Lee Fields- "My World"
03.19.2008
"Hypocrisy / this new democracy / fabricated by deception and lies / the truth we seek / shall be told in a week / stay tuned or it will pass you by"
The Song:
Bursting in with a nuanced beat and funky bass groove, draped in a texturally layered accompaniment of soft horns, vibes and guitar--a supple bed for the forthcoming moans- "My World" proposes its intention to seduce at once. Lee Field & the Expressions are clearly masters of the classic stylistic traits of seventies soul. As the orchestration thins out for the verse, the individual elements are given space to shine, while Field's delivers the words, sounding notably reminiscent of James Brown. His lyrics reveal this track to be a cry for compassion in a harsh, unjust world. "Hypocrisy / this new democracy / fabricated by deception and lies / the truth we seek / shall be told in a week / stay tuned or it will pass you by," he sings at the conclusion of the first verse. This, however, should not be considered at odds with its sexy funk.
Lee Fields has been singing soul since the late sixties, working with such progenitors of funk music as Kool and the Gang, Sammy Gordon and the Hip-Huggers, and Little Royal. His solo start came on the heels of this, releasing a series of raw, punch packing 45 singles. Despite never gaining broad mainstream appeal, Fields has become known as a connoisseur's funk master. Fittingly, his early singles have become collector's items. Having taken a breather during the greater part of the 80's, Fields came back on the circuit during the 90's, releasing albums and limited edition singles under the Ace, Avanti and Desco labels. Currently, he resides at Truth & Soul, which has just released the compilation Fallin' Off The Reel Vol. 2 containing two of Field's recently recorded tracks.
The Background:
Fallin' Off the Reel Vol. 2 follows the success of Truth and Soul's first edition of the compilation, Fallin' Off the Reel, released in the fall of 2006. The forthcoming second-edition Truth & Soul compilation boasts a varied roster of current-day and older funk and soul artists, including Timothy McNealy, El Michels Affair, Bronx River Parkway, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Tyrone Ashley's Funk Music Machine, Black Velvet, Quincy Bright and The Fabulous Three. The compilation comprises a wide selection of contemporary music that has descended from the rhythm and blues, soul, and funk music traditions. Fallin' Off The Reel Vol. 2 has every Truth & Soul 45 single presented in chronological order from 2006 until now (available for the first time on CD), including one previously unreleased bonus track. The Gatefold Double-LP includes selected tracks from both volumes of the Fallin' Off the Reel series, plus rare tracks.
About Truth & Soul: When Soul Fire Records officially retired in 2004, Soul Fire house musicians Leon Michels and Jeff Silverman started their own label, Truth & Soul, which has now become a label and production house based out of Brooklyn, NY that specializes in creating deep funk and soul music. They have released a slew of 7" and 12" vinyl releases by bands such as El Michels Affair, Bama & The Family, Lee Fields & the Expressions, Timothy McNealy, Asiko, Bronx River Parkway, and many more. Both Michels and Silverman produce, perform on, engineer, and mix all of the label's releases and productions.
Audio Streams:
Lee Fields- "My World"
http://www.audibletreats.com/download/TruthandSoul/Lee_Fields-My_World.mp3
Fallin' Off the Reel Vol.2 Megamix
http://www.audibletreats.com/download/TruthandSoul/Truth_and_Soul-Megamix.mp3
Bronx River Parkway - "La Valla"
http://www.audibletreats.com/download/TruthandSoul/Bronx_River_Parkway-La_Valla.mp3
http://www.audibletreats.com/download/TruthandSoul/Bronx_River_Parkway-La_Valla.asx
Video Streams:
Rostarr and Truth & Soul- "Percussive Movement No. 5 -Timelapse"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR1m-TJA5FY
Rostarr and Truth & Soul- "Percussive Movement No. 7 -Timelapse"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nduomkqMPs
Wu Tang & El Michels Affair -"Bring Da Ruckus"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hkLBwaCN8Y
Raekwon & El Michels Affair - "Criminology"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmuJYocq7Ns
Raekwon & El Michels Affair "C.R.E.A.M."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei2JbYeHl-I
El Michels Affair - "Thinking Black" (Ike Turner track)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PxhEObUpPA
Bio, pictures, and streams available here:
http://www.audibletreats.com/download/TruthandSoul/
Other Streams:
Amy Winehouse - "Love Is A Losing Game" (Truth & Soul Remix)
http://www.audibletreats.com/download/TruthandSoul/LoveIsALosingGame_TruthandSoulRemix.mp3
Truth & Soul MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/truthandsoulrecords
Truth & Soul Imeem:
http://truthandsoul.imeem.com
Truth & Soul Official Site:
http://www.truthandsoulrecords.com
Please contact Michelle if interested in talking with Truth & Soul