Re: [ARSCLIST] July/August issue of Black Grooves

[Tom Fine <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Let me chime in, from listening to the generous samples and complete MP3's on the website, the 
playing and production were top-drawer and my overall conclusion was "Prince way before Prince, and 
with more, er, testosterone!" Because Ms. Davis was pre-disco, she was not cursed with synthesizers 
and electronic drums. Just pure analog shag-carpet funk. She's no crooner, more a growler. Larry 
Graham's fingerprints are all over the two reissued albums, so it's super-bad. Just ordered both 
albums.

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Aaron Levinson" <aaron.levinson@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 9:38 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] July/August issue of Black Grooves


> Indeed. Brenda does us all a great service and I must say I read every single sentence of Black 
> Grooves each and every month.
> As far as Betty "Big Freak" Davis goes, I have been a fan for many years. I own all of her albums 
> and believe me they are not easy
> to find. I searched far and wide for years to track them all down. The fact that she is alive and 
> living in Pittsburgh, in the same state as your truly, was a bit of a welcome shock. For anyone 
> who loves funk Betty is really a treasure. Please support the folks behind this reissue campaign 
> and turn yourself on to some hip and very forward thinking music in the process.
>
> AA
>
>
> Tom Fine wrote:
> > I just got a chance to read thru this. First of all, thanks to Brenda for always posting an alert 
> > for a new Black Grooves update.
> >
> > Second, check out the article/bio about Betty Davis. Here's another article:
> > http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7988212
> > And here is the reissue label's website:
> > http://lightintheattic.net/releases/bettydavis/
> >
> > Wow, this is smokin' hard funk! This era was just before my youth, so I missed all the more 
> > obscure artists from that time like Betty Davis. I'm very much enjoying the ability to discover 
> > her for the first time now.  Aaron Levinson, you gotta check this lady out if you don't already 
> > own the original vinyl!
> >
> > -- Tom Fine
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nelson-Strauss, Brenda" <bnelsons@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 3:09 PM
> > Subject: [ARSCLIST] July/August issue of Black Grooves
> >
> >
> > The July/August 2007 issue of Black Grooves has now been posted at
> > www.blackgrooves.org.
> >
> > This month we're featuring two new books that belong on everyone's
> > shelves-the Gospel Discography 1943-1970 from Eyeball Productions, and
> > Third Coast by Roni Sarig, the first in-depth examination of southern
> > hip hop. The 30th anniversary celebration of Tyscot Records continues
> > with a new DVD that chronicles the history of the label through
> > interviews and some great performance footage. There are several
> > fabulous reissues, including the complete recordings of Polk Miller &
> > the Old South Quartette, the iconic 1973 & 1974 albums by funk diva
> > Betty Davis, and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson's masterpiece Kidney Stew is
> > Fine. We're also taking a look at two of Koch's latest hip hop
> > offerings-the RZA's soundtrack to Afro Samurai and Hip Hop Lives, the
> > first collaboration between KRS-One and Marley Marl. Our reggae
> > contributor takes a look at Black Chiney's latest riddim' CD, while
> > providing an overview of this Jamaican dancehall style. And last but not
> > least, we're highlighting new recordings by soul legend Howard Tate and
> > the Pine Leaf Boys, a Louisiana-based quintet.
> >
> > SAVE THE DATE: On August 1, PBS Great Performances will be commemorating
> > the 50th anniversary and rebirth of America's preeminent soul music
> > label with Respect Yourself: the Stax Records Story. This new
> > documentary includes never-before-seen home movies by Stax artists;
> > outtakes of footage from the legendary 1972 WattStax concert; lost
> > performances by Otis Redding, Booker T. and the MGs, and Isaac Hayes;
> > and interviews with Isaac Hayes, Mavis Staples, Carla Thomas, Sam Moore,
> > Booker T. Jones, members of the MGs, Al Bell, and Stax founder and
> > co-owner Jim Stewart. Details can be found on the PBS website
> > <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/stax/index.html> . The companion
> > website is set to launch this Wednesday, July 25.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Brenda Nelson-Strauss
> >
> > Archives of African American Music and Culture
> >
> > Indiana University
> >
> > Smith Research Center, Suite 180
> >
> > Bloomington, IN 47408
> >
> > 812-855-7530
> >
> > bnelsons@xxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > www.indiana.edu/~aaamc
> >
> > www.blackgrooves.org