LUMPENPROLETARIATGONZO: If you’re a music lover like me, then chances are you also love R&B, or rhythm and blues. If so, then you’ve probably heard of Brenton Wood. Or maybe you’ve heard his music, but without knowing who the singer was. Some of his songs have had incredible staying power in the American consciousness, such as his “Gimme Little Sign” (1967) and “The Oogum Boogum Song” (1967), which have been featured in many movies, commercials, and retrospective music anthologies. Just recently, Brenton Wood noted that the song was used in a new ad for some new Apple gizmo.
In the eternal world of Chicano, or lowrider, oldies, Brenton Wood is a veritable saint, in a class of his own. Many of us first heard of Brenton Wood at some point during the late 20th century (or later), if not in real time during the 1960s and ’70s, from our lowriding cousins out in the valley, or in the metropolitan inner cities. Or, maybe, if we lived in the suburbs, somehow got hip to the dozen or so East Side Story lowrider oldies compilation records in which Brenton Wood was featured prominently. Also known as Alfred Smith, Brenton Wood is one half of Alfred & Shirley.
Well, the one and only Brenton Wood is 75 years young now. And he’s still on stage delighting his fans. And, now, he’s coming to the San Francisco Bay Area next month for his An Affair to Remember tour. Alfred Jesse Smith, aka Brenton Wood, has just added a second show to his San Francisco tour stop at Slim’s. [1] Life is too short. Let’s experience, in person, the sweet soulful musical stylings of the legendary Brenton Wood, while we still have the time. E’rybody needs some sweet, soulful and funky, R&B in they’ life. [2]
• Slim’s is an ALL AGES (6+) venue.
• No refunds or exchanges are permitted, except in the case of headliner cancellation or date change. Opening acts are subject to change.
• There is an 8 ticket limit per customer unless otherwise stated.
• NEVER buy third party tickets (Craigslist, StubHub, etc.) for over face value. Scalped tickets may not be honored.
• Once you purchase, you will receive an order confirmation email from Eventbrite on behalf of Slim’s Presents.
• IMPORTANT: If you do not see your order confirmation in your inbox, make sure to check your junk/spam folder. If you still do not see your order confirmation, click here to access the Eventbrite help center.
• If you are having any other technical ticketing-related issues with your order, click here to contact Eventbrite. For general show info, click here.
[1] And Slim’s is a very intimate venue, on the smaller side. And it’s one of our favourite venues in the SF Bay Area. (I’ve probably seen dozens upon dozens of shows there over the years, from Dinosaur Jr to The Jacka to Cousteau to Eek-A-Mouse to Henry Rollins to too many to mention.)
[2] Brenton Wood is probably one of my most enduring favourite artists, since the 1980s, when I first discovered the man’s heartfelt and jubilant recordings. Back in high school, some used to actually ask for me to sing “Baby You Got It”. Brenton Wood, like Little Willie G, of Thee Midniters, inspired more than a few Chicanos to give it all the heart and soul they can muster to sing some old school R&B styles. It’s quite clear that Chicanos, with their sundry lowrider oldies compilation albums and lowrider oldies radio shows, such as La Onda Bajita and Radio Bilingue’s late night oldies, have helped keep alive a burning love for the soul and R&B musical styles of the 1950s and ’60s when the times gave way to disco in the ’70s, ’80s dance, hip hop, and electronic-based R&B. Most of my younger black friends would tell me, Phil, you listen to that old stuff; that’s like my grandparents’ music! I’d say, that’s the best music!
[4] We first encountered Brenton Wood’s recording of Little Willie John’s, “Need Your Love So Bad”, on the supplemental compilation 18 More of the Best, Volume 2. The recording is featured on the album entitled Rarities – The Double Shot/Whiz Years (2013). This “Need Your Love So Bad” YouTube video is an unlisted video with only 16 views (as of 14:02 PST, 23 JAN 2017).
Published on Jan 14, 2017
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group International
Need Your Love So Bad · Brenton Wood
Rarities – The Double Shot / Whiz Years
℗ 2013 The Bicycle Music Company
Released on: 2013-01-01
Author, Composer: Little Willie John
Music Publisher: Fort Knox Music Inc.
Music Publisher: Trio Music Company Inc.
DAPTONE RECORDS—[18 NOV 2016, 20:51 PST] We are deeply saddened to announce Sharon Jones passed away today after a heroic battle against pancreatic cancer. She was surrounded by her loved ones, including the Dap-Kings.
Thank you for your prayers and thoughts during this difficult time.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following organizations:
[1] DOUBLE J—[22 FEB 2015] Soul revivalist royalty Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings offer a stripped back take on their track ‘Making Up and Breaking Up’ in the sumptuous surrounds of Sydney’s Town Hall. Musical Chairs is a series of intimate live performances by great artists in unique locations recorded by Double J.
LUMPENPROLETARIATGONZO: It’s hard to imagine it’s been half a century since the Black Panther Party hit the scene in the USA. Soon, it’ll be a century, as grievances fester. For how long? I remember, as a young Chicano, discovering the Black Panther Party through hip hop and other art forms in the 1980s.
The Black Panther Party is still incredibly relevant, important, and necessary. Feed the struggle. Feed your community. Defend your community. Feed your soul.
Perhaps, your local community is also honouring the Black Panther Party’s 50th Anniversary, as are observant communities in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area and other locales. In the Bay Area, there are many museums and galleries featuring exhibits honouring the BPP50th. Also free speech radio is paying tribute to the BPP50th. Tune in, here, for revolutionary observance before the radio echo fades and vanishes into the historical penumbra. Listen here. [1]
UPDATE—[24 OCT 2016] Hard Knock Radio has provided us with some new coverage of the events and activities commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Black Panther Party, including audio excerpts from the BPP 50TH gala, which featured former political prisoner and Black Panther Party member Eddie Conway as well as keynote speaker Danny Glover. Listen here. [2]
Messina
***
BPP 50TH—[accessed 11 OCT 2016] [statement from ad hoc committee of former members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense]
Dear Friends and Comrades,
October 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Black Panther Party. An ad hoc committee of former members of the Party is hosting events commemorating the anniversary from October 20-23rd in Oakland, California.
The theme of our commemoration is “Where Do We Go From Here?” The Black Panther Party is well-known and admired in Oakland and around the world for its stand against police brutality, for its Survival Programs— which included free breakfast for school children and free health clinics—its coalitions with other people of color, and its effort to bring about revolutionary change in America. The anniversary events will explore and celebrate the history and legacy of the Black Panther Party.
We hope you will join us in commemorating this historic 50th anniversary by participating in the various workshops and panels of the conference, enjoying our wonderful dinner and gala, advertising in our souvenir program book and volunteering.
Sincerely yours,
Clark Bailey, Coordinator
Black Panther Party 50th Anniversary Host Committee
[Notes and transcription by Messina for Lumpenproletariat and Hard Knock Radio]
HARD KNOCK RADIO—[24 OCT 2016] [station identification by Erica Bridgeman(sp?)]
[Opening audio collage] (c. 1:53)
DAVEY D: “What up, everybody? Welcome to another edition of Hard Knock Radio. Davey D, hangin’ out wit’ you this afternoon. On today’s show, we let you hear some of the sounds, that took place over this past weekened, as Black Panthers commemorated their 50-year anniversary. A lot of guests, from Danny Glover on down to former political prisoner Ed Conway. All that and more, coming up after the afternoon headlines.” (c. 2:18)
[News Headlines (read by Gabriela Castelan) omitted by scribe] [3]
[First segment: Black Panther Party 50th Anniversary audio clips, including a Bobby Seale endorsement for Hard Knock Radio, the dedication of Bobby Hutton Grove, and more.]
[Music break: “Who’ll Pay Reparations On My Soul” by Gil Scott-Heron]
“Who’ll Pay Reparations On My Soul” by Gil Scott-Heron
[Next segment: audio clips from the Black Panther Party 50th Anniversary gala event of former political prisoner and Black Panther member Eddie Conway and keynote speaker Danny Glover, both of whom are on the editorial board of The Real News.]
SAN FRANCISCO BAY VIEW—[15 MAY 2016] Wanda’s Picks for May-June 2016Elaine Brown’s “A Taste of Power,” a memoir which chronicles her leadership of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense when co-founder Huey P. Newton is imprisoned, still resonates with me. The idea that a Black woman is nominated to the leadership position of the most powerful civic organization in the country at that time is still remarkable and speaks to what Kathleen Cleaver calls revolutionary imagination.
[(c. 18:58) Programme host Idris gives community announcements regarding civil rights and Black Panther Party events “celebrating this year the 50th anniversary [of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense]. And there’s a lot of great exhibitions and events coming up this month in the [SF-Oakland] Bay Area. One event: The Survival Pending Revolution Black Panther Party 50. And that’s a exhibition at the Omi Gallery of Oakland, 2323 Broadway. It’s going on October 7th through January 7th. There’s also an exhibition [inaudible] 2.0 at [] gallery. There’s also an exhibition at the Oakland Museum. So, I can give a list. And we’ll give some more throughout the show. But we’re gonna get into some more music, actually, some poetry from—may he rest in peace—brother Amiri Baraka, who was very instrumental at empowering a soundtrack for the Black Panther movement. So, this is also taken from the Listen Whitey: Sounds of Black Power compilation. And we’ll have more music coming up, inspired by that and the events throughout the [SF-Oakland] Bay Area celebrating the legacy and the strength and the memory of those lost during those epic times. And we’ll just play some music in honour of that, here, on Chocolate Beats Radio.” (c. 21:10)]
[1] Terrestrial radio transmission, 94.1 FM (KPFA, Berkeley, CA) with online simulcast and digital archiving: Chocolate Beats Radio, this one-hour broadcast hosted by Miss Idris, Sunday, 9 OCT 2016, 01:00 PDT. [Due to copyright restrictions, music programmes are usually removed from public access two weeks after the initial broadcast.]
Playlist, Chocolate Beats Radio (9 OCT 2016):
“Ain’t No Such Thing As A Superman” by Gil Scott-Heron (taken from Greatest Hits)
“Until We’re Free” by Elaine Brown (taken from Listen Whitey)
“Woman of the Ghetto” by Marlena Shaw (live in Montreal) (taken from Listen Whitey!)
“Who Will Survive America” by Amiri Baraka (taken from Listen Whitey!)
“Brother, Where Are You?” by Oscar Brown, Jr. (taken from )
“Uhuru Sasa” by Gary Bartz (taken from Greatest Hits)
“Red Black and Green” by Roy Ayers
“Our Generation” by John Legend
Jazzmatazz Tribute by Jay Electronica (taken from ROC Nation)
“Cranes in the Sky” by Solange (taken from A Seat at the Table)
“Roll Call” by Cody Chestnut (taken from B-Sides)
“My People” by Jazzy Jeff (with Raheem Divine) (taken from Beat Generation: 10th Anniversary)
“Winter in America” by Gil Scott-Heron (taken from Listen Whitey!)
“For Us” by Solange (taken from A Seat at the Table)
“Fake Bonanza” by Mos Def (taken from True Magic)
(c. 1:10:00) “Inner City Boundaries” by Freestyle Fellowship
(c. 1:14:40) “Rappin’ Black” by Watts Prophets
(c. 1:15:00) “Dial 7” by Digable Planets (taken from Blowout Comb)
(c. 1:19:30) “On the Subway” by The Last Poets
(c. 1:21:00) “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” by Gil Scott-Heron
(c. 1:24:00) “Prophets of Rage” by Public Enemy (taken from Fear of a Black Planet)
(c. 1:27:20) “Walking” by Nneka (with Jay Electronica and Nas)
(c. 3:47:30) “C.R.E.A.M.” (2014, cover) by Ensemble Mik Nawooj (symphony orchestra with S.F. Bay Area MCs Do-D.A.T. and Sandman) (taken from Ensemble Mik Nawooj: A Hip-Hop Orchestra)
(c. 3:51:10) Host Miss Idris updates the playlist
(c. 3:53:00) “Eric B For President” by Eric B and Rakim
(c. 3:59:28) [end of terrestrial radio transmission]
[2] Terrestrial radio transmission, 94.1 FM (KPFA, Berkeley, CA) with online simulcast and digital archiving: Hard Knock Radio, this one-hour broadcast hosted by Davey D, Monday, 24 OCT 2016, 16:00 PDT. [For some unfortunate reason, perhaps due to an inability to edit out music with copyright restrictions from audio archives after they’ve been broadcast, Hard Knock Radio archives are usually removed from public access two weeks after the initial broadcast.]
[3] KPFA News Headlines (read by Gabriela Castelan), summary:
First news headline was what we understand through our critical media literacy studies as junkfood news or news abuse. The first headline is about the personality of Donald Trump and the meme about Trump’s response in the final debate about possibly complaining about the 2016 presidential election outcome, if he suspects electoral fraud. Nothing new is revealed, but the corporate news memes of superficial differences between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are perpetuated, as the real issues and substance of their political records are obfuscated, not to mention alternative political candidates are censored, underreported, and marginalised.
Dakota Access Pipeline resistance update: police pepper spray people resisting the pipeline construction.
[4] University of California Television (UCTV), posted to YouTube 3 NOV 2008, Series: Voices [5/2001] [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 5720]
“Activist and author Elaine Brown, the first and only woman to lead the Black Panther Party speaks on issues of race with reference to her new book New Age Racism. She discusses the Black experience throughout American history and the issue of reparations for all descendants of slaves.”
LUMPENPROLETARIAT GONZO: If you’re a music lover like me, then chances are you also love R&B, or rhythm and blues. If so, then you’ve probably heard of Brenton Wood. Or maybe you’ve heard his music, but without knowing who the singer was. Some of his songs have had incredible staying power in the American consciousness, such as his “Gimme Little Sign” (1967) and “The Oogum Boogum Song” (1967), which have been featured in many movies, commercials, and retrospective music anthologies. Just recently, Brenton Wood noted that the song was used in a new ad for some new Apple gizmo.
SLIM’S—[accessed 23 JAN 2017]
