Ain't No Greens In Harlem - The Vibrations

After a few months absence I'm back with a fresh crate of funky soul, starting with the Vibrations "Ain't No Greens In Harlem". Normally I'd file this ripe 45 under forgettable novelties except it's just too damn funky to overlook, and as a vegetarian, I can relate to jonesing for urban produce. The song eventually caught the attention of Groovy Rotations darlings the Coasters, who covered it several years later, although not with the same degree of success. Bon appetit!

Ain't No Greens In Harlem


The Vibrations are best known for giving the McCoys their hit " Hang On Sloopy", which was a renamed and sanitized-for-white-audience version of "My Girl Sloopy", released in 1964. Can you guess which one I prefer?

Got What You Need - The Fantastic Johnny C.

Here's a slice of philly soul from the aptly named Fantastic Johnny C. 1968's 'Got What You Need' didn't chart higher than his breakout hit 'Boogaloo Down Broadway', but it's just as groovy, if not more so. Enjoy.


Got What You Need

Live footage of Johnny Corley ( aka Fantastic Johnny C.) is sparse, but I did find this dance contest set to ' Boogaloo Down Broadway'.

Wear Your Love Like Heaven - Eartha Kitt

Eartha Kitt has been described as many things by many people. Anything from "the most exciting woman in the world" by Orson Welles to "an arrangement designed to unhinge men's minds" by a member of the House of Lords. One thing is for certain, Eartha has one of the most unique and distinctively seductive vibratos ever recorded.

A few months ago I discovered this 1970 LP that features three psychedelic Donovan covers, all transformed by her feline vocal prowess. Enjoy.


Wear Your Love Like Heaven


Hurdy Gurdy Man


Catch The Wind


Eartha Kitt starred as the queen of criminals, the princess of plunder and yours untruly, Catwoman.


In the chilly hours and minutes of uncertainty...

Tomorrow's Gonna Be A Brighter Day - Jim Croce

I picked up mustachioed spliff extraordinaire, Jim Croce's 1972 LP at a record fair bargain bin. I wasn't searching for soft hits like 'Time In A Bottle', instead I was intrigued by his other country folk tracks like 'Box # 10' and 'Rapid Roy'.  However, after multiple listens I keep getting stuck on the apologetic promise of  'Tomorrow's Gonna Be A Brighter Day'. Enjoy.


Tomorrow's Gonna Be A Brighter Day


Box # 10


Jim Croce's shooting star was cut short when his plane crashed into a pecan tree. He was just thirty years old when he died, one year after this album was released.

Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) - Cher

Sonny Bono originally wrote this often covered song for Cher back in 1966. 'Bang Bang' was one of her first and earliest hits. Having discovered this song while watching Tarantino's Bill Kill, I just assumed it was more of an exclusive Nancy Sinatra standard. Boy, was I wrong. There are more than a few versions that I prefer, such as Terry Reid's guitar heavy adaption and Betty Chung's Chinese cover. This melancholy recording is a little scratchy, but worth listening for the cinematic violin accompaniment. Enjoy.


Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)

My Kinda People B/W God Bless - Wolfmoon

'My Kinda People' is an uplifting 45 written and produced by Swamp Dogg and preformed by Wolfmoon (a.k.a. Tyrone Thomas). The single is actually a response song to Swamp Dogg's 'These Are Not My People' and serves as a funky tribute to all the down-home "kind, kind people that make a better, kinder world".


My Kinda People

'God Bless' is a cute bedtime prayer as imagined by a child and witness by his father. Little Johnny, the son, has a very thorough list of blessing requests and eventually include his ease-dropping parent.

God Bless

You Can Be Replaced B/W Going Down Slow - Little Sonny

'You Can Be Replaced' is a 1972 seven inch from the "New" King of Blues Harmonica, Little Sonny. The single features some hard barrelhouse blues using the old standby 34b. I'm very particular about my blues harmonica. If you can't feel it don't play it (cough...Blues Traveler and any other contemporary band with blues in its name..cough) and Little Sonny could certainly feel it.


You Can Be Replaced


Going Down Slow