Carlton Jumel Smith was born and raised in Spanish Harlem – NYC. He is mad of soul music since his mother who shepherded an 8-year-old Carlton to see The James Brown Revue at the legendary Apollo Theater, in 1968. This show left an indelible imprint on Carlton. Since this day he started to listen to the mastery of soul music and then to digged vinyls. The profundity of their impact was such that Carlton has their names tattooed up and down both of his arms. Nowdays he is the owner of a huge collection of records and he still has all his mama’s 45s and Lps. Mr. Smith is a world-renowned singer, songwriter, producer and killer stage. He released “1634 Lexington Ave.” a dope second Lp available on Timmion Records, in 2019. The connoisseur has chosen 10 records of gospel, soul-funk… from his collection and he explains his choices exclusively for Star wax...

1 - “Gotta Get Over The Hump” / Simtec & Wylie

(Released in 1971 on Gene Chandlers Mister Chand label distributed by Mercury records)
Once upon a time there were a lot of double dynamite soul men teams. Arista records Mike & Bill ("Somebody”s Gotta Go"), James & Bobby Purify ("I'm Your Puppet"), etc. Stax records Mel & Tim ("Starting All Over Again"/"Backfield In Motion") and of course the mighty Sam & Dave. Often overlooked was this duo with the cartoon character names, Simtec & Wylie. Aside from an appearance on Soul Train there isn’t much footage of them. This particular slice of wax hinted at what could have been had their been proper promotion behind them. Released on Gene Chandlers CHAND label and distributed by Mercury records this soul gem peaked at number but that was in no way indicative of what they had to offer to the soul cognoscenti. Much like Sam & Dave they had the high pitched 2^nd tenor Jackie Wilson stylings of Simtec & the Paul Williams/Dave Prater darker hued vocals of Wylie which made for a great combination. Having been sampled by the iconic hip hop group Brand Nubian Simtec and Wylie deserve much respect for the music they made.

2 - “Slow Motion” / Johnny Williams (Released in 1972 on Philadelphia International records) 
Philadelphia International is best known for thought provoking, uplifting songs about love & life. Their record made heartache & heartbreak seem a little easier to deal. My point is seldom did they engage in gutbucket soul/funk. If it was on Philly International & it was uptempo? Chances are it was arranged by the late, great Bobby Martin & it was a power glide, groove that caught up with you as it went on. Think M.F.S.B.’s “Love Is The Message”, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes “Tell The World How I Feel About ‘Cha”, or Jean Carns “Free Love”. But this cut by Johnny Williams went against the grain & shattered all the norms regarding what a Philadelphia International record should sound like. Lyrically it said nothing earth shattering. It just focused on how good this girls love was & the vibe was “…the slower you do it, the longer it’s gonna last…”. Johnny had a voice that sounded like it belonged on Atlantic/Stax records or Stax & the band grooved like that was where they wanted to be also. It’s a HELL of a funky, soulful record! Live performance at Soul Train at the official video below.

3 - “I Still Love You” / Windy City (Released in 1980 on KelliArts records)
This record aches with a yearning for the beauty of a love once shared. I don’t believe this group went on to fulfill the potential promised by this beautiful single but nonetheless they recorded this one single that will live on forever. Any man that has ever gone through the pain of a broken relationship in which his feelings have remained the same but the love of his life has moved on should be able to identify with the tone of the pleading in the lead vocal.

4 - "Get Involved" / George Soule (Released in 1973 on Rick Halls FAME label distributed by United Artists records)
I hate to call this blue eyed soul because to me it’s just pure soul! Soul music and some sho ‘nuff soul singing. Nothing too over the top just his little “…tell ‘em about it…” and “dadgummits” along with other ad libs. The message was indeed timeless and with the state of the worlds politics today, things are no better than they were back in the early 70’s when this was first released.

5 - “Come In Heaven (Earth Is Calling)” / Tata Vega (Released in 1977 on Motown records)
Tata Vega channeled Mavis Staples gospel fervor on this track and still managed to sound like no one else other than herself. The male vocalist that’s adlibbing at the beginning sounds suspiciously like Marvin Gaye and this sets us off on a consciousness journey that wouldn’t be out of place on Marvin’s, “What’s Going On” album. Tata is one of America’s greatest singers ever and this song as well as her performance solidifies that fact for me.

6 - “Taking Away Your Space” / Two Tons Of Fun (Released in 1980 on Fantasy Records)
This vocal performance from Martha Wash is simply thrilling and death defying. This anointed woman reaches notes that are way down deep inside all of this, especially when dealing with such a tender topic as unrequited love…but we seldom get to see or hear these notes…we just feel them internally. Well Ms. Wash externalized them for us all and it was one of the greatest vocal performances ever recorded.

7 - “I Want You” / Wilson Pickett (Released in 1979 on EMI America records)
“Wicked” Wilson Pickett joined forces with Brass Constructions Jeff Lane for a surprisingly solid album. This Lp was released in the late 70's when disco was at its height and was most popular. Soul music and Rhythm and Blues were on their way out so the album did not get much airplay. Nonetheless Wilson Pickett's vocals were still very soulful and very satisfying. Wilson Pickett worked with Jeff Lane - a producer who was famous for his work with a band from Brooklyn called Brass Construction.  Jeff Lane and Wilson Pickett also did a follow up album that had no real direction or focus and was even less successful that their first project together. Regardless, they got it right the first time...they captured magic and that will last forever!

8 - “It'll All Be Over” / The Supreme Jubilees (Released in 1979 on S&K records)
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. This song makes you want to weep…with joy. In spite of the foreboding in the song content, it is just a lovely crafted masterpiece of subtle soul singing. Their harmonies just glide and melt all over you.

9 - “The Meditation” / The TNT Band (Released in 1968 on Cotique records)
“…this is the meditator speaking!...” Boriqua!! El Barrio at it’s finest. This song epitomized growing up in the sixties in Spanish Harlem. We had local legends like Flash and the Dynamics. We had international legends like Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe. Then we had the TNT Band. Comprised of two Hispanic cats from around the way Tito & Tony, this record as well as most of the records by this band was considered boogaloo/latin soul and their music never failed to start a party. This song (“The Meditation”) sounded orgasmic at times as the lead vocalist moaned and cajoled whoever the woman was to “…gimme some…” because he “…needed it…”. They almost sounded like it was all a goof and that’s not to say that they didn’t take their music seriously, it just sounded like they were having a hell of a time while they were recording it and isn’t that what it should all be about? I don’t know where they are now but I wish them the best.

10 - “Licking Stick, Licking Stick” / James Brown (Released in 1968 on King records)
The cross stick drum beat. He'd never used this beat on a record before this and he never used it again afterwards. Not even when he performed this very same song live. On record "Licking Stick" is almost a jazzy, funky bossa nova groove that can be played by candle light. Live? It became a tour de force that compelled you to get on the dance floor due to the rifle shot snare drum that Clyde Stubblefield utilized. This is as smooth as funk can possibly get and still be insistent! A James Brown classic that is seldom mentioned and seldom played but deserves all the accolades that any funk classic can get. NO less an authority than Bob Marley ripped off some of the lyrics from this for his song, “Soul Shakedown Party”. NO ONE gets away from James Browns influence!