Nancy Sinatra - How Does That Grab You? (1966)

Nancy's follow-up to Boots. This includes her famous version of "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)". Lee Hazlewood has producer's credit and wrote many of the songs. He appears on "Sand", a track that would appear on their duet album two years later (highly recommended). This version's got the bonus tracks that include her duet with daddy on "Feelin' Kinda Sunday".

1. Not The Lovin' Kind
2. The Shadow Of Your Smile
3. Sorry 'Bout That
4. Time
5. Sand
6. Crying Time
7. My Baby Cried All Night Long
8. Let It Be Me
9. Call Me
10. How Does That Grab You, Darlin' ?
11. Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
12. The Last Of The Secret Agents
13. Until It's Time For You To Go
14. Lightning's Girl
15. Feelin' Kinda Sunday

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Juvenile - 400 Degreez (1998)

Classic Cash Money release by Juve the Great. 400 Degreez embodies the late-90's New Orleans rap sound. Beats done by Cash Money's in-house producer, Mannie Fresh, who was vital in the development of the N.O.'s earlier Bounce music sound. You also get to hear pre-syrup, "wobbledy-wobbledy"-era Wayne (does anyone else remember watching "Back That Thang Up" and "Get Your Roll On" on The Box?) There are 3 versions of Juve's "Ha" single: the Hot Boys remix and another that surprisingly features Jay-Z. Hov's appearance speaks to Cash Money's popularity and the attention the south was gaining at the time. Anyway, just look at the awesome Pen N' Pixel artwork, featuring Juvenile & hoes burning money, a watch, and an entire library. Word.

1. Intro (Feat. Big Tymers)
2. Ha
3. Gone Ride With Me
4. Flossin Season (Feat. Big Tymers & B.G.)
5. Ghetto Children
6. Follow Me Now
7. Cash Money Concert
8. Welcome 2 Tha Nolia (Feat. Turk)
9. U.P.T. (Feat. Hot Boys & Big Tymers)
10. Run For It (Feat. Lil Wayne)
11. HA (Hot Boyz Remix) (Feat. Hot Boyz)
12. Rich Niggaz (Feat. Turk, Lil Wayne & Paparue)
13. Back That Azz Up (Feat. Mannie Fresh & Lil Wayne)
14. Off The Top (Feat. Big Tymers)
15. After Cash Money Concert
16. 400 Degreez
17. Juvenile On Fire
18. HA (Jay-Z Remix) (Feat. Jay-Z)

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Pharoah Sanders - Black Unity (1971)

Dang, I was checking out the Pharoah Sanders label on here and realized I forgot to attach a link for the Black Unity post! Whoops! Here's the recycled post, with download link:

I've been on a real Pharoah Sanders binge recently, so I decided to post 1972's Black Unity. Like other Pharoah releases, this recording is very spiritual and features some amazing players. It's one track running 37:22, with lots of great atonal freakouts. This album is very percussive, with two drummers as well as a percussionist. The two bass players, Cecil McBee and future Return to Forever member Stanley Clarke, are just as vital to the rhythmic feel. You can hear African and Asian influences in the music, sounds Pharoah experimented with for his entire career.

Tracklist:

1. Black Unity

Personnel:

Pharoah Sanders, tenor saxophone, balaphone
Hannibal Marvin Peterson, trumpet
Carlos Garnett, tenor saxophone
Joe Bonner, piano
Cecil McBee, bass
Stanley Clarke, bass
Norman Connors, drums
Billy Hart, drums
Lawrence Killian, congas, talking drums, balaphone

Original sessions produced by Lee Young
Reissue produced by Michael Cuscuna
Recording engineer: Tony May
Recorded at A & R Recording Studios, New York City, on November 24, 1971

Impulse!
IMPD-219

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John Coltrane - The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording (1967)

This posthumous release, recorded at the Olatunji Center for African Culture in Harlem, emphasizes the direction Coltrane was heading at the end of his career. The ensemble had expanded in numbers, adding another horn with Pharoah Sanders. McCoy had left the group and was replaced by Coltrane's wife Alice on piano, and Rashied Ali sat in place of Elvin Jones. Only Jimmy Garrison remained as the veteran from the A Love Supreme days. Trane was known to use two bass players as well, usually enlisting Art Davis, but Jimmy holds it down here solo. I think the two pieces selected are great contrast - "Ogunde", one of Coltrane's last compositions, and "My Favorite Things", his biggest commercial hit and probably most played tune. Of course Coltrane's style had changed immensely since his 1961 version of the tune. By the end of his career, a show would consist only of two or three selections, each running for about half an hour, maybe playing the head once or twice. He was finished with exploring scales and harmonic structure and was now probing the depths of the instrument (multiphonics). The sounds, tone and power of his playing are indescribable, it feels almost useless to try and write anything. Please listen, and comment if you dig this.

1. Introduction by Billy Taylor
2. Ogunde
3. My Favorite Things

Personnel:

John Coltrane, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Pharoah Sanders, tenor saxophone
Alice Coltrane, piano
Jimmy Garrison, bass
Rashied Ali, drums
Algie DeWitt, Batá drum
(possibly) Jumma Santos, percussion

Recorded April 1967 in New York City

Impulse! 314 589 120-2

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Dr. Dre - The Chronic (1992)

This should be played at high volume. Preferably, in a residential area.

Along with Snoop's Doggystyle, The Chronic is the magnus opus of G-Funk. The album is a celebration of all things Death Row, co-starring Snoop Dogg and featuring Warren G, Nate Dogg, Kurupt & Daz (of Tha Dogg Pound), RBX, The Lady of Rage, and others. It also serves as an attack on...so many other rappers: Eazy-E and his alliance with Jerry Heller, Luke from 2 Live Crew, Tim Dog (known for his "Fuck Compton" West Coast diss) - all of whom, apparently, can eat a big fat dick.

The production embodies the era; high-pitched whiny synths meet slithering, diminished bass lines. Then there's the obvious Parliament-Funkadelic influence. I think George Clinton deserves a production credit here - not just for the samples but the amazing interpolation of "P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)" on The Chronic's outro. If you don't have it yet, grab it here in 320.

1. The Chronic (Intro)
2. Fuck Wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')
3. Let Me Ride
4. The Day The Niggaz Took Over
5. Nuthin' But A G Thang
6. Deez Nuuuts
7. Lil' Ghetto Boy
8. A Nigga Witta Gun
9. Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat
10. The $20 Sack Pyramid
11. Lyrical Gangbang
12. High Powered
13. The Doctor's Office
14. Stranded On Death Row
15. The Roach (The Chronic Outro)
16. Bitches Ain't Shit

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Black Flag - Nervous Breakdown (1978)

Black Flag's first EP as well as the first release on SST Records. One of the very few BF releases with Keith Morris on vocals. Yep.

1. Nervous Breakdown
2. Fix Me
3. I've Had It
4. Wasted

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