Side One

1.   Neil Young & The Bluenotes: This Note’s For You – 1988 *
2.   The Men They Couldn’t Hang: Lobotomy, Gets ‘Em Home – 1989
3.   The Deserters: Thought Police – 1981 *
4.   The Mothers Of Invention: Who Are The Brain Police – 1966
5.   The Paupers: Juliana – 1968 *
6.   Theme From Mighty Mouse – 1955
7.   Bad Breed: Make Me Prove It – 2020 *
8.   The Pretenders: Chill Factor – 1986
9.   Leroy Sibbles: Love In A Hurry – 1982 *
10. The Cult: Memphis Hip Shake – 1987
11. The Sunparlour Players: Almanac – 2014 *
12. Trapeze: Keepin’ Time – 1972
13. The Sadies: The Good Years – 2017 *
14. Figgy Duff: Centennial Highway Reel – Cooley’s Reel – 1983 *

Side Two

1.   Frank Wright Trio: Bluesette – 1965 *
2.   Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band: It Hurts Me Too – 1966
3.   The Minah Birds: I Got You (In My Soul) – 1966 *
4.   Eugene Smith & The Warm-Up Band: Walk Away – 1981 *
5.   Ella Fitzgerald: Got To Get You Into My Life – 1966
6.   The Meters: Come Together – 1976
7.   Count Basie Orchestra: All My Loving – 1966
8.   Louis Armstrong & The Hot 7: Dallas Blues – 1929
9.   Brent Williams: My Fortune Wheel – 1972 *
10. Salome Bey: You’re Gonna Fall – 1980 *
11. Lumumba: Ahoma Trofo (Telephone) – 1974
12. Billy Holiday: I’ll Never Smile Again – 1959
13. Big Lucky: Goofer Dust – 1970
14. Etta James: At Last – 1960
15. BB King: Waitin’ On You – 1967
16. Bob Marley & Wailers: Work – 1980
17. Miles Davis: The Meaning Of The Blues – 1961
18. Nina Simone: I Put A Spell On You – 1965
Bonus Track
19. Wilson Pickett: Hey Jude – 1969

*CanCon= 39%

---

And Now for The Particulars:

Side One

1.   Neil Young & The Bluenotes: This Note’s For You
(Neil Young)
This Note’s For You: Reprise Records 92 57191
Toronto / Winnipeg / USA
Neil Young: guitar, vocals
Chad Cromwell: drums
Rick Rosas: bass
Frank Sampedro: keys
Steve Lawrence: lead tenor sax
Ben Keith: alto sax
Larry Cragg: baritone sax
Claude Cailliet: trombone
John Fumo: trumpiet
Tom Bray: trumpet
Produced by Neil Young and Niko Bolas, 1988
Recorded by Tim Mulligan and Gary Long
Mixed at The Complex and Redwood Digital
Mastered by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab

RIP Stefan Cush 1961-2021

2.   The Men They Couldn’t Hang: Lobotomy, Gets ‘Em Home
(Stefan Cush)
Silver Town: Silvertone Records 1208-1
London UK
Phil ‘Swill’ Odgers: guitar, penny whistle
Stefan Cush: lead vocals, guitars
Paul Simmonds: mandolin, bazouki, 12 string guitar, lead guitar
Jon Odgers: drums
Ricky McGuire: Highland and Lowland bass
Nick Muir: keys, accordion
Bobby Valentino: fiddle
Lindsay Lowe: trumpet
Produced by Mick Glossop, 1989
Recorded at Wonderay Studios and The Manor

Died of Heart Attack at 60

In 1984, Cush – then a roadie for the Pogues – formed The Men They Couldn’t Hang alongside Paul Simmonds, and Philip “Swill” Odgers, as well as Odgers’ brother Jon, and Shanne Bradley (who was later replaced on bass by UK Subs’ Ricky McGuire).

Their rousing, often boisterously high-energy sound won them a sizeable following in the British indie scene, including John Peel, as the new band’s songs criticized Margaret Thatcher.
Their biggest chart success came in 1989 when this album, Silver Town, reached No 39 on the charts, and the group supported David Bowie the following year at his outdoor concerts at Milton Keynes. Cush later formed another group, Stefan Cush & the Feral Family, which released an album in 2012.

Other tributes to Cush came from Spider Stacy of the Pogues, who said he was “cut from a strong and excellent cloth, they just don’t make them like that any more”.

3.   The Deserters: Thought Police
(C Gibb / K MacLean)
The Deserters: EMI Capitol Records ST 12164
Ajax ON
Chris Gibb: synthesizer, bass, vocals
Kenny MacLean: synthesizer, guitar, vocals
Henry Diclemente: percussion, drums
Produced by Carter, 1981
Recorded by Warren Dewey
Mastered by Ken Parry

This is from the first (of two) album by this Ajax Ontario band. Originally known as The Suspects, they started off as a Toronto punk band. After signing with Capitol Records they did a make-over, (lots of hair spray), and became The Deserters, a new wave band. They called it a day in 1983.

4.   The Mothers Of Invention: Who Are The Brain Police
(Frank Zappa)
Freak Out: Verve Records V-5005-2
Los Angeles CA
Frank Zappa – guitar, vocals
Ray Collins – vocals, kazoo solo
Jimmy Carl Black – drums
Roy Estrada – bass guitar
Elliot Ingber – guitar
with:
Eugene Di Novi – piano
Gene Estes – percussion
Neil Le Vang – guitar
Produced by Tom Wilson, 1966
Recorded by Val Valentin at Sunset-Highland Studios of T.T.G. Inc, Hollywood

Recorded in 1966, this song was actually released as a single. Zappa claimed that we are the brain police. He said: “So, you don't even need to blame it on a central brain police agency. You've got plenty of people who willingly subject themselves to this self-mutilation.”

The song was also cited by Mojo magazine as "one of the scariest songs to ever emerge from the rock psyche". While comparing it to Kafka, Mojo described the song as "a vision of contemporary America where personal identity and individuality is erased".

It ends with a kazoo solo!

RIP Elliot Mazer 1941-2021

5.   The Paupers: Juliana
(Adam Mitchell)
Ellis Island: Verve Forecast FTS-3051
Toronto ON
Adam Mitchell: guitar, vocals
Brad Campbell: bass
Chuck Beal: Lead guitar
Skip Prokop: drums
Al Kooper: keys
Produced by Elliot Mazer, 1968
Recorded by Fred Catero and Val Valentin

Elliot Mazer b. September 6, 1941 / d. February 7, 2021 (79)

Mazer was best known for his work producing Linda Ronstadt, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Band, and Janis Joplin.

After showing so much promise on their first album 'Magic People', this album just didn't catch the fire. It's not focused and doesn't make much sense as an album. Lost was the magic of Denny Gerrard, the band's original bass player who was replaced by Brad Campbell. Once the original quartet was broken, it seems like a free for all ensued for album space. Like, what does the immigration port of Ellis Island have to do with any of these songs? Whatever it might have been, it's not obvious! So from psychedelic ballads to this song… Produced by the late Elliot Mazer who worked with Neil Young a lot. It was recorded by veteran recording engineer Val Valetin (who worked with Nat King Cole and The Lovin' Spoonful).

6.   Theme From Mighty Mouse
(P Scheib / M Barer)
Television’s Greatest Hits Volume II: A&M Records SP 91002
USA
Compilation Produced by David Erlanger and Steven Gottlieb, 1986
First Produced 1955

Saturday mornings on American TV, I, along with thousands of Toronto kids would watch cartoons. I got this off a double album released in 1986 (in perfect condition) which has every theme on it from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, The Honeymooners, My Favorite Martian, Gomer Pyle, Rat Patrol, Sea Hunt, Tarzan, Route 66, Ben Casey and The Smothers Brothers theme. Very cool to own!

7.   Bad Breed: Make Me Prove It
(Bad Breed)
Ferocious Love: Lizard Snake Records 2020
Toronto
Katherine Marilyn Marie Wilson: vocal, synth, percussion
Maylin Orgega Zulueta: vocal, bass, guitar, keys
Mike Gribben: drums, vocals
Breagha Scott: vocals
Oscar Tang: lead guitar
Mark Hundevad: vibes, keys, percussion
With
Patrick Smith: sax
Denzel Benitez-Ortega: violin, piano, vocals
Peter Stone: harmonica
Produced by Bad Breed and Mez, 2020
Recorded at South River Sound and Palace Sound
Mixed by Shawn Delnick
Mastered by Ron Skinner at Heading North Mastering

A couple of weeks back I played a song from this bands first released album in 2015. They got together a year earlier and having survived a few personnel changes, they released their sophomore album in 2020. Not as raw as the first one, but better songs and a tighter sound without forfeiting the spirit of the group. I like’em.

8.   The Pretenders: Chill Factor
(Chrissie Hynde)
Get Close: Sire Records 92 54881
Hereford, England
Chrissie Hynde: vocals, guitar
Roibbie McIntosh: guitar
T.M. Stevens: bass
Blair Cunningham: drums
Produced by Bob Clearmountain and Jimmy Iovine, 1986
Recorded by Bruce Lampcov at AIR Recording Studios, London; Power Station, NYC; Bearsville Studio, Bearsville NY; Polar Studios, Stockholm
Mixed by Bob Clearmountain
Mastered by Bob Ludwig, Masterdisk, NYC

The Pretenders were formed in 1978 around their powerhouse vocalist, Chrissie Hynde. Following the drug overdose deaths of two of its founding members, it was amazing that they were able to keep on going as a band. Hynde has been the band's only consistent member.

Hynde, originally from Akron, Ohio, moved to London in 1973, working at the weekly music paper NME and at Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood's clothes store. She was involved with early versions of the Clash and the Damned and played in short-lived bands such as Masters of the Backside and The Moors Murderers. Hynde named the band "The Pretenders" after The Platters song "The Great Pretender", which was the favourite song of one of her former boyfriends.

The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.

9.   Leroy Sibbles w Nicodemus: Love In The Morning
(Sibbles)
12 inch single bw Dub in the Morning: Micron Music Canada 0043
Kingston, Jamaica / Toronto
Leroy Sibbles: guitar, vocals
Nicodemus: vocals
Produced by Leroy Sibbles, 1982

Leroy Sibbles b. Kingston, Jamaica Jan 29, 1949

Nicodemus aka Cecil Wellington b. 1957 / d. NYC 1996

After serving in the Heptones (as lead vocalist), he became one of the pillars of Reggae having worked beside Clement “Coxsone” Dodd at Studio One in Jamaica, from 1965, and as a bass player in recording sessions. Sibbles moved to Toronto in 1973 where he lived for 20 years. During his time in Toronto, where he played regularly at Edgertons, he recorded several albums and won a Juno Award for Best Reggae album in 1987. In Toronto he formed a supergroup called Dance Appeal which included hip-hop artists such as Dream Warriors, Michie Mee, Lillian Allan, Messenjah, Lorraine Segato and others.

10. The Cult: Memphis Hip Shake
(Astbury / Duffy)
Electric: Beggars Banquet Records 830916-1
Bradford, West Yorkshire UK
Ian Astbury: vocal, tambourine
Billy Duffy: guitars
Jamie Stewart: bass
Les Warner: drums
Produced by Rick Rubin, 1987
Recorded by Rick Ruben and Andy Wallace

The band formed in 1983. Before calling themselves The Cult in January 1984, the band performed under the name Death Cult, which was an evolution of the name of lead singer Ian Astbury's previous band Southern Death Cult. The band played their final performance in Manchester in February 1983, meaning after only sixteen months the gig was over.

11. The Sunparlour Players: Almanac
(Andrew Penner)
The Living Proof: Sunparlour Players SPP004
Toronto ON
Andrew Penner: vocals, guitars, banjo, bass, vibes, keys, percussion etc
Michael Rosenthal: drums
Chris Stringer: synths, ukulele, guitars
Hugh Oliver: recipe reading
Nadia Baer: trumpet
Produced by Chris Stringer & Sunparlour Players, 2014
Recorded by Chris Stringer & John Dinsmore at The Lincoln County Social Club
Mixed by Chris Stringer
Mastered by Fedge

Andrew Penner grew up on a farm near Leamington, ON in the region nicknamed Canada's "Sun Parlour", thus their name. Based in Toronto, the band released its debut album Hymns for the Happy in 2006. Living Proof is their fourth offering.

12. Trapeze: Keepin’ Time
(Mel Galley / T Galley)
You Are The Music - We’re Just The Band: Threshold Records THS. 8
Cannock, England
David Holland: drums
Mel Galley: guitars
Glenn Hughes: bass, piano, vocals
BJ Cole: steel
Produced by Neil Slaven, 1972
Recorded by Dave Grinstead & John Burns at Decca Studios and Island Studios, London

Trapeze got together in 1969 and a year later were signed to the Moody Blues record label Threshold Records. The band reportedly declined an offer to join The Beatles’ Apple Records, as they believed that they would have more creative freedom with Threshold. After their original release, two members quit the band and were never replace; they became a three piece band instead. We’re Just The Band, released in 1972, went to number 9 on Billboard’s Hot 100.  The band suffered the loss of various players over the years to other great bands, like Deep Purple, Judas Priest and Whitesnake. They called it quits in 1982 and since then have staged re-union tours.

13. The Sadies: The Good Years
(The Sadies)
Northern Passages: YepRoc Records YEP-2493
Ontario
Kurt Vile: lead vocals
Mike Belitsky: drums
Sean Dean: bass
Dallas Good: guitars, keys, banjo, vocals
Travis Good: guitars, mandolin, fiddle, vocals
Produced by Dallas Good, 2017
Recorded by Guillermo Subauste in Margaret Good’s Basement, Newmarket ON
Mixed at Pacha Sound
Mastered by Peter J Moore at The E Room, Toronto

Over the years The Sadies have put out records with other artists: Buffy St. Marie for one! Here’s a collaboration between Philadelphia’s Kurt Vile and the band which appears on their latest album, Northern Passages (vinyl!). The Sadies have since toured with Vile, performing all around the US this past winter.

14. Figgy Duff: Centennial Highway Reel – Cooley’s Reel
(Rufus Guinchard / Joe Cooley)
After The Tempest: Boot Records: BOS 7243
St. John’s NL
Pamela Morgan: guitar, vocals
Dave Panting: mandolin
Geoff Butler: Accordion
Derek Pelley: bass
Noel Dinn: drums
Produced by Tom Trecumuth, 1983
Recorded Dan Kuntz at Studio 306, Toronto
Mixed by Mark Wright & Lenny DeRose at Phase One Studios, Toronto
Mastered by George Graves at The Lacquer Channel, Toronto
Cover by Ian Bell

Formed by Pamela Morgan and Noel Dinn in 1976, it was their idea to collect real Newfoundland folk songs and tunes from the sources on the Island and play it folk/rock style, thus Figgy Duff were born. They stayed relevant until about 1993 when Noel Dinn died; Pamela Morgan kept them going through a transformative time. Still a band to this day, to be honest they don’t play very much anymore but when the time is right, they seem to emerge. This is from their second LP. Truly way ahead of their time!

Side Two

1.   Frank Wright Trio: Bluesette
(Thielemans)
Canadian Talent At Work: Canadian Talent Library Records D 103
Toronto ON
Frank Wright: vibes
Produced 1965

b. Toronto May 5, 1929

I first met Frank working at the post office - we were letter carriers in downtown Toronto. Many letter carriers have led dual lives, doing more interesting things when they aren't delivering mail. Frank was one of these types. The forever young vibraphonist was a family man who used the post office to bring in the dough so that he could moonlight on the vibes, performing with the likes of Henry Cuesta, Norman Amadio, Jim Galloway, Rob McConnell, Peter Appleyard, and Trini Lopez. His musical gurus were Lionel Hampton and Milt Jackson. He would play all night and somehow turn up for work at 6:30 in the morning to sort his mail. I worked beside him for several months. I remember him coming in to work one day, dressed in a tux with shoes so shiny you could see your face in them.

"Just got back in from Buffalo, boys."

He would always tell you to take it easy, calm down, relax and enjoy the scenery. If you said something he agreed with he’d salute you: “Right On!”

He retired from the post office in the late 1980s and has taken to playing jazz full time. He currently performs with the Canadian Jazz Quartet.

2.   Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band: It Hurts Me Too
(Tampa Red)
Chicago / The Blues / Today! Vol. 1: Vanguard VRS 9216
Chicago IL
Junior Wells, harmonica, vocals
Buddy Guy, guitar
Jack Myers, bass
Fred Below, drums
Produced by Samuel Charters, 1966

Amos Wells Blakemore Jr b. December 9, 1934 West Memphis, Arkansas / d. January 15, 1998 (63) Chicago

The combination of two great blues superstars, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, was magnetic. They were naturally drawn to each other and a lot of their best music was made with each other.

3.   The Minah Birds: I Got You (In My Soul)
(Van Morrison)
Unreleased: Motown
Toronto ON
Rick James: vocals
Neil Young: guitar
Bruce Palmer: bass
Rickman Mason: drums
Johnny Taylor: guitar
Produced by Mickey Stevenson and Jeffrey Bowen, 1966
Recorded at Motown Records studios, Detroit January 1966

One of the few pieces of music to include Neil Young and not included from his archives, largely due to the fact that Barry Gordy (Motown Records boss) controlls the copyright. Having joined this Toronto Yorkville club band (who played at The Minah Bird), it featured an American singer, Rick James from Buffalo, who was awol from the US Army. They were invited down to Detroit and given a recording contract with Motown. They recorded an entire album worth of songs featuring the Mick Jagger-like vocals of James only to be outed by their manager (who was accused of pilfering all of their Motown money) and James was arrested. The album was shelved and remained that way until released as part of a box set in 2006. The band also featured Bruce Palmer, who had been exchanged for Nick St. Nicholas in a player trade with The Sparrows (soon to be Steppenwolf) who went with Young to California and begat The Buffalo Springfield.

4.   Eugene Smith & The Warm Up Band: Walk Away
(John Judge)
Warmin’ Up: Warm Up Records – WUB 1001
Toronto
Eugene Smith: vocals, guitar, harmonica, kalimba
Ted Grimes: trumpet, piano
John Judge: lead guitar
Carl Rabinowitz: bass, acoustic guitar
Produced by The Warm Up Band, 1981
Recorded by Brian Mitchel with Bob Cobban & Dave Rose at Studio 306, Toronto

Eugene Smith b. 1944
 
Smith came from good stock: His father was Al Lucas, who played stand up bass for such greats as Duke Ellington and James Brown. His mother, Valerie Abbot, was a well-known Toronto jazz pianist and vocalist who was invited by Louis Armstrong to tour as a jazz singer with his orchestra.

Smith was a popular figure on Toronto's R&B scene during the mid to late sixties, during which time he sang with Shawn  & Jay Jackson  and The Majestics.  In the seventies, he fronted an R&B band called Lucifer.

Over the past 4 decades Eugene has shared the stage with such great artists of the music world as Gordon Lightfoot, k.d. Lang, David Clayton Thomas, King Curtis, Willie Dixon, Lenny Breau, Peter Tosh, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, The Beach Boys and The Dave Clark Five. In the wild and wonderful 60’s he played Toronto and toured the United States as a singer with Ronnie Hawkins and the infamous Hawks.

Eugene resides in Duncan, B.C. and is still active) on the scene there, doing virtual performances during the Covid-19 pandemic. Also a good story teller, he claims: “I’m playing music and telling stories about my life on the road since the 1940s.”

5.   Ella Fitzgerald: Got To Get You Into My Life
(Lennon &McCartney)
Ella: Reprise Records RS 6354
Newport News, Virginia
Ella Fitzgerald: vocals
Nicky Hopkins: piano
Produced by Richard Perry, 1969
Recorded by Gene Shiveley at Olympic Studios, London
Recorded by The Beatles April to June, 1966

Ella Jane Fitzgerald  (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996)

Ella Fitzgerald became the first major artist to have a hit song with a cover of a Beatles number. She recorded Can’t Buy Me Love in May of 1964. She later did A Hard Day’s Night, Hey Jude, Savoy Truffle and Something. She knew good music!

6.   The Meters: Come Together
(Lennon / McCartney)
Kickback: Sundazed Records B00005A0BF
New Orleans LA
George Porter, Jr.: bass, vocals
Cyril Neville: congas, vocals
Joseph Modeliste: drums, vocals
Leo Nocentelli: guitar, vocals
Art Neville: keyboards, vocals
Produced by Allen Toussaint and Marshall Sehorn, 1976
Compilation album produced 2001

Although James Brown gets most of the credit, The Meters were also incredibly influential in forming the original funk music sound. The band got together in New Orleans in 1965 and stayed together until 1977. The band has been nominated four times for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2018 the band was presented the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Original member Art Neville died at the age of 81 on the 22nd of July, 2019. After the break-up, Art Neville continued his career as part of The Neville Brothers band while drummer Joseph Modeliste toured with Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood.

7.   Count Basie Orchestra: All My Lovin’
(Lennon / McCartney)
Basie’s Beatle Bag: Verve Records V6-8659
Hollywood CA
Count Basie: piano
Count Basie’s Orchestra
Produced by Peter Spargo and Teddy Reig, 1966
Recorded by Val Valentin and Ami Hadim at TTG Sunset Recorders, Hollywood
Arranged by Chico O’Farrill

William James Basie b Red Bank NJ Aug 21, 1904 / d. Apr 26, 1984 Hollywood (79)

8.   Louis Armstrong & The Hot 7: Dallas Blues
(Hart Wand)
Hot Fives & Sevens Volume 4: JSP Records CD315
New Orleans LA
Louis Armstrong: trumpiet
Otis Johnson: trombone
Henry Allan: trombone
J C Higginbottom: trombone
Albert Nicholes: clarinet
Charlie Holmes: clarinet
Teddy Hill:
Louis Russell: piano
Will Johnson: guitar
Pops Foster: string  bass
Paul Barbarin: drums
Produced 1991
Recorded New York City, December 10, 1929

9.   Brent Williams: My Fortune Wheel
(Brent Williams)
In You I Believe: Paragon Records – ALS 305
Hassett NS
Produced by Jack Boswell - 1972

Brent Williams b. Hassett, Nova Scotia March 25, 1940

Williams first recorded in the 1960s as part of the Canadian Maritimes-based duo, "Brent & Harry", with fellow Nova Scotian, Harry Cromwell. The act featured the first black recording artists in Canadian country music. Brent & Harry recorded two albums for the Banff/Rodeo label in the 1960's.

Brent Williams first performed as part of "The Maritimes Playboys", a bluegrass trio from Nova Scotia, and then as a member of Vic Mullen's "Birch Mountain Boys" (with Cromwell and fellow Canuck Angus Walker). Later, after a three-year stint on the road in the band of Quebec country legend Marcel Martel, Brent Williams moved to Toronto and began to pursue a solo career in country music. He was the very first guest on Stevedore Steve’s CITY-TV program.

10. Salome Bey: You’re Gonna Fall
(Russ Little)
Salome Bey: Pickwick Records – PC 60001
Toronto ON
Salome Bey: vocals
Unknown band
Produced by Roy Smith 1980
Recorded by Roy Smith at Eastern Sound Studios, Toronto

Salome Bey  b. October 10, 1933 Newark, NJ / d. August 8, 2020 (86) Toronto

Bey began performing with her brother and sister in a group called Andy and the Bey Sisters.
Coming to Canada from New Jersey, Bey lived in Toronto since 1964. She wrote and starred in "Indigo," a cabaret about the history of Black music. The show, which won two Dora Mavor Moore Awards, was broadcast on CBC TV in 1984.

She also earned a Grammy nomination for her work on the cast album of the Broadway show, "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God."

She was known as "Canada's First Lady of Blues". In 2005, she was made an honorary Member of the Order of Canada. Beginning in her early sixties, Bey began showing signs of dementia. As of 2011 her illness had progressed to the point that she could no longer perform.

11. Lumumba: Ahoma Trofo
(Lumumba / Obeng)
Lumumba: A&M Records SP 3610
Ghana
Lumamba: flutes, shakers, percussion
Rim Kwaku Obeng: percussion, keys
Emmanuel Rentzos: keys
Luther Coffee: bass
Kwabena Gyanifi: guitar
David T Walker: electric guitar
Produced by Kwaku Eddie Lynn, 1974
Recorded by Larry Forkner, Kwaku Eddie Lynn, Larry Levine, Steve Mitchell and Milton Calice at A&M Studios, Hollywood CA
Mastered by Frank De Luna

Although the name of the band is Lumumba & that is also the name of the lead vocalist, this is really the work of Rim Kwaku Obeng. Obeng is a noted Ghanan drummer who played with Fela Kuti. Lumumba was recorded in 1974 in Los Angeles. Other than bassist Luther Coffey from Trinidad & guitarist David T. Walker from Los Angeles, all the other main musicians are from Ghana. The identity of the artist Lumumba is shrouded in mystery.

12. Billie Holiday: I’ll Never Smile Again
(Ruth Lowe)
Last Recording: MGM Records
Philadelphia PA
Ray Ellis: band leader
Harry Edison: trumpet
Joe Wilder: trumpet
Billy Byers: trombone
Al Cohn: tenor sad
Danny Bank: baritone sax
Hank Jones: piano
Barry Galbraith: guitar
Milt Hinton: bass
Osie Johnson: drums
Produced by Ray Ellis, 1959
Recorded March 3 to 11, 1959, NYC

Eleanora Fagan b. Philadelphia PA Apir 7, 1915 / d. NYC July 17, 1959 (44)

Ruth Lowe (August 12, 1914 – January 4, 1981) was a Canadian pianist and songwriter. She wrote the song after her husband died during surgery. The song was later covered by many artists, including Frank Sinatra and The Ink Spots.

In 1936, Ruth was working in the 'Song Shop' in Toronto when Ina Ray Hutton brought her all-female band (the Melodears) to town. Her piano player had taken ill, and Ina was frantically trying to locate a good-looking blonde lady replacement. Ruth Lowe auditioned, and became the regular pianist in Ina Ray's band. At age 23 (1938), Ruth married Harold Cohen, a Chicago music publicist. It was a very happy marriage that only lasted one year until Harold's tragic demise during an operation in 1939. In her deep grief, Ruth returned to live in Toronto. In her lonely apartment, she composed "I'll Never Smile Again".

The song "I'll Never Smile Again" was first heard on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) radio program Music By Faith, in an arrangement by Canadian musician Percy Faith, who would soon go on to fame in the USA and the world. Approximately a year later, Ruth passed a copy of the tune to a saxophone player in the Tommy Dorsey band, hoping to have Dorsey hear the tune. Dorsey thought the tune had much merit, and arranged it for his very young singer, Frank Sinatra. It was Sinatra's first great hit, and really launched Sinatra on his phenomenal career. Later she wrote the lyrics for still another Frank Sinatra hit, "Put Your Dreams Away (For Another Day)", Frank's 'signature' song, (which was also played at his funeral). The tune was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1982.

13. Big Lucky: Goofer Dust
(L Carter)
River Town Blues: Hi Records SHL 32063
Memphis, Tenn
Big Lucky Carter: guitar, vocal
Compilation Album Produced 1971

Levester Carter: b . Wier Miss 1917, d. Memphis TN Dec 24, 2002

Recorded Goofer Dust in 1969 for the Hi Records label.

14. Etta James: At Last
(Mack Gordon / Harry Warrend)
Forever Gold: St. Clair Records FGD53012
Los Angeles
Etta James: vocals
Orchestra backing
Compilation Produced by Ron D Ford, 2007
Song Recorded and Produced by Phil Chess and Leonard Chess, 1960

B. Jamesetta Hawkins January 25, 1938 Los Angeles / D. January 20, 2012 (73) Riverside, CA

15. BB King: Waitin’ On You 
(F. Washington / BB King)
Blues Is King: BluesWay / Sparton (Canada) BLS 6001
Itta Bena MS
BB King: guitar, vocal
Kenneth Sands: trumpet
Bobby Forte: tenor sax
Duke Jethro: organ
Louis Satterfield: bass
Sonny Freeman: drums
Produced by Johnny Pate & Louis Zito, 1967
Recorded in Chicago, somewhere

16. Bob Marley & The Wailers: Work
(Bob Marley)
Uprising: Island Records ISM 9596
Jamaica
Bob Marley: vocal, guitar
Aston Barnett: bass, piano, guitar, percussion
Carlton Barrett: drums
Carlton Davis: drums
Tyrone Downie: keys, bg vocal
Alvin Patterson: percussion
Junior Marvin: lead guitar, bg vocal
Earl Lindo: keys
Al Anderson: lead guitar
I Threes w Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt: bg vocals
Produced by Bob Marley & Wailers, 1980
Mixed by Chris Blackwell and The Wailers
Recorded by Chiao Ng at Tuff Gong Studios, Kingston JM
Mastered by Ted Jensen
Released June 10, 1980

Uprising was the last studio recording released during Marley's lifetime, just a year before he died. All the songs on this album are spiritually oriented in Marley's Rasta beliefs. The album went double platinum in France, Platinum in New Zealand and gold most everywhere else. b Marley & Wailers: Work – 1980

17. Miles Davis: The Meaning of the Blues
(L Worth / B Troup / JJ Johnson)
Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall: Columbia Records Monaural CL-1812
Alton Illinois
Miles Davis: Trumpet
Hank Mobley: Tenor saxophone
Wynton Kelly: Piano
Paul Chambers: Bass
Jimmy Cobb: Drums
Produced by Teo Macero, 1961
Recorded at Carnegie Hall, NY
Released July 16, 1962

Miles Davis b. May 26, 1926, Alton, Illinois

This performance captured Miles Davis at the intersection of time. What he did before this and what he would do after it would be Miles different. After this gig Davis changed his band to get ready for what was coming over the horizon.

18.  Nina Simone: I Put A Spell On You
(Jalacy Hawkins)
I Put A Spell On You: Philips Records SBL 7671
Tyrone NC
Nina Simone: vocals, piano
Others not listed
Produced by Hal Mooney
Released Jan 1965

Eunice Kathleen Waymon b. Tyrone NC February 21, 1933 / April 21, 2003 Carry-le-Rouet, FR

Having decided to play “the Devil’s music”, Waymon used the name Nina Simone after she started playing night clubs as a ‘cocktail pianist’ in Atlantic City to spare her family’s name. Her debut on records was her album Little Girl Blue in 1958.

Bonus Track:

Wilson Pickett: Hey Jude
(L&M)
Wilson Pickett’s Greatest Hits: Atlantic Records 2SA 501
Detroit MI
Wilson Pickett: vocals
Duane Allman, Jimmy Johnson, Albert Lowe - guitar
David Hood, Gerald Jemmott - bass
Barry Beckett - keyboards, piano
Marvell Thomas - organ
Roger Hawkins - drums
Gene Miller, Jack Peck - trumpet
Joe Arnold, Aaron Varnell - tenor saxophone
James Mitchell - baritone saxophone
Produced by Rick Hall and Tom Dowd, 1969
Compilation Produced 1973
Recorded at FAME Studios, Muscle Shoals, Alabama

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