Welcome to another new edition of our bi-weekly record-diving sampling extravaganza!
Thank you all for joining @natehorn and I for another week of sampling goodness! Before we get into our artist and track in focus, and in case you aren’t already aware, there are some other Mission Briefs/Challenges currently taking place that you may also fancy spending some time on here:
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@flipinfantile and @Unifono are co-hosting Elektronauts Hip Hop Battle #26 - Fab Four
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@Habit_Reform’s Electronic/Sythesized Hip Hop/Rap Beat challenge
Sincere apologies for the slight delay in getting this posted for @everyone, as the niece and nephew caught me mid-dig Saturday afternoon, and demanded every ounce of attention from that point on. As a result, the “deadline” will be extended an additional day. The sample track for this week is a smooth, soulful jam, Jon Lucien’s “You Are My Love.” It is the fourth track from the album Song For My Lady, which was released in 1975 by Columbia Records (PC 33544).
Here is what little I could find about Jon Lucien from Wikipedia and various sites:
Lucien Leopold Harrigan (January 8, 1942 – August 18, 2007), known professionally as Jon Lucien, was a singer from Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. His parents were Eric “Rico” Lucien Harrigan and Eloise Turnbull Harrigan of Tortolan families. His father was a musician whose main instrument was a three-coursed Latin guitar-like chordophone known as a Tres.[1]
Born in Tortola in 1942, Lucien was raised in St. Thomas. As a teenager, he played bass in his father’s band. During the 1960s he moved to New York City.[2] While performing at a party, he was discovered by an executive from RCA, which released his debut album (I Am Now, 1970) of pop and jazz standards.[2] Lucien said the label attempted to market him as a “black Sinatra”. His second album, Rashida, contained only songs written by Lucien, with “Lady Love” receiving radio airplay.[2] Dave Grusin received a Grammy Award nomination for his arrangements.[2][3] He recorded two albums for Columbia before making guest appearances on Yesterday’s Dreams by Alphonso Johnson and Mr. Gone by Weather Report.[2][4]
His daughter drowned in 1980, and he spent much of the decade struggling with drug addiction.[5] He returned to music with the albums Listen Love (Mercury, 1991) and Mother Nature’s Son (Mercury, 1993).[2][4] Another daughter died in the crash of TWA Flight 800,[6] and Lucien dedicated his album Endless Love (1997) to her.[2]
He died of respiratory failure in Orlando, Florida, on August 18, 2007.[7]
- from www.wikipedia.com
This is Lucien’s first album with Columbia. After making three albums for RCA in five years, he didn’t attain superstar status, but this, as well as early-'70s efforts I Am Now, Rashida, and Mind’s Eye made Lucien one of music’s most respected though sluggishly selling acts. This 1975 effort deftly mixes cover versions of well-known songs as well as Lucien’s always-creative originals. With a switch to a bigger, more influential label, the changes are minimal. The instrumentation and production are little more palpable, but not by much. The biggest difference here is Lucien’s voice; it became warmer, more polished, and accessible. But while that looks great on paper, with an artist with a strong persona like Lucien, it’s either going to be hit or miss. He is undoubtedly on his game here, and like the rest of his catalog, this is alternately eccentric and romantic. Due to the production and his focus, Song for My Lady became the album which all of his subsequent efforts were measured against. On his brilliantly arranged and sung cover of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Dindi,” Lucien uses all of his registers, from the high-pitched sighs to the croaky lows. His take on Bernard Ighner’s “Motherland,” however, went on for one minute too long. That being said, everything Lucien did on this effort was at least interesting. “Maiden Voyage” is a remake of Herbie Hancock’s classic instrumental. Although “helping” a woman through her “first affair” wasn’t hinted at on Hancock’s original, Lucien saw a prime opportunity. With lyrics like “Time for your debut,” and “Soon you’ll cry, lovely things you’ll say,” Lucien was inspired enough to turn in one of his most assured and fulfilling vocals. He also succeeds with the uptempo offerings. “Soulmate” and “Creole Lady” both display odd production values and his almost naïve though likeable takes on love. The atmospheric title track has him crooning such lines as “Tell her that I care, tell her spring is here,” like it’s pure poetry. Song for My Lady didn’t make Lucien a giant star, but it’s simply one of the more visionary and satisfying albums of the jazz/R&B genre.
- Review by Jason Elias for www.allmusic.com
Here are two versions of the track available on YouTube, in case anyone experiences regional playback issues:
Here is a link to the FLAC version of the track and a version that has been converted to 16bit/44.1KHz wav, please delete it after using:
JON LUCIEN - YOU ARE MY LOVE (FLAC)
JON LUCIEN - YOU ARE MY LOVE (WAV)
links are active for one week from today (11/05/23)
Album Photos:
images from google search
THE BRIEF
YOU have been selected by the notorious Global Sound Syndicate for a top-secret operation. Not really, please, share with your friends, family, and even the talented artisans who prepare the dough at your favorite local pizza shop.
Mission:
-Sample any part(s) of the track we’ve nominated
-Spend no more than 1 week turning it into music
-Post your creations here for us all to enjoy
Deadline: Monday , November 13, 2023
Submit your entry no later than 11:59 PM, Monday, November 13, 2023, or be faced with a brief moment of self-loathing for not participating. Submissions entered on later dates are also welcome!
Compensation:
Hearts and compliments from the community
(not guaranteed)
You can use as much or as little of the sample track as you like, you just have to use it. No winners, no losers, just good times!
Every two weeks we will post a track from our record collections, ideally something you’ve not heard before. Jams, full tracks, noodles - share whatever you like!
Started us off on a strong note man thanks for sharing!
Hopefully, it comes back soon man that’s one of the worst feelings. Idk what data rates are like in your area, but can always try downloading on your phone and transferring to the computer? File is a bit juicy though at almost 40mb, so wouldn’t want you to eat your monthly cap up with a single file.
Thanks for sharing with us, and also for providing the track stems man!
