- Artist: Jackson 5
- Title: ABC
- Year: 1970
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 9
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: Bought it used sometime in the 1990s
I grew up with the Jackson 5 on the radio, and of course TV too. I was just old enough to remember the hits from the album “ABC.” Overall, it’s a pretty energetic and joyous production, but listening to it is a little bittersweet. It’s hard to believe that Michael would end up so, in a word, strange.
For me, this record is almost a 10, but some of the second side drags it down. That said, my favorite is on that side, “I’ll Bet Ya.” That one was originally by Funkadelic, on their first album I believe, and let me tell you it too is damn good, even though it’s sung an octave lower. Considering who wrote most of the songs on “ABC”, George Clinton, Stevie Wonder, Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, et al and it’s no wonder it’s so good.
A whole lotta info about the Jackson 5 at Wikipedia.
- Artist: Isaac Hayes
- Title: Shaft
- Year: 1971
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 9
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: No idea when, bought it used and it’s near mint
Butter Your Soul With the Movement
Which is to be Continued by Black Moses.
Whatever you say Mr. Hayes. That psychedelic sentence is big and bold on the inside of this gatefold double album, but it’s just a promotion line using the titles from the four earlier albums pictured right below it. Anyhow, I would guess that very few people familiar with the hit “Shaft” have ever heard the whole double album. That’s too bad. The first disk is heavier with a few very rocked out jams, and the second is so chill I could feel my blood pressure dropping as I played it. I don’t have a lot of records by Isaac Hayes, but I’m glad I have this one.
IsaacHayes.com
- Artist: Ohio Players
- Title: Honey
- Year: 1975
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1999 ? – Record Mart in Alexandria, VA?
- Keeper: Yes
Good morning from Fayetteville, NC. We’re spending a couple days with Mary’s parents after spending a couple with mine. Tomorrow morning we finally head to Asheville where we will spend a night or two with Grayson and Kellie while we wait for the movers to show up. Time with family: priceless. Roadtripping after shoulder surgery: painful.
The Ohio Players love their gatefold-pin-up album covers. If you think the cover for “Honey” is spicy-hot you should see the inside. I was going to include it here but I’m Heavy Duty! is a family show. Just picture the woman on the outside cover with honey dripped all over her. Enough about the packaging. The big hit, classic even, on this record is of course “Rollercoaster”, made popular again a few years ago as a cover by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. But my absolute favorite is the riff-heavy, slow-grinding, super-funky “FOPP.” This is another classic by any standard and has also had its share of cover versions. Soundgarden did a great version on an early EP of the same name when they were still with Sub Pop. What does “FOPP” mean? Anything?
Read more about The Ohio Players at Wikipedia.
- Artist: Ohio Players
- Title: Fire
- Year: 1974
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1998 ? – Pretty sure I got this at Record Mart in Alexandria, VA.
- Keeper: Yes
I’m ’bout to choke
From the smoke
Lemme tighten up my stroke
You’re a four alarm bay-baaaay
And when you sing the word “stroke” in the Ohio Players most awesome song “Fire” you have to go for the falsetto like you just sat on a tack. Some of the other songs on this record are sorta spaced out, trippy pop like you would expect on a mid-1970s soul record. Then, they hit you with “What The Hell” on side two. That song is one of the most metallic funk-jazz odysseys ever laid down. It’s like Funkadelic or something.
Signing off from another house hunting trip to Asheville, NC. Total driving time today: over 12 hours. When will it end?
- Artist: Earth, Wind and Fire
- Title: That’s The Way of The World
- Year: 1975
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 6
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1999 ? Not sure when, but I got it used, I believe at Record Mart in Alexandria, VA.
- Keeper: Yes
This album is apparently the soundtrack to a movie of the same name, “That’s The Way of The World.” Yeah, I’ve never heard of it either. “Soundtrack” may explain the occassional jazz odyssesy, or maybe not. Anyhow, it’s a worth a rating of 6 just for “Shining Star” alone. Other than that the record is pretty mediocre.
