Unique74 Remembers…Mr Ralph MacDonald
He was of the elite in percussion players for eons in countless sessions, he had a very distinct style which set him apart. The Creed Taylor catalogue has his mark all over those sessions in addition to countless classics..im heartbroken..Rest Bro Ralph..Grover is waiting on you..
Happy Birthday NILE RODGERS!!!
Happy Birthday 2 Master Musician, Creator & Life long Inspiration! MR NILE RODGERS!!
Unique74 Remembers…MARVIN ISLEY
The First Family of Funk, Rock and Soul produced one of the greatest (though criminally underrated) bass players ever..Rest In Paradise MARVIN ISLEY..
here’s a taste of Marvin Isley at his finest…
(yes when you hear that BASSLINE..you are listening to the man himself..)
(the original blueprint..)
The Isley Bros 70′s performances are VERY RARE on You Tube for some odd reason.. The Isley estate dont play man!! ..Enjoy while you can 
Unique74 salutes SLY STONE | HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
MAVERICK < MUSIC | FUNK SUPREME
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SLY STONE!!
Guess who produced this number?
(proud owner of the 7inch on this jam..)
This next record has haunted me for years. The lead singer is still a mystery to this day..but it is clear as bell that the FAMILY STONE is holding down the rhthym section. Guess who produced this one? (whoever has the 7 inch to this.. you are BEYOND official, not easy to find. I am a proud owner of this and the MIGHTY JOE HICKS version on 7inch).
Guess who was the FIRST to use the talkbox? Which later influenced STEVIE, GUITAR WATSON, FRAMPTON, McCARTNEY, ERNIE ISLEY, TROUTMAN, etc. This was the theme music for the late great FRANKIE CROCKER “The Chief Rocker” (MY HERO!!) in his earlier years whenever he would “rap” on the radio. Stomp down Blues Funk at its finest!!
Update: Thank You Big Time Record Company for making small time moves by not exposing the music to fans on your artist roster..smart move..
Fans: the song is entitled “Sex Machine”…no not the James Brown version..it can be found on their 1969 release “Stand” 
RARITIES >
“I Dont Know What The World Is Coming To” (1975) | Bobby Womack Sly provides background vocals. Put headphones on for it to really become clear, can be heard at the end near fade out.
“You Caught Me (Smiling)” (1971) | 7inch version | Sly and The Family Stone
Okay, for my “diggers” out there..you know where im going with this one..This is an alternate mix compared to the standard lp mix. The difference is that during the first bridge before the chorus, Sly lets out a huge JB-ish growl that can be only found on the 7 inch version.
Motown | The Golden Years {Dahl | McDougal III }
The Great Weldon McDougall III,
Musician, Producer, Former Label Exec for Motown/Philadelphia International states in his book that Sly and The Family Stone’s “STAND” lp was used as reference at Motown quality control meetings in search of direction for The Jackson 5 debut Lp “ABC” .
Funk Gets Stronger | Funkadelic | (1979)
Sly on the background vocals/talk box with Roger Troutman on Rhythm Guitar. A really feel good cut!!
Guess who is the proud owner of a skit with Sly + a live perfomance of “Family Affair” on The Tony Orlando Show (1977)?! Super Rare..Not even YOU TUBE can claim that one..
The Night Is On My Mind: Bobby Womack | How Could You Break My Heart | Nobody Wants You When You’re Down & Out
Every now and then I get stuck on these Bobby Womack trips..this week i’ve been channeling him big time. I am confident we will meet in due time.. this track goes hard (the dialogue is priceless..lol)..
dammit where’s KC Hailey?!!
Barry White has a vamp that is very similiar to this track that he recorded around this same time (78-79). I gotta dig up and post it..I think its on the “Barry White :The Man” lp.
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Had to come with the double shotter for “The Poet”…I was literally RAISED on this next selection..this is a remake of an old ragtime blues classic..This is actually my FAVORITE in all of Bobby’s songs..The sessions with his rhythm section during this period (“PEACE” w/David Hood, Roger Hawkins, etc) were off the chain! Listen to that swing and grit! Priceless! A huge shout out to whoever mixed his sessions during the 70′s period..you always felt “the bottom” on all of Bobby’s tracks (observe how the string section “rises” in on the fade out!!).
another quake in LA..Zanzibar | Tonite
Greenehouse Entertainment Presents 5th Street Housequake!
Sprinkle in some Soul, Rock, Jazz, Funk, Hip Hop and Broken Beats. Top it off with DJ A-Ski and you have a recipe for some next level sh*t! This month we are featuring three unique performances with artists on the cutting edge of the Soul evolution. Come prepared to be severely entertained at LA’s premier spot for LIVE Soul.
Featuring:
Russell Taylor
http://www.myspace.com/russelltaylor
Diondre Jermaine
http://www.myspace.com/diondrejermaine
Breezy Lovejoy Band
http://www.myspace.com/blovejoy
SUNDAY, MAY 31ST
Zanzibar
1301 5th Street
Santa Monica , CA
8:30 PM – 2:00 AM
21+, cover: $10.00 all nite
presale tix available at www.templebarconcepts.tickets.musictoday.com
Need more info? info[at]greenehouseentertainment.com
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Isley.
This song has been stuck in my head (Ernie’s solo!).
This record would’ve been big in the Pop market easily, kinda has that Malibu, old school Venice Beach vibe but still funky.
FREE RON.
03|15|09: Its SLY’s Birthday Party! Pt3!
The wait is over. The details revealed…
SLY STONE wants to celebrate his birthday with you. Yes you! And he wants you to come dressed in the appropriate attire: 60S/70S THEME…requested, but not required.
In return, you will be part of an amazing edition of THE SLY STONE VARIETY SHOW…truly a family affair
with live performances by Sly, BabyStone and as always, special surprise guests (George Clinton funked it last time)
Plus your favorite DJs: JEREMY SOLE (KCRW, Afro Funke), A-SKI (Unique 74), and ANTHONY VALADEZ (KCRW)
And lots of other goodies and surprises.
(every birthday has a cake and party favors, right?!)
This may be the last of the infamous Sly Stone Variety Show for a while and it’s his birthday to BOOT! Who else can say they went to Sly Stone’s birthday party???…so you don’t want to miss it!
DOORS 8PM
$15 b4 9pm, $20 after
$10 LIMITED RECESSION PRICED PRESALE!!!
(Sly knows times is hard) templebarconcepts. tickets. musictoday. com
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