Brian Auger and the Trinity – I Wanna Take You Higher b/w Listen Here
Brian Auger (Top left) and the Trinity
Listen/Download Brian Auger and the Trinity – I Wanna Take You Higher
Listen/Download Brian Auger and the Trinity – Listen Here
Greetings all
Welcome to yet another week in which the digital artifacts of the analog age are unearthed and put on display for the edification (and edumacation) of all involved.
If you were following the coming and going hereabouts you will have noted that the Funky16Corners fam vacated for a short time, in which we went in search of rest, relaxation, and in my case, records.
I was very lucky indeed, having been tipped off to an excellent digging spot or two by a friend.
Though I had never visited Pittsburgh before (odd, I know) I was aware that the good people of the region had excellent taste in music, especially where R&B and soul were concerned. I figured that it must follow (and it did) that records of that ilk must be available thereabouts.
The first spot I hit gave up the goods (if only I’d had 10 or 15 more hours, and the cash that would have required), with yours truly exiting the store with a nice fat stack of funk, soul and all kinds of Iron Leg ish (the popsike and what not).
One of the disks I was most pleased to have encountered is the one you see before you today.
I have had the ‘Befour’ LP (1970) by Brian Auger and the Trinity for years, but had no idea that there were any 45s (or the edits there-on) released from the album, which is why finding the 7” with versions of ‘I Wanna Take You Higher’ and ‘Listen Here’ was such a groove.
Auger was in the top rank of UK Hammond wranglers, first in the Steampacket, then alongside the mighty Julie Driscoll , then onward with the Trinity and the Oblivion Express, getting progressively jazz-funkier as he went on.
I dig both his earlier and later stuff, and ‘Befour’ is an excellent example of the latter, as well as being fairly easy to find on the cheap.
The excellent version of Sly and the Family Stone’s ‘I Wanna Take You Higher’ runs the same 5:00 on the 45 as on the album, with some excellent organ and guitar.
The version of ‘Listen Here’ is what makes this 45 worth grabbing.
‘Listen Here’, written and originally recorded by the great Eddie Harris is one of the true ‘standards’ of the soul jazz genre, recorded in many ways, by many people and having appeared in this space a time or two over the years.
The LP version of ‘Listen Here’ runs almost nine and a half minutes, substantial portion of which is devoted to a long (way too long) drum solo by Clive Thacker. It’s not that old Clive wasn’t up to the task, but – and I say this as a drummer – the hippie era drum solo was one of the more unfortunate musical traditions, thankfully gone by the wayside.
The 45 edit of the song truncates the percussion breakdown to a tasteful 27 seconds, keeping the forward momentum of the musical enterprise intact, while also giving the drummer his oft requested “some”.
It is a groovy disc indeed, and well worth grabbing should you come across a copy of your own.
I hope you dig it and I’ll see you all on Wednesday.
Keep the faith
Larry
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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived!
The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock.
They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US).
Click here to go to the ordering page.
Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).
Cover Songs, Digging, Drums, Funk, Funk 45, Funky16Corners, Hammond Grooves, Jazz, Soul, Soul Jazz
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Funk, Funky16Corners, Hammond Organ, Soul, Soul Jazz
Themocracy
Fabulous find! Thanks for sharing this.
Wow! I don’t remember it sounding this good on the LP. Guess I’ll have to pull it out and re-listen.
Hopefully in PGH, you made it to The Attic and Jerry’s?
And for food you couldn’t go wrong with Perogies Plus.
Thanks guys!
@Tony – Didn’t get to the pierogis (sadly) but I did manage to hit both the Attic and Jerry’s.
Fantastic. I have been hoping to find the edit of “Listen Here” for quite a while. It’s hard to believe it was the only charted single Auger ever had in the States, doing two weeks at #100 back in 1970. (“This Wheel’s on Fire” bubbled under in ’68, which is another amazement. How did THAT fail to chart?) Thank you sir.
I had no idea about the charting!
I was very happy to find this, mainly because ‘Listen Here’ is a favorite song of mine, but the LP version goes on and on and ON. Whoever did the edit cut it just right.
Love, love, love Brian Auger!!!
And only ever heard of him because of… erm… oh yeah, F16C!
Cheers Larry!
Stuart 🙂
Glad to have been of service Stu!