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This blogger, Richard Gehr, is not an employee of AARP. The opinions expressed in the blog are not necessarily the opinions of AARP and AARP assumes no liability for the content posted by Mr. Gehr or any other participant

Richard Gehr | December 12, 2007

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"Conquer the World: The Lost Soul of Philadelphia International Records" (Philadelphia International/Legacy)
Compiled as a vinyl-only supplement to Legacy's recent "Essential" Lou Rawls and Teddy Pendergrass compilations, and recorded originally for producers-songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's influential record label, "Conquer the World" boasts thoroughly funky and fun tracks. The tunes sound all the fresher today for having languished in the archives since their original releases failed to ignite the world. Highlights include Bunny Sigler's cinematically arranged "Theme for Five Fingers of Death," David Sigler and Dee Dee Sharp's triumphant "Conquer the World Together," and Ruth McFadden's gritty "Ghetto Woman (Parts 1 & 2)," but the entire record's a treasure.

"The Great Debaters—Music from & Recorded for the Motion Picture" (Atlantic)
Sharon Jones is the star of this album devoted to great old and new blues, jazz, and gospel from Denzel Washington's upcoming movie about the debate team of a small African-American college. Jones ignites the Saturday-night roadhouse blues of "Wild About That Thing" and the Sunday-morning gospel incantation "My Soul Is a Witness." Jones also nicely uplifts a pair of tracks with the Billy Rivers & the Angelic Voices of Faith. Alvin "Youngblood" Hart and The Carolina Chocolate Drops string band team up for the excellent rural revivalism of "Busy Bootin'" and "City of Refuge."

"The Holy Modal Rounders . . . Bound to Lose" (Badbird Productions DVD)
This fascinating, downbeat, and sometimes cringe-inducing documentary focuses less on psychedelic folk-rockers the Holy Modal Rounders in their entirety than on the complicated relationship of the group's two founders, Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber. Tension mounts as the band plans its fortieth-anniversary show. Will Weber, the band's brilliant yet deeply troubled star, make it to the gig? Longtime Rounders drummer Sam Shepard, former Monkee Peter Tork, and Dennis Hopper, who featured the group's "Bird Song" in "Easy Rider," all weigh in on the band's tragic genius.

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