Ramrock Selectahs: Chris Greive – Blow Ya’ Horn

Ramrock Selectahs: Chris Greive - Blow Ya' Horn

RRR003 – Joseph Malik – Take A Left

Ramrock Red Records are so proud to present the first single release ‘Take A Left’ unleashed from internationally acclaimed vocalist/producer/DJ Joseph Malik’s forthcoming album, ‘Diverse Part 2’. Co-written and produced with Joseph’s long-term friend + DJ partner since the 80’s, Saleem Andrew McGroarty aka Sound Signals, ‘Take A Left’ is a stomping RnB monster of epic proportions that would be at home in a 1950’s juke joint from across the tracks to a present day shebeen in a dingy basement club. Drawing their inspiration from the darkest recesses of the musical repertoire of Dr. John, Muddy Waters, Allen Toussaint and a generation of blues artists who travelled alone with their guitars in a gunny sack along lonely back roads in the pale Delta moonlight, Joseph and Saleem, along with a stellar line up of Scottish musicians, have created something akin to musical redemption. Ramrock Red Records boss, Jo Wallace gives ‘Take A Left’ an additional remix by taking Joseph’s impromptu jam from the front porch of a wooden cabin, along an echoing corridor and into the confines of a compact Bayou studio….you will sense the darkness but surely see the light.Joseph Malik has always had a great ear for finding artists to work with on his projects and on ‘Take a Left’, he has teamed up with Scotland’s finest soul brothers and sisters to provide the soul power to help him complete his mission to record the best in Soul, Jazz and Blues music. With Joseph on lead vocals, backing vocals are provided by Polish vocalist/ Malik Orchestra violinist, Dominika Czerniga, now based in the South Side of Edinburgh and renowned for her powerful vocal delivery with an impressive operatic range. Malik says of Australian jazz trombonist Chris Greive, ‘we would never dare sample a horn from a record when the world’s best lives just around the corner!’ and along with the harp man from Edinburgh’s premier blues band, ‘Black Diamond Express’ and musical enigma, Tom McClelland, they create a relentless melody that drives the track as they let the notes interweave, cemented by Kris Howden, one of the South Side’s soul brothers + a major player on Edinburgh’s live music scene, with his big, fat, nasty bass line. Recorded at Rusty’s Yard in Edinburgh’s Easter Road by ex-drummer & founding member of Edinburgh’s punk band ‘The Fire Engines’, Rusty Burn on the recording desk, and mixed down by Saleem Andrew McGroarty for Sound Signals at The Sound Still, Leith, the end result feels more like a session straight out of the Stax or Atlantic studios – ‘Take A Left’ will lead you straight onto the talced dance floor.

RRR007 – Out of the Ordinary ft. Rosanne Erskine + Davy Henderson

Ladies and Gentlemen, Ramrock Red Records are proud to present the all-star Edinburgh collective ‘Out of The Ordinary’ with their first single 'Meadows' from the forthcoming LP ‘Stranger Things Have Happened’. After the phenomenal success of his solo album ‘Diverse Part 2’ in 2018, Joseph Malik decided to sit firmly in the producer’s chair and team up once again with the co-writers and production ‘dream’ team of arranger/producer Chris Greive, fellow producers Saleem Andrew McGroarty and David Donnelly to create ‘Meadows’, an open love letter to Edinburgh, the city they all love. It’s an anthem for well-being that embraces all races, all creeds, all colours, all genders and where Joseph shares his experience of homelessness and salvation. 'Meadows' contains the iconic hook from Jefferson Airplane's 'Today' and it was a joy to get the original song writers blessing to create a re-interpretation for their anthem of unity. Joseph knew deep down in his heart ‘Meadows’ had to be a duet but he did not want to sing on the track. So he called upon Ms Rosanne Erskine from Coco & The Bean and indie legend, favoured John Peel Sessions guest, and member of the 'Fire Engines', Davy Henderson. The resulting EP is nothing short of magnificent. The LP & ‘Café Graffiti’ versions are arranged by Chris Greive who crafted the soaring, live strings, played by violinist & Grit Orchestra founder, Greg Lawson whose improvisation has become another instrumental colour within the track. Along with trumpeter Colin Steele and 'The Proclaimers' keyboardist Steven Christie, a sound comparable to the golden era of ’66 Haight-Ashbury folk-psyche fusion was created. With the ‘North Street’ Vocal remix + Dub, Darren Morris and Jo Wallace take the progressive rock element and run with it. The fuzzed up Rhodes + Mellotron of Darren Morris’s keyboards, the mesmerising ‘electrified strings’ of Greg Lawson and the hypnotic repetition of Davy Henderson’s ‘there’s no evil’ vocal hook take you on a trip into an uncharted universe…..in addition to the 4 mixes on vinyl, the digital release also has the ‘North Street’ Dub, Gospel Mix and ‘North Street’ instrumental.Before making ‘Meadows’, Joseph spent time sleeping rough. He says:“It was April and it was getting warmer and I woke one morning in the ‘Meadows’ in Edinburgh. The sounds of the trees, leaves and birds filled my head and in that moment as the sun was coming up, the guitar hook from ‘Today’ came into my head inspiring me to bring the city together in unity”.Fellow ‘Fire Engines’ member, Russell Burn opened his studio to us even when times were tough. Every week the musicians gathered at Rusty’s studio in Easter Road to create ‘Meadows’ and the forthcoming album 'Stranger Things Have Happened'. The final recordings were taken to the new Silverback Lodge studio, just near The Meadows, for 'Out of the Ordinary' to mix the song in the location where it was written.

RRR014 – Out of the Ordinary ft Rosanne Erskine & Check Masses – Kind of Strange EP

‘Kind of Strange’ is taken from Edinburgh super group, Out of the Ordinary’s debut album, ‘Stranger Things Have Happened’. The original version is an eerily, atmospheric track with a classic film noir vibe, underscored with beats provided by Joseph Malik on the ones and twos, in collaboration with Check Masses members Vic Galloway, Saleem Andrew McGroarty and Philly Collins. Vocal powerhouses, Rosanne Erskine and Philly Collins will have you looking over your shoulder with their edgy, unsettling vocal delivery – was that a ghostly outline or just a curtain blowing in the breeze? Combine all of these elements with the mighty Steven Christie’s keyboard, Paulo ‘Brother’ Riddle’s anchoring percussion and Saleem Andrew McGroarty at the production controls, something rather special comes out of the speakers. To prepare for their ‘North Street’ remixes, Jo Wallace and Darren Morris immersed themselves in continuous re-runs of iconic TV series, ‘Randall + Hopkirk [Deceased]’ and ‘Tales of the Unexpected’ enabling them to channel their inner John Barry. Throughout the track, Darren provides swirling, cinematic vamps and lush string arrangements echoing the Warsaw Concerto whilst Chris Greive’s haunting trombone and Vic Galloway, on his electric guitar, beautifully underpin the melody, transporting the listener back to a world of Black and White mystery and suspense.

RRR017 – Joseph Malik – I Quit my 9 to 5 EP

During lockdown, Joseph Malik kept himself busy by producing his 1st single from his forthcoming album, ‘Diverse Part 3’ with the Easter Road Northern Soul Band and his label sisters including special guest and long-time friend and powerhouse vocalist, Niki King. Joseph's battle plan was simple – ‘let’s just go and write a song that reflects how everyone feels right’ – and ‘I Quit My 9 to 5’ is Joseph’s response to folks being furloughed or paid off - not just the music industry but all the chefs, taxi drivers, bar staff, teachers – the ordinary person in the street. The lyrics came to Joseph late one night at 2 am: I quit my 9 to 5, I'm staying home, just to stay alive, what am I gonna do? After gathering an Allstar cast of Scottish musicians, the track was recorded over 3 studios so everyone could respect the Covid rules. Joseph and Niki laid down a raw, uncompromising track with funk fuelled keys from the Proclaimers keyboard player, Stevie Christie and wicked horn action from Chris Greive. Once the original LP version was in place, Joseph presented the track to the North Street West collective and Ashley Beedle, Darren Morris and Jo Wallace took ‘I Quit’ to the hottest joint in town and dressed it in a large fedora, camel coat and a fine cane + jewels – people nodded knowingly as it went past. It’s the guest of honour on ‘Soul Train’ and even Don Cornelius hustled down the ‘line’.Play ‘I Quit My 9 to 5’ loud and stand back and watch the dance get started.