Ural Thomas

"The fourth volume in our 'North Portland Music Series'...a most unusual record.  Ural recorded this in his house with a bunch of neighborhood kids back in 1970.  'Fade Away' is reminiscent of the 'bad trip' portion of Sly and the Family Stone's 'There's a Riot Goin' On.'  A lazy funk riff is accompanied by droney vocal incantations & kids blowing into sawed off bed posts as if they were trumpets!  It really happened.  'Smile' is a more straightforward, simple ballad wherein Ural sends a postitive message out to the world.  Ural self-pressed 300 copeis of this way back when just to prove to the kids accompanying him on it that they can do anything they want if they put their minds to it.  Its message rings true today.  Housed in a thick old school tip-on sleeve." - Mississippi

"The third volume in our 'North Portland Music Series'...two great soul songs by local legend Ural Thomas recorded in 1960.  'Push 'em Up" is an upbeat soul stomper for the dance floor.  'Deep Within My Heart' is a pretty ballad with tight harmonies & lots of groove.  Ural is an underappreciated musician who toured opening for Otis Redding back in the day, had James Brown plagiarize his style, played in countless bands in Portland & Seattle, built a house out of debris salvaged from the Willamette River, mentored countless kids in the neighborhood, & probably wrestled an alligator or two.  Proof that unsung heroes live right in our backyard.  Housed in a thick old school tip-on sleeve." - Mississippi