SIGN UP
MATT PAUL SMITH'S MONTHLY SOUL TRIP #2
Thanks to Matt Paul Smith for this joyous piece on a collection of very special soul, funk and jazz records.
I put this together as I’d been doing a lot of deep house, and needed a breather. Of course inspired in some bits by my man, Gilles Peterson but with my own slant on it. 2 hours of niceness, deep grooves and some loveliness I haven’t dug out for a while. Enjoy. Matt
The Mix:
In the Funk Fast Lane - MPS (07/01/2023) https://www.mixcloud.com/mrmattpaulsmith/in-the-funk-fast-lane/
Tracklist:
Marcos Valle - So Nice
I only new him or Crickets Sing for Annamarie, but So Nice" or its original Portuguese title, "Samba de Verão" (Summer a samba) is a 1964 bossa nova and jazz standard song by Brazilian composer Marcos Valle, with English-language lyrics by Norman Gimbel; the original Portuguese lyrics are by Paulo Sérgio Valle, his brother.
The Penblestones - Zombie Jamboree
First heard Norman Cook play this, and loved it immediately. Most people know the Harry Belefonte version. Not funk, but great calypso, and if it doesn’t bring a smile to your face you need help 
Bobby Parker - Watch Your Step
Not only did the Beatles lift this for I Feel Fine, but so did the Stones, Led Zepplin, Deep Purple, as others. Apparently John Lennon kept a copy of this, could be bullshit though. Anyhow, even Bobby admitted that he based it on Ray Charles’s “What’d I Say”.
Iceone - Ode To Funky Drummer
https://on.soundcloud.com/t6AvF7LfDhxbHQSq8
Clyde Stubblefield, singularly the most sampled musician of all time. And no-one (Public Enemy, LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Grandmaster Flash, Erik B. and Rakim, NWA, through to Emilie Sande, Sinead O’Connor, George Michael) gave him a single penny for the samples they used of his drumming. Usually the Funky Drummer. But The Payback has been sampled to hell also. As he was dying Prince flew in, went to his hospital bed and paid all of his medical bills. And ironically died just before him. I argue with people about whether he or John Bonham was greatest drummer of all time. But Ginger Baker was up there. Clyde's drum sticks are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.
Dennis Coffey - Live Wire
https://youtu.b https://youtu.be/2MnZfuhR2Ve/4KpJYBSeU3c
Mostly a session musician, but hit it with Scorpio. The first white guy to play on Soul Train. Also played for Edwin Starr, Diana Ross, but I can’t believe he Coffey played lead guitar on Rodriguez's first album Cold Fact (1970). Respect. Seminal album.
Ruben Gonzalez - Melodia del Rio
I love Cuban pianists. Check out Roberto Fonseca.
The Last Poets - It’s a Trip
Bernard Purdie on drums.
Jimmy McGriff - Groove Grease
The Don on the Hammond. 1971.
Dennis Coffey - Theme From Enter The Dragon
1974, the year after the film was released. You do not fuck with Lalo Schifrin unless you know what you’re doing 
. I prefer Lalo on the soundtrack to Bullitt, cool as fuck. And great percussion.
Donald Byrd - Wind Parade
This is just sick, gives me goosebumps every time. 1976 I think. What possessed this man to come up with this? Genius. Sampled to mad also. And not to forget produced by the legends Larry and Fonce Mizzell. I’d love to know who the vocalist was? Just being lazy
Ray Barretto - Acid
This whole album is genius. Mr. Gilles Peterson got me into this. Early 70’s I think.
Marcos Valle - Estrelar
Another piece of Brasilian greatness.
Dexter Wansel - I’ll Never Forget
One of my all time favourite disco tracks. Not just massively underrated, but massively underplayed. 1979 never sounded so good, I think I heard it might be the Jones Girls on this. Not sure. Philly smashing it 
Ruben Gonzalez - La Lluvia
Ruben again. When him and Ibrahim Ferrer where in the Buena Vista Social club they were unstoppable. RIP Ibrahim. I backpacked around Cuba in 2006 for 3 weeks, just for music. Hard work, but getting conga lessons in Santa Lucia was amazing. https://youtu.be/tGbRZ73NvlY
Dennis Coffey - Funk Hunk
James Brown - Say It Loud
One word: Dignity.
Sjef Rolet & Dennis Coffey - Gimme
https://on.soundcloud.com/B4W41iASL3oLQHS47
Freddie Hubbard - Gibraltar
A great piece of horn 
Clyde Stubblefield - (sample)
Fattburger - Oye Como Va
Of course there are million covers of this I could have played. I have most of them. Tito Puente is one of my hero’s; I liked this as it was a bit of fun
The Alan Tew Orchestra - The Pink Panther Theme
Funk bomb, props to Fatboy Slim.
Jimmy McGriff - Ain’t It Funky Now
1971. Off the hook.
Gilberto Gil - Palco
Another Brazilian killer.
Jon Lucien - My Cherie Amour
Props to Gilles again for introducing me to Jon Lucien, and his immense tribute some years back (2007 I think), when he passed. This in 1970, and Jon does what he does, and gives it that different spin. In a good way. Love it.
Robert Glasper - Letter To Hermione
10 years old, a Bowie cover I believe. Beautiful.
Dennis Coffey - Retro Roland Disco
Just a great rework.
Charles Earland - Leaving This Planet
A dip into the legend that is.
Marcel Vak - I’ll Be Good
A cheeky 30 sec out of place deep house dip of the toe
Dennis Coffey - Calling Planet Earth
Dennis back again. Just the man.
Clyde Stubblefield - Hardest Working
No more needs to be said.
Donald Byrd - Street Lady
1973 with the Mizzel brothers again. Just brilliant.
Jimi Hendrix - Somewhere
When I discovered Somewhere by Hendrix, when it was released by the estate back in 2013, my dad (who sadly just passed, and was a jazz genius), and I nearly collapsed. Apparently it had been sitting on the cutting room floor for 40 years. It was meant to be the follow up to Electric Ladyland. All of my hard rock (love John Bonham) drummer friends cannot get their heads around it, how genius it is. All of my jazz and funk friends and players cannot get their head around it either. Why the f**k did they sit in this for so long? Anyway, a professional, concert playing violinist friend of mine put it best, he said: “that is the epitome of a person whose instrument is a part of them, a part of their soul, an integral part of their being, there has never been and up to now still never has been anyone that can play a guitar like that. Exceptional. Beyond genius” I don’t disagree.
Wings - Live and Let Die
https://youtu.be/NR0UmZcf89E
I had to include this. I f***ing love this song, I even like the Guns and Roses cover.
James Blake - Retrograde
9 years on, but this still sounds like something from an era I cannot define. It is stunningly beautiful, haunting and timeless. No funk here, just deep fucking brilliant writing and singing.”