Shuggie "Luaka" Otis? C or D?

it's certainly ahead of its time and, yeah, in many ways, it does presage prince, except shuggie is nowhere near the melodist. the sound is fairly uniform, like a mixture of fresh sly and shaft ike, that is primitive drum machines, wah-wah, and subtle cinematic flourishes. since he was west coast based, there's some psychedelia and warm keys.

it's downfall, for me personally, is that it plays well as an album. and i can't tell you the last album i listened to from beginning to end. my guess, though, is that it's a warm weather album, a line of thinking encouraged by the gorgeously balmy "island letter." since i'm told that warm weather is on the way, i've decided to hold onto it. at least until autumn. not a classic, not a dud, though closer to former than to latter. apparently, there are no REAL unknown geniuses left out there for david byrne to lionize.

Despite the hype, despite the odd marketing, despite the RIDICULOUSLY over-the-top statements about it (it's not really ahead of its time), it is a thoroughly fantastic record. It's slightly shambling and psychedelic in the best ways possible. I was completely oblivious that it was Otis who wrote "Strawberry Letter 23" (big influence on "Raspberry Beret," no doubt). Loved it the first time I heard it via Tevin Campbell (!), loved it even more when I became familiar with the Brothers Johnson version, and totally flipped when I heard the original. (That song is actually a bonus track, having appeared on an earlier record of his.)

The comparisons to There's a Riot Goin' On are pretty accurate, sound- wise. Otis uses that drum machine and has some really warped arrangements, but they're probably more a result of staring at the sun too long than a mirror with a big pile of coke on it. No politics, though -- very warm, personal.

Another bone to pick with the reissue is how the record's been repackaged to be more 'hip' and 'attractive.' Having seen a copy of the original, it's too bad they didn't just go with that. The new design makes it look kinda kitschy -- irritatingly so.

Yes, Shuggie Otis did play bass on "Peaches En Regalia."

neat. it's late but neat.

"inspiration information" <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Peaches en Regalia has gone overlooked as a refrigerator tune for FAR TOO LONG.
-- Tracer hand, Friday, 15 March 2002 01:00 (5 years ago) Link

What's a refrigerator tune?

Side two of the Freedom Flight LP is kind of like a Sandy Bull record. He's not only this great virtuoso, but his playing is very much about tone, too.

The bass solo on "Purple" is incredible.

The two other tunes from that album that weren't on the Inspiration Information reissue, "Me and My Woman" and "Someone's Always Singing," are really good, too.

What is a refrigerator tune?

Probably something by Main.

A tune you hear when Pee Wee opens the fridge and the peaches are all ice skating around wearing little crowns.