SALAD BOWL OF SOUL

Here you go. A mish-mash of soul music, some old, some new, some weird. What had started as a quick post about Eli "Paperboy" Reed's newest single "Explosion," became a couple hour long troll for random soul shit. First, about Reed: Up until now, everything I've heard of Reed's has been straight up soul, even his reworked version of Motorhead's "Ace of Spades." He's got an extraordinary voice, and his band is reliably retro, and the new one, "Explosion" follows that pattern. Though a bit of a faster paced Reed, he's still sticking to the formula (which must have been working because he's now signed with a major). But then I just ran smack dab into a oddity. Reed on a track by, of all people, Basement Jaxx. Make of it what you will. (A reminder: there's a little comment link below that is begging.)

Another current/retro soul act, Kings Go Forth are, well, more than a little influenced by Curtis Mayfield, though there's a little early Gamble & Huff thing going on too (think Archie Bell & the Drells "I just Can't Stop Dancing"). They're based in the soul hotbed of...wait...Milwaukee? Having never gigged beyond Indiana before being signed, leave it to Luaka Bop to get them. Semi-related: There was a thing in the New Yorker recently, about Go Forther Andy Noble in an NYC record store.

An interesting side story is about the Kings Go Forth album cover. There's been much ado about eccentric, primitive, outsider and oddball art. Little has been celebrated about the artistic music-loving hyper-prolific teenager. I encourage you to read the story of Mingering Mike. Because, this is pre-computer music geek godhead.

There's a couple Otis Redding cuts here, because they're from a new album, recorded live at the Whiskey a Go-Go, and because they're Otis.

And then, there is Wayne Cochran. "The White Knight of Soul," poster child for weird white soul dudes. The dollar bin James Brown. That's him, at the top of of the post, with the big hair. Crazy looking; check out his moves on the YouTube clip.

And, because it's her due, Sharon Jones. She's finally getting the attention she deserves, this time on the network news. Good for her.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~
Eli "Paperboy" Reed - Explosion mp3 at Dr. Mooney's 115th Dream
Kings Go Forth - One Day mp3 at Far From Noise
Kings Go Forth -Now We're Gone mp3 at Aquarium Drunkard
Kings Go Forth - I Don't Love You No More mp3 at KEXP.org
Kings Go Forth at Luaka Bop
Soul Slam: Andy Noble goes to a record store, at the New Yorker.
The Home of Mingering Mike
Basement Jaxx with Eli "Paperboy" Reed - She's No Good mp3 at Audio Drums
Otis Redding - Satisfaction and Security mp3s (live) at the Adios Lounge
Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders - Get Down With It mp3 at The Soul Girl
Wayne Cochran and the C.C.Riders - Going Back to Miami video at YouTube
Wayne Cochran bio at Roctober
Sharon Jones on CBS News (6/6/10)