Surprisingly the most valuable record I own might not be a record at all but a CD.
A few years ago I bought a limited edition reissue of Syreeta’s first two, Stevie Wonder-produced, solo albums on a single CD which is now deleted and currently going on Amazon for $90 to a whopping $220 for a used copy. It’s not enough to retire on but, bugger me, that’s a lot of money for a CD — it would actually be cheaper to buy them both onvinyl.
God knows why both albums are so scarce and Motown hasn’t reissued them properly (especially since Syreeta died in 2004) because, apart from the fact that there’s obviously a market demand, they’re really superb albums, among the best soul records put out in the 1970s with some of Stevie Wonder’s (her husband at the time) most brilliant synth-soul production. I mean, I’m glad to have such a valuable CD but I think I’d prefer Motown to give Syreeta a bit more respect and it to be less rare and expensive. But that’s the kind of guy I am.
This is the 1985 remix version of “London Town” which isn’t as good as the original but it’s still a sublime ode to the greatest city in the world. Not sure about those backing singers though, they look like they’ve wandered in from Brotherhood of Man or something.
I saw a fair bit of Glastonbury on the telly in England last week (when did the wall-to-wall media coverage start? I remember when it was a, you know, alternative rock festival) and have to say that, controversial choice to headline she might have been but Beyoncé wiped the floor with both U2 and Coldplay. This is just staggeringly fantastic.
I had tickets to see him at the Town & Country Club back in the 80s but the concert was canceled at the last minute because of “illness.” At the time I had no idea that the man who wrote songs like “The Bottle” and “Angel Dust” had addiction problems of his own and shows often didn’t happen as a result. His death is doubly sad because it seemed like he had put his troubles behind him and was making a comeback.
A lot of obits have been referring to him as the “Godfather of Rap” which seems very reductive and not true to the real depth of his talent, to me he was a brilliant songwriter and a really wonderful soul singer with a gorgeous, smoky voice. And judging by this track he was storming live too, pity I’ll never get the chance to see for myself now.
Don’t know how I didn’t hear about this before but, man, I’m gutted to find out that General Johnson died last week. Chairmen of The Board were one the great soul bands of the 70s and one of the most underrated (as was their label Invictus with that crisp soul-funk sound they had) and where would Kevin Rowland be without Johnson’s pleading voice and that brrrrrrrrrrrppppp sound he made?
The sentimental musings of an ageing expat in words, music, and pictures. Mp3 files are up for a limited time so drink them while they're hot.
Contact me: lee at londonlee dot com
