Description

In 2004, the first volume of Wheedles Groove shone a light on the formerly unheralded soul scene in 1960s and 70s Seattle, followed by a new album in 2008, and then an award winning feature-length documentary film. The on-going Wheedles Groove series continues to present a vast chapter of the citys musical heritage that has little to do with long-haired rock dudes with guitars. No in the world of Wheedles Groove, platform shoes and pimp hats were the order of the day.

But unlike Volume I, Seattles soul scene did not stop in 1975. A new volume, Wheedles Groove Vol. II, documents the period from 1972 to 1987, when funk was superseded by disco and modern soul. Heading into the 80s, artists in the Emerald City caught wind of the hip-hop and electro scenes that were growing in bigger cities across America, and gave the music their own distinct spin.

As the years unfurl in the tracks of Wheedles Groove Volume II, so does the recent history of American music, the songs tracing technological changes and social change, and musics move from the club to disco as live bands moved aside for DJs. Witness Septimus, on the cusp of both, blending a live drummer with a Roland drum machine and cutting Here I Go Again on a disco-friendly 12 single.
Separated from the major centers of soul music, Seattle was a scene that developed out of the gaze of the mainstream music industry, but one that moved just as fast. As John Studamire of the band Priceless remembers, A lot of the groups around town would have to incorporate that disco sound or youd sound totally dated.

Seattles size and location had a great effect on its sound. Artists on the scene were accustomed to playing small, discreetly segregated club shows and pressing short runs of 45s for local radio stations. Touring happened mostly on a regional scale and artists popped up in a variety of different bands. Fans of Volume I will recognize some familiar names here: Robbie Hills Family Affair turn in the soul-jazz gem Dont Give Up and Cold, Bold & Together present the undeniable vocal beauty of Lets Backtrack.

Compiled and sequenced by Seattles DJ Supreme La Rock, this 18-track compilation will also introduce you to the long-forgotten blue-eyed soul boy Don Brown (Dont Lose Your Love) and frustrated talents Push, overlooked for record deals on account of singer Big Joe Ericksons larger-than-life heft (You Turn Me On). Theres Frederick Robinson III and his gospel-funk protest tune Love One Another, Tony Benton of Teleclere being Seattles answer to Prince (Steal Your Love) and Seattle Mariners baseball star Lenny Randle recording a tribute to their infamous stadium.

* Compiled by DJ Supreme La Rock
* All tracks re-mastered
* CD & 2xLP housed in deluxe Stoughton Tip-On gatefold jackets
* New liner notes by Jonathan Zwickel with band interviews and rare archive photos