Marc Mac podcast

Ok Chill... kicking off 2012 with a trip to the library. A little mix dedicated to the many great library labels, musicians and composers; Alan Hawkshaw, Keith Mansfield, Alan Parker, Sammy Burdson, De Wolfe, KPM, Sylvester, Conroy Music to name a few. There's 1000's of good lib records worldwide but I would probably have to say that my faves came from London in the 60's & 70's and I think it has a lot to do with the cool production studios in the UK during that time. Funny, as a kid watching UK tv in the 70's & 80's funky grooves always popped on programs even the news & sports programs, I'm pretty sure the musicians would have listened to whatever was cool in the US at the time (Stevie, Herbie and Quincy Jones) then vibed off the influence.
Of course library music has become a big and important part of Hip-hop and Beatmaking with producers and DJ's parting with plenty cash and traveling far and wide for a dope track, drum break or sample buried in tons of cheesy wackness. anyway hope you dig. PEACE.
Marc Mac

http://omniverse-records.bandcamp.com/

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The Soul Arranger (part seven) - Wade Marcus
Introducing some of the Funky, Soulful and maybe a little lesser known works of Wade Marcus. Wade arranged and produced for many great artist from Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross through to Grant Green and Marlena Shaw. Wade also spent time at two of the most important labels of the 60‘s and 70‘s; Motown and Blue Note. What I find fascinating with Wade is his ability to adapt his style and sound depending on the artist he was arranging for so there isn’t a Wade stamp or sound... its just a great sound and his arrangements tend go beyond Strings and Horns.
It’s so easy to forget about these musicians and not give them the props there so rightly deserve in fact it's pretty near impossible to find a photo of Wade on the internet.
I enjoyed digging and researching Wade Marcus hope you dig too.

Marc Mac.

Track list

1. Rain Every Thursday - Bobby Hutcherson
2. Sunday Dreaming - The Shirelles
3. Mystic Brew - Ronnie Foster
4. Mercy Mercy Me - Reuben Wilson
5. Congress Alley - Congress Alley
6. Lost In A Pool Of Red - Wade Marcus
7. You And Music - Donald Byrd
8. Keep On Keeping On - Sylvers
9. I Ain’t Got Much - Ellerine Harding
10. Thank You Falletin Me Me Mice Elf - Wade Marcus
11. Thank You Falletin Me Me Mice Elf - Hearts Of Stone
12. Jeremy - Lea Roberts
13. See-Saw - Mel Dancy
14. You’ve Made Me So Very Happy - Hearts Of Stone
15. Let Me Down Easy - Inez Foxx
16. Cosmic Voyager - Johnny Hammond
17. All Around My World - Prana People

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The Soul Arranger (part six) - the soul crate vol 2
Dirty Old Soul Crates.
Ok by popular demand (lol) the series continues. Fresh for two zero ten, vol. 2 of the the Dirty Old Soul Crates. More great soul arrangements, killer vocals, rawness and deep, maybe a little bit off center with this one but hopefully by now you can dig where I'm coming from.

Marc Marc 4hero.

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The Soul Arranger (part five) - the soul crate
Dirty Old Soul Crates.
So I figured I should continue the series. This one is from the back of the soul crates, great vocal, string, horns and riddim sections all over these. And in the spirit of diggin' I haven't put a playlist up but I'm sure someone will soon enough. Hope you like these cos they are some of my faves.
oh and happy newness.
Marc Marc
4hero...

The Soul Arranger (Part four) - Gene Page

Gene Page, 13th September 1938 - 24th August 1998, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Gene was taught piano by his father and went on to win a four-year scholarship to the Brooklyn Conservatory. Back in Los Angeles he found work arranging demo tapes for local band and producers, in 1962 he was hired by Reprise Records as their arranger. The long list of artist Gene worked with through his time inc Barry White, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Aretha Franklin, Johnnie Taylor, The Four Tops, Jackson 5, The Jones Girls, Deniece Williams, The Jackson Sisters, Nancy Wilson, Natalie Cole, Eloise Laws, Dionne Warwick, The Gap Band, Carrie Lucas, Carl Anderson, Anita Baker, Shalamar and on and on.
Of the 4 arrangers I suppose Gene was the funkiest, when I listen to his arrangements I feel that he wasn't so hung up on how the music looked on paper but how it felt with the beat, moving away from Classical or Jazz training and just trusting the groove, this was also a very important factor when he work with Barry white who was an untrained self taught composer. I've included Diana's "Now that there's you" although the credits on that track aren't so clear but I guess it was Gene and Paul Riser on that album. I have hand pick some of my personal favorites for this Podcast not so much the best selling or well known, hope you enjoy. Peace…
Marc 4hero.

Track List:

Strange Games and Things - Love Ulimited Orchestra
Upermost - Jackson 5
Jungle Eyes - Gene Page
Mellow Mood - Barry White
There is nothing In this world.. - Tom Brock
I'm Gonna Love you Just a little Bit More - Barry White
It's Great to Be here - Jackson 5
Blacula Strikes - Gene Page
Your Gonna need me - Dionne Warwick
Brown Baby - Diana Ross
Now That there's You - Diana Ross
Move Me No Mountain - Love Unlimited
Say It Again - Danny Pearson
Say It Again - Love Unlimited
That's What You Say - Gloria Scott
Theme From Together Brother - Love Unlimitrd Orchestra
I Believe In Miracles - Jackson Sisters
Love Is The Thing You Need - Jackson 5
Move Me - James Gilstrap
Together Whatever - Gene Page

Part 4 of 4

The Soul Arranger (Part three)
Jerry Peters

Jerry Peters producer/arranger/songwriter. It's quite easy to focus on strings and horns when talking about great arrangers and Jerry was a master of both but I also must focus on Jerry mainly for his rhythm track arrangements. Jerry along with Keg Johnson, David Crawford and drummer Harvey Mason were much responsible for the classic 'Sylvers' sound on Pride/MGM records (btw Michael Viner of the Incredible Bongo Band was the executive producer on most of those albums, and as you can see by the track list I'm a big Sylvers fan). This line up is good proof that a great arranger needs a great team to make the real magic happen.
Jerry and Harvey moved over to Blue Note records in the mid 70's and dropped some of that magic alongside the Mizell brothers and others on many albums including "Gears' - Johnny Hammond.
His work with Brainstorm including vocal coaching produced one of my all time fave soul fusion joints 'Journey to the light'.
Marc Mac. peace....
long live good music.

Track list:
melinda Latino - Jerry Butler & Jerry Peters
If You Leave Me Now - Jerry Peters
Only One Can Win - Sylvers
Misdemeanor - Foster Sylvers
Check It Out - The Friends Of Destinction
I'm Gonna Love You Just.. - Jimmy Smith
Love Song - Jerry Peters
Never My Love - Gloria Lynne
I Know Myself - Sylvers
What's It All About - Sylvers
We Can Make It If We Try - Sylvers
When I'm Near You - Foster feat. Pat & Angie
I need You - Friends Of Distinction
Journey From The Light - Brainstorm
AS - Gene Harris

Part 3 of 4

The Soul Arranger (Part Two)
Richard Evans

If you have music running through your head when you wake up in the morning, when you brush your teeth, and all day . . . well, that's the kind of thing we should be trying to help you with. But we'll show you what others did, too, so you can use them as role models.
quote...Professor Richard Evans.

Track List:

Windmills Of Your Mind - Dorothy Ashby
California Soul - Marlena Shaw
Never Gonna Give You Up - Soulful Strings
My Loves A Monster - Clea Bradford
Lancaster Gate - Woody Herman
Hello Goodbye - Soulful Strings
Within You Without You - Soulful Strings
Elevate Your Mind - Linda Williams
Capricorn Rising - Richard Evans
My Music - Samuel Jonathan Johnson
Too Soon Youre Old - Penny Goodwin
Annie Mae - Natalie Cole
Ahmad Blues - Marlena Shaw
Soul Vibration - Dorothy Ashby
Joyful Grass And Grape - Dorothy Ashby
It Sure Is Groovy - Marlena Shaw

Part 2 of 4

The Soul Arranger (Part one)
Charles Stepney

I have always been moved by great orchestral accompaniments and the amazing arrangers of the 60's and 70's, sadly this art form is slowly receding throughout today’s Soul music. Although I also love the classical/pop arrangements of masters such as George Martin, Lalo Schifrin, Hal & Burt and the great reggae arrangements of Brian Rogers (arranged for Jamaican singer John Holt) throughout this series of podcasts I wanna focus on my fave soul arrangers cats like Charles Stepney, Richard Evans, Gene Page, Wade Marcus, Charles Chalmers, Quincy Jones and Jerry Peters. Kicking off with the genius of Charles Stepney.
A friend (Dez Parkes) once said to me…
A producer builds the house… ‘the foundation’ then calls in’ the arranger’ the electrician who fill the house with light and power.

http://www.wholecircleround.co.uk/discovision/spins/stepney1.htm

This is Part 1 of 4

peace
Marc

Track list:

I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun - Rotary Connection
Memory Band - Minnie Riperton
Memory Band - Rotary Connection
Free and Easy - The Dells
Dancing Girl - Terry Calier
Black Gold - Phil Upchurch
Loveley Is Today - Eddie Harris
Cry Baby Cry - Ramsey Lewis
Love Has Fallen On Me - Rotary Connection
Les Fleur - Minnie Riperton
Summer Place - The Dells
Fair But So Uncool- EWF
Cause you love me baby - Denise Williams
Cant Hide Love - EWF