OTV Slick Vinyl

Rick Holmes - Remember To Remember - 1981 (Produced By Roy Ayers)

2011-09-01T07:59:00.022-04:00

Rick Holmes' Remember To Remember is a 12" that's near and dear to us because it was the inspiration for our Skoolwerk Apparel tee-shirt line that we launched this year to honor soul pioneers and jazz innovators of yesterday, today and tomorrow. With Skoolwerk Apparel we seek to "Remember To Remember to never forget."

This classic 12" released on Gold Mink Records was produced by soul/jazz/funk Vibraphonist/Producer Roy Ayers and narrated by an early 80's Los Angeles radio jazz DJ/Personality by the name of Rick Holmes.

Remember To Remember is one of the most memorable, endearing and historical "roll calls" on wax and honors prominent musicians, singers, activists, politicians, educators, actors and athletes that have made strong contributions to mankind. Recorded in 1981, Remember To Remember was only issued as a 12" and ended up disappearing until it resurfaced in the late 90's on select CD compilations and Roy Ayers collections.

Other memorable and worth owning Rick Holmes narration projects include the 1974 Cannonball Adderley LP Love, Sex and Zodiac and the 1972 Nat Adderley Sextet LP Soul Zodiac .

PASS THE INFORMATION, EXTEND THE KNOWLEDGE.

Maynard Ferguson - Mister Mellow - 1977

2011-05-04T17:57:00.003-04:00

Conquistador, the 1977 album by trumpeter Maynard Ferguson was one that attracted quite a bit of criticism and certainly didn't earn him any new fans. Most found it hard to take Ferguson seriously and wrote him off as a serious jazz musician. Not that there was a shortage of quality musicians on the record, rather the quality of material that was recorded seemed to be the problem for most. But for rare groovers, crate diggers and DJs there was one tune from this album that could always find a home on rare groove playlists worldwide. Mister Mellow is a moody, guitar driven 70's jazz groove featuring George Benson on guitar. I'd say the beauty of digging for rare grooves is always finding gems like Mister Mellow on an album that had been written off as forgettable.

Maynard Ferguson
Conquistador
(Columbia) 1977
Noted Personnel: Bob James, George Benson, Eric Gale, Ralph McDonald
Availability: Vinyl, CD

Side A:
Gonna Fly Now (Theme From Rocky)
Mister Mellow
Theme From Star Trek

Side B:
Conquistador
Soar Like An Eagle
The Fly

Listen to Mister Mellow

Change - Miracles - 1981

2010-11-17T11:51:00.007-05:00

Change was an Italian-American Disco/R&B group formed in Bologna, Italy in 1979 by the creative genius of businessman and executive producer Jacques Fred Petrus (1948–1987) and Mauro Malavasi (1958-). They were heavily influenced by legendary disco band Chic. The band's debut album, The Glow Of Love, was released in 1980 and featured lead vocals by a then unknown singer Luther Vandross. Change exposed Luther's voice to mainstream and eventually led to a successful solo career starting in 1981.

The follow-up album, Miracles, featured the hits Paradise, Hold Tight, and Heaven Of My Life, which, combined, spent 6 weeks at the number one spot in 1981 on Billboard's Disco chart. Due to contractual differences, Luther refused to sing lead on any of the album's tracks and was only featured on backing vocals on selected songs.

Change
Miracles
(Wea) 1981
Availability: Vinyl,
Miracles/Change Of Heart double re-issue CD

Side A:
Paradise
Hold Tight
Your Move
Stop For Love

Side B:
On Top
Heaven Of My Life
Miracles

Listen to Heaven Of My Life

Billy Ocean - Nights (Feel Like Getting Down) - 1981

2010-11-17T11:19:00.006-05:00

The song Nights (Feel Like Getting Down) is a sublime early 80's club groover from Billy Ocean. Ocean failed to delivered another groover since this classic in 1981. His career went totally pop and then he disappeared from the mainstream. Thankfully, there's this gem of a Rare Groove that, in our opinion, was his best!

Billy Ocean
Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)
(Epic) 1981
Availability: Vinyl

Side A:
Are You Ready
Don't Say Stop
Whatever Turns You On
Another Day Won't Matter

Side B:
Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)
Who's Gonna Rock You
Stay The Night
Everlasting Love
Taking Chances

Listen to Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)

Positive Force - We Got The Funk - 1980

2010-11-17T10:21:00.009-05:00

Positive Force was an eight-piece funk/soul band consisting of six males and two females founded on Pennsylvania and signed to Sugarhill Records. Positive Force's most-successful performance was an uncredited party ambience performance on the Sugarhill Gang's Rapper's Delight. However, success under their name eluded them; their debut single, We Got the Funk (1979), flopped in the States but became a small-ish club hit in the United Kingdom.

Sugarhill issued an album, Positive Force, in 1980 along with a second single, Especially for You. Again, nothing sales-wise in the States, but they enjoyed a little cult following in the U.K. and appeared on the Top of the Pops television show -- their first and only taste of stardom. We Got the Funk made a second appearance on the U.K. charts as part of a medley from Calibre Cuts; the occasion marked their last chart showing.

Positive Force
Positive Force
(Sugar Hill Records) 1980
Availability: Vinyl

Side A:
Especially For You
People Get On Up
You're Welcome

Side B:
Today It Snowed
We Got The Funk
Tell Me What You See

Listen to We Got The Funk

Foster Sylvers - Misdemeanor - 1973

2010-10-23T20:03:00.015-04:00

This vinyl only gem is the solo debut from eleven year-old Foster Sylvers of the famous 70's R&B/Dance group The Sylvers. Misdemeanor was a top Ten R&B/Top 25 pop hit in 1973 and was written by brother Leon Sylvers III. The hit single has been sampled over the years by hip hop artists The D.O.C. for It's Funky Enough, Shyne for That's Gangsta, Big Daddy Kane for Get Bizzy, Masta Ace for Don't F*** Around and several others.

Foster Sylvers
Misdemeanor
(Pride) 1973
Availability: Vinyl

Side A:
Misdemeanor
Big Things Come In Small Packages
I'm Your Puppet
Mockingbird
I'll Get You In The End

Side B:
Hey Little Girl
Happy Face
Swooperman
More Love
Only My Love Is True
Lullabye / Uncle Albert

Listen to Misdemeanor

Sugarhill Gang - Passion Play - 1980

2010-09-28T18:34:00.008-04:00

Sugarhill Gang is the self titled debut album by influential rap group, The Sugarhill Gang. The album was released in 1980 for Sugarhill Records and was produced by Sylvia Robinson. The single "Rapper's Delight" was a #36 hit on the US pop chart and a #4 hit on the R&B chart. Although "Rapper's Delight" was the only charting single, the album also included the minor hit, "Rapper's Reprise". A Rare Groove B-side gem, entitled "Passion Play" was re:introduced to U.S. Markets via a compilation series released by the UK record label BBE. The rare groove landed on the 2001 Strange Games and Funky Things compilation mixed by Brooklyn-based DJ Spinna.

Sugarhill Gang
Sugarhill Gang
(Sugarhill Records) 1980
Availability: Vinyl, Import CD, Amazon mp3

Side A:
Here I Am
Rapper's Reprise (Jam-Jam)
Bad News

Side B:
Sugarhill Groove
Passion Play
Rapper's Delight

Listen to Passion Play

Samuel Jonathan Johnson - My Music - 1978

2010-08-22T18:58:00.010-04:00

This very fine but totally under the radar vinyl release by Samuel Jonathan Johnson was released in 1978. It wasn't until 2001 that the distinct rare groove title track My Music was discovered, sampled and introduced to the world of hip hop via a couple of hott hip hop songs by Jadakiss We Gonna Make It and Ras Kass Home Sweet Home, both produced by The Alchemist. Samuel Johnathan Johnson is also the father of West Coast-based Independent Soul Artist Yolanda Johnson.

Samuel Jonathan Johnson
My Music
(Columbia Records) 1978
Availability: Vinyl

Side A:
My Music
What The World Needs Now Is Love
Sweet Love
Because I Love You
It Ain't Easy

Side B:
You
Just Us
Yesterdays and Tomorrow
Thank You Mother Dear
Reason For The Reason

Listen to My Music

Bobby Lyle - New Warrior - 1978

2010-07-07T21:04:00.006-04:00

"New Warrior, reflect on the past, acknowledge the present and move forward with faith, helping to create tomorrow - that your song may be both a balm to a troubled world, and an inspiration to future warriors who will inherit your legacy."

Bobby Lyle
New Warrior
(Capitol Records) 1978
Noted Personnel: Angela Lisa Winbush, Harvey Mason, Sunship, Wayne Henderson, Augie Johnson
Availability: Vinyl

Side A:
Good Inside
New Warrior
Believe
Interlude
Apocalypse

Side B:
Groove (Ain't No Doubt About It)
Inner Space
Star Traveller
Missing Your Love
What Is This Thing Called Love

Listen to Good Inside

The History Of The Most Important 6-Sec Drum Loop

2010-07-02T18:01:00.007-04:00

This fascinating, brilliant 20-minute video narrates the history of the "Amen Break," a six-second drum sample from the b-side of a chart-topping single from 1969. This sample was used extensively in early hiphop and sample-based music, and became the basis for drum-and-bass and jungle music -- a six-second clip that spawned several entire subcultures. Nate Harrison's 2004 video is a meditation on the ownership of culture, the nature of art and creativity, and the history of a remarkable music clip.

Classic RecordBreakin' Slipmats

2010-05-25T22:03:00.008-04:00

Well, it's only right that we feature these brand new fashionable Record Breakin' slipmats on the OTV Slickvinyl Blogspot. We love vinyl and so do the good fellas at Record Breakin' Music, the Philadelphia-based indie record label. They love vinyl so much that they have designed these fashionable Record Breakin' slipmats to help you look as good as you spin. Patterned after the French fashion house of Louis Vuitton or LV for short, the slipmats are sold in pairs to fit 12-inch turntables. Visit Record Breakin' Music to purchase a pair of classic Record Breakin' slipmates for just $15.00 (USD) and while you're there check out the selection of Record Breakin' releases from some of the most cutting edge emerging and established artists in music today.

Ndugu and The Chocolate Jam Co. - Do I Make You Feel Better? - 1980

2010-05-17T18:54:00.006-04:00

Ndugu & The Chocolate Jam Co.
Do I Make You Feel Better?
(Epic) 1980
Noted Personnel: Producer, Lead Vocals - Leon Ndugu Chancler (below)
Lead, Background Vocals - Gwen Evans , Josie James , Maxine "Maxi" Anderson*
Availability: Vinyl, 2001 Japanese Re-issue CD

Side A:
Shadow Dancing
Come Into My Life Again
Send You My Love
Take Some Time

Side B:
Give Your Love
Space Connection
Make You Feel Better (Parts 1 And 2)
A Chance With You
Jungle Journey
Love Anew (What You Feel Inside)

Listen to Take Some Time

Dimitri From Paris: Get Down With The Philly Sound - FREE SAMPLER

2010-05-12T15:09:00.010-04:00

Dimitri from Paris presents "Get Down With The Philly Sound" from BBE Music on Vimeo.

BBE Records proudly presents its 5th and arguably most exciting compilation with the French dj and ambassador of disco, Dimitri from Paris. This compilation focuses on Dimitri’s essential disco era tracks - made in Philadelphia, that feature the core of the rhythm section that created and defined the sound of the genre.

Now for the first time ever Gamble and Huff have given a label access to the multi track tapes of some Philly International platinum selling classics such as The Love I Lost, Bad Luck featuring the vocals of the late great Teddy Pendergrass, the first black male to release 5 consecutive platinum albums in the United States.

Dimitri's selection on CD1 traces the evolution of the 70’s disco groove from the first ever disco hit record, to the rejuvenation of the Jackson 5’s career. Interspersed with obscurities such as Charles Mann to the magnificent Teddy Pendergrass, Philly International’s answer to Marvin Gaye. CD2 of the compilation pays homage to the original creators and innovators of the remix and extended edits with reworkings exclusively by Dimitri from Paris.

Tracklist
CD1:
01. Teddy Pendergrass – You Can’t Hide From Yourself
02. Eddie Kendricks – He’s A Friend
03. Philly Devotions – Hurt So Bad
04. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Bad Luck pt. 1 & 2
05. The Jacksons – Living Together
06. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Tell The World How I Feel About ‘Cha Baby
07. John Davis & The Monster Orchestra – Night and Day
08. Carl Bean – I Was Born This Way
09. The Trammps – The Night The Lights Went Out
10. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – The Love I Lost
11. Charles Mann – Do It Again
12. Teddy Pendergrass – The More I Get, The More I Want
13. T.J.M. – I Don’t Need No Music

CD2:
01. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – The Love I Lost (Dimitri from Paris Super Disco Blend)
02. Philly Devotions – Hurt So Bad (Dimitri from Paris Super Disco Blend)
03. The Jacksons – Living Together (a Dimitri from Paris Disco Re-Edit)
04. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Bad Luck (a Dimitri from Paris Disco Re-Edit)
05. Teddy Pendergrass – The More I Get, The More I Want (Dimitri from Paris Super Disco Blend)
06. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Tell The World How I Feel About ‘Cha Baby (a DfP Disco Re-Edit)
07. Teddy Pendergrass – You Can’t Hide From Yourself (Dimitri from Paris Super Disco Blend)
08. Eddie Kendricks – He’s A Friend (Dimitri from Paris Super Disco Blend)
09. The Trammps – The Night The Lights Went Out (a Dimitri from Paris Disco Re-Edit)

Click here and 'save target as' to FREE:LOAD Get Down With The Philly Sound Sampler

CD in stores Spring 2010 on BBE Music

Freedom - Farther Than Imagination - 1979

2010-04-21T18:56:00.009-04:00

Freedom
Farther Than Imagination
(Malaco) 1979
Availability: Vinyl

Side A:
Farther Than Imagination
So In Love
Set You Free
Dance Sing Alone

Side B:
Summer Memory
Know You Better
Wake Up Your Mind
Get Up And Dance
You've Just Got To Be The One

Listen to Get Up And Dance

"To Have And To Hold" A Vinyl "Musicmentory" - Teaser

2010-03-28T13:38:00.007-04:00

We couldn't be happier over here at OTV right now! Thanks to our friends at Bama Love Soul we discovered a wonderful new "Musicmentory" film on the horizon. To Have & To Hold is the vinyl inspired documentary directed by Jony Lyle that celebrates the age of vinyl records.

The film promises enough archive footage, records rooms, music collections, pressing plants, and rare vinyl to satisfy even the most die hard physical music addicts. In addition to its irresistible collectible eye candy, To Have & To Hold, which is scheduled for a 2010 release, features interviews with such notable vinyl aficionados as Questlove, Chuck D, Bobbito Garcia, DJ Amir, Bruce Lundvall, Christian Marclay, and Paul Mawhinney.

I get goose pimples just from watching the 8 minute teaser below. The actual film will be about 90 minutes long and will be a piece of music history to see, own and share.

"Vinyl is Alive and Well! Buy More Vinyl, You'll Feel Better!" - OTV

To Have & To Hold - Taster Tape from Jony Lyle on Vimeo.

Wax Poetics - Inside Issue #40 - Ohio Players/Smokey Robinson Issue

2010-03-24T10:55:00.008-04:00

March/April 2010 Issue #40 On Newsstands Now!

■Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner: Sugarfoot bares the pleasures and pains of the Ohio Players

■Smokey Robinson: Motown co-founder and hitmaker ascended soul's limitations

Check out what else is included in this issue read more

Ethel Beatty - It's Your Love 12" - 1981

2010-03-18T20:52:00.006-04:00

Ethel Beatty
It's Your Love
(Uno Melodic Records) 1981
Noted Personnel: Written by Roy Ayers, Co-Written by D.D. Bridgewater
Availability: Rare 12" Vinyl, More Adventures of Funksoul Sisters Compilation CD, Further Adventures of Funksoul Sisters Compilation CD, Life:Styles Compilation CD compiled by 4 Hero

Listen to It's Your Love

Melba Moore - Portrait Of Melba - 1977

2010-02-22T20:59:00.014-05:00

Melba Moore
Portrait Of Melba
(Buddah Records) 1977
Availability: Vinyl

Side 1:
You Are My River
Promised Land
I Don't Know No One Else To Turn To
Standing Right Here

Side 2:
Just Another Link
Living Free
Is This The End
Love And I Aren't Strangers Anymore

Listen to Standing Right Here

Pleasure - Future Now - 1979

2010-02-08T19:16:00.010-05:00

Pleasure
Future Now
(Fantasy Records) 1979
Availability: Vinyl

Side 1:
Departure
Future Now
Universal
Space Is The Place
Strong Love

Side 2:
The Real Thing
Nothin' To It
Thoughts Of Old Flames
Glide
Dedication To The Past

Listen to Thoughts Of Old Flames

Gotta Groove Records - Cleveland, Ohio

2010-02-07T12:44:00.009-05:00

Check out this short documentary about a new vinyl pressing plant in Cleveland Ohio, called "Gotta Groove Records". They specialize in 7" and 12" Vinyl creation/manufacturing using PVC molding.

Gotta Groove Records - "Groove With Us" from Nick Cavalier on Vimeo.

Click here to visit Gotta Groove Records for more info

Michael Wycoff - Love Conquers All - 1982

2010-01-30T16:29:00.006-05:00

American R&B Singer Michael Wycoff sang backup on Stevie Wonder's album Songs in the Key of Life. He signed a solo contract with RCA and released three albums between 1981 and 1983, scoring a few hit singles on the U.S. R&B charts. His second album, Love Conquers All, included the song, Looking Up To You, that was sampled by the
1990s R&B group Zhane on their hit song, Hey Mr. DJ in 1993.

Unfortunately, like many artists of the 1980s, Wycoff succumbed to addiction to drugs and alcohol. His addiction ultimately caused him the loss of his career, his home and his family, and Wycoff ended up homeless. At the bottom, he found his way back through his faith, beating his habit and ultimately becoming Minister of Music at several Los Angeles area churches.

Michael Wycoff
Love Conquers All
(RCA) 1982
Noted Personnel: Webster Lewis, Fred Wesley, Evelyn King, George Bohanon
Availability: Vinyl, Japanese Re-Issue CD
CD Available at Amazon

Side A:
Still Got The Magic (Sweet Delight)
Looking Up To You
Love Is So Easy
Can We Be Friends

Side B:
Diamond Real
Love Conquers All
Take This Chance Again
It's Over

Listen to Looking Up To You written by Leon Ware

Natalie Cole - Thankful - 1977

2010-01-27T11:44:00.010-05:00

Natalie Cole
Thankful
(Capitol Records) 1977
Noted Personnel: Lee Ritenour, Ray Parker Jr., Marvin Yancy, Gene Barge
Availability: Vinyl

Side 1:
Lovers
Our Love
La Costa
Nothing Stronger Than Love

Side 2:
Be Thankful
Just Can't Stay Away
Annie Mae
Keeping A Light

Listen to La Costa

Listen to Annie Mae

Chico Hamilton - Peregrinations - 1975

2010-01-24T13:37:00.004-05:00

Chico Hamilton
Peregrinations
(Blue Note) 1975
Availability: Vinyl

Side A:
V-O
Morning Side Of Love
Abdullah And Abraham
Andy's Walk
Peregrinations

Side B:
Sweet Dreams
Little Lisa
Space For Stacy
On And Off
It's About That Time

Listen to Morning Side Of Love

Aquarian Dream - Fantasy - 1978

2010-01-24T12:57:00.004-05:00

Aquarian Dream
Fantasy
(Elektra) 1978
Noted Personnel: Debra Laws, Eloise Laws, Sylvia Striplin, Gary Bartz, The Waters, Ray Parker Jr.
Availability: Vinyl, Japanese Re-Issue CD
CD Available at DustyGroove

Side A:
You're A Star
Friends
It Ain't Watch Say
Yesterday (Was So Nice Today)

Side B:
Play It For Me (One More Time)
Fantasy
Gentle Thoughts
Do You Realize

Listen to Do You Realize

Lou Courtney - I'm In Need Of Love - 1974

2010-01-24T12:41:00.004-05:00

Lou Courtney
I'm In Need Of Love
(Epic) 1974
Availability: Vinyl, Soul Brother UK Re-Issue CD (1999)
CD Available at DustyGroove

Side A:
The Common Broken Heart
Since I First Laid Eyes On You
What Do You Want Me To Do
The Best Thing A Man Ever Do For His Woman
I Will, If You Will

Side B:
Somebody New Is Lovin' On You
I'm Serious About Lovin' You
I Don't Need Nobody Else
Just To Let Him Break Your Hear
I'm In Need Of Love

Listen to Somebody New Is Lovin' On You

Quincy Jones - Mellow Madness - 1975

2010-01-24T12:33:00.004-05:00

Quincy Jones
Mellow Madness
(A&M) 1975
Noted Personnel: Leon Ware, Minnie Riperton, Harvey Mason, Hubert Laws, The Watts Prophets and Introducing Paulette McWilliams and The Brothers Johnson
Availability: Vinyl, Japanese Re-Issue CD
CD Available at DustyGroove

Side A:Is It Love That We're Missin'
Paranoid
Mellow Madness
Beautiful Black Girl
Listen (What It Is)

Side B:
Just A Little Taste Of Me
My Cherie Amour
Tryin' To Find Out About You
Cry Baby
Bluesette

Listen to Mellow Madness

Harvey Mason - Funk In A Mason Jar - 1977

2010-01-24T12:21:00.007-05:00

Harvey Mason
Funk In A Mason Jar
(Arista) 1977
Noted Personnel: Dorothy Ashby, George Benson, Bob James, Ronnie Foster, The Waters, Phil Upchurch
Availability: Vinyl, Japanese Re-Issue CD
CD Available at DustyGroove

Side A:
Pack Up Your Bass
Till You Take My Love
Space Cadets
Freedom Either Way
Funk In A Mason Jar

Side B:
What's Goin' On?
Set It Free
Phantazia
Liquid

Listen to Till You Take My Love

Nancy Wilson - Life, Love and Harmony - 1979

2010-01-24T11:38:00.010-05:00

Nancy Wilson
Life, Love & Harmony
(Capitol) 1979
Availability: Vinyl

Side A:
Life, Love & Harmony
Here's To Us
This Is Our Song
Sunshine

Side B:
You're The One
Open Up Your Heart And Take Me In
Wrapped Up In The Comfort Of Your Love
You Bring Out The Best Of The Woman In Me
Heaven

Listen to Sunshine

Norman Connors - Invitation - 1979

2010-01-24T11:18:00.011-05:00

Norman Connors
Invitation
(Arista/Buddah) 1979
Noted Personnel: Al Johnson, Jean Carn, Jones Girls, Bobby Lyle, Eddie Henderson, Gary Bartz,
Availability: Vinyl

Side A:
Your Love
Handle Me Gently
Be There In The Morning
Invitation
Together

Side B:
Disco Land
I Have A Dream
Beijo Partido
Kingston

Listen to Invitation