New (Old) Music Tuesday: Sixto Rodriguez

Sixto Rodriguez, 1970

Born in 1942 in Detroit, Michigan, Sixto Rodriguez is a American folk singer of Mexican immigrant parents whose records, Cold Fact (Sussex, 1970) and Coming From Reality (Sussex, 1971), have had an enormous impact on me. I have such admiration for Rodriguez' ability to put marginalized and unorthodox stories into beautiful words with lush melodies and arrangements. His two lone LP releases boast impeccable playlists of song after entrancing song that would take even Bob Dylan to task. Rodriguez is folk music at its best, and it's a complete shame that until now he's never received the U.S. appreciation he's deserved. 

This is Not a Song, It's an Outburst: Or, The Establishment Blues

Thankfully, it seems Rodriguez may be getting his moment thanks to a new documentary, Searching For Sugar Man, directed by Malik Bendjelloul. As this is New (Old) Music Tuesday, I'm going to focus on Rodriguez's music, but you can learn more about Bendjelloul's documentary, which has been garnering rave reviews while on the film festival circuit at Sundance and SXSW and was recently picked up by Sony Classics, here. I can't wait to see it myself.

"Cause," Sixto Rodriguez, Coming From Reality, (Sussex, 1971)

I don't know that I can honestly pick any one song and say it's my favorite Rodriguez tune. He is truly a masterful songwriter, and anything you can drop your turntable needle is sure to blow you away. "Cause" (Coming From Reality) and "This is Not a Song, It's an Outburst: Or, The Establishment Blues" (Cold Fact), (both above) are quintessential folk tunes. Rodriguez's cunning lyrics- 

"Garbage ain't collected/Women ain't protected/Politicians Using/People their abusing"

                          -"This is Not a Song, It's an Outburst: Or, The Establishment Blues," 1970

- are enough to make you wonder if Occupy Wall Street wouldn't benefit from having him up front rallying the masses. He's the kind of artist that makes you question and makes you want to exercise your own voice.

"Silver Words," Sixto Rodriguez, Coming From Reality, (Sussex, 1971)

Even at his most abstract, when he slips into drug-like fantasies on songs like "It Started Out So Nice" (Coming From Reality), Rodriguez has the ability take you with him. The journey through his vision of reality and his hopes for what it could be are as tangible as the clothes you are wearing. You just want to "Slip Away" with him.

"I'll Slip Away" b/w "You'd Like to Admit It," Sixto Rodriguez as Rod Riguez, (Impact, 1967)

Despite how small his released body of work is, there is so much to glean from Sixto Rodriguez' music. I never cease to be amazed by his deft lyricism and his ability to use his voice as both a harpoon and a spring of hope. I've heard rumblings that there may be an album left in Rodriguez to record. I know there are folks trying to get his pen to paper and his voice and guitar in the studio. Based on his recent performances in Brooklyn and SXSW, at 69, I think there's still some magic left to capture.

Thoughts about Sixto Rodriguez? Please share!

Have groovy Tuesday ;)

*If you want to purchase LPs, CDs or mp3's of Cold Fact or Coming From Reality, check out Light in The Attic. 

Music Tuesday: Bewitched by Blanca Rosa Gil

"Besos Brujos" from Besos Brujos- Blanca Rosa Gil

A couple of years ago, I was on a search for 60s Cuban music and picked up some songs by Blanca Rosa Gil. What followed was an infatuation that has been unceasing ever since. Cuban bolero singer, Blanca Rosa Gil, had a voice for the ages. She put out a multitude of records during what seems like mostly the 50s, 60s and 70s- on various different labels: Velvet, Benson, Echo, Discuba, Maype, Modiner, maybe even more.

I find it so strange that given Blanca Rosa Gil's seemingly illustrious career, not to mention physical beauty, I haven't been able to find many biographical details about her life as an artist, or personally. She was born August 26, 1937 in Perico, Matanzas, Cuba, but her family moved to Venezuela when she was a teenager where she quickly discovered as a child actor. She was later re-discovered as a vocalist by communications magnate, Gaspar Pumarejo, who returned her to Cuba where she began her career as a singer. In 1962 she was exiled from Cuba and at some point she briefly migrated to Miami. Eventually she married and settled in Puerto Rico where she stayed until the end of her life; I don't know when exactly that was.

Blanca Rosa Gil in Show

I believe a late 50s or early 60s cover of the Cuban entertainment magazine

I've been trying to piece together what I can about Blanca Rosa Gil from her records on eBay and the vague snippets I find online. For example, I learned that Porfi Jimenez became well-known as an arranger thanks to songs he wrote for Blanca Rosa Gil among others. But despite the lack of information, it is clear that she was a massively revered talent with a rich career and multi-national audience.

Here, Blanca Rosa Gil (center) with Maria Teresa Vera

photo taken from La Tiendita

The more I've learned about Blanca Rosa Gil, the more I've found there is no shortage of music to fall in love with. Can you resist the passion of this live 1960s Venezuelan TV version of "Tortura" from Besos Brujos? I dare you to try.

"Tortura" as performed by Blanca Rosa Gil on La Gran Revista del Jueves in the 1960s

Caracas, Venezuela

Or what about the honey-dripped vocals on "Sombras" from the record, Blanca Rosa Gil Canta Sombras (Modiner)?

"Sombras" from Blanca Rosa Gil Canta Sombras (Modiner)

I may not know much about Blanca Rosa Gil, but I do know that her existing records and videos are treasures. The only rivals to her powerful voice and emotional interpretations were her elegance and striking visage. She's an artist that I will be admiring and listening to for the rest of my life, if always wondering what more there is to her story.

Blanca Rosa Gil, year unknown

Do you know anything about Blanca Rosa Gil? What about other Cuban singers of her time?

New (Old) Music Tuesday: Shirley Brown

From now Tuesdays here at the The Collectionaire will feature new music, only with an "old" twist. Happy listening!

Woman to Woman, Truth/Stax, 1974

Despite starting on the road with Albert King and Little Milton at age 14, soul singer Shirley Brown didn't find fame until 1974 when her Truth Records (Stax subsidiary) release, Woman to Woman became a #1 hit on the R &B Billboard charts. The LP's namesake song- one woman's declaration to her man's lover to leave him be- is as iconic as they come: rich with emotion, beautiful string arrangement, and those famous Stax horns. It was nominated for a Grammy in 1975.

Love is Built On a Strong Foundation, Abet, 1972

Woman to Woman has been on my listening rotation for years now, but recently I decided to dig a little deeper, preferably for pre-Stax Shirley Brown. I was hoping to find some gospel recordings from her early years, but alas, I did not. In fact, the only pre-Stax recordings I could find were from a 1972 7" released on Abet Records- I Ain't Gonna Tell/Love Is Built on a Strong Foundation. Between the two, I favor Love is Built on a Strong Foundation.

I've Got to Go On Without You, Truth/Stax, 1975

The unfortunate truth is that Woman to Woman by far houses Shirley Brown's best material. Other gems include, I've Got to Go On Without You, which was re-released as a 45 in 1975. The song was originally written by Al Jackson and Larry McIntosh for Stax artist, William Bell. Personally, I think Shirley Brown's version is the groove.  The B-side, "It Ain't No Fun" is equally tasty. Set the record spinning and you'll find yourself wrapped in the arms of Shirley's voice which are like a roaring fire on a winter day.

It Ain't No Fun, Truth/Stax, 1975

It's too bad Shirley never found the same kind of commercial success as she did with Woman to Woman. She certainly had the voice, but neither Arista nor Malaco (her subsequent labels) ever did her talent justice. At least we'll always have Woman to Woman.  


Have any Shirley Brown thoughts or favorite tunes? What about other Abet or Stax artists?

The Parliaments: I Wanna Testify/I Can Feel the Ice Melting

I was recently gifted an awesome 45: The Parliaments' 1967 7-inch release, "I Wanna Testify."  As a soul/funk aficionado (and singer), it's hard not to love this song that put The Parliaments on the hit map.  It's been covered many times by many folks, most notably by George Clinton himself in 1974 after re-christening both the band and the song on Casablanca Records.  The band became Parliament, the song "Testify," and the LP was Up From the Down Stroke.  Depending on my mood, I can favor the funkier 70s vibe punctuated by Bootsy Collins' badass bass lines from the latter recording.

I have to say, among the other recorded versions of the song, not too many stand out for me, except that I do actually like Johnnie Taylor's bluesy Stax cover from The Johnnie Taylor Philosophy Continues (1969).  I like a man who can sing the blues.

The real discovery in receiving this Parliaments' 45 has been the sleeper (they often are I suppose...) B-side, "I Can Feel the Ice Melting."  I was previously unfamiliar with this tune, but boy was I was missing out.  If you can listen to this dreamy walk-about and not swoon, well... I guess I can hear the ice melting in my water.

How to Collect Your Collection: Music Edition

It's a problem we all face.  No matter what the collection, there comes a time when we all ask ourselves, where do we put it all?  While I strongly advocate for closely curating any collection, I think it makes sense to share tips on how to smartly assemble our collections.  Today's discovery was made while scouring the internet for a cool way to keep my car CDs organized.  Yes, my little Saturn is old and cannot accommodate sexy iPods.  However, that doesn't mean my great music collection can't travel with me!  With Los Angeles-based stripeycity's Handmade Upcycled Album, I can stylishly tote my tunes, and feel good about making an eco-friendly choice.  I went for this Rhapsody in Blue version, but the shop has several cute options including the Palm Springs Suite, the Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, and the kid-friendly, Space theme.

Music: "Seven Day Fool" by Etta James

It's no secret that among my obsessions, record collecting is a top priority.  Being a singer I have always had a special admiration for the late Etta James- a woman whose outsized talent left a massive imprint on the world of music and my personal musical DNA.  Moreover, Valentine's Day wouldn't be Valentine's Day without some Etta James love songs.  So, I thought it fitting to share a 45 record that I recently added to my collection: The Etta James single, "Seven Day Fool," which was released by Argo in 1961.  It has quickly become one of my favorite Etta jams, getting lots of play on my turntable.  I always envision it wafting over the speakers at spring's first rooftop barbecue while overlooking the Manhattan skyline... Well, you can never go wrong spinning a great tune from a legendary artist at any party.  Immediate gratification is available as a downloadable mp3, or you can troll eBay for a lovely vinyl find.