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Free Mixtape: Paradise: 1x10x100 Revisited
You know the story: 1 store. 10 dollars. 100 records.
When Harry’s Music Store closed in February to reopen down the street, I immediately jumped in the car and headed to their daytime clearance sale. Vinyl records, dirt cheap, I was stoked.
So I made a mixtape of my finds (you’ve probably heard it by now) and called it 1x10x100.
But one mixtape just wasn’t enough.
That’s why I made another, it’s called Paradise:1x10x100 Revisited.
Finding paradise in your soul
In Hawaii, paradise is everywhere you look.
But there’s another kind of paradise—you’ll find it inside you, close to your soul. Music will help you find that place.
Curated strictly from the records I bought at Harry’s Music Store, Paradise: 1x10x100 Revisited will take you to the paradise within your soul. This isn’t Hawaiian music, but music by artists who connect directly to the inner self—much like Hawaiian music does.
Download it now, free.
(By the way, Harry’s is still closed. Apparently they had issues with business permits or something. I’m not entirely sure. But, the storefront will reopen in a few weeks’ time, hopefully).
Harry’s Music Store Closing, Reopening
For nearly 65 years, Harry’s Music Store has given the greatest gift to the local community that any business ever could: the gift of music.
This family business serves Oahu residents as the go-to shop for everything musical. The now closed (and soon re-opening) Harry’s Music Store encompasses 10,000 square feet and even more instruments, sheet music, vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, song books, and some of the island’s most knowledgeable and influential musicians and tastemakers.
The closing and re-opening of Harry’s
Next month, the shop is moving down the street to a location that’s about one-tenth the size of what it is now.
It’ll be the third time Harry’s Music Store has moved since opening 1946. It’s first location was just across the street, but the iconic green building in Kaimuki is the distinctive characteristic that most people remember Harry’s by.
The distinctive storefront on Waialae Ave.
“The gaudy green, two-story, 55-year-old-plus building, with its chipped paint, crumbling walls and large puka in the ceiling—where an elevator was supposed to have gone—exudes character.
‘When people walk in this door, they don’t come as a person who just happened to pass by,’ vice president Alan Yoshioka said. ‘They come from Ewa Beach, Kaneohe or Kailua,’ looking for specific items.” — Honolulu Star-Bulletin, April 23, 1996
The clearance sale: everything must go
Harry’s is moving down the street, but they can’t take everything with them. So what’s a business to do? Move out inventory, quick.
So the music store hosted a 3-day weekend clearance sale with ridiculously low prices (records were cheaper than toilet paper, @shackwax said).
After spending three days digging through the albums for cheap—cheap!—records, I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t ever been to Harry’s before, because I had come across some fantastic albums.
I frequent Jelly’s and Hungry Ear Records (and thrift shops, too), but for some reason I always thought Harry’s was strictly devoted to instruments and songbooks, not vinyl records.
The massive weekend clearance sale at Harry’s Music Store proved me wrong. What I found were dozens of handfuls of quality soul and funk albums and singles. Jackpot.
Harry's Music Store Clearance Sale. LPs were 5 for $1 on Friday, 10 for $1 on Saturday, and free on Sunday.
A happy customer at the Harry's Music Store Clearance Sale
Dedicated collectors wait for Harry's to open on Sunday morning. Practically everything was free.
Harry's Music Store is closed, and will reopen in February.
Unfortunately the bins didn’t offer any Hawaiian music (maybe other local collectors picked it clean before I arrived, but I doubt there was much to begin with). Fortunately, I’ve increased the size of my record collection at a bargain price—about 10 cents a record!
Meet Alan Yoshioka
Aside from the records, I wanted to find out what the rest of the store was like, so I introduced myself to vice president Alan Yoshioka and asked him to give me a quick tour.
Alan’s footprint in the local Hawaiian music scene spreads wide and far. He’s one of the originators of the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, Hawaii’s most prestigious music awards.
“I think about 100% of Hawaii’s musicians know me,” he told me. It’s probably true, because although Alan’s role in the Na Hoku Awards goes unnoticed if you’re attending the ceremonies, this man works harder than most throughout the year to prepare for the show.
Alan examines my business card.
A painting of Harry's Music Store by Vel Tong, 1999.
Alan Yoshioka of Harry's Music Store talks about the history of the shop.
Storage areas = curious wonders. What can be found in here?
I told Alan I like the music of Hawaii’s 1970s and 80s music scene, like Kalapana and Mackey Feary.
“Mackey Feary? You know, I was at Kalapana’s first record release show and I remember saying, ‘Who are these guys?’ Nobody had heard of Mackey or the rest of the guys before. In fact, I remember most of the media not being there because Kalapana wasn’t so well known at the time.”
A lifelong legacy
Harry’s three nephews, Alan, Glenn, and Clayton, have been with the shop since its early beginnings.
The year 2012 marks a new beginning for Harry’s Music Store, which will continue to supply the instruments and instructors necessary to the survival of Hawaii’s musical legacy.
Psst. Want to hear some of the music I found at Harry’s? Check out this free mixtape.
Like this:
Introducing the Pupu Mix by Aloha Got Soul x Fitted (free mixtape)
Aloha kakou! I know you’re hungry to hear the forthcoming mixtape by Aloha Got Soul and Fitted. I know you’re curious about the details, the music, the limited tee. You can’t wait for one of the biggest releases of 2012 to drop. Neither can we.
Introducing the Pupu Mix by Aloha Got Soul and Fitted. Continue reading
The Glass Candle Band: Surviving the Test of Time
Time is a fragile thing.
Each year melts away faster than the last. For musicians, recording a song is the single greatest tactic to succeed the test of time.
Luckily for Glass Candle, their music survives with a handful of live recordings made with a cassette plugged directly in to the sound system. A set of vocal and horn microphones picked up everything you’re hearing, no mixing or dubbing.
The Glass Candle Band at Duke's in Waikiki
Announcement: Glass Candle reunion in Honolulu, December 16, 2011
The Glass Candle Band returns for a 70s Reunion Christmas Dance Party
Special guests Little Albert Maligmat & DeShannon Higa
Featuring Doug Rivera, Garin Poliahu, Kurt Kaminaka, Dale Nishikawa, Ken Suesz, Bruce Imai, Robert Shinoda.
8pm // Friday, December 16, 2011 // Hawaiian Brian’s
Tickets $10 advance / $15 door
For tickets call: (808) 224-0520
*Update on the reunion show, coming soon!
The Glass Candle was a band that played in various nightclubs in Honolulu, Hawaii in the early 1970s. The band, formed by guitarist Robert Shinoda in the 1960s, played at many high school dances in and around Honolulu. Venues like Kaimuki gym, Nu’uanu YMCA, Manoa gym, and many more on Oahu.
Most notably, Glass Candle ‘graduated’ to the Waikiki nightclub circuit and played from midnight until 4:00 AM at Duke Kahanamoku’s in Waikiki in the early 1970s.
The last versions of Glass Candle. Clockwise from upper left: Frank Marcella, Bobby Gonzalez, Robert Shinoda, Larry Trella, Doug Rivera, Dirk Thomas, Joe Goodman.
Horns, original music, snazzy outfits, and songs from bands such as Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, and Tower of Power made Glass Candle a favorite for Honolulu’s club-goers.
Those were the days… and the bands that played bring back great memories. Bands like Greenwood, Forgotten Dynasty, Glass Candle, Johnny’s Rock Society, White Light, Pinky’s Rose Garden, Funny Company, etc. *sigh*
Then as we grew older and started hitting the nightclubs, more bands came to light such as Natural High, Power Point, Aura, Asian Blend, etc. *sigh*
— Rodney Lee, Mid-Life Crisis
Glass Candle disbanded in the mid 70s and the members went on to various endeavors. Sometime around 2006, Hawaii experienced a resurgence of interest in popular nightclub dance bands that played in and around Waikiki in the 1970s.
Groups like Greenwood started reuniting for 21st century performances. As public interest (and audience sizes) grew, more and more bands reunited.
It was bound to happen: Glass Candle reunited for a performance at the 70s Nightclub Reunion in 2008. Time tested their talents, but the musicians prevailed by giving one of the best performances of the night.
From the Glass Candle soundcheck at about 1pm that Saturday you could just feel the vibes, feel the electricity. It was so cool to finally hear the band during their soundcheck and meet in person people I had always heard of and looked up to.
And they did not disappoint at all. Not only great musicians and singers but they were so down to earth, respectful, humble and just good people enjoying the moment.
Doug Rivera who was actually found about a week or so before the event told me, “I would never miss this opportunity to do this.”
But perhaps one of the coolest things to come out of all of this was Glass Candle bandleader Robert Shinoda writing in an email to our band’s leader Robin Kimura, “If it wasn’t for this we would probably have lost touch with one another and perhaps never seen each other again ever.”
— glasscandleband.com
Glass Candle at Duke's in Waikiki
A fan’s testimonial of their 2008 reunion reveals the excitement of hearing one’s favorite band perform after so many decades:
I graduated from Iolani [High School] in 1973 and Glass Candle was always my favorite band. I loved it when they were booked for our Student Council dances. Later I would spend many late nights at Duke’s dancing and being entertained. For all of these years I’ve had fond memories of the band and whenever I got together with old friends and talked about dances and clubs, I would always bring up your group.
Last week I chanced on the article in the Friday entertainment section of the Star Advertiser about Nohelani playing with her band at the 70′s Reunion. About the fifth paragraph down, when I saw the mention of Glass Candle being one of the acts, my mind went “WHAT! GLASS CANDLE?*&(%$#@^!+.” I read through the article carefully and didn’t get any more information about your appearance, but immediately showed the article to my wife and said that Saturday night we HAD TO go to the show.
Beyond my wildest expectations! That’s how great you guys were performing that night. We showed up on time not knowing where you would be scheduled in the rotation, and we enjoyed the first two sets a lot. All of the music we heard that night was great, but when your set began, my wife and I made sure to be on the dance floor and we stayed there for the entire set.
The group amazed me by being so together after all of these years. It must be such a rush for you to be together again. The vibe from the dance floor was that you guys were on top your game, and having a great time. I have a great big smile on my face right now thinking about the performance that night.
Even when these fragile moments melt away like a glass candle, the passion of artists proves stronger than history itself.
The music of Glass Candle lives on.
Listen to more music by Glass Candle on YouTube and their website.
Legendary Hawaiian Funk: Lemuria and “Hunk of Heaven”
My excitement for Aloha Got Soul shot to new levels this weekend after learning that Funk and Soul DJ Craig Charles broadcast those three precious words—aloha got soul—to the eager ears of thousands of music fans worldwide on BBC Radio 6.
Thanks to @BenSpiers on Twitter, I found out that Craig Charles took listeners to Hawaii for one of the islands’ most prized funk/soul tracks: “Hunk of Heaven” by Lemuria.
And it made me realize, there’s not a single post on Aloha Got Soul about the Lemuria LP! OK, there’s the DJ Muro tracklist and the Babadu/Kirk Thompson reference, but nothing dedicated solely to Hawaii’s legendary superstar funk group, Lemuria.
Let this mark the first post of several about Lemuria, that oh-so-mysterious gospel funk-and-soul group from Hawaii.
Mahalo Craig Charles for the shoutout!
Fitted Hawaii: Keeping it Homegrown
For those not familiar with Fitted, here’s a look at what makes the streetwear company so successful.
3 Steps to Success
There are three key strategies (in my opinion) that make Fitted a world renonwed and respected brand:
- Keep it Local.
- Keep it Limited.
- Collaborate Often.
Homegrown, and proud of it.
From the very beginning, Fitted has supported local culture and communities with a mission to ”fill the void of custom New Era caps and penetrate a market that was missing the voice of the people.”
Before Fitted, Honolulu street style emulated looks from places like New York or Los Angeles. But the local Hawaiian culture has its own unique vibe, an energy and history that no other city can call their own. With fresh designs and an eye on an untapped market, Fitted took Hawaii to new heights in the world of street fashion.
“Fitted’s mission is to teach the youth [of Hawaii] the importance of embracing [Hawaiian] culture and history, while maintaing a high standard on quality, functionality and aesthetics [similar to the standards of NYC, LA, SF and beyond].”
While Supplies Last.
Fitted releases don’t last very long. And once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Of course, if a release is successful and demand is high, Fitted makes a new version–like this Home Grown tee (“Lihue” fans: look familiar?):
With hats and tees typically limited to 30 units total, people line up hours before the store opens. Some people have lined up outside the store the day before the release. The super-rare releases can reach super-high prices online, but if you stop by the shop near Ala Moana you can pick up any number of styles that they carry (in ever-changing colorways, of course).
And every release has a story behind it, which makes each product even more special. Here’s what Fitted had to say about their Homegrown release:
Homegrown. The general definition of this is: “Raised or grown at home.” To us, the definition of Homegrown is much deeper than that. Homegrown is more than a sense of pride, it’s the way we carry ourselves, whether we’re at home or abroad. It’s the way we treat others (with the utmost respect, as we’ve been taught by our elders), the way we greet each other, the way we may seek out for a Spam Musubi somewhere as far off as Tennessee, knowing very well that we more than likely won’t find it. Homegrown to us is embracing our sports teams and hometown heroes, even if when they’re on the receiving end of negative press. That’s a brief glimpse into what Homegrown means to us…
Work with the Best
I don’t want to make an over-statement with this, but Fitted collaborates with the best in the industry, whether it’s custom Vans sneakers, hi-top kicks by Element Skateboards, exclusive apparel with Primo Beer, tag-teamed tees with fellow streetwear innovator Cukui–the list goes on.
Which brings me to the Aloha Got Soul x Fitted Hawaii collaboration.
The upcoming release, slated for February 2012 (and hopefully no later), will be all three things: local, limited, and a collaborative effort between two of the best in their respective industries.
(Except in my case, Aloha Got Soul is the only one in its industry.)
Learn more about Fitted and Aloha Got Soul here.
Don’t miss a single update:
Digging in Hawaii: Bailey’s Antiques and Aloha Shirts
There are so many directions I could go with this post. Should I spill more details about the Fitted x Aloha Got Soul project? Should I highlight a local music shop? Maybe I’ll showcase my latest song-that’s-on-repeat?
Wait, why can’t I just talk about all of it?
Click here for the latest updates on Fitted x Aloha Got Soul.
Fitted x Aloha Got Soul at Bailey's Antiques & Aloha Shirts on Kapahulu Ave.
Somewhere near University Avenue, 10:00 a.m.
OK, so I took a day off to hunt for records with a few members of the Fitted team. We hit a handful of spots in the Honolulu area on a typically hot yet overcast Thursday in Hawaii. We climbed into one car and I popped in a CD-R of some Hawaiian stuff not featured on the upcoming Fitted x Aloha Got Soul mix, including Hal Bradbury’s “You Win, I Lose” from the singer’s solo album, This Is Love.
Before the big release (tentatively dropping in February), we’re giving away a free 30-minute teaser mix to get people excited about the project. This musical appetizer (we call them pupus in Hawaii) will be a delectable prelude to the main course: a 1 hour, 16 minute blend of Hawaiian jazz, funk and soul.
Ready for some digging with a portable turntable plus coffee.
That’s right, the main course will be an original Aloha Got Soul x Fitted shirt with a professionally pressed CD featuring over 25 tracks of Hawaiian grooves—delicious to the last bite, just what a main course should be.
The hunt begins: Hawaiian LPs at Bailey's
Digging for vinyl at Bailey’s
Bailey’s Antiques and Aloha Shirts specializes in what tourists usually call “Hawaiian shirts”. That’s how you can tell whether someone’s a local. Bailey’s offers a sizable collection of used Hawaiian music, though no local ever calls it “Aloha music”.
Condition dictates price at most vinyl music stores. But, because Bailey’s is at the edge of Waikiki and Hawaiian music is a novelty most tourists pay more for, price tags here discourage me from buying more than two records.
Of all the stores on Oahu that carry vinyl, Bailey’s boasts the most aesthetically intriguing environment—with over 15,000 Aloha shirts, hundreds of posters, and thousands more trinkets, this Honolulu vintage store sells enough tropical paraphernalia to hypnotize any shopper.
Vintage aloha shirts on display outside, 15,000 more on sale inside.
Redeeming a broken record
If you follow @alohagotsoul on Twitter, you might remember the day I fell down while skateboarding with records under my arm. Bad idea. Crack in ground = cracked LPs.
I redeemed my tumble after finding another copy of the fourth album in the Homegrown series, produced by radio DJ Ron Jacobs. This time, my four-wheel ride home was a pickup truck, so my records were safe.
Stay broke: My Homegrown IV LP from September 2011. Rest in Peace.
Digging in Hawaii is more fun with friends, especially when you’re filming for an upcoming Fitted project. Did I forget to mention that we’re also filming a teaser video for the upcoming project? Well, there you go, secret’s out!
Mahalo for reading, and remember: support local. Stay tuned ’cause there’s lots more to talk about!
Don’t miss a single update:
Look for the Hawaiian vinyl at the end of the maze at Bailey's.
Like this:
Aloha Got Soul Served Daily: Announcing the Fitted Collaboration
Seventies and eighties funk-soul music is pretty obscure. The average listener has little idea there’s a world beyond the Golden Oldies station their parents jam to. My friends tell me that once you add Hawaiian funk-soul music into the mix, you’ve launched yourself into near nonexistence.
That’s about to change.
Aloha Got Soul is collaborating with Fitted—a streetwear powerhouse rooted in local culture and aloha—to launch Hawaiian funk and soul music to the forefront of this generation’s ears.
Click here for the latest updates on Fitted x Aloha Got Soul.
Writing on the wall: the Aloha Got Soul x Fitted collaboration is currently in production.
There’s going to be so much to share as the project comes to life.
Hold me to my word: I’m going to upload more videos, write more reviews, and post more interviews of the artists featured in the collaboration.
I might even release some Aloha Got Soul shirts before the 2012 release.
In the meantime, don’t miss a single update:
Like Aloha Got Soul on Facebook
T-shirts Now Available
Connect with Aloha Got Soul
