wax on Wax Off | Vol 1
Welcome to our new monthly feature with our friends at Miyagi Records! Each month we will feature some choice vinyl that is pulled from their collection & give you a quick rundown of each record.
We hope this feature inspires you to explore different genres of music from the past & present.
Grover Washington, Jr: // Feels So Good
in the mid-70s, the CTI label and their in-house composer/arranger Bob James were churning out album after album of amazing jazz-funk fusion. here, bob teams up with saxophonist Grover Washington. A solid listen from start to finish with plenty of sample-spotting opportunities. Most notably on the songs 'Knucklehead' and 'Hydra.'
Bob James // Four
another classic from that era of CTI dominance. in a recent interview, bob mentioned that he was purposely attempting to craft catchy riffs during this time. and based on the number of times his "One-Four" series of albums have been sampled, he definitely succeeded. This is the final record in that series and 90s hip-hop fans will get a kick out of 'Tappan Zee.'
Gandharva // Beaver + Krause
little known duo that, in their time, were admired heavily by critics but possibly too 'over the heads' of the general public. beaver and Krause were pioneers in electronic music when it was just only coming into existence. after working as sales reps for Moog, they went on to release a handful of albums in the early 70s. expect a mixture of electronic, bluesy rock, and ambient psychedelic vibes.
Kraftwerk // The Mix
generally known as the forefathers of electro. this was released in 1991 after the band had taken almost 10 years off from touring. this album is a reimagining (not so many remixes) of classic tracks from their early efforts. and to this day, many of these arrangements have usurped the originals in their live performances.
Ohio Players // Gold
a collection of the Ohio Players’ greatest hits through 1976. includes their patented style of Funk coupled with breezy slow jams. after this era, their sound would lean more towards uptempo styles like modern soul and boogie. a nice capsule of their early days of mainstream success.
Mothers Finest // Mother Factor
Atlanta-based funk/rock group that often goes overlooked in the 'black rock' genre. Presumably, because they were too funky to be rock and too heavy to be funk. in any case, if you enjoy your funk with a heavy dose of electric guitars, this is the band for you!
Bobby Bland // Dreamer
a smooth, bluesy outing from bobby bland. includes the chart-topping hit 'ain’t no love in the heart of the city.' hip-hop fans will instantly recognize the classic Jay Z sample.
ready for wax on, wax off, vol. 2? check it out now
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