JSngry Posted May 24, 2003 Report Share Posted May 24, 2003 This is some cool shit! http://www.stonesthrow.com/jukebox/stark/SR_Dreams.mp3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted May 24, 2003 Report Share Posted May 24, 2003 Sorry, Jim. It doesn't do much for me. Just sounds like some early 70's fusion experiment, that isn't quite working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted May 24, 2003 Report Share Posted May 24, 2003 ***Three stars*** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted May 25, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2003 Oh well, you can't please all the people all the time, I suppose. C'est la vie... Myself, the main thing I really dug was the hookup between the drummer and the bassist, how the drummer combines the Clyde Stubblefield "Funky Drummer" bag with the Roy McCurdy "Mercy Mercy Mercy" concept and how the bassist and him really seemed to be of the same mind from beginning to end and get their groove on pretty effortlessly. I really feel 'em, and the more I listen to the cut, the more I REALLYfeel 'em - these two got it goin' on. The guitar solo was pretty flowing too, I thought, in spite of the dated sounding fuzz tone, and the distorted electric vibes...well, do distorted electric vibes EVER go out of style? :D Seriously, this thing's a reminder for me of what the very earliest "fusion" (well, it wasn't called that then. If it was called anything, it was called "jazz-rock") was all about - jazz players just looking for a different way to play. Like it or not, I think most would agree that this cut has a "swing", an innate "jazz quality", that most later fusion did not have. Now to the details - believe it or no, that's a Hoagy Carmichael tune! On an album originally released on Ahmad Jamal's own label! That pulls $400-$500 on eBAY! With John Abercrombie on guitar! It's a group out of Boston called Stark Reality that was led by vibist Marty Stark (who later went on to play ketboards on the BUCKINGHAM NICKS album), and the album is a CHILDREN'S album called The Stark Reality Discovers Hoagy Carmichael’s Music Shop put together by Stark at the instigation of Hoagy's son Hoagy Bix for a series on Boston PBS. Besides Stark and Abercrombie, the players are bassist Phil Morrison and drummer Vinnie Johnson. Released in 1970 on Ahmad Jamal's AJP label, it's apparently become a Holy Grail for DJs and BeatHeads, and it really does go for 4-5 hundred. But that's about to change, probably, since it's just been reissued on Stones Throw. I found out about this the other night whilst breaking a self-imposed ban on trolling Dusty Groove (the bastards!) and saw this listed. For some reason, the blurb caught my eye, one thing led to another... Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to the clip , here's a photo of Stark Image in action: Here's a link to the story of this "Cult Classic": http://www.stonesthrow.com/starkreality/ And here's the original: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted May 25, 2003 Report Share Posted May 25, 2003 Well, I guess I got the time period right. Maybe under the circumstances, I should give it another listen, now knowing that it is a TRUE early 70's fusion experiment. It also reminded me a bit of Compost, the Harold Vick, Jack DeJohnette group of the same era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted May 25, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2003 Ah, Compost.. I've never heard them, in spite of years of trying to... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pryan Posted May 26, 2003 Report Share Posted May 26, 2003 I dig it. Good point re: the bass and drums, they do really seem to hook up and 'gel' for the entire length of the tune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vibes Posted May 26, 2003 Report Share Posted May 26, 2003 Interesting music. I don't think I've ever heard anything like this before. The guitar didn't do much for me - too much fuzz, too loud in the mix. I thought the other parts were pretty cool, however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davef Posted May 27, 2003 Report Share Posted May 27, 2003 I enjoyed it Jim - thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Williams Posted May 27, 2003 Report Share Posted May 27, 2003 Me leica too - thanks for posting it. A friend said to me recently he loved wah-wah guitar, but there's only so much he can take - I just do not understand that. Ooh! Just got to the 'pirate' bit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted May 27, 2003 Report Share Posted May 27, 2003 Ooh! Just got to the 'pirate' bit! Damn, if you listen to this cut - do stick around until the 'pirate' bit!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted May 27, 2003 Report Share Posted May 27, 2003 Tight! :rsmile: I have another track by Stark Reality called "Prelude To Say Brother." I would assume there is a "Say Brother," but I don't have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted May 28, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2003 I have another track by Stark Reality called "Prelude To Say Brother." I would assume there is a "Say Brother," but I don't have it. A brief, low-fi, RealPlayer sample http://sandbox.pair.com/sound/starkreality..._saybrother.ram Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted May 28, 2003 Report Share Posted May 28, 2003 That's the track I have, JSngry! Maybe it isn't the "prelude" after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slide_advantage_redoux Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 I guess this could go under 'great finds' but I will mention it here only. I was in Salvation Army today looking among the few LPs for sale, and voila, this LP was in the bin. I had no idea it was so highly sought after as a cult album. Gatefold copy no stains on jacket perse. Vinyl appears to be unplayed. Stamp on the cover of jacket indicating promo copy only. Thanks Jim....of course I called you after walking out of the store. And now I know the rest of the story. I asked Jim if he knew how many releases were produced on Ahmad's label. Anyone know? Interesting. First one I ever saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.:.impossible Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 I have the Stones Throw Stark Reality release. When TV was something other than it is now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slide_advantage_redoux Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 (edited) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6oxjz7KPz8&feature=related Edited August 21, 2012 by slide_advantage_redoux Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slide_advantage_redoux Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Dayum http://www.discogs.com/Stark-Reality-Discovers-Hoagy-Carmichaels-Music-Shop/release/1428681 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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