Hail to the Teeth?

On this momentous day I figured I would share a little song about perhaps our last progressive and visionary president, Jimmy Carter. Sure, everyone seems to love Bill Clinton from the rear-view mirror, but when you really look at Clinton's legacy he wasn't that much different than his republican predecessors. Carter warned us about the oncoming energy crisis and was laughed out of the white house for installing solar panels and opting to wear a sweater rather than turn up the thermostat.

I wonder where Obama is looking for inspiration on his first official day in office.

District of Columbia - Hail to the Teeth (Disco Mix)
This is kinda like a predecessor to the Rappin' Duke style of rhyme flow and it clearly precedes hip-hop in general, but if this guy ain't rappin', I'm not sure what he's doin'.


It's only a short bit in the middle of this video, but clearly its now open season on Obama impersonations thanks to Jamie Fox.

Election '08: Musical Shout-Outs, Part 7: To President-elect Barack Obama!

HOT DAMN! I'm struggling to grasp the immense reality of what this means. This is one of those moments that we'll remember when we're old and gray. Those moments don't come too often in life and its all the better when you can feel like you're a part of it. I'm not gonna say much more, cause I think these songs here say enough. I couldn't help myself and just on kept adding more songs to the post, some of them in a couple different versions.

Skull Snaps - It's A New Day
. . . And a better day is coming.









Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come
I first uploaded the Baby Huey version (now bumped to the bottom), but Sam's original version more accurately reflects the grace and eloquence that embodies our new President.



The Pointer Sisters - Medley: Yes We Can / Love In Them Hills
Yes We Can! (Can!)









James Brown - Funky President (People, It's Bad)
Well, I don't know that "funky" would be one of the words I'd use to describe President-elect Obama, but I can agree with James Brown (RIP) that, "People, It's Bad!"




Parliament - Chocolate City
We all know Obama is no racial radical, but Da Capitol is no longer an oreo, black on the outside and white in the middle. As of January 20th this cookie will have a deliciously fudgy center. (I hope that's not offensive to anyone, as it's not meant to be)


Donnie - Our New National Anthem
This came out after 9/11 and immediately spoke to me. It speaks louder now.






Baby Huey & the Babysitters - A Change Is Gonna Come
Psychedelic Politics








Lee Dorsey - Yes We Can
God Bless Allen Toussaint and Lee Dorsey for bringing us this anthem that inspired the nation.








and finally . . .

Election '08: Musical Shout-Outs, Part 6: To the Undecided

It's hard for me to believe that anyone can still be undecided after more than two years of campaigning by both of these candidates, but I know you're out there, cause the media tells me so. Chances are you're not reading this blog, but if you are I have two songs here to help you make up your mind.

Lou Bond - Why Must Our Eyes Always Be Turned Backwards?
This is McCain. And I like this song. But basically he represents an outdated frame of mind with the same old policies as all of the previous administrations for as long as I can remember. Listening to this song, more than half of the problems Lou describes are still relevant today. That's not the best track record. I, for one, want to see a different approach.

Marvin Gaye - Where Are We Going?
This song is Obama. It's cautiously optimistic, aware of its vulnerability. It recognizes the struggle in life, but strives for something different, something bright and new. It challenges the American people to really examine ourselves and question what our country's role will be in the future, one of hate, fear and approaching apocalypse or one of sustainability, peace and hope. Well, that's what I took out of it anyways. The words are actually kinda sad if you listen closely, but the tone of the song, thanks to Marvin's golden pipes and some young Mizell Bros. (that's right, Mizells), is bright, reflective and uplifting. All told, I think it does hold up as Obama's song. I mean look around. We're in a recession, an endless war and no other country in the world really likes us. But that could all change tomorrow . . . Obamanos!

Election '08: Musical Shout-Outs, Part 5: To the Paranoid, Patriots & Purchasers

Today's musical shout-out is a bit of a grab-bag, but I've conveniently lumped them under the letter "P" Sesame Street Style! Oscar is repping our letter of the day with an offer of a "pickle" that comes from god-knows-where. There's a lesson to you kids out there, don't accept pickles from furry monsters living in trash cans.

Today's songs do have something in common. They all speak to some fundamental discontent in our society, be it political, societal or cultural. And they're all pretty funky and two of them are covers.

Sergio Mendes & Brazil '66 - For What It's Worth
This great cover of the classic Buffalo Springfield song comes from the best Sergio Mendes & Brazil '(insert '66, '77 or '88 here) album. Recorded in 1970 this album sees Sergio tapping some of the Tropicalia-era songwriters like Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso as well as their North American hippy counterparts like Joni Mitchell ("Chelsea Morning"), Stephen Stills ("For What It's Worth") abd Blood, Sweat & Tears ("Sometime in Winter"). Of all of the many covers of this song, this is by far my favorite with its slow build and eventual catharsis percolating over a soulful latin groove.

Dr. John - Patriotic Flag Waiver
On his second album of vood-doo funk Dr. John emerges from his psychedelic swamp to deliver this two-faced political manifesto. Surely Mr. Mac Rebennack is no political conservative, at least he wasn't in 1969, but his lyrics suggest that his tongue-in-cheek commentary on American politics was more serious than the first listening might suggest.

Esther Phillips - Disposable Society
On Ether's fourth album for CTI/Kudu she decided to cover another Gil Scott-Heron song (the first over being her "Home Is Where the Hatred Is" from her first Kudu album), "Disposable Society." Steve Gadd provides the excellent drumming and Pee Wee Ellis is on the arrangement and it could very well be Bob James on the keys. Esther as usual delivers soulful vocals on this still very relevant tune.

I can't help but mention the book, "Cradle to Cradle", after listening to this song's lyrics once more. This book is blowing my &%#!ing mind lately! If you're tired of looking at our society's wasteful ways and long for an approach that's more gratifying than just using less, throwing away less and doing less, it's in your interest to check this book out.

One day to go!

Election '08: Musical Shout-Outs, Part 4: To the Cynics

Just a few days away now from the most important election of most of our lifetimes. I don't think your political persuasion changes that fact. But is it really possible for a Black-American to get elected as the President. I for one surely hope so and deep down believe it's possible, but we won't know until Tuesday night, or if its close enough it might be a bit longer before anything's finalized. I'm also not ruling out some serious election fraud. I mean, really, it's been a HUGE factor in the last two presidential elections and seeing as McCain's using Karl Rove's people on his campaign why would we expect any less?

Syl Johnson - Is It Because I'm Black?
I wanna reassure you all that this song is merely a reality-check and in no way represents my opinion on the matter. But after listening to This American Life this afternoon and hearing life-long Democrats who are campaign on behalf of McCain, I can't help but wonder what is really motivating their political mutiny . . .

Election '08: Musical Shout-Outs, Part 3: To the Bleading Hearts

Smokey's first solo album is a truly underrated masterpiece that deserves its place next to the other great Motown albums of the early seventies by the likes of Marvin or Stevie. The whole thing is straight-up perfect with maybe one weak track among the batch. The original songs are all great Smokey compositions with a real intimate feel and contemporary lyrics and the production called on the help of new Motown producer and soon to be artist, Willie Hutch. I have a Soul Train video at home of him doing his very mellow thing to three of the songs from this album, but this baby-making tune was the only one I could find on the interwebs.

Smokey Robinson - Just My Soul Responding
Smokey's best attempt at a political song is this lesser-known tune with an unusual rhythm track and arrangement. Still one of the best social commentary song from the seventies if you ask me . . . To all those bleading hearts out there, Smokey feels your pain . . .

Election '08: Musical Shout-Outs, Part 2: To the Current Administration

Too little, too late . . . I know. But it doesn't mean we can't send those bastards off with a nice kick in the pants. That's not to say that I have admitted democratic victory, but even if McRage does get elected he'll be better than W. was.




Today we have two tunes that really tell the President what we think of him. Like yesterday's tune, these songs emerged at a time when pop music could be politically relevant and its no secret that these songs are targeted at the "Big Dick," Richard Nixon. But bad, dishonest, power-hungry people are more alike than dissimilar, so I'm sure you will have no problem finding some relevancy lingering in these tunes.



Stevie Wonder - You Haven't Done Nuthin'
A great lesser-known jam from one of Stevie's best albums.







The Honey Drippers - Impeach the President
I'm ashamed to admit that I never knew this song until yesterday. I was reading the interview with Slick Rick in the new Wax Poetics and he referenced Doug E. Fresh beatboxing over this beat. Of course, I've heard the beat, but never bothered to track down the original tune. As an original track it sure does hold up.

Election '08: Musical Shout-Outs, Part 1: To the Voters

Today I'm kicking off a string of posts leading up to the 2008 election next Tuesday. I got inspired the other night and wrote down a list of songs that had vaguely or sometimes explicitly political readings and decided to make a series of posts that touched on various political issues relevant for this election. They will range in content, but most will be old-school soul jams of some sort. I'm gonna try and be pretty regular about them (at least every other day) and the commentary will be minimal as the songs should speak for themselves. That being said, here's the first one:

Election '08: Musical Shout-Outs, Part 1: To the Voters

Marvin Gaye - You're the Man (parts 1 & 2)
This was the lead-off single for a never-to-be recorded or released album. The single "You're the Man" reached #50 pop and #7 R&B during the Spring of 1972. The album was to be the follow-up to his hugely popular and now classic "What's Goin' On", but when this single didn't perform as well on the pop charts, he changed his strategy and started recording "Let's Get It On."

This is the single version, which surprisingly did not get released on the "Deluxe Edition" of "Let's Get It On" that Motown put out a few years back in place of some demo versions that frankly are not as good, in my humble opinion.

Try to imagine a song coming out today by a mainstream artist at the peak of his powers with even one verse as politically relevant as these lyrics must have been:

Talkin', talkin' to the people
Tryin' to get them to go your way
Tellin' lies, not to worry
That we won't be led astray
So blind, unsignified
Your opponents always lying
Think about the mistakes you make
I believe America's at stake
You know, busin', busin' is the issue
If you have a plan with you
Do you have a plan?
If you've got a master plan
Got to vote for you
Hey hey, got to vote for you
You're the man

We don't wanna hear no more lies
About how you plan to economize
We want our dollar value increased
Employment to rise
The nation's taxation
Is causin' all, all this inflation
Don't give us no peace sign
Turn around and rob the people blind
Economics is the issue
Do you have a plan with you?
'Cause if you've got a master plan
Got to vote for you
You're the man

[8 times, over scat singing:]
Don't you understand?
There's misery in the land

[Fade out . . . Fade in Part 2]

People marching on Washington
Better hear what they have to say
'Cause the tables just might turn against you, brother
Set around Election Day
Politics and hypocrites
Is turning us all into lunatics
Can you take the guns from our sons?
Right all the wrongs this administration has done?
Peace and freedom is the issue
Do you have a plan with you?
'Cause if you've got a plan
If you've got a master plan
Got to vote for you
Hey hey, got to vote for you
'Cause you're the man

[Repeat and fade:]
Got to vote for you

Thank you, Marvin. Remember to vote next week!