August 24, 2022 Playlist

"Memphis Underground" by Herbie Mann (1969)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Herbie Mann "Memphis Underground"  1969 (USA)
Released in 1969, this was one of the earliest jazz fusion albums (along with Miles' In A Silent Way), and a big seller thus important in paving the way for future fusionistas. It's also pretty unique, in that most fusion was based on slick funk or prog rock but Memphis Underground is, as the title implies, gritty Memphis-style soul music along the lines of Booker T & the MGs, Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, and Isaac Hayes (when he was a producer and songwriter at Stax, before he went for baroque as a solo artist). The rhythm section on this album are not jazz musicians, they are soul musicians from Memphis, where the album was recorded. The out-of-town soloists who play jazz over the top are leader Herbie Mann on flute, Roy Ayers on vibraphones, and two then-unknown hotshot electric guitarists: Larry Coryell (who deserves his own CAOTW) and Sonny Sharrock. Coryell plays groovy Hendrixian stuff which is pretty great, but Sharrock hauls pure free jazz skronk sounds from his axe - no wonder he was later a big inspiration for Sonic Youth!
(N) = New Release
   
Artist Song Album Year Country
LoveAugustFour Sail1969USA
BeBop DeluxeShineB-side single1976UK
Neil Young & Promise Of The Real Rockin' In The Free World (live)Noise And Flowers (N)2019 (2022 Reprise)Canada/USA
Osees Social ButtA Foul Form (N)2022 (Castle Face)USA
 
 
The Mars Volta Vigilsingle (N)2022 (Clouds Hill)USA
The Babe Rainbow Blue HourLevitation Sessions (N)2022 (Reverberation Appreciation Society)Australia
The Natural Yogurt Band Between Or BeyondDance The Devil Away (N)2022 (BMM)UK
Haru Nemuri Souzou Suru ("Through Creation" - sic? )
Shunka-Ryougen (N)
("Spring Fire Lighting The Fields Ablaze")
2022 (TO3S)Japan
Reol Nakedsingle (N)2022 (Sony Music Japan)Japan
Wienners Shinobi Top Secret ("Top Secret Theft")Treasure (N)
2022 (Nippon Columbia)Japan
Dempagumi.inc Shoudou Teki S/K/S/D ("Impulsive S/K/S/D")DEMPARK!!! (N)2022 (Meme Tokyo/Toy's Factory)Japan
   
 
Herbie Mann
(with Roy Ayers, Larry Coryell & Sonny Sharrock)		Memphis UndergroundMemphis Underground
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1969USA
Herbie Mann
(with Roy Ayers, Larry Coryell & Sonny Sharrock)		Hold On, I'm Comin' (Sam & Dave)Memphis Underground
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1969USA
Sonny & Linda SharrockMiss DorisParadise1975USA
   
 
Isaac HayesDo Your ThingShaft (original soundtrack)1971USA
Rufus ThomasThe Funkiest Man AliveCrown Prince Of Dance1973USA
Al GreenLight My Fire (The Doors)Al Green Gets Next To You1971USA
   
 
CanGraublau ("Grey-Blue")The Lost Tapesrec. 1969, rel. 2012Germany
Popol VuhTrain Through Time (CD bonus track)Affenstunde ("Ape Hour")1970Germany
   
 
EggSymphony no. 2Egg1970UK
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