Well how are you doing, my brethren? Some of you already know I’ve been battling a series of health problems the last few months which have kept me from updating regularly. What can I say, I got a bit unlucky on the health front.

But enough about me, let’s talk about a major day in the world of funk freakitude: today marks the reissue of Betty Davis’s oft-bootlegged 1975 funk gem Nasty Gal alongside her previously-unreleased phantasm of funk, Is It Love or Desire?. Nasty Gal is an essential funk recording, once only traded as an 8th or 9th-generation copy (complete with tape hiss and fuzz) amongst hard-core diggers, while Is It Love or Desire? was never released, shelved by her label due to creative differences. Thanks to the hard-work of Light in the Attic Records, both are now officially out and ready to add to your collection. More information, an MP3, and details on how you can win the above limited-edition poster after the jump.
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I’m short on words this week since I’ve been spending much of it updating & changing back-end things on the site. Thankfully, I had Steve Winwood’s seminal 1981 album Arc of a Diver on hand to keep me focused, and in particular this song — “Night Train” — which, if memory serves me, actually appeared on a 1978 release of his and resurfaced here a couple of years later. Of course, the album was a huge hit, as was the single “While You See A Chance”, another song of his that I can never get enough of. Once he hit the Back in the High Life era, I was kind of over his solo material. That being said, I still get excited when I hear he’s got a new record coming out.

Anyways, get on the night train. Yep. And um…carry on. Good weekend and all that. xoxo

Steve Winwood – Night Train

BUY: Steve Winwood – Arc of a Diver from Amazon.Com

Both this video and the song itself offer a really powerful look at commonly adopted stereotypes associated with young black men. It’s a bit dated in some respects, but there is an eerie omnipresence about the messages it contains. Sometimes it’s good to wonder just how far we’ve really come.

With regards to the music, Living Colour’s Vernon Reid remains one of the most impressive and skillful guitarists ever to adopt the instrument. Behind the breakbeats, you can find evidence of his mastery all through this song.

I was sure I needed to get my eyes checked when I read that folk-pop legends Chad & Jeremy would be appearing at the Folk Alliance Conference this year. I was stunned. “THE Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde? Could it be? ‘Distant Shores’? ‘A Summer Song’? No!” Before the thoughts could be completely formulated, I was told that yes, in fact, they would be attending and I could rest assured I would be surprised.

Even 40 years later, it’s as if time stood still when you hear them. These guys were so good, it made everyone in the audience fahrklempt. If you love indie pop or folk pop, you owe it to yourself to see Chad & Jeremy performing live in a city near you, and here’s the proof.

Listen to Chad & Jeremy – A Summer Song

You can purchase Chad & Jeremy’s Greatest Hits from Amazon.Com

I feel like absolute hell, but I know we can make it. I’m going to keep playing this song until I get through feeling crappy. Furthermore, never forget that YES WE CAN.

Listen to The Pointer Sisters – Yes We Can Can

Head over to Amazon and buy some Pointer Sisters downloads, or you can purchase Yes We Can Can: The Best of the Blue Thumb Recordings by clicking here.