1975

everybodydigs#150 Piero Umiliani – La Ragazza Fuori Strada

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everybodydigs# is a series of posts about Jazz, Funk, Soul & R’n’b albums released from the 20s to the 90s, you can read a brief description/review and listen to a small preview (when it’s possible). everybodydigs# is like when someone tells you “hey you should listen to this album!” and nothing less, enjoy!

One of the coolest Italian soundtracks we’ve heard in a long time — a wonderful set of tunes that moves from slinky, to easy, to groovy, and beyond! The tunes start out bubbling very spare and slow — with floating piano, moog, and other nice bits — and as the record progresses, the sound gets heavier, with some nice funky elements thrown into the mix! The whole thing’s a brilliant exercise in understatement — not only one of the best soundtracks by Umiliani from the 70s, but also a perfect example of why we dig Italian soundtracks so much! Titles include “Volto Di Donna”, “La Prima Uscita”, “La Rinuncia”, “Senza Tregua”, “Nostalgia”, “The Party”, and “Maryam”.

Rappamelo’s favorite track.

everybodydigs#127 Minnie Riperton – Adventures in Paradise

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everybodydigs# is a series of posts about Jazz, Funk, Soul & R’n’b albums released from the 20s to the 90s, you can read a brief description/review and listen to a small preview (when it’s possible). everybodydigs# is like when someone tells you “hey you should listen to this album!” and nothing less, enjoy!

Adventures in Paradise was the first album that Minnie Riperton made with some stellar success behind her. Previously the singer’s singer, she had worked behind the scenes at Chess and made some delicious, cultish recordings with Rotary Connection and on her 1970 solo debut Come to My Garden. However, all that changed with her 1974 album, Perfect Angel, and its US number one hit single, Lovin’ You, which showcased her remarkable five-octave vocal range and briefly made her a household name.

Produced with Stevie Wonder, Perfect Angel was a huge, much-loved success. Adventures in Paradise was its follow-up and, inevitably, comparisons with its predecessor were made. Co-produced by The Crusaders’ studio man Stewart Levine (with Riperton and her husband/co-writer Richard Rudloph), it’s an exceptionally well-played, well-made album. Full of peace, love and sensuality, Adventures in Paradise is one of Riperton’s greatest recordings. (bbc.co.uk)

Rappamelo’s favorite track:

everybodydigs#30 George Duke – The Aura Will Prevail

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everybodydigs# is a series of posts about Jazz, Funk, Soul & R’n’b albums released from the 20s to the 90s, you can read a brief description/review and listen to a small preview (when it’s possible). everybodydigs# is like when someone tells you “hey you should listen to this album!” and nothing less, enjoy!

In 1975, George Duke was dabbling in R&B vocals. But instrumental jazz-fusion was still his primary focus, and he had yet to be played extensively on any of the genres’ stations. When The Aura Will Prevail came out that year, no one bought the LP for its occasional R&B vocal — the main attraction was Duke’s keyboard playing. “Fools” is a melancholy soul ballad that finds him singing lead and predicts what was to come on R&B-oriented releases like Don’t Let Go (1978) and Master of the Game (1979), but it isn’t typical of the album on the whole. This is a fusion effort first and foremost, and Duke has plenty of room to stretch out and improvise on instrumentals that range from the insistent “Floop de Loop” to the Brazilian-influenced “Malibu” (which shouldn’t be confused with the Hole/Courtney Love gem). Two of the songs were written or co-written by Frank Zappa: the fusion instrumental “Echidna’s Arf” and the gospel-minded soul item “Uncle Remus” (another tune that gives Duke a chance to sing lead). Without question, The Aura Will Prevail is among this artist’s finest fusion-oriented albums. (allmusic.com)

Personnel: George Duke (keboards, vocals); Alphonso Johnson (bass); Leon “Ndugu” Chancler (durms); Airto Moreira (percussion); Sylvia Saint James (vocals); Kathy Woehrle (vocals).

Rappamelo’s favorite track: