My father had Your Mama Don’t Dance on vinyl, when I was a kid. What a terrific album! The above photo is from the same sessions that produced the cover for the aforementioned Mama.
Featured side-man action, ‘63.
The first recordings I’ve found Kynard playing on are three Pacific jazz releases. He’s a featured side man on two, and as leader on one.
Steppin’ out as leader, ‘63.As part of a Latin Jazz date, 1964.
After these Pacific Jazz recordings came a string of releases on the Prestige label, which find Kynard now well established as a leader.
1968.1969.
I believe I have a CD that combines Soul Brotherhood with Reelin’ With The Feelin’? And a few others in mp3 only format.
1969.1970.1971.
Three more albums as leader would follow, on Bob Shad’s Mainstream imprint.
1971.1972.
And this is where I discovered him (thanks, dad!):
1973. Last recording date as a leader?
I’ve now got several other albums by Kynard, in various formats. I thought it’d be nice to gather together what I could about the man and his music in a single post. Including a complete(-ish?) pictorial discography.
For more info on Charles, check this website, Kynard.com. Another one taken far too soon, aged just 46. The above linked bio’ doesn’t say exactly how he passed, only that ‘The good Lord called Charles E. Kynard home July 8, 1979 as he sat at the organ that day playing the music he loved so much.’
At least he went out swingin’!
It seems that 1973’s Your Mama was his last official solo LP. He appears on just one cut – opener, ‘Smiling Faces Sometimes’ – on another Mainstream release, 1974’s Booty.
Kynard’s last hurrah?
Discogs.com lists two more releases, called Nostalgic Trip Vol. I and II. Both of these appear to be all Gospel stuff. These look like they may be ‘private press’ releases by the Kynard family? There are no dates for these. I’d love to hear all of this stuff!
I posted the following as arather lengthy reply/riposte to a post by Dean Rudland on Facebook, in which he waxes lyrical about a compilation album that was a formative influence on him.
Great story!
I’d like to share a counterpoint. Why? Because so many folk I read about come from the Mod or Punk end of things. Which both are and were deemed ‘cool’. And that wasn’t my own experience!
I came to all things jazzical from more of a Hippy/Rock perspective!
Lynott/Lizzy promo pic, Melody Maker, ‘71.
One of my first musical loves was Thin Lizzy. And they had funk n soul aplenty! ‘Call The Police’, from Shades of a Blue Orphange is funky unison riff heaven. And ‘Still In Love With You’ is a soul ballad par excellence (Sade covers it!). ‘Nightlife’, and ‘Jonny the Fox’ continue their digging into the funky soul bag. People think of Lizzy as dunderheaded rockers. It was always their mellow soul I liked best.
And acts like Cream, Led Zep, and Santana? They are drenched in black American music. Cream’s funky rendition of Albert King’s ‘Born Under a Bad Sign’, and Santana’s Woodstock ‘Soul Sacrifice’ are the two reasons I started drumming.
But when it comes to the records in your parents collection, I was blessed inasmuch as my dad had these:
In Flight, by George Benson; Silk, by Fuse One; Your Mama Don’t Dance, Charles Kynard…
The best ‘compilation’ I recall from that era was by a hippy country/Americana outfit, and was called ‘Woodstock Mountain, Music From Mud Acres’, with folk like John Sebastian (Lovin’ Spoonful, etc), Happy and Arty Traum (what names!), and loads more.
That was on a cassette. On the other side? ‘Dawg Music’, by virtuoso mandolinist, Dave Grisman. With Stephan Granelli guesting on some cuts. Man, both these albums blew my young mind, and sent me on lifelong journeys of impassioned love for the art of musical creativity.
It’s largely thanks to the Grisman/Mud Acres stuff – as well as a live of jazz, of course – that I have such a passion for ‘bull fiddle’. So much so I own and play one!
Well, this is good! I recently set up my Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz kit. All my kits had been packed away, for quite a number of months. And I hadn’t been playing for a good long while prior to packing them up.
A few fairly recent events in my life had precipitated the worst depression of my life so far. And I’ve had a few such episodes over the years, alas. Both energy and desire had vanished from my life.
It was all I could do to survive, from day to day. There was nothing left in the tank for such past passions as musical creativity, or even just maintenance level practice.
I’d decided it was all just a delusional waste of time and energy. I was crushed, and beaten, by the vicissitudes of life. I’d come to the conclusion I should jack it all in.
And as a result of such thinking, and poverty, I’ve already sold quite a substantial chunk of gear. Some of which decluttering is probably a good thing. But I’ve also parted with stuff I’d far rather have kept.
But I feel that I might be gradually emerging from the slough of despond. The desire to set up my kit and play it came upon me. And it feels good. I’m rustier than a… erm, rusty thang!?
But you gotta start where you’re at. Ain’t no place else one can start from!
I first tried my hand a clay figures as a kid. Donkeys years ago. Including an attempt at a stop frame animation (an orc cleaving a boulder in twain!).
More recently there’s been my claymation Curtis. I made that two or three years ago. Going back a bit further, but not as far back as childhood – maybe around ten years? – I made this Napoleonic Frenchman.
New bits: backpack and greatcoat roll.
I found this in a box, with some plasticene in it. The figure had fallen to bits. This tends to happens where blocks of plasticene meet. It’s a fault one waiting to part. So first think was to reassemble him.
Then I finished two incomplete parts: his rucksack and greatcoat roll. And added them to the figure. Sadly he’ll most likely fall to bits again. But I’d like to finish him, and maybe animate him a bit. Perhaps not as a stop-motion film.
More likely I’ll just clean him up – the colours tend to transfer, annoyingly (the blue here is esp’ irksome that way) – pose him a bit, and then dispatch him to Valhalla.
I’d like to find a way to make figures that won’t degrade. Perhaps from some kind of rubber, over a workable armature? These primitive plasticene hobbies don’t seem to have a durable shelf life!
Out and about again, I passed several churches, but couldn’t stop. Then a short spell arrived where I had a moment. And at that point I neared St Michael’s & All Angels.
Approaching the church from the rear.
I’ve passed this church before. Even taken a few snaps. But I usually see it from a different perspective. On this occasion I was able to park on School Lane, in rear of the church.
Nice shadows.
‘Twas a beautiful sunny day, as can be seen. And whereas the church was shut on previous visits, today it was open.
Graveyard.
St Michael’s is set in a lovely spot, and has a lovely garden/graveyard. Particularly lovely in such clement weather.
Vertical.
I’ve usually approached this church from the other end of this path. Isn’t it beautiful in the spring light, with the daffs out?
Horizontal.
On entering the church there’s the font, and an old inscription.
Font.Font cover.Info’mation board, 18th C. style.Interesting details.
If you look up, you’ll be rewarded.
Nice stonework.Impressive wood n’ glass.
I wasn’t able to enter the under-tower area, so I snapped that but of stained-glass through the doorway.
Couldn’t get inside this area, under the tower.
Whilst visiting, I had to answer a call of nature. And what a khazi they have!
Wow! What stonework…… in the reredorter!
Once back out in the main body of the church, lots of stuff leaps out at you. Especially the glass.
Holy stained-glass, Batman!Pulpit.Over the pulpit.Wow!
Some of the windows are particularly intensely coloured. I love this one. As you zoom in on it, you realise just how much incredible craftsmanship these buildings are stuffed with.
Zooming in a bit…
The above detail is the pic from which the image at the top of this post is taken.
The altar end o’ the church.Amazing glass. Even this plainer stuff.
Some of the glass in one of the wings is quite simple. But it’s still extremely vivid.
Love this!
I particularly like this dedication plaque. The green and gold theme is delicious. And I love that coat of arms.
Glass covered tomb.Candle thingy.
The wooden roof in this wing is also pretty stunning.
Some roof!So much skill, so much beauty.Love this. Similar too but diff’ from t’other one.Wow! Very intense colours.
The colours in the above window are stunning. Almost overpowering!
Lovely floor.
Having exited the wing where the above photos were taken, and moved back into the altar end of the main body of the church… Everywhere you look, even under foot, there are details to wow and beguile.
Altar cloth.Rich folk buying seats in Heaven.Nice old chest.More monuments to vanity.Beautiful window (horrid fable).
Another incredible window. This one seems to me to embody qualities of two different categories to which some of the other lights fall into more singularly. The right and left panels are like the more minimal ones. The central one, and other detailed ‘spots’, partake of the more intense ones.
The main window.
This one’s kind of dazzling, detail wise. But not quite as emotive to me. That often. Seems to be the case, for me, where windows feature lots of ‘architectural’ detail. Impressive, yes. But not as emotive as those windows where the detail is more ornamental or abstract.
Zooming in a bit.Looking back down the church.
Another fabulous gem of a building. Stuffed to the seams with interest, and large quantities of impressive craftsmanship and aesthetic beauty. Terrific!
Ok, so I’m having a real ball listening to Uncle Walt’s Band. I’ve ordered all three of their self-released official albums. I was a bit unsure about getting this anthology, ‘cause I have most of it already.
But I’ve caved in. They’re so good, I simply have to have it all. There’s a couple of tracks at least that I can’t get elsewhere, ‘Getaway’, an original, and the ol’ timey classic, ‘Sitting On Top Of The World’.
Can’t wait!
RELATED NEWS: The Contenders, 1978
The original vinyl version (‘78?).
My mania for all things Walt, Champ (and David) does have limits, though. As I’ve discovered on listening to the above. Walt and Champ were part of The Contenders, a short lived group who released just the one album (see above).
I love the Walt and Champ stuff, but not much else, alas. The album opens with ‘Lean On Your Mind’, which I know from the (superior) UWB version. But when tracks by non UWB members come on, I’m unmoved.
Tommy Goldsmith, Walt, Champ, Steve Runkle, Jimbeau Walsh.
And I’m not too taken with the drummer. Which, as a drummer myself, is an issue. Sorry, Jimbeau! Walt’s sister Kathy occasionally played drums with UWB (she might even be on some of their recordings?). But I like them best sans drums.
I’ve only managed a partial listen to The Contenders. Maybe it’ll grow on me? But somehow I suspect not. It’s been re-released. And allegedly the sound is much improved. So maybe I ought to check out the reissue?
Just lovin’ Walt & co! One of the best concerts I’ve ever seen on video is Tom Waits at Austin City Limits. And that’s available online in very good definition.
Sadly this video isn’t great, in terms of graphics. The definition is rather poor! But the music? That’s a whole ‘nother Turkey shoot. Fabulous.
Setlist: Shine On Honest Papas Love Their Mamas Better Don’t You Know Seat of Logic Green Tree Getaway For The First Time Snowing Me Under Sitting On Top Of The World
I wonder if this is available anywhere in better definition? Such beautiful music deserves better. Still, that said, I’m terrifically grateful to the person who shared this VHS recording.
Wonderful stuff!
And if, like me, you just can’t get enough of this good stuff, you’ll dig the above video. An hour long live recording of the dudes, from 1975.
Tillman Hall, 26/2/‘75 1. Seat of Logic 2. Billy Goat Hop 3. Your Tender Kiss 4. Can’t You Hear Me Callin’ (Sweetheart of Mine) 5. Every Road I Pass 6. Getaway 7. The Spittoon 8. Don’t You Think I Feel It Too 9. In the Night 10. Beauty in the Flesh 11. Aloha 12. Amethyst (Walter’s solo spotlight) 13. Bach guitar piece (Champ’s solo spotlight) 14. Brisk Young Widow (David’s solo spotlight) 15. Under the Boardwalk 16. As the Crow Flies 17. Whatever Reason 18. Dish Wiped Clean 19. Sittin’ on Top of The World 20. Undecided
The venue for the latter concert recording is, alas, named for Benjamin Tillman, a white supremacist. I wonder what he’d have made of these three white boys playing ‘Under The Boardwalk’?
Indeed, I heard David Ball saying, in an interview (Patrick Scott Armstrong, Lone Star Plate?) that when he’d mentioned liking ‘Hot Fun In The Summertime’, by Sly & The Family Stone, Walter and Champ learned it, and the group played it live several times.
They play plenty of blues (not so much on this gig tho’), and plenty of what was once called ‘race music’, in the US of A. And if Ben Tillman saw this (below), he’d be spinning in his grave so hard he’d drill his racist ass straight to Hell:
Now that makes these cats the kind of good ol’ southern boys I can really get behind.
I was hoping that I’d find this fabulous track on one of the Uncle Walt albums I’ve already acquired. But no! It’s not on either. They had a third album, which was all live stuff. Perhaps it was on that?
Another Omnivore expanded reissue.
But nope, ‘Getaway’ isn’t on this either! Not to worry. I’ve ordered it anyway. I love them so much I can’t imagine not loving this one as well as the others. How am I going to get Getaway, though? Not sure about buying the Omnivore comp’, Those Boys From Carolina, They Sure Enough Could Sing, just to get one track!
