Had never heard of XIT, that I can recall. Just checked out some of the first album. Not usually my thing, but it was some real nice sounds.
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Had never heard of XIT, that I can recall. Just checked out some of the first album. Not usually my thing, but it was some real nice sounds.
I never got a sales report on "Plight Of The Redman" but did receive letters of appreciation from a variety of teachers using the album as a teaching aid. Just that alone made the project worthwhile to me.
Ralph, didn't one of the members of XIT make an appearance on Smokeys' first solo LP?
I believe they were on Smokey's "Just My Soul Responding", which is both an amazing song and a powerful critique of the treatment of African American and Native people in the US. It also incorporates Native American style chants as provided by XIT. :)
Yes they did some work with Smokey, which I wasn't aware of earlier on.
Am I right in saying that XIT were the first Native American band signed to a major record label? And the first such band to record political concept albums about the Native American experience?
The only other act I am aware of is Redbone, who were around at roughly the same time...
Forgive my ignorance, I know very little about Native American bands/music!
Tom, I'm not that familiar with Redbone's music but I don't think it was as political as XIT. I know they were rather serious rivals for a period of time until both bands appeared together at a concert. It was here, from what
i was told, they buried the hatchet.
I think I found bad news. I went to XIT's Michael Martinez website. We stayed somewhat in touch over the years. I found his son 's Facebook page dedicated to the memory of his father. Apparently Michael passed.
I can't seem to find any definitive information on Michael. I hope I'm wrong.
Ralph, thanks for this update, if so, sad news!
because Redbone was commercially successful, they had to disguise the politics in a clever way. The most blatant single was "Wovoka" in 1974. Of course, most audiences didn't pick up on it because of the public's ignorance about Native American history. The single didn't even make the Billboard Hot 100, which must have been extremely disappointing after their #1 single "Come And Get Your Love". One more bubbling-under single after that and they were done.
I have a fond Redbone memory.
At the Kern County fairgrounds , in an indoor building with a stage, where you stood to watch performances, no seating , where I also saw Al Green, Dr Hook performed and Redbone opened, hot on the heels of COME AND GET YOUR LOVE.
After their set there was a long pause waiting for Dr Hook. Finally an upset Ray Sawyer came out and announced that the promoter had made off with all the money for the show.
"But you know what? We're gonna give you a show anyway!"
Bless them, they made good of the obligation to their fans and didn't make us pay the price, and I remember it being a great show. They probably were more loose with a feeling of nothing to lose. Worked off their distress in their performing.
Soulster, thank you for the information on Redbone. I really never knew all that much about the band.
I read somewhere, Boogiedown, that when the label folded - in Detroit - for good, all the furnishings, awards, stationary, etc.was just unceremoniously hauled away in huge dumpsters. Fans were deprived of rich Motown history/memories. Only staff came away with some of those gems. Come to think of it niw. I do believe I read this in the adampwhite/westgrand blog. So sad all.
And was it true, Ralph, that some - if not all - the Funks had classical and jazz training backgrounds?
Well, at least Drew Schultz is doing a serviceable job of keeping the Funks undeniable legacy at Motown alive today. He often teams with Funks' progeny or former Motown group leads. Do you know or have heard of him, Ralph?
Yes I know Drew. And he is a very talented musician.
Sans, thanks for reminding me. I don't think I've seen him post in quite a while. I follow his career on Facebook.
I do remember watching SITSOM. I said in another thread on the Funks that is was truly heart-wrenching. Especially the clups where the guys who passed were represented by an empty chair and a lonely instrument. I believe that was in reference to that reunion concert someone posted in the FB thread.
Oh. My bad,1382Hit, that was you! Senior moment.
I wish you had, Ralph. If you recall, I love XIT's first two albums on Rare Earth -- especially the first one -"Plight Of The Red Man".
For traditional Motown fans the best Xit track to investigate is probably "Cement Prairie" from the Silent Warrior album.
Back to our regularly scheduled programming, are there any current acts, other than hip-hop, on the radar? Is Giveon on the label? Was Ne-Yo at one point?
Wonder if Miss E. is or is contemplating diving into the deep end of the NFT pool? Good way to unload on us rabid fans the remaining Motown Unreleased Singles from the vault, session outtakes, remixes , reissues, and or remixes. Of course, if viable, for the label, the market prices of these NFTs have got to come down. Would Smokey and the board have to sign-off on? BJ? Just a thought, guys.