Otis Clay - The Atlantic Years

Hello, Chtilins' People!   I am struggling here in China with various VPNs and a very slow Internet connection.  But I finally managed to upload a small folder!

I wanted to join in the Otis Clay love fest.  Otis was one of my very favorite artists, and a constant source of inspiration for me.  God rest his soul.  I hope that he saves a seat for me in Glory.

After Otis Clay's amazing burst of creativity at One-derful! Records, the results of which KC already posted here, Otis was signed to Atlantic's Cotillion label where he stayed from 1968 until his move to Hi records in 1971.  Unfortunately, Atlantic didn't take Otis seriously enough at the time and recorded very little, but did allow him to release five dynamite 45s for the label during these years.

As far as I am aware, Atlantic never compiled these singles into the Cotillion Otis Clay LP that should have been.  This oversight continued into the CD age, where a number of these tracks appeared only on various compilations.  So here is the great Otis Clay Atlantic album that never was.  I have compiled his five 45s in chronological order and added an additional track, Your Helping Hand, that was unreleased at the time.

There is some top drawer Otis here.  Enjoy!  

Otis Clay - Live (Japan (1978) and Clarksdale (1991)

As I promised in our discussion of Soul Man Live in Japan, I am posting two more live sets here for Otis Clay freaks like me who can't get enough. The first disc, Live!, is from the first professionally recorded concert in Japan, which dates from 1978, as opposed to the 1983 concert already posted by KC.   While this recording may not reach the heights of the extraordinary 1983 set, it is still quite worthwhile for Otis Clay fans. It contains a number of songs recorded for Hi Records that he did not keep in his repetoire in subsequent years.  This rip is from a CD.  As I understand, the 2-disc LP contains a few extra songs not included here.  If anybody has access to those songs, and could post them here, it would be much appreciated.  

The second concert comes from the Sunflower Blues Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi, vintage 1991.   It is a private recording in low fi that is nevertheless near and dear to my heart.  It is the only recording I know that features Otis with his fantastic band of the time: Chicago Fire.  I had the opportunity to hear Otis live a number of times in the late 80s and early 90s with Chicago Fire.  The best of them were some of the most memorable concerts of my life.  Chicago Fire was something like the perfect foil for the artistry of Otis Clay.  They gave him all the room he needed for a secular sermon that always left you with the feeling that your soul had been cleansed and spirt rejuvinated.  

The last time that I saw Otis Clay with Chicago Fire was at Slim's in San Francisco around the time of this concert.  I went Friday night, and had to come back Saturday as well.   I was extremely happy to hear Otis' announcement that they had just signed a recording deal with Rounder Records.  Finally, I thought, this incredible sound would be caught for the ages. 

Fate would have it that, for one reason or another, Otis Clay and Chicago Fire went their separate ways before Otis went to the studios for Rounder.  To their credit, Rounder assembled crack bands for Otis' two discs for that label.   But it didn't really work.  The bands didn't know how to give Otis the flexibility that he needed to work his magic.  As a result, Otis ended up in a sort of musical straightjacket, trying hard to complement what the band was doing, as opposed to the other way around.   What could have been classic albums in the Otis Clay discography with Chicago Fire turned out to be among his weakest.

At any rate, if you can tolerate the lo fi sound, here is Otis in all his glory with Chicago Fire in 1991.

By the way, Otis' new album, Truth Is, is his best release in a while.  Support the Soul Man and buy it!


The Voices Of East Harlem - Right On Be Free

"The Voices of East Harlem was an African-American vocal ensemble of up to 20 singers, aged between 12 and 21. Founded as a community initiative in 1969, the group performed with top soul and R&B musicians and recorded four albums in the early and mid-1970s.

The group originated in an inner city action project in East Harlem, New York City, in 1969. Charles "Chuck" Griffin, founder of the East Harlem Federation Youth Association (EHFYA), and his wife Anna Quick Griffin, set up the ensemble, initially to perform in colleges and at local benefits. Their first major performance was at a benefit for Mayor John Lindsay, after which they attracted music director Bernice Cole (5 November 1921–19 November 2006), who had been a member of the Angelic Gospel Singers, to which she later returned. They also gained a manager, Jerry Brandt, who had previously worked with Sam Cooke and who persuaded the ensemble to update their material and style.

In January 1970, they performed at the "Winter Festival for Peace" at Madison Square Garden on a bill with Harry Belafonte, Richie Havens, Judy Collins, Dave Brubeck, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Peter, Paul and Mary, The Rascals, Jimi Hendrix (who abandoned his performance after two numbers), and the cast of Hair. They made regular TV appearances, and recorded an album for Elektra Records, Right On Be Free, issued in 1970. The album focused on ensemble singing in a traditional black gospel style, but with secular lyrics emphasising "the power of the people", and a "soulful feel". Several of the tracks, including the title track "Right On, Be Free", were written by Chuck Griffin. Lead vocals on Right On Be Free were by Cole, Anna Griffin, Gerri Griffin, and Cynthia Sessions. The backing musicians included Richard Tee, Cornell Dupree, Chuck Rainey, and Ralph MacDonald, and the album was produced by David Rubinson. The group received a standing ovation at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival in the UK, appeared at the Apollo Theater, and performed in Ghana in February 1971 at the Soul To Soul concert."

Sonny Green - Rare 45s

Well, I finally managed to upload this collection as promised.  Thank you for your patience, Chitlin' lovers.   Here are 17 tracks that duplicate and extend the previous post on Sonny Green by KC.  The last track is actually an instrumental without Sonny Green, but it was released under Sonny's name as the B-side of a 45.

One night in the 90s, I somehow ended up in an L.A. club at a Sonny Green concert.   He was still in full voice at the time.  I hadn't heard of Sonny Green until then, and he hit me as something like a cross between Little Johnny Taylor and Syl Johnson, with a little Al Green thrown in for good measure.  In other words, POTENT!   I was happy that Sonny was marketing his own CDR at the time of his classic 45s.  So that is what I am posting here. 

I wonder if Sonny Green is still around and singing?   

Enjoy!   

Mavis Staples - We'll Never Turn Back

A third Sunday offering? Well, in truth, this is not entirely Gospel but it is inspiring music for a Sunday afternoon with the divine Ms Mavis -- there is a whole lot of singing going on here and it ain't just Mavis! Ry Cooder is producer/collaborator here and he does a fabulous job. In perusing the reviews of this monster it seems that the biggest complaint is that it is TOO good to be true.....yeah...I'll take that thank you!

The world needs more music like this - after nearly 60 years in the struggle Mavis sees how much is still undone, and makes it clear. Turn it up! Sing out loud! Keep on walking, keep on talking, let them know we ain't dead.