From the vinyl vault, Philly Soul Style!

Old records from the Vinyl Vault.....The best of the rarest.

Johnny Williams "Slow Motion" (1971)

This song was also featured in the 2007 movie "Pride" starring Terrence Howard and the late Bernie Mac.

"Let Em' In" Billy Paul (1976)
Phily Soul's cover version of the Paul McCartney & Wings song.


"Cooling Out" by Jerry Butler (1978)


"Don't Let Love Get You Down" by Archie Bell and the Drells (1977)


"Day of Peace" by Love Committee

Disco Saturday: In Memoriam

Get ready for a lot of music for one blog entry!

This is the "Disco Saturday" Memorial Day weekend edition where we remember the dearly departed performers who's sounds graced the dance floors and whos music will live on forever. Some of the performers we lost recently. So lets remember them and enjoy the music and the memories. No notes, just enjoy the music and remember.

There is a lot here but throughout the weekend I may add more, so stay tuned.

LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY (November 5, 1946 – March 21, 2011)

"Dreamin" (1976)


"Love Sensation"


"Runaway" by The Salsoul Orchestra featuring Loleatta Holloway


"Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch featured Loleatta's vocals. The hit song in the early 1990's helped revive her career for a while.


DAN HARTMAN (December 8, 1950—March 22, 1994)
"Vertigo/Relight My Fire" featuring the vocals of the late Loleatta Holloway


"Instant Replay"


"Just For Fun"


ALTON McCLAIN AND DESTINY "It Must Be Love" (1979)
The group was short lived, only together from 1978 to 1981. Delores Warren of the group died in 1985 at the age of 32. Alton McClain-Scarborough continues as a gospel singer today


CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR
"Dreaming A Dream" (1975)
Bert Reid of the group died in 2004 at the age of 48


EDWIN STARR
(January 21, 1942 – April 2, 2003)
"Contact" (1978)


"H.A.P.P.Y. Radio" (1979)


ESTHER PHILLIPS
(December 23, 1935 – August 7, 1984)
"What A Difference A Day Makes" (1975)


TEENA MARIE(March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010)
"I Need Your Lovin" (1980)


"Square Biz" (1981)


"Lovergirl" (1984)


"Behind The Groove" (1980)


"It Must Be Magic" (1981)


GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS

"Baby Don't Change Your Mind" (1976)
IN memory of Edward "Eddie" Roy Patten, one of THE PIPS and Gladys' cousin.
(August 27, 1939 – February 25, 2005)


THE FOUR TOPS
Levi Stubbles (June 6, 1936 – October 17, 2008)
Renaldo "Obie" Benson (June 14, 1936 – July 1, 2005)
Lawrence Payton (March 2, 1938 – June 20, 1997)
"Catfish" (1976)


SYLVESTER
Sylvester James (September 6, 1947 – December 16, 1988)

"You Make Me Feel Mighty Real"


"Dance (Disco Heat)"


"Someone Like You"


"Don't Stop"


"I Need You"


Sylvester is missed greatly, but with him in Disco heaven is Izora Rhodes Armstead (July 6, 1942 – September 16, 2004) One of Sylvester's backup singers as "Two Tons O Fun" and later "The Weather Girls"

"I Got The Feeling" by Two Tons O Fun


"Make Someone Feel Happy Today" by Two Tons O' Fun


"It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls


"Don't Let Love Slip Away" by Izora Rhodes Armstead



VICKI SUE ROBINSON (May 31, 1954 – April 27, 2000)

"Turn The Beat Around"


"Daylight"




MCFADDEN & WHITEHEAD
Gene McFadden and John Whitehead, songwriters and producers from Gamble & Huff's famed Philadelphia International. They had one major hit song of their own and produced many for the disco turntables.

"Ain't No Stopping Us Now"


Songs written by McFadden & Whitehead that were popular in the disco era. Some were not huge hits but they fit nicely in between the heaviest of the dance tunes from the era.

"Bad Luck" by Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes featuring vocals from the late Teddy Pendergrass. (1975)


"Lets Groove" by Archie Bell and the Drells


"Let's Go Disco" by Archie Bell and the Drells


"The More I Get The MOre I Want" by Teddy Pendergrass


"Let Life Flow" by The O'Jays


We lost http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Redd at the age of 46 in 1992. She had better success as a backup singer than with her own solo work but she did leave us with a couple dance club classics.

"Can You Handle It" (1980)


"Love Is Gonna Get Ya"


"I'll Never Give You Up" (1982)


By the time disco was declared "dead" in the early 1980's, the beat continued. Disco never really died. It evolved and thrived.

There is so much more I could post but its time to close this out So last but never least, the forever and always Diva in this blogger's heart, PHYLLIS HYMAN. Who could get you do to the dance floor and back to an intimate candlelight setting with the greatest of class.

"You Know How To Love Me"


"How Long (Has this been going on)"


"Loving You, Losing You" (1977)


And that is enough Disco for "Disco Saturday" to carry you through the weekend. I told you this blog post would include a lot of music. With loving memory to the performers posted today and many that were not posted. They may be gone but will never be forgotten. Their music and original pure talent will always live on with Pride and Soul.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend here in the United States. And especially sending love and respect to the members of our United States Armed Forces, those who are dearly departed and who are currently serving. For this Memorial Day holiday was created in your honor.

Lest we forget.

"Heroes" by The Commodores, a tribute to our US Military.

Happy Birthday Gladys Knight

Happy Birthday to The Empress of Soul, Gladys Knight, born May 28, 1944.

And here are a couple of my favorites that you likely wont hear anywhere else.

"Lovin on Next To Nothing"


"Baby Don't Change Your Mind"


"Friendship Train"


"No One Can Love You More"


"Letter Full of Tears" (1961)

Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011)

Gil Scott-Heron died on Friday May 27th at the age of 62. (News Article from Georgia Public Broadcasting)


I grew up around a soul music radio station at a time when you pretty much played whatever you want. Unlike todays limited playlist programmed crap that poses for radio in most of the US. And the people I knew who were Disc Jockeys at that station became legends for the region, they were just like the Frankie Crockers of NY and Herb Kents of Chicago.

I say that because at that time growing up I was exposed to recordings from people like Gil Scott-Heron, The Last Poets and the deepest album cuts from a Curtis Mayfield, James Brown or family friend Isaac Hayes. The kind of stuff that wasn't "mainstream" and many would call radical today. But oh was there some talent and a sense of pride in those records. They didn't promote violence or drug use but they admitted that those were REAL problems in the neighborhood. And the real true talent of REAL musicians.

Even though Scott-Heron had problems in his personal life, he was true to his form of art. And yes he does leave a legacy. A STRONG LEGACY.

Rest IN Peace Gil Scott-Heron (April 1, 1949-May 27, 2011)

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"


"The Bottle"

Ramsey Emanuel Lewis

Sending out Birthday greetings to jazz great Ramsey Lewis, born May 17, 1935.

Here are some great jazz selections for this start of the Memorial Day weekend 2011. May your weekend be a great one.

"Sun Goddess" by Ramsey Lewis
Title track from the 1974 album
Featuring Earth Wind & Fire


"Maiden Voyage" (1968)


"Les Fleurs" (original)


"The In Crowd" (1965)


"Brazilica" (1975)


"Skippin" (1977)

May 24: Birthday celebration and heartbreaking loss

In the world of music, May 24 holds a lot of birthday legends but in 2001 music history in Georgia took a huge hit.

The Georgia Music Hall Of Fame museum in Macon Georgia announced that it will close permanently on June 12th. The news of this loss is heartbreaking to some in the local community (including me) and a major blow in the preservation of music history in the state of Georgia and beyond. I will have more to say about this loss in future blogs.

Here is video from when the facility opened in 1996




On a brighter note, there were many birthdays in the world of music for May 24th.

Robert Zimmerman, known and loved as "Bob Dylan" was born 70 years ago on May 24th.

"Like A Rolling Stone"


Regardless of your favorite genre in music, Bob Dylan deserves much respect for his music touched many genre's and artists.

Like this original Bob Dylan song "Forever Young"


"Forever Young" is one of the many Bob Dylan songs that were covered by other artists, including PATTI LABELLE, who also shares a birthday with Bob Dylan, born just 3 years later on May 24th in 1944.



More on Patti Labelle's birthday later.

Another of my favorite Bob Dylan classics is "Knocking On Heaven's Door" from 1973



This was also covered by many including Macon Georgia native RANDY CRAWFORD
(Dedicated to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame 1996-2011)


So as mentioned above, May 24th is also the birthday of Patricia Louise Holte, known and love again as PATTI LABELLE, and she turned 67 and is still going strong.

The Pride and Soul Blog will do a "Soul Salute" for Miss Patti at a later date. So much going on this week. But Miss Patti isn't going anyway. Thankfully we will have her around to love for many years to come. Happy Birthday Patti Labelle!

Here is one of her classic slow jams from the 1980's "Love Need And Want You"



One day another Soul Salute will have to include the great group CAMEO and its leader LARRY BLACKMON, who was born 55 years ago on May 24th.

"Back and Forth" by Cameo


And finally, we celebrate the birthday of Roseanne Cash, daughter of Johnny and born May 24, 1955.



Just listening to music can make a day go smoothly or can heal wounds. Today the region where I live was wounded by the loss of our state's Music Hall of Fame. If you have such an entity in your area YOU MUST SUPPORT IT in every way possible. Don't just talk about it but DO IT. If you love music then respect it by supporting and preserving it. Please don't let happen to you what has happened to Georgia's music history today.

Soul Salute: What's Going On 40 years!

May 21, 2011 marked the 40th anniversary of the release of a masterpiece. The legendary album "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye. The single was released a few months before the album and oh when the album came out, the world was graced with the genius of Marvin Gaye. Every song perfectly orchestrated and worded for the times and still relevant to today.



I shudder to think about how Motown's leader Berry Gordy was against this album because it wasn't made of the traditonal Motown formula where the artist's own creativity and ideas were shunned. If Berry had his way, we would have never heard this. But thankfully this was also a time when Motown's stars were beginning to fight for their freedom of expression and Berry Gordy's era of the famous "Motown Sound" of the 1960's was coming to an end. With the release of this album, change was definitely good.

Listen to as much as the album as you can and feel the greatness, listen to the words and the orchestration of Motown's fabulous FUNK BROTHERS who after a decade of mega success creating the "Motown Sound" would finally get album credit for their contributions.

"What's Happening Brother"


"Flying High In The Friendly Sky"


"Save The Children"


"God Is Love" and "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)"


"Mercy Mercy Me" closed out Side A of the album which flowed like fine wine in a medley from "What's Happening Brother" to the final notes of the Ecology. Side A was this album's way of telling life's story in a time of social consience, war and dispair. Side A was a perfect package.


Now flip over the album and you'll experience hanging out with your finest folks, getting spiritual and later throwing up your hands, all due to the reality of life.

"Right On"


"Wholly Holy"


And finally, "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)"


The album had three successful singles, the title track, "Mercy Mercy Me" and "Inner City Blues". All three singles reached the top 10 of the pop music charts in the United States and all three singles reached number one on the Soul/R&B charts. The album also topped the album charts and would become both Marvin Gaye and Motown's biggest selling album until the release of Marvin's "Let's Get it On" in 1973.

"What's Going On" was critically acclaimed by numerous music publications yet this masterpiece was never nominated for or recieved any awards during Marvin Gaye's life. Not until after his death in 1984 was this album recognized by various organizations and publications including Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest albums of all time, where the album has frequently ranked in the top 5. But sadly, Marvin Gaye's only grammy award would be for "Sexual Healing" some 12 years after his album that most deserved at least a nomination was released.

There have been many "collectors" editions and reissues of the album, mostly Motown's way of recycling and capitalizing on a project that their founder Berry Gordy nearly killed. This blogger has the utmost respect for the album and the legendary performers who helped to create it. But has little respect for the company that mistreats its greatest gem.

Whenever anyone has asked me, Edric Floyd what is the all-time favorite album in my collection. And my immediate answer is documented here on THIS blog post. "What's Going On" will always be my number one answer.

Disco Saturday Rapture 2011

Well there is talk about May 21st being the time of Rapture, the end of the world as we know it. But not before you get your Disco on!

Might as well start with "Rapture"


So if the Rapture happens and people begin floating upward, will some land on the moon?

"Float On" by The Floaters


"How High The Moon" by Gloria Gaynor


Before the rapture is complete lets celebrate the birthday of "Butch" Tavares, born May 18, 1948. He is one of the Tavares brothers who had some of our favorite Disco tunes. And even though the world may end tonight, we don't want you to take away our music.


"Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel"


It's also GRACE JONES birthday this week, born one day after Butch Tavares on May 19, 1948

"Slave to the Rhythm" (1985)


"La Vie En Rose" (1977)


Also celebrating a birthday this week is CHER and here is her disco hit "take Me Home" from 1979


And Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers celebrates his 70th birthday on May 21st.


Now that we got the birthdays and the Rapture issue covered, how about we just GET DOWN to some disco business! Dance you ass off to these party people! If it really is the end of the world you might as well go out with a groove.

Gino Soccio


Hamilton Bohannon "Lets Start The Dance"


And finally, just in case this is the last day, lets walk on some sunshine.

Central Line


And that is the Pride And Soul "Disco Saturday" for Rapture day 2011. Next week (if we have one LOL) we will have a special Memorial Day edition honoring the dearly departed Disco greats. Thanks for visiting!

Soul Salute: Shorty Long

Today's SOUL SALUTE honors Shorty Long.

Frederick Earl "Shorty Long" was born May 20, 1940 in Birmingham Alabama and like many from Alabama moved to Detroit where he would record for the Motown organization to mild success through the mid 1960's.

One of his first recordings was in 1964 "Devil In a Blue Dress", a slow tempo song that did not chart nationally, a more uptempo recording by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels would find great success in 1966.

Here is Shorty Long's version.


Shorty Long's two biggest hit songs were his own compositions.

"Function At The Junction" from 1966


And his biggest hit, "Here Come the Judge" from 1968. Inspired by a comedy skit on the television show "Rowan & Martin's Laugh In"



What was unusual for Shorty Long is that at that time only he and Smokey Robinson were allowed to write and produce their own material which was something other artists with Motown had to fight for their own careers with the label going into the 1970's. But with Berry Gordy's tight grip on Motown's operation procedures, Shorty Long was also one of the Motown artists that didn't get a fair amount of promotional support from the company compared to Motown's more famous artists.

Tragically we lost Shorty Long when both he and a friend drowned in a boating accident in the Detroit River on June 29, 1969. He was only 29 years old.

From the Vinyl Vault: Gladys Knight & The Pips "Visions"

From the Vinyl Vault, Gladys Knight & The Pips 1983 album "Visions"

"When You're Far Away" was one of my favorites from the album that was a failure as a single barely reaching the top 50 of the R&B charts in early 1984.


The big hit from the album "Visions" was "Save the Overtime For me" which topped the R&B charts just in time for Gladys Knight's birthday in May 1983 and stayed at number one for a week.



And the album produced what has become a Gladys Knight and The Pips classic slow jam, "You're Number One IN My Book" but it only made it to number 5.

The Janet and Ralph connection..

May 16th we recognize two birthdays in music and they have a connection.

Janet Jackson was born May 16, 1966.

Here is her video for the song "Alright" from her "Rhythm Nation 1814" album released way back when she was 23 and this video featuring appearances from three dearly departed performers, Cab Calloway and The Nicholas Brothers, Fayard and Harold.



And Ralph Tresvant was born May 16, 1968.

Here is his solo hit song away from his group New Edition. "Sensitivity"


What is the connection between these artists? Not only do Janet Jackson and Ralph Tresvant share a birthday, they also had their greatest solo successes produced by the team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

Happy Birthday Janet and Ralph!

Newt Gingrich had as many tax liens as ex-wives.

Some people collect baseball cards. I collect music records. But Newton Leroy Gingrich of Georgia collects a list of ex-wives and tax liens.


Companies run by Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich have faced overdue tax bills in four states worth more than $6,000, according to records reviewed by The Associated Press.

Read more: http://www.macon.com/2011/05/15/1560987/gingrich-businesses-owed-states.html#ixzz1MRPeuASC

Disco Saturday (May 14th)

Well the Blogger site was down for nearly 24 hours but everything is back up and running in time for Pride And Soul's weekly "Disco Saturday".

Mind you this blogger can't dance but loves to listen to the old school beats. I wasn't quite old enough to go to any of the discoteques of that time but I surely had my ears glued to the radio and the records and tapes.

Here are this week's ten best of the best.

"Mandolay" (1979) by LaFlavour



"keep On Jumpin" (1978) by Musique


Musique included one of my all time favorite Dance music Divas on vocals, Jocelyn Brown. Legendary vocalist for many disco acts and productions and just a few SOLO releases in comparison but each top notch including the remake of "Aint No Mountain High Enough" by Inner Life



The BROOKLYN, BRONX AND QUEENS -BB and Q Band, "On the Beat" (1980)


Always have to include something from Philadelphia. Here is Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes with Teddy Pendergrass on vocals doing "Tell the World How I Feel About Cha Baby" from the 1975 album "Wake Up Everybody"



Also from Philadelphia, THE TRAMMPS

"Zing went the strings of my heart"


And now we can CHANT!!!!



Keep it HOT! Cheryl Lynn



"I've Got The Next Dance" by Deniece Williams




And for the old school House music fans, lets "Break For Love" by RAZE and the timing for me would be late 1980's, South Beach Miami. Power 96 radio used to jam this!


And there is your ten for this week's "Disco Saturday" Hope you enjoyed it.

If Newt Gingrich listened to the blues

Just wondering if 2012 Presidential Candidate and lifetime serial adulterer Newton Leroy Gingrich of Georgia enjoyed some down home blues music and old school R&B what songs could we play for him.

How about some Denise LaSalle?


Or some ZZ Hill "Cheating in the Next Room", the one next to his dying wife.


I also wonder if any of Newt Gingrich's former wives or girlfriends ever had the conversation that Shirley Brown had with Barbara Mason.




The Pride and Soul Blog could offer many more classic soul and blues songs that accurately describe the moral and marital reality of one Newton Leroy Gingrich of Georgia, Presidential candidate for 2012. But there are so many songs left for future posts. So closing out this with a classic soul song that generally expresses that of most politicians.

Dedicated to you Newt, Sly Slick and Wicked! Take your pick.

Graham Gouldman

Happy Birthday to Graham Gouldman of the 70's British band 10cc, born May 10, 1946.

Here is their chart topping 1975 hit "I'm Not In Love"

"When Love Came To Town"

Ahhh, the marriage of two musical entities making what is one of my top favorite songs from either of them. My Idol Riley "BB" King and U2 who's fearless leader Bono celebrates a birthday today born May 10, 1960.

"Young MC" Not anymore! Marvin Young was born 44 years ago on May 10, 1967 and there are now college graduates older than his most popular song.

"Bust A Move"

For this Gay Laker Hater, the sweep was sweet!

The Los Angeles Lakers 2011 season is OVER! The lost an entire playoff series to the Dallas Mavericks. Even the Laker fans acknowledge their team got their asses whooped!
Laker Haters around the world rejoice. The Lakers are done!

I hate to source TMZ for this because I don't care for tabloid media but they do have one of the easiest explanations of the recent KOBE BRYANT homophobic slur controversy.



Kobe was fined $100K for the use of the anti-gay slurs while on the court. And a couple weeks later his team got swept by the Dallas Mavericks right into the END of their season.

And this blogger is a noted LAKER HATER and a proud member of LAKER HATER CENTRAL, which you can find also on FACEBOOK and TWITTER.

So Kobe, now that you and your team choked in the playoffs, whos the < could insert gay slurs here but wont > now?

A contract out on America?

News reports are that Newton Leroy Gingrich, former congressman from Georgia and former speaker of the house legendary for the 1994 "Contract with America" that lead to the Republican cult (you may still call them "Party") election success in the mid 1990's and INFAMOUS for having several marriages ended in divorce including his cheating on his wives even while one wife was on her sick bed facing death, will be announcing (finally) his intent to run for President of the United States in 2012. He will make his formal announcement online via Facebook and Twitter

This announcement will come after years of speculation and for some fantasies that he would run for President. His political cult (you may still call them "Party") line that preaches about morals and "Family Values" just may embrace this complete hyprocrite on those very ideals and push for him to become a leader of this nation. If successful, Newt Gingrich will work to push any progress toward equality back into the 1950's.

I honestly suspect the timing of Newt Gingrich's upcoming announcement which comes after another Georgian scores very highly with conservatives after a debate from South Carolina. That man being Herman Cain, a former Atlanta talk radio host, one time candidate for US Senate and former CEO of Godfather's Pizza. I would not be surprised if Newt wants to take some of the spotlight away from Herman Cain, who himself announced a special public event for May 21st where he planned to make his own announcement.

We shall see what happens. But not much of any of this will be good for LGBT issues.

Mother's Day Soul

IN honor of Mother's Day I thought I would re-create a personal CD compilation that I made immediately after the death of my mother in 2005. We both loved music and I had a habit of creating CD's or mixtapes of music appropiate to an occasion or in celebration. And for me, I could not mourn my mother's death after many years of health problems and nursing home care. I simply refused to MOURN and wallow in the sorrow of losing my mother. She lived a long and hard life but raised two children who grew up to be strong and stayed out of trouble. She did us well and I celebrate my mother's life.

The first thing I did after getting the call that her long suffering was over was to go home and sit in front of my computer and created a personal CD that I would play in my car and remember my mother fondly. I called it "Mother's Day Soul 2005" and printed labels and a CD cover and liner notes. The result is a priceless memento of my mother that proudly sits on the shelf within my music collection. Her photo gracing the front cover.

Here are the songs I selected for this CD in the exact track order.


1. "I'll Always Love My Mama" by The Intruders (1973)


For me, this is the official Mother's Day anthem. One I grew up on and cherished for 38 years. The essence of the beloved sound of Philadelphia, I love this song from the first hit of the drum, to the horns at the intro to the monologue at the end. This is priceless soul, a personal expression of joy and love for a mother as only a child of a single low income parent can understand best. "Mama used to clean somebody else's house just to buy me a new pair of shoes. I never understood how mama made it through the week, when she never got a good nights sleep" That was so many mamas. It was mine.

Listen to the intruders today and give your mama some love!

2. Family Reunion by The O'Jays (1975), another Philly Soul classic , perfect for telling stories of family and a bright reminder of childhood with my mother.



3. "Way Back Home" by Jr. Walker and The All-Stars (1971)
At the time of my mother's passing this is one of the songs that gave me strength through the cherished memories of growing up "way back home".


4. Dianne Reeves "Better Days" (1987)
A sweet song in memory of GRANDMA. My grandmother's Anna R Pettis (08/16/1922-06/06/2004) and Florence Floyd (08/03/1908-10/03/1993)


5. "Grandma's Hands" by Gladys Knight
Her remake of the Bill Withers classic felt so good and deep down into the soul of our family jewels. Our grandmothers! And I insisted that the Gladys Knight version be played at my grandmother's funeral in 2004. It was as true dedication to a truly wonderful lady and many others like her.


6. "Patches" by Clarence Carter (1970)
This song was one of my mother's favorites and one that tells the story of a young man holding the responsibility of being the "man of the house". Many single parent homes like mine had such a person. That was me!


7. "Mama Used To Say" by Junior (1981)

Like Mama used to say, take you time young man, don't rush to get old. Mama usually had the greatest advice.


8. "Tell Mama" by Etta James (1967)
Whenever we had a problem we could always "Tell Mama". Just don't try to talk to mine when her favorite Etta James song was playing.


9. "Shop Around" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.
More motherly advice just in the first lines of the lyrics.


10. "Click A Glass" by Gerald Levert
This was a new song around the time of my mother's passing and it felt so good as in the spirit of the O'Jays "Family Reunion" which of course included Gerald's father Eddie Levert. I had to included it in my "Mother's Day Soul" compilation. And so sad that Eddie Levert lost his sons Gerald and Sean Levert within the next two yearsafter this song was released.


11. "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye (1971)
Just listen to the words...."Mother mother, theres too many of you crying". My mother raised me on some of the best music on this earth. She loved this song and it is my all time favorite album bar none! Had to hear it during the grieving process after the death of my mother in April 2005.


12. "I Wish" by Stevie Wonder (1976)
YEAH! another musical biography of my childhood, looking way back on when I was a little nappy headed boy!


13. "There's no Me Without You" by The Manhattans (1973)
I included this song in the "Mother's Day Soul" complilation only because The Manhattans was one of my mother's favorite groups and the song title says enough as There's no ME without my mother.


14. "Home" by Stephanie Mills
Stephanie's emotional tribute to the many people she lost and her signature song from "The Wiz"


15."Family Circle" by The Mighty Clouds of Joy

My mother once told me the song she wanted to hear at her memorial was "Family Circle". But I didn't understand why until after she died. The song asks will the circle be unbroken. I see it as will our family continue to grow or will it end. And at this point neither of my mother's children have any children. Our family circle is broken as it ends with me and my sister unless my sister decides to start a family. Anyway, I listen to this song for my mama. If you are into gospel, this should feel right for you.



16. "If I Could" by Regina Belle
I included this version for two reasons, it is an testament to the strength and dedication of motherhood and when this song reached number one on the soul/R&B charts in 1993, it was Mother's Day weekend and the first and only time that my sister met her other grandmother who died a few months later. That's a personal matter but its one of many reasons this song hits a nerve for me. The timing was just right.


17. And finally what many consider to be a Mother's Day anthem and definitely was a favorite in my household, I closed out my personal "Mother's Day Soul" complilation with the song "Sadie" by The Spinners (1974)


That CD touched a nerve with many that I was asked to make copies of it. But for me it was a personal tribute to my mother and I listened to it for weeks after my mother's passing, most of the time with a smile on my face. Sometimes my heart was heavy but music has always been the cure for anything I had to deal with.

Happy Mother's Day to each and every mother. Without you there would be no US.

IN loving memory of my mother, Elerwene Burton Floyd (11/22/1935-04/25/2005)

Disco Saturday

A new weekly feature of the "Pride and Soul" blog will be Disco Saturday (the only name I can come up with right now) as this blogger comes out of the closet as a proud DISCO fan. But here you will find the BEST examples of the genre and not the cookie cutter "pop" disco crap that is often the example of the public scorn that the genre recieved by the 1980's. Of course this is really just my opinion. But heres hoping you will just enjoy the music and dance.

My first Disco post is by FIRST CHOICE with lead vocals by Rochelle Fleming

"Let No Man Put Asunder" (1977)


"Im So Glad To Be A Woman" by Love Unlimited


Love Unlimited produced by Barry White and featured his wife Glodean James, her sister Linda James and their cousin Diane Taylor. Love Unlimited was the female backup vocals on Barry White's music as well as their own girl group throughout the 1970's until the death of Diane Taylor in 1985.

Not to be confused with Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra, the musicians behind all of the Barry White empire, there were two versions of the legendary song "Loves Theme". Here is the VOCAL version by Love Unlimited


Sadly, the vocal version wasn't as big a hit as the instrumental by the Love Unlimited Orchestra.


And here is a song from Barry White himself that rocked a few Disco dance floors, "Look At Her" from 1978



"Can You Handle It" by Sharon Redd (1980)


"Lets Go Disco" by Archie Bell and The Drells


"We're On The Right Track" By South Shore Commission

(Sidney L. Pinchback II, original member of South Shore Commission passed away recently of diabetes complications. RIP)

"We're On The Right Track" was also recorded by Blue Magic but for this week's Disco Saturday here is an early disco sound of Blue Magic's "Look Me Up" from 1974


And to hear "Look Me Up" reminds me of another great song out of Philadelphia and thus another song from First Choice..."Newsy Neighbors"


Now I want to keep this to 10 songs and I have reached this point but I have to pick an extra. Another under recognized group DOUBLE EXPOSURE and their classic "My Love is Free"


Hope you enjoyed this first installment of "Disco Saturday" where you will be reminded of the deepest grooves and the underrated performers first and foremost.

Soul Salute: Jimmy Ruffin

Jimmy Ruffin, born May 7, 1939. The older brother of late Motown legend Davis (David) Ruffin. Jimmy also recorded for Motown during its prime but was overshadowed by Motown's groups like his brother's group, The Temptations. But as a SOUL SALUTE, here are a few selections from Jimmy Ruffin.

"Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got"


"Baby I've Got It"


"What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" (1966)


"Tell Me What You Want" (1974)

Soul Salute: Thelma Houston

Saturday Night on to Sunday morning, this SOUL SALUTE for Thelma Houston, born May 7, 1946.



Some unfairly consider Thelma Houston a "one hit wonder" because of her biggest hit "Don't Leave Me This Way", a number one pop, soul and disco smash from the spring of 1977 that also won Thelma a grammy. But those who think of her as a "one hit wonder" are also likely ignorant of the music industry and Thelma's long road within it.

She recorded for years before scoring a hit song and for decades after had many minor hits and club classics that make her one of the most respected divas in music.

Thelma's biggest hit was on Motown, but the song was originally from the Philadelphia sound.

This is the ORIGINAL "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes with Teddy Pendergrass on vocals. Recorded in 1975 for their "Wake Up Everybody" album.


Thelma recorded it in 1976 and as they say (regarding what I said above) The rest is history.
Thelma's version!


And one of my favorite songs from the mid 1980's. Thelma Houston's "You Use To Hold Me so Tight"


Over the years with the lackluster success of her music releases, Thelma made many acting appearances in television and film and became a friend of the LGBT community. Today Thelma continues to perform live and in 2010 was the headline entertainment for Augusta Georgia's first every GAY PRIDE festival.

This is what I captured with a cell phone at the 2010 Augusta Pride so please excuse the poor sound quality. You had to be there and you KNOW she did her thing well.



She sang her signature hit last but with an encore of Luther Vandross' "Never Too Much" and she sang some Marvin Gaye and other Motown hits to an audio track. Her voice and work with the crowd was strong and she also brought her adult son on stage to dance.

Thelma Houston, well deserving of the title "Diva" and for her birthday, a SOUL SALUTE!

Soul Salute May 5: Johnnie Taylor

Johnnie Harrison Taylor was born in Crawfordville Arkansas on May 3, 1937. We went on to "Soul Heaven" on May 31, 2000.

Here is a SOUL SALUTE! beginning with my two all time favorites

"I Believe In You" (1973)


"What About My Love" (1982)


Now on to what made "The Philosopher of Soul" the legend that was Johnnie Taylor. Like many soul legends, Johnnie started singing gospel including working with the late Sam Cooke and his Soul Stirrers before going to Stax Records across the river from where Johnnie Taylor grew up in West Memphis, Arkansas.

"Heaven Is My Home" By The Soul Stirrers with Johnnie Taylor on 1st. lead vocals.


"Part Time Love" by Little Johnnie Taylor (1963)


Working in "Soulsville" gave us Johnnie's best. So many songs and so little time...

"Who's Making Love"


"I Could never Be President" (1969)


"Love Bones"


"Cheaper To Keep Her"


"Steal Away" live at "Wattstax" (1973)


After the demise of Stax Records in the mid 1970's, Johnnie Taylor moved on to several record companies and had great success at Columbia with the album "EARGASM" (1976).

This album produced many hits and Johnnie Taylor's biggest pop hit "Disco Lady", the first certified platinum single with sales of over two million in the spring of 1976.


Other R&B hits from the album included

"I'm Running Out of Lies" (1976)


Songs from the album also appeared on the soundtrack of the film "Disco 9000" in which Johnnie Taylor also appeared in a acting role.

"Disco 9000" (movie theme)


And while "Disco Lady" was one of the biggest Disco/R&B songs of the late 1970's, Johnnie's career wasn't the biggest during the height of the Disco era. He continued to record and never lost his true fans. He went on to other smaller record companies finally settling in at Malaco out of Jackson Mississippi where Johnnie Taylor "The Blues Wailer" continued to flourish with the finest of Blues and Southern Soul right up to his death from a heart attack. He even worked as a radio DJ in his adopted hometown of Dallas Texas.

Fans of Johnnie Taylor have established a FACEBOOK page in honor of Johnnie Taylor hoping to have him inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.


The Pride and Soul blog gives a platinum soul salute to Johnnie Taylor (May 5, 1934 – May 31, 2000)

"I Found a Love"


"Everything's Out In The Open"


"Good Love"


"You Can't Stike Gold In A silver Mine"


"Juke Joint"


"Soul Heaven", ironically Johnnie Taylor's last big hit.

MUST SHARE: Alledged Hate Crime (LGBT) in Greenville SC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 03, 2011

Contact: Elke Kennedy
Sean's Last Wish
www.seanslastwish.org
(864)-884-5003
elke@seanslastwish.org

Another alleged hate crime in upstate SC in less then 4 weeks

Greenville, SC - In the early Sunday morning hours, May 1, 2011, Vonte Fuller was hanging out at Sideline's Sports & Spirit's when a man came out of nowhere and poured a pitcher of beer on him. From there it quickly escalated, he got a beer bottle smashed over his head and several other men joined in and broke more beer bottle's on Fuller's head, face and arm while spewing anti gay slurs like "I hate you faggots and ... you punks make me sick, and you are all going to die slow".
Instead of assisting Fuller, the club security kicked all involved parties out of the bar and let the attackers leave. Finally someone called 911.

Police didn't take a statement or write a report from Fuller after visiting him in the hospital because Fuller didn't know his attackers. Only after Fuller went to the police with his family late Sunday afternoon was a police report filed.

This is an outrage. Whether you like the victim's sexual orientation or not, or whether the victim knows his attacker or not (in most cases the attackers are strangers anyway!) the police officer has the duty to write a report of a crime. (see attached link)
http://www2.wspa.com/member-center/share-this/print/?content=ar1792856

This is the second attack in the upstate of SC in less than four weeks. If you remember, Joshua Esskew was attacked on April 9, 2011 in Rock Hill SC by several people. The FBI is investigating that case as a hate crime. Even though there was a video of the crime, it took authorities over 3 weeks to make an arrest.

South Carolina is one of the five states that does not have hate crime protection laws. However, there is a federal hate crime law now in place that allows the FBI to assist in the investigation of any alleged hate crime based on sexual orientation or gender identity or any bias.

Local authorities are not investigating this case as a hate crime because we don't have hate crimes in South Carolina. I call on the FBI and urge them to investigate this as a hate crime and to charge these men with a hate crime for this brutal crime, that was clearly the result of Vonte Fuller's sexual orientation.

Elke Kennedy, mother of a gay son who was murdered in May 2007, is outraged by this happening again and again. Her statement is "We need to send a message loud and clear that this type of crime will not be tolerated in South Carolina. In addition we really need to look at our laws".
Elke and her organization Sean's Last Wish, which was established shortly after her son's murder, will help in any way she can to assure that justice prevails.

Every hour of the day a hate crime is committed in the United States and every six hours, four times each day, a hate crime is committed against someone from the LGBT community. Every nine days an LGBT person gets murdered.

There is no information available about the attackers and no arrests have been made.

###

For more information, see: www.seanslastwish.org




The mission statement of Sean's Last Wish is to empower people through educational diversity programs, non-violent conflict resolution and individual involvement in the community.

Soul Salute: Nickolas Ashford

Nick Ashford was born May 4, 1942 in South Carolina. Legendary songwriter with his wife Valerie Simpson, here is a sampling of the great songs Ashford & Simpson sang together and wrote for others. Happy Birthday and a Soul Salute to Nickolas Ashford.

"It Seems to Hang On"


"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
written by Ashford & Simpson


And on Diana Ross' version, Ashford & Simpson also sing backup


Ashford & Simpson & Diana Ross

"The Boss"


"It's My House"



Ashford & Simpson & Chaka Khan

"Im Every Woman"


"Clouds"



And some of their best as husband and wife performing together...

"Is It Still Good To Ya"


And it must still be good. For nearly 50 years, Ashford & Simpson, a relationship that is SOLID as a rock.

Soul Salute: Tyrone Davis

Tyrone Davis, born in Mississippi on May 4th 1938. We lost him on February 5, 2005 but we shall never lose his fantastic catalog of pure soul that will always keep us "Turning Back The Hands of Time", getting "in the mood" for "Mom's Apple Pie". And when you reach that "Turning Point", you just can't "Give it up and Turn It Loose" but you "Kiss you Where I Miss You" as the other guy says "I Wish it were me"

Oh but he "Had It All The Time"....classic soul by Tyrone Davis. DEEP Rhythm and Blues. From Mississippi to Chicago and back to Mississippi's Malaco. This is today's Soul Salute to the late Great Tyrone Davis.

"Turn Back The Hands of Time" (live)


"Can I Change My Mind"



"In The Mood"


"There It IS" (1973)


"Turning Point"


"I Wish It Were Me" (remake)


"Kiss You Where I Miss You"


"Mom's Apple Pie"

Jackson Family & Oleta Adams

May 4th is the birthday of the matriarch of the Jackson Family, Katherine Jackson was born May 4th, 1930 and one of her sons, Jackie was born May 4th 1951

"I Found That Girl" by The Jackson Five



May 4th is also the birthday of Oleta Adams born May 4, 1952

"Get Here"

A blogger's dozen

I want to thank those who took the time to visit this page. For a page that hasn't been updated for a long time, there were many views after I started posting again on May 1st. I thank all of you for that.

I have to be honest. I don't have as much time as I would like to really make this place a great place that you would WANT to visit frequently. But I will try to do my best. Things will evolve over time. But I do have plenty of work to do and a ton of personal issues to deal with. This blogging will be a pleasant distraction, a great break from the stressful norm that is my current life.

But again, I thank all of you who viewed this page in recent days. How may you ask? Well its far from "record breaking" but a couple dozen hits means someone out there found an interest in checking it out. Thanks again!

Have a great day!

Soul Salute May 3: The Godfather is born!

May 3rd, 1933 in Augusta Georgia, James Brown was born. The Godfather of Soul.

Not much I can blog here that isn't already known about the legend. So here are some of MY favorites from or related to James Brown.

America is happy and proud at this moment because of our US military troops taking out the life of Osama Bin Laden. So the first James Brown song I post is "Living In America"




"Prisoner of Love"



"There Was A Time" (1969)


"Fred Wesley & The JB's - Doing It To Death"


"Think (About It" by Lyn Collins


And that is just a taste of the funky soul that still is James Brown!

Happy Birthday Godfather! Chrismas day hasn't been the same since you died on that Christmas morning in 2006.

Soul Salute: Angela Bofill

Angela Bofill was born May 2, 1954 in the Bronx NY. She was always one of my personal favorites and is one of those singers who has a rather small catalog but enough of a strong loyal fan base to cherish everything she recorded.

Sadly, Angela Bofill suffered two strokes in the mid 2000's and she didn't have medical insurance. So there were fundraisers held to help cover her expenses. She has worked hard over the years to recover and rehab from the strokes in 2006 and 2007 and and hopefully she will fully recover and can do what she did best. Sing and perform.

Here are a few selections from the great Angela Bofill. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELA!

her biggest hit and her best! "I Try" from 1979


"Under The Moon and to the Sky" (1978)


"Angel of The Night"


"Tonight I Give In"


And here Angela is on stage with her friend, the late great Phyllis Hyman

Today's music birthdays brought to you by the letter "L"

Birthdays for May 2nd. Today's music birthdays brought to you by the letter "L" as the three birthdays today all have the letter "L" as their first initial.

Lou Gramm of the group Foreigner, born May 2, 1950

This is their mega hit from late 1981, early 1982. Spent more than two months at #2 on the US pop charts. Couldn't reach number one because of Olivia Newton John's "Physical" held the #1 position hostage just as long.


Leslie Gore, Born May 2, 1946 She celebrates her 65th birthday as a lesbian with her partner of 28 years! Congratulations Leslie and have a great "Party"!

"It's My Party" by Leslie Gore (1963)


Larry Gatlin born May 2, 1948

"All The Gold in California" by The Gatlin Brothers

Osama Bin Laden: OVER AND OUT!

Wow! A surprise announcement last night from the President of the United States that the notorious terrorist Osama Bin Laden was killed by US Troops in Pakistan.

Here is the full announcement in case you were under a rock and didn't hear at least part of it. (Subject to YouTube keeping or removing the video. If it is no longer available you can find through other sources)

Sunday May 1, 2011 around 11:30pm


The reaction was swift and very celebratory as crowds gathered outside of the White House in Washington DC and at "Ground Zero" and Times Square in New York City. Common belief is that justice was done for the thousands of lives lost from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

It would be foolish to believe that this is over. It is FAR from over. There will always be a need for military protection and for people everywhere to maintain awareness as there could be a revenge attack from supporters and associates of the now DEAD Osama Bin Laden.

I am always proud of and supportive of our United States Military personnel and thank those who serve and honor those who were lost.

A song in honor of our military by The Commodores, "Heroes"



Be careful out there! Hopefully there will be peace but we cannot let our guard down.

From the vinyl vault: Candi Staton

Candi Staton "Victim"
From the album "House Of Love" (1978)

Happy birthday Ray Parker Jr

Ray Parker JR, born May 1, 1954 in Detroit.

Before his success with his group "Raydio" and his pop music success in the 1980's, he wrote this for Rufus along with Chaka Khan



His first hit with his group RAYDIO

"Jack and Jill" by Raydio (1978)


And his biggest pop hit from the movie "Ghostbusters" which won him a grammy award despite legal issues with the song. He was accused of plagiarizing the melody from the Huey Lewis and the News song "I Want a New Drug". And honestly I never thought about it or cared back then. Both songs were huge hits.

"Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr (1984)

Robinson & Redd: AIDS birth and death.

May 1 in history....

Max Robinson, the first African-American to host a nightly national network newscast and often the first African-American/Black man to hold news anchoring positions on major television stations was born on May 1, 1939.

ABC News promo for "World News Tonight" anchored by Frank Reynolds, Max Robinson and Peter Jennings ran from 1978 until the death of Frank Reynolds in 1983 when Peter Jennings became the sole anchor of the program.




His first television anchoring duty came over 50 years ago in Virgina where he was forced to report the news behind a screen with the station's logo so that the viewers could not see that a black man was reporting the news at a time when it was unheard of especially in the South. One day he defiantly moved the screen and was fired but moved on to bigger cities and became a legend in local television in Washington DC earning his way to become a national figure in television journalism.




Max Robinson died in December 1988 at the age of 49 from complications from AIDS.

And musically, singer SHARON REDD passed away on May 1, 1992 at the age of 46. Reports were that she died of AIDS complications or pneumonia or both.

Sharon Redd was one of Bette Midler's "Harlettes" before becoming a solo performer with popular dance/disco songs like "Can You Handle It" (my favorite)

Mayday! Mayday! I'm Baaaack! (To blogging that is)

May 1, 2011, I have decided to try again to get into the habit of blogging. I have things to say or share or just want to document my passion for one thing or another.

A few months back I changed the name of this blog for the second time. The first version was too bland, the second version seemed to not have any clear direction, a horrible logo and poor appearance. In short I got bored with it. Then I changed to this "new" format under the title "Pride And Soul" which isn't much different than the previous "Rainbow Soul Journal and frankly I am not sure where I am going with this. But I shall try again.

You can expect that with this return to blogging I will maintain my dislike for political correctness and likely upset some readers with my non traditional views. I may also share with you some recent experiences in dealing with people on specific issues that show that while some think their mindset is "progressive" it is in fact more destructive and a cause for holding some people back. I believe in what you can call the PAINFUL TRUTH while others prefer a sugarcoated version of alledged reality.

Enough about that part, the "Soul" part is definitely the music. People who are friends of mine on Facebook know that I post a lot of music. Some have unfriended me because of the volume of posts that ended up on their newsfeeds. Others appreciate the music posts and some find them informative. But a better place to express my musical interests is here on the blog and you will see more here and less there while I will post links to the blog on Facebook and Twitter. You will be able to find a combined post with more detail that I hope you will find to be entertaining and informative at the same time.

The "Pride" part is Gay Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender news, issues and activism. Hoping GLBT issues and understanding will make its way to people least likely to hear it but are most likely in NEED of hearing it. Hmmm, a SOUL music audience? You bet your last dollar on that! People NEED to hear about and come to an understanding of LGBT issues coming from a place that doesn't fit the stereotype.

"Pride And Soul" together is ME. This is my blog and I don't have to be objective but I will try. So whatever is on my mind and whatever my belief system is, that is what you will see here. I hope you will enjoy whatever you see when you visit "Pride and Soul" by Edric Floyd.

Please understand that I am not a professional writer. I could use a return to school and good training in writing and journalism. I see that is possible in my not too distant future. But practice also makes good and hopefully perfect. So I hope this blogging experience improves over time.

Thanks for giving "Pride and Soul" by Edric Floyd a chance. Feel free to comment but understand that this blog will not become a cesspool of cyberspace like so many message board and comment sections have become on other sites and blogs that are popular and considered to be "outstanding" by national organizations.

And this is a tease....the last paragraph is a hint of one of the topics I plan to blog about many times in the future.