Somewhere in the realm between The Langley School Music Project and the Jackson 5 exists this new compilation,Home Schooled:The ABC's of Kid Soul,brought to us by the geniuses at Numero Group Reocrds.
In previous releases they have found the rarest of releases in the regional soul/funk crates, usually spotlighting a studio or label, their story, and their songs. For this release they span the US, digging up impossibly rare records, that were made by kids in the early to mid 70's. I'm not talking boy band and girl group here and I'm not talking about teens. Almost everyone featured on these sides is 12 and under.
The Man Child Singers
Now sure, a lot of these records are direct attempts to cash in on the Jackson 5's sound and image, but the reality is; they are all dreams commited to vinyl. Some of these records were on such small labels, they never had a chance. In that way, these tunes shine like those of the Langley Project kids.
But it isn't all innocence... Some of the parents were really pushing these kids, some we're just laundering money with a record label , and some came from artistic parents (Man Child Singers feature Merl Saunder's kid's), but damn it,some of these tweens can play(check out the 11 year Jr.Moore w/His Soulettes in comments-Junior started early he was already in his second band at 11, below is his first).
I've posted some of the vintage photos from the booklet (kinda look like dachmo's) and each song is given a full history, so you can get a perspective on all that Michael Jackson wrought.
From The Collins Kid's to Kris-Kross, there has always been a market for pop records made by children. And of course, since it was the 70's, and music was in the schools, more kids we're actually playing. Sometimes I'm creeped out by kids as pop stars and I don't understand the fascination, but listening to these forgotten sides, really explains it all. We'll never be that young again.
Jack and the Mods
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Isn't Numero the best?
I can understand cringe factor with child pop stars, but I also feel that the vast majority of kids don't have nearly enough music in their lives. I don't know if they all need to make records or tour 30 cities in 30 days, but who would it hurt if more of them could play the drums, or sing harmonies, or play the guitar?
Kids and music, two of my favorites, why not together?
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Thats pretty cool even that this kids were just giving it a shot. I had no idea
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@jenny-I agree. I feed my kid music and I hope he wants to play and plays, although the kid rock explosion in Brooklyn can be a bit precious( and cool at the same time.) I mean 3PM Sunday concerts, toddlers with axes, and bands turning it down so as not to wreck 2 year old ear drums.
Numero..woman, I dig that label, For someone who buys old music as much as I do, I love it when there is quality control. Great packaging,Great notes, and always interesting music..In the world of re-issues they are way up in the top echelons..
How's Polly?
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Yeah that's pretty cool. Here's my question, they as funky as this
Ok, maybe, but hey she's only two, got a bit to go. (you know I gotta show my daughter of sometime)
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There's nothing as sweet and funky as that..Cheers
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That Jr. Moore track is hot! Why the hell can't my kids do that?
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I hear ya,Brendan..I give me six year old a guitar and all I get is that Boredom's sound, when what I really want is Jimmy Nolen.
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all new stuff here for me to funk to....and i certainly appreciate that.
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this sounds a lot better than i have expected, actualy jr. and his soulettes are quite good, love their shoutings on the background. all tracks pretty good to say the least. the jr. moore 7" cover is priceless.. they look very bad ass. nothing to do with the funk but i recall a french kids band back in the 80s that covered punk rock and hardcore classics... now if i just could remember the name.
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I wonder if this group was ever on Sesame Street or the Electric Company. I know some of the main reasons why I love my funk music is because of growing up and watching Sesame Street. I remember some episodes with Stevie Wonder on there. So, I just wonder. Thank you for the informative post!
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@2:In going through the liner notes, i didn't see any mention of that, but I bet some of the kids made waves on local TV in their areas. On a totally different note-I've just been reading, Total Chaos-The Art and Aesthetics of Hip Hop, by Jeff Chang. It is a collection of essay,articles, and forums compiled in a scholarly way. Based on the stuff you've been posting on lately, I think you might be interested. It really goes into detail about hip hop culture and its part in the multicultural world it helped create. Check It if you haven't already.
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Wow! Thanks. I have never heard of him! But, now I see that I may be reading his blog on the regular.
See: http://www.cantstopwontstop.com/blog/index.cfm
I appreciate you looking out for me.
A friend of mine recently is editor of this book: Beats, Rhymes and Life: What We Love and Hate about Hip Hop (Kenji Jasper is my friends name) by Ytasha Womack.
But, I think I am going to read your suggestion first!
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Thanks 2,sounds good.
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The Original and Founder of the band "Step By Step"
Johnnie Gee (Milwaukee's Kids Soul"
Hello, The original Johnnie Gee here, Making sure America knows I'm still alive, still releasing music, own my label "sidetraxx Records", and more.
Johnnie Gee story is the stuff of which legends are made. It is a saga that began in America's heartland at age 9 in Milwaukee Wisconsin, where Johnnie Gee was born on September 29th, 1959 to Elgie and D.W Gee, into a family of seven brothers and sisters.
When Mama Gee, herself a blues lover, noticed her sons' growing interest in music and performing, she devoted herself to the careful development of their nascent talents. Through hard work and dedication, Johnnie, Dewitt, Jerome, and other friends became ,The Exclusive Step By Step. The group began performing professionally in and around Milwaukee and Chicago in 1969; later that year, the siblings took their polished song-and-dance act to Wisconsin's famous "Cuca Records", where James Kirchstein produced LP's and singles from 1959 until the early 1970s.
While the company's bread and butter came from its vast catalog of polka and ethnic LP's, Cuca also recorded pop, rock 'n' roll, rhythm & blues, folk, and traditional jazz, with an output of over 1000 45-rpm singles. Because most of the artists were from Wisconsin or adjacent states, the Cuca recordings present a concentrated view of the area's ethnic and popular music. Read more about Cuca records here.
Johnnie Gee has promoted his career for over 30 years and still has a strong presence among his fans. At age nine, Johnnie recorded his first single with Step By Step; by age 13 he was already earning his own living as an entertainer. After 37 years, Platinum Records, Brunswick Records, Cuca Records and Sidetraxx Records have brought back the classic early sounds of Step By Step and Johnnie Gee.
Johnnie Gee and "Step By Step" went on later to record and sign with the famous "Brunswick Records". Johnnie Gee and The Step By Step Band turned the place out, winning over Nat Tarnopol. The staff reaction was welcoming , the founder of the New York-based Brunswick Records, then the most successful R&B label around.
Captivated by what they saw and heard, Nat signed the group immediately. Thus began one of the most successful runs by a recording group in soul, pop, R&B music history. Johnnie Gee is currently back on the scene with his new 'EP' "One More Time", Time After Time and The ABC's Of Kid Soul, if you like retro soul, pop or R&B, music with a professional sound from a recording artist that still has original product selling thousands in Japan, China , Australia, US , The Netherlands and many more countries around the world. The original Album that started Johnnie Gee's career has just been re-issued by several large distribution companies such as JVC, Victor Ent, BMG and many more.
I'm very happy with the new release "Home Schooled: The ABC's Of Kid Soul", it brings back the love in music and the original sounds that you can't get in current bands or artist today, enjoy "Time After Time", it was the highlight of my young career, and the begining of "Step By Step" band.
Please visit my web sites at:
www.gecomgroup.net www.myspace.com/johnniegee www.gecomcorpinter.com www.gecomcorpinter.com/bboytraxxmall.html
You also can find Johnnie Gee in any major search engine by simply typing in "Johnnie Gee"
Thanks so much, hope to hear from you soon..
Johnnie Gee
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Thanks so much for stopping by Mr.Gee..glad to see you are still making it in this crazy business.