Welcome back!!

Apologies for my absence, I’ve been busy squaring away (hopefully) the last details of some ongoing real life moves, suffice to say that this should (hopefully) be put to bed for the time being at least, allowing business here to resume as normal.

I hope you all enjoyed The Popcorn Kings previous mix, now the ball is rolling again there should be plenty more from him heading this way soon.

Before I hit you up with today’s new mix I want to give you a heads up for our forthcoming event on Saturday 7th March at our usual haunt, La Havana Bar in Chichester. As always all the directions and details can be found in the FORTHCOMING EVENTS tab at the top of the page. Make sure you don’t sleep on this one as we’ll be dropping some special sets to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Motown. We look forward to seeing you there accompanied by your best pair of dancing shoes!

Today’s mix is pretty much a 50/50 split of new finds and old favourites. We get things started with The Dramatics and their 1971 Stax hit ‘Get Up And Get Down’, which if you hadn’t noticed also lends it’s name to the title of today’s mix. The Dramatics formed in 1962 in the Detroit Motor City and originally called themselves The Dynamics (although some sources state they were called The Sensations???), they changed their name some when between 1965 and 1967 once they started to hit the mainstream. With a few tweaks to the line up, they still perform today and were recently acknowledged when a Detroit Street was named after them.

Gary Byrd’s ‘Soul Travelin’ is a 45 that has seen it’s price rise on sales lists and Ebay of late, due to it’s inclusion on DJ Shadow’s Brain Freeze LP. This is a little compilation styled 45, almost mini mix tape in its production, which sees Mr Byrd ‘Soul Travelin’ around The States and dropping in on some of the artists that were notably successful at the time. It’s worth mentioning that the band behind him on this track is The Jimmy Castor Bunch (of ‘It’s Just Begun’ fame) who also have a hand in the polished production. I scored my copy a while back from Ebay and it must have slipped under peoples radar’s as I secured it for a fairly reasonable price.

Lee Fields is an artist I’ve featured on these pages before, and this time round it’s his Soul Fire release with The Explorers that I’ve pulled from the crates. ‘Your Love (Is Something I Need)’ is the flip side to ‘I’m the Man’ and was put out back in 2000. Aside from his frequent releases on Daptone Records he is still performing live and those of you lucky enough to live near New York City will be able catch him at the formidable Dig Deeper on 25th April. Jealous? Me?

‘Solid Funk’ by Sugarman Three is also another Soul Fire 45 and most certainly contains exactly what it says on the tin in the grooves! This is great big chunk of upfront instrumental funk. Pay particular attention to the rolling fat back drums and tidy horn work – Quality!!

Frank William’s Rocketeers step up next with “You Got To Be A Man” on the Phil-La of Soul Label. Both the artist and the label are firm favourites here at The Hook And Sling. If you are unfamiliar with Frank Williams you should head over to Jazzman Records and pick up the ‘Good things - Story Of Saadia Records’ box set which includes several cuts that he penned and produced.

‘I’m Gonna Fool You’ by Ella Hamilton was a 45 that I picked up as part of a sampler for Keb Darge’s recent P & P Records compilation album. I had previously over looked this side but after a revisit, this one is now in the play box.

Tommy And Cleve’s ‘I Don’t Want To Share Your Love’ is the flip to their 1966 release ‘Boogaloo Baby’, a tasty little grover I picked up not so long ago. This fits nicely in here as we wind things up.

‘Don’t Be Afraid’ by the George Semper Rhythm Committee brings things to a finish here nicely. Another overlooked B-side that I have recently discovered but a perfect way to close up nonetheless.

Enjoy today’s mix and I’ll be back soon with more of the good stuff!

Track List

Dramatics – Get Up And Get Down – Stax

Gary Byrd – Soul Travelin’ Pt.1 (G.B.E) – Victor

Lee Fields & The Explorers – Your Love (Is Something I Need) – Soul Fire

Sugarman Three – Solid Funk – Soul Fire

Frank William’s Rocketeers – “You Got To Be A Man” – Phil-L.A. Of Soul

Ella Hamilton – “I’m Gonna Fool You” – P&P

Tommy & Cleve – I Don’t Want To Share Your Love – Checker

George Semper Rhythm Committee – Don’t Be afraid – Rama Rama Records

Download Mr Double Down Presents The Get Up And Get Down HERE