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Monday, December 3, 2018

VINYL CLASSICS - THE HISTORY OF LATINO ROCK VOLUME 1 (1956-1965) THE EASTSIDE SOUND




If you just started collecting the Eastside Sound or wanted a single LP which gave you an overview of this genre of music then this is a must have.

Released in 1983 on the Zyanya label and distributed by Rhino Records, The History Of Latino Rock Volume 1 (1956-1965) The Eastside Sound is a compilation album featuring the biggest stars to come out of the East Los Angeles area. The LP contains 16 dynamite tracks.

From the early artists Little Julian Herrera and Ritchie Valens to the early bands The Blendells, The Romancers and The Premiers to big acts Thee Midniters and Cannibal & The Headhnters all the big names are here on one album.

The front cover features a photo of the legendary Paramout Ballroom where many of these acts performed, The back cover features many rare photos of the artists.

Two of my favorites tracks are the Eastside classics "Queen of My Heart" by Rene and Ray and "Darling (Please Bring Your Love)" by the Salas Brothers.


TRACK LIST:

SIDE 1

1. Ritchie Valens - La Bamba
2.Chan Romero - Hippy Hippy Shake
3. Little Julian Herrera - Lonely, Lonely Nights
4. The Blendells - La La La La
5. Thee Midniters - That's All
6. Rene and Ray - Queen Of My Heart
7. Ronnie And The Pomona Casuals - I Want To Do The Jerk
8. Ritchie Valens - Donna






SIDE 2

1. Thee Midniters - Whittier Blvd
2. The Salas Brothers - Darling (Please Bring Your Love)
3. Little Ray - I Who Have Nothing
4. The Premiers - Farmer John
5. The Romancers - My Heart Cries
6. The Carlos Brothers - Tonight
7. The Velveteens - You've Broken My Heart
8. Cannibal And The Headhunters - Land Of 1000 Dances (extended version)






NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!

SOLELY FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES!!



Tuesday, July 10, 2018

RECOMMENDED LISTENING - GOD'S CHILDREN - MUSIC IS THE ANSWER:THE COMPLETE COLLECTION



EDITORS NOTE: SPECIAL THANKS TO MIKE MINKY OF MINKY RECORDS FOR                                                 RELEASING THIS HISTORICAL COLLECTION OF MUSIC AND                                                   ALLOWING ME TO PREVIEW AND REVIEW IT HERE.

BAND MEMBERS: Little Willie G (Willie Garcia) - Vocals
                                  Lil' Ray (Ray Jimenez) - Vocals
                                  Lydia Amescua - Vocals
                                  Fawn Rymal - Vocals
                                  Stacy Rymal - Vocals

                                  Steve Gutierrez - Drums
                                  Alan D. Flores, Anthony "Beaver" Carroll - Bass
                                  Ray Montisanto - B-3 Organ

STUDIO MUSICIANS - The Wrecking Crew


In order to fully appreciate the message and historical significance of God's Children in relation to the Eastside Sound, a little ground work must be laid.

The late 1960's saw the assassination of some of our country's leaders, an escalated war in Viet Nam, unrest on educational campuses and a search by the youth of a generation to find answers to the questions of how to deal with life and it's daily battles,

The Beatles called out for "Revolution. The Temptaion's said it's a 'Ball Of Confusion" and Sly And The Family Stone asked us to take a "Stand"

The late 1960's also saw the formation of "super groups" like Crosby, Stills And Nash and Blind Faith. The Eastside Sound would form their own "super group" in the cast of God's Children.

In 1971, having previously been members of Thee Midniters, Willie Garcia and Ray Jimenez through a series of telephone conversations both agreed to work on a new project. Li' Ray brought a teenage girl with a big voice, Lydia Amesqua, raised up on the Latino vocal styles of the day, including those of Thee Midniters. It was Amesqua who named the band ("Because , well, we're all God's Children" as she said).

They would add two more female singers, Fawn and Stacy Rymal. Visually the group looked cool with long hair and dressing in the style of the day. So it was three girls and two guys for a total of five singers-a little like a Latino 5th Dimension.

God's Children began to blend doo wop, funk and choreography into a new brand of soulful sound.

Eastside music entrepreneur Eddie Davis booked studio time for God's Children and arranged for a 40-piece orchestra be present at the session. Soon the band was signed to the UNI label for more recording. This time Phil Spector's Wrecking Crew assisted at the sessions.

Two singles were released by Uni, but soon dealing with label hierarchy disillusioned the band members who went their separate ways. Little Willie G would join the progressive Latino rockers Malo. Amesqua continued performing live under the name Lydia Verdugo and ray still works regularly at his East LA studio.







Track 1 "Music Is The Answer"
              The title track composed by Little Willie G is a wah-wah/congas powered rocker. It stands
               as an anthem with the message that no matter what blows life throws at you that through
               music you can clear your mind, speak your mind and unite like minds for a good cause.

Track 2 "It Doesn't Make No Difference"
               This track is a bit of organ-powered garage pop teetering on psychedelia Written and sung
                Lil' Ray "the only thing that matters is what you're doing for yourself today"

Track 3 "If You Ever Go Away"
               Written by Lil' Ray and sung soulfully by Lydia Amescua could have been another single
               release. This version was recorded with the East LA band.

Track 4 "I Just Wish"
               Written and sung by Lil' Ray and calling for people to get together to make life better

Track 5 "Dream"
               A powerful spiritual ballad written and sung by Willie and Ray

Track 6 "Brown Baby"
               Written by Wilbert Wade and recorded by Willie G. It was released as a single in 1970 on                     the Gordo label. (Gordo 702). Backing vocals on this song were done by the Salas Brothers.



Track 7 "Hey Does Somebody Care"
               The A-side of the first Uni single recorded by God's Children. It became the theme song for
               the television series "Matt Lincoln" This track features the dueling voices of both Willie G
               and Lil' Ray and was produced by Eddie Davis and Mario Paniagua. Released in 1971.
               (Uni 55266).



The B-side of the Uni single is "Lonely Lullaby"



Track 8 "Lonely Lullaby"
               The B-side to the Willie G single "Brown Baby" written by Mario Paniagua and once again                 featuring the backing vocals of the Salas Brothers. (Gordo 702). Released in 1970.


                 
Track 9 "Music Is The Answer"
               Featuring Will G with The Wrecking Crew

Track 10 "Music Is The Answer"
                 Instrumental by The Wrecking Crew

Track 11 "Put Your Head On My Shoulder"
                 Written and recorded by Paul Anka who had a major hit with it in 1959. God's Children
                 recorded it and it was released as the A-side of their second single by Uni in 1971.
                 (Uni 55266). It was a soul group's attempt at a pop song and it failed and probably helped
                 lead the to Willie and the group parting ways.



Track 12 "That's The Way God Planned It"
                 Originally written and recorded by Billy Preston in 1969, Willie G  does an inspiring
                  job on vocals and Uni used it as the B-side to God's Children's second single (Uni 55295)
                 released in 1971.

Track 13 "If You Ever Go Away"
                 Again Lydia Amesqua on vocal but this time backed by the Wrecking Crew.

Track 14 "If You Ever Go Away"
                 Instrumental by The Wrecking Crew


Also available in limited edition brown vinyl:











EDITORS NOTE: I highly recommend you pick up this anthology of the first full-length release
                               of these long lost 1971 recording sessions Not only for the historical treasures
                               that they are but also for listening pleasure.


NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!


SOLELY FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.
       

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

RECOMMENDED READING:CHICANO SOUL


THIS IS A REVIEW POSTED BY AMAZON:

In 2007, Ruben Molina published the first-ever history of Mexican-American soul and R&B music in his book, Chicano Soul: Recordings and History of an American Culture. Ten years later, Chicano Soul remains an important and oft-referenced study of this vital but often overlooked chapter of the greater American musical experience. Chicano soul music of the 1950s and 1960s still reverberates today, both within Chicano communities and throughout many musical genres. Molina tells the story of the roots of Chicano soul, its evolution, and its enduring cultural influence. "Brown-eyed soul" music draws on 1950s era jazz, blues, jump blues, rock 'n' roll, Latin jazz, and traditional Mexican music such as ranchera, norteo, and conjunto music. With its rare and gorgeous photos, record scans, concert bills, and impressive updated discography (to say nothing of its rich oral histories and interviews), it is one of those rare works that speaks to both general and academic audiences

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The 10th anniversary edition is an absolute must for the record collector if only for the fact that the discograhly has been updated with many new vinyl entries.

The text is more concise and easy to ready and very informative. Mr Molina is the ultimate authority in the field of Chicano culture and soul record collecting.

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!! SOLELY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES!!