RhoDeo 1539 Aetix

Hello,

Today the last US Aetix, a split post No Wave Funkers smothered with praise but never got anywhere as orinairy as a career, they left us this collection to enjoy, they are coupled here with another group that forgot to go places with the acclaim they got, they left us two extended albums to  N'Joy

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The minimalistic funk of New York's Liquid Liquid consisted almost entirely of percussion grooves with a smattering of bass, plus congas, marimba, and the occasional vocal thrown in. The quartet consisted of Scott Hartley (drums, percussion, talking drum), Richard McGuire (bass, percussion, piano, guitar), Salvatore Principato (percussion, vocals), and Dennis Young (percussion, marimba, roto toms). The band released three EPs during its existence -- 1981's Liquid Liquid and Successive Reflexes, and 1983's Optimo. The latter contained the track "Cavern," which became the basis for Grandmaster Flash's "White Lines (Don't Do It)." In 1997, Grand Royal Records released a collection of those three EPs, plus a 1982 performance, Live from Berkley Square.

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The core of this 2008 set is essentially the same as that of the crucial self-titled comp, released over a decade prior through Grand Royal (Mo' Wax in the U.K.): the 12" EPs Liquid Liquid, Successive Reflexes, and Optimo, though "Lub Dupe" from the first 12" appears in alternate form. While the Grand Royal comp added four tracks from a 1982 performance at Berkley Square, this disc features a handful of outtakes, as well as roughly 15 minutes from a 1980 gig. There are no real revelations for those who have known the original releases for decades, but those tracks remain as relevant in the 2000s as they did in the '80s . They contain some of the most progressive rhythms you will hear in your lifetime -- including the creeping/crawling "Lock Groove," the jaw-droppingly intense "Optimo," and, of course, "White Lines" template "Cavern" -- and they simply cannot be worn out.

Liquid Liquid - Slip In And Out Of Phenomenon  (flac 422mb)

Liquid Liquid 
01 Groupmegroup 3:20
02 New Walk 2:08
03 Lub Dupe 2:24
04 Bellhead 2:20
05 Rubbermiro 3:36
06 Spearbox 2:00
Successive Reflexes
07 Lock Groove (In) 4:00
08 Lock Groove (Out) 4:04
09 Push 1:57
10 Zero Leg 2:33
11 Eyes Sharp 2:15
12 Where's Al? 2:32
Optimo 
13 Optimo 2:43
14 Cavern 5:21
15 Scraper 3:41
16 Out 2:08
17 Sank Into The Chair 1:46
18 Outer 1:23
Recorded Live 12/5/80 
19 Groupmegroup 3:27
20 Sank Into The Chair 2:12
21 Elephant Walk 3:35
22 Setmeonmyown 2:56
23 Not Again 2:22

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Though the B-52's had already lit the spark that eventually turned Athens, GA, into '80s college rock ground zero, it was Pylon who truly first established the formerly sleepy Southern town as an artistic center and hipster haven. With an often surreal sound that paired the same sort of serpentine, angular instrumental work and emotive, off-kilter vocals characteristic of Television and Gang of Four with a disco-informed rhythmic bounce, Pylon came off like an even weirder, artier, yet somehow less pretentious Talking Heads. One of only two full-length albums released during the group's original early-'80s run (Pylon would eventually disband and re-form a number of times as the members' moods and lifestyles dictated), Chomp was just as taught, exciting, and spooky as its classic predecessor, Gyrate, but benefited from a step-up in production values. Kicking off with the throbbing, guitar noise-infused "K" (a strangely unsettling tribute to the board game Scrabble), the record inhabits a murky alternate universe dance party where Gloria Gaynor and Donna Summer's melodic R&B vocals have been replaced by lead singer Vanessa Briscoe's Yoko Ono/Patti Smith-style growls and yelps, and Studio 54 has set up shop in Andy Warhol's Factory. Considering how challenging this music remained decades after its release, Chomp is surprisingly accessible. Laced with undeniable hooks, it also includes the band's best-known song, "Crazy," which was famously covered by R.E.M. as the B-side of the "Driver 8" single and later included as the leadoff track on the Dead Letter Office rarities compilation. The members of Pylon always considered themselves less a traditional rock band and more a collective of artists who happened to work in the medium of music; Chomp showcases the unit at the peak of its craft, painting musical abstractions in bold and influential strokes.

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Pylon's first album, although it doesn't contain masterworks on the level of the first single "Dub" or the later single "Crazy," is considerably more consistent than the comparatively spotty Pylon!! and Chomp. This is Pylon at their purest, mixing the spartan angularity of Gang of Four with a playfulness missing from similar U.K. bands like the Au Pairs or the early Mekons (or indeed from Gang of Four themselves) as well as the irresistible danceability of their Athens, GA, compatriots the B-52's. Yet Pylon never quite sounded like anyone except Pylon; their naïve instrumental style -- guitarist Randy Bewley claimed that he didn't even know the names of any notes or chords -- and singer Vanessa Briscoe's inimitable voice (moving from a flirtatious coo to a Meredith Monk shriek in the space of a line) and inscrutable lyrics are so idiosyncratic that they probably couldn't sound like anyone else any more than another band could tackle a Pylon song. (Remember the botch R.E.M. made of "Crazy"?) Highlights here include the spirited opener "Volume," the evocative instrumental "Weather Radio" (probably the prettiest song on the record), and Briscoe's impassioned "Feast on My Heart." Later pressings of this album replace the first track on side two, "Driving School," with "Recent Title." Both tracks are available on the 1989 compilation Hits.

Pylon - Gyrate (Plus)  (flac 402mb)

Cool / Dub
01 Cool 3:21
02 Dub 4:42
Gyrate
03 Volume 4:17
04 Feast On My Heart 3:34
05 Precaution 2:52
06 Weather Radio 2:15
07 Human Body 3:07
08 Read A Book 2:00
09 Driving School 3:54
10 Recent Title 2:27
11 Gravity 2:39
12 Danger 5:39
13 Working Is No Problem 3:32
14 Stop It 3:05
10" Inch 45 RPM
15 Danger!! 5:40
Pylon Studio Demos
16 Functionality 4:29
Recorded By [Recorded On Casset

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Though the B-52's had already lit the spark that eventually turned Athens, GA, into '80s college rock ground zero, it was Pylon who truly first established the formerly sleepy Southern town as an artistic center and hipster haven. With an often surreal sound that paired the same sort of serpentine, angular instrumental work and emotive, off-kilter vocals characteristic of Television and Gang of Four with a disco-informed rhythmic bounce, Pylon came off like an even weirder, artier, yet somehow less pretentious Talking Heads. One of only two full-length albums released during the group's original early-'80s run (Pylon would eventually disband and re-form a number of times as the members' moods and lifestyles dictated), Chomp was just as taught, exciting, and spooky as its classic predecessor, Gyrate, but benefited from a step-up in production values. Kicking off with the throbbing, guitar noise-infused "K" (a strangely unsettling tribute to the board game Scrabble), the record inhabits a murky alternate universe dance party where Gloria Gaynor and Donna Summer's melodic R&B vocals have been replaced by lead singer Vanessa Briscoe's Yoko Ono/Patti Smith-style growls and yelps, and Studio 54 has set up shop in Andy Warhol's Factory. Considering how challenging this music remained decades after its release, Chomp is surprisingly accessible. Laced with undeniable hooks, it also includes the band's best-known song, "Crazy," which was famously covered by R.E.M. as the B-side of the "Driver 8" single and later included as the leadoff track on the Dead Letter Office rarities compilation. The members of Pylon always considered themselves less a traditional rock band and more a collective of artists who happened to work in the medium of music; Chomp showcases the unit at the peak of its craft, painting musical abstractions in bold and influential strokes.

Pylon - Chomp (More)  (flac 414mb)

01 K 4:33
02 Yo-Yo 4:14
03 Beep 3:24
04 Italian Movie Theme 2:00
05 Crazy 3:13
06 M-Train 3:46
07 Buzz 2:59
08 No Clocks 2:58
09 Reptiles 3:56
10 Spider 3:54
11 Gyrate 4:06
12 Altitude 3:19
13 Crazy (Original) 3:12
14 Yo-Yo (Pylon Mix) 5:53
15 Gyrate (Pylon Mix) 4:57
16 Four Minutes 6:04

Pylon - Chomp (More)   (ogg 153mb)

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RhoDeo 1539 Quest 09

Hello, .

Today a series that will be running into the new year, 24 episodes of Elvenquest. It's is a sitcom about a misanthropic writer of fantasy novels who finds himself whisked away into a parallel universe by an elf, a dwarf and a warrior princess, where he must undertake to find the Sword of Asnagar in order to save Lower Earth from the evil Lord Darkness before he can get home.  .. N'Joy

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Plot

During the Third Age of Elven Princes of Lower Earth, a band of noble warriors – Vidar the Elf Lord (Boyd), Penthiselea the Warrior Princess (Winkleman) and Dean the Dwarf (Eldon) – plan to save Lower Earth from the evil rule of Lord Darkness by searching for the Sword of Asnagar, "for whoso'er wields the sword shall rule all of Lower Earth."[2] However, they first have to discover "The Chosen One" who will lead them to the Sword, whose name is "Amis". Amis is a dog belonging to Sam Porter, a misanthropic fantasy novelist in the real world.

Vidar, Penthiselea and Dean travel via a portal to take Amis, who is with Sam at a book signing in Totnes High Street, to Lower Earth. When they take Amis, Sam follows them and both Sam and Amis arrive in Lower Earth. When they arrive in Lower Earth, Amis is transformed into a human (played by Lamb), retaining many of his canine traits, such as becoming excited when there is a knock at the door, and being totally devoted to Sam. Sam believes he has been kidnapped by deranged fans until he sees the world outside the room in which he awakes. He asks to be sent back home, but is told that the portal is closed and can only be opened by the same Sword of Asnagar that Amis must seek.

Sam decides to travel with Amis, Vidar, Penthiselea and Dean to find the Sword. Meanwhile, Lord Darkness (Alistair McGowan) is planning to stop them from finding the Sword, helped by his evil but dimwitted assistant Kreech (also played by Eldon). Sam proves invaluable in using his modern instincts to trick his way past various creatures barring their way. For instance, he bluffs a three-headed troll guardian of Darkness' fortress in the same way as he would a security guard at a nightclub, distracting it long enough for Dean the dwarf to attack. He also tends to expect secret tunnels and concealed doors because that's the sort of thing he would have written into one of his plots. He is often right.

Characters

Sam Porter (Stephen Mangan). An author of fantasy novels with a jaded attitude, especially towards his more fanatical fans. As the series opens his career and personal life are not going well.

Amis, the Chosen One (Dave Lamb). Originally Sam's pet dog and best friend in the world, he transforms into a human in Lower Earth but retains canine traits and behaviours.

Vidar the Elf Lord, (Darren Boyd), last of a mighty family of Elf Lords, and the leader of the Questers, despite being somewhat dim. His name may be inspired by Víðarr, a god in Norse mythology associated with vengeance.

Penthiselea the Warrior Princess (Sophie Winkleman Series 1-3) (Ingrid Oliver Series 4) in silver breastplate armour and thigh-high boots, who has been promised to Vidar since childhood. Sam is very interested in her, but having been raised as a Warrior Princess she has no concept of relationships with men. Her name may be inspired by Penthesilea, a legendary Amazon warrior-queen.

Dean the Dwarf (Kevin Eldon), a mighty if diminutive warrior with unsavoury personal habits.

Lord Darkness (Alistair McGowan), Lord of Evil, whose efforts to dominate Lower Earth are frustrated by the Questers and his own staff of extremely dimwitted minions.

Kreech (Kevin Eldon), the Right Hand of Darkness, and only slightly less dimwitted than the other minions.

Other characters played by Chris Pavlo.



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Elvenquest 09 Vidar's Love Potion (mp3  25mb)

09 Vidar's Love Potion 27:32


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previously

Elven Quest 01 The Chosen One (mp3  25mb)
Elvenquest 02 The Search For Amis (mp3  25mb)
Elvenquest 03 The Tower Of Tests (mp3  25mb)
Elvenquest 04 The Distress Call (mp3  25mb)
Elvenquest 05 The Oracle Of Fenrog (mp3  25mb)
Elvenquest 06 The Rock Of Sorrows (mp3  25mb)
Elvenquest 07 The Sword Of Asnagar (mp3  25mb)
Elvenquest 08 The Evil Sorcerer Dietica

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Sundaze 1539

Hello, well  F1 Qualification threw up a 'surprise', Mercedes back on the front row . Verstappen managed getting noticed with an 8th place for the Torro Rosso, bur then his car shortcircuited and at a danger spot, which got him another penalty, he starts at the back again, oh well the boy (he'll become 18 next week) gets plenty of chances to learn overtaking..


Today for the final time work by that renowned Japanese musician, best known internationally as a member of the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra with Yukihiro Takahashi and Ryuichi Sakamoto. He is one of the grand old (turned 60 in 2007) men of Japanese pop music, with less then a year between 2 2cd sets Tribute to Haruomi Hosono, were released, Japanese and international artists do imaginative takes on Hosono's work, that cements his status as one of Japan's most original and enduring talents and reflects his work in electronica, folk-rock, world music and ambient music, among other genres....... N'joy

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Haruomi Hosono (細野 晴臣 Hosono Haruomi, born July 9, 1947 in Minato, Tokyo), also known as Harry Hosono.

Hosono is the grandson of Masabumi Hosono the only Japanese passenger and survivor of the sinking of RMS Titanic. Hosono first came to attention in Japan as the bass player of the psychedelic rock band Apryl Fool, alongside drummer Takashi Matsumoto, who released the album The Apryl Fool in 1969. Hosono and Matsumoto then formed the influential folk rock group Happy End with Eiichi Ohtaki and Shigeru Suzuki. One of the songs he composed for Happy End, "Kaze wo Atsumete" (1971), later appeared in the American film Lost in Translation and on its soundtrack in 2003. After Happy End disbanded around 1974, Hosono worked with a loose association of artists making "exotica"-style music under the title Tin Pan Alley.

His involvement in electronic music also dates back to the early 1970s, when he performed the electric bass for Inoue Yousui's folk pop rock album Ice World (1973) and Osamu Kitajima's progressive/psychedelic rock album Benzaiten (1974), both of which were electronic rock records utilizing synthesizers, electric guitars, and in the latter, electronic drums and rhythm machines.

In 1977, Hosono invited Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi to work on his exotica-flavoured album Paraiso, which included electronic music produced using the Yamaha CS-80 polyphonic synthesizer and ARP Odyssey synthesizer. The band was named "Harry Hosono and the Yellow Magic Band" and, having been recorded in late 1977, Paraiso was released in early 1978. The three worked together again for the 1978 electronic album Pacific, which included an early version of the song "Cosmic Surfin".

In 1978, he released an innovative electronic soundtrack for a fictional Bollywood film Cochin Moon, together with artist Tadanori Yokoo and future YMO band members Ryuichi Sakamoto and Hideki Matsutake. Inspired by a trip to India and "the exotic, luxurious, and seemingly wonder-filled scenarios played out in Indian cinemas," it was an experimental "electro-exotica" album fusing exotic Indian music (reminiscent of Ravi Shankar and Bollywood music) with electronic music, including an early "synth raga" song entitled "Hum Ghar Sajan" (from a Guru Granth Sahib phrase). The same year, he contributed to Sakamoto's song "1000 Knives" for his solo album, The Thousand Knives of Ryuichi Sakamoto, which experimented with fusing electronic music with traditional Japanese music in early 1978.

He was one of the first producers to recognize the appeal of video game sounds and music. YMO's self-titled debut in 1978 contained substantial video game sounds and after YMO disbanded an early project was an album simply titled Video Game Music containing mixed and edited Namco arcade game music and sounds. Video Game Music was released in 1984 as an early example of a chiptune record[9] and the first video game music album. That same year, he also produced the theme song for Hayao Miyazaki's popular anime film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, "Kaze no Tani no Naushika", with vocals by actress-singer Narumi Yasuda. In the late 80s and early 90s, the influence of world music on his music deepened, and he worked with international singers and musicians such as Amina Annabi.

He has produced a number of short term band projects as a band member. His first post-YMO band was Friends of Earth. As with most of his projects he combines musical styles he's interested in. F.O.E. seemed to be a combination of Funk and Techno and included a collaboration with James Brown and Maceo Parker for a remake of the song "Sex Machine". Another notable band project was 1995's Love, Peace & Trance. Members were Mimori Yusa ("Love"), Miyako Koda ("Peace"), Haruomi Hosono ("&") and Mishio Ogawa ("Trance").

In the 1990s he started the Daisyworld label to release a wide range of experimental artists from Japan and the rest of the world. Hosono collaborated on many of the releases, such as World Standard, a trip into Americana; HAT, a supergroup (the acronym stands for Hosono, Atom Heart, Tetsu Inoue),and "Quiet Logic", by Mixmaster Morris and Jonah Sharp. The Orb also paid tribute with a series of remixes including the notorious "Hope You Choke on Your Whalemeat".

In 2002 Haruomi formed the duo Sketch Show with his YMO band-mate Yukihiro Takahashi. They have released two albums, one of which, Loophole, has received a UK release. When the third former YMO member, Ryuichi Sakamoto deepened his involvement it was decided to bill those collaborations as Human Audio Sponge.

In the spring of 2007, his fellow YMO members and other artist paid tribute to Haruomi with a 2-disc album titled "Tribute to Haruomi". That same year, the animated film Appleseed Ex Machina was released featuring a soundtrack performed and supervised by Hosono.

In September 2010 he performed at the De La Fantasia festival and played songs from his upcoming album.

In February 2011 it was announced that his new album, entitled "HoSoNoVa" was to be released on April 20. He also performed a special concert to celebrate its release.

Bands and Collaborations
Apryl Fool
Happy End
Tin Pan Alley
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Friends of Earth (F.O.E) (with Eiki Nonaka)
HIS (with Kiyoshirō Imawano and Fuyumi Sakamoto)
Love, Peace & Trance (Mimori Yusa, Miyako Koda and Mishio Ogawa)
Swing Slow (with Miharu Koshi)
HAT (with Atom Heart and Tetsu Inoue)
Harry & Mac (with Makoto Kubota)
Tin Pan (with Tatsuo Hayashi and Shigeru Suzuki)
Sketch Show (with Yukihiro Takahashi)
HASYMO (previously Human Audio Sponge) (Sketch Show and Ryuichi Sakamoto, with Keigo Oyamada, Hiroshi Takano, Christian Fennesz, Tomohiko Gondō and Ren Takada as live support)


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In the early 80’s Yellow Magic Orchestra turned the world of J-pop on its ear and garnered some serious international buzz through what was initially a joke band playing ironic ‘oriental’ versions of mondo lounge hits. Although keyboardist Sakamoto Ryuichi went on to gain acclaim for his soundtrack work, Haruomi Hosono, the true mastermind behind YMO, continued making music, both as a solo artist and as a producer, as head of his Daisyworld label and most recently through work with old YMO compadre Takahashi on their critically acclaimed Sketch Show unit. So, yes, the man is deserving of a tribute, but is this particular tribute deserving of your attention? Oh, yes. A stellar cast of Hosono’s cronies, old and new, are on hand to give the man his due, including Takako Minekawa, Little Creatures, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Towa Tei, World Standard, Akiko Yano, Rei Harakami, Jim O’Rourke, Kahimi Karie and Cornelius (gasp!), as well as YMO co-conspirators Sakamoto and Takahashi. Salivating yet? Some awkwardly accented English vocals on a few tracks aside, this mellow and excruciatingly classy compilation may just be the most essential 2007 Japanese release so far…

VA - Tribute to Haruomi Hosono  (flac 492mb)

-I-
01 Haruomi Hosono - Rock-a-bye My Baby (Piano Demo Version 1973) 1:59
02 Van Dyke Parks - Yellow Magic Carnival 3:38
03 Ryuichi Sakamoto + Takako Minekawa - Kaze No Tani No Nausicaa 5:09
04 Miharu Koshi - Wagamama Na Kataomo 4:27
05 Little Creatures - Highschool Lullaby 4:36
06 Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra - Absolute Ego Dance 4:26
07 Hiroshi Takano + Ikuko Harada - Owari No Kisetsu 3:56
08 Miroque Omukae - De Gonsu 3:38
09 Towa Tei + Natural Calamity - Honey Moon 4:54
10 Kuchiroro Peking - Duck 5:19
11 World Standard + Mitsuo Koike San-ji - No Komori Uta 4:27
-II-
12 Yanokami - Koi Wa Momo-iro 4:43
13 Yukihiro Takahashi - Sports Men 4:25
14 Miyuki Hatakeyama + Yukiko Hayashi + Bophana - Midnight Train 4:15
15 Cornelius + Ryuichi Sakamoto - Turn Turn 5:08
16 Toy Box - Ginga Tetsudoo No Yoru 2:32
17 Woodstock Vets - Choochoo-san 4:03
18 Vagabond (10) + Akito Katayose - Black Peanuts 3:58
19 Aya Tamaki + Takashi Taniguchi + Tetsuya Yamasaki - Kaze Wo Atsumete 2:22
20 Sake Rock All Stars + Saho Terao - Nihon No Hito 3:07
21 Jim O'Rourke + Kahimi Karie - Fuurai-boo 5:03
22 Haruomi Hosono - Humming Blues (Demo Version 2007) 1:28

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More Japanese and international artists do imaginative takes on Hosono's work, that cements his status as one of Japan's most original and enduring talents and reflects his work in electronica, folk-rock, world music and ambient music, among other genres

VA - Strange Songbook (Tribute to Haruomi Hosono)  (flac 557mb)

-I-
01 Kodaira Municipal Kamijuku Elementary School Music Committee - kaze no tani no Nausica (Inst.) 4:20
02 Señor Coconut - Tokyo Rush 3:30
03 Hirth Martinez With Van Dyke Parks - Rockaby My Baby 4:29
04 Taeko Onuki - Femme Fatale 4:47
05 Kicell - Shimen doka 4:33
06 Dr. John - Aiwoiwiaiou 5:53
07 Shigeru Suzuki & Yoichi Aoyama - Fuku wa uchi oni wa soto 4:05
08 Tatsuo Hayashi & Humming Kitchen - Chow Chow Dog 4:35
09 Sheena & The Rokkets - Pom Pom joki  3:28
10 Keiichi Suzuki - Tokyo Shyness Boy 5:19
11 Hanno & Fumiya & Aoki - Insomnia 6:01
-II-
12 Makoto Kubota - Roochu Gumbo 4:48
13 Double Famous & Kazumi Nikaido - Shiawase Happy 2:57
14 Minako Yoshida - Glass no ringo 4:25
15 Buffalo Daughter - Simoon 6:05
16 Thurston Moore - Haiiro no kaidan 5:44
17 Yamagen - Natsu nan desu 3:19
18 Miu Sakamoto - Giniro no Harmonica 6:13
19 Micabox Feat. Ayako Takatoh - Kaze o atsumete (Vo. ver.) 4:22
20 Ryuichi Sakamoto, Fennesz - Normandia 3:55
21 Ann Sally & Pan Cake - Paraiso 5:03
22 Motoya Hamaguchi - Pliocine 6:28

RhoDeo 1538 Grooves

Hello,

Today an American vocal group known for their success with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. Known for their choreography, distinct harmonies, and flashy wardrobe, the group was highly influential to the evolution of R&B and soul music. Having sold tens of millions of albums, the Temptations are one of the most successful groups in music history. As of 2015, the Temptations continue to perform with one living original member, Otis Williams, still in the lineup.  ... N'joy

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 Thanks to their fine-tuned choreography -- and even finer harmonies -- The Temptations became the definitive male vocal group of the 1960s; one of Motown's most elastic acts, they tackled both lush pop and politically charged funk with equal flair, and weathered a steady stream of changes in personnel and consumer tastes with rare dignity and grace. The Temptations' initial five-man lineup formed in Detroit in 1961 as a merger of two local vocal groups, the Primes and the Distants. Baritone Otis Williams, Elbridge (aka El, or Al) Bryant, and bass vocalist Melvin Franklin were longtime veterans of the Detroit music scene when they joined together in the Distants, who in 1959 recorded the single "Come On" for the local Northern label. Around the same time, the Primes, a trio comprised of tenor Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams (no relation to Otis), and Kell Osborne, relocated to the Motor City from their native Alabama; they quickly found success locally, and their manager even put together a girl group counterpart dubbed the Primettes. (Later, three of the Primettes -- Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard -- formed the Supremes).

In 1961, the Primes disbanded, but not before Otis Williams saw them perform live, where he was impressed both by Kendricks' vocal prowess and Paul Williams' choreography skills. Soon, Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Bryant, Franklin, and Kendricks joined together as the Elgins; after a name change to The Temptations, they signed to the Motown subsidiary Miracle, where they released a handful of singles over the ensuing months. Only one, the 1962 effort "Dream Come True," achieved any commercial success, however, and in 1963, Bryant either resigned or was fired after physically attacking Paul Williams. the Tempts' fortunes changed dramatically in 1964 when they recruited tenor David Ruffin to replace Bryant; after entering the studio with writer/producer Smokey Robinson, they emerged with the pop smash "The Way You Do the Things You Do," the first in a series of 37 career Top Ten hits. With Robinson again at the helm, they returned in 1965 with their signature song, "My Girl," a number one pop and R&B hit; other Top 20 hits that year included "It's Growing," "Since I Lost My Baby," "Don't Look Back," and "My Baby."

In 1966, the Tempts recorded another Robinson hit, "Get Ready," before forgoing his smooth popcraft for the harder-edged soul of producers Norman Whitfield and Brian Holland. After spotlighting Kendricks on the smash "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," the group allowed Ruffin to take control over a string of hits including "Beauty's Only Skin Deep" and "(I Know) I'm Losing You." Beginning around 1967, Whitfield assumed full production control, and their records became ever rougher and more muscular, as typified by the 1968 success "I Wish It Would Rain." After Ruffin failed to appear at a 1968 live performance, the other four Tempts fired him; he was replaced by ex-Contour Dennis Edwards, whose less polished voice adapted perfectly to the psychedelic-influenced soul period the group entered following the success of the single "Cloud Nine." As the times changed, so did the group, and as the 1960s drew to a close, The Temptations' music became overtly political; in the wake of "Cloud Nine" -- its title a thinly veiled drug allegory -- came records like "Run Away Child, Running Wild," "Psychedelic Shack," and "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)."

After the chart-topping success of the gossamer ballad "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" in 1971, Kendricks exited for a solo career. Soon, Paul Williams left the group as well; long plagued by alcoholism and other personal demons, he was eventually discovered dead from a self-inflected gunshot wound on August 17, 1973, at the age of 34. In their stead, the remaining trio recruited tenors Damon Harris and Richard Street; after the 1971 hit "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)," they returned in 1972 with the brilliant number one single "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." While the Tempts hit the charts regularly throughout 1973 with "Masterpiece," "Let Your Hair Down," and "The Plastic Man," their success as a pop act gradually dwindled as the '70s wore on. After Harris exited in 1975 (replaced by tenor Glenn Leonard), the group cut 1976's The Temptations Do the Temptations, their final album for Motown. With Louis Price taking over for Edwards, they signed to Atlantic, and attempted to reach the disco market with the LPs Bare Back and Hear to Tempt You.

After Edwards returned to the fold (resulting in Price's hasty exit), the Temptations re-entered the Motown stable, and scored a 1980 hit with "Power." In 1982, Ruffin and Kendricks returned for Reunion, which also included all five of the current Temptations; a tour followed, but problems with Motown, as well as personal differences, cut Ruffin's and Kendricks' tenures short. In the years that followed, The Temptations continued touring and recording, although by the '90s they were essentially an oldies act; only Otis Williams, who published his autobiography in 1988, remained from the original lineup. The intervening years were marked by tragedy: after touring in the late '80s with Kendricks and Edwards as a member of the "Tribute to the Temptations" package tour, Ruffin died on June 1, 1991, after overdosing on cocaine; he was 50 years old. On October 5, 1992, Kendricks died at the age of 52 of lung cancer, and on February 23, 1995, 52-year-old Franklin passed away after suffering a brain seizure.

In 1998, The Temptations returned with Phoenix Rising; that same year, their story was also the subject of a well-received NBC television mini-series. Ear-Resistable followed in the spring of 2000 and would win the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance the following year. In 2004, Legacy became their last album for Motown as 2006’s Reflections was released by New Door. The label also released their 2007 effort, Back to Front, which featured new recordings of soul classics from the '60s and '70s. After three years of touring the globe, they returned with Still Here, which was issued on the eve of their 50th anniversary.

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With everything the Temptations released pretty much guaranteed to turn to gold, not to mention platinum for that matter, even their tripped-out forays into sweet '60s psychedelic experimentation were sure to fire a string of hits. 1970's Norman Whitfield-produced Psychedelic Shack -- while perhaps a system shock to those fans who grooved to the band's lame-suited, Motown dance-routined R&B classics -- was a magnificent stretch into an epic and ultimately emerged as another in a long line of enduring sets. Deviating from form across the first songs, it was with the whimsical and willful title track (and a big thanks to the band from Georgia retro-ists the B-52's, who took their own homage, "Love Shack," to the top of the charts in 1989) that the Temptations broke their own mold with the acid-drenched party chant: "Psychedelic shack/That's where it's at." Opening that door and venturing outside the nonstop celebration, the band retains that vibe while returning to a slightly more staid stance on "Hum Along and Dance," leaving both the oddly paced "You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth" and the totally tripped-out "Take a Stroll Thru Your Mind" out on their own plane entirely. With such a strong collection of songs, it couldn't get much better than that. But, of course, it does, as the Temptations blister through the groovers "It's Summer" and "Friendship Train." And that, of course, just leaves the Whitfield-penned classic "War" to round out the mix. While fellow Motown-er Edwin Starr has etched what is now considered to be the definitive version of the song into the history tablets, the Temptations certainly took their own inspiration and added a unique spin as well. Not much else can be said, except that this is an absolutely outstanding album -- one which has stood the test of time, sounding as fresh as it did upon initial release.

The Temptations - Psychedelic Shack  (flac 233mb)

01 Psychedelic Shack 3:53
02 You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On Earth 2:46
03 Hum Along And Dance 3:53
04 Take A Stroll Thru Your Mind 8:35
05 It's Summer 2:36
06 War 3:11
07 You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You) 3:56
08 Friendship Train 7:47

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Eddie Kendricks said so long to The Temptations on this early-'70s album, with the glorious "Just My Imagination" being his swan song. The song that everyone missed was their lengthy, imaginative version of "Smiling Faces Sometimes," which wasn't a huge hit for them, but became a smash for The Undisputed Truth. Although they were successful with Damon Harris replacing Kendricks, things would never be the same.

The Temptations - Sky's the Limit  (flac 310mb)

01 Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love 3:51
02 Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) 3:47
03 I'm The Exception To The Rule 3:21
04 Smiling Faces Sometimes 12:06
05 Man 2:37
06 Throw A Farewell Kiss 3:25
07 Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite The World) 4:29
08 Love Can Be Anything (Can't Nothing Be Love But Love) 9:20
09 Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) 4:04

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A monster album, the one that put them back in the spotlight and signaled that Norman Whitfield had saved the day. Damon Harris had replaced Eddie Kendricks, and there were many doubters convinced the band was finished. Instead, Whitfield revitalized them via the majestic single, "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone." Despite its length, Whitfield's decision to open with an extensive, multi-layered musical suite and tease listeners was a master stroke. By the time Dennis Edwards' voice came rushing in, no one would dare turn it off. The single, as well as "Law of the Land" and others, ended the funeral arrangements that had been prepared for The Temptations.

The Temptations - All Directions  (flac 196mb)

01 Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On 3:07
02 Run Charlie Run 3:02
03 Papa Was A Rollin' Stone 11:46
04 Love Woke Me Up This Morning 2:23
05 I Ain't Got Nothin' 3:34
06 The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) 4:12
07 Mother Nature 3:10
08 Do Your Thing 3:31

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Norman Whitfield was always the Motown producer who had the most daring creative vision for The Temptations; he was the man who helped them turn psychedelic (well, sort of) with "Cloud Nine" and "Psychedelic Shack", and when the group's career had hit a slump in the early 1970's, he brought them back to the top of the charts with the brilliantly realized "Papa Was A Rolling Stone". After the latter tune had become a smash, Whitfield and The Temptations set out to make their most ambitious project to date, but in many ways, Masterpiece sounded more like a Norman Whitfield solo album with the Temps adding occasional vocals; the album's long, carefully layered tunes, complete with sweeping string charts and cleanly punctuated horn lines, have the widescreen splendor of a big-budget movie, and while it's inarguably impressive to hear, the featured artists often seem to be lost in the shuffle. It doesn't help that while the album is musically impressive, several of the songs are lyrically cut-rate, especially the cliche-ridden "Ma" and "Plastic Man", a ho-hum critique of hypocrisy, and while The Temptations deliver their material with conviction and typically peerless vocal skill, it's not enough to disguise the fact this album overshoots its target. While still better than the average Motown effort of the period, Masterpiece never quite becomes the triumph it obviously wants to be, proving once again that a "Masterpiece" usually occurs as a matter of serendipity rather than careful design.

The Temptations - Masterpiece  (flac  249mb)

01 Hey Girl (I Like Your Style) 4:36
02 Masterpiece 13:49
03 Ma 4:44
04 Law Of The Land 4:52
05 Plastic Man 5:53
06 Hurry Tomorrow 8:07

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RhoDeo 1538 Goldy Rhox 228

Hello, today the 228th post of Goldy Rhox, classic pop rock. In the darklight an American singer-songwriter, artist and writer. He has been influential in popular music and culture for more than five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when his songs chronicled social unrest, although our man repudiated suggestions from journalists that he was a spokesman for his generation. Nevertheless, early songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'" became anthems for the American civil rights and anti-war movements. Leaving his initial base in the American folk music revival, his six-minute single "Like a Rolling Stone" altered the range of popular music in 1965. His mid-1960s recordings, backed by rock musicians, reached the top end of the United States music charts while also attracting denunciation and criticism from others in the folk movement.

Our mystery man's lyrics have incorporated various political, social, philosophical, and literary influences. They defied existing pop music conventions and appealed to the burgeoning counterculture. Initially inspired by the performances of Little Richard, and the songwriting of Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson and Hank Williams, has amplified and personalized musical genres. His recording career, spanning 50 years, has explored the traditions in American song—from folk, blues, and country to gospel, rock and roll, and rockabilly to English, Scottish, and Irish folk music, embracing even jazz and the Great American Songbook. He performs with guitar, keyboards, and harmonica. Backed by a changing line-up of musicians, he has toured steadily since the late 1980s on what has been dubbed the Never Ending Tour. His accomplishments as a recording artist and performer have been central to his career, but his greatest contribution is considered his songwriting.

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Most of the albums i 'll post made many millions for the music industry and a lot of what i intend to post still gets repackaged and remastered decades later, squeezing the last drop of profit out of bands that for the most part have ceased to exist long ago, although sometimes they get lured out of the mothballs to do a big bucks gig or tour. Now i'm not as naive to post this kinda music for all to see and have deleted, these will be a black box posts, i'm sorry for those on limited bandwidth but for most of you a gamble will get you a quality rip don't like it, deleting is just 2 clicks...That said i will try to accommodate somewhat and produce some cryptic info on the artist and or album.

Today's mystery album is the third studio album by today's mystery singer-songwriter, released on January 13, 1964 by Columbia Records. Produced by Tom Wilson, it is the singer-songwriter's first collection to feature only original compositions. The album consists mostly of stark, sparsely arranged ballads concerning issues such as racism, poverty, and social change. The title track is one of his most famous; many feel that it captures the spirit of social and political upheaval that characterized the 1960s.

Some critics and fans were not quite as taken with the album as a whole, relative to his previous work, for its lack of humor or musical diversity. Still, today's mystery album peaked at #20 on the US chart, eventually going gold.  In 2015 a MFSL version was released, a copy of which is up for grabs here..   N'Joy



Goldy Rhox 227   (flac 257mb)

Goldy Rhox 228    (ogg 119mb)



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RhoDeo 1538 Aetix

Hello, Volkswagen oh dear panicky management and this whilst EVERY car emits (sometimes much more) as it says on the sales card really ridiculous what is going on there, meanwhile buy their shares on the cheap as the panicked stock herd is slowly coming to it's senses, sure US lawyers will see another bone in suing Volkswagen for probably ten times the value of the car their client bought, after all they thought they weren't polluting much and now it turns out they did. For these mentally lacking people a shock like this might last generations...

Today an intelligent alternative pop duo with folk and country leanings (though they often relied on synthesizers and drum machines, even while playing live dates). They released six original studio albums between 1986 and 1995. Pat and Barbara K. MacDonald wrote many better songs than their surprise 1986 hit "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades." The couple, who met in the late '70s while Barbara studied at the University of Wisconsin, were based in Austin, Texas by the mid-'80s, when they recorded their debut album Greetings from ..on IRS records in 1986. They found a niche in the college/alternative community with albums such as Eden Alley, Edge of Allegiance and Big Shot in the Dark.....N'Joy

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Timbuk3 was formed in 1984 in Madison, Wisconsin, by the husband and wife team of Pat MacDonald (acoustic, electric, bass and MIDI guitars, harmonica, vocals, drum programming) and Barbara K. MacDonald (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, violin, rhythm programming, vocals).[2]

Timbuk3 was signed by I.R.S. Records after appearing on an episode of MTV's The Cutting Edge in 1986. Soon after, they released their first album, Greetings from Timbuk3, which included their only single to chart, "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades". That song has had numerous movie and television appearances over the years since its release, and been included in numerous compilation CDs. Also from the same album, the song "Shame On You" was played during the opening scene of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, released in 1986. The band was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1987. They appeared onscreen as the house band in a bar in the 1988 film, D.O.A.

After their successful debut, Timbuk3 receded from the spotlight but went on to record five more critically acclaimed albums.They were joined in 1991 by Wally Ingram and Courtney Audain.The group broke up in 1995, with the ex-members going on to record other music independently. Pat MacDonald moved to Barcelona and recorded several albums for Ulftone, a German indie label (Sleeps With his Guitar, Begging Her Graces, Degrees of Gone, In the Red Room (a live album) and Strange Love: PM does DM, a collection of Depeche Mode covers). Of those, only Sleeps With His Guitar was released in the U.S. His 2007 effort, Troubadour of Stomp on the Broken Halo label, was his first U.S. release since 1997.

Barbara K. MacDonald has released two albums: Ready, and Undercover which is a set of acoustic covers of Timbuk3 songs. She is currently working as part of Sparrow's Wheel, an Austin label for independent music, and a new group, Ghosts and Sparrows. As of mid-2012, the first six Timbuk3 albums were not available on physical media in the United States, although all but the last were available from download services. A live CD, Espace Ornano can be purchased from the band's official website.

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The curse of having a hit single is that it tends to define public perception of your music in a very specific way, and after Timbuk 3 hit the Top 40 with "The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades," they were quickly tagged as a novelty act by people who didn't absorb the song's satiric irony. Actually, skipping past "The Future's So Bright...," the opening cut on the group's debut Greetings From Timbuk 3, to the second tune, "Life Is Hard," would have told folks a lot more about the duo's lyrical perspective -- no less satiric but a lot more grim, the song sandwiches the tale of a rich kid in between two stories of losers crumbling along life's margins, and not finding much to snigger about in their collective misery. Songwriter Pat MacDonald goes for laughs more often than not on Greetings From Timbuk 3, but the effect is usually that of whistling past the graveyard -- the couple living vicariously through their television on "Cheap Black and White," the street-smart metaphors of "Facts About Cats," and the sociological speculation of "Hairstyles and Attitudes." And anyone who doesn't catch the bitterness of "Just Another Movie" couldn't have been listening. Timbuk 3's beatbox-fueled folk-rock would get a lot more sophisticated over their next few albums; on Greetings From Timbuk 3, the production and arrangements are serviceable though not terribly special, though both Pat MacDonald and Barbara K show off impressive guitar chops and fine harmonies. But as a songwriter, Pat MacDonald had already arrived at a pretty interesting destination, and while "The Future's So Bright" hardly suggested the full range of his gifts, the whole of Greetings From Timbuk 3 showed he had lots to say about life in these United States.

Timbuk 3 - Greetings From Timbuk 3  (flac 222mb)

01 The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades 3:21
02 Life Is Hard 4:08
03 Hairstyles And Attitudes 2:51
04 Facts About Cats 3:16
05 I Need You 3:50
06 Just Another Movie 4:16
07 Friction 3:44
08 Cheap Black And White 2:54
09 Shame On You 5:04
10 I Love You In The Strangest Way 4:21

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Critics bowed at the feet of Beck when, in the mid-'90s, he was able to successfully fuse elements of such disparate genres as funk, folk, and retro-rock. Few remembered that several years earlier, husband-and-wife duo Timbuk 3 had brought a similar (if more homespun) eclecticism to alternative rock with their programmed drums, willfully clunky rhythms, and lyrics clever enough to rival those of the best singer/songwriters. Eden Alley, the follow-up to 1986's Greetings From Timbuk 3, didn't result in a Top 40 hit the way its predecessor had -- there's nothing as outright funny here as "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" -- but it contained the same brand of irony-fueled lyrics and smart songcraft as the band's debut. "Easy" and "Dance Fever" were thinly veiled morality tales set to sweet pop melodies. "Eden Alley," "A Sinful Life," and "Little People Make Big Mistakes" remain the best examples of Pat and Barbara K. MacDonald's amiably gentle vocal harmonies; the title track, with its country-ish melody contrasted by a flamboyantly synthetic beat, is particularly striking, while guest Ponty Bone lends accordion to the pop-reggae tune "A Sinful Life." On the funkier tracks, however, the rigid groove of the drum machine proves too limiting, leaving songs like "Reckless Driver" and "Tarzan Was a Bluesman" locked in the '80s.

Timbuk 3 - Eden Alley  (flac 223mb)

01 Tarzan Was A Bluesman 1:26
02 Easy 4:26
03 Reckless Driver 5:44
04 Dance Fever 2:42
05 Sample The Dog 3:18
06 Too Much Sex, Not Enough Affection 3:15
07 Welcome To The Human Race 3:17
08 Eden Alley 3:29
09 Rev. Jack & His Roamin' Cadillac Church 4:13
10 A Sinful Life 3:36
11 Little People Make Big Mistakes 2:07
12 Reprise (Don't Stop Now) 0:55

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In many ways, Edge of Allegiance presented Timbuk 3 at a crossroads. It was their last album as a duo (1991's Big Shot in the Dark would find them replacing their well-worn drum machine with a real-life rhythm section), so it was a transitional effort in that respect, but it also brought to fruition the musical maturity and sense of nuance that had been blossoming since the pair's 1986 debut. No longer were Pat and Barbara K. MacDonald singing merely about the personal or the political; they were combining the two, and at times using one as a metaphor for the other, with multi-layered songs like the incisive "Standard White Jesus" (perhaps Timbuk 3's crowning achievement), "B-Side of Life," and "Acid Rain." Rhythms were becoming more complex, presumably as a result of the contributions of jazz percussionist Denardo Coleman, who produced the album; the snaky, Latin-leaning "Standard White Jesus" left barely a hint that Timbuk 3 was still in possession of its famed drum machine. As such, Edge of Allegiance was Timbuk 3's least funky record; only "Count to Ten" kept that aspect of the band's sound intact. But Pat MacDonald's lyrical observations and facility with wordplay were razor sharp here, and as a collection of intelligent pop songs, the album ranks with the best of its period. In three short verses, "Wheel of Fortune," sung by both vocalists over a stark guitar accompaniment, sums up the bittersweet reality of relationships more elegantly than do most songs given twice as much space.

Timbuk 3 - Edge of Allegiance  (flac 227mb)

01 National Holiday 4:00
02 Waves Of Grain 3:43
03 Dirty Dirty Rice 2:50
04 Pass It On 2:49
05 Standard White Jesus 4:45
06 Grand Old Party 3:15
07 Count To Ten 3:53
08 B-Side Of Life 3:24
09 Acid Rain 3:13
10 Daddy's Down In The Mine 3:07
11 Don't Give Up On Me 2:43
12 Wheel Of Fortune 2:30

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On their fourth album, Timbuk 3 officially became a foursome. The addition of bassist Courtney Audain and drummer Wally Ingram shook up the Austin-based band's dynamic, but this proved a mixed blessing: On the one hand, the new players seem to have freed up co-frontman Pat MacDonald to concentrate on exploring new guitar textures and beefing up his harmonica work, and there's a newfound sense of instrumental adventurousness all around ("'49 Plymouth" employs a lute, while an instrumental version of "Sunshine" is played on steel drums). But the songs themselves aren't quite as strong as those from the band's previous efforts. MacDonald's lyrics are still clever, but for the first time they also come across as slightly precious, as on "Two Medicines." Still, the high points were as high as ever; "Sunshine" and "Dis***land (Was Made for You & Me)" rank among the most richly creative pieces in the band's repertoire. Big Shot in the Dark has a bluesy, droning quality throughout, a vibe that would be amplified further on Timbuk 3's 1994 EP Looks Like Dark to Me.

Timbuk 3 - Big Shot In The Dark  (flac 252mb)

01 God Made Me An Angel 4:35
02 Sunshine 4:12
03 Two Medicines 3:12
04 The Border Crossing 3:15
05 Big Shot In The Dark 6:33
06 Mudflap Girl 4:50
07 Dis***land (Was Made For You & Me) 3:58
08 Wake Up Little Darlin' 2:44
09 '49 Plymouth 4:46
10 The Little Things 3:45
11 Sunshine (Instrumental) 4:41

RhoDeo 1538 Re-Ups 33

Hello, there's still thousands of postings that could be re-upped, all it takes is a simple civilized request at the page where its originally posted.

Storage maybe dirt cheap these days -compared to 5 years ago, but the hosts are much more money orientated and look at turnover and notice that keeping data longer than 1 month isn't making them money. Thus the coming months i'm making an effort to re-up, it will satisfy a small number of people which means its likely the update will  expire relativly quickly again as its interest that keeps it live. Nevertheless here's your chance ... asks for re-up in the comments section prefarbly at the page where the expired link resides....requests are satisfied on a first come first go basis. As my back up ogg hard disk is nonresponsive currently, i most likely will post a flac instead~for the the pre medio 2011 posts~ but i would think that is not really a problem...updates will be posted here and yes sign a name to your request and please do it from the page where the link died!

Looka here another batch of re-ups .. ...N' Joy


3x Luke Slater Back In Flac (92-24, Morganistic ‎- Fluids Amniotic, Luke Slater's 7th Plain - My Yellow Wise Rug)


5x Aetix (05) NOW In Flac (Art Of Noise - Who's Afraid Of The Art Of Noise, Felt - The Splendour Of Four, Shriekback - Jam Science, Shriekback - Y Jam Science, Eurythmics - 1984 (For The Love Of Big Brother)


3x Aetix 02 NOW in Flac (Public Image Ltd - The Flowers of Romance, Psychedelic Furs  - Talk Talk Talk, John C Clarke - Me And My Big Mouth)


3x Rhotation Into BPM ( Spooky - Gargantuan, VA - Dub House Disco The Third, VA - Trance 2)


5x Wavetrain 3rd NOW In Flac (Magazine-Secondhand Daylight , Eyeless In Gaza-Caught In Flux, Polyrock - Changing Hearts, Polyrock - Polyrock, still ogg -  Pink Military - Do Animals believe in God)


2x Sundaze NOW In Flac (Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works Volume II - I+II)

Ghetto Priest NOW In Flac (Vulture Culture)
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RhoDeo 1538 Quest 8

Hello, unfortunately i missed today's F! race only saw part of the summary Vettel managed the win despite some safety car intermezzo's with one drunken brit doing his thing on track-not very funny, could be a very costly joke those asians aren't known for their humor. Man of the race was rookie Verstappen he didn't get away on track and started 1,5 rounds late from the pits. In the end he was 8th pushing Perez for 7th some great overtaking from him on a track that doesn't allow much of that, and believe it or not the fastest round in the race. Ferrari take note ! Give Vettel some serious competition exchange Räikkönen for Verstappen.

Today a series that will be running into the new year, 24 episodes of Elvenquest. It's is a sitcom about a misanthropic writer of fantasy novels who finds himself whisked away into a parallel universe by an elf, a dwarf and a warrior princess, where he must undertake to find the Sword of Asnagar in order to save Lower Earth from the evil Lord Darkness before he can get home.  .. N'Joy

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Plot

During the Third Age of Elven Princes of Lower Earth, a band of noble warriors – Vidar the Elf Lord (Boyd), Penthiselea the Warrior Princess (Winkleman) and Dean the Dwarf (Eldon) – plan to save Lower Earth from the evil rule of Lord Darkness by searching for the Sword of Asnagar, "for whoso'er wields the sword shall rule all of Lower Earth."[2] However, they first have to discover "The Chosen One" who will lead them to the Sword, whose name is "Amis". Amis is a dog belonging to Sam Porter, a misanthropic fantasy novelist in the real world.

Vidar, Penthiselea and Dean travel via a portal to take Amis, who is with Sam at a book signing in Totnes High Street, to Lower Earth. When they take Amis, Sam follows them and both Sam and Amis arrive in Lower Earth. When they arrive in Lower Earth, Amis is transformed into a human (played by Lamb), retaining many of his canine traits, such as becoming excited when there is a knock at the door, and being totally devoted to Sam. Sam believes he has been kidnapped by deranged fans until he sees the world outside the room in which he awakes. He asks to be sent back home, but is told that the portal is closed and can only be opened by the same Sword of Asnagar that Amis must seek.

Sam decides to travel with Amis, Vidar, Penthiselea and Dean to find the Sword. Meanwhile, Lord Darkness (Alistair McGowan) is planning to stop them from finding the Sword, helped by his evil but dimwitted assistant Kreech (also played by Eldon). Sam proves invaluable in using his modern instincts to trick his way past various creatures barring their way. For instance, he bluffs a three-headed troll guardian of Darkness' fortress in the same way as he would a security guard at a nightclub, distracting it long enough for Dean the dwarf to attack. He also tends to expect secret tunnels and concealed doors because that's the sort of thing he would have written into one of his plots. He is often right.

Characters

Sam Porter (Stephen Mangan). An author of fantasy novels with a jaded attitude, especially towards his more fanatical fans. As the series opens his career and personal life are not going well.

Amis, the Chosen One (Dave Lamb). Originally Sam's pet dog and best friend in the world, he transforms into a human in Lower Earth but retains canine traits and behaviours.

Vidar the Elf Lord, (Darren Boyd), last of a mighty family of Elf Lords, and the leader of the Questers, despite being somewhat dim. His name may be inspired by Víðarr, a god in Norse mythology associated with vengeance.

Penthiselea the Warrior Princess (Sophie Winkleman Series 1-3) (Ingrid Oliver Series 4) in silver breastplate armour and thigh-high boots, who has been promised to Vidar since childhood. Sam is very interested in her, but having been raised as a Warrior Princess she has no concept of relationships with men. Her name may be inspired by Penthesilea, a legendary Amazon warrior-queen.

Dean the Dwarf (Kevin Eldon), a mighty if diminutive warrior with unsavoury personal habits.

Lord Darkness (Alistair McGowan), Lord of Evil, whose efforts to dominate Lower Earth are frustrated by the Questers and his own staff of extremely dimwitted minions.

Kreech (Kevin Eldon), the Right Hand of Darkness, and only slightly less dimwitted than the other minions.

Other characters played by Chris Pavlo.



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Elvenquest 08 The Evil Sorcerer Dietica (mp3  25mb)

08 The Evil Sorcerer Dietica 27:55


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previously

Elven Quest 01 The Chosen One (mp3  25mb)
Elvenquest 02 The Search For Amis (mp3  25mb)
Elvenquest 03 The Tower Of Tests (mp3  25mb)
Elvenquest 04 The Distress Call (mp3  25mb)
Elvenquest 05 The Oracle Of Fenrog (mp3  25mb)
Elvenquest 06 The Rock Of Sorrows (mp3  25mb)
Elvenquest 07 The Sword Of Asnagar (mp3  25mb)

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Sundaze 1538

Hello, well  F1 Qualification threw up a surprise, no Mercedes on the front row Vettel drove himself to the front in a almost manic lap, he's sure to win the Singapore night Grand Prix were it not that it's likely the safety car will be needed at sometime in the street race, which will condense the field again.. Verstappen managed getting noticed with an 8th place for the Torro Rosso, just 0.5 sec down on Hamilton who starts as 5th and his run of 7 pole positions came to an end. Expect an exiting night race today.


Today more work by that renowned Japanese musician, best known internationally as a member of the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra with Yukihiro Takahashi and Ryuichi Sakamoto. Hosono has also released many solo albums covering a variety of styles, including film soundtracks and a variety of electronic ambient albums. As well as recording his own music, Hosono has done considerable production work for other artists such as Miharu Koshi, Sheena and the Roketts, Sandii and the Sunsetz, Chisato Moritaka and Seiko Matsuda. Today it's soundtrack work here to...... N'joy

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Haruomi Hosono (細野 晴臣 Hosono Haruomi, born July 9, 1947 in Minato, Tokyo), also known as Harry Hosono.

Hosono is the grandson of Masabumi Hosono the only Japanese passenger and survivor of the sinking of RMS Titanic. Hosono first came to attention in Japan as the bass player of the psychedelic rock band Apryl Fool, alongside drummer Takashi Matsumoto, who released the album The Apryl Fool in 1969. Hosono and Matsumoto then formed the influential folk rock group Happy End with Eiichi Ohtaki and Shigeru Suzuki. One of the songs he composed for Happy End, "Kaze wo Atsumete" (1971), later appeared in the American film Lost in Translation and on its soundtrack in 2003. After Happy End disbanded around 1974, Hosono worked with a loose association of artists making "exotica"-style music under the title Tin Pan Alley.

His involvement in electronic music also dates back to the early 1970s, when he performed the electric bass for Inoue Yousui's folk pop rock album Ice World (1973) and Osamu Kitajima's progressive/psychedelic rock album Benzaiten (1974), both of which were electronic rock records utilizing synthesizers, electric guitars, and in the latter, electronic drums and rhythm machines.

In 1977, Hosono invited Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi to work on his exotica-flavoured album Paraiso, which included electronic music produced using the Yamaha CS-80 polyphonic synthesizer and ARP Odyssey synthesizer. The band was named "Harry Hosono and the Yellow Magic Band" and, having been recorded in late 1977, Paraiso was released in early 1978. The three worked together again for the 1978 electronic album Pacific, which included an early version of the song "Cosmic Surfin".

In 1978, he released an innovative electronic soundtrack for a fictional Bollywood film Cochin Moon, together with artist Tadanori Yokoo and future YMO band members Ryuichi Sakamoto and Hideki Matsutake. Inspired by a trip to India and "the exotic, luxurious, and seemingly wonder-filled scenarios played out in Indian cinemas," it was an experimental "electro-exotica" album fusing exotic Indian music (reminiscent of Ravi Shankar and Bollywood music) with electronic music, including an early "synth raga" song entitled "Hum Ghar Sajan" (from a Guru Granth Sahib phrase). The same year, he contributed to Sakamoto's song "1000 Knives" for his solo album, The Thousand Knives of Ryuichi Sakamoto, which experimented with fusing electronic music with traditional Japanese music in early 1978.

He was one of the first producers to recognize the appeal of video game sounds and music. YMO's self-titled debut in 1978 contained substantial video game sounds and after YMO disbanded an early project was an album simply titled Video Game Music containing mixed and edited Namco arcade game music and sounds. Video Game Music was released in 1984 as an early example of a chiptune record[9] and the first video game music album. That same year, he also produced the theme song for Hayao Miyazaki's popular anime film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, "Kaze no Tani no Naushika", with vocals by actress-singer Narumi Yasuda. In the late 80s and early 90s, the influence of world music on his music deepened, and he worked with international singers and musicians such as Amina Annabi.

He has produced a number of short term band projects as a band member. His first post-YMO band was Friends of Earth. As with most of his projects he combines musical styles he's interested in. F.O.E. seemed to be a combination of Funk and Techno and included a collaboration with James Brown and Maceo Parker for a remake of the song "Sex Machine". Another notable band project was 1995's Love, Peace & Trance. Members were Mimori Yusa ("Love"), Miyako Koda ("Peace"), Haruomi Hosono ("&") and Mishio Ogawa ("Trance").

In the 1990s he started the Daisyworld label to release a wide range of experimental artists from Japan and the rest of the world. Hosono collaborated on many of the releases, such as World Standard, a trip into Americana; HAT, a supergroup (the acronym stands for Hosono, Atom Heart, Tetsu Inoue),and "Quiet Logic", by Mixmaster Morris and Jonah Sharp. The Orb also paid tribute with a series of remixes including the notorious "Hope You Choke on Your Whalemeat".

In 2002 Haruomi formed the duo Sketch Show with his YMO band-mate Yukihiro Takahashi. They have released two albums, one of which, Loophole, has received a UK release. When the third former YMO member, Ryuichi Sakamoto deepened his involvement it was decided to bill those collaborations as Human Audio Sponge.

In the spring of 2007, his fellow YMO members and other artist paid tribute to Haruomi with a 2-disc album titled "Tribute to Haruomi". That same year, the animated film Appleseed Ex Machina was released featuring a soundtrack performed and supervised by Hosono.

In September 2010 he performed at the De La Fantasia festival and played songs from his upcoming album.

In February 2011 it was announced that his new album, entitled "HoSoNoVa" was to be released on April 20. He also performed a special concert to celebrate its release.

Bands and Collaborations
Apryl Fool
Happy End
Tin Pan Alley
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Friends of Earth (F.O.E) (with Eiki Nonaka)
HIS (with Kiyoshirō Imawano and Fuyumi Sakamoto)
Love, Peace & Trance (Mimori Yusa, Miyako Koda and Mishio Ogawa)
Swing Slow (with Miharu Koshi)
HAT (with Atom Heart and Tetsu Inoue)
Harry & Mac (with Makoto Kubota)
Tin Pan (with Tatsuo Hayashi and Shigeru Suzuki)
Sketch Show (with Yukihiro Takahashi)
HASYMO (previously Human Audio Sponge) (Sketch Show and Ryuichi Sakamoto, with Keigo Oyamada, Hiroshi Takano, Christian Fennesz, Tomohiko Gondō and Ren Takada as live support)


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This is a set of remixes of tracks drawn from Hosono's ambient pop album Omni Sight Seeing and his more purely ambient Medicine Compilation, reworked by a similar roster to the YMO in the '90s series. The lineup includes the Orb, Graham Massey, Bomb the Bass, and Something Wonderful but, on the whole, this is a very subdued affair, rarely coming to a boil.
The words "yo no naka no ten to chi ni sasageyou, ai wo" means 'in the universe, to the heavens and the earth, bestow, love.' It sounds like something out of the bible. The massey mix one of 808 state fame brings forth elements of dub, trance, and ethnic or world music into a neat experience. It is also slightly sycopated, minimalistic, and subtle. The cave of life mix is okay and so is the extended wonga wig out 2. As you may infer from the naming, the music is weird, otherworldy, and mystical. Imagine rituals in outerspace, tribal aliens, and the creation of earth.

Haruomi Hosono - Mental Sports Mixes  (flac 287mb)

01 Orgon Box (Secret Life Mix) 6:26
02 Laughter Meditation (The Reality Of Impossible Orbjects) 8:34
03 Caravan (Desert Hallucination Mix 6:26
04 Medicine Mix (Massey Mix One) 6:32
05 Laugh Gas (Remix 12") 6:04
06 Arabic 1 (Cave Of Life Mix) 5:49
07 Laughter Meditation (Massey Mix) 7:50
08 Medicine Mix (Extend Wonga Wig Out 2) 4:55

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Like his fellow Yellow Magic Orchestra alumnus Ryuichi Sakamoto, keyboardist and programmer Haruomi Hosono has a taste for exotic experimentation. But the similarities pretty much end there. On N.D.E., Hosono teams up with a host of sidemen both famous (bassist Bill Laswell) and obscure (saxophonist Yasuaki Shimizu, violinist Arun Bagal) to create a beautiful, funky, and yet strangely creepy collage of electronic beats, modal melodies, and exotic samples. Not surprisingly, Laswell's is the strongest presence here -- on "Navigations" he pretty much takes over with his trademark punchy basslines and samples of North African ululations, while the textures and drones of "Edge of the End" recall his own Hear No Evil album of a few years earlier. Another strong voice here is that of Bagal, whose keening modal violin make "Strange Attractor" and "Aero" two of the most compelling items on this album. Highly recommended.

Haruomi Hosono - N.D.E.  (flac 283mb)

01 Spring Spirits 6:01
02 Navigations 9:28
03 Teaching Of Sphinx 6:28
04 Strange Attractor 9:48
05 Heliotherapy  4:23
06 Higher Flyer  6:01
07 Edge Of The End 8:37
08 Aero 6:31

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A superb album of instrumentals in the styles of many Asian countries. Includes a new version of one of the Paradise View tunes. Ambient, but also rich in melody and texture. Recorded 1991-95. This is actually his most recent totally solo album. He's done many since but they all have at least one full collaborator.

Haruomi Hosono - Naga (flac 222mb)

01 Hindustan 4:07
02 Naga 4:02
03 Taj-mahal 5:41
04 Himalaya 4:15
05 Sherpa 2:57
06 Jado 1:24
07 Seasons 3:18
08 Dancing-High 2:24
09 Chaitya 1:15
10 Angkor Vat ~ Addaptation Of "Mabui Dance" 4:52
11 Serpent Cloud 15:02

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The trio recorded the two albums HAT: Tokyo-Frankfurt-New York (CD, 1996) and HAT: DSP Holiday (CD, 1998). Only the first album was released on Atom™'s "Rather Interesting" label in 1995, before it then came out on Haruomi Hosono's "Daisy World Discs", soon to be followed by their second album in 1998. The "Rather Interesting" version, both differs in artwork and mastering from the japanese release. Both albums were recorded partly in Tetsu Inoue's studio in New York, Atom™'s studios in Frankfurt and later Santiago de Chile as well as in Haruomi Hosono's "Quiet Lodge" in Tokyo. For the recording session of "DSP Holiday" Haruomi Hosono managed to spend two very jet-lagged days in Santiago de Chile, yet most of the production was done by sending files and recordings back and forth between Tokyo, New York and Santiago/Frankfurt.

HAT's second disc of aisle-spanning electronica is a more laidback affair. Released this time on Hosono's Daisyworld label, DSP Holiday is all afizz with sampled percussion, bossa nova rhythms, and references to Japanese pop and eazy-breazy jazz. All cue to Daisyworld's installed base of plastic-dipped lounge-a-holics, of course, but DSP Holiday is an incredibly weird and wonderful recording all the same. Schmidt's penchant for knowing when to pull the rhythmic rug completely out from underneath a song plays a crucial role in keeping the kitsch at bay, but the album as a whole proves yet another object-lesson in the value of summing up parts.

HAT(Haruomi Hosono, Tetsu Inoue, Uwe Schmidt) - DSP-Holiday  (flac 209mb)

01 Arizona Analyzer 10:13
02 Shinjyuku Photoshop 4:26
03 Plug-In Mambo 6:10
04 Granular Sunset 7:21
05 Digidelic 3:02
06 Uptown Pulldown 4:53
07 Malihini Mele 5:02

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RhoDeo 1537 Grooves

Hello,

Today an American vocal group known for their success with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. Known for their choreography, distinct harmonies, and flashy wardrobe, the group was highly influential to the evolution of R&B and soul music. Having sold tens of millions of albums, the Temptations are one of the most successful groups in music history. As of 2015, the Temptations continue to perform with one living original member, Otis Williams, still in the lineup.  ... N'joy

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 Thanks to their fine-tuned choreography -- and even finer harmonies -- The Temptations became the definitive male vocal group of the 1960s; one of Motown's most elastic acts, they tackled both lush pop and politically charged funk with equal flair, and weathered a steady stream of changes in personnel and consumer tastes with rare dignity and grace. The Temptations' initial five-man lineup formed in Detroit in 1961 as a merger of two local vocal groups, the Primes and the Distants. Baritone Otis Williams, Elbridge (aka El, or Al) Bryant, and bass vocalist Melvin Franklin were longtime veterans of the Detroit music scene when they joined together in the Distants, who in 1959 recorded the single "Come On" for the local Northern label. Around the same time, the Primes, a trio comprised of tenor Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams (no relation to Otis), and Kell Osborne, relocated to the Motor City from their native Alabama; they quickly found success locally, and their manager even put together a girl group counterpart dubbed the Primettes. (Later, three of the Primettes -- Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard -- formed the Supremes).

In 1961, the Primes disbanded, but not before Otis Williams saw them perform live, where he was impressed both by Kendricks' vocal prowess and Paul Williams' choreography skills. Soon, Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Bryant, Franklin, and Kendricks joined together as the Elgins; after a name change to The Temptations, they signed to the Motown subsidiary Miracle, where they released a handful of singles over the ensuing months. Only one, the 1962 effort "Dream Come True," achieved any commercial success, however, and in 1963, Bryant either resigned or was fired after physically attacking Paul Williams. the Tempts' fortunes changed dramatically in 1964 when they recruited tenor David Ruffin to replace Bryant; after entering the studio with writer/producer Smokey Robinson, they emerged with the pop smash "The Way You Do the Things You Do," the first in a series of 37 career Top Ten hits. With Robinson again at the helm, they returned in 1965 with their signature song, "My Girl," a number one pop and R&B hit; other Top 20 hits that year included "It's Growing," "Since I Lost My Baby," "Don't Look Back," and "My Baby."

In 1966, the Tempts recorded another Robinson hit, "Get Ready," before forgoing his smooth popcraft for the harder-edged soul of producers Norman Whitfield and Brian Holland. After spotlighting Kendricks on the smash "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," the group allowed Ruffin to take control over a string of hits including "Beauty's Only Skin Deep" and "(I Know) I'm Losing You." Beginning around 1967, Whitfield assumed full production control, and their records became ever rougher and more muscular, as typified by the 1968 success "I Wish It Would Rain." After Ruffin failed to appear at a 1968 live performance, the other four Tempts fired him; he was replaced by ex-Contour Dennis Edwards, whose less polished voice adapted perfectly to the psychedelic-influenced soul period the group entered following the success of the single "Cloud Nine." As the times changed, so did the group, and as the 1960s drew to a close, The Temptations' music became overtly political; in the wake of "Cloud Nine" -- its title a thinly veiled drug allegory -- came records like "Run Away Child, Running Wild," "Psychedelic Shack," and "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)."

After the chart-topping success of the gossamer ballad "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" in 1971, Kendricks exited for a solo career. Soon, Paul Williams left the group as well; long plagued by alcoholism and other personal demons, he was eventually discovered dead from a self-inflected gunshot wound on August 17, 1973, at the age of 34. In their stead, the remaining trio recruited tenors Damon Harris and Richard Street; after the 1971 hit "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)," they returned in 1972 with the brilliant number one single "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." While the Tempts hit the charts regularly throughout 1973 with "Masterpiece," "Let Your Hair Down," and "The Plastic Man," their success as a pop act gradually dwindled as the '70s wore on. After Harris exited in 1975 (replaced by tenor Glenn Leonard), the group cut 1976's The Temptations Do the Temptations, their final album for Motown. With Louis Price taking over for Edwards, they signed to Atlantic, and attempted to reach the disco market with the LPs Bare Back and Hear to Tempt You.

After Edwards returned to the fold (resulting in Price's hasty exit), the Temptations re-entered the Motown stable, and scored a 1980 hit with "Power." In 1982, Ruffin and Kendricks returned for Reunion, which also included all five of the current Temptations; a tour followed, but problems with Motown, as well as personal differences, cut Ruffin's and Kendricks' tenures short. In the years that followed, The Temptations continued touring and recording, although by the '90s they were essentially an oldies act; only Otis Williams, who published his autobiography in 1988, remained from the original lineup. The intervening years were marked by tragedy: after touring in the late '80s with Kendricks and Edwards as a member of the "Tribute to the Temptations" package tour, Ruffin died on June 1, 1991, after overdosing on cocaine; he was 50 years old. On October 5, 1992, Kendricks died at the age of 52 of lung cancer, and on February 23, 1995, 52-year-old Franklin passed away after suffering a brain seizure.

In 1998, The Temptations returned with Phoenix Rising; that same year, their story was also the subject of a well-received NBC television mini-series. Ear-Resistable followed in the spring of 2000 and would win the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance the following year. In 2004, Legacy became their last album for Motown as 2006’s Reflections was released by New Door. The label also released their 2007 effort, Back to Front, which featured new recordings of soul classics from the '60s and '70s. After three years of touring the globe, they returned with Still Here, which was issued on the eve of their 50th anniversary.

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The Temptations' first LP, released three years into the group's history with Motown, is also a great record, even though it wasn't really an album so much as a collection of their early singles, hooked around their then new hit, "The Way You Do the Things You Do." Those expecting the classic Temptations sound should also be aware that David Ruffin is absent from all of the tracks except "The Way You Do the Things You Do," which was cut just after he joined, replacing Elbridge "Al" Bryant. Thus, the 12 cuts on this CD represent the evolution of the act and its sound, as well as a succession of producers — Andre Williams and Mickey Stevenson on "Oh, Mother of Mine" and "Romance Without Finance," the group's earliest 45 pairing, issued on the short-lived Miracle label; Norman Whitfield, for one single; Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson; and finally Robinson. The differences are fascinating — "Oh, Mother of Mine," sung by Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks sharing the lead, has an exuberant doo wop-based sound mixed with a serious soulful quality that would eventually define the group; "Romance Without Finance" is a little less derivative, with a heavier, fuller band sound (especially the guitars), but both tracks are rooted in a fast dance beat, in keeping with the tastes of the times (early 1961), and neither had the hooks to make it distinctive unto itself. Several of the Gordy-produced numbers seem highly derivative of other, more familiar songs by other acts — "Paradise" sounds like the Four Seasons covering Maurice Williams' "Stay," and "Isn't She Pretty" comes off like a rewrite (albeit a very pretty one, no joke intended) of the Isley Brothers' "Respectable." These and other Gordy-written and -produced numbers are attractive enough, but not special as songs or productions, despite some excellent singing. One group composition, "Check Yourself," produced by Gordy, is interesting for its abrupt tempo change, and features a beautifully expressive Paul Williams lead vocal. But the Smokey Robinson cuts are where the group's sound blossoms, their harmonies suddenly soaring elegantly with Williams' voice cutting through the center while an understated but fully integral band sound provides the foundation. Coupled with his songwriting, those numbers and Robinson helped put the Temptations on the charts — and well up on the charts — after three years of failure. The sound on the 1999 reissue of this album is excellent and then some (the Earl Van Dyke Band never sounded better), and the notes, although minimal, give some frame of reference for the album's release.

The Temptations - Meet The Temptations  (flac 183mb)

01 The Way You Do The Things You Do 2:44
02 I Want A Love I Can See 2:31
03 Dream Come True 2:54
04 Paradise 2:49
05 May I Have This Dance 2:10
06 Isn't She Pretty 2:42
07 Just Let Me Know 2:54
08 Your Wonderful Love 2:48
09 The Further You Look, The Less You See 2:19
10 Check Yourself 2:45
11 Slow Down Heart 2:33
12 Farewell, My Love 2:24

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This was only the group's second LP, and it was an extremely strong one, built around two monster hits ("My Girl" and the previously recorded "The Way You Do the Things You Do") and one close runner-up ("It's Growing"), plus a brace of some of the best songs in the Motown catalog, including renditions of "You Beat Me to the Punch," "What's So Good About Goodbye?," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," and "Way Over There." All are done in a style unique to the Temptations, with arrangements that are distinctly different from the familiar versions by other Motown acts, and all are worthwhile. The original CD version, released in the mid-'80s, was a major disappointment. In 1998, it was remastered in 24-bit digital audio, giving it vastly superior sound quality (the 1998 copyright on the back is the giveaway, along with the reference to Polygram as owner of Motown); it was the first of the classic individual Motown albums already out on CD to get this treatment. The stereo separation on the reissue is very sharp, the sound is a lot closer and louder, and the detail is startling, right down to the rhythm section, parts of which, on "Baby, Baby I Need You" and "My Girl," stand out in astonishingly sharp relief. The bass on the latter is so solid it's scary, and the disc is worth owning almost as much for the sound as the music, just to show what listeners were missing on those earlier CDs.

The Temptations - Sing Smokey  (flac 204mb)

01 The Way You Do The Things You Do 2:38
02 Baby, Baby I Need You 2:51
03 My Girl 2:42
04 What Love Has Joined Together 2:55
05 You'll Lose A Precious Love 2:33
06 It's Growing 2:57
07 Who's Lovin' You 2:57
08 What's So Good About Goodbye 2:37
09 You Beat Me To The Punch 2:42
10 Way Over There 3:00
11 You've Really Got A Hold On Me 2:57
12 (You Can) Depend On Me 2:32

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Best known for their silky soul vocals and smooth-stepping routines, the Temptations were firmly entrenched as the undisputed kings of Barry Gordy's Motown stable when cutting-edge producer Norman Whitfield walked into the studio and announced that it was time to shake things up. The resulting freakout became the first half of the stellar Cloud Nine, an album that would become one of the defining early funk sets, with songs that not only took Motown in a new direction, but helped to shape a genre as well. On one side and across three jams, Whitfield and the Temptations would give '70s-era funk musicians a broad palette from which to draw inspiration. The title track, with its funky soul bordering on psychedelic frenzy, was an audacious album opener, and surely gave older fans a moment's pause. Only two more songs rounded out side one: an incredibly fresh take on "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," which jazzed up the vocals, brought compelling percussion to the fore, and relegated the piano well into the wings, and "Run Away Child, Running Wild," an extravagant nine-minute groove where the sonics easily surpassed the vocals. After shaking up the record-buying public with these three masterpieces, the Temptations brought things back to form for side two. Here, their gorgeous vocals dominated slick arrangements across seven tracks which included "Hey Girl" and the masterful "I Need Your Lovin'." Funk continued to percolate -- albeit subtly -- but compared to side one, it was Temptations business as usual. It was this return to the classic sound, however, which ultimately gave Cloud Nine its odd dynamic. The dichotomy of form between old and new between sides doesn't allow for a continuous gel. But the brash experimentation away from traditional Motown on the three seminal tracks which open the disc shattered the doorway between past and present as surely as the decade itself imploded and smooth soul gave way to blistering funk.

Temptations - Cloud Nine  (flac 209mb)

01 Cloud Nine 3:37
02 I Heard It Through The Grapevine 3:00
03 Runaway, Running Wild 9:38
04 Love Is A Hurtin' Thing 2:28
05 Hey Girl 2:38
06 Why Did She Have To Leave Me (Why Did She Have To Go) 2:56
07 I Need You Lovin' 2:35
08 Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me 2:31
09 I Gotta Find A Way (To Get You Back) 2:56
10 Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love 2:32

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Both The Temptations and producer Norman Whitfield were at the top of their form with 1969's Puzzle People, which captures the group in the midst of their rock-influenced "socially conscious" period. While the lead-off cut, "I Can't Get Next To You", was a potent R&B dance-floor filler, elsewhere the album was dotted with "relevant" tunes such as "Message From A Black Man" (not nearly as militant as it sounds), "Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down", and the "life-in-prison" epic "Slave", complete with plenty of fuzztone and wah-wah and enough panning to make George Clinton dizzy. But while the material and the production is a bit dated, Whitfield and his crew certainly caught The Funk Brothers on a great run when they cut these sessions, with the musicians blending the swagger and confidence of rock with a soundly funky undertow and chops to spare. And as for the Temptations themselves, if new lead vocalist Dennis Edwards lacked the elan of David Ruffin, he had power to spare, and the group's harmonies and shared vocals found room for both smooth precision and streetwise grit. While short on hits past the opening track (and padded with well-executed but hardly essential covers of "Hey Jude" and "Little Green Apples", Puzzle People is still the work of a great vocal group firing on all cylinders and getting inspired support in the studio, and it's one of the group's strongest late-60's efforts.

The Temptations - Puzzle People  (flac  271mb)

01 I Can't Get Next To You 2:52
02 Hey Jude 3:30
03 Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down 4:43
04 Message From A Black Man 5:50
05 It's Your Thing 3:00
06 Little Green Apples 3:40
07 You Don't Love Me No More 2:35
08 Since I've Lost You 2:43
09 Running Away (Ain't Gonna Help You) 2:46
10 That's The Way Love Is 3:10
11 Slave 7:20

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