Hatembargo

A Re-turn for the Worst

2012-02-03T20:26:00.005-05:00

This is actually a re-up of the 2008 original. It was a great time of discovery for Shaw Bros music... it's actually when I first starting posting it. This was the first compilation that I really had Shaw Bros music weaved into. I didn't even know all of the original track names. That's why it's "Eric Towren" heavy near the beginning. It was originally formatted to fit on a CD, but no longer. I've replaced a number of the tracks with better quality rips. My "5 faves" that I used to highlight back in the day are quite different now even though this is the same mix.

It's one of my absolute favorites because much of this is music that I grew up with rather than the stuff that I've come to love over the past 4 or 5 years. And towards the end of last year I was actually thinking of doing a new volume. Just as moody... just as sinister... just as uneasy. I want to do uneasy listening JUSTICE! If you trust my ear, maybe I can make it happen.

I won't tell you who he is if you don't know already, but the guy on the cover is the perfect example of your worst nightmare coming back on you. Kudos to you if you know who it is, but there's no music from that film on this comp.

Otherwise... enjoy.

Xihong Library - Black Eagle Chik Ming Klaus!

2011-12-27T20:14:00.001-05:00

This volume had very little to do with me. Much of it is compiled by the "Black Eagle" ...Chik Ming Klaus (from the German branch of Iron Boat) who also contributed a great deal to the previous volume too. However obscure some of these movies seem, they are indeed Shaw and you may never hear them otherwise. Klaus is a great complement to my efforts. Not to mention, I give the utmost thanks to my Secret Santa for his RCA contributions. The future of Xihong Library has always been uncertain, but this year has been quite productive. Many secrets have been unveiled as of late. The big mystery is still the Japanese stuff. I had a "connect" out there, but haven't heard from him in some time. From what I remember... they're bad about releasing OSTs and they didn't keep library. I hope it's not lost forever.

I | II | III | IV

As always, I couldn't have imagined a few years ago that it would get this big. I say that almost every time if you've been keeping up with the posts rather than the MF folder. What's exciting about it is that I don't even release a volume until I get tired of it. That's when the search begins for the next.

Here's my new list of requests. The more I hear, the less I know and given what I've heard even I feel like a newborn baby at this... at times. The Italians have fooled me many times over and each time I gain a bit more respect for them.

ARC ALSP 11017 - 1969 - La Conquista Di Luna [Luciano Michelini]

RCA SP 10052 - 197? - Cronache Dal Mondo [Lamartine]
RCA SP 10055 - 197? - Spontaneous [Alessandro Alessandroni]
RCA SP 10056 - 197? - Musica Arcaica [Antonio Riccardo Luciani]
RCA SP 10057 - 1975 - Speciale TG [Giacomo Dell'Orso]
RCA SP 10060 - 1975 - Fluid Trasparency [Henry Simpson And His Orchestra]
RCA SP 10068 - 1977 - Equinox [Gianni Marchetti]

BTW, still missing THAT track... you know... that "one."

-PS- I crack up every time I upload a new volume. Somebody out there is lightning fast in getting the files. That's a real fan I tell you.

Xihong Library - The 218 Relics

2011-09-07T03:30:00.003-04:00

Even though Xihong has been gone for what seems like an eternity already, they just couldn't let him be. Who would've guessed that he had so many treasures buried along with him.

I | II | III | IV | V | VI

I don't really want to get into how much work has gone into this, but if you want more then perhaps someone can fulfill these requests:

VA - RCA SP 10007 - Drammatici E Musiche Di Tensione Psicologica No4
VA - RCA SP 10008 - Drammatici E Musiche Di Tensione Psicologica No5
Romolo Grano - RCA SP 8004 - Ca Ira Il Fiume Della Rivolta
Teo Usuelli - RCA SP 8011 - La Suora Giovane
Antonio Riccardo Luciani - RCA SP 10056 - Musica Arcaica
Pierre Arvay - DWLP 3152 - Illustrations No7

Other than that, I'm still missing 1 cue. ONE... that is very important to me. Will I have it ever? I think it's on Musica Arcaica (an almost unheard of LP). The Grano stuff is certified hardcore Shaw Bros music I've actually seen the movie (doc).

Thanks to...

The Growing Bin (for Chimenti)
Frankly Yes (for Dallas)

And a special thanks to...

Killa (for providing the shovels)
My Pal Doug (for bringing the lanterns)
Klaus (for digging Xihong up)

-PS- I've hidden an easter egg (or 2) somewhere in this comp. I wonder if you'll notice them.

Bad News...

2010-10-30T11:05:00.000-04:00

Last week I found out my turntable was busted (ie. it stopped recording). I don't have an audiophile rig I just used a USB flash drive turntable which audiophiles turn their nose up at. After learning about vinyl and sound over these past couple of years I understand why.

So I read reviews about this particular model that I have and people have had worse problems, but for me a dead USB is a dealbreaker. I went back to the store where I got it yesterday and the guy WHO SOLD IT to me still works there and he's a manager now. I say that he sold it because if it weren't for his testimony against the model I really wanted (a vintage expensive looking lame duck model) I wouldn't have gotten this one instead. He made a generous offer as to what he could do to fix the situation as my model is discontinued (ie. trade for the current model). The newer one(s) don't even have the features mine has (USB, SD card, radio, speakers).

They're really cheapin out on these! He told me it's like that across the board (1-year warranties). Stuff isn't made to last. I know people have the same turntable for like 20 years so... I've learned a lesson. I passed on his offer. He was disappointed that he couldn't make things right, but I respect that he tried and we negotiated. It is a business after all and there are rules.

So when I do get a new turntable I know how to go about it and what to get this time. Forget that flash drive stuff. I read about a cool converter that can make any analog table digital. That's the route I'll go.

Xihong Library Finale: The Eagle Epitaph

2010-09-10T16:11:00.001-04:00

Finally! Right? It's been over a year since the last update and I'm ready to hang it up... ready to sell my records... ready to pack away these DVDs. I've solved some of the great mysteries of Shaw Bros music. I've reached many milestones as to what I was looking for. Out of the 100's I've found there's literally a handful I still care about finding, but they're not out there (at this moment).

These tracks mean different things to different people. I know that "WOW" feeling. It can be addictive. It's gotten to the point where I'm pretty much sick of looking. My brain is scrambled. Everything sounds the same. Stuff I've never even heard before sounds like I heard it already.

Aside from some of the rarest hardcore Shaw Bros music, I've also included some re-rips of previous tracks in better quality. I didn't quite meet my goal of 100 tracks but you have to admit, I tried damn hard.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

And now for my longest list of thanks yet...

Qwerzz - shares rare movies
Mr. T - provided helpful hints
H2O - for Akutagawa
Brianiac - for Camille 2000
NRC - for Patchwork No5
Mr. Wong - provided helpful hints
Double-O-Soul - for Sun High
Dorian - cleared up a troublesome misunderstanding
Fraykerbreaks - for Zenith
Kungfu Cinema Forums - also provided many tips

And a special thanks to...

Jacques - Edouard Michael expert! We teamed up on tracking down a MOST ELUSIVE record. The Edouard Michael sound was picked up by Derek Laren and Spencer Nakin and we've covered all bases. Nakin was the missing link all this time. Anything else sounding similar is pure coincidence. Thanks for going above and beyond the extra mile my French friend.

Andrea - The most righteous trader I've had the pleasure of dealing with. It was like the laws of attraction at work. The tracks I was looking for all along ended up falling right into my lap. Your timing could not have been any better. Thanks for putting my mind at ease. I still owe you my Italian friend.

Requests...

2010-08-31T20:37:00.000-04:00

I don't ask for much. I understand that some of these records out here have quite a bounty on them so I don't believe in going around just asking for all the best stuff out. I got killed by an auction sniper this morning. I'm not mad. It's all in the game. That's my plight of bidding USD against GBP. I've CRUSHED many a bidder, but I go back to school this week (today actually) and can't afford to gamble those necessary funds like I normally would.

A record that I'm sure has some good Shaw Bros sounds has fallen by the way side. I've been looking for it about a year and even before that I'd never seen it listed. I'm talking about...

DWLP3022

AND (more recently)

DWLP3036

I'm iffy about the second one. I've passed it up 2 or 3 times, but it wasn't until recently that I saw a back cover. Otherwise, I'm waiting for one more record to come in the mail and then the Xihong finale goes up. If you'd like to help me out please do so... ASAP! Should you come along later it's still appreciated. Thank you.

Hrangue@gmail Hit me up.

Embargo - 1968

2010-08-27T14:04:00.000-04:00

RS | MF

Actually, I Lovembargo. "Accidrame" especially.

Philosophale - 1968

2010-08-14T19:31:00.000-04:00

RS | MF

If I had to rename this one I'd call it "Fodder for Witchdoctors." When I listen I picture everything from cooking bodies, to creepy sideshows, to torture devices, to long and grimy haunted hallways. I love it! A xylophone never sounded so good. Almost exactly a year ago I used one of these tracks (my favorite... Geant) on a past comp... Intrigue Betrayal and Espionage.

Overall, Philospohale belongs to what I consider "the alternate group" on the Sylvester label. Just like how DW had composers who always worked together (Tilsley, Trombey, Papworth, Reno, Arvay, Laren, Towren, Slaney, etc.) during the golden age Sylvester had theirs too (Vladimir Cosma, Robert Hermel, Patrice Sciortino, Claude Vasori and more ...all of which switched between these 2 labels and Musique Pour L'image. It's a shame I don't have more like it... or do I?

Adventures in Ebay: A Rant... nothing surprises me.

2010-08-13T01:30:00.003-04:00

People act so funny when it comes to IDing audio (or requests in general). Not long ago I posted a comment on a blog asking a VERY specific question. This blog posts LP covers only and not music. No problem. They had 3 people listed as contributors. Do you mean to tell me that between 3 contributors I was asking too much? Have you actually heard it? I asked ONE OF them to email me and I would link or send them the file (not Police Force). Do you know what they did? They just deleted it like Google China.

Here's what I asked them... there's a certain RCA LP I found listed on the blog with front cover, back cover, and a photo of the vinyl. I have every track on this vinyl from elsewhere except for TWO. I had a few cues prepared and I was gonna ask if one of the two in particular were the same as my cues. It's like playing GO FISH! HEY GOT TRACK 7? EH... go fish. I really didn't expect a reply because people usually don't reply, but to delete the whole post (2-3 posts one for each cover) as if it never happened. How passive aggressive IS THAT!?

There's no excuse. A simple "No" or "sorry" would have sufficed. I'm not a spammer. I KNOW what spammers are about. There are spammers in my Cbox right now. They think I don't know. This is why people go into lurking and I don't blame them. The only possible reason I can think of to react like that is they thought I was an agent of the label. Yeah right.

Why did I ask to begin with? The LP is rare, but the price isn't justified as most of the tracks are easily available so really only 2 are rare. The cover is cool, but other than that it's not a big deal. One track is probably a dud from what I saw on the description (Esodo Cinese). The other (Repressione) is the one in question. Both are from an RCA/IT LP that hasn't been re-released via CD and I suppose it was never commercially available (by Romolo Grano... Ca Ira Il Fiume Della Rivolta). I'm not paying top dollar if I don't need to. In an unbelievable twist of fate the same LP pops up on Ebay 2 weeks later. I didn't bid because I wasn't willing to take that risk. It ended selling for a fairly low price. I don't feel as though I really missed out, but it would seem unlikely that the record should appear during a time when I could have the truth about it. Thanks for nothing, but I'm glad someone got it for a reasonable price.

If they thought I was a scumbag or whatever for whatever reason they may have and they could actually say that, I'd appreciate the honesty I really would. I'm not in the business of changing minds. You can think what you want. Self righteousness runs rampant in the vinyl community. There are barriers of nationality, language, legality, race, age, location, and even status. I said this a couple of years ago on Phylips' blog. These audiophiles out there on these high horses WILL download your stuff, but they will deny it to the death and even condemn the act altogether.

Blaxploitation ID... Police Force

2010-08-13T00:22:00.025-04:00

I'm no expert on blaxploitation films or music, but I've heard this one before. I've heard so much that it's nearly impossible to keep track. It really has to be fresh in mind. This snippet was sampled by 2 different rappers. For one he made his own beat and the other he just rapped over someone else's (a mainstream rapper perhaps?). Even knowing that doesn't help.

The movie Police Force came out in 73 and the instrumental (whatever it is) came out in the early 2000's. I asked around and got no where. I know someone knows...

http://wwww.hrangue.com/hr/policeforceid.mp3

UPDATE

Ok so I had one of the songs in my RS folder. This one is from Sandman it's called "That's What Makes Him a Hustla." It's even a better example than police force and it's his own beat... not the mainstream sample.

Sandman - The Movement Part 1 (Dictatorship) 2001?

UPDATE 2

Okay here's the second one. 9 times out of 10 this beat was jacked for this mixtape meaning it could belong to WHATEVER mainstream rapper. This one is called "Love Me or Hate Me" by the Paper Chasers. I don't have this mixtape uploaded but it came out around 2001-2002. I remember grabbing the last copy.

Illustrations No9 - 1970

2010-07-18T19:36:00.001-04:00

RS | MF

When I first heard the full versions of these tracks outside of the kungfu snippets I was used to, I really wasn't sure what to think. After developing an acquired taste for avant garde concrete jazz I have to say... this is very cool stuff. Pierre Arvay is one of the best to have ever done it.

Industrial Complex - 1969

2010-07-18T19:36:00.000-04:00

RS | MF

At first I tried to get this LP from a guy on GEMM and I asked him if he could watch a youtube clip and tell me if the music was on there. (this track "Recoil" was supposed to be comped on Kungfu Super Sounds and they somehow switched it with a wack track.) He said he watched it and it wasn't on there. You lazy liar you... I had someone do the same exact thing with "The Music of Stanley Black." The exact track I wanted was on there and they said it wasn't supposedly after hearing a clip. Is it really too much to ask? Are you trying to make money or not? I've had people flat out ignore me too. The worst was when someone accused me of being a casino spammer.

This one is a bit more edgier than Industrial Project. The styles are similar (most were at the time).

Industrial Project - 1965

2010-07-11T16:19:00.000-04:00

These tracks are a bit light for my taste. The one "serious" one wasn't even used in a Shaw Bros flick. It should have been! Otherwise, there's some good (old school) title music on here.

RS | MF

14 Pictorial Sketches For Orchestra No2 - 1971

2010-07-11T14:53:00.000-04:00

I've had more people ask me about/for this LP than any other and it pops up in my track stats all the time. Well, here it is. If you've been with me all along, you should remember the hassle I went through to get this record. More to come...

RS | MF

Laced With Poison~

2010-05-14T15:03:00.002-04:00

A long time in the making it's my 2nd anniversary this month... and this is my final funky drama mix. Usually I mash up a bunch of tracks that sound similar, but this is the first time I've actually tried to tell a story with the moods. The theme is a "harsh mistress" "femme fatale" sort of character playing on the classic concept "Death and the Maiden." You're attracted to her, and she's attracted to death. Pursue her and you WILL die.

Laced With Poison~ RS | MF

01. David Gold - Pulse of the City
02. Jean Claude Petit - Vers La Liberte
03. Stelvio Cipriani - Legamento No69
04. Lalo Schifrin - The School Bus
05. Guido E Maurizio De Angelis - La Polizia Vuole Giustizia
06. James Clarke - Watchful Eye
07. Joachim Sherylee - Waystar
08. Jean-Michel Lorgere - Psycho-Nebuleux
09. Claude Perraudin - Night Fever
10. Frank Ricotti - The Early Hours
11. Yoichi Yoshikawa - Kiken Noudo
12. Chumei Watanabe - Mad Gyalan No3
13. Frank McDonald and Chris Rae - Gun Runners
14. Peter Milray - Industrial Achievement
15. Trevor Bastow - Vidura
16. Nigel Hess - Galloping Sax
17. Geoff Bastow - Riff-Raff
18. Frank McDonald and Chris Rae - Mission Control
19. Nowy - Escalation
20. Chumei Watanabe - Kyojuu Shutsugen No4
21. Lonnie Liston Smith - Goddess of Love
22. Steve Everitt - Stevie's Angels
23. Yan Tregger - Girls Will Be Girls
24. Robert Hall Unknown - Kool Kat
25. Hubert Rostaing Et Yvan Jullien - Paris La Nuit
26. Guido E Maurizio De Angelis - Attesa
27. Gianni Oddi - Dreaming
28. Pulsar Music Ltd. - Six In
29. Harry South and Vic Flick - Bobbies on the Move
30. Stu Philips - Knight of the Phoenix Suite No5
31. Daniele Patucchi - Legamento No74
32. John Cacavas - Northside
33. John Scott - Phrenetic
34. Carl Brandt - Ambush
35. Robert Hall Unknown - Flashback
36. Nick Ingman - Sight and Sound 5A

Aside from my Xihong finale, I might drop some LPs here and there.

Instrumental Series Vol.6 Classics

2010-04-20T22:26:00.004-04:00

I started putting this together last year and I'm just now finishing it. I don't know where the time goes. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day. I can't even take a nap without feeling like I should be doing something more productive (so I don't).

So this time I give you a classic (mostly) 90's instrumental mix. I didn't really get turned onto rap until 95-96. Before that I just listened to whatever my mom listened to (go ahead and laugh... stuff like Ace of the Base lol!) and when I was much younger whatever my dad listened to (REAL music 70's soul) when I was held hostage on fishing trips. I would actually tape videos from Rap City, Yo! MTV Raps, The Box, Video Soul, and whatever the countdown show was at the time. Life sucked pretty bad otherwise. 95 to 98 was just bad! I was in a car accident. Then I fell down the steps and had to have a surgery. They told me I would never walk again... after I started walking again. The music kept me sane.

Disc 1 - RS - MF

01. Black Rob - You Don't Know Me
02. A Tribe Called Quest - Check The Rhyme
03. Mad Lion - Take It Easy
04. Gangstarr - You Know My Steez
05. Junior Mafia - Get Money
06. LL Cool J - Doin' It
07. Jay-Z - Politics As Usual
08. Big L - Flamboyant
09. Camp Lo - Luchini
10. Royce Da 5'9" - I'm the King
11. Showbiz & A.G. - Next Level
12. 2Pac - California Love Remix
13. Noreaga - N.O.R.E.
14. Kris Kross - Tonight's Tha Night
15. Cam'ron - 357
16. Lil Kim - Crush On You
17. The Fab 5 - Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka
18. Lauryn Hill - The Sweetest Thing
19. Poor Righteous Teachers - Word Iz Life
20. The Roots - Concerto of the Desperado
21. Timbaland & Magoo - Clock Strikes
22. Ras Kass - Miami Life

Disc 2 - RS - MF

01. Black Moon - Who Got The Props
02. MC Lyte - Keep On Keepin' On
03. The Pharcyde - Somethin' That Means Somethin'
04. LL Cool J - 1234
05. Heltah Skeltah - Operation Lockdown
06. Sauce Money - For My Hustlaz
07. Dr. Dre - Been There Done That
08. Violator - Beatnuts Forever
09. Cam'ron - Glory
10. Wutang - Fragments
11. Nas - The World Is Yours
12. Bone Thugs N Harmony - When Thugs Cry
13. Missy Elliot - Beep Me 911
14. The Lox - Money Power Respect
15. Big Tymers - Big Ballin'
16. Tracey Lee - The Theme
17. Dr. Dre - Nothin' But a G Thang
18. Cappadonna - The Pillage
19. Outkast - Da Art of Storytellin'
20. Young Gunz - Life We Chose
21. Coolio - Too Hot
22. Kris Kross - Live and Die for Hip Hop

I remember there were at least 2 (east coast) movements at the time (I was in middle school). West coast was in a league of its own 93-96. Everybody was torn between Bad Boy and Wu-tang and on a larger scale Bad Boy and Death Row. I sided with the Wu definitely (most dudes did and most chicks liked Puff Daddy and Ma$e... no surprise). I do have a fond memory though of the dread head cats in NY like Boot Camp Click and Lost Boyz. Hip Hop was so raw back then.

Adventures in Ebay: The funniest listing I've ever seen.

2010-03-18T15:24:00.005-04:00

The hard sell doesn't get any more in your face than this post here. I study copy writing and this stuff had me rolling in the aisles. The only thing it needs is flashing neon gifs and...

SUNDAY!
SUNDAY!
SUNDAAAAAAYYYY!

On offer here is a VERY rare LP (especially in this condition!!!!) by Karl Jenkins & The Soft Machine called "Rubber Riff" and is an ORIGINAL 1976 UK 1st Pressing on the 1st Press De Wolfe label!!!! THIS LP IS SERIOUSLY RARE AND VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND!!!! THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST LPs ON THE DE WOLFE LABEL - AND VIRTUALLY NEVER TURNS UP FOR SALE!!!! JUST TRY AND FIND ANOTHER ONE!!!! BACK IN 1976 WHEN THIS LP WAS FIRST RELEASED - IT ONLY EVER SOLD IN ABSOLUTELY TINY AMOUNTS, AND WAS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY DELETED!!!! AS A RESULT IT IS SERIOUSLY RARE AND INCREDIBLY HARD TO LOCATE TODAY!!!! BUT WHAT MAKES THIS LP REALLY SPECIAL IS THAT IT IS IN ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT CONDITION!!!! AND THIS IS SIMPLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND ON THIS LP!!!! THE RECORD HAS BARELY BEEN PLAYED AT ALL (ONLY ONCE OR TWICE AT THE VERY MOST!) AND IS IN BRILLIANT CONDITION, THE INNER SLEEVE IS SIMPLY SUPERB, AND THE COVER IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!!! JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE PICTURES!!!! THIS IS THE ORIGINAL 1976 UK 1ST PRESSING ON THE 1ST PRESS DE WOLFE LABEL, 1ST PRESS INNER SLEEVE, AND 1ST PRESS 'GARROD & LOFTHOUSE' COVER!!!! THIS LP IS SERIOUSLY RARE AND VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND LIKE THIS - SO DONT MISS OUT ON THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY!!!! This is the ORIGINAL De Wolfe UK 1st Pressing from 1976 and is in BRILLIANT condition!!!! The record is pressed on THICK quality vinyl. The Cat. No is DWS/LP 3331 on the ORIGINAL 1st Press De Wolfe label (see picture) and is a UK Stereo 1st Pressing (there were NO Monos!)!!!!

The record labels are in AWESOME condition (see pictures) with NO wear, NO writing, and barely ANY spindle marks AT ALL!!!! IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THIS RECORD HAS BARELY BEEN PLAYED AT ALL!!!! The vinyl is in absolutely BRILLIANT condition!!!! Most of these 60s/70s LPs had been to a lot of wild parties and are usually found totally worn out, and almost unplayable. This one is NOT and has NO scratches, only 2 or 3 MEGA light hairlines, NO scufflines, and only a VERY few of the lightest paper scuffs only visible under light!!!! ITS AS SIMPLE AS THAT!!!! THE RECORD STILL RETAINS ITS ORIGINAL 'JUST PRESSED' LOOK AND SHINES LIKE NEW!!!! It is also great to find that the record plays as STUNNINGLY as the visual with NO pops, NO sticking, NO jumps, barely ANY crackle AT ALL, and only some VERY slight background sound on the run on grooves & gaps - NOT in the music AT ALL!!!! The sound quality is simply SUPERB with NO distortion and NO groovewear either!!!! The record must MEGA STRICTLY grade Very Good++++ if not better and is very VERY close to a grade above!!!! BRILLIANT RECORD!!!! Believe me this record is NOT overgraded in ANY way!!!! I use STRICT RC grading standards - it is not in my interest not to!!!! Brillant!!!! The record also comes in its ORIGINAL 1st Press inner sleeve which is in SUPERB condition!!!! The 1st Press 'Garrod & Lofthouse' Cover is in AWESOME condition!!!! It has NO edge wear, NO spinal wear, barely ANY corner wear AT ALL (NOT through the colour!), barely ANY creases AT ALL (cover is VERY flat looking indeed!), NO ringwear, NO rubbing, NO sticker tears, and NO writing!!!! The opening edge is beautifully straight with feathering!!!! Even the back of the cover is in AWESOME condition with NO grubbyness, NO yellowing, NO ringwear, NO rubbing, and NO writing!!!! The cover must grade Excellent++++ if not better!!!! AWESOME COVER!!!! THIS LP IS SERIOUSLY RARE AND VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND LIKE THIS - SO DONT MISS OUT ON THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY!!!!

HAVE A LOOK AT MY PICTURES - I DO MY BEST TO SHOW THE RECORD FROM ALL ANGLES AND MAKE THE PICTURES AS CLEAR AS POSSIBLE - THERE IS NOTHING TO HIDE!!!! It really is a GREAT looking LP and it is truly rare to find any copies of this MEGA RARE LP!!!! THIS WILL BE YOUR ONLY CHANCE TO BUY AN ORIGINAL 1976 UK 1ST PRESSING OF "RUBBER RIFF" BY KARL JENKINS & THE SOFT MACHINE, IN BRILLIANT CONDITION!!!! Dont forget to take a look at all my other items including many other TOP LPs and contact me with any queries you may have. P&P £3 in the UK, £4 Europe, £6 Rest Of The World (Postal discounts are available - see below for details). Paypal, Bank Transfers, Cheques, International Money Orders, and Postal Orders accepted. Thanks for looking! Cheers!!!!!

I suppose this is better than those other dealers that are like... "Hey I got a record, you wanna buy it or not?" Thing is about Rubber Riff is that there's always one on sale and someone uploaded it (somewhere)forever ago.

Xihong Library... Mirrored!

2010-03-03T07:50:00.003-05:00

Now it's possible to download the whole Xihong Library within a reasonable time. Don't agonize another minute over that RS timer!

Xihong Library @ Mediafire

Tired of Rapidshare?

2010-03-02T08:56:00.002-05:00

This may be a trick question, but are you tired of Rapidshare? I know I am. I can't imagine how many visitors I've lost because they hate RS. I think Rapidshare's time has come and gone. Don't get me wrong, it's still the net standard, but that's for downloading en masse. Mediafire and Megaupload are so much better. RS just isn't fast enough anymore (well not since upgrading my isp). So this is what I'll do. I'm going to set up a Mediafire account and I'll be adding mirrors for a number of things (not everything though). And some of my earlier mixes will be getting cleaned and upgraded where applicable. I really didn't understand cleaning back then like I do now.

A Night at the Arcade

2010-02-20T11:38:00.023-05:00

It's been a while. Things have been so hectic for me lately, but not without some rewards. I just made the Dean's List! Anyway, this was a team effort so I took heed to some advice from guest contributor DJ Mike. He had his stuff together way before I did, but I finally got around to doing my part. Mike compiled disc 1 and dubbed it "A Night at the Arcade" (aka THE BAD FOR BLIZZNESS MIXES!) Have you ever been at the arcade and worked up such a sweat you had to step outside for a few minutes? It just wouldn't feel right if I wasn't hot and itchy. I win a few rounds and have to take my hat off!

About 10 years ago I did a web comic. I made this collage to start off the 3rd season. I used a ridiculous number of Mugen kits, but I had so much fun working on it. It got to be too much work after a while.

Part 1
Part 2

Mirror 1
Mirror 2

Player 1: DJ Mike

First of all, mucho thanks to Hrangue for allowing me to help put this project together. What began as a nominal idea has turned into something truly exceptional. After many long hours of work, scrutinizing every facet of audio, and making a few changes along the way, it has arrived: A Night at the Arcade, for your listening pleasure. When I first set about putting my mix together, I had no preconceived notion as to what it should or shouldn't be, except that it would be to my liking musically and include Ken's Theme from Street Fighter Alpha. You'll hear a lot of jazz/funk arrangements, some exceptional orchestra pieces with arresting melodies and even a few moody offerings as well.

This is just a small sample of what these composers (and many others) have to offer. There's so much great music out there, it's mind-boggling.

01. Noriyuki Iwadare - Main Theme (Eternal Blue)
Lunar 2

02. Motoaki Takenouchi - Open Plains
Shining Force CD

03. Isao Abe, Shun Nishigaki & Setsuo Yamamoto - Ken's Theme (Arrange)
Street Fighter Alpha

04. Hikoshi Hashimoto - Sound Test 06
Cosmic Carnage

05. Thelonious Monkeys - Yuuki wa Shimemade Tou (A Brave man is lonely)
Moon

06. Yuji Nomi, Hideo Suzuki & Naoaki Jimbo - The Escape
Lunacy (Gekkamugentan Torico)

07. Tomoko Sasaki - Merry Memory Go Round
NiGHTS ~ Journey of Dreams

08. Sound Team JDK - Tower of the Shadow of Death
Ys IV ~ The Dawn of Ys

09. Richard Jacques & Jun Senoue - Sea-side Street Galaxy
Daytona USA Championship Circuit Edition

10. Masanori Adachi & Tappi Iwase - The Hunter's Repose
Madara 2

11. Takayuki Aihara - Recollect Continent
Soul Blade

12. Tsukachan - Stages 3-2 & 5-1
Shadow Dancer ~ The Secret of Shinobi

13. Takeshi Miura, Hijiri Anze & Sanae Kasahara - A Moment of Relief
Resident Evil Code Veronica

14. Sound Team JDK, Tomohiko Kishimoto & Tamiya Terashima - Charge
The Legend of Heroes ~ Dragon Slayer II (PCE-CD)

15. Toshiko Tasaki, Masaki Kurokawa & Kenichi Tsuchiya - Memories (sad)
Persona 2 ~ Eternal Punishment

16. Yoshio Tsuru - Sanctuary
Dungeon Explorer II

17. Tokuhiko Uwabo - Secret Ways
Phantasy Star II

18. Masashi Hamauzu - Battle Theme I
Unlimited SaGa

19. Koichi Sugiyama - Mysterious Tower
Dragon Quest VIII

20. Yuzo Koshiro - Filmoa
Actraiser

21. Alph Lyra - Battle in Westside (Cage Match)
Final Fight CD

22. Ryo Yonemitsu, Falcom Sound Team JDK - Illusion
Ys IV Perfect Collection

23. Masanori Adachi, Sotaro Tojima - Treasury Room
Super Castlevania IV

24. Hisao Inoue, Jun Hasebe, & Shingo Murakami - Mugenkai
Valis III

25. Toshiko Tasaki, Masaki Kurokawa & Kenichi Tsuchiya - Sumaru City Map ~ Xibalba
Persona 2 ~ Innocent Sin

26. Ayako Sasou - View of Dynamism
Rolling Thunder 2

27. Kanako Kakino, Eriko Imura, Asuka Sakai, & Katsuro Tajima - Volkie's Song
Klonoa 2 ~ Lunatea's Veil

28. Yasuhisa Watanabe - Splendor (Barts' Theme)
Kaiser Knuckle

29. Koichi Sugiyama - In a Town (Night)
Dragon Quest IV

30. Kentarou Haneda - Fort City Llylgamyn
Wizardry ~ Llylgamyn Saga

31. Manabu Namiki, Kimihiro Abe, & Natsuko Naitou - At the Maddening Gate (Stage 5)
Mushihimesama Futari

32. Hiro & Am2 Sound Team - Last Wave
OutRun 2

33. Hiroshi Okubo - Staff Roll
Rage Racer

34. Alph-Lyra & Izuho Takeuchi - Game Over
Forgotten Worlds

Player 2: Hrangue

Fighting games, beat-em-ups, and RPGs have always been my thing. Fighters are stressful for me. Kids are just too good these days, I don't have the time to hone my skills and play online. Beat-em-ups are theraputic; I feel great afterward (or sleepy). And RPG's hold my attention for such a long time. I don't play them as much now. I rarely game much at all these days. What's funny about DJ Mike wanting to collab is that he's been keeping track of my various posts and I think he noticed somewhere along the line that there's quite a bit of game music on this blog already, but I just don't call it that. Anyway, I'm not going to comment on the music itself. If you've been with me this long, you know I'm consistent! I don't care if you don't even like games, it's still good music. And if you like Japanese composers, this is a no-brainer. As I typed these lists up I've come to see that the letter "Y" is as popular in Japan as the letter "Z" is in China.

01. Takayuki Hattori - Opening Chorus
Intelligent Qube

02. Hideaki Kobayashi - Mother Earth of Dishonesty Part 1
Phantasy Star Online

03. Kohei Tanaka - The Village of Inoa
Alundra

04. Ryuichi Iuchi - To the Sea and the Continent Beyond
Shenmue

05. Masashi Hamauzu - Durcheinander
Saga Frontier 2

06. Yuko Takehara & Masato Kouda - Venom Stage
Marvel vs Capcom

07. Motoi Sakuraba - Dynamite
Star Ocean 2

08. Yoko Shimomura, Isao Abe, & Syun Nishigaki - Sagat Stage
Street Fighter Alpha

09. Koji Kondo - Sanctuary Dunegon
Zelda: A Link to the Past

10. Toshihiko Horiyama - Boss
Megaman X4

11. Yoko Shimomura - Aqua and Trees
Tobal No1

12. Yasunori Mitsuda - U.M.N. Mode
Xenosaga

13. The Roland Corp - Secret 2
Tomb Raider

14. Yoshihito Yano - Chasing Downstream
Soul Calibur

15. Kohei Tanaka - Kline's Nightmare
Alundra

16. Tetsuya Shibata - Dark Castle Area 2
Powerstone 2

17. Yasuhiro Misawa - Tension
Samurai Warriors

18. Setsuo Yamamoto - The Theme of Raizo
Rival Schools

19. Takayuki Iwai & Masato Kouda - Player Select 1
Vampire Saviour

20. Hitoshi Sakimoto - Dycedarg's Theme
Final Fantasy Tactics

21. Yasunori Mitsuda - Earth Dragon's Island
Chrono Cross

22. Nobuo Uematsu - Colliery Nalsh
Final Fantasy 6

23. Koji Kondo - Master Sword
Zelda: A Link to the Past

24. Takayuki Hattori - Ecliptic
Intelligent Qube

25. Hideki Okugawa - Starview Pagoda
Onimusha 2

26. Shinsekai Gakkyoku Zatsugidan - Lament of the Three Destinies
Samurai Shodown 3

27. Kazuhiko Uehara - Art Museum
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tournament Fighters

28. Masashi Hamauzu - Erlkonig
Saga Frontier 2

29. Setsuo Yamamoto - Confrontation
Project Justice

30. Dan Forden - The Bank
Mortal Kombat Trilogy

31. Yasuhiro Kawakami - Disused Mine
Tobal No1

32. Midway - NBA Jam Team Select
NBA Jam

33. Yutaka Minobe & Takayuki Maeda - Armada Battle
Skies of Arcadia

34. Susumu Hirasawa - To the Castle
Sword of the Berserk

35. Kohei Tanaka - Desert
Alundra

36. Koji Kondo - Nocturne of Shadow
Zelda: Ocarina of Time

37. Michiru Yamane - Garden Forgotten by Time
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence

38. Tetsuya Shibata - Chaos Area 2
Powerstone 2

39. Shinji Hosoe, Ayako Saso, & Takayuki Aihara - Stronger
Street Fighter EX+ Alpha

I give Mike ALOT OF PROPS for EQing my tracks. He took it upon himself during The Great Blizzard of 2010 (aka Snowmaggeddon) and I'm thoroughly impressed. I need to get on HIS level! Now back to Phantasy Star Online... this track "Mother Earth of Dishonesty Part 1" is some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard. No wonder I almost failed 10th grade because of PSO. I must've been addicted to the music! Also, Mike and I obviously come from 2 different eras of gaming. I've had a number of systems, but I was in my gaming prime during the Dreamcast days. Back when arcades were hot, I was a fiend for anything Neo Geo or Capcom although my last arcade obsession was Crazy Taxi. Who would've thought?

Added 25 Philly Underground Mixtapes...

2010-01-25T19:32:00.004-05:00

I wanted to put up some local mixes way back, but uploading was a pain. Now that I've switched ISPs and it finally works how it supposed to I got that stuff upped. I have much more. Here's who's included in this update...

Sandman (w/ Cannon Clique)
Lil Chick
Big Star (2 Raw for the Streets)
Chic Raw
Joey Jihad
Meek Millz
Kre Forch
Vodka
Cyssero
Scrap Metal
Oschino
Lil Frank

And there are a few with various artists. I have so much stuff on CD that I'll be getting rid of soon. Some of it I'll rip and add to the RS FOLDER. I have plenty of classics from people such as: Jakk Frost, State Property, Crime Family, Nina Ross, Last Donna, Mackie (Red), Elliot Ness, and more. Plus I need space. All of this stuff is getting deleted off my HD. You better get what you can get while you can get it. Check back!

I'm ruined for the time being...

2010-01-18T13:12:00.002-05:00

I recently switched ISPs to (Clear) and it was great at first, but after a while it turned to crap. I did everything I could do to make sure the problem wasn't on my end and eventually I did too much. I keep 90% of my files in desktop folders and after fooling around with my registry my documents and desktop disappeared. I searched and found them in a temporary folder. I then copied them to where they are supposed to be and after restarting they're all gone. All that remains is shortcuts.

My system restore wasn't set like I thought it was. So I tried a recovery program and while it works... the most important stuff... my most recent stuff is corrupted or unrecoverable. I spent a lot of time working on vector art and a major project I was doing between my fall and spring semesters has been cut in half. I've lost 50-60 hours of work.

As far as my music and the blog. I was working on a game mix with avid reader DJ Mike and just as I was wrapping up my half of the project this happens. Nearly all of my files are corrupt and most of his. On the plus side, I can get them all back, but I think people underestimate how much time goes into this. Compiling, EQing, tagging, uploading, and actually posting. And this mix is over 60 files (double disc). I wasn't in a hurry to release it, but now it will definitely take a while to get things back in order. I even got some new library tracks which are now mostly corrupt.

My semester starts tomorrow and I really won't have time to get back in the swing of the things like I want (re-rip/download, re-eq, re-tag, etc.) . I have 1000's of files to browse though and decide what to salvage as I don't have space to just copy it all on an external HD. I'm still trying to find out if there's a way to either repair the files or to back track. It's very annoying that in addition to my recent files being harmed, many old and random files were effected too.

I don't even want to look at this computer right now. It's like my child. I'm not mad, but I'm really disappointed.

Sophisticated Sounds for Partays Soirees and Shindigs

2010-01-01T11:33:00.010-05:00

As you can see, I took off December. I was going to drop a mix, but I never got around to it. Today is New Year's... Happy New Years! So for the new year I figured I'd start off with a mix of a different kind. My last comp was a potpourri of library, samba, ost, and easy listening. This time I made it much more vocal. It's a blend of house, lounge, fusion, samba, and again... easy listening. There's something in here for every one sensible.

Sophisticated Sounds for Partays Soirees and Shindigs...

Mirror

01. Freddy Gigele - Titel, Thesen, Temperamente
02. Les Gammas - Afternoon at Rossi's
03. Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy
04. Sidewinder - Afro Life
05. Tabitha Fair and Todd Cooper - Fly in the Freedom
06. Waiwan - Goddess
07. Kim Hoorweg - Never Again
08. Rosalia De Souza - Saudosismo
09. Quant - Stimulus
10. Ilya - Bellissimo
11. Hideki Okugawa - Twilight
12. Azymuth - Face De Conta
13. P'taah - Hold You Close
14. Jean Pierre Sabar - Vai Vai
15. Qalo Mota - Heartbeat
16. Jamiroquai - Digeridoo
17. Yutaka - Evening Star
18. Sade - Paradise

If you're a young person and want to impress your parents (or maybe your significant other's parents) with your budding maturity, this wordly mix is for you. I'm starting to take a liking to this sort of music, if you have recommendations let me know. Mike has been in my ear for a little while and I thank him. More library, more soul, and more instrumentals to come!

-2nd Eclectic-

2009-11-15T18:50:00.007-05:00

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)

Mirror

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-

2009-11-04T14:11:00.006-05:00

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...

Mirror

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.

2009-10-14T11:49:00.005-04:00

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...

2009-10-03T15:56:00.004-04:00

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

2009-08-13T13:42:00.007-04:00

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.

Yu Xihong's Shaw Bros Library Encore No5!

2009-08-09T19:33:00.000-04:00

I'm back with some more. The search isn't as productive as it used to be, but this isn't a race right? Most of this I just had lying around. As always though, there's some stuff you've been waiting to hear, you just didn't know it yet. There's a track called "Legend of the Fox - Heir Apparent" and it's almost too cool for the movie. It's a DVD rip instead of an original. For those of you who have been staying up to date, I think this is from the same LP as "Heroes Shed no Tears - Sima Choaqun" (give that a listen and compare). Both are hot tracks! I don't really have much else to say. Enjoy and drop some leads if you have them.

Encore No5-1
Encore No5-2

36th Chamber of Shaolin
8 Diagram Polefighter
Big Bad Sis
Brave Archer 2
Convict Killer
Disciples of the 36th Chamber
Flag of Iron
Godfather From Canton
Heaven and Hell
Kid From Kwangtung
Lady Assassin
Legend of the Fox
Mercenaries From Hong Kong
New Tales of the Flying Fox
Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman
Shaolin Handlock
Shaolin Mantis
Shaolin vs Wutang
Supreme Swordsman
Tales of a Eunuch
The Duel
The Lady Professional
The Murder Plot
The Weird Man

Kudos to Breakfirst for Victorian Mystery, to Library Music Rarities for the Paul Lewis stuff, and special thanks to Mr. Wong for contributing Eveil A L'Aube. It might be next year before I manage to get this many tracks again.

Intrigue Betrayal and Espionage

2009-08-06T11:44:00.004-04:00

I've been sitting on this one for a little while and finally decided to wrap it up. I have only a few more projects after this and then I'll be going on hiatus. The first track "The Chase" was used on one of my local channels for an intro to late night movies back in the 80's. I was shocked to find it. Otherwise, there's some hard hitting military themes, some uneasy listening, cool spy music, and some suspense mixed in.

Intrigue Betrayal and Espionage

01. Dominic Fontiere - The Chase
02. Elmer Bernstein - Moving Out
03. John Leach - Network
04. Paul Lewis - Modern Mystery Underscore No4
05. Anthony Hobson - Advance
06. Riz Ortolani - Il Forte
07. Nick Ingman - Sight and Sound 7A
08. Ennio Morricone - Slogan
09. Osamu Totsuka - Kesshi Iki Youjakai
10. Masaharu Iwata - Kourin
11. Mandingo Orchestra - Snake Pit
12. Patrice Sciortino - Geant
13. Shunsuke Kikuchi - Kaibutsu Freeza vs Densetsu no Super Saiyajin
14. Sei Ikeno - Creating an Alibi
15. Franco Micalizzi - Istantanea Di Una Rapina
16. Anton Webern - Five Piece for Orchestra
17. Pierre Arvay - Modernization
18. Riz Ortolani - Azione Bellica
19. Carlo Savina - Tema Teso
20. Jack Trombey - Guerilla
21. The London Symphony Orchestra - Ransom Part 2
22. Masashi Hamauzu - Untergrund
23. Anthony Hobson - War
24. Herbie Hancock - Death Wish Main Title
25. Osamu Totsuka - Youja
26. Reg Tilsley - Influx
27. Jack Trombey - Fanfare Showcase No32
28. Masaharu Iwata - The Pervert
29. Stanley Black - Berlin Wall
30. Noriyuki Asakura - The Last Wolf Suite

Track 13 is really something! It has everything all in one suite. I've included a couple of Shaw Bros tracks too because they fit so well, and because not everyone comes here specifically for that purpose. That doesn't mean they should miss out.

Big Fire Orchestral: The Best of Giant Robo

2009-07-12T22:38:00.012-04:00

It's been about 10 years now since that day. I was an anime/videogame dork (sophmore in highschool) and after school I stopped in at a local haven that catered particularly to such persons. Without spending a dime, it was still a cool place to hang out. I was that annoying kid that would come into the game store every week and ask when a certain game would be available. I bet they wish they had internet back then. So on this particular day everybody was watching some anime I never heard of. I was very narrowminded on my anime... I liked what I liked. But I glanced over for a second and I couldn't look away. The characters were so cool, the animation so retro, and then there's the music... it was amazing. So I asked the name of it and bought that exact tape only to find out it was the end of the series. It was called Giant Robo and I knew it was something special.

The Magnificent Ten (mostly)
For one, it took quite a few years for "them" to make only 7 episodes. Each episode was like a mini movie and each had its own soundtrack. So I looked all over and eventually got them all. I then tracked down the OSTs which were rare even then. I managed to get 3 via online shopping and I found the rest on Napster. To this day... aside from Shaw Bros music... this is still the best music I've ever heard. I was working on Underscoreology No2 and naturally I wanted to use some GR tracks (I have about 100), but as the comp started coming together the more I realized nothing else would compare. It would be too out of place. I've used some GR in Underscoreology No1 and A Turn for the Worst, but I was really holding back. It's good stuff but negligible compared to the whole collection. I've included those previous tracks anyway.

I haven't been into anime for a long time (about 7 years), but when I look back, I still love Giant Robo. I've always had a thing for villains and it's interesting that among the villains there were good ones and bad ones. To top it off, most of them wore business suits. HOW COOL IS THAT!? The robots really played a small part in the series, it was mostly the characters who drove the story.

Organization Big Fire (minus a few people) Click for fullsize.

And by the way this is my scan/edit. I actually started typing this post 2 weeks ago and I got so hyped up I ordered the new art book which is even better than the old one I always wanted. The kid, Lord Big Fire is the leader and the most dangerous. I think he can kill people just by thinking about it... or something like that lol. These characters are dangerous overall, only a handful of them actual did any fighting in the whole series. And 1 was dead before the series started... Cervantes here.

The Best of Giant Robo

01. Taiso's Counterattack (extended)
02. Lord Alberto's Attack
03. Big Group Parading Around
04. Line of Death - Kenji Murasame
05. The Inversion
06. Suppress Manhood! Experts Battle Above!
07. Battle of the Snowy Mountains
08. Dr. Shizuma's Compensation
09. Phantom Night's Ambition
10. Magnificent Ten Attack!
11. Big Fire Appears
12. Symphonic Action Time
13. Cataclysm Over Paris
14. The Truth About Bashtarlle
15. Darkness Covers the Beijing Sky
16. The Eye of Volger
17. Emmanuelle and Famelle
18. Shizuma Drive's 10th Year Balance Sheet
19. Suppress Manhood! Girder Mountain Sight
20. Train Chase
21. Big Production's Decision

All tracks are composed by Masamichi Amano and performed by The Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. These tracks have more variation than you can handle. I assure you.

The Best of Erotic Lounge

2009-07-02T22:51:00.009-04:00

I came across this full series of CDs in my search for something funky. It's not quite what I expected, but I did find one monster track and I've already used this one in Unravel. I'm talking Smood vs Natascha Grin - Principle of Love. There were some others that struck me right away, but this was what I needed. Recently I've gone through all the volumes and taken another listen. While this isn't my thing, there's no reason it can't be. As my search for good library music dries up, I can see myself transitioning into this lounge stuff.

Also, it doesn't really come off as "erotic" to me. Maybe I set the bar too high, but either way it's good music. The series spans 7 volumes and most have 2 CDs so it was hard to narrow it down to what I thought was the best. It's full of smooth worldly music. Some have lyrics, some have just scat vocals, and some sound like "too sexy for my shirt." I steered clear of anything that sounds too much like a fashion runway. And there are some cool "covers" of past hits too. And like I used to do, my faves are bolded.

Every cover is maaaaad sexeh. If this were pre-Internet times, these would sell out on packaging alone.

The Best of Erotic Lounge...

01. Naoki Kenji and Asheni - Tonight
02. Kieser Velten featuring Jen - Together
03. Roberto Sol and Chris Le Blanc featuring Ines - Sueno De Amor
04. Fous De La Mer featuring Sol - Never Stop Loving
05. Ian Pooley featuring Marcos Valie - Sentimento
06. Riovolt - It Ain't Over til It's Over
07. Dj Monique vs Stephen Le Coque - You're Like an Angel
08. Solar Moon featuring Jen - Inside Out
09. Funkorama - Funkachild
10. Trinah - Let's Stay Together
11. Thievery Corporation - It Takes a Thief
12. Trüby Trio featuring Marcus Begg - Universal Love (Arme Rootdown Round Midnite Mix)
13. Farida - Entao Eu Vou
14. Shakedown - At Night (Afterlife Remix)
15. S-Tone Inc. - In the Mood for Love
16. Audio Lotion - Jacuzzi Jazz (DJ Mix)

This cover of Al Green's Let's Stay Together (by Trinah) is amazing! I would LOVE to see this performed live. It's the best cover I've ever heard. If I hadn't have forgotten about it at first, it probably would have been on Unravel with Principle of Love. Also, I cut the midsection of Principle of Love to fit more stuff on the menagerie. Here is the full version. And my favorite disque of the series by far is Volume 5 - Secret Affairs. I honestly forget where I found them (I may have gotten them from the Russians), but I'm sure Google will turn them up with no problem if you're interested after hearing this small comp.

I would think that those of you who have stuck by me this long have confidence in my taste, and that even if it isn't library you'll still enjoy it (given it isn't hardcore underground rap lol.)

Adventures on Ebay! No2

2009-07-01T15:52:00.003-04:00

So I have this friend who really has a thing for Transformers. He's not net savvy in the slightest. If he sees something he wants on Ebay, he fronts the money and I get it. This time he wanted the original Optimus Prime in excellent condition. We picked out 2, I lost the auction (the other was subpar), and I thought that was that. The winner actually flaked out and I was given a second chance offer (unless I fell for the oldschool hustle... and I don't think I did because the price is in range of others). So we ran with it. I paid up and he paid me soon after.

The item is 1 state over. It should have taken a day or 2 to arrive. 16 days later I get the item. How did that happen? The dealer gave me a tracking number, but it didn't budge in 2 weeks. I didn't want to assume the worst so I called my local post office. They said it never left the post office it was first scanned at. So I call the other post office (in NY) and they made it seem like the person never brought the item in. Before I made the call to the post office I emailed the dealer and asked what was going on? By the time I was done on the phone, the dealer replied to my email (later on) and said that the item had moved. What happened? The guy at the NY post office said that the dealer sent a tracking number and that's it. Now if I was an unreasonable person, I would have suspected foul play. Depending on their reply, I may have been able to catch them in a lie. They maintained that the item had been sent and that Ebay was at fault. So I didn't rush to a judgment and I got my item. If anything, the dealer deserves a refund or shipping credit from their post office. I understand the post office is going through turbulent times right now, but that's no excuse.

This must be what it feels like to be a celebrity. Make 1 phone call and things go my way.

Xihong Library Most Wanted! APB on Super Ninjas!

2009-06-27T16:52:00.012-04:00

After hearing sooooooo much music I still haven't found some of the stuff I've been looking for since day one. Honestly if I had found these cues first, I may have quit right then and there so I guess it's good that I didn't. Still, they feel unreachable. And I'm not even counting the older stuff. I've asked many a seller if they've even HEARD these tunes before and every time, the answer is no. I still have my suspicions, but they are proving to be costly. Anyway here's the list. If you've downloaded Xihong library then you have them already... but please reconsider if you get any ideas from these clues.

Thanks to Mr. T of Asian Cinema Scores, "APB on John Rambo" was very productive, but I understand this is a much greater challenge.

THESE ARE ALL DIRECT LINKS!

MOST WANTED! - 5 Element Ninjas - Nice to Meet You

Click for full size.

To me, this is one of the coolest scenes ever in the history of kungfu movies and the action is already over. I had to immortalize it by making a wallpaper (a year or 2 ago). Kembuchi was really a shallow character, but it was the cinematography that brought him to life and the atmosphere that made him IMO a timeless villain. Chen Hui Min played other good villains in Judgement of an Assassin, The Proud Youth, and to a lesser extent, My Rebellious Son. But Kembuchi was the role he was made for.

Skip to 4:05.

The only other movie I've heard this in was "My Rebellious Son." It even features the same actor Chen Hui Min, playing another samurai role. Coincidentally, both movies came out in 1982. I honestly don't think this means anything, but it could! This one really threw me for a loop. Like I said in a previous post, it sounds just like something from Derek Laren's Episodes From the Bible. In the context of Xihong Library listen to Shaolin Intruders - The Prophets of Israel. It's so painfully obvious! But! It's possible some one else did it in Derek Laren's style. I even went through the trouble of getting every LP I could with him on it (within reason). And it's possible that this is actually 2 different tracks, but the theme is consistent.

Music for a Historical Era
Orchestral Moods
Episodes From the Bible No1
Episodes From the Bible No2
and more I can't quite remember...

New Info! I just checked out Shaolin Intruders again and this track is in this movie too with another common track. I wonder why they waited 'til the 80's to use these.

NUMBER 2! - 2 Champions of Shaolin - Finale

This movie came out in 1979 and this cue was used in many movies. The ones I remember off the top are: Legend of the Fox, To Kill a Mastermind, Brave Archer 3, and Shaolin Prince to name a few. I'm thinking this could be an obscure RCA Library release. It's killing me. I have found some of these rare RCAs for sale but I'm not ready to make that leap of faith because it's not the "Azione" series. It seems legendary at this point.

NUMBER 3! - 5 Element Ninjas - The Wood

This one dates back to 1976 at the latest (36th Chamber of Shaolin). I suspect it's from the same LP as this track used in the intro to "Animals are Beautiful People (1974)," because it's used in 5 Element Ninjas also. Look up 5 Element Ninjas - Fallen Petals. Here's a preview clip to the intro. I seriously suspect Edouard Michael's Quatorze Pittoresques Pour Orchestre. He has a VERY similar sound on Sept Preludes Symphoniques and that track was used in 5 Element Ninjas too! Refer to 5 Element Ninjas - Chant Plaintiff.
Also, see track 2 of this new Monty Python Comp. I could not care less about Monty Python, but it has the first bit of sound I've ever been able to hear from 14 Pictorial Sketches for Orchestra No1. From the clip I heard, I still think it might be a winner.

NUMBER 4! - 5 Element Ninjas Intro

This is 2 separate tracks in 1 and it's the only movie I recall hearing either of them. So I'm guessing this is a later LP. I planned to buy an LP on Ebay called "High Adventure." I asked the seller when the LP came out and if they would mind listening to my clips to see if it had my sounds. No answer. I guess I was asking too much. It emerged again as a piece of a 10 LP lot. No way. I was down for the buying but $50 shipping for 10 LPs. I think there is a better way. Plus! I listened to some of the tracks from the sample site and like they always do... they put up the lamest tracks. So I wasn't sold on this leap of faith either. The track titles that catch my eye are always the ones they leave out. Oh well... It kinda pissed me off that one track from the movie (a main theme) was from an LP filled with otherwise completely unrelated music. Refer to 5 Element Ninjas - Birth of a Man (Nomination LP).

New Info! So I've been browsing my movies to find new stuff and to connect dots and I've made an interesting discovery. The second part of the Super Ninjas intro was used in an SB movie called The Murder Plot. This movie came out in 79 so that helps somewhat by shaving off some more years. One LP that was used in this movie is World War One. I don't have it, but I've heard most of it. I don't think they coincide, but I would be mad if it was the "winner" because of how many times I passed over that LP. This movie also has another track in common that I've never found or ripped. I can't be sure and that's disturbing so I think I'll get it to be on the safe side.

NUMBER 5! - Shanghai 13 - Black Eagle the Monster

This is like a wild card track. It can be from anywhere. It's very cool monster type music and worked well in the movie. Your guess is as good as mine.

I've even posted these on forums and not a single response to any of them. You didn't think I was this passionate about this did you? Well I am. So help me out.

Philly Underground Mixtapes

2009-06-12T17:17:00.004-04:00

I had way more of these than I thought and I'm going to keep them in THIS FOLDER! Like I said I'm not going to make posts for each new up because there would be too many and they would be too much of a distraction from what my blog is really about. In the bottom right spot of my list is where I'll keep the updates. It'll just say the persons/groups name. All of this stuff will be posted AS IS... no EQs... no re-tags... no track lists. If you're a hardcore fan, that stuff shouldn't matter too much anyway. I'm gonna start us off with Major Figgas. MF wasn't even my favorite group, but I can't mention Philly Underground and not give them props. From 98 all the way to the rise of Gillie I think they had like 50+ mixtapes. Check back now and then. And you can TRY and request something. If I have it I have it, if I don't I don't.

Left to right 1/2 of MF:(Bumpy Johnson, Ab Liva, Dutchman, Gillie)

I actually saw each of these guys in person at one time or another except Bump.
"GDK, trademark, CD Play."
-Gillie Da Kid

Adventures on Ebay!

2009-05-30T19:17:00.009-04:00

So I ordered a record and instead of the record being packaged like... a record, it was packaged like a big greeting card. As soon as I saw it I said WTF? Before I even opened it, I could tell the edges had creases. I open it up and the sleeve is right under the paper (envelope). It may as well have been commando. I'm level headed enough not to make a fuss and so I didn't. I left super duper fantastic seller among sellers 1760+ star ebay general Jacquelyn123cat this exact POSITIVE feedback... "The package could have been sturdier. I'm satisfied otherwise thanks." She left me positive feedback, and then everything was fine... until... she decided she wasn't going to take my outrageous fibs lying down. In response she sent me a message (via ebay) asking why I left that comment to imply that I'm somehow defaming her.

With all due respect and courtesy I took some time to make an image that says it all.

Now this is what it looked like before she sent it. And pictured below is what I got. You be the judge.

So I sent her this image in response. Everything on my end is airtight right? Wrong! What I like so much about the internet is that anyone can pretend to be anyone. She pretended to be a truth teller but it didn't quite work out. In response to my carefully constructed image, she told me that she was directed to a poker scam site and that she's reporting me not only to the crowned prince, but also the king of Ebay. And to make sure I get my just desserts she blocked my email so she would be spared from my snappy comebacks, reason, and further damning evidence. She gave no evidence link to said poker scam. This link (my image collage) is from my own server after all. Does this look like poker to you? She tried to attack my credibility by saying that I tried to do this before (TO A LOT OF PEOPLE practically everybody online ssssshhhhhh it's really just 4 people... extra ssssshhhhhh including her) and by that I mean "changing my mind." It's not about changing anything. When my mailman tells me he had to reseal a package and that's why it took so long, I take his word for it because I see this guy every day.

Since I've had 2 of my packages pop open and require resealing, since I've had one record nearly fall out of the mailer when I turned it, AND since I don't like for my records to be packaged like greeting card, I DO give extra attention to how a package is mailed. I certainly won't give a negative rating just for that reason either. I didn't ask anyone for any money back. So what's the fuss?

Here are my 4 victims. Let's see if you can spot them.

This was between us 2 until my email got bounced back. I brushed off this whole incident because It's not that big of a deal to me. It's the principle of being able to take what you dish out. The truth isn't for everybody and that's why she made a wild accusation, then blocked me so I couldn't respond directly, and then supposedly reported me to the Dean of Sellers. Should she find this, she's liable to drop a dime (rat, tattle, tell, snitch) so if my blog comes up missing, you'll know why. At the same time, it's your loss. I sincerely appreciate all comments, but there's quite a bit of leeching going on. That's cool and all because this is the internet and we all do it. But, you won't know what you had til I'm gone, or better yet... what you don't have. I hope you enjoyed reading about this adventure.

P.S. Here's a funny fact she included 2 pieces of copy paper inside the record sleeve also. I've since reunited them with their long lost cousins in my printer.

-Unravel-

2009-05-14T19:55:00.009-04:00

To all my fellows out there checking for this mix, what's goin on daddy!? For the ladies, and I know you're out there, I'm so glad you could make it! This is how I started out. I didn't mean for Shaw Bros to take over the blog, but there's just so much of it. That doesn't mean majority rules. I can't even call this a mix anymore... IT'S A MENAGERIE NOW! So fellas I want you to get your mouthpiece on deck, pop your collar, lean your seat waaaaaay back, and cock your stingy brim panama so far to the right that you can only see out of one eye... now you're ready for Unravel. And ladies if you catch one of these fellows non-stop boppin, don't break your neck too hard, just be cool about it like you don't even care who concocted such an unbelievably fly ass menagerie... even though... you're just dying to find out.

Summed up in a few words, a lot of funky erotica with just a dash of panache.

I eventually did a back cover (right click and save if you want it) and after all of that fooling around I couldn't match up the colors right. Lol, maybe I shouldn't have. That's Jessica Alba by the way. I'm not really a fan, but it was a beautiful shot. And this one too.

01. Pino Donaggio - Jack Discovers Gunshot
02. Alessandro Alessandroni - Sophisticated
03. Piero Umiliani - Nostalgia
04. Jerry Goldsmith - Disco Strut
05. Jean Pierre Pouret - Introduction of Love
06. Barbara Moore - Go West
07. Frank McDonald & Chris Rae - Soul City Drive
08. Roger Webb - Open Horizon
09. John Tropea - Tambourine
10. Francis Lai - La Peur
11. Les Wanted - Camicas
12. Roy Ayers & Wayne Henderson - For Real
13. Herbie Hancock - No Means Yes
14. Ok Ko - From France to Philly and Back
15. Takin' Dictation - Sex Starved Secretaries
16. Smood vs Natascha Grin - Principle of Love
17. Hrangue - And Rightfully So (It's A.R.S.)
18. Keith Mansfield - Good Vibrations
19. Janko Nilovic - Paris Deauville
20. Frank McDonald & Chris Rae - The Jam
21. Kunihiko Murai - Goyokiba's Theme
22. Johnny Scott - Motordown
23. Sakamoto, Evora, & Veloso - E Preciso Perdoar
24. Barbara Moore - Strongarm
25. Jean Pierre Pouret - Pussy Theme
26. Frank McDonald & Chris Rae - Slow Fuse

Unravel...

Mirror

I have so many favorites in there I didn't even bother this time. Some of these have been chopped to my liking (and presumably yours too) for quality assurance. It took me a whole extra month to get my situation straight, but as a result I kept finding better tracks. It's at full capacity for flyness. It can't take another second of bom-chicka-wow-wow or ficka-ner-nert-nern. I'm good now. Some of this stuff is so funky I can't bop without sticking my tongue out. And what a way to celebrate Hatembargo's one year anniversary! Also, I'm working on a drama and suspense mix now, but again, I'm taking my time.

If not yours, then who else's,

-Hrangue

Update

2009-05-14T19:25:00.003-04:00

In a very interesting twist, I got 2 of the same rare LP. I gave the dealer the benefit of the doubt and I'm glad I kept my cool. It's not like me to slander anyone anyway I'm glad I was patient and didn't kick dirt on his name despite my coincidence. Unbelievably, both LPs arrived at the same time. The first took a month because the parcel came apart in transit and had to be resealed at the post office. I thought it was already on its way back to where it came from. Even more interestingly enough, I just had this happen to another LP of mine last week. What're the odds of it happening twice in a row? The other LP took just 3 days. I worked out a deal with the seller before anyone placed a bid and I thank him for accepting my proposition. You'll have to forgive me for being greedy (Ebay), but I will sell one or maybe both of them some time.

I'm contemplating whether I should create an online storefront and use Paypal or if I should sell on Ebay. I don't really like auctions (for selling) despite only having lost twice. I'm not really a dealer but I have quite a few LPs to unload for one reason or another. Most of my stuff that I'm willing to sell is already listed on Ebay anyway. I don't really believe in price fixing either, but I would like to turn some sort of profit. I'll see.

Have I been had?

2009-05-05T17:04:00.005-04:00

I've delayed my mix for quite a while because I've been waiting on one record. 17 days ago I paid for it. I don't want to say what it is because the competition to get it may be even more fierce if it ends up getting re-listed. This bidding was crazy already. I'm suspicious though that there may be some foul play involved. The dealer had a 100% Ebay rating (with a brief history) 2 weeks ago, but now his rating has dropped almost 20% with 3 consecutive bad ratings that fall within the time frame I ordered my record. I asked the people who left the ratings what their experiences have been with this guy. I'm awaiting responses. He was quick to respond when I had questions but now that the money is spent he's quiet. I always wonder, when people disappear like that from Ebay... if they aren't a scammer if maybe they're in jail. Anyway, I had extremely high expectations and would simply like the record, despite spending A LOT of money on it. I only intended to include one track for the comp. I'll keep you all posted. Wish me the best because I'm sure this is funny business.

One guy got back to me right as I finished this post and he told me I'm the second person to ask him about this dealer so I guess this record won't be coming. Never in my life would I have dreamed of spending so much money on a record and then come to find out I've been duped. If it does come out that this guy is a scammer, I'll have no problem letting you all know who it is. If you really want to know, shoot me an email Hrangue@gmail.com.

Breaking news! The record has re-emerged so maybe it's not as rare as I thought but I must have it. I'm gonna go hard on the bidding.

Twitter!

2009-04-17T12:34:00.004-04:00

I'm going to start fooling around a little with twitter. Feel free to follow (add) me and I'll do the same for you.

Encore No4 - Part3

2009-04-10T20:16:00.006-04:00

Here's a cool story. I saw a contemporary Shaw Bros movie called "The Criminals." It's similar to "Trilogy of Swordsmanship," but it's modern. The last and best installment is called "The Stuntsmen" starring Lo Lieh, Ku Feng, and Wong Yu. At one point there was a pretty average chase scene with way above and beyond average chase music. When I first started out with Xihong Library most of my stuff was ripped right from movies. After coming a loooooonnnnng way, I pretty much stopped doing that. So I thought, I should rip this but I decided against it.

A little while ago, a very cool track popped up on Mr. Paul Durango's blog courtesy of Litlgrey and Devan. It's called "Junction" and it's by Vic Flick on the Bosworth label. The other tracks from that particular LP (Romantic Strings & Dramatic Melodies) paled in comparison. It was Vic's only offering too. It went right into my ever changing blaxploitation personal fave compilation.

Today Mr. T sent me some more tips after the fact that I posted Encore No4. I started sourcing his leads and one thing lead to another and I ended up "skimming" The Stuntsmen to finally rip that cool chase music. You all are smart people right? Of course you are. You already know that the very same music in the movie is the very same Vic Flick - Junction that I had on repeat for about 4 hours when I first heard it. Folks... my mind is blown. Me and the kungfu movies and the kungfu movies and me... are kindred spirits. I might change my name to "Shaw Xihong."

It's like an even better episode of deja vu. I had a similar experience with Rustichelli's L'Arresto (Big Brother Cheng). I used it in my Underscoreology comp only to find out months later that it was used in a Shaw Bros movie.

And besides that, there are a few tracks that sound terrible and I never noticed until I listened with full bass/treble ear-buds. I've added my own recently acquired rips. I did find some miscellaneous stuff at the last minute too and some others I just forgot. Anyway, this is the 3rd part of Encore No4.

2 Champions of Shaolin
3 Evil Masters
8 Diagram Polefighter
Clan of Amazons
Daredevils
Human Lanterns
My Rebellious Son
Rebel Intruders
The Criminals
Shaolin Prince
Tigress of Shaolin
Village of Tigers
What Price Honesty

Part 3

Normally, I would've kept quiet and just let it be the start of Encore No5, but I'm not buying any more records for a while unless it comes from my short list of wants.

Yu Xihong's Shaw Bros Library Encore No4!

2009-04-08T21:29:00.003-04:00

Out of curiosity I can't imagine how overwhelming it must be for someone to stumble onto the Xihong Library for the first time at this stage in the game.

3 Evil Masters
5 Venoms
10 Tigers of Kwangtung
Bloody Parrot
Brave Archer
Daredevils
Death Duel
Godfather From Canton
Have Sword Will Travel
Heroes Shed No Tears
Heroes Two
Invincible Shaolin
Judgement of an Assassin
Kid With a Tattoo
Kungfu Instructor
Legend of the Bat
Life Gamble
Magnificent Ruffians
Men From the Monastery
Mercenaries From Hong Kong
Rebel Intruders
Shaolin Avengers
Shaolin Handlock
Sword Stained With Royal Blood
The Assassin
The Duel
The Magic Blade
The Weird Man
To Kill a Mastermind
Vengeful Beauty
Young Avenger

Part 1
Part 2

I want to give a special thanks to H2O and Mr.T of Asian Cinema Scores. H2O contributed some rare stuff from his own personal collection and gave me some good insight into the KICA Library. There were many good soundtracks and composers alike from Japan, but most of their works from that time period were scattered throughout compilations. They didn't release the complete OSTs that we're accustomed to.

Mr.T, what can I say? This guy knows his soundtracks! He filled me in on some obscure stuff from older movies (which is my blind spot). Not to mention he's the source of the rare soon to be cult favorite Heroes Two track. You can find Asian Cinema Scores on Franklynot by way of my blog roll. And lastly, I want to give kudos to Library209 (he too is already linked on my blog roll) for his Vladimir Cosma stuff. At this rate, maybe I can crank out Encore 5 by next year. I've filled so many blanks the list grows shorter and shorter. I'll make a post and list what my top 10 sought after cues are some time.

APB on John Rambo!

2009-03-27T15:13:00.009-04:00

Encore No4 is ready to go but I don't want to drop it just yet. There are some cues I'm interested in finding first and I don't think it'll be too hard with your help. For over a year now I've been trying to figure out Mercenaries From Hong Kong. I love the movie and the music is excellent. I've found some of it already, but not the main cues I was looking for. I don't care much for regular movies unless they're true classics. Last month some time Rambo: First Blood was on so I just had to watch it. AND BINGO! There's the music... well not quite. So I find the OST as fast as I can and I'm pretty good at finding these things, but like I said it's not quite a match. I checked out the Rambo clone OST (Thunder) and still not a match. Here's where you come in...

This screencap is originally from HK Cinemagic.
It's an excellent source for tracing kungfu actors and studios.

I've added 3 snippets and the one track is definitely the sound-a-like. 2 of the snippets could be on a separate LP. They're drama synth guitar which doesn't seen to coincide with the hardcore action sound I'm looking for. The window of possibility is pretty narrow. Rambo came out in 1982 and Mercenaries From Hong Kong came out in 1983. This may or may not be OST music. I'm thinking it's library. So, is anyone familiar with early 80's action library music? It's very possible that it's a DWLP or Hudson. The links are below. These are direct downloads not RS.

Goodbye Ah Tai
River Crossing (most important one)
Standoff
Over the Cliff (Rambo)

In case anyone was wondering, Rambo was done by Jerry Goldsmith. Thanks in advance.

The Tale of Osaka Castle

2009-03-15T19:45:00.007-04:00

This is my first soundtrack post. I usually chop and compile them, but not this time. So I took my usual shot in the dark in search of some Shaw, but to no avail. Akira Ifukube's work is consistently good, so even if it wasn't what I was looking for I can't complain. I'm starting to develop a taste for this sort of music anyway. It's not quite as "heavy" as his monster music, but it makes for good background when I'm doing some art.

You're going to have to forgive my MP3 tags. I complained quite a bit about sellers who say nothing about these CDs. Well now that I've tried their shoes on, their really isn't much to say because I don't know Japanese. I translated some tracks if it made sense I saved it, but most of them are still in Japanese (or squares). For anyone who's willing, here is the Album Info.

The Tale of Osaka Castle

Don't squint too hard at these covers. The full sizes have been included in the rar. Tracks 33-49 are bonus tracks. Some of this stuff would have fit right in as Shaw. It boggles me why they chose what they chose to "sample." Some movies would have been excellent if you ask me... like "Secret of the Telegian" and "Navajoe Joe." And like I said, I still have some things in the works. Enjoy.

Neither here nor there...

2009-02-09T10:53:00.004-05:00

Well as you can see I organized some things and made them a bit easier to find. I have a couple of traditional library comps in the works, but I haven't quite put a theme to them yet. Encore No.4 is also in the works, but like I said I plan to take my time with this one. Notice "Berlin Wall?" It's a monster of a track! If I was a dictator or a tyrant, this would definitely be my press conference theme music.

I've been searching some different avenues for the Xihong Library, but it's proving to be a waste. Besides RCA Italy, the final frontier seems to be the 60's/70's Japanese libraries (Toho, Daiei, Toei, etc.) and the related King Records samurai soundtracks (Kica Library). This stuff sells for unjustifiably insane prices. To add insult to injury, there's usually no description whatsoever. I understand it's in Japanese and perhaps the dealers don't understand the language. Fair enough. So is the picture on the cover reason enough to charge $200+ USD for a CD with no description and no track list? Pffft.

AKIRA IFUKUBE CD!!11!! RARE!!!!1111!@!!! HURRY UP AND BUY!1111!!!!! $299.99!!

Where was I? Oh yeah, so otherwise I just feel like I'm in limbo so the next great thing is quite possibly just around the corner.

Yu Xihong's Shaw Bros Library Encore No3!

2008-12-27T22:00:00.006-05:00

Well folks I think I'm at the end of the line and I'm going out with a bang. It's time for me to really take a break from this... perhaps for good. I've found most of the stuff I've set out to find. It's really starting to sink in that some of this stuff is probably gone forever, unless one happens to be a seriously connected guy. I'm by no means a connected guy so I'm at the mercy of my wallet (in this recession). There is still hope though as companies are re-releasing libraries and classic Italian scores on CD. I spend more time looking for this stuff than actually listening to it, so it's about time I step back and look over my work. Also, it was only possible due to the library and the kungfu communities. I don't exactly have contributors, but I give credit where it's due. What matters is that this stuff will be around for years to come. There are kungfu library fans out there right now who just don't know they're fans yet.

Part 1
Part 2

5 Shaolin Masters
5 Superfighters
5 Venoms
7 Man Army
36th Chamber of Shaolin
Avenging Eagle
Big Brother Cheng
Brave Archer
Challenge of the Gamesters
Fake Ghostcatchers
Fist of the White Lotus
Invincible Shaolin
Judgement of an Assassin
Kid With the Golden Arm
Legend of the Bat
Lost Souls
Naval Commandos
Savage 5
Shanghai 13
Spiritual Boxer
Treasure Hunters
Vengeful Beauty
Young Lovers on Flying Wheels

There's no big difference in file size so download whichever you want first. Just make sure you get them both.

I want to give a hearty thanks to Double O Soul for his Luciani stuff. I never would have found that or have known to look for it on my own. Not to mention it costs way more than I'm willing to pay. It's absolutely essential for the library. Kudos to Your Pal Doug for unknowingly giving me a heads up on some great stuff also... some stuff that was icing on the cake for this last installment. So what's next for Hatembargo? I might have to shift some new gears for the new year.

Update!

2008-12-25T11:37:00.009-05:00

Well I've been pretty ambitious in tracking certain LPs down and let me tell you... Encore No3 is going to be monumental! Before I get into that, I'll say this. I've since taken care of two of my requests and another two (Zenith and Sept Preludes) were filled a couple of months ago. I got my hands on Episodes From the Bible No2 and it was a tremendous let down! Lame as hell! I hate to get burned like that, but it's all in the game. The first volume was excellent, but this one doesn't measure up in any shape, form, or fashion. So now I'm left hanging on the cliff... Derek Laren made a certain track that is in the same style of a whole SUITE of tracks I've been searching for since day one. So where the hell are they!? Could there be an Episodes From the Bible No3? Did someone copy his style?

I got burnt by Eric Towren so, I'm guessing this is deja vu. Robert Hermel and Eric Towren have done work in the same style so I need to find Laren's successor. The only other guy I can think of is Edouard Michael (14 Pictorial Sketches for Orchestra No1). And this brings me to my next update, I finally got 14 Pictorial Sketches for Orchestra No2 (by Trombey). It wasn't all that, but it had what I needed. I was just hoping there would be more of it. 5/14 isn't that bad considering there are LPs where only one track is good. Now for the Shaw fans, these tracks are top notch! You do hear it don't you? Encore No3 will be ready as soon as I receive my next two LPs and I may call it quits after that unless people start selling some better stuff online.

Lastly, I got these above mentioned LPs (Laren/Trombey) from that Japanese site. How? All credit is due to Ooh! Japan. Since they want to be so difficult over there, some people have taken it upon themselves to get in the business of doing what the other guys won't. And that's shipping over seas... for a fee of course. They'll buy the item(s), package, and ship them according to your specifications. It wasn't cheap, I'll admit, but I got what I wanted and that's what matters. The downside is that USPS makes one attempt to deliver "signed confirmation" packages and then they hold them. My express shipping went to waste because they didn't leave a note on my door. Anyway, I'm glad this service was available. Encore No3 will be up in a week or two.

Instrumental Series Vol.3 - Philly Underground

2008-12-16T15:03:00.012-05:00

Philly rappers have had a stigma for a while now that they all sound alike. Is that a good or a bad thing? I've always thought it was a compliment that our city has a recognizable style. Naturally every region thinks they're the best and has a preference for its own music. As far as I know, Philly rappers were often overlooked because we didn't have major label influence. It became business as usual for rappers/artists to go the independent route. I don't know how many of our local talents were signed to some sort of deal but they never saw the light of day.

The success stories of the underground are still short lived. "State Property" was "the team to beat" for a few years. Through Rocafella, they spread a lot of our Philly style to New York. New Yorkers then claimed certain things as their own ideas and spread them to the rest of the country. I'm not going to get into that because that's a different discussion. Anyway, ROC put Philly on the map starting with Beanie Sigel back in 99. Over the years we've had a lot of talent and beef seems to bring out the best and worst in everyone.

SP started cooking with gas when they erupted a city wide beef against Major Figgas. SP members literally come from all parts of the city while MF was mostly North Philly... in particular "Erie Ave" (EA and GTown Aves are major arteries in North Philly and have a deep rap history). Their beef spilled out onto the radio Power 99 "Come Up Show" and people throughout the tri-state took notice. Some people would say that since Rocafella was the only group in Philly getting any shine for a while that everybody else was jealous and it made them a target. That's exactly what happened. ROC had to defend from ALL SIDES. The SP vs MF era had a legitimate reason for getting started though, but I'm not going into that either. A new generation of up and comers saw this as their foothold into the underground. Come at whoever is on top. As different rappers got a buzz, some no name guy out of left field would kick dirt on his name and became damn near famous. Every time someone got a buzz, they started a team or formed an alliance. Different teams would beef and hope to blow things so far out of proportion that it would be impossible not to know about it.

The gift and the curse to the Philly underground was Norristown's "Big Star." He had been filming raw talent for years all the way back to the early-mid 90's. One day he got the idea that he could cash in and started making DVDs and they were TOP NOTCH. With one DVD in particular, he changed the game... Ground Zero. Stars were born! Whether any of those guys are still stars now, I don't know. I've severed all ties with mixtapes and rap DVDs. The problem with this is that, Big Star put a lot of effort into his work and it showed. Everybody else started making their own DVDs and rarely did they measure up in terms of talent, quality, availability, and variety. People who were flat out wack were getting filmed just because they knew a guy who knew a guy. There was no distribution. You had to buy them at a handful of spots in the whole city. They lacked menus and extras. The market got flooded with mediocre DVDs filled with endless beef and no name battle rappers. Even those who made a name in battling bought into their own hype and thought they could transition into the industry, but it didn't work out. There's always exceptions to the rule though. Paperchasers' original Bananas DVD was a mess, but it's still one of the hottest Philly DVDs ever.

Some people who I thought were hott at some point: Chic Raw, Kre, Elliot Ness, Cassidy, Ab Liva, Gillie, Hollowman, Spittage, Sandman, Vodka, Sigel, Freeway, Cyssero, Lil' Frank, Sandtana, and Jakk Frost.

The funny thing about Philly is that everybody here raps even if they won't admit it. These instrumentals aren't strictly by Philly artists... not by a longshot. It's just that, they speak to our sound and represent the best of the best beats used in Philly underground mixtapes and DVDs. Some of these weren't used but should have been and 3 others I did myself and I know Philly rappers/fans would LOVE them.

Disc One

01. Smoothe Da Hustler - Broken Language
02. Mobb Deep - Click Click
03. Ram Squad - Ballers
04. Stat Quo - Like Dat
05. Young Gunz - Look in Our Eyes
06. Cam'ron - Just Fire
07. Cassidy - Blood Pressure
08. Diplomats - Somebody Gotta Die Tonight
09. Fat Joe - It's Nothing
10. Juvenile - In My Life
11. Game - Aim Ya Gunz
12. Talib Kweli - Revolution
13. Hrangue - Shaolin Workout
14. Jakk Frost - Crash Da Party
15. M.O.P. - Breaking All the Rules
16. Tragedy Khadafi - Straight Death
17. Young Gunz - Dead or Alive
18. Alchemist - Feel This
19. Notorious B.I.G. - Biggie
20. D12 - How Come
21. Lil' Flip - Package of Power
22. Freeway - All My Life
23. Consequence - Niggaz Get Knocked
24. Lloyd Banks - Banks Workout
25. Cuban Link - Unknown
26. Saigon - Letter P
27. Mobb Deep - Crawling

Disc Two

01. Hrangue - Vicious Cycle
02. LL Cool J - I Shot Ya
03. Cassidy - Can I Talk to You
04. Kanye West - Jesus Walks
05. Alchemist - Thats That
06. Ja Rule - Clap Niggaz
07. Jim Jones - Baby Girl
08. Mack 10 - Wanted
09. Mobb Deep - Clap First
10. Diplomats - What's Really Good
11. The High and Mighty - The Red Light
12. Tragedy Khadafi - Blood Type
13. G-Unit - Gangsta Shit
14. Saigon - The Color Purple
15. State Property - They Know Us
16. Big Noyd - Bang Bang
17. Little Tragedy - Stay Free
18. Mobb Deep - Quiet Storm
19. Elliot Ness - My Hood
20. Papoose - License to Kill
21. Sheek Louch - Red Dot
22. Obie Trice - The Set Up
23. Juelz Santana - Ladies
24. Nas - Ether
25. Hrangue - Spilaphilia

Get it here!

Like Kiss said one time... "We make other niggas beats sound like we paid for 'em." Philly was known for that. That Cuban Link instrumental is one of my faves but I couldn't tell the name of it from looking at the cover way back when. If you know it, drop a line. And you know I'm smellin' my own right?

And kudos to Blog Do Nirso for the 2 tracks I sampled.

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Requests part 3

2008-11-30T11:28:00.007-05:00

Okay so last time, I was elated to find a certain LP (largely by accident) which turned out to be a top shelf disque for Shaw. One track in particular sounds too much like a certain other group of tracks to be a coincidence. I ABSOLUTELY NEED THIS IN MY LIFE. Also, it helped me complete my first ENTIRE soundtrack... leaving no stone unturned... which was Avenging Eagle. Naturally, as soon as I get wind of something like this I search immediately. It turned up and I was shocked, I placed my order and the guy didn't have it. I knew it was too good to be true. So here is where you guys come in...

If you or someone you know has Derek Laren's EPISODES FROM THE BIBLE VOLUME 2 - DWLP 3241, we can do business. Notice the pattern. Of course the INACTIVE guy on GEMM with 700 records for sale has this and I can't order from him. Also, my favorite JAPANESE NON-RECORD SELLING TO AMERICANS OR WHOEVER SITE HAS THIS! JUST LIKE THEY HAVE 2 OTHERS I WANT! It would be cool if someone in Japan could scoop these records for me and we could work out a deal. Maybe that's a stretch.

Anyway, it belongs to a suite of similar LPs with similar covers.

Derek Laren - Episodes From the Bible No1
Derek Laren - Episodes From the Bible No2
Edouard Michael - Nathan Le Prophete
??????? and who knows what else?

As always, thanks in advance.

Yu Xihong's Shaw Bros Library Encore No2!

2008-11-22T16:08:00.006-05:00

I assure you this update was definitely worth the wait. I finally found some of my hardest sought cues, but it's never over because there are so many more. Usually what happens when I finish a new volume, is that a few days later I make another major discovery and think, "Wow, this update would have been that much better if only I had waited a few more days." However, that's how new volumes are born so I'm hoping for the best.

Also, here's a bit of advice. I noticed from Encore No1 that people are only downloading 1 part. I'm sure you DL that, realize there's a wait timer and forget about part 2. I advise that everyone who doesn't have an RS account download part 2 first because it's the smaller file and you won't have to wait as long to download again.

Part 1
Part 2 (<-this one first)

2 Champions of Shaolin
3 Evil Masters
5 Shaolin Masters
5 Tough Guys
Avenging Eagle
Black Magic 2
Brave Archer
Death Duel
Invincible Shaolin
Men From the Monastery
Mercenaries From Hong Kong
Ode to Gallantry
Shaolin Avengers
Shaolin Intruders
Shaolin Prince
The Duel
To Kill a Mastermind

I can't take all the credit. Kudos to PLM Blogspot for the Zatoichi stuff, and to Sci Fidelity and Gary for some misc tracks.

Instrumental Series Vol.4 - The Near East Edition

2008-11-10T15:17:00.008-05:00

It seemed to be a fad for a while in hip-hop that every artist worth his or her salt had an islamic/arabic/hindu inspired track on their album. I do believe the fad has passed but I could be wrong as I've stopped following hiphop/rap for a few years now. I liked the sound regardless. From a previous post, Alberto Bembo and Blue Marvin's Kamasutra would fit right in.

Instrumental Series Vol.4 - The Near East Edition

01. Remy Martin - Whateva
02. Snoop Dogg - Drop it Like it's Hot Remix
03. Eric Sermon - React
04. Fabolous - Round and Round
05. Peedi Crack - Fall Back
06. Tony Yayo - Love My Style
07. Punjabi MC - Beware of the Boyz
08. 50 Cent - Just a Lil' Bit
09. Noreaga - Oh No
10. Fabolous - Grand Theft Auto
11. Freeway - Flipside
12. Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz - What's That Sound
13. Jay-Z - That Nigga Jigga
14. 50 Cent - Candy Shop
15. Gravediggaz - Night the Earth Cried
16. Styles P - I'm a Ruff Ryder
17. Ghostface - Soul Controller
18. Lights Out - Purple
19. Memphis Bleek - We Ballin'
20. Ms. Jade - Big Head
21. Royce Da 5'9" - Make This Run
22. Fabolous - Why Wouldn't I
23. Noreaga - Superthug
24. Terror Squad - Lean Back
25. Young Buck - Shorty Wanna Ride

I've decided against the Rocafella instrumental edition because it coincides too much with the Philly edition. Maybe I'll think of something else in the mean time. This post somewhat coincides too because Philly has a MAJOR MUSLIM INFLUENCE so most of these tracks are standard affairs for the Philly mixtape scene... especially "Oh No," "We Ballin," and "Lean Back" (I like this one the least though. It's much too commercial for my taste.).

Un Juge Un Elie?

2008-11-05T14:26:00.006-05:00

Much respect is due to whoever mixed the track "Un Juge Un Flic" which I had gotten from some polizziotteschi comp. I liked it so much I wanted to find more like it from Du Rififi Au Cine and I actually found the original file before it was edited. I must say, this version was originally called "Un Juge Un Elie" and is MUCH MUCH BETTER. At first I thought it was a typo, but I guess there is a reason behind it and I may never find out. I like Georges Garvarentz's work but this sort of track doesn't define his style and that's really too bad.

I thought it was cut off, but that's really how it sounds. I still have an eye out for the right volume of Du Rififi Au Cine. I've heard No2 and it wasn't on that one.

(original) http://rapidshare.com/files/160968597/Du_rififi___la_t_l__-_27_-_Georges_Garvarentz_-_Un_juge__un_flic..mp3

(remix) http://rapidshare.com/files/160970615/Hrangue_-_Crime_and_Place_for_Everything_-_29_-_Georges_Garvarentz_-_Un_Juge_un_Flic.mp3

Yu Xihong's Shaw Bros Library Encore No1!

2008-10-15T08:30:00.002-04:00

Does this really come as surprise? Deep down inside, you knew it wasn't over. In the meantime I've been ripping and restoring many vinyls. Some of them made the cut in time for their respective movies, but most of them I had done already. Don't sleep on this... 62 files of greatness. And there are a few I just happened to recently ID or find elsewhere.

Encore No1-1
Encore No1-2

2 Champions of Shaolin
3 Evil Masters
5 Element Ninjas
5 Venoms
10 Tigers From Kwangtung
Avenging Eagle
Brave Archer
Chinatown Kid
Crippled Avengers
Daredevils
Duel of the Century
Flag of Iron
Godfather From Canton
Human Lanterns
Invincible Shaolin
Kid With the Golden Arm
Kungfu Instructor
Legend of the Bat
Oily Maniac
Shaolin Intruders
Shaolin Prince

There are some guaranteed favorites in here. Enjoy.

-Chillin' Spree-

2008-10-10T13:31:00.008-04:00

It's been a while hasn't it? I'm short on words and long listening this time... easy... listening that is. Enjoy.

Chillin' Spree...

Mirror

01. Andy Pask & Neal Wilkinson - Big Love A
02. Brian Bennett - Villain
03. Bernard Lubat - Lido
04. Pierre Sellin - Trumpet on the Beach
05. Roy Ayers - Change up the Groove
06. I honestly don't know who's track this is...
[Piero Piccioni - Presi Per Incantamento]
07. Peter Reno - Wharfside
08. Lonnie Liston Smith - Floating Through Space
09. Yutaka - Oriental Express
10. Franco Micalizzi - Sadness Theme 2
11. Johnny Hawksworth - Got to Give in
12. Alan Hawkshaw - Sundown
13. Luciano Michelini - Outtake #8
14. Lee Mason - Love Affair
15. Jean-Pierre Mas - La Boite a Strip
16. Johnny Hawksworth - Teaser One
17. Francis Weyer - No Lady
18. Stelvio Cipriani - Bambole Di Droga
19. Lesiman - Messagio
20. Brian Bennett - Spiv
21. Nick Ingman - Sight and Sound 8A
22. Michael Gonet - Flower Dance
23. Alberto Baldan Bembo - Mubu
24. Lonnie Liston Smith - The Enchantress
25. Keith Mansfield - Warm Glow
26. Johnny Hawksworth - Lifestyle
27. Peter Reno - Big City Story

I didn't forget about those instrumental mixes and I most certainly have something in store for the Shaw fans. Keep it light.

Update: Okay, so thanks to the Franklynot Piccioni thread (Check it out, it's a smooth sound extravaganza!) I know where track 6 came from. I honestly didn't think I would find out this soon. I might have DLed this untagged from somewhere and only kept that track leaving me without an artist or anything to reference. It's called "Presi Per Incantamento" by Piero Piccioni. Very easy listening... this one is. And after listening to the Appassionata OST again, it's foolishness that I ever got rid of it!

Requests part 2

2008-10-05T22:11:00.004-04:00

Aside from 14 Pictorial Sketches for Orchestra No 2 (Trombey), you guessed it, I need 14 Pictorial Sketches for Orchestra No 1 (more Edouard Michael!) And more Eric Towren, Zenith: Music for Space and Oceanographic Science. I'm not asking for a freebie. If you have these I will buy them but don't think you're going to gouge me. Thanks for listening.

-PS- These are also called... QUATORZE ESQUISSES PITTORESQUES POUR ORCHESTRE

The Music of Eric Towren

2008-09-22T11:00:00.007-04:00

Eric Towren's style is serious when it comes to drama. Side A is not up his alley. It's lovey dovey type stuff and seems really out of place in contrast to Side B (the real side). Side B is what I was looking for when I got this one. Overall, I was disappointed because it wasn't chock full of uneasy listening but I was still pleased with the offering. His work on certain other LPs is all done in this same style. I wonder why they spread it out?

The macabre, malicious, morbid, Music of Eric Towren.

Yu Xihong's Shaw Bros Library T-W

2008-09-20T21:34:00.005-04:00

And we're done! Now like I was saying, keep an eye out...

The Deadly Knives
The Jade Tiger
The Magic Blade
The Notorious 8
The Shadow Boxer
The Weird Man
Tigress of Shaolin
To Kill a Mastermind
Triple Irons
Vengeance
Water Margin

I hope everybody enjoyed these because I'm really fanatical about compiling. I can't even watch one of these movies for what it is anymore. I pay more attention to the music and sounds than anything else.

Yu Xihong's Shaw Bros Library S

2008-09-20T13:55:00.007-04:00

After this volume, just one more to go and then I have a surprise.

Shaolin Avengers
Shaolin Handlock
Shaolin Intruders
Shaolin Mantis
Shaolin Martial Arts
Shaolin Prince
Shaolin Rescuers
Shaolin Temple
Shaolin vs Wu-tang
Supreme Swordsman
Sword Stained With Royal Blood
Sworsman and the Enchantress

Shaolin rises from the hills!

Requests... eh, who am I to make requests?

2008-09-16T18:20:00.007-04:00

Us "Shaolin Men" seem to be a special breed, so it's hard to find people who are good at IDing hard to find Shaw Bros music. Much of it is De Wolfe and misc Morricone. I have my eye on a DWLP by Edouard Michael, it's called DWLP 3056 - Sept Preludes Symphonique. I AM willing to buy this. If you know something about it then hit me up! Also, DWLP - 3171 - The Music of Jack Trombey - 14 Pictorial Sketches for Orchestra No2 I'm willing to drop cash on this one too! Aside from De Wolfe (drama and action), I like anything funky (wah-wah, crescendos, and mean baselines, think Puccio Roelens). I don't know if he did another session like Rock Satellite but it was SICK!

And something really obscure, I'm looking for Toei Library stuff from the Japanese 60's TV show "Special Mobile Force" (Tokubestu Kidoutai). Any leads on that would be appreciated.

Kudos to Phylips. Long live PHYLIPS! Here's a reup of the the LP he was kind enough to share.

Pierre Arvay - Images Symphoniques

2008-09-16T17:56:00.010-04:00

I don't normally do this, but since I ripped this myself I will this time. In my conquest to acquire Shaw Bros LPs I've come across something requested by someone who's putting in a lot of work... more than anybody I know... it's Phylips of course... so it's the least I can do.

So what about the music? It's mostly suites. The longest track is about 11.5 minutes and it's chock full of Shaw Bros cues. They can be heard in the following movies: Daredevils, Shaolin Mantis, The Weird Man, Swordsman and the Enchantress, and The 5 Superfighters. If you're unfamiliar with Shaw, I would say that this LP is a cross between drama and action (my favorites) with a smidgeon of wild vocals sprinkled in. The bread and butter of it is "La Fete Fantastique" which borders on sinister and mystical strings. You'll like it.

Pierre Arvay - Images Symphoniques

Also, I won't be adding these cues (suites) to the library posts, so Shaw enthusiasts should get them here.

Yu Xihong's Shaw Bros Library N-S

2008-09-08T12:17:00.002-04:00

We're getting there...

Na Cha the Great
Naval Commandos
New Shaolin Boxer
Ninja in the Deadly Trap
Ode to Gallantry
One Armed Swordsman
Opium and the Kungfu Master
Proud Twins
Rebel Intruders
Rendezvous With Death
Return of the Sentimental Swordsman
Return to the 36th Chamber
Savage 5
Secret Service of the Imperial Court
Shadow Whip
Shanghai 13

Yu Xihong's Shaw Bros Library M-MMMmmm...

2008-09-01T12:06:00.005-04:00

I've been too busy to finish easy listening 2, but I did manage to finish the "Ms." Kudos to Painted on Silence! Because of Phylips' tremendous drop, I was able to fill in a lot of blanks just in time for the Ms. Also, September marks the 2 year anniversary since I've started compiling. I never would have dreamed I could have found this much. I'm still having trouble finding music from the older Shaw movies, before 1976. I hear that there's some Shaw in the "Toei Music Library" from the 60's...

Magnificent Ruffians
Man of Iron
Marco Polo
Martial Club
Masked Avengers
Men From the Monastery
My Rebellious Son

Don't let the short list fool you. This is not a volume to be missed.

Yu Xihong's Shaw Bros Library I-L

2008-08-25T17:08:00.004-04:00

Invincible Shaolin
Iron Bodyguard
Kid From Kwangtung
Kid With the Golden Arm
Killer Clans
Killer Constable
King Boxer
Kungfu Instructor
Legend of the Bat
Legend of the Fox
Legendary Weapons of China
Life Gamble

Might be all "M" next time...

-Crime and Place for Everything-

2008-08-23T11:35:00.005-04:00

You already know what mix this is! I'm not even gonna hype it up because it speaks for itself.

Crime and Place for Everything...

Mirror

01. I Jin Hen - Cliffhanger
02. John Williams - Poseidon Adventure Title
03. Keith Mansfield - Hot Cargo
04. Franco Micalizzi - Ferro E Fuoco
05. Bruno Nicolai - Invasamento
06. Morton Stevens - Chase
07. Alberto Bembo and Blue Marvin - Kamasutra
08. Vladimir Cosma - Vengeance De Kumare
09. Bill Conti - Conquest
10. Franco Micalizzi - Affanno
11. Gianni Ferrio - Fuoco
12. Mikis Theodorakis - Meeting in the Park
13. Reg Tilsley - Counterspy Link I
14. Freedom Power - Freedom Power
15. John Cacavas - Suspense Approach and Landing
16. Luciano Michelini - Outtake No7
17. Francis Lai - Destination Le Havre
18. Brian Bennett - Fast and Furious
19. William Kraft - Grand Central
20. Georges Garvarentz - Diamond Robbery
21. Jack Trombey - Big Project
22. Reg Tilsley - Gun Runner
23. Masamichi Amano - The Inversion
24. Mandingo Orchestra - Kiss of Death
25. Kenneth Essex - Conveyors
26. The Blackbyrds - Riot
27. Franco Micalizzi - Crime on the Move
28. Gianni Ferrio - Oltre Il Confinei
29. Georges Garvarentz - Un Juge Un Flic
30. Bill Conti - Going the Distance
31. Joe Harnell - Incredible Hulk Title
32. Franco Micalizzi - Hospital Sequence
33. Ennio Morricone - Revolver

Even Cap'n Jack Sparrow could bop to "Big Project."

Instrumental Series Vol.5 Smooth Groove

2008-08-16T13:32:00.004-04:00

So what happened to volumes 3 and 4? Well, they're not quite ready yet so I moved ahead to this one. I made this mix about a year ago but after moving all the files around and transferring to an external HDD I lost the track list so I had to go dig them up again and see what fit and what didn't. I think there's only like 3 tracks that weren't on the original. This is for the "grown and sexy" and I really don't like that phrase because it's so cliche. I prefer "sophisticated"...

Anyway, I tried to avoid putting R&B on here... 1) because I don't (didn't really) listen to it so I'm not a good authority on that and 2) because if done right, rap can be just as smooth. I did make a few exceptions though. It took me many years to find the beat for "The World is Filled." I got such a rush when I finally found it.

Instrumental Series Vol.5: Smooth Groove

01. Outkast - Liberation
02. LL Cool J - Luv U Better
03. Common - They Say
04. Biggie - The World is Filled
05. Amerie - Why Don't We Fall in Love
06. Nas - It Wasn't You
07. Lloyd Banks - I'm So Fly
08. Beanie Sigel - Don't Stop
09. 2Pac - Wonder if Heaven Got a Ghetto
10. Bobby Valentino - Slow Down
11. Bone Thugs - Murda Mo
12. Busta Rhymes - New York Shit
13. Jin - I Got a Love
14. Cassidy - So Long
15. Jay-Z - Girls Girls Girls
16. Lupe Fiasco - Kick Push
17. Puff Daddy - Been Around the World
18. TI - Why You Wanna
19. DJ Cruz - Loveland
20. Nas - We Will Survive
21. Snoop Dogg - Beautiful
22. Jay-Z - Excuse Me Miss
23. Erykah Badu - Back in the Day
24. Raekwon - Rainy Dayz Remix
25. Little Brother - Lovin' It
26. Ahmad - Back in the Day Remix

At the moment, I'm working on three editions, "The Near East Edition" (vol.4), Rocafella (vol.3), and the "Philly Underground" (vol.6 double disc gutter edition).

Yu Xihong's Shaw Bros Library D-I

2008-08-09T10:25:00.006-04:00

Halfway there...

Death Duel
Delightful Forest
Dirty Ho
Disciples of Shaolin
Disciples of the 36th Chamber
Drug Addicts
Duel of Fists
Duel of the Century
Fighting Fool
Fist of the While Lotus
Flag of Iron
Flying Guillotine
Gang Master
Godfather From Canton
Heaven and Hell
Heaven Sword Dragon Sabre
Heroes of the East
Heroes Two
House of Traps
Human Lanterns
Invincible Shaolin

I-M next...

-A Turn for the Worst-

2008-08-08T06:50:00.008-04:00

I've been holding out on this one for a while. I've probably dedicated more attention to this mix than any other because I wanted it just right. I got started on it right after 59th & Easy Street so this is the true 3rd volume. Anyway, A Turn for the Worst is uneasy listening... music that you would be hard pressed to find in a library style comp. We've all heard those "halloween" style comps, well this isn't that. It's meant to be more sophisticated... not "it's right behind you" music.

It's hard to choose 5 favorites when I so carefully managed to pick 39 tracks in all. "Mad Max Title" is like gold in Shaw Bros movies. I was in the dorm sleep one day with my TV blasting and I heard the "Shaw Bros" cue on regular TV. I jumped up out of the bed excitedly, but was shocked to find that it wasn't Shaw... it was just Mad Max. Within minutes I had ordered the soundtrack. This was back in 04. That helped spark my interest in IDing cues perhaps from other movies. "Ritorno Di Suoni" has a very subtle creepiness to it. There is a another track on the same OST that sounds like devil himself was laying seige to humanity. It was creepy too, but it was over the top. But this one sounds like a music for an evil genius. "Rite De La Terre" is my namesake's theme from Avenging Eagle. Besides being overly dramatic and uneasy at the same time, it has an asian twist to it. To my surprise it was actually the theme song of a children's TV show called "Time Slip." I could have sworn it was originally scored for Avenging Eagle. I'm also, upset that the quality is lackluster but I take what I can get.

"Kongre" sounds just like some tunes from this old PS1 game that had extraordinary music for a game (Vagrant Story - Hitoshi Sakimoto). To this day, I haven't heard any other game OST up to par. Piccioni's Kongre has a similar sound but it's much better. It's how Vagrant Story could sound if it was redone or remastered... beautifully evil. And last "Violent Payoff (Version 2)" is a fave because it has such an unusual sound. I like that it sounds like all hell just broke loose and then went on about its business. Oh and it's definitely another Shaw Bros cue.

A Turn for the Worst...

01. Sei Ran Hen - Warlord of Corruption
02. Ennio Morricone - Waiting at the Border
03. Susumu Hirasawa - Monster
04. Eric Towren - Eruption
05. Akira Ifukube - Godzilla vs King Ghidora
06. Chumei Watanabe - Sharivan Crash
07. Brian May - Mad Max Title
08. Duel of the Century Intro
09. Masamichi Amano - Phantom Night's Ambition
10. Jim Johnston - Schizophrenic
11. Jun Sunoue - Event Strain
12. Eric Towren - Sinestre
13. Oliver Nelson - It Was You, It Was You
14. Jack Trombey - Spinechiller
15. Vasori - En Pensant A Kafka
16. Hitoshi Sakimoto - Seiin Kishidan
17. Ivor Slaney - Perception in Rhythm
18. Ennio Morricone - Ritorno Di Suoni
19. Takahito Eguchi - Confusion
20. Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra - SFZ OVA Opening
21. Reg Tilsley - Ferocity Fanfare
22. Riz Ortolani - Ossessione
23. Sei Ran Hen - The Evil Dynasty
24. Shunsuke Kikuchi - Unknown DBZ BGM
25. Don Harper - Sinister Stranger
26. Ennio Morricone - Silhouette of Doom
27. Piero Piccioni - Kongre
28. Hitoshi Sakimoto - Chika Bochi
29. Jack Trombey - Red Sequence
30. Bruno Nicolai - Atmosfera Angosciosa
31. Ennio Morricone - Frequenza
32. Ichirou Mizuki - Tokkei Winspector Link
33. Edouard Michael - Rite De La Terre
34. Reg Tilsley - Violent Payoff (Version 2)
35. Hitoshi Sakimoto - Kaigan
36. Setsuo Yamamoto - Despair
37. Riz Ortolani - Adulteress Punishment
38. Motoi Sakuraba - The Ultimate Terror
39. Macabre Outro

The action mix is taking longer than expected to finish. That only means that it'll be better than you expected. Keep an eye out.

Yu Xihong's Shaw Bros Library A-D

2008-08-04T10:21:00.004-04:00

Another 87. Some of the Avenging Eagle cues sound like they were done in the style of "Star Wars." The Brave Archer "themes" were done in the style of "Where Eagles Dare." It's a shame that the incidental stuff isn't really out there. Most of what is... is the funky, goofy, kitsch, band type stuff.

12 Gold Medallions
A Deadly Secret
Abbott of Shaolin
Anonymous Heroes
Avenging Eagle
Bastard Swordsman
Blood Brothers
Boxer From Shantung
Boxer Rebellion
Brave Archer
Brave Archer 2
Brave Archer 3
Challenge of the Masters
Chinatown Kid
Clan of Amazons
Clans of Intrigue
Crippled Avengers
Daredevils

Look for D-H in a few days.

Yu Xihong's Shaw Bros Library No. 0-10

2008-08-01T19:56:00.013-04:00

For the past year and a half I've been compiling Shaw Bros music and cues. Like I said in the last post, even as a child I really had a thing for movie music. I've been watching Shaw Bros since I was in the womb. As time goes on, this music is finally starting to get some of the recognition it deserves. I would never have dreamed that I could have found this stuff. In all, I have about 1.25GB worth so it'll be uploaded in a number of posts. Who would have thought the whole first post would be just numbers? Aside from that, originally I thought Shaw was exclusively De Wolfe but I've found that they would use pretty much whatever sounds good. They've lifted cues from spaghetti westerns, poliziotteschis, 007, american action films, giallos, UK and japanese tv series' and who knows how many other places.

I was listening to any and everything that fell under those categories and I became obsessed. That's also how I got into library besides instrumentals. So I'm not so caught on IDing cues. It's funny that I can look back and see how much "greatness" I've missed because I paid no attention to how good it sounded, I just knew it wasn't a familiar Shaw Bros tune. I'm not listing individual tracks because there are so many. This first part is 87 files alone... so I'll just list the movies. Also, I paid the ID3TAGs no mind. If you really want to know who a certain track is by I may be able to find out. They are strictly listed by filename.

2 Champions of Shaolin
3 Evil Masters
4 Riders
5 Element Ninjas
5 Shaolin Masters
5 Superfighters
5 Venoms
7 Man Army
8 Diagram Polefighter
10 Tigers of Kwangtung

Keep in mind that the quality varies alot. Some of these are original rips, some are streaming rips, some have sounds, and some sound like crap (my earliest ones). With all of that being said, enjoy and feel free to discuss and or contribute tips as to where I can find more. BTW, Yu Xihong (Ironboat) is a name I've used on a number of Shaw Bros/music forums over the years.

-Underscoreology-

2008-08-01T00:01:00.003-04:00

Now, this is the real deal... what library music is all about... the incidentals and the underscores. Even as a child I cared more about TV and movie music than any child should have and now it has become a full addiction. I have more or less given up on "normal music." Daydreams are so much better with library. This is thee drama comp. I get my best ideas when I listen to this stuff and it really helps clear my head if I'm troubled. It is mostly library but I've included any and everything else that seemed appropriate (spaghetti westerns, mobster movies, videogame rpgs, anime, poliziotteschi, and giallo). I know drama.

It bothers me that soundtracks have become a lost art. Nowadays the only things that get adequate music treatment are games and anime. I gave up anime about 7 years ago but it has always had undeniably good music. Watch TV or any new movie and the soundtrack is sub-par and or uninteresting (I remember Rush Hour 2 having a really good score). A soundtrack is actually just a bunch of songs. The proper term would actually be "score." IMO, now and then is the difference between library and production music. Those who don't know any better would hear some of this music and think, "Wow this is amazing, what is it from? What? A game? A cartoon? A full scale orchestra just for that?" It would seem that priorities are backwards.

Underscoreology...Beautiful Music 101.

01. Ennio Morricone - Once Upon a Time in America
02. Berto Pisano - Luci Sulla Baia
03. William Kraft - Carlito and Gail
04. Oliver Nelson - The Walk to Court
05. Masamichi Amano - Big Fire Appears
06. Piero Piccioni - Eros
07. Carlo Rustichelli - L'arresto
08. Armando Trovaioli - Disperazione Di Ricordo
09. Patrick Doyle - You Belong to Me Now
10. Gianni Ferrio - Crescendo Trionfale
11. Noriyuki Asakura - Fallen Angel
12. Hitoshi Sakimoto - Chika Kyoukai
13. Reg Tilsley - Extortion I
14. Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra - Big Group Parading Around
15. Stanley Black - Promised Land
16. Reijiro Koroku - War Council
17. Masamichi Amano - GRVII
18. Carlo Rustichelli - Ore Romantiche
19. Riz Ortolani - Dolcissimo Sogno
20. Henry Mancini - Michael's Theme
21. Motoi Sakuraba - Mysterious Dreams
22. Morton Stevens - The Long Wait
23. Reijiro Koroku - Troops Dispatch
24. Masamichi Amano - Dr. Shizuma's Compensation
25. I Jin Hen - Kayura
26. Brian Bennett - High Security
27. Piero Piccioni - Memories
28. Titian - Nazi Fascisti
29. Ennio Morricone - Death Theme
30. John Barry - Soviet Capsule
31. Masamichi Amano - Shizuma's 10th Year Balance Sheet
32. Hitoshi Sakimoto - Staff Roll

And to complement drama, my action mix is well on its way.

No more multilinks...

2008-07-23T09:26:00.004-04:00

Shortly after I started this blog Rapidshare upped their limit from 100mb to 200mb. If you've been using RS for any length of time then you know that's fantastic. Here's an updated link for the first mix FMAO. I noticed quite a few people downloaded 59th & Easy Street but only part 1. So I'll keep part 2 around in case any of you decide to finish.

Instrumental Series Vol.2 Ruff Ryderz

2008-07-21T15:51:00.004-04:00

No story this time. Back when I did listen to rap, I was very selective and Ruff Ryderz as a whole was among the chosen few groups who I thought were near the top of the totem. After 2005, I completely lost track of their whereabouts. I even heard Kiss signed to the ROC. Oh well.

Instrumental Series Vol.2 Ruff Ryderz

01. Lox - We Are the Streets
02. Jadakiss - Here We Go Again
03. DMX - No Love For Me
04. Sheek Louch - Turn it Up
05. Lox - Streets is Back
06. D-Block - Two Gunz Up
07. Jadakiss - Put Ya Hands Up
08. Styles P - Shots Fired
09. Lox - Breathe Easy
10. DMX - Get it on the Floor
11. Drag-On - Tell Your Friends
12. Jadakiss - Shoot Outs
13. Sheek Louch - Kiss Your Ass Goodbye
14. Eve - Double R What
15. DMX - Pull It
16. Lox - Wild Out
17. Styles P - Gangster and a Gentlemen
18. Jadakiss - Hardcore
19. DMX - Flesh of my Flesh, Blood of my Blood
20. Lox - Ride or Die Bitch
21. Jadakiss - We Gon' Make It
22. Jaehood - I am da Streetz
23. DMX - Heat

Other works in progress are rocafella instrumentals and a few themed instrumental compilations. They'll be coming some time next month.

-Particularly Privy-

2008-07-21T14:52:00.009-04:00

I should quit after this one right? It really can't get better than this unless I do a best of between all 5 volumes. Maybe I will some time down the line. Anyway, this mix has it all from blaxploitation, to easy listening, to jazz, to bossa, and even hard hitting soundtrack music. I like each and every track [NO FILLERS]. I don't believe in fillers but if I were to make a last minute find I wouldn't want to take off any single track. It's like choosing which of your children lives and dies.

It was hard to narrow it down to 5 faves this time. What tracks 14 and 25 have in common is that they are both made for french porn. "Madame Claude" is actually a "movie" movie but the other one is "Jouissances" and I just love the sound! I have no idea what library it's from. I was fortunate enough to be able to loop a little snippet someone posted up. I bopped to track 26 for a whole month straight on my way to and from classes. It's not quite library but it can be. "Lancet Bossa Nova" sounds like mobster music. I'm sure some older gentlemen can appreciate it. You know? Those type of old guys who don't think they're too old to still whup a young cat. And last but not least. If I didn't know any better, and I really don't, I would say Karl Jenkins is the man! "Fly Me" has such a feel good mood to it and it's still blaxploitational. When I first heard it, the first image that popped in my mind was Will Ferrel and his "whiteboy afro" from that basketball movie (forget the name).

Particularly Privy!

01. Grant Green - Fountain Scene
02. Keith Mansfield - Trucking Company
03. Henry Mancini - Sun Goddess
04. Armando Travaioli - Identikit
05. Karl Jenkins - Panoramica
06. Peter Thomas - Bolero on the Moon Rocks
07. Jack Trombey - Wind in Her Hair
08. Puccio Roelens - Intimate Conversation
09. Lonnie Liston Smith - Visions of a New World (Phase II)
10. Roland Kovac - Autobahn
11. Simon Park - Big Road
12. Pacific Express - Black Fire
13. L. Bergonzi - Missoula
14. Saparto & Daras - Jouissances
15. Reg Tilsley - Big Incentive
16. Piero Piccioni - Love Will Find a Way
17. Serge Gainsbourg - Passage A Tabacco
18. Love Unlimited Orchestra - Strange Games and Things
19. Peter Thomas - Lancet Bossa Nova
20. Steve Gray - Theme From the "Grandfather"
21. Karl Jenkins - Fly Me
22. Armando Travaioli - Theme for a Murder
23. Love Unlimited Orchestra - Makin' Believe That It's You
24. John Cacavas - Airport 1975
25. Serge Gainsbourg - Teleobjectivisme
26. Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Beautiful Woman
27. Edd Kalehoff - The Cats

I'm currently compiling my second edition easy listening mix and after that, who knows if I will make any more. I do have a few more drops for the instrumental series so if that's your thing you might want to stick around.

Instrumental Series Vol.1 Wu-Tang

2008-07-14T20:28:00.011-04:00

For me... what made the transition possible from rap to library music was instrumentals. I stopped listening to lyrics after a while because there is only so many ways that you can shoot people, only so many ways to cut keys, waste money, and degrade women. I developed a greater appreciation for instruments and it opened some doors. The first rap group I ever seriously listened to was Wu-Tang. I remember being in 5th grade and somebody said "you ever heard of Muffin Man." I said "Who's the Muffin Man." "NO! METHOD MAN!" Oh ok. No. Why? Because he's the best out that's why. He reps Wu-Tang Clan. By the 6th grade I was hooked on Wu-Tang. Even after the downfall of Wu I was a big fan of ODB in retrospect. I still can't believe he's gone. Looking back at some of his work, he really was one of a kind.

On a side note, back in 97 I actually got to meet Raekwon in person at the Philly Wu-Wear Store and I got his autograph. I had him sign a couple of shirts, but they are long gone (that goes for the store too). All that is left is this piece of paper I keep in a dusty frame. I actually saw him again years later (2002?) just around the corner from the original spot. And shame on me I didn't even acknowledge him because I thought he was washed up. I lost my appreciation and forgot where I started. After understanding the ins-and-outs of rap fads all the music I liked at that time has since fallen off. Isn't that interesting? Today, I wouldn't acknowledge those people either...

...but Wu-Tang really is forever. As a whole they had such a unique gutter sound for the longest time, and that's what puts them in a league of their own. They were the definition of absolute lyricism.

Instrumental Series Vol.1: Wu-Tang

01. Raekwon - Knowledge God
02. Cappadonna - Run
03. Ghostface - Motherless Child
04. Wu-Tang - Older Godz
05. ODB - Recognize
06. Method Man - Dangerous Groundz
07. Wu-Tang - The MGM
08. The GZA - Gold
09. Ghostface - Underwater
10. Wu-Tang - For Heaven's Sake
11. Method Man and Redman - The Riddler
12. Raekwon - Yae Yo
13. ODB - Brooklyn Zoo II
14. Wu-Tang - Cream
15. Ghostface - Daytona 500
16. Method Man - Retro Godfather
17. Wu-Tang - The Projects
18. The GZA - Cold World
19. Raekwon - Heaven and Hell
20. Wu-Tang - Method Man
21. Ghostface - Apollo Kids
22. Method Man - All I Need Remix
23. Wu-Tang - Triumph

One beat that I have never been able to find, but always wanted is "Wu-Tang - A Better Tomorrow." I think I've heard some bad loops but that's about it. You already know there will be more instrumental series' to come so just sit tight.

-Splendid Agenda-

2008-07-09T13:18:00.009-04:00

I guess you could say this is my second edition blaxploitation mix. It has a bit of Grand Theft Auto IV Fusion FM influence. I was delighted to see that they basically made what sounds like a library music station. I don't recall there being anything like that in the previous games. If you listened to rap back when it was good then I'm sure you'll notice some familiar tunes in here also. Everybody can enjoy this from the young knucklehead to the oldest of old pop pops. "Finding my Feet" sounds like a pop pop track in particular... this is sunday afternoon music for high waisted shorts, pastel dress socks, loafers, and straw hats!

Volume 4: Splendid Agenda!

01. David McCallum - The Edge
02. Roy Ayers - Ain't No Sunshine
03. Keith Mansfield - High Velocity
04. Alan Parker & Mike Moran - That's What Friends Are For
05. Mandingo Orchestra - The Headhunter
06. Puccio Roelens - Conversation in Three
07. Pierre Arvay - Laughing Violins
08. The Ashantis - Everybody's Groove
09. Ryo Kawasaki - Raisins
10. Edwin Starr - Airport Chase
11. Tower of Power - Soul Vaccination
12. Karl Jenkins - Silver Parallel
13. Aram - La Bossa Des Abasses
14. Francis Lai - Theme D'Anne
15. Steve Gray - Nevada Junction
16. Janko Nilovic - Aerospacial
17. Keith Papworth - Wheel Man
18. Roy Ayers - Funk in the Hole
19. Pleasure - Joyous
20. Mike Moran - El Zoro
21. Sven Libaek - Solar Flares
22. Brian Bennett - Sidetrack
23. Steve Gray - Finding my Feet
24. Alan Tew - The Peterman

Next time I'm crossing the full gamut. Be on the lookout for my last mix of this kind "Particularly Privy." It's far from over though. I have three other mixes in the works... drama, action, and uneasy listening. Stay tuned!

-Get Spiffy-

2008-07-09T12:30:00.009-04:00

This time I'm back with my easy listening mix. I originally called it "Get Spiffy and Strut Lightly," but I let a friend of mine hear it and he called it "Get Spiffy" for short and it had a ring to it. "Strut Lightly" is an oldschool haberdashery (read: men's clothes) around my area. Anyway, this mix has it all from electronica, to jazz, to bossa, to just plain ol' beautiful music. You know a track is smooth when you've been listening to it for hours and didn't even notice... for me that track was "Lungo La Costa." It was an excellent last minute find. Do you want to be cool yet sophisticated? Burn it and pop this in.

Volume 3: Get Spiffy

01. Conroy - Opening Theme
02. C. Rae, F. McDonald, & G. Shurry - On Schedule
03. Stefano Torossi - Having Fun
04. Alan Parker - Choctaw
05. Alan Hawkshaw & Brian Bennett - Mon Amour
06. Sven Libaek - Inner Space
07. Simon Park - Border Line
08. C. Rae & F. McDonald - Still Waters
09. Scoen & Cicci Santucci - Lungo La Costa
10. Blackbyrds - Love So Far Away
11. Soft Machine - Travelogy
12. Hank Crawford - I'll Move You No Mountain
13. Roy Ayers - I Did it in Seattle
14. Love Unlimited Orchestra - Midnight and You
15. Stefano Torossi - Running Fast
16. Curtis Mayfield - Give Me Your Love
17. Blackbyrds - Lifestyles
18. Major Symphony - Love That Would Not Die
19. Alan Parker & Williams Parrish - Main Chance
20. The Black Fire - Rush
21. Charles Earland - Incense of Essence
22. Freedom Power - Metropolis Notte
23. Innkeeper - Thankless Outro

Coming up next in just an hour or two is "Splendid Agenda." I REALLY love this one!

-59th & Easy Street-

2008-06-22T19:34:00.012-04:00

Every track is a daydream. Sometimes I'm in a high-speed chase... sometimes I just crossed the tracks into wrong part of town... and there's even those times I just feel like stylin' on somebody. Either way, I'm never too far from easy street... 59th & Easy Street that is. This is a blaxploitation mix with some heavy De Wolfe influence. Burn it and put this in. Guaranteed heavy rotation! Who doesn't wanna be in their own movie? I think "Sidewalks of the City" would be most appropriate for a classic blaxploitation movie. When I hear it I vision all sorts of pimps, junkies, hoes, decimated strips, and cars. Sure, that sounds stereotypical, but there's no denying it.

59th & Easy Street!

01. Keith Papworth - Hit Link I
02. Puccio Roelens - A Taste of Repeat
03. Syd Dale - Baseline
04. Alan Parker - Rumpus
05. Alan Hawkshaw - Collect
06. Peter Reno - Barracuda
07. Johnny Pate - Are You Man Enough?
08. Simon Park - Gun Law
09. Dennis Coffey - Black Belt Jones Theme
10. Caravelli - Derniere Turbulence
11. Andre Ceccarelli - Dindou No.1
12. Keith Papworth - Nightraid
13. Isaac Hayes - Pursuit of the Pimpmobile
14. Costy and Janou - Danger
15. Curtis Mayfield - Junkie Chase
16. Blackbyrds - Places and Spaces
17. Reg Tilsley - Warlock
18. Peter Reno - Convoy
19. Keith Papworth - Hard Hitter
20. Puccio Roelens - A Silliness Song
21. Syd Dale - Sidewalks of the City
22. Blackbyrds - Blackbyrds' Theme
23. Rhythm Heritage - S.W.A.T. Theme
24. David Richmond - Brass Bullet
25. Brothers Johnson - Brother Man
26. Curtis Mayfield - Freddie's Dead
27. Willie Hutch - Overture of Foxy Brown

Up next... "Get Spiffy." Not everybody is cut out to be a BAAAAAADD muddasucka so this was made with the "easy listener" in mind. Stay tuned and keep it light...

-For Mackish Affairs Only-

2008-05-31T12:03:00.012-04:00

This was my first library compilation from back in '07. I didn't have much at the time, but it was meant to be the best of what I had. As I continued to listen and explore, I found much much better music. I was editing and re-working tracks daily. I thought surely I couldn't do better than this one. Well as it turns out, Volume 1: For Mackish Affairs Only is the first of five and perhaps many more compilations. And for you "smokers" out there, I'm told that is good music to smoke by.

For Mackish Affairs Only!

My top 5 faves, will always be in bold.

01. Paul Kuhn - Gateway to Crime
02. Sidewinder - Stanway's Revenge
03. Alan Parker - Black Pearl
04. Eddie Anderson - Inside You
05. Alberto Baldan Bembo - Tema Di Barbara
06. Alan Hawkshaw - Next Stop L.A.
07. Rhythm Heritage - 3 Days of the Condor
08. Daniel Janin & Son Orchestra - Saramina
09. F. McDonald and C. Rae - Bank Job
10. Blackbyrds - Something Special
11. Alan Parker - Big Apple
12. Don Costa Orchestra - Can You Dig It?
13. Bob James - Westchester Lady
14. Donald Byrd - Onward 'til Morning
15. Carl Staker - The Wild Horse
16. Roy Ayers - Lifeline
17. Johnny Harris - Fragments of Fear
18. Reg Tilsley - Soft Lines
19. Alberto Baldan Bembo - Blue Velvet
20. Puccio Roelens - Northern Lights
21. Fumie Kumatani - Tricky Maze
22. Polish Radio Orchestra - Better Luck Next Time
23. Blackbyrds - All I Ask
24. Peter Reno - Hold Back
25. Freedom Power - Love For Sale
26. Marvin Gaye - Come With Me Angel

Up next is a strictly blaxploitation mix called "Volume 2: 59th & Easy Street." Take it easy...