Short Eyes (1977)

 

Starring:

• Bruce Davison
• José Pérez 
• Nathan George 
• Don Blakely 
• Tony DiBenedetto 
• Curtis Mayfield

Storyline
Based on the play by acclaimed writer Miguel Pinero, Short Eyes is a brutal and powerful look at life in Manhattan's infamous detention center, "The Tombs". Tensions erupt when white prisoner Clark, an accused child molester, joins their ranks. Universally detested by his fellow inmates for committing the most heinous crime imaginable, Clark becomes a catalyst for anger and violence that breeds behind bars and sets off a horrifying chain of events.

Leadbelly (1976)

Starring:

• Roger E. Mosley
• Paul Benjamin
• Madge Sinclair
• Art Evans 
• Rhetta Greene 
• Lynn Hamilton 
• Ernie Hudson

Storyline
The life of Blues and folk singer Huddie Leadbetter, nicknamed Leadbelly is recounted. Covering the good times and bad from his 20s to 40s. Much of that time was spent on chain gangs in the south. Even in prison he became well known for the songs he had composed and sung during and before the time he spent there. 

Berry Gordy's Lady Sings the Blues - Diana Ross, Michel Legrand & Gil Askey

AMG.com
Her biggest album as a solo act, Diana Ross forever ended any association with the Supremes after this film. She not only got an Oscar nomination and more roles, she really did capture the spirit and flavor, if not the sound and timbre, of Billie Holiday's music; her performance was the film's only saving grace.
By Ron Wynn

Tracklist
Disc 1

1. The Arrest (00:45)
(dialogue)
2. Lady Sings the Blues (01:04)
(performed by Diana Ross)
3. Baltimore Brothel (00:27)
(dialogue)
4. Billie Sneaks Into Dean & Dean's - Swingin' Uptown (00:54)
(composed by Gil Askey)
5. T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do (01:04)
(performed by Diana Ross)
6. Big Ben - C.C. Rider (02:32)
(arranged by Gil Askey)
7. All of Me (02:20)
(performed by Diana Ross)
8. The Man I Love (02:27)
(performed by Diana Ross)
9. Them There Eyes (01:05)
(performed by Diana Ross)
10. Gardenias from Louis (02:03)
(dialogue)
11. Cafe Manhattan - Had You Been Around - Love Theme (03:34)
(Love Theme composed by Michel Legrand)
12. Country Tune (00:37)
(composed by Gil Askey)
13. I Cried for You (00:38)
(performed by Diana Ross)
14. Billie & Harry - Don't Explain (02:11)
(performed by Diana Ross)
15. Mean to Me (01:18)
(performed by Diana Ross)
16. Fine and Mellow (01:10)
(performed by Diana Ross)
17. What a Little Moonlight Can Do (01:47)
(performed by Diana Ross)
18. Louis Visits Billie on Tour (Love Theme) (02:48)
(composed by Michel Legrand)
19. Cafe Manhattan Party - Persuasion (01:45)
(composed by Michel Legrand)
20. T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do (03:05)
(performed by Diana Ross)
21. Agent's Office (01:10)
(dialogue)
22. Love Is Here to Stay (01:58)
(performed by Diana Ross)

Disc 2

1. Fine and Mello (02:54)
(performed by Diana Ross)
2. Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be) (03:20)
(performed by Diana Ross)
3. You've Changed (02:32)
(performed by Diana Ross)
4. Gimme a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer (02:04)
(performed by Diana Ross)
5. Good Morning Heartache (02:19)
(performed by Diana Ross)
6. All of Me (02:02)
(performed by Diana Ross)
7. Love Theme (02:52)
(composed by Michel Legrand)
8. My Man (03:25)
(performed by Diana Ross)
9. Don't Explain (02:09)
(performed by Diana Ross)
10. I Cried for You (02:11)
(performed by Diana Ross)
11. Strange Fruit (03:34)
(performed by Diana Ross)
12. God Bless the Child (02:41)
(performed by Diana Ross)
13. Closing Time (01:08)
(composed by Michel Legrand)

Total Duration: 01:09:53

Provided by Cinemageddon user boizebu thru Funkback

Two Funky Blaxploitation Grooves @ Music Dawn

The Final Solution - Brotherman (1975)

 
HIGH ART Numero commissioned graphic artists Mike Davis and Michael Gaughan to create the fictional film poster for Brotherman.

numerogroup.com
Continuing a tradition that began with Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, and culminated with Shaft and Superfly, Brotherman was a blaxploitation film set to hit screens in 1975. Prior to the script being finished, the producers commissioned an original sound track to be performed by The Final Solution, a fledgling vocal group from Chicago's west side. In classic Numero fashion, before even one foot of film was shot, the plug was pulled and the movie was cancelled. Dragged around for 30 years by songwriter, guitarist and arranger Carl Wolfolk, the tapes of his life's work have finally been mixed, and the soundtrack album has been augmented to include two orchestrated instrumentals intended for the film. Having no stills from the film to work with, the Numero Group tasked Minneapolis' Burlesque of North America to paint a cover that could withstand the scrutiny of any blaxploitation poster geek. The deluxe single disc set is housed in our standard slipcase, with a plush booklet detailing the known history of the film and the group that created the music.

Link to interesting (and enlightening) article on The Final Solution in Time Out Magazine:

Brotherman, where art thou?

Record geeks unearth Chicago’s own Super Fly.

Tracklist :
01 Brotherman
02 Never Coming Back Again
03 I Don't Care
04 Girl In My Life
05 Gotta Get Through To You
06 One Day
07 I'm Ready For Love
08 To See You Again
09 We Can Work It Out
10 Where There's A Will
11 Theme From Brotherman
12 No Place To Run

Ricardo Tubbs & The Inner Thumb - Soul Ecstasy OST '1972

moviegrooves.com
Great soundtrack to the long lost 70's Blaxploitation movie Soul Ecstasy. With a plot containing such volatile content as The Black Panthers collaborating with the Red Chinese, young girls kidnapped and sold to Hong Kong bordellos, Soul Ecstasy didn't get much of a theatrical run before it was closed down by 'The Man'.

Sadly, the only existing print of the movie was destroyed in a fire, but luckily for us the master tapes of the soundtrack were tracked down and have been released here for the very first time.

It's a groovy, funky and very cool sounding blaxploitation soundtrack with hints of Curtis Mayfield's Superfly in the main theme along with with some cool funk and sitars throughout.

Warning: this soundtrack may or may not be a very convincing fake - we'll let you decide. Hell - it really doesn't matter - it's a fantastic set of funky tunes anyway...

Tracklisting:

1. Soul Ecstasy (vocal version)
2. Soul Submarine
3. Citroens & Sitars
4. Hong Kong Inn
5. Pussyfoot Ray
6. Club Kidnap
7. Hop Scotch
8. Sensuous Boogie
9. Soul Sarod
10. Fly Trap
11. Jungle Lust
12. Flesh Peddler
13. Looking For Soul
14. Soul Ecstasy (instrumental version)

Funkback's comment:
I used babelfish on Musicdawns russian site and he seems to have the 411 on these guys. They are in fact moonlighting DJ's from the late '90s and actually tried to withdraw this little gem from the market when the trainspotters got wind of their scheme. A pity since this is good music. Thank You Music Dawn for schooling us!!

Music Dawn

Also make sure you explore the site some. I promise you will find some bangin music there.