One of the
most
quirkiest (and therefore highly collectable) reissue projects in Stones
Throw Records history, The Stark Reality's psychedelic funk jazz
interpretations of children's tunes (!) from over a half century ago
was first released by Ahmad Jamal's AJP imprint in 1970. With original
copies now selling for over $500 at auction, the original 8 songs on
"The Stark Reality Discovers Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop" are
available for the first time ever on the "Now" CD, along with 4
additional bonus tracks (these written by Monty Stark himself) which
have never been released in any format. Generating a new cult following
among hip-hop artists and producers, The Stark Reality have already
been sampled by the likes of J-Live and
Large Professor, and recently reissued two classic 7" singles featuring
"Shooting Stars", "Too Much Tenderness" and "Rocket Ship". Stark
Reality --
Now . . . CD . . . Dusty Groove America
One of the
most
tripped-out albums of funk you'll ever buy -- a rare treasure with a
very unusual history! The Stark Reality were a
cool little
combo formed to work on public television in Boston in the late 60s --
and the combo featured some heavy guitars, fuzzed-up vibes, and some
monster percussion laid out in tight bass and drum rhythms that were
years ahead of their time! The group recorded one rare album --
ostensibly a children's record, but based around old compositions by
Hoagy Carmichael, completely pulled apart, sliced up, overly
harmonized, and spat out into wild funky tunes that bear no resemblance
to their originals! The original album -- Stark Reality
Discovers Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop -- has been a holy grail for
collectors for years (we once sold a copy for hundreds of dollars!),
and the music has only ever really been heard by a few dedicated
beatheads that have tracked down rare copies. Now, though, the geniuses
at Stones Throw
have put out the whole LP, plus bonus material, in one fantastic
package that is soon to make the Stark Reality
legends amongst
funky fans the world over! Mad vibes meet fuzzy guitars meet killer
funky beats -- and the whole thing's a masterpiece that will never be
duplicated again! Tracks include "Too Much Tenderness", "Sunday's
Song", "Roller Coaster Ride", "Say Brother", "Rocket Ship", "All You
Need To Make Music", "Junkman's Song", and "Thirty Days Hath September". STARK
REALITY Now
(Stones Throw) CD Aquarius
Records
Here's a
weird one.
Imagine a late-sixties jazz-funk combo playing fucked up versions of
children's songs written in the 40s and 50s by Hoagy Carmichael.
Actually, you don't have to imagine that, if you just listen to this
disc. 'Cause that's what's happening here. The first eight tracks on
this cd were orginally released in 1970 as "The Stark Reality Discovers
Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop" LP. Dunno what kids thought of it, but
the heads must have loved it, unless it tripped 'em out
too much. The idea (hatched by Hoagy's son Bix, who
worked at Boston's WGBH public TV station with musican Monty Stark, the
leader of The Stark Reality) was to psychedelize ol' Hoagy's music for
hippie youngsters. The result were these awkwardly funky, severely
distorted (in every possible way), jazzed-out cuts, featuring Stark's
crazily atonal fuzz-equipped vibes and bizarrely straight
singing/rhyming. The music appeared in a WGBH kid's show, then was
released on LP. That LP is apparently quite an expensive rarity these
days, with those that have heard it either thinking it brilliant or
insane or both. The LP track "Rocket Ship" was one of Windy's favorite
cuts on Peanut Butter Wolf's
recent "Jukebox 45" mix cd, and he has now reissued the
whole album on his Stones Throw label, so we all can judge its merits,
along with several non-Hoagy bonus cuts. The thorough liner notes do
their best to explain the whole deal, and indicate that more than one
lucky beat-diggin' hip hop DJ has made this their secret weapon.
It's utterly ridiculous yet oddly compelling. You'll either have to
turn it off after two minutes or it'll become an all-time fave, that's
the sort of record this is! Easily the most warped, heaviest jams ever
on subjects like
basic musical notation, remembering the number of days in each month,
and recipes for cooking stew. I mean, some of this makes Sun Ra's
wiggiest solos sound normal. Stark
Reality "Now"
CD (Stones Throw) OTHER
MUSIC
Egon at
Stones Throw
has unearthed yet another amazing rarity, this one being down right
mythical. During the late-'60s, Stark Reality was an ensemble led by
vibe player Monty Stark. Stark was a musical contributor at Boston's
PBS television affiliate WGBH, where he met Hoagy Bix Carmichael, an
ex-stock broker who
was now volunteering as a producer at the same station. Carmichael was
also the son of famed music composer Hoagy Carmichael and always
looking for new ways to keep his father's music alive. He approached
Stark with the idea of reinterpreting his father's children's songs in
an educational program meant to introduce kids to music concepts, but
the result was mind-blowing and to this day almost indescribable.
There's a heavy psychedelic fuzz present that creates a magical tension
between four amazing players who perform with a sort of Canterbury feel
mixed with heavy funk and free jazz rhythms -- kind of Soft Machine
meets Funkadelic. Stark played through a series of fuzz tones and
pedals, his super-distorted vibe melodies, wah guitars and slippery
bass lines gives the feel of an LSD trip in Toyland. Together, Stark
Reality created music that cannot be duplicated, but has since become a
very important source of sounds to the hip hop world, their songs being
sampled by the likes of Pete Rock, J-Live, Madlib, and Large Professor.
These days the original album can fetch upwards of $500 on e-Bay. "Now"
contains additional outtakes and is absolutely one of if not this
year's best re-issue. If you haven't already heard this classic, you'll
want to check it out. Now
- Stark Reality -
Stones Throw Turntable
Lab
I used to
teach music
(and P.E.) at an elementary school in Memphis. Now I ship product at
the Lab. Say what you want about my fuct career trajectory; had I
sported a mustache like any (and almost all) of the fellas in the Stark
Reality, I probably wouldn't have been let near those kids. If you are
checking this out, I'm sure you've read our hype, and others' as
well... just buy this album. Egon and Stones Throw set the reissue bar
so high; a 24 page booklet w/ extensive background on all individuals
involved in the original project...down to the
teenage album illustrator! Reflections from band members, interviews,
rare photos and artwork. Song topics worthy of mention: the alphabet,
pirates, rocket ships, days of the week, friends, music theory basics.
My man Daniel in Memphis is probably on some next shit, watching first
generation BETA dubs of the original WGBH television series. If you
harbor any record nerd aspirations (or regrets), scoop up this
affordable freedom kid jazz landmark. LP and CD track listings differ,
so it's a must to cop both. CD version includes 3 previously unreleased
tracks and the gem "Say Brother." Recommended. -P. Gorgeous Various
-- Jazz Not
Jazz -- Hip Hop Experiment Selected By Breakthrough (Japanese
paper
sleeve edition) . . . CD Dusty Groove America
***SOLD OUT***
A very hip
set of
underground hip hop, heavy funk, and more -- selected by
Breakthrough for this Japanese-only compilation! The set's got 13
tracks in all -- with titles that include "Reputation" by Inverse
Cinematics, "Philadelphia" by Bahamadia, "Jazz Cats pt 1" by Quasimoto,
"Change" by Shades Of Brooklyn, "Pound For Pound" by Kaliwild,
"Jealousy" by Slum Village, "Think Twice" by Jay Dee, "Destination" by
Neon Phusion, "Say Brother" by Stark Reality, and
"Hoors" by
Rednose District. Packaged in a cool cover, too! Stark
Reality --
1969 . . . (2LP) Dusty Groove America
Wonderfully messed-up
funk from Stark Reality -- a 2LP set that brings forth tracks recorded
in
1969, but which haven't been issued until now! The approach here is
more freewheeling than the tracks on the group's legendary Hoagy
Carmichael's Music Shop LP -- lots more guitar and rumbling funk, and a
tripped-out, stoned-up sort of approach to the music, lyrics, and
even production -- all of which makes for some really compelling work.
Mad vibes meet fuzzy guitars -- in the kind
of record that would have been barely appreciated at the time, but is
finally getting its due today! 3 tracks off the 6 track set were issued
on the CD Now, and the other 3 are making their first appearance here.
All tracks are nice and long, and titles include "Pretty Music",
"Nani", "Roller Coaster Ride", "Too Much Tenderness", and "Sunday's
Song". Various
-- Life:Styles
Kenny Dope . . . CD . . . Dusty Groove America
***SOLD OUT***
Here's a lifestyle we'd
like to
have -- that of Kenny Dope, one of the smartest groove hounds around!
Kenny's famously known for his heavy hip
hop and house production -- but behind that groove lies a generation's
worth of musical influences, pulled from
years and years of crate digging in a variety of global scenes. The 14
tracks on the set show the full depth of Kenny's
rich inspiration from older grooves -- and run a surprising gamut that
includes Latin jazz, folk funk, spacey soul, and jazzy rock -- all of
which make this volume our favorite so far in the massive Life Styles
series! Titles include "Africa" by Sathima Bea Benjamin, "I Am Love" by
Jackson 5, "Berimbau" by Jayme Marques, "Proclamation" by Gentle Giant,
"Submission" by Tyrone Washington, "Blackgold" by Phil Upchurch, "Too
Soon You're
Old" by Penny Goodwin, "Good Bucks" by Bobby Vince Paunetto, "All You
Need To Make Music" by Stark Reality, and
"Warpigs" by Black
Sabbath. VARIOUS
ARTISTS --
Stones Throw 101 (Stones Throw) OTHER
MUSIC
A favorite
label of
both OM staff and customer, Stones Throw celebrate their 100th release
with this best-of bonanza. This release would be worthy just for the
exquisite 70-minute mix CD by Stones Throw svengali Peanut Butter Wolf
who deftly mixes "the hits, misses
and previously unreleased" musical highlights of the label. But wait
there's more! You'll also get a DVD of rarely seen Stones Throw videos
ranging from the brilliant (MF Doom, Quasimoto), bizarre (Gary Wilson),
and breathtaking (live 1968 TV performance of Stark Reality). And look
at that price! It's practically nothin'.
Both a great deal and a great release from a label that seems to have
cornered the market on quality control. If they could sell and bottle
that, they'd be billionaires, and we'd have a new president...but I
digress! [DH] STARK
REALITY - Now
-
Stones Throw 2CD BOOMKAT
Deluxe
European only
double CD edition of one of Stones Throw’s classic back
catalogue
albums, released alongside recent reissues from Quasimoto, Lootpack and
PBW among others. Vibraphone prodigy Monty Stark moved from Oklahoma to
Boston in the late 60s to form one of the baddest, weirdest jazz/funk
combos of all time. ‘Now’ compiles Stark
Reality’s ultra-rare LP of
Hoagy Carmichael covers (termed the ‘holy grail’ of
beat digging) with
a bonus
disc containing Stark-penned rarities and even a Boston public TV
appearance.
This is fuzzed out virtuosity at it’s left-field finest.
Exceptional
value for two CDs at a bargain price. People
Under The
Stairs "Stepfather" CD + DVD Sandbox
Automatic
One of the
West
Coast's most consistently popular hip-hop duos, Thes One and Double K
are back with their fifth album, new label, updated sound and all that.
"Stepfather" is jam packed with 20 songs with guest shots from George
Clinton (yeah, THAT one), Monty Stark, and Kat Ouano of Crown City
Rockers (f/k/a Mission). First single "Tuxedo Rap" already making the
rounds at indie and college radio and video shows. Inside the case
you'll also find a free bonus DVD of live show footage, plus a short
film produced by the artists themselves.
One of the
most
quirkiest (and therefore highly collectable) reissue projects in Stones
Throw Records history, The Stark Reality's psychedelic funk jazz
interpretations of children's tunes (!) from over a half century ago
was first released by Ahmad Jamal's AJP imprint in 1970. With original
copies now selling for over $500 at auction, the original 8 songs on
"The Stark Reality Discovers Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop" are
available for the first time ever on the "Now" CD, along with 4
additional bonus tracks (these written by Monty Stark himself) which
have never been released in any format. Generating a new cult following
among hip-hop artists and producers, The Stark Reality have already
been sampled by the likes of J-Live and
Large Professor, and recently reissued two classic 7" singles featuring
"Shooting Stars", "Too Much Tenderness" and "Rocket Ship".
A very hip
set of
underground hip hop, heavy funk, and more -- selected by
Breakthrough for this Japanese-only compilation! The set's got 13
tracks in all -- with titles that include "Reputation" by Inverse
Cinematics, "Philadelphia" by Bahamadia, "Jazz Cats pt 1" by Quasimoto,
"Change" by Shades Of Brooklyn, "Pound For Pound" by Kaliwild,
"Jealousy" by Slum Village, "Think Twice" by Jay Dee, "Destination" by
Neon Phusion, "Say Brother" by Stark Reality, and
"Hoors" by
Rednose District. Packaged in a cool cover, too!
Wonderfully messed-up
funk from Stark Reality -- a 2LP set that brings forth tracks recorded
in
1969, but which haven't been issued until now! The approach here is
more freewheeling than the tracks on the group's legendary Hoagy
Carmichael's Music Shop LP -- lots more guitar and rumbling funk, and a
tripped-out, stoned-up sort of approach to the music, lyrics, and
even production -- all of which makes for some really compelling work.
Mad vibes meet fuzzy guitars -- in the kind
of record that would have been barely appreciated at the time, but is
finally getting its due today! 3 tracks off the 6 track set were issued
on the CD Now, and the other 3 are making their first appearance here.
All tracks are nice and long, and titles include "Pretty Music",
"Nani", "Roller Coaster Ride", "Too Much Tenderness", and "Sunday's
Song".
Here's a lifestyle we'd
like to
have -- that of Kenny Dope, one of the smartest groove hounds around!
Kenny's famously known for his heavy hip
hop and house production -- but behind that groove lies a generation's
worth of musical influences, pulled from
years and years of crate digging in a variety of global scenes. The 14
tracks on the set show the full depth of Kenny's
rich inspiration from older grooves -- and run a surprising gamut that
includes Latin jazz, folk funk, spacey soul, and jazzy rock -- all of
which make this volume our favorite so far in the massive Life Styles
series! Titles include "Africa" by Sathima Bea Benjamin, "I Am Love" by
Jackson 5, "Berimbau" by Jayme Marques, "Proclamation" by Gentle Giant,
"Submission" by Tyrone Washington, "Blackgold" by Phil Upchurch, "Too
Soon You're
Old" by Penny Goodwin, "Good Bucks" by Bobby Vince Paunetto, "All You
Need To Make Music" by Stark Reality, and
"Warpigs" by Black
Sabbath.
A favorite
label of
both OM staff and customer, Stones Throw celebrate their 100th release
with this best-of bonanza. This release would be worthy just for the
exquisite 70-minute mix CD by Stones Throw svengali Peanut Butter Wolf
who deftly mixes "the hits, misses
and previously unreleased" musical highlights of the label. But wait
there's more! You'll also get a DVD of rarely seen Stones Throw videos
ranging from the brilliant (MF Doom, Quasimoto), bizarre (Gary Wilson),
and breathtaking (live 1968 TV performance of Stark Reality). And look
at that price! It's practically nothin'.
Both a great deal and a great release from a label that seems to have
cornered the market on quality control. If they could sell and bottle
that, they'd be billionaires, and we'd have a new president...but I
digress! [DH] 
Deluxe
European only
double CD edition of one of Stones Throw’s classic back
catalogue
albums, released alongside recent reissues from Quasimoto, Lootpack and
PBW among others. Vibraphone prodigy Monty Stark moved from Oklahoma to
Boston in the late 60s to form one of the baddest, weirdest jazz/funk
combos of all time. ‘Now’ compiles Stark
Reality’s ultra-rare LP of
Hoagy Carmichael covers (termed the ‘holy grail’ of
beat digging) with
a bonus
disc containing Stark-penned rarities and even a Boston public TV
appearance.
This is fuzzed out virtuosity at it’s left-field finest.
Exceptional
value for two CDs at a bargain price. 
One of the
West
Coast's most consistently popular hip-hop duos, Thes One and Double K
are back with their fifth album, new label, updated sound and all that.
"Stepfather" is jam packed with 20 songs with guest shots from George
Clinton (yeah, THAT one), Monty Stark, and Kat Ouano of Crown City
Rockers (f/k/a Mission). First single "Tuxedo Rap" already making the
rounds at indie and college radio and video shows. Inside the case
you'll also find a free bonus DVD of live show footage, plus a short
film produced by the artists themselves.