Excellent Reception

On today's episode of Excellent Reception, we are looking at a song that, for whatever reason, inspired a seemingly endless stream of reinterpretations. It was a number one hit in the 1960's, but it still has a way of getting the dancing floor moving after all of these years. This song is "Tighten Up" by Archie Bell and The Drells. On this episode, we feature these songs: Archie Bell and The Drells - "Tighten Up pt. 1"Archie Bell and The Drells - "Tighten Up pt. 2"The Classmates version of "Tighten Up"Benny Gordon & The Soul Brothers "Tighten Up" Billy Ball & the Upsetters with Roosevelt Matthews - Tighten Up TighterMaceo with the Flames - "Tighten Up"Chris Columbus and the Swingin Gaites with "Tighten Up '70"Al Escobar & His Orchestra - "Tighten Up"Orchestra Harlow with "Horsin' Up"The New York Latin Scene With Sonny Bravo - "Tighten Up"The Grateful Dead - "Tighten Up Jam"Yo La Tenga - "Tighten Up"R.E.M. - "Tighten Up"Nazz - Loosen UpYellow Magic Orchestra - “Tighten Up (Japanese Gentleman Stand Up Please)”Wally Jump Jr. & The Criminal Element - “Tighten Up (I Just Can’t Stop Dancin’),”?????? - "Tighten Up"

On this episode of Excellent Reception, we are looking a few of our favorite music releases from the year 2020. This is not exactly a "best of" or a top 10 list. This is a group of fantastic albums from the past year that I think you should absolutely check out. Albums featured: Cleo Sol "Rose in the Dark" St. Panther - "These Days" Potatohead People - Mellow Fantasy Jarreau Vandal - Suburb Superhero: The Villain Within The Vision - The Vision Sault - Untitled (Black Is) & Untitled (Rise) Jazz Is Dead - Vol. 1 - 6 Angela Muñoz - Introspection The Koreatown Oddity - "Little Dominiques Nosebleed" Dan Kye - Small Moments

On today's episode of Excellent Reception, we are talking about a group of songs, that even though they may not be from the most well know albums of 2019, they had a strong influence on the current musical landscape in their own way. We will be talking about these albums: Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka Sault - 5 & 7 Damon Locks' Black Monument Ensemble - Where Future Unfolds Thom Yorke - Anima Raphael Saadiq - Jimmy Lee Swindle - No More Normal Burna Boy - African Giant Kiefer - Superbloom Brittany Howard - Jaime Free Nationals - Free Nationals

On today's episode of Excellent Reception, we are looking at jazz musicians who have used their music as a way to transcend beyond the world we know by experimenting in the sub-genre know as spiritual jazz. There are almost too many noteworthy artists and songs to mention around this subject matter, but here are just a handful to get you started. On this episode, we feature these songs. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme, Part 1: Acknowledgement Alice Coltrane - Journey in SatchidanandaSun Ra & His Arkestra - Space is the PlaceGary Bartz NTU Troop featuring Andy Bey - Celestial BluesMichael White - The Blessing SongDoug Carn featuring Jean Carn -Acknowledgement (A Love Supreme)

*** While we are busy writing and recording a series of brand new episodes, here is one of of our favorites shows from a few years back. Enjoy!!! ***On this episode of Excellent Reception, we are going to talk about a song that we actually don't think is that great but the stories that come from it are pretty amazing. By the end of this episode, you will have a new appreciation for it and the melody will definitely be embedded in your mind for the next few days. We are talking about Rod Stewart's song "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy". On this episode we feature these songs: Rod Stewart - "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"Bobby Womack - "(If You Want My Love) Put Something Down on It"Millie Jackson - "Put Something Down On It / Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"Jorge Ben - "Taj Mahal" (1972 version)Jorge Ben - "Taj Mahal" (1978 version)Taj Mahal & the International Rhythm Band - "Jorge Ben"Steve Dahl & Teenage Radiation - "Do You Think I'm Disco?"La Cumbia Moderna De Soledad - "¿Crees Que Soy Sexy?"Banda Los Hijos de la Niña Luz - "El Sapo/Crees Que Soy Sexy"

We're looking at a classic song that brings about joy with just the uttering of a few lyrics and gets you dancing with the second your hear it's bare bones rhythm. On this episode of we are looking at the 1965 hit from The Dixie Cup called "Iko Iko" and it's connection to New Orlean's culture. We'll focus on these songs:The Dixie Cup - Iko Iko Sugar Boy and his Cane Cutters - Jock-A-Mo Dr. John - Iko Iko Professor Longhair - Big Chief

We are taking a quick stop to visit the 50th state... Hawaii. When it comes to modern music, Hawaii has not just been been in a bubble all these years. The artists and musicians here have been hard at work to put their own stamp on genres like jazz, rock, reggae, hiphop, and soul music. On this episode of Excellent Reception, we are focusing on one of my favorite Hawaiian soul songs... "Lihue" by Nohelani Cypriano.

For today's show, we are going to talk about the ground breaking nu-jazz/future soul production crew known as Jazzanova. Mainly we are going to focus on one of their most well constructed songs "L.O.V.E and You & I", which took sampling to a whole new level. On this episode, we are talking about these songsShaun Escoffery - "Let It Go" Shaun Escoffery - "Let It Go (Jazzanova remix)" Jazzanova - "L.O.V.E. and You and I" Jazzanova - "L.O.V.E. and You and I (Madlib remix)" Jazzanova - "L.O.V.E. and You and I (DJ Ghe remix)" Sonar Kollectiv Orchester - "L.O.V.E. and You and I"

This episode is produced in honor of the Blackstar Film Festival, which has taken place here in Philadelphia every summer for the past 7 years. As they describe themselves, The BlackStar Film Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global indigenous communities, showcasing films by black people from around the world. With the festival coming up in a few days, I felt inspired to produce some content that explores the film scores and soundtracks. For today's show, we are just going to focus on one of the most misunderstood and highly underrated soundtracks in music history... Stevie Wonder's 1979 album "Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants".This episode highlights these songs from the album: The First Garden Send One Your Love (Music) Power Flower Outside My Window Find more info about the BlackStar Film Festival here: https://www.blackstarfest.org/

On this episode of Excellent Reception, we are talking about a group of songs by artists that take on Western musical influences and combine them with sounds that come from their African musical heritage. Featured songs: The Lijadu Sisters - Life Is Gone Down Low William Onyeabor - Body & Soul Rim & Kasa - Love Me For Real Oby Onyioha - Enjoy your life Voilaaa feat Sir Jean - Spies Are Watching Me

It would take a long time for me list all of the great musical releases of 2017, but instead I want to talk about a few albums of the past year that you stand out, but you might have missed. On this episode of Excellent Reception I'm going to talk about: Charlotte Dos Santos - "King of Hearts" Mr. Jukes - "Grant Green" featuring Charles Bradley Gabriel Garzon Montano - "Bombo Fabrika" Lord Echo - "Just Do You" featuring Mara TK Steve Lacy - "Dark Red" Sampha - "Kora Sings" Vince Staples - "745" Shigeto - "There's A Vibe Tonight" featuring Kaleena Zanders Calvin Harris - "Rollin'" feat. Khalid and Future Nick Hakim - "Roller Skates" *Bonus - Childish Gambino - "Me and Your Mama"

Here is another episode of the One-Off series. In order, to get you more episodes on a regular basis, we’ve decided to give you a few shorter simpler episodes in between our main shows. These will focus on a particular artist and a specific song. This episode focuses on this song: Sun Palace - Rude Movements

On this episode of Excellent Reception, we are going to talk about a song that we actually don't think is that great but the stories that come from it are pretty amazing. By the end of this episode, you will have a new appreciation for it and the melody will definitely be embedded in your mind for the next few days. We are talking about Rod Stewart's song "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy". On this episode we feature these songs: Rod Stewart - "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"Bobby Womack - "(If You Want My Love) Put Something Down on It"Millie Jackson - "Put Something Down On It / Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"Jorge Ben - "Taj Mahal" (1972 version)Jorge Ben - "Taj Mahal" (1978 version)Taj Mahal & the International Rhythm Band - "Jorge Ben"Steve Dahl & Teenage Radiation - "Do You Think I'm Disco?"La Cumbia Moderna De Soledad - "¿Crees Que Soy Sexy?"Banda Los Hijos de la Niña Luz - "El Sapo/Crees Que Soy Sexy" .