Testify! Salutes Burt Bacharach

Testify Episode #100. Originally broadcast 02/27/2019

Testify! 100th Episode!

Love – My Little Red Book (Elektra)
The Love Affair – Please Stay (Muza)
Alohe Burke and the Five Stairsteps – The Look of Love (Cobblestone)
Alan Lorber Orchestra – The Look of Love (Verve)
Dionne Warwick – Promises Promises (Scepter)
Cher – Alfie (Imperial)

Marva Whitney – This Girl’s In Love With You (King)
Lou Johnson – Kentucky Bluebird (A Message to Martha) (Big Hill)
Lou Johnson – Walk On By (Big Top)
Dionne Warwick – This Empty Place (Scepter)
Dobby Dobson – Don’t Make Me Over (Pama Supreme)
Ian and the Zodiacs – This Empty Place (Philips)
Gloria Loring – I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself (Evolution)
The Tangeers – This Empty Place (Scepter)
The Free Design – Windows of the World (Project 3)
Tina Mason – Are You There With Another Girl (Capitol)
Tony Orlando – To Wait For Love (Epic)
Ben E King – They Don’t Give Medals To Yesterday’s Heroes (Atco)
Jackie DeShannon – Come and Get Me (Imperial)

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass – Casino Royale Theme (Colgems)
Cal Tjader – Moneypenny (Skye)
Burt Bacharach – The Little French Boy (Colgems)
Enoch Light and the Light Brigade – Bond Street (Project 3)
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass – The Big Cowboy and Indian Fight (Colgems)
Tony Mottola and the Groovies – Do You know the Way To San Jose (Project 3)
Burt Bacharach Orchestra and Chorus – Nikki (A&M)
Burt Bacharach – Pacific Coast Highway (A&M)

Shirelles – Baby It’s You (Scepter)
Manfred Mann – My Little Red Book (Ascot)
Brook Benton – A House Is Not a Home (Mercury)
Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles – There’s Always Something There To Remind Me (Atlantic)
Roger Nichols and the Small Circle of Friends – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (A&M)
The Four King Cousins – This Girl’s In Love With You (Capitol)
Dionne Warwick – Here I Am (Scepter)
The Drifters – Mexican Divorce (Atlantic)
Oscar Toney Jr – Any Day Now (Bell)

Rex Garvin and the Mighty Cravers – I Gotta Go Now (Up On the Floor) (Like)
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Greetings all
What you see before you is a recent edition of my WFMU – Give the Drummer Radio show Testify! which I thought would be of special interest to Iron Leg-gers.

Since WFMU is in the midst of it’s 2019 fundraising marathon, and Testify! is part of that effort, I thought that this week, I would use Iron Leg and Funky16Corners to push some traffic in that direction.

This particular episode of Testify! was a major labor of love, something that I’d wanted to do for a long time, and the assembly of which underwent many revisions over the course of several weeks (in an attempt to get it just right).

There are some faves here, but also a very large helping of deep cuts, from the worlds of rock, pop and soul, all in service of paying tribute to one of the all time great songwriters and record makers.

So, give it a listen, and if you dig it, and/or WFMU, click on this link (or on the WFMU logo above), DONATE and send some money their way to keep the greatest station in the nation up and running for another year.

That said, I will see you all next week.

Peace

Larry

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Leslie Uggams – Is That All There Is

Leslie Uggams

Listen/Download – Leslie Uggams – Is That All There Is

Greetings all.

The record I bring you today is an unfamiliar version of a very familiar song, that also happens to be one of my favorites.

I wrote a few years back about my deep and abiding love for Peggy Lee’s version of ‘Is That All There Is’, a record that drilled its way into my ears when I was a child and was the root of so much musical growth over the years.

The version by Leslie Uggams predates Lee’s hit by a year, and comes from a very interesting album indeed.

As you know, I am also a devotee of Leiber and Stoller, and when I found out that they had done an album with Leslie Uggams in the late 60s, I set out to find a copy.

Uggams had already had been appearing on TV since she was a child, and was on the verge of her own TV series when she went into the studio with L&S.

‘What’s an Uggams’ is an interesting, sophisticated pop LP, flirting with soul in places, but sounding as if L&S were trying to emulate Burt Bacharach and Hal David (in fact, Uggams covers no less than four B&D songs on the album).

‘Is That All There Is’ is one of the most unusual L&S tunes. It sounds nothing like the work of the guys that created R&B masterworks for the Coasters, leaning more in the direction of cabaret.

Uggam’s version runs closer to the arrangement of the odd, original recording by New York DJ Dan Daniels than it does to the epic reading by Peggy Lee, but even with the sprightly musical backing, the song doesn’t lose much of its bittersweet edge.

Uggams still speaks the verses over a great arrangement by Pat Williams which incorporates banjo and tack piano with lush horns and strings.

The album as a whole makes for great listening.

I hope you dig the tune, and I’ll see you all next week.

Peace

Larry

 

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If you dig what we do here or over at Funky16Corners, please consider clicking on the Patreon link and throwing something into the yearly operating budget! Do it and we’ll send you some groovy Funky16Corners Radio Network (and related) stickers!

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PS Head over to Funky16Corners for some soul.

Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #83

Why hello there!

Playlist

Buddy Greco – Time’s A Wasting When Your Gone (Epic)
Judy Henske – Hey Babe (Elektra)
Judy Henske – Nobody Knows (Elektra)
Piccola Pupa – Break Away (WB)

Group Therapy – Foxy Lady (RCA)
Group Therapy – Hey Joe (RCA)
Group Therapy – Morning Dew (RCA)
Bagetelle – Such a Fuss About Sunday (ABC)

Don Sebesky and the Jazz Rock Syndrome – Somebody Groovy (Verve)
Don Sebesky and the Jazz Rock Syndrome – Dancing In the Street (Verve)
Don Sebesky and the Jazz Rock Syndrome – I Dig Rock and Roll Music (Verve)
Folkswingers – Shapes of Things (World Pacific)
Folkswingers – Grim Reaper of Love (World Pacific)

Chaps – Ascension To Virginity (Decca)
Chaps – Constant Journey (Decca)
El Chicano – Un Mundo (MCA)
Searchers – This Empty Place (Kapp)

Listen/Download -Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #83 – 170MB/256kbps

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It’s Iron Leg Radio time again!

We’re back with a grip of new and recent arrivals, including groovers from Buddy Greco (seriously, check it out!), Judy Henske, Piccola Pupa, Group Therapy, the Bagatelle, Don Sebesky and the Jazz Rock Syndrome, Folkswingers, Chaps, El Chicano and the Searchers!

Dig it all, and make sure to subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes.

Click here to subscribe to any of the Funky16Corners Radio Network shows!

See you next week!

Peace

Larry

 

________________________________________________

If you dig what we do here or over at Funky16Corners, please consider clicking on the Patreon link and throwing something into the yearly operating budget! Do it and we’ll send you some groovy Funky16Corners Radio Network (and related) stickers!

_______________________________________________

PS Head over to Funky16Corners for some soul.

Tina Mason – Are You There

Tina Mason

Listen/Download – Tina Mason – Are You There

Greetings all.

Before we get started this week …

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It’s time for the 2017 Funky16Corners Pledge Drive.

Since Iron Leg, and the Iron Leg Radio Show podcast are dependent of the continued health of Funky16Corners, and continue under the banner of the Funky16Corners Radio Network, it behooves me to post these links here, too.

The pledging will also take a slightly different form this year, moving to Patreon (click here or on the logo below to go to the Funky16Corners page) , where you will be able to spread your contributions out over the entire year, which will help cover the ongoing server/broadcast/hardware expenses. This year has seen the upgrade of a couple of crucial pieces of equipment, and any help you fine people can provide will keep the machinery moving here at Funky16Corners central. So please dig deep so we can continue to do the same!

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The record you see before you made its way into my crates a few years back via the inclusion of an early version of the the song ‘What’. That tune, written by HB Barnum was originally recorded by Judy Street and went on to become a Northern Soul classic.

The version by Tina Mason (recorded/released shortly after the Street 45) is a slightly slower, more stylish affair, but still cool.

Mason had a short but interesting recording career, first with Tina and the Mustangs on Capitol, then on her one full album.

She had a certain amount of Southern California success, having performed at Disneyland and then becoming a regular on ‘Where the Action Is’ (where she met her future husband, Phil ‘Fang’ Volk of Paul Revere and the Raiders.

Her 1967 album ‘Is Something Wonderful’ was produced by David Axelrod and arranged by HB Barnum (no doubt the reason she recorded ‘What’) and features a wide variety of sounds.

Mason’s stuff walked the line between girl-group and soul, as well as a certain kind of sophisticated pop.

Today’s selection is a great cover of the Bacharach/David ‘Are You There (With Another Girl)’ (title truncated on Mason’s album), which was a hit for Dionne Warwick in 1965.

Mason’s version is a great showcase for her voice, backed with a lush arrangement, sounding like a kinder, gentler wall of sound. There’s a booming bass, shimmering rhythm guitar and understated strings and brass, with a female chorus backing Mason’s lead vocal.

The production by Axelrod is typically first-rate, and it’s a wonderful take on a great song.

The LP is apparently pretty hard to find these days, but it was reissued (with bonus tracks) on CD in 2008 by Now Sounds.

I hope you dig the track, and I’ll see you all next week.

Peace

Larry

 

PS Head over to Funky16Corners for some soul.

Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #72

Why hello there!

Playlist

ILRS#72

Rod Stewart – I Wouldn’t Ever Change a Thing (Mercury)
Sweet Linda Divine – Young Girl Blues (Columbia)
Sweet Linda Diviine – I Love My Dog (Columbia)
Earth Opera – American Eagle Tragedy (Elektra) (45 Edit)
Little John – We (Epic)

Deviled Ham – Come On In (Super K)
McCoys – Beat the Clock (Bang)
McCoys – Like You Do To Me (Bang)
Ohio Express – Soul Struttin’ (Cameo)
Ohio Express – I Find I Think of You (Cameo)
Ohio Express – Try It (Cameo)
Super Dupers – Captain Marvel Jones (Design)

Ian and the Zodiacs – This Empty Place (Philips)
Richard Dawson – Apples and Oranges (Carnation)
Richard Dawson – His Children’s Parade (Carnation)
Christmas Spirit – Will You Still Believe In Me (White Whale)
Buzz Clifford – I See I Am (Dot)
Buzz Clifford – I Am the River (Dot)

Listen/Download -Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #72 – 157MB/256kbps

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Greetings all.

Welcome to this month’s episode of the Iron Leg Radio Show.

 

This month I have a very groovy collection of new and recent arrivals, going in all directions at once, treading on the borders of prog, digging into beat, psych, freakbeat, popsike, and baroque pop.

There are some very groovy things herein, as well as what I hope will be some surprises.

As always, I hope you dig it, and I’ll see you next week.

Make sure you subscribe to the podcast in iTunes!

Peace

Larry

 

PS Head over to Funky16Corners

Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #50

Why hello there!

Playlist

The Bold – Gotta Get Some (Cameo)
Jaywalkers – Love At First Sight (Laurie)
TJK and his PS13 Blues Band – Boo Goo Loo Baby (Parkway)
TJK and his PS13 Blues Band – Shades of Blue (Something Blue) (Parkway)
Waygood Ellis – I Like What I’m Trying To Do (Polydor)
Lee Montgomery – Season of the Witch (Liberty)

Norma Tanega – You’re Dead (New Voice)
Norma Tanega – Walking My Cat Named Dog (New Voice)
Norma Tanega – Waves (New Voice)
Norma Tanega – No Stranger Am I (New Voice)
Norma Tanega – A Street That Rhymes at 6AM (New Voice)
Norma Tanega – I’m Dreaming (New Voice)
Norma Tanega – I Am the Sky (New Voice)

 

Norma Tanega – Bread (New Voice)
Norma Tanega – Don’t Touch (New Voice)
Barry McGuire – Walking My Cat Named Dog (Dunhill)
Dusty Springfield – No Stranger Am I (Philips)
The Shangs – A Street That Rhymes at 6AM 
Art Blakey – Walking My Cat Named Dog (Limelight)

 

Dusty Springfield – Sweet Ride (Philips)
Feminine Complex – Love Love Love (Athena)
Dionne Warwick – This Empty Place (Scepter)
the Tangeers – This Empty Place (Scepter)
2 of Clubs – Heart (Fraternity)
2 of Clubs – My First Heart Break (Fraternity)
2 of Clubs – River Deep Mountain High (Fraternity)
2of Clubs – You Love Me (Fraternity)

Listen/Download -Iron Leg Radio Show Episode #50 – 155MB/256kbps

Greetings all.

Welcome to this month’s episode of the Iron Leg Radio Show.

This is – believe it or not – the 50th outing of the ILRS!

In a completely predictable move, I didn’t manage to put together any kind of retrospective/special, which is better because I wouldn’t want to do that anyway.

What you get instead is some groovy new arrivals, two sets focusing on the music of Norma Tanega, and some other greats from the crates.

As always, I hope you dig it, and that you stick around for the next 50.

See you next week.

Peace

Larry

 

PS Head over to Funky16Corners

Return of the Au Go Go Mixes!

Iron Leg Digital Trip Number Five – The Party

Playlist

1 Henry Mancini (The Party OST) – The Party (vocal) (RCA)
2 Keith Mansfield – Boogaloo (CBS)
3 Enoch Light – Over Under Sideways Down (Project 3)
4 Moe Koffman – Dr Swahili (Jubilee)
5 Mr Jamo – Shake What You Brought With You Pt1 (SSS Intl)
6 Dick Hyman – The Liquidators (Command)
7 Walter Wanderley – Kee Ka Roo (Verve)
8 Sweet Charity OST – The Pompeii Club (Rich Man’s Frug) (Decca)
9 John Philip Soul & his Stone Marching Band – That Memphis Thing (Pepper)
10 Andre Brasseur – The Duck (Palette)
11 Tony Newman – Soul Thing (Parrot)
12 Jimmy Caravan – Look Into the Flower (Vault)
13 Vic Mizzy (Don’t Make Waves OST) – Vox Box (MGM)
14 New London Rhythm & Blues Band – Soul Stream (Vocalion)
15 Dave Grusin (Candy OST) – Ascension to Virginity (ABC)
16 Henry Mancini (the Party OST) – The Party (instr) (RCA)

Listen/Download 46MB Mixed MP3 – MP3

Iron Leg Digital Trip #32 – A Not Unpleasing Splash of Colour

Playlist

Keith Mansfield – Soul Thing (Pronit)
101 Strings – Jesus Christ Superstar (edit) (Alshire)
Jimmy Smith – The Cat (45 edit) (Verve)
Enoch Light – C’Mon and Swim (Command)
Living Strings – Out and About (Camden)
Mariano and the Unbelievables – Sunshine Superman (Capitol)
Lady Nelson and the Lords – Soho Strut (Dunhill)
Louis Bellson – The Eel (Project 3)
Quincy Jones – Mohair Sam (Mercury)
Lloyd Green – Steel Blue (Chart)
Mike Sharpe – Spook A Lou (Liberty)
Dave Pike Set – You’ve Got the Feeling (Wagram)
Vic Mizzy – Daybreak In Malibu (MGM)
Andre Brasseur – Pow Pow (MFP)
Virtues – Meditation of the Soul (Andee)
Enoch Light – Bond Street (Project 3)
New London Rhythm and Blues Band – Soul Mate (Vocalion)
Freddie Scott and the Seven Steps – It’s Not Unusual (Marlin)
101 Strings – Spinning Wheel (Alshire)
Mohawks – Baby Hold On Pt2 (Cotillion)
Moe Koffman – Funky Monkey (Jubilee)
US Air Force Academy Falconaires – Day Tripper (USAFA)
Keith Mansfield – Funky Fanfare (KPM)

Listen/Download 102MB/256K Mixed Mp3

 

Greetings all.

This week sees the return (by special request) of two of my favorite Iron Leg Digital Trip mixes, #5 and #32, aka The Au Go Go Mixes.

The yearly Funky16Corners Pledge Drive is underway, and since Iron Leg is an important part of the Funky16Corners Blogcasting Network, and depends on the same paid storage space in which to function, I thought it made sense to tie this blog in with the goings on at that (blog).

If you dig what we do here (or there,or in both places) fall by Funky16Corners, click on the Paypal button and drop a coin (or two) in the jukebox (as it were).

It will be greatly appreciated.

Iron Leg Digital Trips numbers 5 and 32 really do belong together, with the latter being intended as a sequel to the former.
They are my take on the Au Go Go vibe of the swinging 60s, with all manner of groovy stuff stitched together from soundtracks, library music, jazz, pop, soul, funk and kitsch.

You can read the original manifesto here.

So mix yourselves up a cocktail, pull down the ones and zeros and I’ll be back next week with some garage punk.

Peace

Larry

 

PS Head over to Funky16Corners for some soul.