Today's delivery is brought to you by Darondo. In the early 70's, San Francisco was the place to be. William Darondo Pulliam was a kid with MASSIVE soul talent, who–for some crazy reason–only ever recorded three singles, and played four gigs over his entire professional career (but, he made fat stacks in that time). Darondo was well known for cruising the Bay Area in a white Rolls Royce packed clown car deep with foxy girls, and (I'm quoting NPR here): His label once reported that he'd worked as a pimp for many years, a claim the singer now denies. Darondo's music returned to the niché spotlight when rarities label Ubiquity Records re-released those three singles on their Luv N Haight imprint label, and later compiled the nine track album Let My People Go, which was released in 2006.
I could listen to those first thirty-some seconds forever. That gentle "everything-is-going-to-be-okay" riff, his be-bopping at 0:19, it just makes me want to lay in bed, put the books away, sleep in til' past noon. His falsetto is amazing, jumping from deep, guttural octaves, to hoarse mid-range pleas for something from this woman. I don't have anything more to say. You just need to listen for yourself. Enjoy.
