Clive Caines Cultural Contributor
Many a time I have heard the explanation of “I don’t listen to the lyrics I just enjoy the music” from people you’d expect to be put off the music of certain dancehall or rap artistes.
Now I’m not much interested in re-running the debate kicked off by Buju Banton’s ‘Boom Bye Bye’ but I believe that it is possible to have great music wrapped around lyrics with a message worth paying attention to; so there should be no need to feel compromised.
To prove this point I want to offer what I believe are the ten best musical tracks that have a great message for all of us.
Gil Scott-Heron: ‘It’s your world’
What better way of starting the top ten than with the music of poet, rapper, writer and lyricist supreme Gil Scott-Heron? The music that Gil Scott produced with Brian Jackson proves that no one needs to be compromised if you have something intelligent to say and ‘It’s your world’ is a fine example of music for the head and the feet:
Odyssey: ‘Our lives are shaped by what we love’
For some the name Odyssey, I’ve no doubt, will bring to mind ‘Use it up wear it out’ but “park that” I say. What you want is the band whose music appeared on the Motown subsidiary label ‘Mowest’. The sentiments bound up in the track ‘Our lives are shape by what we love’ need no deep explanation the title says it all; just listen and appreciate (unfortunately the album cover displayed with this is wrong but that’s a downside with Youtube):
James Brown: ‘World’
No list of this sort would be complete without including James Brown and I have no intention of disappointing so will include the track ‘World’ among my top ten. The original was released on the ‘King’ label and is highly collectable but this track is not as well known as it should be and can still be found for reasonable money:
Cymande: ‘Promised Heights’
Influential is certainly a term that can be applied to James Brown but the word influences is very important to understanding Cymande. Formed in the UK the band members came from Jamaica and Guyana and reflected the music of these Islands, as well as black America, in a musical mix that they called Nyah-Rock, which is made up of Calypso, Rythmn and Blues and Jazz. The title track from the album Promised Heights adequately sums up what Cymande are all about:
Minnie Ripperton: ‘The edge of a dream’
The next artist on my list left us far too young but left behind a welter of great music. Unfortunately many people can only think of ‘Loving you’ when Minnie Ripperton is discussed but she’s was much more than that, just listen to ‘The edge of a dream’
Charlene and the Soul Serenaders: ‘Can you win’
Call me naïve but I’m continually astonished by the amount of artist that put out great music yet do not get the rich rewards they deserve. Charlene and the Soul Serenaders track ‘Can you win’ didn’t do much business when it was released in 1970, understandably lack of success resulted in the band not being around for long. Ironically, if you can find a copy of ‘Can you win’ now you’d have to dig deep in your wallet to secure it.
Sebastian Williams: ‘Get your point over’
‘Get your point over’ was a departure from Sebastian Williams’ usual soul releases in terms of subject matter but it lacks none of the energy you’d expect of a cracking dance track. This is another single that isn’t readily available but you can still find copies at more than reasonable prices if you know where to look:
Mike James Kirkland: ‘Hang on in there’
If John Legend is willing to acknowledge the might of Mike James Kirkland by covering ‘Hang on in there’ then those into R ‘n’ B who think they know something should check out his music. You could do worse than starting with ‘What have we done’ its lyrics are as pertinent today as when it was first released:
Leon Ware: ‘What’s your world’
The last track on this list should be listened to carefully, then don’t all great tracks demand your time and attention, and you’ll not only be aware of a positive message for all but you’ll also hear a voice that forms a bridge between Marvin Gaye and Maxwell both of whom Ware has worked with.
