Welcome back Soul Children!

Apologies for my tardy return here this week but unfortunately several ‘Real Life Moves’ required my attention, delaying this post. However I can promise you it’s well worth the wait!

First up, a big thank you to Disco Fran for the fantastic guest mix that he dropped on us at the tail end of last week. Hopefully he will be gracing us with more goodness here soon.

The Hook & Sling will also be returning to La Havana Bar in Chichester, West Sussex this Saturday 4th July, as always all the details can be found in the tabs at the top of the page. If you in the vicinity roll by and join us for what will hopefully be another great night!

Ok people on with business!

Those that roll by these parts on the reg. may recall I recently guest Dee-Jayed at Jamie Coughlan’s regular monthly funk and soul night at The Elbow Room in Shoreditch, East London several weeks ago. I was also joined by Andy Marshall, Marius Zahl Johnsen and Aaron Anderson, who all played absolutely blistering sets.

I managed to pin Jamie, Andy and Marius down before the evening kicked off and we set to bring the second instalment of ‘Three The Hard Way’, a joint mix series I began a while back now. Unfortunately Aaron had other commitments, but hopefully will be joining our guest mix series soon with a contribution of his own.

This mix is a great cross section of what was played on the night and hopefully we’ll be seeing more of these at The Hook & Sling from these three in the near future, so sit tight.

It’s time for Volume 2 of ‘Three The Hard Way’, so Ladies and Gentlemen give it up for Andy Marshall, Marius Zahl Johnsen and Jamie Coughlan…..

Andy Marshall

Frankie And The Damons – Man From Soul – JCP

I have been dippin’ my toe in “60’s Northern” for the last couple of years, however I have been hesitant to dive in properly as it is so vast and I have so much to learn and don’t really have the time or budget to put into it. It’s like discovering Hip Hop all over again, and that took me 7 odd years to get up to speed with it all. Also I keep getting fed up of hearing nice soul tunes and then discovering they cost £5k+ (Milton James)

I came across this on Manship’s auction some time last year and promptly forgot to bid on it (The Explosive Dynamiks was also on at the same time and I forgot about that one too). So I couldn’t believe it when an “unplayed” copy finished up on ebay for £200 odd, less than what it was changing hands for on Soul Source. I had a message out of the blue from a SS member saying how unlucky I was that one just went on ebay for a bargain price. “Yes” I replied, “Unlucky indeed, assuming I hadn’t won it”

The Rhine Oaks – Tampin – Atco

The perennially unshaven George Mahood brought this to my attention about a year ago. And yet, considering he sold it for less than £20, I had to wait a very long time for another copy to turn up, indeed not many have turned up in the intervening period (and it appears to have been historically rare) and you’d be lucky to get one for £16 these days. This was the only release by The Rhine Oaks (or The Meters in reality) all the way back in ‘69.

T.N.T. Powerhouse – Basement Jam – Casey Records

This was a long time want, but with allegedly only 2 known copies it was always going to be a tough nut to crack. But as with a lot of things I have been after over the years they all seem to turn up in pairs! So I’m looking forward to 2 copies of Curly Davis & The Uniques turning up soon then!! Tricky syncopation with a cracking horn riff.

The Tornado’s – Slippery Soul – Head

Lovely laid back stuff with the horns beefing things up and the break was a nice bonus.

Family Of Friends – Stoned All Night – Narbaiz Records

I know naaarthing about this frantic funker celebrating the use of that illegal plant.

Jerry Blackshear – “Defected”(From Your Love) – Eral

A previously unknown discovery turned up by Aaron Anderson aka Breakself a couple of years ago and it appears that the number of copies in circulation haven’t reached double figures yet. I don’t play this one out as much as I should or like. I can’t find any other releases on the label.

Nice And Easy – The Groove Will Make You Move – Pokoe

Modern Soul from Surinam of all places.

Marius Zahl Johnsen

Frankie Stanton And Speckled Rainbow – Bi-Centennial 1976 – Speckled Rainbow Records

Great uptempo party-funk tune, one for 2009. Great soul on the flip to make it worth every penny of its cost.

Raw Soul Express – The Way We Live – Cat

A long time want for me, as for many others I guess. Rare one for the label. Sublime modern soul piece with great production.

Rokk – Patience – Tollie

70s soul does really not get much better than this. Uptempo, catchy, funky and dancefloor friendly.

Taxie – Rock Don’t Stop – Archwood

Don’t really know much about this one, except that I like it alot. Go on, partay!

La Lupe – Fever – Mercury

Alot of great versions of this soul standard out there, this one being one of the finest examples for me. A spooky freak-latin number for the dancefloor.

Ray Barretto – Together – Pink Elephant

A great classic latin funk tune from one of the legends of the trade. Always does the job.

Jamie Coughlan

Dwayne White And The Cohesion Band – Expense – Cohesion Records

Rare Ohio release which is pretty hard to track down. Quality instrumental 70s funk with a pretty decent break. One for a rehash maybe?

Septimus – “Take Love Where You Find It” – The Chosen Few

Fine disco soul release from LA. I love the frantic slap bass and percussion on this. Obscure release and a first for me.

Authentiks – Heaven Only Knows – Cosmos Enterprise Inc.

Interesting and incredibly catchy modern from The Carolinas. A certain taste is required for this 45 but its certainly an up lifting track and goes well on European dance floors.

Wes Black – I Feel Good (Feeling Good) – Star West

This is the B-side of a ballad which doesn’t really do much for me, but the quirky synths and disco feel of Wes’ self funded (by the looks of it) flip are winning ingredients IMHO. Seems to be picking up some interest of late.

Galaxy – Dance Wit Me – Marson – International Records

A complete winner in my eyes. Bouncy disco which seems to be being played by anyone who can get away with playing this sound anywhere.

Cash Money – “Seeking” – Rapture Records Another fine disco tune with the addition of some spacey production and burbling bass lines that like Wes Black is getting some attention.

Renee Geyer – Be There In The Morning – Victor

This kind of sound is currently as popular all over as it was in the good old days of London’s rare groove scene. Definitely reminds me of my fading youth this one.

Tony Troutman – What’s The Use – Jerri

Classy sound here. Atlanta stalwart knocks out a nice smooth effortless sounding 45 about his ladies lack of effort.

Track List

Andy Marshall Plays:

Frankie And The Damons – Man From Soul – JCP

The Rhine Oaks – Tampin – Atco

T.N.T. Powerhouse – Basement Jam – Casey Records

The Tornado’s – Slippery Soul – Head

Family Of Friends – Stoned All Night – Narbaiz Records

Jerry Blackshear – “Defected”(From Your Love) – Eral

Nice And Easy – The Groove Will Make You Move – Pokoe

Marius Zahl Johnsen Plays:

Frankie Stanton And Speckled Rainbow – Bi-Centennial 1976 – Speckled Rainbow Records

Raw Soul Express – The Way We Live – Cat

Rokk – Patience – Tollie

Taxie – Rock Don’t Stop – Archwood

La Lupe – Fever – Mercury

Ray Barretto – Together – Pink Elephant

Jamie Coughlan Plays:

Dwayne White And The Cohesion Band – Expense – Cohesion Records

Septimus – “Take Love Where You Find It” – The Chosen Few

Authentiks – Heaven Only Knows – Cosmos Enterprise Inc.

Wes Black – I Feel Good (Feeling Good) – Star West

Galaxy – Dance Wit Me – Marson – International Records

Cash Money – “Seeking” – Rapture Records

Renee Geyer – Be There In The Morning – Victor

Tony Troutman – What’s The Use – Jerri

Download Three The Hard Way Volume 2 – A Bump & Hustle Guest Mix Special Featuring Jamie Coughlan, Andy Marshall & Marius Zahl Johnsenv HERE

As an encore (you lucky people!), here’s a extra track, which due to time constraints was omitted from Andy Marshall’s selections from today’s mix.

“Lickin’ Stick” by Willie Dickson & The Fabulous Playboys is a tough as fuck down tempo James Brown cover lifted from the dog rare LP “Reggae Exposed with Island Soul”. A great island twist on a classic record!