Wax Poetics

Exactly 1 year ago, we wrote about Wax Poetics Magazine and the announcement of their new business arms — a label and a book publishing company. Their first book Anthology Vol 1 was pretty much a treasure-chest of issues #1-5. They have since released another book called Cover Story which is a compilation of slick album covers for those seeking graphic eye-candy. Their next book, Anthology Vol 2 (Issues #6-10) is just out now.

(Previous issues: Al Green, Herbie Hancock)

If you’ve never heard of this magazine, it’s considered to be an archeological trek through vinyl culture, digging for obscure artists and repackaging them with beautiful photography and tight journalism. Their first issue was released December 2001. It’s been going 8 years strong ever since.

(Previous issues: Mandrill, James Brown, Rick James)

Wax Poetics does a proper job at introducing a forgotten artist, paying them due respect, and illuminating the seeds of how their particular era started. It’s the cliff-notes (or cheat-sheet) to better understand the blueprint of funk, soul, hip hop, and yes, even electro and newer genre’s that rely on sampling. The tenacious writers unearth that obscure soul singer who created the original sample to that hip-hop song you know and love so well. Wax Poetics will find “that guy” who now works at a Dairy Queen in the South, spend the afternoon with him, visit his home, and have him recount his glory days. Most of the times, some of these original artists never even saw a penny in royalties… but they do have GREAT stories to tell.

(Previous issues: Betty Davis, Lee Scratch Perry, David Axelrod)

I checked in with Wax Poetics founder, editor-in-chief, and papa bear, Andre Torres. Andre still hand-cares every decision of his growing empire and still manages to write the most touching informative editor letters in the front of every issue — the Graydon Carter, if you will, for music aficionados. With the financial market crashing and huge publications like CosmoGirl folding this month, small independents like Wax Poetics have only intensified their audience base through diversification.

Jauretsi: Tell me about the initial seeds of creating Wax Poetics and how it was born? What was the mission statement?

Andre Torres: The original idea behind Wax Poetics actually began as a documentary. I was interested in creating a film which showed the subculture of beat digging as a vital part of hip-hop culture. Once I began doing research for books and articles on some of these artists, I was surprised and disappointed how little information there was on bigger soul and funk artists like James Brown and Sly Stone, much less more the obscure artists that I was really interested in exploring. So it was at that point that I realized (before a documentary about this subculture could be put together) that there needed to be a journal/magazine that collected the many stories about artists and records that had become oral legends. The idea was to show the connection between old vinyl records, and the birth of hip-hop through the DJ. Also, how DJs spinning double [records] of break beats at hip-hop’s inception led to the birth of the culture. Then the idea was to show how these same records made their way into the sampler to become the foundation of sampled hip-hop in the 80’s and 90’s into the present day in the form of other sample based music stretching beyond hip-hop into all forms of music.

(Current issue: Shuggie Otis. Previous issue: Bad Brains)

JS: In a quest to remain independent, do you find that the latest extension of your brand (the record label and book division) are entities that are helping one another sustain themselves?

AT: Yes, as an independent in today’s publishing industry, it’s important to not get stuck on the old model of just sticking magazines on the newsstand. That model no longer works, as evidenced by the demise of so many magazines in the last few years. The idea behind building our brand through our record label and book division is to extend our reach across different media in hopes to diversify our message so we’re not dependent on any one thing in particular to stay successful. Of course, everything is born out of the content in the magazine, but the books and records are natural extensions of the brand.

(Wax Poetics Album Re-Issues: East of Underground, Melvyn Price’s Rhythm and Blues)

JS: Now that a few years have passed and you’re looking back, what do you see as the big difference between Anthology #1 (issues 1-5) and Anthology #2 (issues 6-10)

AT: I think the biggest difference between the two books has to do with the preparation we had for the second book. The first book was definitely trial by fire and we really didn’t have any idea what we were doing. We included a lot of illustration in the first book, which we chose not to do in the second book in favor of getting really strong photography to make a much bolder statement this time around. We were a little hipper to what were doing by the time we were into issues 6-10 of the magazine, as opposed to the earlier issues, so we had a little easier time putting this Anthology together as it didn’t require as much editorial finessing.

JS: What’s next on your plate regarding a project you are truly inspired to work on?

AT: Well we just launched our digital download store, Digital.WaxPoetics.com, a couple of months ago, so we’re spending a lot of time growing that right now. That really is the future for us, and is another extension of our brand outside of the magazine, but again, intimately connected to it — especially for newer readers who may not be as familiar with some of the artists we feature in the magazine. This gives them the opportunity to listen and purchase what they’ve been reading about. We’re also working on a documentary about our first record East of Underground which will tell the story of how this obscure limited release U.S. Army band record became so highly collectible in the soul and funk community. So with this project we really come full circle, entering into the documentary film world which is where the Wax Poetics idea was born in the first place.

(Wax Poetics Books: Left: Anthology Vol 2 has tons of artist interviews including 45 King, Incredible Bongo Band, Scientist, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Roy Ayers, Eddie Bo, Eddie Fisher, Montgomery Express, Sun Ra. Right: Cover Story, Album Cover Art)

Order back-issues or Subscribe to Wax Poetics magazine at WaxPoetics.com.
Then you can purchase a full playlist from your favorite issue at Digital.WaxPoetics.com.
J

Raindrops in Yiddish

(The Barry Sisters Are Back!)

The Barry Sisters were originally known as the Bagelman Sisters. They’re the most famous in terms of Yiddish Swing (a genre that popularized Yiddish folk songs to a mass audience — Hava Nagila, anyone?). They sang their jazzed up yiddish tunes in the 1940-60’s on a New York Radio show called “Yiddish Melodies in Swing”.

(The Record I Found on Greg’s Desk Here at the Office)

A few weeks ago, I brushed by Greg’s desk and saw this album art (above). Some publicist sent us the CD which must mean a re-release is coming out soon. I can’t remember for the life of me who sent it.  Anyway, here’s 1 kernel of gold from the CD. Keep an eye open for it soon.

Push Play Below To Hear The Song:

Rain Drops Keep Fallin’ on My Head
(Trop’Ns Fin Regen Oif Mein Kop)

Chances with Wolves

“Chances With Wolves” Radio Show: A Good Reason To Stay in on Thursday Nights.

I can’t say enough times how much I love to discover music — especially an educated set of rare gems.. Listen to new shows every Thursday at 2 am on EastVillageRadio.com.

“Wolf Eyes” is the name of their last radio show (episode #21), submitted by Tim Barber:

Here Come The Warm Jets - Brian Eno
On A Clear Day - The Peddlers
Headless Heroes - Eugene McDaniels
Idle Hands - Harlem River Drive
You’re The Boss - Lavern Baker & Jimmy Ricks
Bat Chain Puller - Captain Beefheart
Gin & Coconut Water - Mama Calypso
Little Rug Bug - Rod Rogers with The “Swinging Strings”
Pass Off The Hatchet - Roger & The Gypsies
Can You Keep A Secret? - De La Soul
Look What They’ve Done To My Song - Melanie
Black Beauty - Ike Turner & The Kings Of Rhythm
Hey Pedro - Chuck Berry
If You Ain’t Got No Bread (You Might As Well Stay Home In Bed) - Billy Hamlin
Shout Bamalama - Otis Redding & The Pinetoppers
It’s Impossible - The King’s English
Little Black Book - Make Up
Hair - Hugo Montenegro
Devil Town (Scott Thorough Remix) - Daniel Johnston
Stengun - Linda Van Dyck With Boo & The Boo Boo’s
Tomorrow’s People - The Children Of Today - McDonald & Giles
Love Story - Rick Nelson
Country Cooking - Jim Dandy
Southern Nights - Allen Toussaint
Peace Begins Within - Nora Dean
Just Because - Andre Williams
Get Out My Life Woman - Bill Cosby
Basketball Throwdown - Cold Crush Brothers Vs. The Fantastic Five
Fishin’ Blues - Taj Mahal
Ringo’s Theme/This Boy (inst) - The Beatles
I love My Dog - Cat Stevens
You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Doktor - Peggy March
Stand In Line & Take Your Turn - Tiny Colbert
The Green Grass Grows All Around - Louis Jordon
Don’t let Your Chance Go By - David McNeil
You’re My Mother - Mud
Night In The City - Y Triban
A Little Bit Of Soul - The Music Explosion
A Man Has To Go Back To The Crossroads - James Brown
Parted - Gary Bartz
It Could Have Been Me - Holly Near
Eve Of Destruction - The Turtles
The Letter - The Nirvana Sitar & String Group
(The title is in Khmer - which has its own alphabet) - Ros Sereysothea
Tow Away - Boris Policeband
Contrabando - Los Brincos
Metamorphosis - Philip Glass

This and 20 other beautiful mixes found directly on their Blog:

Subscribe to “Chances With Wolves” Podcasts.
J

Barack Mixed Tape

Here’s some creatives who started a website with ever-expanding catalogue of free, exclusive songs, each with its own individual art, meant to inspire participation and donations for the Obama Campaign. These are unreleased tracks and demos.

My friend Brooke Williams who goes under the moniker “The New Black” posted a song on this website. Visit BarackRock.iwroteyouasong.org here.

(This is a Photo I Took of Brooke Taking a Picture of Me)

As a reminder, my favorite Barack song last spring was the coveted 45 record which sold out like hotcakes…. listen to Barack Obama by Cocoa Tea here. This particular song is also available on iTunes now.
J

Airbrush Video

Lessons in Creative DIY Self-Promotion

(Click here to see the Video)

I thought I’d share downtown New Yorker Jordan Galland’s new video which he tirelessly edited by himself get his song out on the net. God Bless him. Watch it before a million lawyers call him to “cease & desist”. Apparently, famous people are somehow convinced to sing along to his song too.
J

(Jordan Galland)