On today's episode of Excellent Reception, we are looking at a song that, for whatever reason, inspired a seemingly endless stream of reinterpretations.  It was a number one hit in the 1960's, but it still has a way of getting the dancing floor moving after all of these years.  This song is "Tighten Up" by Archie Bell and The Drells.

 

On this episode, we feature  these songs:

Archie Bell and The Drells - "Tighten Up pt. 1"
Archie Bell and The Drells - "Tighten Up pt. 2"
The Classmates version of "Tighten Up"
Benny Gordon & The Soul Brothers "Tighten Up"
Billy Ball & the Upsetters with Roosevelt Matthews - Tighten Up Tighter
Maceo with the Flames - "Tighten Up"
Chris Columbus and the Swingin Gaites with "Tighten Up '70"
Al Escobar & His Orchestra - "Tighten Up"
Orchestra Harlow with "Horsin' Up"
The New York Latin Scene With Sonny Bravo - "Tighten Up"
The Grateful Dead - "Tighten Up Jam"
Yo La Tenga - "Tighten Up"
R.E.M. - "Tighten Up"
Nazz - Loosen Up
Yellow Magic Orchestra - “Tighten Up (Japanese Gentleman Stand Up Please)”
Wally Jump Jr. & The Criminal Element - “Tighten Up (I Just Can’t Stop Dancin’),”
?????? - "Tighten Up"

 

On this episode, we are going to explore a few rhythm & blues classics that combine the sound of groove box drum machines with bare bones melodies and multi-track recording techniques to produce one of the more niche sounds of 70's soul music.   We will be looking at these songs:   Sly & The Family Stone - Family Affair Little Sister - Somebody's Watching You Shuggie Otis - Aht Uh Mi Hed Timmy Thomas- Why Can't We Live Together Little Beaver - Party Down George McCrae - Rock Your Baby    

On this episode of Excellent Reception, we are looking a few of our favorite music releases from the year 2020.  This is not exactly a "best of" or a top 10 list.  This is a group of fantastic albums from the past year that I think you should absolutely check out.    

Albums featured:

Cleo Sol "Rose in the Dark" St. Panther - "These Days" Potatohead People - Mellow Fantasy Jarreau Vandal - Suburb Superhero: The Villain Within The Vision - The Vision Sault - Untitled (Black Is) & Untitled (Rise) Jazz Is Dead - Vol. 1 - 6 Angela Muñoz - Introspection The Koreatown Oddity - "Little Dominiques Nosebleed" Dan Kye - Small Moments    

Re-Run :: Classic Episode

On this episode, we talk about jazz musician Bob James, who's song "Nautilus" became one of the most sampled songs in hiphop music.

On this episode we feature these songs:

Bob James - Nautilus Run DMC - "Beats To The Rhyme" Main Source - "Live At The BBQ" Slick Rick - "Children's Story"
Bjork - "I Miss You" (Dobie remix)
Kruder & Dorfmeister - "Original Bedroom Rockers"
Nuyorican Soul - "Nautilus (Mawtilus)"
Blundetto feat. Shawn Lee - "Nautilus"
Breakdown Brass - "Nautilus (Hijacked)"

On today's episode of Excellent Reception, we are talking about a group of songs, that even though they may not be from the most well know albums of 2019, they had a strong influence on the current musical landscape in their own way.     We will be talking about these albums:   Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka Sault - 5 & 7 Damon Locks' Black Monument Ensemble - Where Future Unfolds Thom Yorke - Anima Raphael Saadiq - Jimmy Lee Swindle - No More Normal Burna Boy - African Giant Kiefer - Superbloom Brittany Howard - Jaime Free Nationals - Free Nationals

This is part two of our Transcendence episodes.  We are looking at jazz musicians who have used their music as a way to transcend beyond the world we know by experimenting in the sub-genre know as spiritual jazz. There are almost too many noteworthy artists and songs to mention around this subject matter, but here are just a handful to get you started. 

 

On this episode, we feature  these songs:

Pharaoh Sanders - The Creator Has A Master Plan Lonnie Liston Smith - Astral Traveling Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Spirits Up Above Albert Ayler - Music is the Healing Force of the Universe Charles Earland ‎– Leaving This Planet    

On today's episode of Excellent Reception, we are looking at jazz musicians who have used their music as a way to transcend beyond the world we know by experimenting in the sub-genre know as spiritual jazz. There are almost too many noteworthy artists and songs to mention around this subject matter, but here are just a handful to get you started. 

 

On this episode, we feature  these songs.

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme, Part 1: Acknowledgement
Alice Coltrane - Journey in Satchidananda
Sun Ra & His Arkestra - Space is the Place
Gary Bartz NTU Troop featuring Andy Bey - Celestial Blues
Michael White - The Blessing Song
Doug Carn featuring Jean Carn -Acknowledgement (A Love Supreme)

 

 

We're still working on new episodes.  For now, enjoy this re-run.

Here is another episode of the One-Off series.  In order, to get you more episodes on a regular basis, we’ve decided to give you a few shorter simpler episodes in between our main shows.  These will focus on a particular artist and a specific song.

  

This episode focuses on this song:

Sun Palace - Rude Movements

*** While we are busy writing and recording a series of brand new episodes, here is one of of our favorites shows from a few years back.  Enjoy!!! ***


On this episode of Excellent Reception, we are going to talk about a song that we actually don't think is that great but the stories that come from it are pretty amazing.  By the end of this episode, you will have a new appreciation for it and the melody will definitely be embedded in your mind for the next few days.  We are talking about Rod Stewart's song "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy".

 

On this episode we feature these songs:

Rod Stewart - "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"
Bobby Womack - "(If You Want My Love) Put Something Down on It"
Millie Jackson - "Put Something Down On It / Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"
Jorge Ben - "Taj Mahal" (1972 version)
Jorge Ben - "Taj Mahal" (1978 version)
Taj Mahal & the International Rhythm Band - "Jorge Ben"
Steve Dahl & Teenage Radiation - "Do You Think I'm Disco?"
La Cumbia Moderna De Soledad - "¿Crees Que Soy Sexy?"
Banda Los Hijos de la Niña Luz - "El Sapo/Crees Que Soy Sexy"

 

This time we are going to talk about a singer/songwriter who went from one of the most promising cutting-edge artists to an almost mythological figure within the music industry. On today's episode of Excellent Reception, we are going to tell the story of Jai Paul.

We'll focus on these songs:

Jai Paul - BTSTU

Jai Paul - Jasmine

Big Boi feat. Little Dragon & Jai Paul - Higher Res

Jai Paul - Str8 Outta Mumbai

AK Paul - Landcrusin'

Jai Paul -Do You Love Her Now

Jai Paul - Crush

 

 

 

 

We're looking at a classic song that brings about joy with just the uttering of a few lyrics and gets you dancing with the second your hear it's bare bones rhythm.  On this episode of we are looking at the 1965 hit from The Dixie Cup called "Iko Iko" and it's connection to New Orlean's culture.

We'll focus on these songs:

The Dixie Cup - Iko Iko

Sugar Boy and his Cane Cutters - Jock-A-Mo

Dr. John - Iko Iko

Professor Longhair - Big Chief