First Favorites

Well to start things off, I’m going to up some of my favorites of the hip hop, blues, and jazz genres. Make sure to visit this often and to tell your friends about it, I rely on your support. The more downloads, the longer I can continue to host these albums. As for the music...

ERIC B. & RAKIM – PAID IN FULL (1987)

This first album is one of my favorite hip hop albums of all time. It’s the album that put Eric B. & Rakim, and hip hop in general, on the map. I am talking, of course, about their epic Paid In Full album. Ten tracks of pure hip hop at its finest. Even if you’re not a hip hop fan but you’re looking to get into it, this is the place to start. Rakim’s lyrics and flow were so ahead of his time, it makes you wonder how rappers today have seemingly devolved and are unable to come up with anything original or revolutionary. My favorite cuts on this album would have to be the authoritative “I Ain’t No Joke,” “My Melody,” and “Eric B. Is President,” though the entire album is classic material.

Track Listing:

1. I Ain't No Joke
2. Eric B. Is on the Cut
3. My Melody
4. I Know You Got Soul
5. Move the Crowd
6. Paid in Full
7. As the Rhyme Goes On
8. Chinese Arithmetic
9. Eric B. Is President
10. Extended Beat

Sample it here (part 1) and here (part 2), buy it here

JOE BONAMASSA – A NEW DAY YESTERDAY LIVE (FULL SETLIST) (2001)

Joe Bonamassa is a name that is now becoming synonymous with blues guitar. He went from opening for B.B. King at age 12 to playing in his first band at 18, to releasing classic after classic albums. This particular live album is no exception; recorded in December of 2001 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, this live outing is one of the earliest live recordings of Joe, and the quality is outstanding. Bonamassa smokes the entire show, and will leave you stunned by the time you reach track 15. If you are a fan of blues or just searing guitar, you must grab this album. This is without a doubt my favorite Joe Bonamassa album, and it may be my favorite live album, as well.

NOTE: This is slightly different from the official release, seeing as I ripped this straight from the DVD. The audio is phenomenal, and there are a few more tracks on here that are unreleased on the official live release of it. Also, there are no errors on any of these tracks (I’ve read numerous reviews that a few tracks skip and cut out on the official CD). So enjoy this with a few bonus extras!

Track Listing:

1. Introduction
2. Cradle Rock
3. Steppin' Out/Rice Pudding
4. A New Day Yesterday
5. Miss You, Hate You
6. Walk In My Shadows
7. I Know Where I Belong
8. Colour And Shape
9. Trouble Waiting
10. If Heartbreaks Were Nickels
11. Don't Burn Down That Bridge
12. Joe's Guitar Solo
13. Are You Experienced?
14. Had To Cry Today
15. Outro/No Slack

Sample it here (part 1) and here (part 2), buy it here

STANLEY TURRENTINE AND MILT JACKSON – CHERRY (1972)

This is one of the first records that got me into jazz music. I was getting into some older hip hop, and I had come across the track “My Philosophy” by the group Boogie Down Productions. I remembered hearing the saxophone sample from “Sister Sanctified” and I decided that I had to have the original as soon as possible. So I did some searching and I eventually managed to grab a copy of it. This record is a perfect blend of jazz fused with funk and soul. The first track I heard, “Sister Sanctified,” is still my favorite on this album. With Milt Jackson on vibraphone and Stanley Turrentine on sax, you really can’t go wrong. Man, that cat can blow! I’ll be sure to continue the Turrentine uploads; I know his work is extremely hard to find, and I think that everyone needs to have a little Turrentine in their collection.

Track Listing:

1. Speedball
2. I Remember You
3. Revs
4. Sister Sanctified
5. Cherry
6. Introspective
7. The More I See You (Bonus)

Sample it here, buy it here

I'll be trying to post every day or every other day, so stay tuned for more music.
-PJ