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‘Super Freak’: The Story Behind Rick James’ Punk-Funk Hit

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‘Super Freak’: The Story Behind Rick James’ Punk-Funk Hit

Regardless of its cultural ubiquity, Rick James’ bawdy single “Super Freak” was on no account an in a single day hit. By 1979, James had greater than earned his due with a collection {of professional} accomplishments underneath his belt. Whereas he achieved success as a songwriter for Motown (in addition to with gold and platinum solo albums) he hadn’t but hit the heights of movie star, when he launched into his headlining tour for his third album, Hearth It Up. All that was quickly to vary. James might sense competitors coming from his tour opener Prince, who he felt was encroaching on his personal signature fashion and he was wanting to show himself as a famous person.

‘Super Freak’: The Story Behind Rick James’ Punk-Funk Hit
Keyshia Cole - The Way It Is

Whereas his ballad-heavy Backyard of Love album was well-received, garnering one other gold plaque, his largest success was his 1981 album Road Songs, an album that portrayed the real-life struggles and tribulations impressed by the gritty streets of his hometown of Buffalo, NY. Propelled by quite a few hit singles together with “Ghetto Life” and “Give It to Me Baby,” the album would go on to promote over 3 million copies combining components of rock, funk, new wave, and soul. But, the album’s spotlight was the immensely fashionable hit single “Super Freak,” a music that propelled its creator to iconic standing and cemented him because the king of funk ‘n’ roll. Rick James had totally arrived.

‘Super Freak’ was written as an afterthought

Whereas it could develop into Road Songs’ largest hit, “Super Freak” was written as an afterthought. James would mirror on the method in a 1983 interview with Musician journal, “I was in the studio and everything else for the album was done,” James recalled. “ I just put ‘Super Freak’ together really quickly. I wanted a silly song that had a bit of new wave texture to it. So I just came up with this silly little lick and expounded on it. And I put a very operatic vocal structure on it ‘cause I’m really into opera and classical music. So I put (sings in a deep voice) ‘She’s all right;’ very operatic, sort of funny, stuff.” James blended style and method to create one thing fully distinctive in his mega-hit, which novelty apart, led to large success.

The lyrics had been improvised over The Temptations’ backing vocals

The whole lot of Road Songs was recorded between December 1980 and January 1981 in California for Motown’s Gordy imprint. James rallied his labelmates, The Temptations, to do the backing vocals whereas he improvised lyrics over the wildly addictive, funk instrumental. He was supposedly not significantly excited by the outcomes however might see the potential for the observe’s crossover attraction. His instincts had been appropriate as “Super Freak” conquered the gross sales charts, finally promoting one million copies of the only alone.

“Super Freak” was a bonafide smash hit and a career-defining music for Rick James. Primed for MTV, James was a charismatic performer with a daring visible fashion excellent for the video period, and he radiated on the display within the “Super Freak” music video, surrounded by hyped-up dancers. Vital acclaim quickly adopted as James was nominated for Finest Male Rock Vocal Efficiency on the 1982 Grammys for the music. Observe-up success with Eddie Murphy’s “Party All The Time” and the Mary Jane Ladies’ “All Night Long” continued for the punk-funk pioneer however he by no means achieved the dizzying heights of “Super Freak” commercially once more.

The music lives on by way of sampling

Like most artists, James’ profession had many peaks and valleys. He embodied his libertine picture a bit too actually and ended up serving a two-year jail time period within the late 90s earlier than coming into rehab and releasing the album City Rapsody in 1997. Whereas James spent a lot of the decade out of the general public eye, his best-loved music would have a brand new life on the charts. “Super Freak”s infectious riff was repurposed for one more smash hit, this time for Oakland rapper MC Hammer, whose “U Can’t Touch This” sampled the music and propelled Hammer to mega-fame in 1990. James finally obtained correct songwriting credit score and reaped the monetary rewards. By the way, the music would earn him his solely Grammy, when it received Finest R&B Tune in 1991 and he was acknowledged for composing the music.

Rick James’ place in popular culture stays as outstanding as his music together with his technology introducing look on the Chapelle Present in 2004, however “Super Freak” has remained his calling card, enduring past its early 80s debut and turning into a perennial celebration basic. It’s no surprise new generations proceed to rediscover its unmistakable groove.

Purchase or stream “Super Freak.” 

Flaco Jimenez, Texas Accordionist Who Expanded Recognition Of Conjunto And Tejano Music, Dies At 86 – The Boston Courier

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Flaco Jimenez, Texas Accordionist Who Expanded Recognition Of Conjunto And Tejano Music, Dies At 86 – The Boston Courier

HOUSTON (AP) — Flaco Jimenez, the legendary accordionist from San Antonio who received a number of Grammys and helped increase the recognition of conjunto, Tejano and Tex-Mex music, died Thursday. He was 86.

Jimenez’s demise was introduced Thursday night by his household on social media. He was surrounded by relations when he died within the San Antonio residence of his son Arturo Jimenez.

“Dad was in peace when he left. He started saying his goodbyes several days before. He said he was proud of himself for what he had done and he just leaves memories for the public to enjoy. He said he was ready to go,” Arturo Jimenez instructed The Related Press in a cellphone interview on Friday.

Arturo Jimenez mentioned a reason for demise has not but been decided. His father had been hospitalized in January after getting a blood clot in his leg. Docs then found he had some vascular points.

Born Leonardo Jimenez in 1939, he was identified to his followers by his nickname of Flaco, which suggests skinny in Spanish.

He was the son of conjunto pioneer Santiago Jimenez. Conjunto is a musical style that originated in South Texas and blends totally different genres and cultural influences.

“Flaco Jiménez was a paragon of conjunto music with his rich accordion playing. He drew us into a musical world they might not have otherwise discovered. ‘Streets of Bakersfield’ by Dwight and Buck wouldn’t have been the same without his sparkling touches.”
—Kyle Younger, CEO pic.twitter.com/zkwxhM4oym

— Nation Music Corridor of Fame and Museum (@countrymusichof) August 1, 2025

I’m saddened by the passing of San Antonio music legend Leonardo “Flaco” Jiménez. He was a pioneer in conjunto music—receiving a Lifetime Achievement Grammy, Nationwide Medal of Arts, and a spot within the Nationwide Recording Registry for his work. Texas is pleased with his legacy. Might he… pic.twitter.com/fA00inpRi6

— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) August 1, 2025

In accordance with the Butler College of Music on the College of Texas at Austin, the event of conjunto “began more than a century ago when Texans of Mexican heritage (Tejanos) took an interest in the accordion music of German, Polish, and Czech immigrants. The ensuing Tejano accordion music, accompanied by the bajo sexto (replacing the European tuba) soon came to represent the Tejano way of life, which was closely associated with working in the agricultural fields. The music remains unchanged and serves as a symbol that binds many Tejano communities in South and Central Texas.”

Jimenez refined his conjunto musical abilities by enjoying in San Antonio saloons and dance halls. He started performing within the Sixties with fellow San Antonio native Douglas Sahm, the founding member of the Sir Douglas Quintet. Jimenez would later play with Bob Dylan, Dr. John, Ry Cooder and the Rolling Stones.

All through his profession, Jimenez added different influences into conjunto music, together with from nation, rock and jazz.

“He always wanted to try to incorporate accordion into all sorts of different genres and how to make the accordion blend in. That was always a fascination of his and he was able to,” Arturo Jimenez mentioned.

Musician Flaco Jimenez holds an award statuette on the thirty eighth Annual Grammy Awards February 28, 1996 in Los Angeles, CA. Jimenez received the Finest Mexican-American Efficiency award for his self-titled album. (Picture by Russell Einhorn/Liaison)

Russell Einhorn through Getty Pictures

Within the Nineteen Nineties, Jimenez was a part of the Tejano supergroup the Texas Tornados, which included Sahm, Augie Meyers and Freddy Fender. The group received a Grammy in 1991 for the track, “Soy de San Luis.”

Jimenez additionally received one other Grammy in 1999 as a part of one other supergroup, Los Tremendous Seven.

Jimenez earned 5 Grammys and was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.

He was additionally inducted into the Nationwide Hispanic Corridor of Fame and NYC Worldwide Latin Music Corridor of Fame and was named a Texas State Musician in 2014.

Arturo Jimenez mentioned his father was a humble man who by no means needed to be a showman and was centered on enjoying music for his followers.

“I’ve seen where fans come up to him and they literally cry and they thank my dad for all the good music and how dad’s music has been there for them in multiple situations, either happiness or sadness,” Arturo Jimenez mentioned.

Flaco Jimenez accepts the Lifetime Achievement for Instrumentalist Award during the Americana Music Honors and Awards show Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File)
Flaco Jimenez accepts the Lifetime Achievement for Instrumentalist Award through the Americana Music Honors and Awards present Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Picture/Mark Zaleski, File)

When Jimenez was named a 2022 Nationwide Medal of Arts recipient, the White Home mentioned he was being honored for “harnessing heritage to enrich American music” and that by “blending Norteño, Tex Mex, and Tejano music with the Blues, Rock n’ Roll, and Pop Music, he sings the soul of America’s Southwest.”

“We appreciate the gift of your musical talent, which brought joy to countless fans. Your passing leaves a void in our hearts,” the Texas Conjunto Music Corridor of Fame and Museum mentioned in a publish on social media.

Kyle Younger, the CEO of the Nation Music Corridor of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, mentioned Jimenez “was a paragon of Tejano conjunto music” who “drew millions of listeners into a rich musical world they might not have discovered on their own.”

Jimenez lived all his life in San Antonio, a metropolis that was “very close to his heart,” his son mentioned.

“They call him ‘el hijo de San Antonio’ and my dad always was proud of that,” Arturo Jimenez mentioned, quoting a Spanish phrase meaning the son of San Antonio.

His household plans to have a personal funeral service adopted by a celebration of his life with the general public.

‘Underwater Sunlight’: How Tangerine Dream Embraced Pop Music’s Shine

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‘Underwater Sunlight’: How Tangerine Dream Embraced Pop Music’s Shine

Tangerine Dream’s groundbreaking early LPs, together with 1972’s darkish, proto-ambient basic Zeit and the sequencer-fueled Virgin Data-era classics Phaedra and Rubycon, are nonetheless cited by the vast majority of critics as their career-defining information. Nonetheless, the revolutionary Berlin-based trio led by the stressed Edgar Froese steadfastly resisted the urge to relaxation on their laurels, embracing a extra accessible, mainstream method after recruiting keyboardist Johannes Schmoelling on the cusp of the 80s. Consequently, by the center of the last decade, the group had seemingly binned side-long, Pressure Majeure-esque epics and had been releasing underrated LPs equivalent to Le Parc, Underwater Daylight and the Heartbreakers soundtrack. These titles featured concise, tightly structured tracks, most of which clocked in at little greater than 5 minutes.

‘Underwater Sunlight’: How Tangerine Dream Embraced Pop Music’s Shine
uDiscover Rewards Program

The versatile Schmoelling is extensively credited with bringing this poppier sensibility to the band, however he stop after Le Parc’s launch. With UK and US excursions imminent, Froese and first lieutenant Christopher Franke had been pressured to solid round for a substitute.

The profitable candidate proved to be Paul Haslinger: a Vienna Academy Of Music graduate who was, on the time, enjoying jazz on the Viennese membership circuit and – at the very least superficially – might have appeared an odd option to followers. Nonetheless, Haslinger was adaptable and classically skilled and, after intensive rehearsals, he survived the 2 mettle-proving excursions.

His baptism of fireplace efficiently endured, Haslinger was again within the studio with Froese and Franke simply weeks later as work started on Le Parc’s follow-up. The brand new trio rapidly gelled, nevertheless, and August ’86’s Underwater Daylight made it abundantly clear that the band meant to proceed making music with the self-discipline and construction that had thus far epitomized their recordings for Jive Electro.

Underwater Daylight barely scraped the UK High 100, and it’s not often held up as certainly one of Froese and co’s extra obligatory discs, but within the context of the occasions the album was no slouch. Wholly impressed by aquatic themes, its emotional two-part tour de power “Song Of The Whale” (which included some really stately grand piano from Haslinger) demonstrated that Tangerine Dream hadn’t completely forsaken their trademark grandeur, although, for essentially the most half, tracks equivalent to “Ride On The Ray” and the LP’s unashamedly poppy single, “Dolphin Dance,” confirmed they remained eager to pursue the melodic, radio-friendly agenda they drew up for Le Parc.

The album did have some flaws. Like so many information in thrall to state-of-the-art expertise out there within the mid-80s, its electro-drum sounds have dated badly, and its mellow vibe typically verge on the tasteless. Edgar Froese’s visceral guitar solo in direction of the tip of the primary a part of “Song Of The Whale,” nevertheless, proved he was nonetheless able to shaking issues up. His band continued to defy expectations on their subsequent LP, Tyger, whereby they controversially tailored a number of of William Blake’s hottest poems.

The 16CD and double-Blu-ray launch, In Search Of Hades: The Virgin Recordings 1973-1979 is out now and will be purchased right here.

Battenfeld: Michelle Wu headed in proper route, however is Boston?

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Battenfeld: Michelle Wu headed in proper route, however is Boston?

Michelle Wu may be headed in the suitable route, however is Boston?

The town beneath Wu appears to be headed in a sluggish, downward spiral, with a downtown ghost city, transportation gridlock, priced-out Millennials fleeing to the suburbs, cracked sidewalks, needles in parks, random crime and streets overrun with rodents.

All these simple unfavourable traits might mix to overhaul the mayor’s second time period ought to she get a mandate, because the polls now present.

However her reelection will solely embolden her and make her much less accountable, and received’t get her to vary her authoritarian type.

She casts herself because the defender of town with out taking any accountability for these troubling traits.

Vacant downtown? Blame it on Covid. Rat drawback? Blame it on local weather change. Mass and Cass? It’s an dependancy drawback.

It’s by no means Wu’s fault.

She has a knack for avoiding blame, whether or not it’s Donald Trump’s fault or the financial system’s fault. Her critics are a voice within the wilderness.

And she or he could pull off the last word political win in November, passing the buck on the decline of town. Massive metropolis mayors often take the blame for any of those issues. Not Wu.

Boston is teetering on the sting and a cussed Wu glides together with an enormous smile. Exterior town, there’s a notion that it’s unsafe, unclean and not possible to get round or park. It’s why you see main restaurant chains relocating away from Boston.

One of many largest looming issues is the demise of downtown, with skyrocketing emptiness charges and employers not needing workplace house. Changing the places of work to low-income housing just isn’t the one reply. What, have the Boston Housing Authority take over deserted workplace towers?

Guests don’t wish to come to Boston anymore and it’s not simply financial forces past Wu’s management that’s preserving individuals away.

The post-Covid shift to distant work didn’t assist nevertheless it’s not the one cause downtown is struggling. Violent crime is at its highest stage in 7 years in Downtown Crossing, which was once the heartbeat of town.

As soon as an enormous metropolis loses its company anchor, it’s the start of a collapse. The company core of town creates jobs and feeds the encircling neighborhoods. It’s what makes a metropolis run, which is what former Mayor Kevin White realized.

The collapse of downtown has a domino impact on different components of town and its tourism enterprise.

However Wu has ignored or pushed away the enterprise neighborhood, whereas in close by neighborhoods just like the South Finish plagued with overrun drug use and crime spilling over from Mass and Cass, she has refused to make main adjustments like extra regulation enforcement.

Wu is the feel-good mayor, not the city mechanic Tom Menino was or champion of the neighborhoods like Ray Flynn. The decline of Wutopia doesn’t match along with her ‘I know best’ type.

After November, there’s no extra accountability for Wu, barring an upset win from Josh Kraft.

But when she sticks round, which isn’t solely assured, she’ll be confronted by all these issues if she wins a second time period.

The town’s Cell Sharps Crew has been busy this summer season choosing up discarded needles. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

Tomorrowland Shares 99 Full Units From 2025 Pageant

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Tomorrowland Shares 99 Full Units From 2025 Pageant

Tomorrowland has uploaded 99 full DJ units from its 2025 version, opening the door for followers to revisit this 12 months’s competition in full.

The playlist spans each weekends and incorporates a extensive mixture of phases, from the Mainstage to Ambiance, CORE, Freedom and extra. The manufacturing captures sweeping views of every stage and its environment, displaying the total scale of every stage from each angle.

Among the many most-watched thus far are standout Mainstage performances, together with Swedish Home Mafia’s extremely anticipated Weekend 2 set, Charlotte de Witte’s historic, high-intensity closing set from the identical weekend and John Summit’s crowd-heavy debut.

With a whole bunch of hundreds onsite and tens of millions watching from residence, the scope of the enduring EDM competition continues to stretch effectively previous its grounds in Increase, Belgium. The complete assortment now lives on Tomorrowland’s official YouTube channel, giving followers a straightforward solution to revisit highlights, catch what they did not see the primary time or expertise the performances for the primary time altogether.

Yow will discover the playlist right here.

Observe Tomorrowland:

X: x.com/tomorrowland
TikTok: tiktok.com/@tomorrowland
Instagram: instagram.com/tomorrowland
Fb: fb.com/tomorrowland

‘Dancing Lady’: Terry Callier’s Epic Masterpiece

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‘Super Freak’: The Story Behind Rick James’ Punk-Funk Hit

For many years, Philadelphia radio legend J. Michael Harrison has introduced a delightfully freeform strategy to Temple College’s WRTI. Within the mid-90s, I used to be a teenage devotee of Harrison’s present “The Bridge.” On Friday nights I’d refill 90-minute TDK cassettes with Harrison’s adventurous DJ units. Like many younger folks, my urge for food for brand new music was ravenous and “The Bridge” helped college me on the unconventional sounds of free jazz, bebop and fusion. As a DJ, Harrison’s strategy to choice was freeform with out being formless. Every episode highlighted the depth and energy of Black creativity with typically underappreciated work from experimental Black musicians like Ornette Coleman, Solar Ra, Screaming Headless Torsos, and lots of extra.

‘Super Freak’: The Story Behind Rick James’ Punk-Funk Hit
Keyshia Cole - The Way It Is

One night time, Harrison got here out of a station ID and launched a track I’d by no means heard earlier than, Terry Callier’s “Dancing Girl.” I used to be instantly drawn in by the somber, minor key guitar motif of the track’s intro. By the point Callier entered – his voice richly textured and distinctive – I used to be offered. Because the track went alongside, the easy, evocative folks tune stunned me much more, unfolding right into a nine-minute epic that gives a glimpse of the indomitable spirit of Black creativity.

Take heed to Terry Callier’s “Dancing Girl” now.

Initially recorded in 1972 for Callier’s sensible sophomore album, What Colour Is Love?, “Dancing Girl” is likely one of the most formidable album openers of its time. At this level, Black artists like Isaac Hayes, The Temptations, and Curtis Mayfield have been already experimenting with prolonged, prolonged vamps. “Dancing Girl,” nevertheless, was constructed on a posh, suite-like construction that enables the track’s themes and imagery to shift together with the music. In a 2007 interview with David Hollander, Callier spoke concerning the album’s development. “[Producer] Charles [Stepney] had a larger concept, and so some of the tracks had anywhere from 25 to 30 musicians.”

Callier’s opening verse and refrain may very well be merely learn as a dream a few lover in movement, however a more in-depth examination means that the dancing lady that we comply with to “the quiet place” someplace “between time and space” is the muse itself. From right here, the tone shifts dramatically. Callier pulls us deep into the bowels of despair the place creativity can not heal the real-life scars left by a life lived in poverty, despair, and habit. Along with his voice booming and shaking on the fringe of breaking, Callier references Charlie Parker, framing the jazz legend’s heroin habit because the darkish and tragic flipside of Black inventive ecstasy:

In the meantime within the ghettos mud and gloom.
Chook is blowin in his room.
All these notes wont take the ache away.
And also you’ll absolutely come to hurt,
With that needle all up in your arm.
And dope won’t ever flip the night time to day.

Launched at a second when Issac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, and Stevie Surprise have been all experimenting and pushing towards the thematic and formal boundaries of soul music, “Dancing Girl” stays one of many excessive creative achievements of the early Nineteen Seventies. Even after we are left to languish within the worst socioeconomic circumstances, we’re capable of thrive creatively. Regardless of the entire bittersweet pleasure and outright ache that comes with being Black in a world formed by anti-blackness, the muse stays.

Inform her what you wanna do.
Boogie, bop or boogalo?

Take heed to Terry Callier’s “Dancing Girl” now.

DA timeline suggests crime spree forward of rubbish truck crash in Everett

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DA timeline suggests crime spree forward of rubbish truck crash in Everett

The person authorities say ended a wild spree of crime by crashing a carjacked rubbish truck into the guard rail of an Everett bridge after being shot and tased by police will face not less than 9 expenses.

Admilson Vizcaino, 33, of Malden, shall be charged with 4 counts of tried armed carjacking, two counts of armed carjacking, assault via a harmful weapon, armed assault to rob, and leaving the scene of a collision leading to property injury. The Middlesex District Lawyer’s workplace says much more expenses are potential.

Vizcaino, who the Middlesex DA’s workplace says is in crucial situation at an area hospital, shall be arraigned on the costs at a later, undetermined date.

Vizcaino’s alleged felony actions created fairly the stir in Everett, the place the most important police response pressured the closure of a number of roadways and induced site visitors congestion in a number of communities within the space for hours afterward.

However new investigative particulars present that his quick alleged joyride in a Republic Providers rubbish truck that ended with a crash into the guardrail of the Alford Road Bridge — first hinted at by the Everett Police Division in a Fb put up shortly earlier than 4 p.m. Thursday — was merely a finale in an hours-long ordeal that spanned a number of municipalities.

It began at 12:45 p.m. Thursday, based on authorities, when Medford police responded to a 911 name for an individual “acting erratically” at an area gasoline station, who the Middlesex DA says is Vizcaino. However authorities say Vizcaino was not there once they arrived, and so the police issued a BOLO alert, for different police companies to “be on the lookout” for Vizcaino and the black Chevrolet SUV he was driving.

Fifteen minutes later, Stoneham Law enforcement officials allegedly tried to drag over the car, nevertheless it didn’t cease. An hour later, the Billerica police turned concerned once they acquired a report of shoplifting at a 7/11 by a person within the suspect car.

Then, at round 3:15 p.m., a member of Vizcaino’s household instructed Malden police that he was at a residence there. When police arrived, authorities say, Vizcaino fled the scene in his black Chevrolet. Police pursued till Vizcaino crossed into Everett.

Everett police, who known as the Massachusetts State Police in for help, pursued as Vizcaino allegedly slammed his car into different autos alongside Broadway close to the Encore Boston Harbor on line casino and Mystic Road, finally disabling his personal car.

The Middlesex DA’s workplace stated he then “tumbled from his vehicle and attempted to carjack multiple nearby vehicles while wielding a knife.” MSP troopers and Everett officers surrounded Vizcaino, who allegedly swung his knife at them. Troopers then fired a taser at him, based on the Middlesex DA. And but he continued on foot, finally capable of efficiently carjack a Republic Providers rubbish truck, though police shot at him within the course of.

Authorities say he drove the rubbish truck for a few half mile earlier than the bridge crash, after which he was arrested.

The Middlesex DA’s workplace additionally notes that police discovered 4 canisters of gasoline in Vizcaino’s Chevrolet, which he had allegedly carried since his cease on the 7/11 in Billerica.

Initially Revealed:

Extremely-Uncommon Daft Punk Skateboard Listed for Sale With $15,000 Value Tag

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Extremely-Uncommon Daft Punk Skateboard Listed for Sale With ,000 Value Tag

A uncommon Daft Punk-branded skateboard developed by Cédric Hervet, the duo’s longtime inventive director and collaborator, has surfaced on the web market with a $15,000 price ticket.

Created in 2017 for a restricted drop on the West Hollywood luxurious boutique Maxfield, the skateboard got here out of Hervet Manufacturier, the design studio co-founded by Hervet after his seminal work shaping Daft Punk’s visible id.

Every deck was handmade in Normandy utilizing premium wooden and outfitted with metallic particulars that echo the modern contours of the duo’s iconic helmets. Solely 25 have been produced and this one was the eleventh off the road.

eBay

s l1600

eBay

s l1600 1

eBay

The board’s vendor says it is “still sealed to the box, never been touched” and in “mint condition.” An identical crate and customized newspaper spherical out the package deal, reinforcing the truth that it wasn’t constructed for mass manufacturing.

Comparable objects have sparked bidding wars earlier than. Final 12 months, a prototype jacket designed by Hedi Slimane and linked to Daft Punk’s “Epilogue” period hit eBay for a cool $10,000.

You’ll be able to take a look at the total itemizing of the uncommon skateboard right here.

Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft says he made $6.3M final yr, however gained’t launch tax return

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Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft says he made .3M final yr, however gained’t launch tax return

Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft reported $6.3 million in revenue final yr, per a monetary abstract supplied by his marketing campaign, however the specifics of the place his cash got here from stays unclear provided that he declined to launch his tax return.

Kraft, son of the billionaire New England Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft, on Friday supplied the primary glimpse of his monetary data since launching his mayoral marketing campaign — a couple of week after Mayor Michelle Wu known as on him to launch his 2024 tax return to disclose any monetary pursuits or enterprise “entanglements.”

“Today, Josh is providing an accurate picture of his personal finances based on the past two years of tax filings, including total annual income and charitable donations, as well as state and federal income tax payments,” Kraft marketing campaign spokesperson Eileen O’Connor mentioned in a press release. “In truth, the data being shared at the moment is way past what’s legally required for a candidate.

“Josh has been clear with the public that he was born into privilege, and that his family’s success has allowed him to pursue a career of community service and nonprofit work, primarily in the neighborhoods of Boston,” O’Connor added.

The Kraft marketing campaign declined to offer his 2024 tax returns, that are on a six-month extension via the Oct. 15 IRS submitting deadline, however did present a short abstract of his whole revenue, $6.3 million, charitable contributions, $269,000, and estimated federal and state taxes, at $2.06 million and $510,000, respectively.

He paid 41% of his revenue in state and federal taxes, the Kraft marketing campaign mentioned, including that Wu paid simply 17% in revenue taxes final yr and made no charitable contributions.

A monetary abstract was additionally supplied for his 2023 tax returns, which he equally declined to launch, regardless of their accomplished filings. In 2023, Kraft’s reported revenue was barely larger than final yr, at $6.495 million.

His charitable contributions, a tax deduction, have been larger, at $297,000. He paid much less in federal and state revenue taxes, at $1.83 million and $358,000, respectively.

The Kraft marketing campaign declined to offer specifics about the place his revenue was coming from, solely saying in response to Herald inquiries that it “consists of salary, interest, dividends and capital gains.”

“We are not disclosing specific amounts of each,” O’Connor mentioned.

Kraft stepped down from his place as head of his household’s charitable arm, the New England Patriots Basis, after launching his mayoral marketing campaign this previous February.

Publicly obtainable 990 kinds present that Kraft was not paid a wage in recent times as head of his household’s charitable basis. His marketing campaign mentioned he did absorb a wage whereas working as president of the New England Patriots Basis in 2023 and 2024, however didn’t say what he was paid.

Kraft served in an identical executive-level position previous to taking the helm of his household’s philanthropic arm. He drew a roughly $350,000 wage as head of the Boys and Ladies Golf equipment of Boston in fiscal yr 2020, in keeping with publicly obtainable 990 kinds.

Kraft not too long ago dipped into his private checking account to place $2 million into his mayoral marketing campaign, saying this previous Could that he wanted to take action, given that he’s “going against the power of incumbency.” He mentioned he has had simply 4 months to fundraise, whereas Wu “has had four years to raise money.”

His father, Robert Kraft, chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group, has a internet price of $11.8 billion.

Kraft launched his partial monetary data amid public strain that intensified over the previous two weeks.

Wu, who in Could launched her 2024 tax return displaying that she made $184,241 in federal adjusted gross revenue final yr, a majority of which got here from her $207,000 mayoral wage, publicly known as on Kraft to launch his tax returns and monetary data final week and once more on Wednesday.

The mayor accused her opponent of attempting to “hide” his enterprise pursuits and “entanglements” that she sees as probably impacting his capability to successfully function town’s mayor, whereas pointing specifically to the Kraft Group’s plan to construct a soccer stadium in Everett, amid tense negotiations with the Metropolis of Boston.

The Wu marketing campaign criticized Kraft’s determination to not launch his full tax return.

“The mayor of Boston should work for the people of Boston and no one else, without hidden financial interests, conflicts, and entanglements,” the Wu marketing campaign mentioned Friday in a press release. “Mayor Wu has released her full and complete financials every year for the last 12 years. Josh Kraft promised to do so months ago, and we’re still waiting.”

Kraft has acknowledged that he would recuse himself from town’s Everett stadium negotiations, however his obvious connection to the New England Revolution, the skilled soccer group set to play there might complicate issues for him.

The Wu administration is searching for additional mitigation from the Kraft Group over site visitors and parking impacts the brand new stadium might have on the close by Charlestown neighborhood. The 2 sides are in mediation after failing to achieve an settlement on a previous mitigation package deal provided by the Krafts.

A 2015 authorized submitting exhibits Josh Kraft might be a part of a succession plan to inherit possession of the New England Revolution, which at the moment shares use of Gillette Stadium with the Patriots. The 2 groups and stadium are owned by Kraft’s father.

‘Born Under A Bad Sign’: Extra Expertise Than Luck For Albert King

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‘Underwater Sunlight’: How Tangerine Dream Embraced Pop Music’s Shine

I’ve been down since I started to crawl
If it wasn’t for unhealthy luck
I wouldn’t don’t have any luck in any respect
– “Born Under A Bad Sign”

‘Underwater Sunlight’: How Tangerine Dream Embraced Pop Music’s Shine
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Merely one of many biggest blues choruses ever. It’s screaming: “Life don’t get much harder than this!” The funky, swinging bass line, perforated with defiant, nearly haughty guitar licks, is a legendary piece of music. It’s a kind of songs that individuals know as quickly as they hear the immediately recognizable introduction – nevertheless it’s extra more likely to be the Cream model that they’ll keep in mind. The band reworked the title observe from Albert King’s Born Below A Dangerous Signal into an enormous hit, serving to the album Wheels Of Fireplace to the No.3 and No.1 chart positions within the UK and US, respectively, and producing the first-ever platinum-selling double-album.

Take heed to Born Below A Dangerous Signal proper now.

These chargeable for creating such a basic music have been Booker T. Jones, who wrote the music and that good 6+5-note bass riff, and Stax R&B singer William Bell, who wrote the lyrics. Or did he? The phrases to “Born Under A Bad Sign” are much like Lightnin’ Slim’s “Bad Luck,” from 1954, and it’s onerous to think about Bell’s lyrics have been a coincidence.

Lord, if it wasn’t for unhealthy luck
Lightnin’ wouldn’t don’t have any luck in any respect
You understand unhealthy luck has been followin’ poor Lightnin’
Ever since I started to crawl

Fact is, the blues is riddled with comparable phrases and riffs popping up far and wide. It’s a form of residing library, and Lightnin’ Slim’s phrases could have lodged in Bell’s unconscious, able to be “borrowed” on the proper second in time.

“Born Under A Bad Sign” has since been recorded individually for Stax Data by Booker T. & The MGs, on their 1968 album Soul Limbo, and by William Bell on Sure To Occur, in 1969. It’s additionally been lined by everybody from Jimi Hendrix to Paul Butterfield, Etta James, Massive Mama Thornton, Buddy Man with Koko Taylor, Robben Ford, and Rita Coolidge. However no model comes near the one which kicks off Albert King’s mighty Born Below A Dangerous Signal album, launched in August 1967.

If you would like the actual soul of the music, a real soul-blues – the one which echoes in these desperately dispirited phrases, then Albert King’s model has received to be the one.

A lot of the soulfulness on Born Below A Dangerous Signal (the album) is contributed by Booker T & The MGs, the Stax home backing band, with Steve Cropper on rhythm guitar, Booker T Jones taking part in organ and piano, Isaac Hayes on piano, Donald “Duck” Dunn on bass guitar, Al Jackson Jr., on drums, Wayne Jackson on trumpet, Andrew Love on tenor saxophone, and Joe Arnold on baritone saxophone and flute. And, after all, King’s pin-prick word bending: a hark again to his early influences, and particularly the slide taking part in of Blind Lemon Jefferson. King’s funky phrasing got here from hours and hours of listening to T-Bone Walker and Lonnie Johnson, however you’ll hear numerous BB King vibrato and financial system of taking part in in there too. One of many “Three Kings Of The Blues Guitar” (together with BB and Freddie), Albert claimed to be BB’s half-brother, so maybe it’s no shock their taking part in is acquainted.

All of the cuts on Born Below A Dangerous Signal are glorious and get a constant therapy, producing one in every of King’s most balanced releases. The album was definitely appreciated by the general public, charting on the Billboard Prime 50. Different songs needing a point out embody the somewhat racy 12-bar blues “Crosscut Saw” (“Now, I’m a crosscut saw, drag me ’cross yo’ log”), recorded as early as 1941 by Delta bluesman Tommy McClennan, which King restyles with intoxicating Latino shuffle and a good horn association. “The Hunter” additionally serves up one thing particular, prepared for the pot and as trademark Booker T & The MGs as “Green Onions”. It’s a pulsating stew of a observe on a excessive flame, tasty and nourishing.

“Kansas City” is firmly again in King territory, with pretty drum kicks and horn lifts to the rhythm. It’s a lightweight and stylish contact, earlier than “Oh, Pretty Woman” enters and all of it will get muscular once more: pulsating, rippling and horny. And so it continues, and not using a weakling inside listening to distance.

When you’ve got already been lucky sufficient to have heard this most glorious of albums, then depend your fortunate stars. Should you haven’t, then it’s clearly time for a change of luck. Go forward, give it a hear. Born Below A Dangerous Signal will make your day.

Born Below A Dangerous Signal could be purchased right here.

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