At last, the present is getting Soul!

April 23, 2009 11:45 PM

Soul!New York City PBS affiliate WNET have digitized 9 episodes of Soul!, a early 1970's live music program, providing a groovy video interface with chapters to break down each hour long episode.

I ran across this whilst looking for Rahsaan Roland Kirk and his multiple saxophone performances and wow, I never would've thought I'd find something like his appearance on October 4, 1972.

posted by myopicman (20 comments total)

Almost forgot: found via Things I'd Rather Be Doing.
posted by myopicman at 11:49 PM on April 23

Yay. Big fat yay. Thanks for the heads up, myopicman. And regarding Rahsaan, check the FPP I did on him a while back. Typically, some of the YT clips have been pulled, but some are still there.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:00 AM on April 24

Awesome post. Currently checking out the episode with The Persuasions on as there's very little of their work on YouTube -- and they open with my favourite song off Street Corner Symphony, Buffalo Soldier.

That song alone would have made it all worthwhile for me, but there's nine hours of this stuff to explore.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 12:27 AM on April 24

Bobby Hebb's sets are pretty fantastic on that episode as well. And here's his Myspace page! Good to know he's still with us and still gigging after all those years.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 12:37 AM on April 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

YES! Please oh please someone write a Boxee feed!

The first kalimba solo is based off of the Promenade/Great Gate Of Kiev theme from Mussorgsky.
posted by sourwookie at 1:17 AM on April 24

(and props to Rimsky Korsakov)
posted by sourwookie at 1:18 AM on April 24

"throw your big leg over me mama, I might not get this good again"

I am seriously rethinking my devotion to The Last Waltz.
posted by sourwookie at 1:22 AM on April 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

The credits say the name of the film is "Sounder."
posted by sourwookie at 2:05 AM on April 24

A mere favorite is not adequate to show my appreciation for this post.

I love this.
posted by louche mustachio at 2:25 AM on April 24

I'm impressed with the quality of the transfer. I know what their bitrate constraints are, and its hard to make a 35-year-old show look that good under any circumstances. That is really good work.
posted by Mayor Curley at 4:12 AM on April 24

I know you like Soul! or else you wouldn't be here.
posted by Pollomacho at 4:33 AM on April 24

Rahsaan Roland Kirk. The man still surprises. Thanks for the post, man.
posted by ardgedee at 7:35 AM on April 24

yes! yes! yes!
everything about this link is of the highest quality.
posted by the aloha at 7:39 AM on April 24

Thanks much for this, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk is one of the great ones.
posted by languagehat at 8:08 AM on April 24

everything about this link is of the highest quality.

Except perhaps the audio quality. Such awesome music, listenable, but compressed & distorted just enough to make my ears want More.

We've been listening to sweet-sounding old vinyl all week here at the ranch, so I'm probably more demanding than usual in this regard.
posted by squalor at 9:31 AM on April 24

Available in Canada -- yay!
posted by maudlin at 11:05 AM on April 24

The good news is that more episodes should be posted shortly, based on evidence on the episode list – I see "to be posted" references scattered throughout the list of episodes, ranging from 1968 to 1973. The list of performances flabbergasts the mind.

And regarding Rahsaan, check the FPP I did on him a while back. Typically, some of the YT clips have been pulled, but some are still there.

flapjax, you never cease to rock. Maybe I can find some vinyl of Reed's as I scout the numerous records stores in Seattle this weekend.
posted by myopicman at 1:27 PM on April 24

squalor,
for a flash player over the net for free i am happy. if i had to pay as an end-user, then i would be more demanding, too.
posted by the aloha at 1:51 PM on April 24

Thanks. Awesome.

I love television like this with the simple backdrops and minimal switching between cameras.
posted by philfromhavelock at 4:48 PM on April 24

What I love about these clips is the sophistication of the presentation: minimalist sets, interviews conducted around a table with white wine, low-key audiences in knits and turtle-neck sweaters. Even when Earth, Wind and Fire is rocking crazy riffs, they stay in their seats and clap politely. Such an infinity of distance between this show and the Jerry Springer clones with the wild audiences and whoopin' and hollerin'. Today's television is an intellectual wasteland by comparison.
posted by Gordion Knott at 6:18 AM on April 25