Billy Valentine Shares “My People…Hold On” As Flying Dutchman Records’ Comeback Continues

Watch The Video For The Funk-Addled Take On The Eddie Kendricks Track Over At CLASH

 

Today, Billy Valentine shares a rattling gospel- and funk-steeped performance of the Eddie Kendricks song “My People…Hold On,” the latest preview from his new albumBilly Valentine & The Universal Truth — a record the BBC’s Gilles Peterson has already praised as “incredible.” It’s just the latest phase in the long-awaited return ofFlying Dutchman Records, the legendary imprint founded by record producer Bob Thiele (John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World”) and known for releases by Duke Ellington, Gil-Scott Heron, and Leon Thomas as well as recorded speeches by the likes Angela Davis and Stanley Crouch.

This magnificent reconstruction of Eddie Kendrick’s 1973 masterpiece feels influenced by Charles Stepney’s work with Rotary Connection, none more so in the guitar work of Jeff Parker, who has recently been involved with International Anthem’s projects honoring the Chicago producer’s work. Billy of course soars over the compelling arrangement. Watch the video for “My People…Hold On” at CLASH.

After 40 years of dormancy, Bob Thiele, Jr. decided that an album from his friend and collaborator Billy Valentine would be the best way to herald the return of Flying Dutchman Records. As listens to pre-release tracks like the stirring Gil-Scott Heron tribute “Home Is Where The Hatred Is” or a remarkable take on Curtis Mayfield’s “We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue” attest, Thiele’s instincts are proving correct.

Recorded in the shadow of both the coronavirus epidemic and the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, Valentine brings a sense of solemn power to these eight iconic protest songs, giving us his own spirited expressions of the boundless outrage, struggle, despair, and resilience contained therein. Backed by a veritable who’s who of modern jazz — including Theo Croker, Pino Pallodino, Jeff Parker, Immanuel Wilkins and so many more (full credits below) — Valentine’s performances are given a sharp and reactive backing upon which to elaborate new contours of songs by the likes of Prince, Stevie Wonder, and more.

Billy Valentine’s musical journey has been long and varied and includes stints as a teenage lounge singer opening for bigger acts such as Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway; touring with the original road company of The Wiz; and signing with A&M Records alongside his brother John as part of The Valentine Brothers, who scored hit with their Reaganomics-critiquing “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention),” and the quiet storm classic “Lonely Nights.”

Following the duo’s dissolution in 1987, Valentine linked up with Bob Thiele Jr. (now the caretaker of Flying Dutchman) and Phil Roy, who as a trio began collaborating on songs that would ultimately go on to be recorded by Ray Charles, The Neville Brothers, and both Pops and Mavis Staples. Over the years, Valentine’s voice continued to pop up in surprising places, including television (as part of the soundtracks for shows as varied asBoston Legal and Sons Of Anarchy) and in pop hits by Nas (“Legit”) and Axwell (“Nobody Else”).

Says Thiele Jr.: “It was Billy’s voice that sold our songs, making them irresistible to the artists who would cover them. Others caught on and Billy would become the secret weapon of nearly every songwriter in L.A. His vocal performances on demos made their songs (and ours) irresistible to Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, Bette Midler, and countless others. And yet, no one outside of the privileged few knew who Billy Valentine was.”

And now, with Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth, the secret’s out.

 

Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth

“We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue”

Drums: Abe Rounds

Bass: Linda May Han Oh

Piano: Larry Goldings

Tenor Saxophone: Immanuel Wilkins

 

“Home Is Where The Hatred Is”

Drums: James Gadson

Bass: Pino Palladino

Fender Rhodes Electric Piano: Larry Goldings

Guitar: Jeff Parker

Strings: Rob Moose

 

“My People…Hold On”

Drums: Abe Rounds

Bass: Pino Palladino

Fender Rhodes Electric Piano: Larry Goldings, Bob Thiele, Jr.

Guitar: Jeff Parker

Vibraphone: Joel Ross

Percussion: Alex Acuña

Backing Vocals: Owen Thiele, Jana Miley, Billy’s Trio

 

“The Creator Has A Master Plan”

Drums: Abe Rounds

Bass: Linda May Han Oh

Piano: Larry Goldings

Guitar: Jeff Parker

Flute & Backing Vocals: Amber Navran

Baritone Saxophone: Claire Daley

Marxophone: Bob Thiele, Jr.

 

“Sign Of The Times”

Drums: Abe Rounds

Bass: Pino Palladino

Fender Rhodes Electric Piano: Larry Goldings

Clavinet: John Philip Shenale

Guitar: Jeff Parker

Percussion: Alex Acuña

Synthesizer: Bob Thiele, Jr.

 

“You Haven’t Done Nothin’”

Drums: Abe Rounds

Bass: David Piltch

Piano: Larry Goldings

 

“Wade In The Water”

Drums: James Gadson

Bass: Pino Palladino

Piano: Larry Goldings

Guitar: Jeff Parker

Background Vocals: Billy’s Trio

 

"The World Is A Ghetto"

Drums: James Gadson

Bass: Pino Palladino

Piano: Larry Goldings

Guitar: Jeff Parker

Strings: Rob Moose

 

Produced by Bob Thiele, Jr.

Recorded & Mixed by Dave Way

Recorded @ East-West Studios

Additional Recording @ Sear Sound by Chris Allen

 

 

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