Put Your Weight On It Episode 1

Put Your Weight On It Ep. 1 by Art On Wax on Mixcloud

Put Your Weight On It: Episode 1

I.

Threshold-Things Are a Changin’

1. Dizzie Gillespie-The Cool World: Duke’s Fantasy

2. Booker T. and the MG’s-Uptight: Cleveland Now

3. Gordon Parks- The Learning Tree: My Baby’s Gone

4. Galt McDermot-Cotton Comes to Harlem: Cotton and Ed Gravedigger

The Threshold is comprised of songs that come from soundtracks of black films that are predate the  “blaxploitation” era bringing a new narrative to black audiences.The films introduced black audiences to characters that were a departure from the stereotypical depictions of sambo and mammy.  These were fully black cast films.  The characters were more rounded dimensional portrayals of black folks and not the “ebony saint” roles of Sidney Portier of the early 60’s. These particular films were made in the late 60’s to early 70’s.

Funk was a burgeoning genre and had not yet been the cool undercurrent paired with the black film. The soundtracks of this time had a little bit of edge creating a narrative that expressed the characters. The musicians were able to capture the spirit and varying moods of these films. The film composers during this period consisted of jazz musicians, rhythm and blues bands, musical theatre composers, and soul musicians. The funk had not hit the fan yet. Quincy Jones, who scored numerous films during the time, was probably closest to creating outside of the box when it came to spicing up the soundtrack. Also, Herbie Hancock’s Fat Albert Rotunda (69’) was a nice departure from the standard cinematic/romantic format.

II.

Genesis-Power of the People

5. Melvin Van Peebles, Earth Wind and Fire-Sweet Sweetback’s Badaasss Song: Hoppin’ John

6. Isaac Hayes-Shaft: Cafe Regio’s

7. Curtis Mayfield-Superfly: Junkie Chase

The songs selected for Genesis defined the blaxploitation era. They started it all and had a significant impression on black cinema. We get a real feel for that funk and soul sound. Funk was about freedom. Funk was revolution. It countered everything that was deemed normal by American standards. Sweetback was the first film to add funk music brought to you courtesy of a then little known band Earth, Wind, and Fire. The music was distinctly black giving a voice to urban life. The sound also contributed to the conceptually abstract presentation of the film acting as an interwoven element to the entire production. With Sweetback, one can not separate nor distinguish the music from the film; they are equally relative to all of the elements that make Sweetback an entire work of art.

Isaac Hayes brings hot buttered soul sounds to Shaft.  The music was far more successful than the film itself winning an Oscar in 1972 for the title track.  This soundtrack, scored by Hayes, had the musical backing of the funk band The Bar-Kays (if you don’t know their history, look them up).This soundtrack was not as conceptual as Sweetback. However, the songs are quite varied in style giving the score a solid sound from start to finish.  Here is where we first get a taste of the wah wah guitar, fast rhythmic hi hats, heavy horns, and thumping bass. Shaft gave us the formulaic chase grooves, love songs, character theme tunes, etc. that continued to be the composition of blaxploitation soundtracks to come.

And then we have Superfly, the ultimate blaxploitation soundtrack.  This score is brilliant simply due to the fact that it has a finessed social commentary that accompanies the visual.  Mayfield paired his melodic grooves with lyrics that made you think. His score was also extremely unique due to the fact that it has an emotional quality. Mayfield evokes empathy for the characters in songs such as Freddie’s Dead. Curtis Mayfield went scored several films in the blaxploitation genre.  

III.

Right On!-The Essentials

8. Marvin Gaye-Trouble Man: “T” Stands for Trouble

10. Gene Page-Blacula: Movin’

9. Roy Ayers-Coffy: Aragon

10. James Brown-Black Caesar: Down and Out In New York City

11. Willie Hutch-The Mack: Mack’s Stroll/The Getaway

12. J.J. Johnson-Cleopatra Jones: Go Chase Cleo

13. James Brown-Slaughter’s Big Rip-Off: Tryin’ To Get Over

14. Dennis Coffey-Black Belt Jones: Love Theme

15. Rudy Ray Moore-Dolemite: Mayor’s Get Away

16. Willie Hutch-Foxy Brown: Foxy Lady

This selection of songs for The Essentials come from films that are staples in the genre of blaxploitation. They consist of some heavy hitting funky soulful sounds, which is the essence of the blaxploitation soundtrack. Quite a range of artists made their contribution to these soundtracks such as James Brown, J.J. Johnson, Gene Page, Marvin Gaye, and Roy Ayers all of whom are musical geniuses in their own right. They bring sophistication, grit, and savviness to the music. The sounds are a style all their own.  Many musicians were able to flex their musical skills while stretching their musical creativity beyond the general scope of their own standard. The soundtracks are authentically black; culturally enhancing our stride, the way we speak, dress, and boogie.  These artists creates timeless sounds that elevate the simplicity of the blaxploitation narrative. The music rivaled the dominating funk bands of the time and definitely carved out a niche in black music history.