The CTI Never Sleeps: A Classic Black Music Record Label - a podcast by The Music Snobs, LLC

The Music Snobs presents... TMS Black Label – the first in an annual series on the classic Black music record labels of our time, starting with the legendary CTI Records. A label famous for a locked-in instrumental groove, cutting edge engineering, and a house full of superstars, The Music Snobs declare that the CTI never sleeps – but did it really? Was the label justifiably infamous for targeting a more radio-focused sound than Impulse or Blue Note, and did it inadvertently lead to the creation of the dreaded Smooth Jazz? And what is 'Jazz' anyway? In a sprawling conversation ranging from George Benson to Herbie Hancock, from Ron Carter to Grover Washington Jr., TMS drops a manifesto on race, taste, culture, the problem with genres, and the harmful divisions in Black American Music.
Next up, the crew brings back a 'versus' to debate 'Nautilus' vs. 'Take Me To The Mardi Gras' – two classic songs by CTI alum Bob James, asking: which of these often-sampled, classic CTI recordings can Hip-Hop not do without? Get ready for an episode with as many difficult questions as hilarious insights, with just the right sprinkling of snobbery.

Further episodes of THE MUSIC SNOBS

Further podcasts by The Music Snobs, LLC

Website of The Music Snobs, LLC