Mingering Mike Goes Forth

Mingering Mike lives!  As soon as I saw the homemade cover art gracing the new debut album from Milwaukee-based soul band Kings Go Forth, I knew it could only be the work of one man.

I first stumbled upon the magical realist tale of Mingering Mike a few years ago thanks to Dori Hadar.  A criminal investigator by day and club DJ by night, Hadar was prowling for obscure LPs one morning at a flea market in Washington, DC. Sifting through crates of old soul and funk, he found a box of records that mystified him. The sleeves were painted by hand – and the “records” inside were made of cardboard. Hadar put his detective skills to work and in the process discovered one of the greatest musicians no one had ever heard of.

The Magnificent Mingering Mike “released” over a hundred records between 1968 and 1976, all of them one-of-a-kind with impeccably crafted album covers and record sleeves. His output ranged from funky soul and protest albums to blaxploitation soundtracks, Bruce Lee tributes, and comedy platters ( “You Don’t Have To Wake Me, The Aroma Will Do That”), adding up to a poignant reflection of the black urban experience during this period… Except none of it was real. Every little detail, from the hand-drawn liner notes to the original song lyrics, were simply a product of Mingering Mike’s boundless imagination.

Back in 2007 I was lucky enough to get this amazing story on tape (and couldn’t resist adding my own impressionistic soundtrack).

I never actually met Mingering Mike in person and his true identity still remains a mystery.  But his unique talent and artistic vision have never been more in demand. After President Obama’s election, Mike created a series of fanciful album art featuring the nation’s first black President. And the Kings Go Forth commission for their new full-length The Outsider’s Are Back is pure genius. It’s an album worthy of its cover art that makes you think if Mingering Mike ever pressed a real vinyl record, this is what it might sound like.

-Derek L. John

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360 Staff Pick: Angelique Kidjo

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Angelique Kidjo

On her new album the Beninoise singer-songwriter hops back and forth between traditional West African tunes and western pop (she covers Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up” and James Brown’s “Cold Sweat,” among others). And while some listeners may prefer that she tighten her focus a bit, there’s no denying the joy and soulfulness of her fresh rhythms.

–Cary Barbor

Under your little tin-steepled imitation of civilization, for wh

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V.V. Brown’s Travelling Like the Light

After making a splash in Europe, the delightful V.V. Brown releases her first album, Travelling Like the Light, in the U.S. today.

And she’ll perform a set at the Apple Store in Soho tonight at 7 p.m. (It’s free!)

Not in New York City? You can still see V.V. play live. She stopped by Studio 360 in February and performed the track “Crying Blood:”

You can download that live track at Studio 360’s website.

“Good art comes from being open-minded. And for me,” says the U.K.-based child of a Jamaican mother and Puerto Rican father, “that’s an international thing.” Listen to V.V. and Kurt’s full conversation here:

[AUDIO=http://audio.wnyc.org/studio/studio022610f.mp3]

—Cary Barbor

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UK Soul Invasion

Another British invasion is underway. Almost fifty years after The Beatles, The Stones, and The White Queen of Soul found their way to American shores, a group of talented young ladies is grabbing the spotlight.

This week, V.V. Brown stopped by Studio 360 to chat with Kurt and play a few live songs with her band. Brown’s driving rhythms and retro-soul style are already topping the charts in Europe, and she’s set to begin a U.S. tour next month.

Here she performs her big single, “Shark in the Water” in our studio:

And if you like V.V. Brown, be sure to give a listen to another young English musician: Rox. She also fuses soul, jazz, and pop influences, but still manages to sound fresh and original. Maybe that’s because of something else they have in common: both Brown and Rox have a Jamaican parent, and both say they draw musical inspiration and confidence from their family traditions.  Their songs are bouncy and upbeat, but don’t let that fool you. The lyrics and the music possess real depth. Watch Rox’s video for “My Baby Left Me” (the single officially drops March 15), and see for yourself:

– Michael Guerriero

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