-2nd Eclectic-

You didn't see this coming. I've spent so much time trying to put a theme to my mixes that I ignored how random library can be. You already know I mix in many elements that are complementary to library... I just didn't know it. So I'm back with an eclectic mix. The last one I did like this was Particularly Privy and that was over a year ago. The truth about this mix is that half of these tracks... you could say... are my rejected scores. Some of these I have wanted to post for some time, but they just didn't fit the overall theme. Even still, they're not TOO RANDOM, but they're still a variety of styles consistent with everything else I post. So this time I'm giving you blaxploitation, easy listening, funk, scat vocals, and relative new comers to my blog... Brazilian samba/funk/fusion.

First of all, this track by Remigio Ducros (Contropiede) has been skipped over more times than the top slice of a loaf bread. It was actually going to be on my first mix from back in 07 (FMAO). I think it's a dynamite track, but at the same time it was from my first generation of new found music. Much of that stuff has been buried many times over by my ever changing ever evolving tastes. Even though it wasn't that long ago, I really get fond memories from this track. It was a special time. I was born again in the eyes of music. Nothing else on the list gives me that same feeling of nostalgia. Also, don't get me wrong... if these tracks weren't fly to begin with, I wouldn't even have bothered.

2nd Eclectic... (Hatembargo's Rejected Scores)

01. Takayuki Inoue and Katsuo Ohno - Flaming Portrait
02. Piero Umiliani - Citta Frenetica
03. David Gold - Silk Stream
04. Copa 7 - So Lucios
05. The Staple Singers - Big Mac
06. The Rainbow Orchestra - Onyx
07. Fabio Frizzi - Verso L'alba
08. Banda Black Rio - Zumbi
09. Francis Monkman - Superdude
10. Goblin - Pillage
11. Alessandro Alessandroni - Il Porto
12. The Sound Stylistics - Soul Dynamite
13. Miki Sugimoto - Zero Woman Red Handcuffs M-23
14. Remigio Ducros - Contropiede
15. Tetsuya Shibata - Abyss No2
16. El Chicles - King Kong
17. Azymuth - Manha
18. Graham DeWilde - Export International B
19. Neil Richardson - Nationwide
20. Hrangue - Long Money Short Conversation
21. Frank McDonald and Chris Rae - Wheeling and Dealing
22. Banda Black Rio - Na Baixa Do Sapateiro
23. Katsuo Ohno - Akuma No You Na Aitsu
24. Johnny Pate - Iggie's Tail
25. The Cordara Orchestra - Chrisalis
26. Bob James - Angela
27. Fabio Frizzi - Kettle of Doom
28. Manuel De Sica - Yellow Silk
29. Kunihiko Murai - White Heaven in Hell Title

I really have 10 favorites, but I left it at 5. "Angela" is my new fave. I'm really developing a taste for sleazy keyboard (you heard it here first... I'm coining sleazy keyboard!) "Manha" is cool as hell when it comes to the sleazy keys. I had it on repeat for like 5 hours when I first heard it. I'd like to thank an avid listener, (Mike) for schooling me on Brazilian music. I had more than I thought already in my archives, but the group Azymuth is really something special.

Also, I advise that you not sleep on Flaming Portrait. I made that mistake and didn't realize I was missing out on a gem (courtesy of JP expert H2O by the way). Kudos to another avid listener Okko for the other Katsuo Ohno track. I would like to get my hands on the full LP. And kudos to Un Salotto Borghese (see my blogroll) for Umiliani and El Chicles. Lastly, I've included the fan favorite as the last track. I had to change the mixpod some time.

Stay tuned for classic instrumentals and a fusion lounge mix.

-Underscoreology No2-

Well I think you all know by now how much I like these drama comps. This one much more focused than Beautiful Music 101. The theme is sad and nostalgic with strings in each track. There are a few that place more emphasis on keys. This is almost a guilty pleasure of mine. Seemingly normal people don't listen to this music in their spare time. Many of these tracks seem fitting for a funeral, but actually these overly dramatic styles make me appreciate that I'm alive. I also draw inspiration and creativity from them.

What is this cover about? I thought the original image was beautifully creepy. The mask is stoic, but the woman under the mask looks like she could be in a great deal of pain. Sometimes that's how it is. Music is therapeutic in that helps us release emotions that we may not show otherwise. Happily Atrophied is the title... from the day we're born... every day that follows we come closer to dying. For us stoics, our faces die much sooner than the rest of our bodies. I'm happiest behind my mask.

Happily Atrophied...

01. Norihiro Tsuru - Eternal Breath
02. Keith Mansfield - Wonderlust
03. Arthur Verocai - Sylvia
04. Noriyuki Asakura - Departure (Director's Mix)
05. John Ottman - Usual Suspects Theme
06. Johnny Pearson - Habitat
07. Satoshi Kudokura - Theme of Druid
08. Shigeaki Saegusa - Red Passing Rain
09. Roger Webb - Smile of Fate
10. Keiki Kobayashi - Ephemeral Dream
11. Matsuura Akihisa - A Great Duel in the Southern Ocean IV
12. Maurice Jarre - Samourai
13. Richard Rodney Bennett - Bennett's Brain Theme
14. Carlo Rustichelli - Probabilita 0
15. Lonnie Liston Smith - Garden of Peace
16. Noriyuki Asakura - Frozen Flare
17. Taku Iwasaki - Day After Day
18. Satoshi Kudokura - Windaria
19. Masashi Hamauzu - Wandering Flame
20. Yoshimasa Mine - Lady Meat Slave
21. Akira Ifukube - Death of the Golden Sun
22. Riz Ortolani - The Captain's Death
23. Noriyuki Asakura - Kaoru to Misao (III)
24. Taro Iwashiro - Troubled Memories
25. Samuel Barber - Adagio For Strings
26. Clint Mansell - Tree of Life
27. Hrangue - Farewell Link

As you can see, this comp has a heavy Japanese influence. I believe the Japanese have mastered this sound, but don't take my word for it. I even borrowed a couple from Japanese soundtrack expert and connoisseur, H2O!, of Asian Cinema Scores... kudos to you. The strings are so consistent I had a hard time choosing favorites which is always a good thing. Most of the tracks sound like you just died and you're on your way to heaven, but there is one exception. Tree of Life sounds quite evil, but it's a beautiful use of the strings. There are some neutral "earthy" sounding tracks too like Habitat and Sylvia.

Surprisingly enough, I want to do a new instrumental mix and Gems From the Slums No2 is on my agenda also. I warn you this music is quite touching. Enjoy!

10,000 hits... my thoughts on blogging.

I started this blog about a year and a half ago and I've finally reached 10k hits with about 9950 visitors. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. I've come to find out that we bloggers (depending on our content) walk a fine line between overexposure and underexposure. Naturally, people want as much as they can possibly get and for free. Right now, I'm at the point where I feel like I've given almost all I have to offer without doing a complete disservice to the vinyl community. On the other hand, I'm completely aloof when it comes to the library community.

I didn't have any set goals other than growing the Xihong Library, but how do I measure that? I haven't found a single new Shaw Bros track since my last update. I think as long as it reaches the people who are in search of it, I did my job. It's going to be interesting to see what happens when I decide not to renew my rapidshare account. One thing that I think crosses every blogger's mind is whether or not they are still in their prime... whether they're still relevant. "If I don't make as many posts, how soon will I be forgotten?" I think the beauty of blogging is that our bodies of posts are snapshots in time.

From my understanding, the particular music I was looking for was more available via P2P, auctions, and online stores at one point. That time has come and gone. I didn't find out about it until it was too late, but some of the remnants can be found in different corners of the internet. Ultimately, it may be some years down the line when someone will look back and my compilations will be sought after. "2008... 2009 oh yeah I remember those were some good years for library."

Gems From the Slums...

It's been a while. September was such a busy month for me I just forgot all about the blogosphere. Here's that vocal comp I told you about a while ago.

Gems From the Slums: Soulful Vocals

01. SSO - Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
02. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (feat. Sharon Paige) - You Know How
03. Willie Hutch - I Can Sho Give You Love
04. Mastermind - Runnin' Away From Love
05. Fishbone (feat. Curtis Mayfield) - He's a Fly Guy
06. Minnie Riperton - Baby, This Love I Have
07. Bobby Womack - You're Welcome, Stop On By
08. Willie Hutch - The Way We Were
09. The Jacksons - Strength of One Man
10. Marvin Gaye - Come Live With Me Angel
11. Ramsey Lewis - Sun Goddess
12. Hummingbird - You Can't Hide Love
13. The Persuaders - Trying Out the Girls
14. Mary Love - Power of Your Love
15. Teddy Pendergrass - Come Go With Me
16. Curtis Mayfield - Right on for the Darkness
17. Marvin Gaye - I Want You
18. William Devaughn - Be Thankful for What You Got
19. Willie Hutch - Life's No Fun Living in the Ghetto
20. Hrangue - Flossy Send Off

I didn't realize how many titles have "love" in them until I actually typed them out. Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" just might be the greatest love song of all time. Enjoy!

Funky Town Disco Music Blog

I was looking for an OST called "Soul Ecstasy" and I happened to find it at Funkytown Disco Music Blogspot. Like I said in the Cbox I doubt I can make another hot funky mix, but if I find something I'll be sure to steer you in the right direction. I haven't fully explored the blog, but they must be doing something right seeing as though they have almost 70 followers. Excuse my ignorance if you already know about this place. Also, they use a paid click link protector but the host is rapidshare. Just be careful if you don't have any sort of popup/script blockers.

The OST itself has 5 serious boppers on it one being the title track which is also offered in instrumental form. The rest depends on your taste. Anyway, check it out!

As for me, I'm working on Underscoreology No2 and a soulful vocal comp. They're coming as soon as I can wrap them up. Thanks for stopping by.