Fri, 10 March 2006
Loik - Charles Is The One Vol.1 (MP3 Podcast on www.ParisDJs.com) Kraked, 2006-03-10 Charles Stepney is still a rather obscure name, even though he's one of the major contributors to black music's evolution in the 60's and 70's. And yet if you search on the Net you can only find 2 fuzzy photographs of the Man. That's why we thought we could, with this podcast, lay a first stone for the pyramid he rightfully deserves, the monument which us, real Soul lovers, ought to built for him. Vibraphonist, then arranger and one genius of a producer: The Dells, Muddy Waters, Rotary Connection, Earth Wind & Fire, Deniece Williams, he is the one who discovered the angelic Minnie Ripperton and the soulful Terry Callier when he was producer for the cult chicagoan label Cadet. Stepney is all about the orchestrations and arrangements, with their completely unique psychedelic flamboyance. Check here his version of 'Dear Prudence' (the Beatles) by Ramsey Lewis or the brilliant 'Black Gold' from Phil Upchurch. You'll get what I'm talking about. Thus let's make a star of him on the same level as Axelrod and other worshipped producers from the 70's. May the name and work of Charles Stepney spread itself on the webs out there and give inspiration to all cos Ain't No Doubt About It: Charles is the one!! Links : A cool bio: wholecircleround.co.uk Downbeat Magazine, November 26, 1970: "For The Record: Charles Stepney" by Edwin Black Tracklisting : 01. Minnie Ripperton - Les Fleurs (from 'Come To My Garden', 1970 / GRT) 02. Ramsey Lewis - Dear Prudence (from 'Mother Nature's Son', 1968 / Cadet) 03. Phil Upchurch - Black Gold (from 'Upchurch', 1969 / Cadet) 04. Terry Callier - You Goin' Miss Your Candyman (from 'What Color Is Love', 1972 / Cadet) 05. The Dells - Free And Easy (from 'Freedom Means', 1971 / Cadet) 06. The New Rotary Connection - I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun (from 'Hey Love', 1971 / Cadet) 07. Marlena Shaw - Liberation Conversation (from 'Spice Of Life', 1969 / Cadet) Original covers : Available on ParisDJs.com! Info : Selected and mixed by Dj Loik (Kraked) |