By zeke (152.163.253.70) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 04:57 pm:

Jack Ashford's disco funk soundtrack for the obscure 1978 blaxploitation movie directed by John Evans and starring William Smith, Tony Burton and Frank Christi.


The Tracks:

1. Blackjack
Jack Ashford

2. Las Vegas Strut
Jack Ashford

3. Freemont Street
Jack Ashford

4. You Can Bet My Love is True
Jack Ashford

5. Vibe Interlude
Jack Ashford

6. Run, Run, Catch Him
Jack Ashford

7. Study The Robbery
Jack Ashford

8. Falling in Love with You
Jack Ashford

9. Hot Chrome
Jack Ashford

10. I'm Back Home
Jack Ashford

10. Blues for Bass
Jack Ashford

http://www.moviegrooves.com/shop/blackjack.htm

By BankHouseDave (195.93.34.12) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 07:22 pm:

Isaiah:

Jack gave me a tape of this and I think the disco-funk label does it a disservice. It was the last gathering of Earl Van Dyke, James Jamerson, Robert White, Uriel Jones and Jack in one recording session. Some of the grooves are killer and the songs, featuring Loretta Holloway, are really strong numbers, one with more than a hint of John Barry (James Bond type stuff). I'm glad it's getting out where it can be appreciated. Also there's some great jazzy stuff here, with Jack on the vibes and some great brass. I think Robert White did some arrangements.

By Isaiah (152.163.253.70) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 09:19 pm:

Big Money, how're you doing!?(smile!) You're right on the spot, as per the usual, with that refview of this cd... I had never heard of it until I found it searching for info on Jack... I WAS relying on the website review, but your review sounds a lot more interesting, especially since you say that the album was, essentially, a Funk Brothers type production(smile!) This CD is a major collectors item... Wonder why there hasn't been more written about it??? Or is it just me who hasn't heard of it until now???(smile!)

Peace!
Isaiah

By BankHouseDave (195.93.34.12) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 04:50 am:

Calling the provocative prophet! Isaiah, I'm fine, my friend. Jack had this material and asked me to try and set up a deal in the UK with it, but, even that short time ago, a lot of people - even in the business - didn't know who the Funks were. The Northern Soul people didn't like the idea that some of the tracks were more jazz. Jack said he would do something in the States and this must be it. It needs some more promotion. I'll ask him about it when we next talk.

By BankHouseDave (195.93.34.12) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 12:41 pm:

I looked again and it seems to be the original vinyl soundtrack, out of stock.

By jack (68.18.193.109) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 01:39 am:

The copy that everyone is talking about presently ,is a bootleg copy ,I never gave that company the rights to put it out. In fact I don't even know who they are , but my atty will find out who they are . Jack Ashford Funk Brothers

By Wonder B (81.51.160.84) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 06:22 am:

Hi Jack
It must be a very old bootleg if it is one indeed (but of course you ought to know better than anybody else here) because I bought this LP back in the 80's, when reeditions or bootlegs where not in the numbers we see today... do you think someone could have had access to the tapes and publish it without you knowing?
I remember once I went to see Fred Wesley (JB's) with a copy of his HOUSE PARTY LP on Curtom and he went nuts (like in 'angry') accusing me of bootlegging it etc etc... it turned out that the LP was never commercially released because Curtom folded within days of the release date of the LP which had already been pressed...
Only a handful escaped and I found my copy in the mid 80's in a cut out shop in Hong Kong (of all places! LOL) so I know for sure that it wasn't no bootleg nor a reedition.
When I explained that to Fred, he cooled down and agreed that my copy had to be one of the very few which escaped destruction... Could it be the same kind of story with this soundtrack??

Wonder B

By jack (67.32.83.31) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 01:34 pm:

You are right on the fact that somebody DID have the 1/4 inch master,and I do know who that was.BUT they didn't have the rights to put it out . So I don't know what they said to the lable to make them feel secure with putting it out without paper work covering the deal.But you know thats why you must do your homework when you pick up masters. Cheers. Jack Ashford Funk Brothers

By Wonder B (81.53.149.245) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 01:49 pm:

I am sorry to hear that Jack... what I know for sure though, is that someone is making profit these days with this... why?
Because when you check the link provided in the earlier post above, you can see that the record is said to be out of stock but that it WILL be restocked...

Considering that the LP I have was as rare as hen's teeth back in the mid-80's when I purchased it (not knowing it was illegal) it CANNOT be as easily available as it is said to be on this site...
So either the same guy who pressed the original ones has a re-run going on, or the record has been bootlegged from the original not-authorized first pressing...
Either way, I understand why you must be pissed off and I hope you can find a way to either get the money that's being owed to you or stop the selling of this record...

If that's a consolation to you, I must say that I like what you did on this LP a LOT!

Wonder B

By jack (67.32.83.31) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 05:25 pm:

Thanks, Jack Ashford Funk Brothers

By Juicefree20 (68.161.48.203) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 06:20 pm:

Hi Jack
I never heard this LP & it sounds interesting. Will you be doing a legit issue of it? I would like to hear it & would prefer for you to reap the profits of your labor.

Wonder B. do you know if the House Party LP was ever re-issued?

Juice

By Wonder B (217.128.68.124) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 06:45 pm:

Juice I think it was by a German label but I am not 100% sure...
Anyway I can see it on the Amazon german site :

http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000249RV/qid=1080168481/sr=1-18/ref=sr_1_0_18/302-6022970-3441642

YOu can start from there...

Wonder B

By Earlene (205.188.209.13) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 07:01 pm:

Jack,

Let me know when all the dust settles and I can be certain that if I can find the soundtrack that I'd be buying a legal edition. I'd love to hear your earlier recording.

By Juicefree20 (68.161.48.203) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 09:56 pm:

Wonder B, are those legit copies? I'd kinda like to see my man Jack get paid Thanks!

Juice

By SPYDER (209.240.205.62) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 01:06 am:

HEY JACK, WASN'T PART OF THAT ALBUM RECORDED AT NORMANS FORT KNOX STUDIO? SEEMS LIKE I REMEMBER BEING THERE

By jack (68.221.132.27) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 01:58 am:

Hello all,Spyder some of it was done at Normans and the rest was done at ONE STEP UP STUDIO, when Clay was there,Robert White did the scoring.Kev-go is releasing it on the lable he is with.It should be out in about a month. Spyder I'll be in LA doing American Idol Friday . I'll tell Norman hi for you ,I'm going to stop by his place this time ,I have more time. Piece to all,EarleneI'll call you. Boy this is cool,I talk to all of the people I love in one letter, (smiles).Jack Funk Brothers

By Wonder B (81.50.39.51) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 04:39 am:

Juice if you're talking about the last link I posted it is about Fred Wesley's "House Party" and I cannot imagine Amazon selling bootlegs especially over here in Europe... or they'd have to shutdown the newt day... LOL
As for Blackjack, no copy is legit right now, even mine which I thought was a real release when I got it inn the 80's... but if you read Jack's post right above you will see that apparently there will be a legit issue in a month. So you won't have to wait too long, and I am sure Jack will post the news right here.

By the way Jack I WILL buy myself a legit copy which will make for half the one I bought back then... LOL
Just let me know where it will be avialble....

Wonder B

By jack (68.210.76.208) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 12:55 pm:

You are so kind.It seemthat writing on the forum is like getting mail and sending mail to your family,Thanks to all of you for such a wonderful family feeling .God bless you all. Jack Ashford Funk Brothers

By Wonder B (81.248.163.124) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 01:43 pm:

Yes indeed... the family where everybody loves the music...
"....Cos' weeeeeeee're in this love together, we got the kind that lasts forever..." as Al Jarreau would sing... LOL

But I think I should put on my glasses when I post here judging by the number of typos I made in the last one... LOL (I got my first pair of glasses 6 months ago but I keep trying to look like I don't need them, although my wife tells me just the opposite! LOL)

Wonder B

By tstone (66.215.139.27) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 02:16 pm:

Jack & Spyder,
Now.....I know I was on those sessions for Norman!
Wah Wah...Pepper....and Trey Stone.
Hi from Lake Tahoe.
Trey

By jack (68.210.76.208) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 03:43 pm:

Hi Trey ,Its been a long long time. Good to see that you are ok. Jack Ashford ps I overdubbed on that 4 top album also, Iwent to LA the day Norman Got out of the hospital.He and Norman JR picked me up at the airport and took me to a house that had a studio in it and we worked for about 4 day's overdubbing. It was good to see Norman again. Take care

By SPYDER (209.240.205.62) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 06:03 pm:

TREY STONE!!!!!
HOW THE HELL ARE YOU? MAN IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. I'VE BEEN HEARING GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOU. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE DOING WELL.

By Juicefree20 (68.161.31.21) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 09:52 pm:

Wonder B, Thanks for the info! Hey Jack, you've got a couple of buyers lined up over here