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.
When I was renovating a house I found $37 in sliver Certificate dollar bills from the 1890’s -1910’s stuffed into one of the walls. Weird part is the house was built in 1972 ¯\(ツ)/¯
P.s. I didn’t realize that paragraph formatting would be omitted once I hit enter. Sorry for the painfully long comment!
Two stories…
I was a young, naive (read: stupid) newlywed. I received about $600 in gift cards from our wedding. I forgot to take them out of my wallet. Said wallet was stolen at the mall.
FOUR years later, I got a call from a police officer. “Ma’am, we have your wallet here.” I practically ran the entire way to the police station, my heart pounding. Aside from my ID, it was empty, much to my 4-years-later repeat dismay. A kick in the pants twice.
Second story…
I went to a music festival, solo. On my way back to the car, I was in agony and couldn’t wait to pump (infant nursing thing). So, as I walked, I pumped. Like a champ. But I guess while fumbling around to set up, I had dropped my small wallet. $70 and ID. Gone. A few months later (maybe 6?), I happened to be checking that pesky Facebook “other” folder for messages. There was a message there from a young guy, the day after the festival. “I found your wallet with $70. I know you live far, so I’ll EMT you the cash.” And he did, minus a good portion that I asked him to keep as a thank-you. He was awesome!
You win some, you lose some. But when you win, it feels twice as good, as it usually means seeing the beauty that lives in so many people.
A few years ago, I was driving on a secluded residential street and saw what I thought was just a $1 bill on the street. Put the car in park, jumped out and picked up what turned out to be a $20 bill. Used it for a gas refill.
When I was about six years old my father and I were walking out of the hospital after visiting my mom after she had my little sister. I saw a $20 bill on the ground and I started to walk over to get it when my father nudged me aside and TOOK IT FOR HIMSELF. Can you imagine the interest on $20 after 18 years? That’s got to be worth like $30 now. It’s a dog eat dog world.
Check out colemine records. Local soul label from Loveland, Ohio. Killer dudes who also runa killer record store called Plaidroom.
not a good story , a great story ! look what I found : http://www.tribuneworldall.com/ben-blackwell-once-slept-with-his-friends-father/ , the hell dude ?!?
Got married, had kids, lost all my cash. Worth it? ¯\(ツ)/¯
Years ago I did find a hundred dollar bill outside of a gas station. Went straight to the liquor store with it. I feel bad about that now.
I just lost another $16 + shipping thanks to this recommendation. But I gained some soul.