Primarily focusing on American Soul, R&B and Funk music presented on the glorious 45 format. I'll be posting write ups of some of my favorite records along with longer mixes.

All tracks come from vinyl that's in a box somewhere in my room.

I regularly DJ here in western mass (and nearby) with my homeboy DJ Cashman and a bunch of other great folks. If you're in the area be in touch if you're interested.

If you have any questions or corrections: gwmyers@gmail.com

Feel free to share and repost. Where possible always try to support artists and record stores!

Enjoy!

George / Snack Attack
hello! theme by cissysaurus
05
22
The Commands “Hey, It’s Love” (Dynamic, 1966) (Click title to download) Please excuse any typos in this post, they’re a result of my unbridled enthusiasm for today’s 45.  I have been trying for quite some time to secure a copy of this gem and it came in the mail today after a lucky snag off an unnamed internet auction site and I literally can’t wait to share it with the world. “Hey, It’s Love” is an absolutely beautiful, literally shockingly smooth track from San Antonio, TX.  The Commands were a group of guys who came together from, no surprise from their name, an Air Force base.  The arrangements and sensibility do not suggest they spent their time tearing up the pub on the base but instead were more focused on harmony and singing, not something unknown to those parts of Texas with Dan Henderson delivering a monster performance on what is a B-Side performance.  The Commands themselves were actually just a vocal group with all the backing music provided by the Dell-Tones and boy, what backing music it is!  Crisp (but mellow) drums, including a gorgeous opening drum break are accompanied by super clean almost harp-like guitar.  Truly amazing stuff. Released on the local Dynamic label, the record was picked up by the nearby powerhouse of Backbeat in Houston for national distribution and exposure even leading to the O’Jays covering the A-Side “No Time For You.”  There were a few more records released but none with the popularity of “No Time For You / Hey It’s Love” and fate intervened to take the lead Singer (of the A-Side) Sam Peoples to a station overseas before we were able to see what the group was really able to do. This is literally one of my favorite records and if you’re listening I’m sure you understand why. Enjoy the music and be good to each other, -George / Snack Attack

The Commands “Hey, It’s Love” (Dynamic, 1966)

(Click title to download)

Please excuse any typos in this post, they’re a result of my unbridled enthusiasm for today’s 45.  I have been trying for quite some time to secure a copy of this gem and it came in the mail today after a lucky snag off an unnamed internet auction site and I literally can’t wait to share it with the world.

“Hey, It’s Love” is an absolutely beautiful, literally shockingly smooth track from San Antonio, TX.  The Commands were a group of guys who came together from, no surprise from their name, an Air Force base.  The arrangements and sensibility do not suggest they spent their time tearing up the pub on the base but instead were more focused on harmony and singing, not something unknown to those parts of Texas with Dan Henderson delivering a monster performance on what is a B-Side performance. 

The Commands themselves were actually just a vocal group with all the backing music provided by the Dell-Tones and boy, what backing music it is!  Crisp (but mellow) drums, including a gorgeous opening drum break are accompanied by super clean almost harp-like guitar.  Truly amazing stuff.

Released on the local Dynamic label, the record was picked up by the nearby powerhouse of Backbeat in Houston for national distribution and exposure even leading to the O’Jays covering the A-Side “No Time For You.”  There were a few more records released but none with the popularity of “No Time For You / Hey It’s Love” and fate intervened to take the lead Singer (of the A-Side) Sam Peoples to a station overseas before we were able to see what the group was really able to do.

This is literally one of my favorite records and if you’re listening I’m sure you understand why.

Enjoy the music and be good to each other,

-George / Snack Attack

09
30
O.V. Wright “Working Your Game” (Back Beat, 1968) (Click title to download) This track can be found in “Singles Mixer Vol. 1” Early Fall greetings from Western Mass.  Getting psyched up for ‘layering weather’ and pumpkins emerging from every nook and cranny and speaking of nooks and crannies, the record on tap for today is something special.  Nooks and crannies, cracks and crevices, pauses and spaces are all put to the test and none go unused with this absolutely slinky, syncopated second line stomper. Courtesy of the talents of OV Wright, a Tennessee native who cut his teeth on the gospel scene, spending time as a member- as many did with their revolving cast- of the reputable Highway QC’s and the Sunset Travelers and releasing ‘solo’ recordings - really just The Travelers with OV on lead- on Peacock.  It was from his gospel connections with the Sunset Travelers who released records on Duke (and parent company Peacock) that he was introduced to their soul subsidiary Back Beat though not without some drama.  While trying his hand at secular music Wright struck mini-gold with his single “That’s How Strong My Love Is” both as a recording of his own on Goldwax and as a cover by the estimable Otis Redding.  As the song catapulted into the limelight, Peacock took notice and let it be known Wright was still under contract to the Texas label.  So the art work on the label changed but OV’s ability to write amazing records persisted.  He produced a sizable body of work with them (and a couple records for ABC who bought out Back Beat in the mid 70s) before Moving over to Willie Mitchell’s hallowed halls of Hi Records.  All records of quality and of pretty wide breadth.  The record in question today is quite a barnstormer and a bit of a curiosity in many ways.  Wright’s greatest successes often came from slow, deep, burning tracks that fit perfectly in the matrix of gospel bred deep Tennessee soul and accordingly it spoke to the talents of Willie Mitchell who, having a long history with OV, produced many of his records .  That’s not to say Wright didn’t knock out a dance number or two (Monkey Dog and I Don’t Want To Sit Down to name a couple) but this record defies those odds.  Replete with second line syncopated drumming that sounds strikingly like New Orleans legend James Black, barrelhouse piano and a slithery guitar working non-stop in the back ground.  Feels more like an Eddie Bo production than a Willie Mitchell!  OV gets totally in the pocket trading vocal duties with his female counter parts keeping the song rolling and rocking, though not departing from his frequently visiting subject of love unfulfilled, though in this case a thinly veiled desire for something deeper than ‘huggin and kissing’ for all of his expenses paid from taking her out to the night clubs.  The biggest problem with this song is it’s a paltry 2:04 and could go on for 20 more, made even more frustrating by the fact that it gets faded out! Anyhow, the sun is setting and Friday night is knocking on my door.  Enjoy the OV Wright and stay healthy.

O.V. Wright “Working Your Game” (Back Beat, 1968)

(Click title to download)

This track can be found in “Singles Mixer Vol. 1”

Early Fall greetings from Western Mass.  Getting psyched up for ‘layering weather’ and pumpkins emerging from every nook and cranny and speaking of nooks and crannies, the record on tap for today is something special.  Nooks and crannies, cracks and crevices, pauses and spaces are all put to the test and none go unused with this absolutely slinky, syncopated second line stomper.

Courtesy of the talents of OV Wright, a Tennessee native who cut his teeth on the gospel scene, spending time as a member- as many did with their revolving cast- of the reputable Highway QC’s and the Sunset Travelers and releasing ‘solo’ recordings - really just The Travelers with OV on lead- on Peacock.  It was from his gospel connections with the Sunset Travelers who released records on Duke (and parent company Peacock) that he was introduced to their soul subsidiary Back Beat though not without some drama.  While trying his hand at secular music Wright struck mini-gold with his single “That’s How Strong My Love Is” both as a recording of his own on Goldwax and as a cover by the estimable Otis Redding.  As the song catapulted into the limelight, Peacock took notice and let it be known Wright was still under contract to the Texas label.  So the art work on the label changed but OV’s ability to write amazing records persisted.  He produced a sizable body of work with them (and a couple records for ABC who bought out Back Beat in the mid 70s) before Moving over to Willie Mitchell’s hallowed halls of Hi Records.  All records of quality and of pretty wide breadth. 

The record in question today is quite a barnstormer and a bit of a curiosity in many ways.  Wright’s greatest successes often came from slow, deep, burning tracks that fit perfectly in the matrix of gospel bred deep Tennessee soul and accordingly it spoke to the talents of Willie Mitchell who, having a long history with OV, produced many of his records .  That’s not to say Wright didn’t knock out a dance number or two (Monkey Dog and I Don’t Want To Sit Down to name a couple) but this record defies those odds.  Replete with second line syncopated drumming that sounds strikingly like New Orleans legend James Black, barrelhouse piano and a slithery guitar working non-stop in the back ground.  Feels more like an Eddie Bo production than a Willie Mitchell! 

OV gets totally in the pocket trading vocal duties with his female counter parts keeping the song rolling and rocking, though not departing from his frequently visiting subject of love unfulfilled, though in this case a thinly veiled desire for something deeper than ‘huggin and kissing’ for all of his expenses paid from taking her out to the night clubs.  The biggest problem with this song is it’s a paltry 2:04 and could go on for 20 more, made even more frustrating by the fact that it gets faded out!

Anyhow, the sun is setting and Friday night is knocking on my door.  Enjoy the OV Wright and stay healthy.