This Month's Thrift Store Vinyl Sharity

Curtis Knight, Down in the Village (Paramount, 1970)

Curtis Knight, or Curtis McNear as this album's writing credits reveal, had a long career in R&B and the Blues. However, some of the music history sites seem to confuse him with Curtis McNair, a doo-wop vocalist and part of the post-1952 Fuqua Ink Spots.

But I don't think he's the same guy: it compresses the timeline too much in the early sixties as Knight formed the Squires. This site provides a short biography, a decent discography, and some nice photos of Knight in concert. It also features photos of Knight's grave.

Knight's work with Jimi Hendrix is perhaps his most well-known; I suspect that this is session material along the lines of Hendrix's work as part of Little Richard's and James Brown's band, most of it rereleased as "Hendrix" material once the Jimi Hendrix Experience became popular.

This album, which seems to predate Knight's move to the UK and the formation of his band/project "Curtis Knight, Zeus," suggests a bit of the psychedelic Hendrix Experience, though in a good way, I guess. (Hey, a copy of this album just sold on eBay for $20.50.) The songs have a real New York sensibility to them--hence the whole "Village" concept. But this isn't all peace and love, mind you: "Friedman Hill" tells a tale of murder and regret. Other sadness is recorded as well.

There's a similarly titled Decca LP with a few more cuts, but that may be a UK release. By the way, Knight is featured on the collaborative album "Blues Root," which is still in print.

Here are the usual .zip files (mp3 and album art) on rapidshare.com: side one and side two.