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Disco Nights at the Cabrini Green Summer Fest, 1979
Jamming and juggling on a warm summer’s afternoon in the days when Jane Byrne was mayor… and Disco was king. Two years later, Jane Byrne moved into Cabrini Green in part as a publicity stunt. Below, a bit more footage: an unnamed local group can be heard (but not seen) performing a version of Teddy [...]Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Aug 22, 2011 -
Curtis Mayfield wanted to get a little bit.
This 1976 record by Chicago’s own Curtis Mayfield used to be a favorite spin in my College Radio days. It’s been back on my radar in recent days. “Give a little bit, Get a little bit, Take a little bit” picks up on the theme of the classic “Give Me Your Love” with an [...]Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Jul 11, 2011 -
One Day I Was Walking: Soulful Gospel from the Swan Mellarks
Just to give you some warning… This dude’s vocals are SOOOOO bananas. This record was recorded for tiny Valberst Records in the 70s here in Chicago at Pervis Staples’ (of the Staple Singers) Studio. “One Day I Was Walking” has been in my head for at least two years. Very basic track. Very soulful delivery.Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Jun 22, 2011 -
Do it Like Mama: Simtec and Wylie give us a cut that makes me want to break out my hotpants.
Simtec (Simmons) and Wylie (Dixon) were a homegrown Sam & Dave styled duo on Syl Johnson’s Shama label when this scorcher came out in 1970. Both Simtec and Wylie had scuffled about on the Chicago Scene in a variety of acts before this release: Simtec actually put out a track in 1967 on tiny Maurci Records credited to “Simtec Simmons [...]Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Jun 14, 2011 -
Eight Minutes: straight outta chicago’s soul cradle
The Eight Minutes were yet another family based kiddie soul group. Oh yes, there were a bunch. For those just joining us, let’s recap: There’s The Five Stairsteps: The Burke Family is of course best known for “Oooh Ooh Child”, but recorded a number of classy Chicago cuts on Curtis Mayfield‘s stable of labels in [...]Collected in ayanacontreras's videos May 18, 2011 -
Monk Higgins: The Look of Love
An early Charles Stepney arrangement, this record rumbles and slinks along with soul. Monk Higgins was born Milton Bland in Arkansas.Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Apr 11, 2011 -
Chuck Bernard: Soul Survivor
Chuck Bernard (above, 1966) was a St. Louis Born and Bred vocalist who was able to lay down a series of cuts with a ton of great songwriting teams that kicked around Chicago during his time here (among them the legendary Bridges-Knight-Eaton).Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Feb 23, 2011 -
Five Minutes of Light
Chicago-based photographer John H. White (whose work has been highlighted here many times) was awarded the Pulitzer for general excellence in photography in 1979.Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Feb 5, 2011 -
Just Because I Really Love You: evolution of a groove.
Below is a record of his that I’ve been getting into lately, “Just Because I Really Love You” by Jerry Butler, circa 1969. This cut is super smooth and a great example of Jerry’s work on Chicago’s own Mercury Records with Philly greats like Thom Bell and Gamble & Huff (especially the cheeky background vocal [...]Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Jan 27, 2011 -
Different Strokes: chicago grit and soul.
you know you love it. Syl Johnson was a staple at local clubs here in Chicago in the 60s and 70s and this record can still get a crowd moving. This song is famous, arguably, because it’s been sampled so many times; but it is actually the follow up to Syl’s Monster-of-a-hit from 1967, “Sock it [...]Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Jan 27, 2011 -
The Mighty Mighty Dells: i miss you.
I love the Dells. Formed in 1952, their career is simply epic. But my favorite period for them was ushered in with Charles Stepney. Unfortunately, as Chess Records (their label from the mid-sixties till the mid-seventies) crumbled, their hits (which include “There Is”, “Stay in my Corner”, “The Love We Had Stays on My Mind”, [...]Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Jan 16, 2011 -
Bon Bon Vie: good good life…
According to T.J. Armour: The phrase “Bon Bon Vie” is derived from the popular T.S.Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Jan 5, 2011 -
Minor Moods: ahmad jamal have i loved.
“Minor Moods” by Ahmad Jamal makes me happy, and yes I will play this at next week’s “groove conspiracy”. Ahmad Jamal is from Pennsylvania, but a lot of his Golden Age material (including this hipper-than-thou number) are straight outta Chicago. The Ahmad Jamal Trio was the house band of the Pershing Hotel (on the South Side) in [...]Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Jan 4, 2011 -
she was the black gold of the sun.
Minnie Riperton was, of course, so much more than her 1976 smash “Loving You”. I won’t even attempt to jam her legacy into a blog post. She was a mother (to SNL alum Maya Rudolph) a lover (to Dick Rudolph) and a righteous songbird. Riperton (pictured above, 1968 [photo courtesy jeff lockard]) and her soaring soprano [...]Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Oct 7, 2010 -
The Ice Man Cometh.
Here’s a follow up to yesterday’s Jerry “The Ice Man” Butler post. Below, 1969′s “Walking Around in Teardrops”.Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Sep 27, 2010 -
Windy City: Hey it’s (not) over.
First off, I LOVE this record. A little back story: “Hey, It’s Over” by Windy City is a record that came out in 1974 on local Innovation II records, later issued on Warner Bros.Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Sep 25, 2010 -
Pics from the Groove Conspiracy’s inaugural night.
Pictures, above, from last night’s affair. Join us TONITE for a special night of musical madness, and monthly every Third Thursday at the Morseland (1218 West Morse, Chicago).Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Sep 17, 2010 -
Get down! three chances to be a part of the movement…
Join DJ Ayana and selected friends and celebrate the music that moves us! Brown Sugar Soul: This Thursday 6:00pm-8:00pm Where: Brown Sugar Bakery Address: 328 E 75th St Chicago, IL Map Cost: Free-Fifty Music spun on wax.Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Aug 4, 2010 -
Nolan Chance and the Beach: i’ll never forget you.
(photos: Labor Day 1936 at 31st Street Beach, Chicago) found at bvikkivintage I love “I’ll Never Forget You” by Nolan Chance. Released here in Chicago in 1969, it’s creation was a collaboration between Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, and Leroy Hutson (arguably the patron saints of Chicago Soul for the decade that was to come).Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Aug 1, 2010 -
ReMake Estate: Brand New Day.
ReMake Estate is a really cool project going on in Gary (Indiana) in which an abandoned house on 24th and Massachutsetts will be reborn as a meeting space and a community garden. The project is being organized in conjunction with interested local community groups and Australian-based artists Keg de Souza and Zanny Begg.Collected in ayanacontreras's videos Jul 19, 2010
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ayanacontreras Jamming and juggling on a warm summer’s afternoon in the days when Jane Byrne was mayor… and Disco was king. Two years later, Jane Byrne moved into Cabrini Green in part as a publicity stunt. Below, a bit more footage: an unnamed local group can be heard (but not seen) performing a version of Teddy [...] Read More
Aug 22, 2011