So I came across this compilation a while ago titled Jamaica to Toronto: Soul Funk & Reggae 1967-1974, and I didn’t get around to listening to it until just now… and there are some really great songs on it. Some of the recording is a little lo-fi, but this just added to the intrigue. I tried finding anything on the internet having to do with the band The Cougars, who wrote two of the songs posted below, and I found this article. Apparently there was this whole reggae/funk music scene going on in Toronto in the late 60s, and for some reason no one really paid attention to it… and it dwindled away. The idea that a whole chunk of musical history can be forgotten like that just struck me as interesting. Anyway, here are my favorites off of this compilation, a little funk, a little reggae, a little blues. And I really reccommend the moment exactly 2 minutes into The Cougar’s cover of the Temptations song “I Wish It Would Rain,” it’ll make you feel happy.

The Cougars - Right On

Jo-Jo And The Fugitives - Chips - Chicken - Banana Split

Ram - Love Is The Answer

The Cougars - I Wish It Would Rain

iTunes | Amazon

The Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane - At Carnegie Hall still stands as one of my favorite jazz albums of all time. Recorded in ‘57 but released in ‘05. Monk’s constant redefinition of the logic and pacing of music and Coltrane’s perseverence to discover never lose their brilliance or excitement for me. I finally went out and got the Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane album which was released in ‘57 with a relatively short tracklist. A few friends had recommended this and I was not disappointed. It is nothing short of amazing to listen to these two geniuses work together.

Relatively unknown when these were recorded, the two continue to break ground and make some of the most beautiful, original and awe-inspiring music of all time. Subtlety is something that music sorely lacks these days and if some would just take the time to understand the power of rest and comping, music would see a boost in quality for sure… a boost in soul.

This particular set of songs were taken from a special session. Including one 9 minute solo Monk track called “Functional,” this is a spectaular array of talent and concentration for everyone involved. Some major highlights of my listening experience were from “Off Minor” and the ever pleasant “Epistrophy.”

MP3: Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane - “Epistrophy”

MP3: Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane - “Off Minor”

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Here’s a little more Trane

Hey everyone. This is my first post… enjoy.

To our generation, the Kinks exist as something outside of the realm of a band. Like many of the mainstay names coming from the 60’s and early 70’s, they’re image is mostly a conglomeration of years and albums as opposed to a group of growing people benchmarking themselves with records. Keeping this in mind, I don’t think that people really see the Kinks second major release, Kinda Kinks, as a statement at all.The album, released in 1965, is often regarded as a poor collection of decent songs… in other words, commercial independent singles with some filler. While this is a justified critique, I don’t think it opens us up to look at the true brilliance and birth of Ray Davies songwriting. From hits to fan favorites, the Kinks start at Kinda Kinks. The musical aspect of the band was picking up, surely, but we wouldn’t hear Dave Davies true genius for another year or two.

My pick for the song of the day exists as a cover to a Kinks song by the lovely Leslie Feist. One of the more famous tunes they “cranked out” was “Nothin’ in the World Can Stop Me Worrying ‘Bout That Girl.” I like to listen to covers just because the spin can be so sincere even if it’s another persons song. Am I really off base here? Let me know. Check it out.

MP3: Feist - “Nothin’ in the World Can Stop Me Worrying ‘Bout That Girl”

Here’s the original

MP3: The Kinks - “Nothin’ in the World Can Stop Me Worrying ‘Bout That Girl”