mixtape

Tracklist: 1x10x100 (Harry’s Music Store Mixtape)

Before I get to work on the next 1x10x100 mixtape (can you say 45s?), diggers out there need to know who’s behind the tracks on the first mixtape in the ongoing 1x10x100 series.

After all, music like this deserves to be shared. Artists in pursuit of the purest sound of the soul deserve to be recognized, and keeping the complete tracklist from you does nobody good.

At first, 1x10x100 was an outlet for me to share the 100 vinyl records I bought for just $10 at Harry’s Music Store in February.

The Honolulu landmark was closing and moving to a smaller location, but they had way too much stuff to take along. So they sold all their vinyl, cheap. Really cheap. You can imagine the excitement I felt in scoring a hundred records at 10 cents a piece.

I didn’t plan on making more than one 1x10x100 mixtape, it just sort of happened. Adding nearly ten dozen records to my collection gave me hours of funky, soulful material to share with you.

With subsequent 1x10x100 releases in the works, my mission is not only to showcase my finds from Harry’s Music Store. It’s more than that.

My goal is to inspire others through the simple act of sharing great music.

Subscribe to Aloha Got Soul and be notified when the next 1x10x100 mixtape is released.

Download 1x10x100: Harry’s Music Store Mixtape

Tracklist: 1x10x100 (Harry’s Music Store Mixtape)

1. You Put A Charge In My Life – Brainstorm – Funky Entertainment – Tabu – 1979
2. Let The Dollar Circulate – Billy Paul – When Love Is New – CBS – 1975
3. French Waltz – Leon Ware – Musical Massage – Gordy – 1976
4. Mocha Velvet – Ju-Par Universal Orchestra – Moods and Grooves – Ju-Par – 1976
5. The Spring Suite – Rodney Franklin – In the Center – Columbia – 1978
6. Half Steppin’ – Nerio DeGracia – An Evening in Luzon – NRD – 1985
7. I Think I’m Falling In Love – Leroy Hutson – Hutson II – Curtom – 1976
8. Take A Stand – Jackie Moore – With Your Love – Columbia – 1980
9. SPG Theme – Silver, Platinum, and Gold – Hollywood – Neptune – 1981
10. Hurry Down Sunset – Chocolate Milk – Milky Way – RCA Victor – 1979
11. War of the Gods – Billy Paul – War of the Gods – CBS – 1973
12. Love Makes The World Go Round – The Woods Empire – 7″ single – Tabu – 1982
13. Night Room – The McCrarys – All Night Music – Capitol – 1982
14. Silly, Wasn’t I – Valerie Simpson – Keep It Comin’ – Tamla – 1977
15. Salsa Boogie – Nolen & Crossley – Ambience – Gordy – 1982
16. Time Is The Teacher – Dexter Wansel – Voyager – Philadelphia International – 1978
17. Let’s Make A Baby – Billy Paul – When Love Is New – CBS – 1975

Don’t have the mixtape yet? Learn more and download it here.

One of my favorite tracks from this volume is “Love Makes the World Go Round” by The Woods Empire.

Thank you for supporting great music.

Feel free to make a small donation to Aloha Got Soul, click here.

Tracklist: Paradise 1x10x100 Revisited

I hope you’ve been playing the Paradise mixtape on repeat since its release last month. A handful of bloggers shared the mixtape with their followers—shoutout to The Diggers Union!—so no doubt there are people across the world finding paradise through music.

Paradise: 1x10x100 Revisited is an oasis of smooth soul and jazz sounds that will take the listener to a paradise within. At least, that’s what my goal was when I made the mixtape.

I think it worked, because I’ve received several requests for a tracklist for the second installment in the 1x10x100 mixtape series. (The story goes like this: 1 store. 10 dollars. 100 records. Learn more here.) People really want to know which artists are behind these songs!

With this post, I happily share with you the complete Paradise tracklist, including artist, label, and release year for each track. Enjoy!

Tracklist for Paradise: 1x10x100 Revisited

1. Paradise – The O’Jays – Message in the Music – Philadelphia International – 1976
2. I Believe In You – Enchantment – Soft Lights, Sweet Music – RCA Victor – 1980
3. Keep On Smilin’ – Weapons of Peace – Weapons of Peace – Playboy – 1977
4. Coming Back For More – Odyssey – Hollywood Party Tonight – RCA Victor – 1978
5. It’s Critical – Billy Paul – First Class – Philadelphia International – 1979
6. The Skin You’re In – GQ – Face to Face – Arista – 1981
7. I Love To Please You – Ramsey Lewis – Legacy – Columbia – 1978
8. Expressions – Willie Hutch – Willie…Mitchell…Listen…Dance… – Bearsville – 1981
9. La Bruja Negra – Joe Torres – Latin Con Soul – World Pacific – 1967
10. Back To My Roots – Lamont Dozier – Peddlin’ Music on the Side – Warner Bros – 1977
11. Inner Beauty – Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes – Reflections of a Golden Dream – Flying Dutchman – 1976
12. So True – Karma – Celebration – Horizon/A&M – 1976
13. It’s All In The Way – Mirage – Princes of Love – RCA – 1978
14. I Can’t Be The One – Enchantment – Soft Lights, Sweet Music – RCA Victor – 1980
15. Passport To Ecstasy – Banks & Hampton – Passport to Ecstasy – Warner Bros – 1977
16. BS – Jimmy Owens – Headin’ Home – Horizon/A&M – 1978
17. Mom And Dad – LaSo – LaSo – MCA – 1977
18. The Coke Song – Lamont Dozier – Peddlin’ Music on the Side – Warner Bros – 1977
19. Just A Phone Call Away – Mirage – Princes of Love – RCA – 1978

There you have it, the tracklist to Paradise.

Several of the songs can be found on YouTube, but I’m trying to fill the gaps with what’s missing—like Billy Paul’s “It’s Critical”, Karma’s “So True”, or Lonnie Liston Smith’s “Inner Beauty”.

Note: I uploaded the songs to my other YouTube account, bonghitsmusic, since the music is not exclusively Hawaiian. 

Still searching for Paradise?

Click here to download Paradise: 1x10x100 Revisited.

P.S. If you’re wondering about the first installment, 1x10x100 (Harry’s Music Store Mixtape), that tracklist is coming soon, I just need to upload more music videos to YouTube first.

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).

Free Mixtape: 1x10x100 (Harry’s Music Store)

One store, ten dollars, one hundred records.

That’s what this free mixtape is all about. It’s called 1x10x100, and you can download it here.

No, you won’t find any Hawaiian music on this release, because 1x10x100 sings to a different tune—it’s an ode to Harry’s Music Store and the soulful vinyl records that populated the shop’s record bins.

1x10x100: Free LPs at Harry's Music Store

In January 2012, Harry’s humble music shop held a massive clearance sale. Vinyl LPs and 45s were practically free.

Over the course of one weekend, I spent a total of $10 and scored nearly 100 records: soul, funk, disco, pop, jazz, fusion. I walked away enlightened by my experience, and I want you to hear what I found.

1x10x100: 45s at Harry's Music Store

1x10x100 is a glimpse of the scores of soul music available in Hawaii music stores during the late 1970s and 1980s—and today. The mixtape gives record collectors who are digging in Hawaii a 60-minute slice of what they might find.

1x10x100 is a showcase not of Hawaiian music, but funky, groove-laden cuts from mainland groups that no doubt influenced a string of artists here in Honolulu (and thus generating local music like this).

Plus, 1x10x100 is another excuse for me to share great music with you.

Download 1x10x100 now.

Click the image above to download 1x10x100: Harry's Music Store Mixtape

Here’s a sample of the mixtape (there’s 17 tracks total):

Tell me what you think!

Comment below, send a note on Facebook, or make a small donation.

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 »

E Komo Mai! Cozy Hawaiian Grooves Mixtape + an Interview on Brazil’s coletivoACTION

Aloha Got Soul just got more fans in South America, thanks to the Brazilian black music blog known as coletivoACTION, which features rare groove music from around the world.

Back in October, blogger and graphic designer Raphael Morone contacted me with hopes of learning more about Hawaiian funk, jazz, and soul music. He wanted to add a Hawaiian mixtape to coletivoACTION’s impressive roster of mixtapes. I was more than happy to oblige!

The mixtape (click here)

A mixtape by coletivoACTION: "E komo mai! The cozy grooves of Hawaii"

The introduction

Na última mixtape do ano na Action, inspirados pelo calor que está aqui na Baixada, chegamos chegando no paradisíaco Havaí e sua exótica e pouco conhecida cena black dos 70/80′s. Só que desta vez, resolvemos fazer diferente. Entramos em contato com o Aloha Got Soul, um dos nossos blogs de música favoritos, voltado para este tipo de som para entrevistar seu autor, Roger Bong… 

(English introduction coming soon, check back!)

The interview

I don’t speak Brazilian Portuguese (you might not either), so I’m posting the interview in English here. In the interview, I share what I’ve learned about the 1970s and 1980s Hawaiian music scene. Plus, you’ll also find out how I first fell in love with Hawaiian rare groove music  (I started Aloha Got Soul in August 2010).

Enjoy!

coletivoACTION: In the blog, you said that the blog started after you listened the mixtape of DJ Muro’s. Can you talk a little about you and your passion and work for Hawaiian black music? 

Roger Bong: I moved to Hawaii in 1995 when I was about 8. The island lifestyle surrounded me throughout my childhood and teenage years. In 2004, my friend brought his aunt’s records to my house and we started sampling music and making beats. At 16 years old, I became addicted to digging for records and sampled anything I got my hands on, from Jackie Gleason to James Brown. Over time I started looking specifically for jazz, bossa nova, prog rock, funk—building my collection with soulful sounding music, though I had no idea there was Hawaiian funk/soul music out there.

In fact, I borrowed the Mackey Feary Band debut album from another friend and loved it. I played “A Million Stars” on repeat for weeks. But that didn’t trigger me to search for more local music. I honestly didn’t care much about Hawaiian music at the time, I wasn’t interested enough to know more than what was already on the radio.

In 2006, I went to college on the mainland. As the years passed, I started to miss Hawaii more and more. Then, sometime in 2010, I heard DJ Muro’s Hawaiian Breaks mix. It blew me away! When “A Million Stars” came on, I immediately recognized Mackey’s voice and remembered playing this song on repeat years ago. With that single song, the seed that waited so long to grow finally broke the surface, and my passion for Hawaiian jazz/funk/soul was born.

How the black music scene started in Hawaii? We all know the reach and impact of the genre in the music, but in Hawaii,  specially for us outside USA, is very unknown. Apparently, for the distance and the influence of the Japanese and Polynesian culture, it’s fantastic how these rhythms penetrate through the island.

I know this doesnt sound as romantic as you might hope, but Hawaii is just like any other place in the USA. We have the same access to music trends, so back then bands like Earth Wind & Fire became popular in Hawaii just as they did anywhere else. There are other factors, too. People are always coming to Hawaii, and I bet a lot of people who moved to Hawaii brought their records and knowledge with them. And there’s the Waikiki show biz scene, where locals play popular music to entertain tourists. No doubt a lot of artists were learning popular tunes of that era, whether it’s Stevie Wonder, Burt Bacharach, or Marvin Gaye. Society of Seven is a prime example of this.

Another reason people don’t know much about Hawaiian funk and soul is that local artists hardly get exposure beyond the islands, so the music scene continues to remain something of a mystery for most people outside of Hawaii.

Of course, the artists have the advantage of adding homegrown tropical and Asian influences to black music, which is why some Hawaiian black music sounds much more laid back, in my opinion. But I think locals just wanted to party! And what better what to groove in those days than to funk, disco, or soul music? The reach and impact of black music in the 70s and early 80s didn’t skip over Hawaii, it hit right on target!

How the importance of Ron Jacobs and his KKUA Records in the scene? Was there any other local label that launched black music from hawaiian artists?

He was one of the most popular DJs I Hawaii at the time. He still broadcasts and blogs at whodaguyhawaii.com. I think the KKUA Home Grown series was the first massive effort to showcase upcoming talent in Hawaii, and one of its greatest successes is Nohelani Cypriano. She still performs “Lihue” to this day!

Off the top of my head, local labels that released noteworthy music include Paradise, Silvercloud, Shell, Heaven, and Rainbow. There were also a lot of private label releases with good music. I’m probably missing something here, though.

Did the Hawaiian language receive attention of the artists? Is there any track you can feature?

The majority of Hawaii’s residents don’t speak fluent Hawaiian. A lot of people know words like aloha, mahalo, mauka (mountain), malama (respect), so you’ll find more contemporary artists using short phrases instead of entire songs in Hawaiian.

But the artists really stand out to me are Brandon Bray, Chucky Boy Chock, and Brother Noland. Brandon’s “Ho’opili”, which I believe was covered by another musician recently. Need to check on that. His family was fluent and I believe his uncle or grandfather was a well known kumu (teacher). Brother Noland’s LP “Paint the Island”, which is a perfect blend of Hawaiian and English language songs with jazz and soul. I love his track “Le Ahi (The Diamond Head Song)”. And Chucky Boy Chock is one of my favorites, he brings an original perspective to contemporary Hawaiian music by blending both urban sounds and traditional compositions.

Why the scene have small attention of people with so much quality of the music created? 

We’re stuck on an island! Haha. Not many people look to Hawaii as anything more than a vacation destination, so people don’t expect to hear Hawaiian music beyond ukuleles and steel guitars.

But with Aloha Got Soul, there aren’t really any other websites out there like it, so I’m hoping my work brings much deserved attention to the scene. Hawaii’s bred some of the best musicians on the planet, whether funk and soul or traditional island folk, and these artists need to be recognized outside of Hawaii.

The Mackey Feary Band in Chinatown Honolulu

Mackey Feary is a institution, can you comment the importance of him in the music of Hawaii?

Mackey, everyone knows his music here. He is one of Hawaii’s greatest, most talented songwriters, a legend. You might say Mackey is to Hawaii what Tom Jobim is to Brazil.

When the band Kalapana debuted, they crafted the perfect balance of contemporary sounds and island lifestyle. “The Hurt” was and still is one of the most popular songs, it was their first big hit. Kalapana gave Hawaiian music the fresh sound it needed in the modern world, and it would not have been possible without Mackey. His music was both fragile and heartwarming, catchy but not poppy, ernest yet hiding something else.

Unfortunately Mackey’s drug use brought him a lot of trouble. He committed suicide in 1999. The people of Hawaii were so saddened, hearts sank. His music filled the souls of everyone here and around the world, his legacy will carry on for a long time.

In the mid eighties, apparently, the scene stopped to produce like it was in the past years. Is there any reason for that?

Trends changed, tastes changed, time moved on. Club owners started hiring DJs instead of live bands–it was a lot cheaper to hire one guy than four or five. That said, I think a lot of the funk and soul groups saw this change as a signal to move on, they found less and less work, so maybe it was time to start thinking of a career. Some of the musicians who are reuniting these past few years haven’t played music in decades.

Also, Hawaii started embracing reggae around that time, which evolved into Jawaiian music, which was I think peaked in the 90s. Hopefully funk and soul music will find its way back into the popular music scene of Hawaii.

Is there any other artist actually that continues the legacy of Mackey Feary, Vic Malo and other legendary musicians of the island?

Not that I know of. Most of the music I hear on the scene nowadays is similar to the rest of the America: hip hop, electronic, indie music. And honestly, beyond Mackey Feary I don’t think many of today’s artists know of Vic Malo, Lemuria, Phase VII, Aura, Music Magic and others. That’s why Aloha Got Soul exists, so the music isn’t lost.

9) Do you have something to say that we didn’t asked but is important for our readers to know?

I’m collaborating with a local streetwear company called Fitted. We are going to release a t-shirt and mix CD in early 2012, stay tuned for the first big Aloha Got Soul project!

Aloha from Hawaii, obrigado!

DJ Muro – Hawaiian Breaks

DJ Muro’s Hawaiian Breaks Tracklist now complete!

(I just need to add the little details, like release year, catalog number, record label)

ALOHA GOT SOUL is dedicated to the funky, soulful, jazzy sounds of Hawaii, so it’s only appropriate that I start with DJ Muro’s 1hr+ mix, “Hawaiian Breaks.” Released in late 2009, the mp3 is available all over the internet by now. It’s got tons of great disco/funk tracks from the islands…But there’s no tracklist! So I’m sitting here, scratching my head, trying to figure out who sang what…

I’ve searched over and over and haven’t found a tracklist yet. So I thought, why not compile the list right here!? As ALOHA GOT SOUL progresses, I’ll continue adding to the tracklist as I discover more music. Feel free to contribute!

DJ Muro’s Hawaiian Breaks: Tracklist

(last updated 5 September 2011)

(00:01) “Nothin’ Like That Funky Music” by Mike Lundy [ The Rhythm of Life :: ]

(04:16) “The Rhythm of Life” by Mike Lundy [ The Rhythm of Life :: ]

(07:58) “Let Me Say Dis About Dat” by Aura [S/T :: Fusion Music, Inc. FMI :: ]

(10:14) “Magic Lover” by Aura [S/T :: Fusion Music, Inc. FMI :: ]

(14:01) “Your Love” by Mel Cabang [ For You Lady :: Double Banger Records]

(16:42) “A Million Stars” by Macky Feary Band [ S/T :: ]

(19:48) “My Last Disco Song” by Al Nobriga with Island Company [ :: ]

(24:21) “My Magical Paradise” by Audrey Meyers [ Fusion Music Inc FMI-1005 :: 1979 ]

(27:49) “Dreams” by Lemuria [S/T :: Heaven Records AL00001):: 1978]

(30:36) “Sweet Bye n’ Bye” by Loyal Garner [ :: ]

(31:33) “Honolulu City Lights” by Haleakala [S/T ::: Rainbow Records ::: ]

(32:25) “My Girl Friday” by Lil’ Albert [ Movin' In :: Silvercloud :: ]

(34:50) “Kona Winds” by Marvin Franklin with Kimo & the Guys [Homegrown III :: KKUA :: ]

(38:37) “Reggae Music” by Mix Plate [S/T :: Hanaiia :: 1981]

(43:00) “Sparkle” by Greenwood [7" single :: Forest in Leaf Records :: 1985]

(47:05) “Sun Goddess” by Legacy [ Sun Goddess (CD) :: Quiet Storm Records QSCD 944 :: 1994]

(51:33) “Hunk of Heaven” by Lemuria [S/T :: Heaven Records AL00001 :: 1978]

(54:23) “Ode to Waiaihole & Waikane Valley” by Vic Malo [ S/T :: Mataele Records ::]

(57:50) “You Win, I Lose” by Hal Bradbury [This is Love :: ]

(1:00:48) “Waiting For Your Love” by Henry Kapono [Piece a Cake :: ]

(1:03:05) “Blue Moon” by DJ & The Spice of Life [ :: ]

(1:06:40) “Finale” by the Aliis [Live! :: ]

Want another free mixtape?

Download the Pupu Mix, click here.