Track Listings
| 1. Electric Church - WE HAD A LOVE |
| 2. Electric Church - WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY |
| 3. Paul Tillman Smith - Newsroom |
| 4. Paul Tillman Smith - Country Flower |
| 5. Plight - Soul Duck |
| 6. Electric Church - I CAN'T DANCE |
| 7. Electric Church - DOWN THE LINE |
| 8. Paul Tillman Smith - Back Here Again |
| 9. Paul Tillman Smith - Ready To Live |
| 10. Paul Tillman Smith - Ready To Live Raw Funk |
| 11. Paul Tillman Smith - A Good Dream |
| 12. Paul Tillman Smith - Before You Know |
| 13. Paul Tillman Smith - This Morning, Your Sorrow |
Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
The Electric Church
The Electric Church was a funky 9 piece horn band from the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area. Tower of Power, Linda Tillery and the Loading Zone and Cold Blood featuring Lydia Pence were among the many groups that influenced their sound. Performing 100% original material and incorporating Jazz tinged arrangements with Afro-Cuban overtones. The Electric Church was truly a uniquely diverse musical ensemble.
Plight
Plight was among the many funk & soul garage bands that flourished in the East Bay during the late 60's and early 70's. Covering the top forty hits of groups like the Bar Kays, Sam And Dave, Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band and most importantly James Brown. Plight performed on weekends in the numerous Soul and R&B clubs in East Oakland, Berkeley & North Richmond.
Paul Tillman Smith
From the age of four, Paul Tillman Smith played drums. He started writing songs at 14, inspired by his musician father, George Smith (George Smith played with Count Basie and the Harlem Aces, and was a mentor to drummer Louie Bellson.) Paul developed his drummer skills with Steve Miller and the Second Coming Band, and members of Country Joe and the Fish, plus other known R&B bands and musicians. During his New York days, Paul was an apprentice to then avant-garde jazz musicians Archie Shepp and Pharaoh Saunders. Back in the Bay Area, Paul recorded with Bobby Hutcherson, John Handy, and award winning violinist Michael White. Paul formed Vitamin E, a band whose members later recorded for Motown Records. Vitamin E recorded Paul's Sharing, which gained hit status in several cities. Paul has also been associated musically with Alice Coltrane, Big Mama Thornton, The Jones Girls, Erma Thomas, Mickey & Silvia, Richard Pryor, George Duke, Phyllis Hyman, Michael Henderson, Coke Escovedo, Sheila E., Cold Blood, Rodney Franklin, Marlena Shaw, Abbey Lincoln, Herbie Hancock, Jon Hendricks, Angela Bofill, Jean Cairne Jules Broussard, the Brecker Brothers, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk.
Product Description
The title for this new compilation of old grooves from 7 Bridges Recordings couldn't be more fitting for our times. Though recorded almost 30 years ago, the title track "Newsroom" is still sadly up to date in today’s world. Apart from the socially conscious and deeply urban message of many of the tracks, Welcome to the Newsroom is a fine collection of unreleased true funk gems from the early 1970's. The line up on these recordings includes early contributions of Sheila E., drummer and songwriter Paul Tillman Smith, Cal Tjader's keyboard player extra-ordinaire Lonnie Hewitt and Guitarist Ray Obiedo, who in the mid 70's went on to record with Herbie Hancock. From rough James Brown-like garage funk to relaxed Latin Jazz grooves this compilation is a reflection of the musical wealth of the San Francisco Bay Area's busy funk and soul scene of the 1970s. Filled with tasty break beats, this record will easily become a classic for DJ's and funk fans alike.
Welcome to the Newsroom,Various Artists
Music Review:
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