The godfather of leathery skin, the cheshire cat of soul….. James Brown, remixed by old school house don Kenny dope, enjoy.

James Brown – There was a time (Kenny Dope remix)

Four years ago today, I started my first blog. I deleted it about a month later, and then for the next two years or so periodically would start something, then let it flounder, start, flounder, start flounder…you get the point. What can I say? I’m a product genX through and through.

ANYWAY, the first thing I posted on that defunct blog was a link to a clip of Bill Withers performing “Use Me.” I pretty sure it wasn’t this exact clip, since I don’t think it was on YouTube, but regardless, I post it now to commemorate the day.

And just ’cause nobody should every have to stop with just one little taste of Mr. Withers…

And, now, the Godfather of Soul, for no reason other than to get you off your ass.

The Godfather of Soul got his start on the Federal label, which was owned in the 1950s by King Records.  The first single they released on Federal, “Please, Please, Please” in 1956, was a No. 5 R&B hit and sold a million copies – kind of rare for that day.  But James Brown and Famous Flames released a bunch of records after that that failed to do as well, and although it may seem incomprehensible now, the record label threatened to drop the act.

It took ‘em two years, but James and the Flames (his backing vocal group, not his band) unleashed “Try Me” and it shot up to No. 1 in 1958.  It was the top record of the year and made James Brown a star.  When you listen to the stuff Brown cut for Federal between 1956-1959, it’s striking how average most of it is.  But the best stuff is some of the greatest music the decade produced.

MP3: “Please, Please, Please”

MP3: “Baby Cries Over The Ocean”

MP3: “I Don’t Know”

MP3: “Love Or A Game”

MP3: “Try Me”

Funky Stuff – James Brown official website

Bill & The Godfather of Soul prepare curried cauliflower soup in the graceland kitchen

I chose the curried cauliflower soup recipe for one reason only – it called for coconut cream thus allowing me to feed my cc addiction (hush now – cc stands for coconut cream) .

Ooooh that smell, Can’t you smell that smell

My hopes were high while I made the soup. The turmeric, cumin and curry spices induced flash-backs of a high-rise I’d visited many times during GOTV.  While the building was a bit spooky, the voters were so enthusiastic. Many were Ethiopian immigrants who would be voting for the first time as new US Citizens.  The most amazing, mouth-watering cooking smells drifted up and down the halls.  Maybe it was because of my fondness for the place that I doubled (or was it tripled?) the soup’s spices.

The soup was pretty weak – way too thin (girls, it looks like it is possible to be too thin after all). I wasn’t going to post about the soup as it didn’t deserve a single ‘yum’ on the ‘yum, yum, yum’ scale but it did lead to a crazy dream last night.

Crazy Curried Cauliflower Dreams

My dream took place in my friend, Helen McNeilson’s parents’ old kitchen. That’s not her real name but is the fake name she has used since childhood. When we were little,  the Godfather of Soul and his trusted lieutenant came to her house one cold Christmas. Legend has it that the hardest working man in show business spent a few hours playing pool with her dad who had befriended him before he became The Godfather of Soul. At some point he asked the godfather and his band mate about their families. They replied ‘Oh, they’re  all out in the car waiting on us.’ The whole entourage was  promptly invited inside for a few more hours of fun.

In my dream, the kitchen was exactly as it had been in the 70s. You know the kind of kitchen I’m talking about -  linoleum floor, harvest gold counter-tops, avocado appliances.  This time, my BFF Bill Clinton (afterall, we did “share” a stage together) came for a visit. As with all parties, we ended up in the kitchen. We charmed Bill with our wit, intelligence and natural beauty. Right before he left, Bill visited the loo. After his departure, Helen’s mum discovered that Bill had graffiti-ed his name all over the bathroom walls. Of course, she wasn’t pissed (pun intended).

Why visions of Bill?

I did a dream search for dreams about Bill Clinton but there is no known interpretation.  I’m thinking it was Hillary’s fault.  At her official swearing in yesterday, while Bill  was  standing right behind her beaming with pride, she got up and made jokes about him.

PS – this post is no way meant to judge the band Lynard Skynard, my friend Helen McNeilson, the godfather of soul, his band mate, their families, Bill or Hillary Clinton or their relationship. It’s only meant to make fun of me.

It appears that tomorrow at this time, the two-year battle over the estate of James Brown (a/k/a “The Godfather of Soul”) could finally be coming to an end. I say it’s about time. Please Please Please get this over with already!

His adult children could soon be taking the Night Train straight to the bank, realizing that Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag – and it’s full of money. It’s enough to make anyone say, “I Feel Good.”

The unnecessary in-fighting among Brown’s family members is what happens when you are Living in America. Some would say that, for the kids who sat on the couch waiting for their fortune to roll in, it’s time to Get Up Offa That Thing.

How the kids will spend dad’s money is anyone’s guess. It boggles the mind and makes one break out into a Cold Sweat.

All kidding aside, how often have we seen money come between family members? I’ve seen it in my own world, and it’s really an unfortunate thing when it happens. In life, you only get one chance with your family, and you shouldn’t blow it.

Now, for the answer to yesterday’s trivia question: What is Shaggy from the Scooby Doo show’s real name? The answer is Norville Rogers. Yep, really. Norville Rogers.

Finally, my Super Bowl prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Arizona Cardinals 20. Have a great weekend, everyone!

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Friday, 16th January):

Birth

1970. Brendan O’Hare (Teenage Fanclub) born in Belshill, Scotland.

In Custody

1970. Police raid the exhibition of John Lennon’s lithographs which opened yesterday. They confiscate eight of the lithographs claiming they are erotic and obscene.

In Court

1989. 26 year old pub “bouncer”, Kenneth Simmons, is fined £ 200 and ordered to pay £ 300 compensation at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after an assault on Fish and his friend Robbie The Pict. The trial follows an incident at the Kasbar pub in the city’s Cowgate on August 14th last year. Fish told the court that he was knocked unconscious by a single blow from Simmon’s plaster cast arm, complete with aluminium fingers. When he came to he had been badly cut; there was “a lot of blood”.

In Hospital

1998. James Brown is admitted to hospital in South carolina suffering from the effects of addiction to painkillers. A report in the Augusta Chronicle says the “Godfather Of Soul” was served with court papers ordering his hospitalisation. Brown’s agent, Jeff Allen, declined to comment but confirmed that sheriff’s deputies had taken guns from the singer’s house.

On Television

2004. Late Show With David Letterman (CBS, U.S.A.) Show #2108. Musical guest: Christina Aguilera sings “Walk Away.”

Death

1973. Gospel singer Clara Ward (The Ward Sisters) dies in Los Angeles a week after suffering a stroke and falling into a coma. She was 48.

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© Copyright 1995 – 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.

From the Rockmine Almanac for today (Tuesday, 13th January):

Birth

1952. Cornelius Bumpus (The Doobie Brothers) born.

On Tour

1989. Much to the annoyance of local police, Duran Duran end their concert at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia by asking the 10,000 fans to sing along with their newly-penned song, “Free James Brown“. They’re the latest stars to join the campaign to obtain a pardon for the 55 year old “Godfather Of Soul” who was given a six year prison sentence last month for assault and failing to stop during a car chase.

In Custody

1993. Bobby Brown is arrested in Augusta, Georgia for simulating a sex act onstage. This is the second time the Georgia police department have arrested the singer for the same offence.

In Court

2000. Puff Daddy (a.k.a. Sean “Puffy” Combs) and Anthony “Wolf” Jones are indicted by a Manhattan grand jury. Both men are charged with “criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degree”. The charges relate to their arrest (along with Jennifer Lopez and rapper Jamail “Shyne” Barrow) on December 27th following a nightclub shooting in New York’s Times Square. Barrow has already been indicted with several offences, including attempted murder. Later in the day, Combs releases a statement declaring his innocence and announcing that he will be defended by Johnnie Cochran (one of the O.J. Simpson defence team).

On Television

1995. The Word (Channel 4, U.K.) Musical guests: Veruca Salt, MN8, Tricky. Here are Veruca Salt with “Number One Blind”.

Death

2007. Saxophonist Michael Brecker (The Brecker Brothers) dies in New York from leukemia, aged 59. He worked with Dire Straits, Herbie Hancock, Billy Joel, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor and Frank Zappa amongst others.

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© Copyright 1995 – 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.

One of the key elements of Consumer Directed Health  is the idea of personal responsibility when it comes to one’s own health.  Of course one way to better health is exercise (especially at this time of year).  And who better to spread a little HSA holiday health and fitness cheer than the Godfather of Soul.

Make Merry!

Take it to the bridge now [yeah]

There is no such thing as a bad world in which, for a mere 5,000 US$, you can own a  SEX jumpsuit from the godfather of soul.

This reminds me of going to see Diplo play a few days before New Years 2007. As the set was winding down, Diplo played a few James Brown tracks and the DJ gave a series of shout outs to the Godfather of soul, who had just died that day.

Give it up for James Brown, y’all. James fucking Brown!

Crowd g0es wild

Godfather of soul, James Brown, rest in peace we will miss you

Louder crowd cheering

Then another DJ gets up on the mic:

And give it up for Gerald R. Ford, rest in peace man!

Dead silence

(apologetically) He seemed like a nice guy…

Diplo back on the mic:

James Brown, y’all James Brown

Crowd goes wild again.

Hi folks!

 …and season’s greetings.

Anyway, I’m having a non-stop James Brown tribute day, as the great man left us this time last year.

I’ve got around 65 tracks to hand, on CD.  They have all been played once - almost, about 7 tracks to go.  Currently on “Static” – pure class from the man.

 For all us “Santa Claus is no longer coming to visit” brigade, or indeed the Christmas non-followers, the Godfather has brought some long needed focus for the day’s tone.  I think so anyway!  Whatever you’re own faith may – or may not – be, James Brown brings unmatched energy to his work. 

Otherwise, a slow day is planned.  Much food, some light reading and plenty more James (Jim to his ‘friends’) throughout.

 Be sure to have a great James Brown Tribute Day, whether you get to hear the great Godfather of Soul today or not.

Peace.

I almost forgot about this . . . make me wanna jump back and kiss mahself . . . HAH!

Rain’s covered the Godfather of Soul’s moves. Now here’s Eddie Murphy with the guide to understanding James Brown.

Reminds me of the time I suggested to a chamber of commerce director that they could enliven their fall festival by holding a James Brown Road Rally. Each participant would bring their own four-door Cadillac, a handgun, a selection of prescription pills and liquors. The winner would be the one who had the greatest number of different law enforcement agencies pursuing them back through town.

Goodgod  . . . . . HAH!