Both from 1976.
Spaceball has: Moonwalking, startripping, spaceballing, a message from Mars, Lots of percussion, flutes, Larry Coryell, Moog organs, Moog synthesizers, string symphonizers, Hammond B-3, Fender Rhodes, clavinet, shoobydoowahs, ez listening space synth jazziness, heavy rubberband bass, breakbeats, P-Funk choruses, prog-funk, a capella vocal craziness alongside orgasmic moans, guitar solos, and horns.
Life On Mars has: "A Prophet Named K.G.", swinging TSOP space disco, trumpets, a message from K.G. a.k.a. Kenny Gamble on the back of the album about the Viking space probe, stargazing, the rings of Saturn, Tomita-worthy ambient intros, tight as hell funk grooves with synth madness laid on top, a kinda drippy ballad redeemed by washes of Moog, a seriously spaced-out love jam called "One Million Miles From The Ground", a drum sound to die for, breakbeats, saxophone solos.
― scott seward (scott seward), Wednesday, 19 May 2004 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)
i've been bumpn both of these on the regular lately... love them both, but will have to go with Spaceball. The vocals on Life On Mars don't do much for me and Startripper is the best thing on either record.
― angel duster, Thursday, 20 May 2004 16:04 (twenty-one years ago)
They both sound great. I shall steal them along with the Katatonia albums.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 20 May 2004 16:07 (twenty-one years ago)
For the record, I would have to go with Spaceball too. There's a lot more going on. Life On Mars definitely has its share of nice tunes though.
― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 20 May 2004 16:08 (twenty-one years ago)
one year passes...
ok, so i listened to "Spaceball" last night. it's pretty great, but i prolly shouldn't have spent $25 on it. the a capella orgazmo title track is by far the best one on there. i've only heard 2 songs from that particular Dexter Wansel album, but i think i'm gonna have to choose "Life on Mars". i just listen to disco more than i listen to fusion. i also got the self titled Larry Young's Fuel recently (for a lucky 4$, so i guess it's even), and i'd even choose that one over spaceball. Spaceball seems overly noodly, where as Fuel gets really funky and into the groove. and the songs are better.
anyways, here are a few YSI's of Wansel tracks for those interested.
Life On Mars - beautiful track. really reminds me of something the Mizell Brothers (hey scott, you threads aren't the only ones that go unanswered).
Theme from the Planets - this is why at the beatheads are buying this album. a big open break twice in the track. i really like this song, but i can see how some people would think the sexy sax is a bit too smooth jazzy.
Disco Lights - this is from the album right after "Life on Mars", but it's fun.
― [that bastard] jaxon (jaxon), Thursday, 16 June 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)
oh, and here's where i first learned of Dexter Wansel.
http://www.freestylegrooves.com/rootmain.htm. it's a pretty good resource for learning about 80s r'n'b and disco and stuff
― [that bastard] jaxon (jaxon), Thursday, 16 June 2005 16:41 (twenty years ago)
seventeen years pass...
three months pass...
Sounds like I need to check out Spaceball, but since this is the only Larry Young thread I'm here to enthuse about how great Lawrence of Newark is, just absolutely phenomenal stuff.
― Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 26 January 2023 15:52 (two years ago)
The frenetic organ, congas and vocals climax of "Khalid of Space Part 2" is giving me goosebumps right now.
― Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 26 January 2023 15:53 (two years ago)
two months pass...
Following the trail from Fernando Saunders with Lou Reed led me to this Larry Young record, a delightful slice of bone-dry, proggy '70s fusion/funk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdzLgvnA1GU
― change display name (Jordan), Thursday, 30 March 2023 16:50 (two years ago)
five months pass...