group ride with them last Sunday. Good shop if you are in the area.

Myrna Summers The Mystical World of ... LP gospel soul

Inspired by the Gospel comps on Soul Jazz and Numero Group, I have made several unsuccessful forays into searching for gospel soul grail. Today I finally scored. Myrna Summer's The Mystical World of LP on Savoy. Luckily for me she made it easy by covering "Have a talk with God". So even if the rest of the record sucked, I figured this track should at least hold some promise.(Once I got home a quick google check confirmed that this track was on Soul Jazz's Soul Gospel 2 comp) Phil Stencil is credited with "Synthesizer for Special Effects" as well as Clavinet and Organ. The record has a nice funky groove with an obvious nod to SW's 70s sound.
There are a bunch of good tracks on here. "Take Courage" has some frantic disco/funk fueled gospel choir action and "Have a talk with God" is true to the original.

Godess of Fortune LP Krsna Rock Part 21

This seems to be a real attempt to leverage George Harrison's name to get people to buy an essentially devotional LP. Late 70s, 7 tracks produced by Mr.Harrison. More than likely the same cast of characters that were on the Apple Krsna LPs. In fact thanks to Wikipedia, it is clear this is a reissue of the Apple Radah Krsna LP.Different song order and some altered spelling but the same seven tracks. Well done and enjoyable. Back Cover says "special issue" which may or not mean private press or Harrison Vanity Press, or Copyright issue/out of print issue. Hard to say, but someday I will get to the bottom of the gnarled and twisted shell game that makes up the Hara Krsna record label families. Label says "Spiritual Sky" which could be the label and their is another pressing with a maroon label and different record label name. So try and keep that all straight. This is pretty minimal in the liner notes dept. Back cover is a cool obtuse artistic statement about something-must be good art then! Hara Krsna Mantra and Govinda Jai Jai are both here which were hits from the Apple/Hara Krsna records.
Side 2 opens up with some guitar work that could be GH and is one of the few Western instruments to turn up. This track bears the ancient name "Sri Isopanisad" but is the closer to a folk blues or "acid-folk" feel which I missed on the Apple version. Either way another cool devotional entry in the Krsna Rock Series.

El Michels Affair w/Raekown PJs

The El Michels Affair are a good trippy acid jazz/soul jazz type band, but they came across the genius idea of doing covers of Wu-Tang. 2 45s into what I hope is a long series right now and they were good enough to get a guest spot from Lex Diamonds himself on this track. Rae spits his standard back in the day coke slinging story rhyme over a rootsy Brooklyn groove.
Side 2 has the instrumental and some bonus beats. Including the monster surprise "this one's for my baby" which opens with a wicked string hook before settling down. It wouldn't be hard to see these guys rocking behind Amy Winehouse if the Dap-Kings were busy.
An added bonus is the nice artwork which most 12"s don't get. Very nice.
I guess getting stoked on Wu-Tang covers and cameos is some nostalgia shit, but if you were buying records like 36 Chambers,Iron Man, or Only Built for Cuban Linx when they just came out, you know how mind blowing these guys were. There were a few Hip Hop groups that totally changed up the game. Think Public Enemy and NWA for example. It's hard to remember how wild these records were once they have become holy grails or classics.
Truth and Soul Records.

Roger White "The Mystery Of Tallahatchie Bridge" 45

In addition to "Compared to What" there is another song that I am obsessed with, "Ode to Billie Joe". Bobbie Gentry's story of Billie Joe Macallister has had a long life and has been covered several times. This song had a real pop culture mystery appeal-why did he do it? did it happen? why?
Well like any country artist fluent in the concept of "answer records", Roger White stepped up to the plate to tell you why. Coming over a fairly straight cover of the tune, he lays out the what, wheres, and whys for a truly enjoyable twist in the world of Billie Joe covers. Not going to give it away, but the "seeds of love" are involved.
There apparently as many answer records as covers so stay tuned for another OCD series of installments.

Swobo Heresy Jersey

It is hard to come up with reasons, not to support Swobo, but when they combo their skills with some graphic nods to "Breaking Away" only a heartless dink could resist.
This jersey is not wool, hence the name Heresy(Side Track number one. Between Exits 18 and 19 Northbound on 128, there was for years a bridge with "Heresy" spray painted on it which would always make me smile as I drove under the bridge. Approximately six month ago some genius tagger threw is dumb ass name over it and forever bummed me out. Thanks Douche!)
The graphic design veer a little close to "high end underground fashion"(a term I heard first dropped by a dude who also wanted a "custom Surly"-so I don't know if he always speaks in oxymoron's or not... Side Track #2). Brown jerseys will always remind me of SE Racing so they get a pass. And obtusely name checking "Breaking Away" will get you another free pass. So based on appearances alone this jersey is a hit.
But it is unfortunately a functional world, so how does it do perform? It has been hot here in New England and this jersey was just right. Despite the darker color, it was very light weight and a perfect warm weather jersey. No complaints on rear pockets and the price is right. The cut is "American" which means a large leaves room for your gut and since it is not full zip it will make you look skinny if you are. Sleeves are surprisingly loose and non binding which could cost you seconds in a time trial, but, get real, you are on a group ride-so chill.
Whether you want knickers, wool jerseys, bikes, or bottle openers Swobo is on it. So find a way to support them and Avoid the bummer life!

Upcoming product reviews may include Stella Azurra cork tape, Vittoria Open tires, and Chrome knickers. I bet you are on the edge of your seats......
Vetta cyclocomputers get the gas face.

Stuey Get Well Soon

Stewart O'Grady got worked Sunday at the tour. Broken ribs, collapsed lungs,etc. You can send him some goodwill at his website. Anyone who brings his team black rubber bracelets that say "Harden the Fuck Up" and is also that years winner of Paris-Roubaix can do no wrong in my eyes.
So I wish him a speedy recovery and quick return to the bike like his fellow country men Henk Vogels and Nathan O'Neil.
Aussie's are the new Belgians
PS Buy some O'Grady gear at the website above. So much cooler than more Disco kit!