Tuesday, June 28, 2011

PLAYLIST | The Wave | 6.24.2011

 
Matt Pina set from 10-12 am


9:00pm 
Steely Dan - Black Cow
Police, The - Can't Stand Losing You
Sublime - The Ballad of Johnny Butt
The Band - Up on Cripple Creek
Steve Miller Band - Joker
The Eagles - I Can't Tell You Why
Raydio FT. Ray Parker JR. - You Can't Change That
Bobby Caldwell - What You Won't Do For Love
Barry White - Never, Never Gonna Give You Up
Billy Squier - The Stroke
Leroy Hutson - All Because Of You
Al Wilson - Show & Tell
Teddy Pendergrass - Close the Door
The Roots - Proceed
Ohio Players - Funky Worm
10:00pm
The Meters - Cissy Strut
Ohio Players - Sweet Sticky Thing
Billy Idol - Eyes Without A Face
Samantha Sang & The Bee Gees - Emotion
De La Soul - The Bizness Feat. Common
Curtis Mayfield - Tripping Out
The Blackbyrds - Soft and Easy
Leon Haywood - I Want'a Do Something Freaky to You
Marvin Gaye - Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Rick James - Mary Jane
Stevie Wonder - I Don't Know Why
William DeVaughn - Be Thankful For What You Got
A Tribe Called Quest - Clap Your Hands
Delegation - Oh Honey
Nas - One Love
Slum Village - Players
En Vogue - Hold on
Montell Jordan - Get It On Tonite
The Mary Jane Girls - All Night Long
Mary J. Blige - Real Love
Yarbourough & Peoples - Don't Stop The Music
Paula Abdul - Straight Up
Milli Vanilli - Girl You Know It's True
Toto - Rosanna
11:00pm
Van Morrison - Domino
Michael Jackson - Working Day And Night
Ready for the World - Oh Sheila
Mary Jane Girls - Ring My Bell
Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby
Lakeslide - Fantastic Voyage
Cameo - Word Up
Boz Scaggs - Lowdown
De La Soul - Me Myself And I
Zapp & Roger - Doo Wa Ditty
Shalamar - Forget me Nots
Michael Jackson - Rock With You
Carl Carlton - She's A Bad Mama Jama
Eddie Grant - Electric Avenue
Wham! - Everything She Wants
David Bowie - Let's Dance
Stevie Wonder - Do I Do
Blondie - Heart of Glass
Men Without Hats - Safety Dance
Slick Rick - Children's Story
Beastie Boys - Hey Ladies
L.L. Cool J - Around the way girl
Stevie Wonder - Superstition
Tom Tom Club - Genius Of Love
Zhané - Hey Mr. D.J.
The Isley Brothers - For the Love of You, Pts. 1 & 2
Bob Seger - Night Moves
12:00am
James Taylor - How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
Biz Markie - Just A Friend (LP Version)
Biggie - Big Poppa
Ice Cube - It Was A Good Day
Outkast - So Fresh, So Clean
LL Cool J - I'm Bad
The Fugees - Fu-Gee-La
Biggie - One More Chance Feat. Faith Evans
The JB's - Same Beat (Parts 1, 2 & 3)
The Meters - Handclapping Song
De La Soul - Ooooh
A Tribe Called Quest - Jazz (We've Got)
James Brown - Make It Funky
A Tribe Called Quest - Award Tour
Common - The Light
Eric B & Rakim - Eric B. Is President
A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation
Naughty By Nature - O.P.P.
Nice & Smooth - Hip Hop Junkies
Paperboy - Ditty
Erick Sermon - Music
The Beatnuts - Watch Out Now
Black Sheep - The Choice Is Yours
Ice Cube - Check Yo Self [Remix]
Grand Puba - 360 Degrees (What goes around)
Cypress Hill - How I Could Just Kill A Man 
END

Friday, June 24, 2011

Friday Funkdown | The J.B.'s

The J.B.’s are best known as the backup band for James Brown in addition to backing up Bobby Byrd, Lyn Collins and other members of the James Brown Revue.  The band was formed in 1970 after walking out on Brown because they felt they weren’t getting paid enough.  Original members include William “Bootsy” Collins, Phelps “Catfish” Collins, Bobby Byrd, John “Jabo” Starks, Clayton “Chicken” Gunnels, Darryl “Hasaan” Jamison, Robert McCollough and Johnny Griggs.
The original members are responsible for some of James Brown’s most popular jams such as “Super Bad”, “The Grunt”, “Soul Power”, “Sex Machine” and “Talkin’ Loud Aint Sayin’ Nothing”.  Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley joined the band in December 1970.  Soon after, Bootsy Collins, his brother, and many of the original band members left to join George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic.
Together, the J.B.’s have recorded several hits like “Gimmie Some More”, “Pass The Peas”, “Breakin Bread” and “Cross the Track” which is one of my favorites.
There have been a number of hip hop artists that have sampled the J.B.’s.  Some more notable names include Big Daddy Kane, Public Enemy, Eric B. & Rakim, Ultramagnetic MC’s, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Geto Boys, and De La Soul.
Recently, I have been bumping a lot of the J.B.’s.  However, for some reason I haven’t been playing them a lot during my gigs… that will all change tomorrow night.  I have a special Matt Pina tribute birthday set in the lineup loaded with funk classics.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

PLAYLIST | Cork: The Get Down Downtown | 6.16.11

Getting down at Cork every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.

11:00pm
Michael Jackson - Off The Wall
A Tribe Called Quest - Jazz - Buggin Out
Biggie - One More Chance Hip Hop Remix
Leon Haywood - I Want To Do Something Freaky With You
Dr. Dre - Fuck Wit Dre Day
Mtume - Juicy Fruit
Stevie Wonder - Superstition
Zapp & Roger - Cutie Pie
A Tribe Called Quest - Find A Way
Nas - If I Ruled The World ft Lauren Hill
George Mccrae - I Get Lifted
Kool and the Gang - Jungle Boogie
George Clinton - Atomic Dog
Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce
EPMD - You Gots To Chill
A Tribe Called Quest - Award Tour
De La Soul - Baby Phat
12:00am 
The Gap Band - Outstanding
Mary Jane Girls - All Night Long
The Boogie Boys - A Fly Girl
A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxtion
Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full
Mad Lion - Take It Easy
Gang Starr feat. Nice & Smooth - DWYCK
Eric Sermon - Music
Slave - Just a Touch of Love
Big Boi - Shutterbugg
Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be
California Swag District - Teach Me How To Dougie
The Notorious B.I.G - Big Poppa
Nas - The World Is Yours
The Firm - Phone Tap
Craig Mack - Flava In Ya Ear
LL Cool J - I'm Bad
The Fugees - Fu-Ge-La
Alchemist ft. Prodigy & Nina Sky - Hold You Down
Da Brat - Funkdafied
Jr Mafia - Get Money
Biggie ft Faith Evans - One More Chance Remix
1:00am
Masta Ace - Born To Roll
Ice Cube - You Know How We Do It
A Tribe Called Quest - Check The Rhime
Common - The Light
Snoop Dogg ft Nate Dogg - Ain't No Fun
Black Sheep - The Choice Is Yours
Grandmaster Flash - The Message
Ice Cube feat. Das EFX - Check Yo Self
A Tribe Called Quest - Scenario
Cypress Hill - How I Could Just Kill A Man
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - They Reminisce Over You
Souls Of Mischief - 93 Till Infinity
Jay-Z - Change Clothes - Dirty
Busta Rhymes - Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See
Truth Hurts Ft. Rakim - Addictive

Friday, June 17, 2011

Friday Funkdown | The Bar-Kays

The Bar-Kays first played together in 1966 as a backing band on Stax Records.  There were 6 original band members; Jimmy King, Ronnie Caldwell, Phalon Jones, Carl Cunningham, Ben Cauley, and James Alexander.  Just as their career was taking off King, Caldwell, Jones and Cunningham along with Otis Redding and his manager, were killed in a plane crash over Lake Monona.  Cauley and Alexander were on a separate plane since there was only enough room for 8 passengers.
After some time, the remaining members began to rebuild the band.  They found success playing for Isaac Hayes on his albums “Hot Buttered Soul”, “Shaft”, “Movement” and “To Be Continued”.  The Bar-Kays were immediately recognized as a band with a lot of talent and were eventually signed to Mercury Records.
Soul Finger was released in 1967 and reached #3 on the R&B chart.  Other hits include Son Of Shaft (1972), Shake Your Rump To The Funk (1976), Lets Have Some Fun (1978), Hit & Run (1981), and Freak Show on the Dance Floor (1984).
Many hip hop artists have been influenced by The Bar-Kays such as; Cypress Hill, Ice Cube, De La Soul, Edan, Public Enemy, and The Beastie Boys.
I first heard the Freak Show On The Dance Floor when it was featured in the movie "Breakin".  I thought the song was kind of cool, and the chorus was catchy.  As I got older I was able to appreciate the talent of the entire band, both new and old members.  Hit & Run is constantly in my playlist whenever I play out.
The Bar-Kays are still available for booking and will be playing at the Monterey Blues Festival on June 24th.  They still put on a pretty dope show and are worth checking out if you get the chance.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Friday Funkdown | Barry White

Barry Eugene White was born in Galveston, Texas in 1944.  His family eventually moved to South Central Los Angeles where he began playing piano at an early age.  White started gang banging with his brother Darryl and eventually was locked up for stealing over $30,000 worth of Cadillac tires.  While serving 4 months in jail he heard Elvis Presley sing “Now or Never” on the radio. That moment changed his life.


White began his music career in the 60s with several music groups.  His found success in 1972 when he produced the all female group Love Unlimited.  Their first album, From A Girls Point of View, We Bring to You… Love Unlimited sold over a million copies.

His solo career began in 1973 with singles “I’ve Got So Much To Give” and “I’m Gonna Give You Just a Little More Baby” which quickly soared to the #1 spot on the Billboard R&B chart.  Soon after, White recorded a number of hits including “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe”, “Never, Never Gonna Give You Up”, “What Am I Gonna Do With You” and “It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me”.

Sadly, Barry White died in 2003 after struggling with obesity during most of his adult life.  He was posthumously inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2004.
Quite a few hip-hop artists such as N.W.A., Rodney O and Joe Cooley, Nas, O.C., Black Moon and CMW have sampled Barry White.

I was introduced to Barry White as a young child in Boston, MA.  My mom had an extensive record collection and I can distinctly remember the I’ve Got So Much To Give album cover, which I was lucky to inherit.  My favorite Barry White song is the unmistakable baby-maker “Playing Your Game, Baby”.  Big ups to my man Rory Pendergast, the biggest Barry White fan I know.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Friday Funkdown | Cameo

Thirteen original band members formed the New York City Players in the early 70s.  By 1974 they had changed their name to Cameo to avoid confusion between them and a similar funk band, The Ohio Players.  By this time the band was carrying 24 members led by Larry Blackmon.  They were eventually signed to Casablanca Records in 1976.

Cameo started out as a funk band with singles such as “I Just Want To Be”, “Find My Way” and “Rigor Mortis”.  When synthesizers became big in the 80s, Cameo capitalized on the movement.  They changed their style to a more disco/dance genre and saw huge success with songs “She’s Strange”, “Single Life”, and their two biggest hits; “Word Up” and “Candy”.
The band’s success faded in the late 80s and into the 90s.  Although they were still releasing albums major labels Mercury and Reprise, they had pretty much fallen off.  They released their most recent album Sexy Sweet Thing in 2000.

Several members of the band are still making music today.  Aaron Mills (bass), Jheryl Bright (Trombone) and Kevin Kendrick have been hired by the hip hop group OutKast for live and studio sessions.  Aaron Mills actually recorded the bassline for “Ms. Jackson”, one of Outkast’s big hits.

Hip hop artists such as Brand Nubian, Above The Law, The Beastie Boys, King Tee and Kool Moe Dee have sampled Cameo.

I became a Cameo fan back in the day when I first heard “I Just Want To Be”.  That jam is so funky!  After a little break, the release of “Candy” and “Word Up” had me hooked once again.  I play at least one Cameo joint every time I play out.  No matter what the crowd is, I always get a good response.  Ooow!