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Soul! EP # 311 "Black Fire"
Taj Mahal performs "Sweet Home Chicago" on steel guitar. Blues. Y'all better know this one! Fantastic performance, the audience quite receptive. Great guitar solo. "Let's get to church here!" Sing-along refrain.
Soul! EP # 311 "Black Fire"
(DO NOT USE THIS SEGMENT) Clip from the motion picture "Sounder."
Soul! EP # 311 "Black Fire"
Ellis Haizlip interviews actor Cicely Tyson. Cicely Tyson, sporting an interesting & intricate corn row braid hairstyle, discusses the motion picture "Sounder" & her reasons for taking the role. Ms. Tyson says she wants to be known as an actress rather than a black actress. Ellis Haizlip comments on Cicely Tyson's braided hairstyle. Ms. Tyson discusses her experience on the TV show "Between Yesterday and Today" & her decision to wear a natural hairstyle. Ms. Tyson discusses the empowerment underlying the hairstyles of black women. Ms. Tyson discusses "Sounder."
Soul! EP # 311 "Black Fire"
Ellis Haizlip interviews Cicely Tyson & Taj Mahal. Cicely Tyson says she would be the first black woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress if she won for her performance in "Sounder." Taj Mahal discusses his musical scoring for "Sounder." Taj Mahal says "My background is in West Indian music, jazz, blues & gospel." Cicely & Taj discuss a particular scene from "Sounder" in which there is an implication that his character might have romantic inclinations w/ her character. Cicely Tyson says she enjoys both the stage & screen, that her "Sounder" character has been her most rewarding. Taj Mahal discusses his budding acting career & his attitude toward the profession.
Soul! EP # 311 "Black Fire"
(DO NOT USE THIS SEGMENT) Clip from the motion picture "Sounder."
Soul! EP # 311 "Black Fire"
Gerry Bledsoe asks the audience to write to "Soul" before introducing Exuma (Exuma, Achmed Ben Mansel, Michael O'Neill, Kester Smith). Exuma perform "Sugar in the Plum." Exotic pop song with Caribbean influences. Congas, drum kit, acoustic guitar, ancillary percussion.
Soul! EP # 311 "Black Fire"
Exuma (Exuma, Achmed Ben Mansel, Michael O'Neill, Kester Smith) perform "Attica." Protest song about the bloody Attica uprising. Alto saxophone solo.
Soul! EP # 311 "Black Fire"
Exuma (Exuma, Achmed Ben Mansel, Michael O'Neill, Kester Smith) perform "Pay Me What You Owe Me." West Indian / Caribbean pop song with political undercurrent. Drum kit, congas, acoustic guitar, auxillary percussion.
Soul! EP # 311 "Black Fire"
Exuma (Exuma, Achmed Ben Mansel, Michael O'Neill, Kester Smith) perform "Empty Bottles Make the Most Noise." West Indian / Caribbean pop song. Drum kit, congas, acoustic guitar, ancillary percussion. MS Taj Mahal & Cicely Tyson digging the grooves.
Soul! EP # 311 "Black Fire"
Exuma introduces his band: Achmed Ben Mansel (percussion), Michael O'Neill (congas), Kester Smith (drum kit). Exuma perform "Exuma." Exuma sheds his floppy pimp hat (replete with feather), exhibiting short colored braids, dances exuberantly while blowing on whistle. Credits roll at end, during which Exuma wanders into the audience, blowing horns.
Soul! # 61 "Gladys Knight & the Pips"
MS/TLSs black men & women sitting at tables in Club Soul, listening to Knight & Pips backing band warm up on a soft soul instrumental. Opening credits. Gerry Bledsoe sits at table with Soul associate producer Roslyn Woods & singer Gladys Knight. Gerry & Roslyn interview Gladys Knight, who looks absolutely fantastic. Ms. Knight says she is basically a quiet person, being a Gemini, and doesn't party much since she's a mother of two. Ms. Knight says the producer plays a pivotal role in the recording studio, but she & the Pips do as well, even though they are never credited for producing. Ms. Knight says she & the Pips started writing music in the 1950s & were always ahead of the musical curve. Ms. Knight says they recorded two spiritual songs for Motown records. Gerry Bledsoe thanks Gladys Knight for chatting. Ms. Knight says "I love to talk, honey."
Soul! # 61 "Gladys Knight & the Pips"
Gerry Bledsoe introduces Poet's Corner segment. Carolyn Rogers of Chicago recites poem, "As I Am." Norman Jordan of Cleveland recites poems, "July 29th" & "Ballad of Nelie Rea." Carolyn Rogers recites poem "Somebody Call for Help."
Soul! # 61 "Gladys Knight & the Pips"
Norman Jordan recites poems "I Have Seen Them" & "The Silent Prophet." Carolyn Rogers recites poems "Written for Love of Ascension, Coltrane" & "Once."
Soul! # 61 "Gladys Knight & the Pips"
Carolyn Rogers recites poem "The Revolution is Resting." Norman Jordan recites poems "The Poet, The Dreamer" & "Be You."
Soul! # 61 "Gladys Knight & the Pips"
Gladys Knight sans Pips performs "Help Me Make It Through the Night." Note that Ms. Knight has changed into a red dress.
Soul! # 315 "Elements"
Earth Wind & Fire perform funky instrumental "Power" from the Lasy Days and Time album. Maurice White begins song on kalimba (later moving to timbales), followed by Philip Bailey on congas, Ralph Johnson on drums, Larry Dunn on piano, shirtless Verdine White on bass guitar, Andrew Woolfolk on tambourine & alto saxophone, John Graham on guitar (love his tone), Jessica Cleaves on bells. Alto sax solo, blistering guitar solo. Great energy, fantastic performance. Hard funk.
Soul! # 315 "Elements"
Earth Wind & Fire continue performing funky instrumental "Power." Segment begins with soft, mellow segue, Larry Dunn on electric organ, Andrew Woodfolk on flute, then bursts into hard funk again. Manic energy, fantastic performance. Dynamics grow soft, ends with Maurice White on kalimba (thumb piano).
Soul! # 315 "Elements"
Philip Bailey thanks the crowd, introduces next song. Earth Wind & Fire perform a cover of James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight." Soulful ballad w/ lead vocals by Philip Bailey. Tenor saxophone solo by Andrew Woodfolk. John Graham solos on guitar.
Soul! # 315 "Elements"
FOR FULL PERFORMANCE WITH AUDIO, PLEASE CONTACT WPA. Earth Wind and Fire perform unidentified funk instrumental. Shirtless bass player Verdine White solos on electric bass guitar. Verdine White rejoins the fold, laying a monstrous groove before the whole band drops out completely, yet they continue the groove without actually hitting their instruments (think lip-synching but w/ instruments). They end song with a series of untimed, improvised staccato hits led by Maurice White on timbales; he fools his brother w/ the final hit, causing Verdine to come in a tad early.
Soul! # 315 "Elements"
Earth Wind & Fire perform "Mom" from the Last Days & Time album. Latin-tinged ballad. Electric organ solo by Larry Dunn.
Soul! # 315 "Elements"
Earth Wind & Fire perform "Time Is On Your Side." Deep funk. Split-screen! Andrew Woodfolk solos on alto saxophone. At outset, Maurice White, Verdine White, Philip Bailey & Jessica Cleaves dance off stage, slap hands w/ audience. Larry Dunn & Andrew Woodfolk then follow suit, leaving Johnny Graham & Ralph Johnson to lay down the groove. Johnny exunts, leaving Ralph to provide a fat drum beat worthy of the Funky Drummer himself.
Soul! # 315 "Elements"
Ellis Haizlip asks home audience to write to the show, address appears on screen. Ellis introduces Soul Quintet: Kenny Baron (piano); Mtume (congas); David Williams (bass guitar); Ted Dunbar (electric guitar); Freddie Waits (drums & percussion). Ellis Haizlip introduces actress & musician Linda Hopkins.
Soul! # 315 "Elements"
Linda Hopkins & Soul Quintet perform "Deep in the Night." Ballad, cabaret. Standing ovation!
Soul! # 315 "Elements"
Linda Hopkins & Soul Quintet perform "Birth of the Blues."