Celsius Drop
08.17.17
Frosty welcomed fellow dublab DJ and music historian Ruben Molina onto this episode of Celsius Drop to celebrate the Tenth Anniversary Edition of his book Chicano Soul: Recordings and History of an American Culture. Ruben talked about his remarkable music research throughout the Southwestern United States gathering oral histories, from often elusive musicians, and played deep cuts from the pages of his book. Don’t sleep on this Chicano Soul exploration!
Tracklist:
The Blue Notes – Darling of Mine – TNT The Lyrics – Oh Please Love Me Triangles – My Oh My Royal Chessmen – Beggin’ You Thee Midniters – It’ll Never Be Over for Me Cannibal and the Headhunters – Please Baby Please Aztlan – Should I Take You Home The Sheltons – I Who Have Nothing The Romancers – My Heart Cries Dimas III – I Won’t Love You Again Thee Chekkers – Lack of Love Jo Jama – My Life The Majestics – (I Love Her So Much) It Hurts Me Sal DeLeon & The Centennials – Together Steve Jordan and the Jordan Brothers – Ain’t No Big Thing The Soul Blenders – Bending Soul Ron and The Embracers – You Came into My Heart The Sunglows – It’s Okay Danny & The Dreamers – Baby, Something’s Wrong Thee Midniters – Dreaming Casually The Sounds – You Could Never Be Mine Freddie & The Starlights – Long Lonely Years Cannibal and the Headhunters – Land of 1000 Dances Little Joe and the Latinaires – Bring it Up Danny & The Dreamers – Ask the Lonely Steve Jordan y Hnos. Jordan – Me Traes Colgando Rosie & Ron – So Dearly
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Chicano Soul: Recordings and History of an American Culture
In 2007, Ruben Molina published the first-ever history of Mexican-American soul and R&B music in his book, Chicano Soul: Recordings and History of an American Culture. Ten years later, Chicano Soul remains an important and oft-referenced study of this vital but often overlooked chapter of the greater American musical experience. Chicano soul music of the 1950s and 1960s still reverberates today, both within Chicano communities and throughout many musical genres. Molina tells the story of the roots of Chicano soul, its evolution, and its enduring cultural influence.
“Brown-eyed soul” music draws on 1950s era jazz, blues, jump blues, rock `n’ roll, Latin jazz, and traditional Mexican music such as ranchera, norte¤o, and conjunto music. With its rare and gorgeous photos, record scans, concert bills, and impressive discography (to say nothing of its rich oral histories/interviews), it is one of those rare works that speaks to both general and academic audiences.
As a teen in the 1960s, Ruben Molina used to take a bus to Hollywood to shop for records, and his passion for vinyl never waned. As a dedicated community historian, Molina interviewed dozens of the artists whose music he loves. Much of Chicano soul music’s recent recognition and renaissance can be traced directly to Molina. He has deejayed with the Southern Soul Spinners crew since 2010.
Click here to order your copy.
