How Ala got away with releasing THE MACK soundtrack when it was already on Motown, I'll never know.
I beleive the soundtrack was redone for either a beta or VHS release in '81 or '82.
Alan Silvestri scored it and the Rev. Eugene McD dropped 2 tracks. Party time by McDaniels is the best track IMO. I don't think they needed Motowns permission for this
Okay, I started to say. I haven't seen the Ala version of THE MACK in a long time, but I distinctly remembered it being from the 80's and wondering why they bothered (almost a decade late!).
Also, don't forget the other Watts Prophets album - "The Black Voices: On the Street in Watts."
just getting nitpicky, but i'm not sure why this is always referred to as "the other watts prophets album". "watts prophets" appears no where on the lp, it's attributed to "the black voices". and the only commonality is that both lps feature anthony hamilton as one of the poets. that and it's angry black spoken word ish from la on ala.
Also, don't forget the other Watts Prophets album - "The Black Voices: On the Street in Watts."
just getting nitpicky, but i'm not sure why this is always referred to as "the other watts prophets album". "watts prophets" appears no where on the lp, it's attributed to "the black voices". and the only commonality is that both lps feature anthony hamilton as one of the poets. that and it's angry black spoken word ish from la on ala.
I thought that the "Watts Prophets" weren't really a set lineup; that the name was more or less an assemblage point. Either way, it's on ALA. And you gotta love the liner pics for the comedy albums.
I thought that the "Watts Prophets" weren't really a set lineup; that the name was more or less an assemblage point. Either way, it's on ALA. And you gotta love the liner pics for the comedy albums.
i just reread the prophets interview in brian cross' book and they only vaugely touch upon the issue:
BC: The first album came out in '70, that was before the Watts Prophets?
A: Yeah but the Watts Prophets were in existence. I came down to the studio and I said I have a group, the Watts Prophets. He said we'll cut this one and then we'll cut that one, so we came down to Maverick Flats and we cut it.
when i look it up on amazon, it's now attributed to the prophets, but i think that might be marketing on the part of ala (or whoever did the reissues). because looking at my og there's no mention of it anywhere. the black voices record seems to have been original marketed as more of a poetry compilation than any unified group. plus it's backed by an entirely different band
Black Voices says "Poets courtesy of the Douglass House Foundation", but the Prophets only discuss coming from the Mafundi Coffee House (paging archaic - protogoodlife?)/Watts Writers Workshop.
I've always been curious as to how these guys (and iceberg slim) came to record on what (afaik) was primarily a comedy label.
also did dee dee mcneil ever record anything else of significance? "what is a man?" is
...Your photographic mammaries are etched upon my memories Now that we're the greatest yet I'll have that ass wrapped en brochette I can't believe how much things change When you hear me on the radio We make it look easy Feeling kinda greasy If she's easy-do her nice If she's nice-do her sleazy...
"All Right, All Night"
...Mamas in rehab daddy's drunk real bad I guess we got the place to ourselves so fire up the full stack donkey and fat sack tonight were gonna drink to our health another lost weekend you know you aint dreamin' heaven's just a moustache away...
thank the good lord there is rock like this again.
I've always been curious as to how these guys (and iceberg slim) came to record on what (afaik) was primarily a comedy label.
I think that's why Ala was set up, to separate themselves from the comedy records on Laff (as if the name wasn't enough). It wouldn't look right seeing the ultra-serious Watts Prophets on a label whose logo was a medieval court jester.
I've always been curious as to how these guys (and iceberg slim) came to record on what (afaik) was primarily a comedy label.
I think that's why Ala was set up, to separate themselves from the comedy records on Laff (as if the name wasn't enough). It wouldn't look right seeing the ultra-serious Watts Prophets on a label whose logo was a medieval court jester.
yeah ALA was obviously supposed to be taken much more seriously than the Laff label. However there were some releases that make me think otherwise such as the George Foreman Gospel Sermon LP
Comments
Okay, I started to say. I haven't seen the Ala version of THE MACK in a long time, but I distinctly remembered it being from the 80's and wondering why they bothered (almost a decade late!).
minty, too
just getting nitpicky, but i'm not sure why this is always referred to as "the other watts prophets album". "watts prophets" appears no where on the lp, it's attributed to "the black voices". and the only commonality is that both lps feature anthony hamilton as one of the poets. that and it's angry black spoken word ish from la on ala.
I thought that the "Watts Prophets" weren't really a set lineup; that the name was more or less an assemblage point. Either way, it's on ALA. And you gotta love the liner pics for the comedy albums.
yes! yes! along with one of my all times...
me and the mrs. are tearing up a 12 pack and rocking these while the grill gets hot.
"Ask me why and I'll spit in your eye."
...and grillin'
Cause its still the best Brazilian LP ever (and I minted up yesterday):
i just reread the prophets interview in brian cross' book and they only vaugely touch upon the issue:
BC: The first album came out in '70, that was before the Watts Prophets?
A: Yeah but the Watts Prophets were in existence. I came down to the studio and I said I have a group, the Watts Prophets. He said we'll cut this one and then we'll cut that one, so we came down to Maverick Flats and we cut it.
when i look it up on amazon, it's now attributed to the prophets, but i think that might be marketing on the part of ala (or whoever did the reissues). because looking at my og there's no mention of it anywhere. the black voices record seems to have been original marketed as more of a poetry compilation than any unified group. plus it's backed by an entirely different band
Black Voices says "Poets courtesy of the Douglass House Foundation", but the Prophets only discuss coming from the Mafundi Coffee House (paging archaic - protogoodlife?)/Watts Writers Workshop.
I've always been curious as to how these guys (and iceberg slim) came to record on what (afaik) was primarily a comedy label.
also did dee dee mcneil ever record anything else of significance? "what is a man?" is
"Hot Times"
...Your photographic mammaries
are etched upon my memories
Now that we're the greatest yet
I'll have that ass wrapped en brochette
I can't believe how much things change
When you hear me on the radio
We make it look easy
Feeling kinda greasy
If she's easy-do her nice
If she's nice-do her sleazy...
"All Right, All Night"
...Mamas in rehab
daddy's drunk real bad
I guess we got the place to ourselves
so fire up the full stack
donkey and fat sack
tonight were gonna drink to our health
another lost weekend
you know you aint dreamin'
heaven's just a moustache away...
thank the good lord there is rock like this again.
I think that's why Ala was set up, to separate themselves from the comedy records on Laff (as if the name wasn't enough). It wouldn't look right seeing the ultra-serious Watts Prophets on a label whose logo was a medieval court jester.
yeah ALA was obviously supposed to be taken much more seriously than the Laff label. However there were some releases that make me think otherwise such as the George Foreman Gospel Sermon LP
to be continued...
B.