Brian Owens
Soul of Cash LP
scum stats: black vinyl version with different cover seems widely available, smoke version (this) limited to 100 copies, black/white insanity version limited to 20 copies (someone send me this one!)
Right around the two year anniversary of these record of the week missives, so it seems appropriate to go and revisit Soul Step, the label that released the first record I ever wrote about here (“Lemonade” by the Gills, FYI)
Melvin over at Soul Step is relentless, he just keeps on putting out stuff faster than I can listen to it. This one, with Daru Jones production/drum work on it along with Robert Randolph contributions AND the theme (soul covers of Johnny Cash) made it stick out from the rest.
And it’s solid here. Songs that are buried in the fiber of your being reinterpreted respectfully. The feeling where you know the lyrics to a tune but can’t place why, because the arrangement/instrumentation are totally unconnected to your ingrained memory…that makes your brain stronger.
In my opinion, labels like Soul Step are what actually keep the world of music interesting and exciting. On the front lines, exploring and discovering and sharing. Doing it for the LOVE of it all. I’ve seen folks come and go in this world, looking to MAKE MONIE$$$$$$ and you learn to be able to sniff ‘em out the moment they set foot in the pressing plant.
This isn’t something you do because you want to get rich. That’s what banking and the stock market are for. You get involved with music because you can’t stop yourself from doing it…whether it’s performance, running a label, whatever.
The feeling I get when ever a Soul Step package arrives, is “Damn right, keep it up.” I fully encourage you to support them (and ANY independent labels) in any way you can. They are what keeps new, young, creative talent moving. They are necessary. Your life would be a much worse place without them.
I’ve got a spare copy of the smoke vinyl version here, and it goes to the commenter here who tells the best true story about how they lost or found cash. I once found a $20 bill in the water at Metro Beach in Michigan. Went and bought some packs of Upper Deck hockey cards with it. Clearly you have a story better than that, right?
PS. I know the two year anniversary is actually next week, but with baby #3 due to arrive any minute, I’m not planning on a write-up then, so we’ve got an amazing piece of nostalgia lined up from TMR distro champion Cam Sarrett. Stay tuned.
Wow this was a great mail surprise today! I had no idea I won, so the “sorry for the delay” note was entirely not necessary! Cheers, and thanks so much. This will be enjoyed immensely!
I’ll bet Buddy was awesome! Never pass up the chance to see a pioneer who’s 85.
I was in Grand Rapids last night and found out that Buddy Guy was playing the same venue Jack White played back in April (what a great show!). I went to the box office to get the cheapest ticket – standing room for $30 then went behind the theatre and found $4 in the alleyway sitting on a grate. I immediately thought of this thread and said I have to post this one!
I love this album. Got it through my monthly VNYL subscription. Definitely a nice find and addition. ??
but did you pull anything good out of those packs of hockey cards?
When I was a kid, I lived near the town park, and we would scrounge for returnable bottles, and when the carnival came to town, we would go early in the morning and look for coins, and anything someone dropped. Especially near the dime toss.
Bought many packs of baseball cards and candy bars back in the 70’s
Ben, I find on average 11¢ every day! Usually a dime and a penny. Found out a superstition, when you find a dime, that means a deceased loved one is watching over you! I probably find $33 bucks a year, lots of dead people watching over me. My recently passed Grandmother, Nanny, lived to 96 years old. She would find a penny, tape it to a business card or paper that may or may not have to do with where and when she found it. Either way, I have dozens of her pennies on paper that read like a diary. I just pop the coin in my purse, perhaps I should document my finds, but 11¢ found at the store isn’t that interesting, or is it?
This is such a killer one. Good tunes all day long.
This has nothing to do with finding cash money, but I must share the time I had the most vivid dream of Johnny Cash ever. It felt similar to sleep paralysis, being in my bed and the surroundings all familiar..but then like a rip into another dimension I could just see Johnny Cash, performing. No interaction, just like he was there in front of me and I had some weird glimpse into 70’s era cash on stage. I woke up, and that dream was still clear as day. Always stuck with me.
Again, not a finding cash story but just thought it be a good spot to share. Cheers!
*My DAD not Dan
My Dan saw a 100 bill flying around in an street interception, we were waiting to the light to change, and he jumped out of the car and started chasing the bill that keeps flying away from him, the cars on the other side had a green light and did not want to run him over, he is 75 years old, so finally he grabs the bill!… I see his face and it was a one dollar bill! I tried to recorded him with the phone but it was so hilarious, I could not stop laughing for a while.