February 11, 2009 Playlist

Best of the Classic Albums of the Week
Black History Month Edition
(Pledge Drive!)

"Inspiration Information" by Shuggie Otis (1974)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Shuggie Otis "Inspiration Information"  1974 (USA)
Johnny Alexander Veliotes, AKA Shuggie (rhymes with "boogie") Otis became a professional musician at age 12, playing in his father Johnny Otis's blues/R&B band.  In 1969 when he was just 15 years old, this promising young phenom replaced Stephen Stills on the second of Al Kooper's Super Sessions albums and played bass on Frank Zappa's Hot Ratsalbum.  The following year he released his first solo album, followed by another in 1971.  Then after three years working in isolation came Inspiration Information.  The record did not sell very well, and somehow in the resulting turmoil Shuggie developed a reputation for being difficult to work with (he turned down prestigious gigs with Billy Preston and Quincy Jones), and soon dropped out of the music scene entirely.  A few decades later the album was reissued on CD to much acclaim, and the mysterious Shuggie Otis has become a classic example of a forgotten artist rediscovered in our post-modern Internet age.
I could not find any actual footage of Shuggie in action, but here are a few fan videos using his music: "Aht Uh Mi Hed" is from Inspiration Information.  This next 1970's flashback is scored with "Ice Cold Daydream", a killer nugget from his 1971 LP Freedom Flight.  And finally "Bootie Cooler" is a boogie from his debut album Here Comes Shuggie Otis.
 
(R) = Listener Request
Artist Song Album Year Country
Sly & The Family Stone Trip To Your Heart A Whole New Thing
CLASSIC ALBUM - Mar 15, 2006
1967 USA
The Jimi Hendrix Experience Love Or Confusion Are You Experienced?
CLASSIC ALBUM - Nov 22, 2006
1967 USA/UK
Muddy Waters She's Alright Electric Mud
CLASSIC ALBUM - Mar 8, 2006
1968 USA
Dr. John The Night Tripper Danse Famboux Gris-Gris
CLASSIC ALBUM - Oct 10, 2007
1968 USA
Rahsaan Roland Kirk Raouf Slightly Latin
CLASSIC ALBUM - Aug 6, 2008
1965 USA
 
 
The Stark Reality Rocket Ship (Hoagy Carmichael) The Stark Reality Discovers Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop
CLASSIC ALBUM - May 9, 2007
1970 USA
Sun Ra Rocket Number Nine Space Is The Place
CLASSIC ALBUM - May 30, 2007
1972 USA
ESG UFO ESG EP
CLASSIC ALBUM - Aug 29, 2007
1981 USA
Sonny & Linda Sharrock 1953 Blue Boogie Children Paradise
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jun 13, 2007
1975 USA
Stevie Wonder Jesus Children Of America Innervisions
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jan 21, 2009
1973 USA
   
 
The Grodeck Whipperjenny Put Your Thing On Me / Inside Or Outside / Evidence For Existence Of The Unconscious The Grodeck Whipperjenny
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jan 11, 2006
1970 USA
Rufus Thomas I Wanna Sang Crown Prince Of Dance
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jul 16, 2008
1973 USA
Parliament Placebo Syndrome Funkentelechy Vs. The Placebo Syndrome
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jul 5, 2006
1977 USA
   
 
Herbie Hancock Hidden Shadows Sextant
CLASSIC ALBUM - Dec 6, 2006
1972 USA
Miles Davis (R) Spanish Key Bitches Brew
CLASSIC ALBUM - May 24, 2006
1970 USA
   
 
Curtis Mayfield (Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below, We're All Going To Go / Stone Junkie (live) Curtis / Live!
CLASSIC ALBUM - May 31, 2006
1971 USA
Curtis Mayfield Pusherman Superfly (original soundtrack)
CLASSIC ALBUM - Oct 17, 2007
1972 USA
 
  
Shuggie Otis Inspiration Information Inspiration Information
(NEW) CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1974 USA
Shuggie Otis Island Letter Inspiration Information
(NEW) CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1974 USA
Shuggie Otis XL-30 Inspiration Information
(NEW) CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1974 USA
Sly & The Family Stone (You Caught Me) Smilin' There's A Riot Goin' On
CLASSIC ALBUM - Nov 7, 2007
1971 USA
Ol' Dirty Bastard
(featuring Lil' Mo)
Good Morning Heartache (Billie Holiday) N**** Please
CLASSIC ALBUM - Apr 16, 2008
1999 USA
Love The Red Telephone Forever Changes
CLASSIC ALBUM - Apr 26, 2006
1967 USA
 
  
Isaac Hayes No Name Bar Shaft (original soundtrack)
CLASSIC ALBUM - Aug 20, 2008
1971 USA
          
   
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