The Jazz Fest Bible is now out, and inside you’ll find the very detailed story of Rosemont Records and its founder, Al Taylor. From the late ’60s through late ’80s, Rosemont was one of, if not the, most prolific record labels in New Orleans history.
Local DJ Brice Nice spent many hours speaking with Taylor, and wrote the definitive profile of Taylor and his label, which started out doing live recordings of gospel performances in area churches before branching out into secular soul, funk, and more. In the late 1980s, Rosemont even released some of the earliest New Orleans hip-hop records, including classics from the Famous Low Down Boys and MC J Ro J. Big names in New Orleans gospel, such as the Gospel Soul Children, Zion Harmonizers, and New Orleans Spiritualettes, all recorded at Rosemont Records, and the great Willie Tee, leader of the band on the Wild Magnolias 1974 debut album, spent years arranging, producing and writing for Rosemont.
To accompany the story, Brice Nice put together this mix of 100% Rosemont records recorded from his own vinyl collection. It runs the gamut in years and style, showcasing just a tip of the iceberg that is Rosemont’s discography. For more Brice Nice, listen to his WWOZ show “The Block Party” every Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m.
You can catch him DJing live during Jazz Fest on Wednesday, May 4 at the Saint with fellow record aficionados Music Man Miles (of Los Angeles funk parties Breakestra and Root Down), J-Boogie (of Dubtronic Science in San Francisco), and DJ Yamin. He’ll also be playing Friday, May 6 at the Tsunami of Support Poster Art opening at Unfold Media, 708 Toulouse St. Keep up with his regular goings-on around town by friending him on Twitter and Facebook.
(can’t see/stream the mix above? try this)
Stream the mix above, or download it for free to play anytime/anywhere. Here’s the full playlist:
1. Frank Inman, Jr. – Jesus I Love You
2. The Crownseekers – Salvation Is Free
3. The Marionette Gospel Singers – Soon I Will Be Done
4. The Chancellor Choir of Little Zion Baptist Church – I Don’t Feel Noways Tired
5. Stronger Hope Baptist Church Youth Choir – Never To Leave You Alone
6. Sis. Thelma Johnson & Little Lawanda Johnson – Got Him On My Mind
7. Florence Smith, Ellen Phillips, Denise Jones & Romana Hubbard at Carver Senior High Talent Show 1968 – Make Me Yours
8. Eugene Gaspard – Holding On
9. Leroy Clofer & Company – Mr. Big Man
10. Charles Jacobs – Searching For My Baby
11. Willie Cole – Where Are You
12. Willie Lee Dixon – Disco Gorilla
13. Bruce Sampson with Chuck Turner & the Traffic Jam Band – You’re Bad
14. Eric Henderson – Kids Can Do It Too
15. Ernest Skipper – Shot Gun Joe
16. The Traffic Jam Band – Mardi Gras Mambo
17. Tonya P – P-Wee’s Beat
18. The Famous Low Down Boys – Cold Rockin’ The Place
19. MC J Ro J – Let’s Jump
20. Geraldine Wright Washington – I’m Bound For Mount Zion
