Tha Man Monday

Can I just say I miss the 70’s. Being born in 1972 most folks figure I don’t remember much, but I have always been an old soul. I remember my mother having parties. She and my God mother would get together with some other folks (names who can remember names, they weren’t my friends after all) and have what I called record parties. I think the only thing my mother loved more than me (maybe neck and neck) was her record collection.
Looking back it was nothing more or less spectacular than what pretty much everyone else had, but it was hers and she was proud of it. So proud of it she didn’t want me to touch it, which I never did (until I was sure she was long gone and not coming home anytime soon.) But I did take great care to make sure everything was put back just as I took it out. I loved sitting in front of that turn table and just getting lost amid the sea of record covers.
Then there was my father who I know loved his collection more than me, but to be fair it was and to my knowledge today remains a quite impressive collection. He was a little more trusting with his records than mommy, but I think it is because I showed the same care I had learned from putting her albums back undisturbed.
The music from the 70’s is a sound that you are hard pressed to find these days. Most of those cat’s are not making much music anymore and some that are trying to keep up with these “young bloods” (see how easy I slip back?)



Well today’s “Tha Man Monday” is dedicated to a man who is still managing to be contemporary and old school at the same time. Roy Ayers a funk/soul/jazz musician who made the vibraphone the hotness. Born in LA in September of 1940 (yes he is a Virgo). I asked an old head (someone older than me LOL) which he thought was Roy’s most popular song but he could not decide so I decided to list the three I thought were in the competition. In no particular order

“Running Away” from the album Lifeline,

“Coffy is the Color” from the soundtrack for 70’s cult classic “Coffy”,

and “Everybody loves the sunshine” from the album by the same name.
Well it does not matter to me which is most popular there all the hotness.
Here is one of my favorites..

Wearing your heart on your CD

I am often astounded by any artist’s ability not to turn pain into art but to turn pain into art and know that you will have to revisit that pain over and over whenever it is called upon you to do that particular piece. Such is the case with “Telephone” from Erykah Badu’s 2008 album “New Amerykah Part 1- Fourth World War”. This is a song she wrote after the funereal of her good friend J Dilla. Before I knew the origins of the song I knew it was a story of pain and loss and while the origins of this song may in fact be sad, you have to admit after hearing it, this is a sound not heard since the 70’s and is something sorely missed.

Take a few minutes, turn the Television, lights, etc, (not the computer) and just give this song a full listen.