Available on vinyl, CD and digital formats: https://orcd.co/carlsmithburnin

Originally released in 1980 on short-lived Oregon label ‘Match Box Recordings’, ‘Burnin’’ is the only album recorded by Portland jazz/funk band Carl Smith And The Natural Gas Company.

At the time of the release of this album, Carl Smith’s band had already been performing for almost two decades, starting out as the ‘Carl Smith Orchestra’ in 1959, fusing 40s and 50s big band styles with rock’n’roll, before gradually morphing into the more compact jazz / funk influenced outfit you can hear on Burnin’.

“Carl had this bright red delivery van he bought from the natural gas company. He got a hold of that thing and that’s how we went on the road. When we’d roll up to the gig they’d see this big van full of musicians and on the outside it said “Natural Gas Co.” Then out comes Carl Smith and it’s all over.” – Lee Bradford (trumpet, flugelhorn)

The orchestra that Carl Smith founded was a Portland institution for about 50 years all-told, becoming an essential training ground for young musicians on the come-up; even the later Grammy-award winning trumpeter Chris Botti passed through at the age of 17 and Jefferson Airplane’s Signe Anderson was a long-time collaborator. It was “hard to find many jazz players around here who haven’t played with the band” said Smith in a 1980 interview with The Oregonian. They performed at festivals, universities, nightclubs, dance studios and even military bases from Portland to Seattle and everywhere in between, opening for Dave Brubeck, Buddy Miles and Johnny Ray among many others.

The story of this album’s recording has gone down in infamy among the remaining band members and Carl Smith’s daughter Carlee (who performed lead vocals on ‘Love Won’t Let Me Go’), all of whom recall a fraught, rushed recording process, led by a producer who had no musical experience and was nothing more than a puppet for the somewhat shady label owners. This led to the album being cut too fast and accidentally pitched up a key, so if you want to hear it as the band intended, pull the pitch control down a little on your turntable.

“Turns out the whole thing was backed by a bunch of farmers from central Oregon who were looking to take a loss… So here we were playing out and selling records. As soon as we were about to hit one thousand copies sold, their plan was to stop promotion so it would die…but we didn’t know that.” – Peter Piazza (trombone, electric violin, euphonium)

Upon its release, the album received airplay on several radio stations across Oregon and Washington, the band were invited to play live on local TV channel KGW, and copies sold out quickly within the local area. Despite the bitter-sweet circumstances around the record, Burnin’ remains a fantastic document of this well-drilled and talented group of players, showcasing original funk, jazz and soul compositions mostly arranged by Larry Dunlap, who went on to become musical director for the Pointer Sisters and write for Cleo Laine during a long and fruitful career in music.

The original label’s intentional sabotage of Burnin’ has made it a rare and sought-after album for vinyl collectors the World over, so we are delighted to reissue it for the first time ever, complete with its original artwork, accompanied by liner notes providing a detailed oral history of the band, as told by several of its original members.

Carl Smith And The Natural Gas Company - Burnin' (Album Sampler)

Tune into Across 110th Street live every week on 89.9 FM (NYC) or via WKCR.org from 12-2 PM EDT!

Tracklist:
"Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day” Stevie Wonder
"For Once In My Life” Stevie Wonder
~Break
“Uptown” The Chambers Brothers
“What The World Needs Now” The Chambers Brothers
“It’s Your Thing” The Isley Brothers
“Knock on Wood” Eddie Floyd
“For What It’s Worth” The Staple Singers
~Break
“Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In” The 5th Dimension
“Don’tcha Hear Me Callin’ to Ya” The 5th Dmension
“Oh Happy Day” The Edwin Hawkins Singers
“Wrapped Up, Tied Up, Tangled Up” Rev. Cleophus Robinson
“Take My Hand, Precious Lord” Mahalia Jackson
~Break
“I heard It Through the Grapevine” Gladys Knight & The Pips
“Yes I’m Ready” Gladys Knight & The Pips
“Everyday People” Sly & The Family Stone
“Sing A Simple Song” Sly & The Family Stone
~Break
“Chain of Fools” Herbie Mann
“Memphis Underground” Herbie Mann
“Chameleion” Herbie Hancock
“Watermelon Man” Herbie Hancock
~Break
“Abidjan” Ray Barretto
“Together” Ray Barretto
“Afro Blue" Mongo Santamaria
“Grazing In the Grass” Hugh Masekela

Pictured: Stevie Wonder @ Harlem Cultural Festival 7/20/69

Hipocondria Mods 2 - Motown

Across 110th Street 7/10/21

Meant to have this together sooner, but you know how it goes. Second Summer Session mix is all beats with a laid back flavor, for the headphones or the ride. Tried to play a few things old and a couple new. Enjoy!

Summer Sessions 2021

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Summer Session #2

Pulled some classic breaks as well as some dope new jazz covers for this one! Dig in.

Tracklist: High Pulp, Julien Lourau, Didier Lockwood, Ian Carrs Nucleus, Monty Alexander

September 15 2021

Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 176

RIP Dr. Lonnie Smith. We're back with just a few mostly longer selections for your ears. Digging adventures continue, and more in store in the coming weeks! Thanks again for tuning in.

Tracklist: Dr. Lonnie Smith, Nucleus, Whole Darn Family, Three Pieces, Gerry Neiwood

October 6 2021

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Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 177

An amazing record recently landed in my post office box, an absolute classic of an album I honestly never thought I’d see in person let alone get a copy of: Winston Mankunku Ngozi’s quartet masterpiece “Yakhal Inkomo” - I insist everyone at least take a listen to this on Spotify or elsewhere. On this episode I've included the title track to start off the set. There is also an excellent interview with South African jazz scholars Percy Mabandu, Kevin Davidson, Nduduzo Makhathini and Salim Washington discussing the importance of this recording, available at: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/yakhal-inkomo-a-south-african-masterpiece-at-fifty-winston-mankunku-ngozi-by-seton-hawkins

Anyway, I decided to partner it on this podcast with a few other horn-heavy selections. Hope you dig!

Tracklist: Mankunku Quartet, Azar Lawrence, Lee Morgan, Sahib Shihab, John Coltrane

October 20 2021

Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 179

Ending 2021 with a long set of some of my favorite purchases this past year! (I can't really call most of these "digs"). This episode is a combination of some long-time wants I knocked off the list with some of my favorite new records by both young, incredible artists as well as brilliant veterans like Brian Jackson.

A huge, massive thank you to all the listeners who have tuned in this year, whether new or old. I greatly appreciate you. Special shout to Pipomixes for posting my mixes and for keeping DJ mixes alive for us all still doing this stuff! 

Tracklist: Michel Sardaby, Brian Jackson, Nucleus, JAB, Alex Santos Orchestra, Johnny Frigo Sextet, Garay Trio, Brandee Younger and Dezron Douglas, Jimmy Heath, Amanda Whiting, Mankunku Quartet

December 22 2021

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Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 185 (Favorite Records I Got in 2021)

Tracklist
The Alchemist - The Jump
Skiifall & BADBADNOTGOOD - Break of Dawn feat. The Kount & YAMA//SATO
Ezra Collective & Novelist - More Than a Hustler
Makaya McCraven - Black Rhythm Happening
_BY.ALEXANDER - TRUMPETS (feat. 070 Shake)
Westside Gunn - Hell on Earth, Pt. 2 (feat. Benny the Butcher & Conway the Machine)
Athletic Progression - Canteen Culture
Ruthven - Don't Keep It To Yourself
IAMNOBODI - Savior
KAYTRANADA - LEAVE ME ALONE feat. Shay Lia 
Peggy Gou - Gou Talk
Motor City Drum Ensemble - Nightfall (feat. Francesco Geminiani & Peter Schlamb)
Two Soul Fusion - Sankofa (Nulu Main Mix)
Damar Davis - 10
Incredible Keith - Demo 001
OAKK - Butter & Gold
Beneath - Legs Eleven
Joy Orbison - red velve7
Mr. Fingers - Outer Acid
DJ Polo - Spiralling
El Payo - A Sacred Hill
Ragz Originale - code red
Oscar #Worldpeace - Stay Clued '22
Anz - Real Enough To Feel Good
Gabriels - Stranger
Burial - Broken Home
Ama Woz Ere - NYE 
Pink Siifu - Black Be Tha God, NEGRO. ( wisdom.cipher)
Julien Dyne - Stained Glass Fresh Frozen ft.Mara TK
Sandy Barber - I Think I'll Do Some Stepping On My Own (OPOLOPO rework)

Universal Rhythms - Four Directions - Jeff Higgins 07/01/22

Tracklist:
Tierra Whack - Heaven
Tierra Whack - Cutting Onions 
Rouge Way - WYA
Keith Mansfield - The Loving Touch
Denzel Curry - Walkin
Smino - I Deserve (feat. NOS)
DJ Harrison - Kawai Voyage
Athletic Progression - OSAKA
Maverick Sabre & Demae - Not Easy Love
Waldo's Gift - Flowerbed
Iman Houssein - Slow Things Down
BenjiFlow - Go
Tiwa Savage - Tales By Moonlight (feat. Amaarae)
Scratcha DVA - Siyobonga (feat. DemiMa) 
Alexander Nut - Wild Side {Alex Nuts Yamapiano Refix}
Pat Thomas - Onfa Nkosi Hwee (Hagan Edit)
Joy Orbison - born slipping (feat. TYSON)
Jazzanova - Creative Musicians (Waajeed Remix Instrumental) 
Manaré - Quartz
Mosca - Done Me Wrong
Jaydee - Plastic Dreams 
Ossie - Kalimba 03
Yussef Kamaal - Lowrider
Gina Jeanz - Amagroove

Universal Rhythms - Four Directions - Jeff Higgins 04/01/22

This is Volume 4 of 4 from Rap Production wizard Jake One released in 2005 (when modern soul was still virgin territory). Nothing but the ill 80s modern soul and funk.

Jake One - AR-4 (2005)

Mixed by Matt Nelkin

Tracklist:

0:00 - Sly5thAve + DJ Center - Paradise ft. Thalma de Freitas
3:38 - Waajeed - Jeedo Suave
7:43 - Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - Che Che Colé ft. Mayra Vega
11:08 - Sunlightsquare Latin Combo - I Believe In Miracles
15:00 - Alien Liberty International - Pastime Paradise
18:18 - Banda Achilifunk - No Nos Pararan
22:12 - Juan Laya & Jorge Montiel - Give Me The Night ft. Xantone Blacq
26:37 - 45trio - Taj Majal
30:48 - Setenta - Sweet Dreams
34:45 - Boogaloo Assassins - No No No
38:31 - Stretch & Bobbito + The M19s Band - Festival Song (Bam Bam)

Liquid Beat Radio (Modern Latin Cover Songs)

When I'm not at the dayjob, I'm probably at a record store. Pullin from the Stacks podcast most Wednesdays, available here, Apple Pods (please subscribe!) and elsewhere.

Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 176

DJ Ian Head