http://youtu.be/8rEBz--bWVY

War - Four Cornered Room

I know that this blog is usually geared around hip-hop, and that I update ultra sporadically.  Last week I was in a bit of a mood, and started thinking about my dad and when he first introduced me to this song.  When I was in the eigth grade, I discovered a huge crate of records that my dad had since his Navy days.  I remember flipping through and seeing groups like the Ebonys, Bloodstone, Janis Joplin and many others.  I remember seeing the cover for War's "The World is a Ghetto" and I was immediately attracted to the cover art, and I decided to give it a listen.  One the tracks that stood out to me was "Four Cornered Room."  It begans with a beautiful harmonization as riffs of a harmonica sprinkle the track.  I have always been into arrangement, hence my love for Issac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield, and this track just spoke to me.  I remember playing it until I wore the needle on the record player out (my dad made me buy a new one).  This song spoke to the lonely teenaged angst in me and it let me know that everyone has those contemplative moments where they sit alone in their "four cornered room."  I searched the comments on youtube and a lot of people associate this song with drug use, but for me when I hear that melodic "Ooooooooooooohhhh" when the song starts, I picture myself back on Upland Road, faded black Jimi Hendrix shirt, bedroom door shut, incense burning, red light on.  Take a listen and tell me what you think.  Enjoy!