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, we are going to explore a few rhythm & blues classics that combine the sound of groove box drum machines with bare bones melodies and multi-track recording techniques to produce one of the more niche sounds of 70's soul music.   We will be looking at these songs:   Sly & The Family Stone - Family Affair Little Sister - Somebody's Watching You Shuggie Otis - Aht Uh Mi Hed Timmy Thomas- Why Can't We Live Together Little Beaver - Party Down George McCrae - Rock Your Baby    

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    

Re-Run :: Classic Episode On this episode, we talk about jazz musician Bob James, who's song "Nautilus" became one of the most sampled songs in hiphop music. On this episode we feature these songs: Bob James - Nautilus Run DMC - "Beats To The Rhyme" Main Source - "Live At The BBQ" Slick Rick - "Children's Story" Bjork - "I Miss You" (Dobie remix) Kruder & Dorfmeister - "Original Bedroom Rockers" Nuyorican Soul - "Nautilus (Mawtilus)" Blundetto feat. Shawn Lee - "Nautilus" Breakdown Brass - "Nautilus (Hijacked)"

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

This is part two of our Transcendence episodes.  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: Pharaoh Sanders - The Creator Has A Master Plan Lonnie Liston Smith - Astral Traveling Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Spirits Up Above Albert Ayler - Music is the Healing Force of the Universe Charles Earland ‎– Leaving This Planet    

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)    

We're still working on new episodes.  For now, enjoy this re-run.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

*** 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"  

This time we are going to talk about a singer/songwriter who went from one of the most promising cutting-edge artists to an almost mythological figure within the music industry. On today's episode of Excellent Reception, we are going to tell the story of Jai Paul. We'll focus on these songs: Jai Paul - BTSTU Jai Paul - Jasmine Big Boi feat. Little Dragon & Jai Paul - Higher Res Jai Paul - Str8 Outta MumbaiAK Paul - Landcrusin' Jai Paul -Do You Love Her NowJai Paul - Crush        

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    

On this episode of Excellent Reception, we are looking at some MC's from the UK who can hold their own on a microphone and have used their music as a platform to push the sound of hiphop in new directions   On this episode, we feature these songs: Roots Manuva - Witness (1 Hope) Wiley - 100% Publishing Little Simz - Offense TY - Eyes Open Lewis Parker - Hard Endeavour          

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.

On today's episode of Excellent Reception, we are talking about a group of songs, that even though they may not be the biggest songs of 2018, they has a strong influence on the current musical landscape in their own way.   Mononeon - Hot Cheetos Kadhja Bonet - Mother Maybe Tom Misch - Cos I love you Khruangbin - Maria También Waajeed - I Just Wanna Tell Leon Bridges - Bad Bad News Brandon Coleman - Giant Feelings Peggy Gou - It Makes You Forget Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Everyone Acts Crazy Now Days. The Midnight Hour (feat. Luther Vandross)-So Amazing      

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"  

On this episode, we are continuing our musical world tour in the East Asian country of Japan.  We are following the careers of a handfull of music artists that draw their personal style from a variety of sources.  They take these genres to new heights all while including elements that are uniquely Japanese.   On this episode, we are talking about these songs: Yellow Magic Orchestra - Firecracker (Computer Games) Towa Tei -  Technova Kiki Hitomi - Yellow Story  Mariya Takeuchi - Plastic Love United Future Organization - Flying Saucer      

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, we are continuing our musical world tour down in South America by taking a look at the ever evolving sounds of Brazil.  We are focusing on a group of artists who got their start during the late 60’s and early 70’s and made huge contributions to the Brazilian songbook.   On this episode, we are talking about these songs: Elza Soares - Mas Que Nada Gal Costa - Pontos De Luz Milton Nascimento - Tudo o que você podia ser Arthur Verocai - Na Boca do Sol Azymuth - Melo Dos Dios Bicudos

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   

We are back with another One-Off episode.  Today on Excellent Reception we are talking about the song "Saturday Night" from Herbie Hancock 1980 album "Monster".Herbie Hancock - Saturday Night