tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83441310131431317252024-03-17T20:00:40.017-07:00FunkatropolisA blog about music.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger373125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-72633923737732339692024-03-11T21:54:00.000-07:002024-03-15T21:04:47.743-07:00"LA Type" by Kimbra<p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkXKlBiEMcV3NGG-P28IZBumx4lRnxxtjCz2PCcDT7oHKOgWExpQ5qnP8eyZ-8M7EV91omwv_IOycm5tzlnB4xR9gYnH20nvtq8jSn7S3Vxu5B0ICfTrcGWMjr6mcMnm0f3oZDenv1xvYMGbyzH5JoLS92tmVY-0TZotOGsl9ECsI0tWHdb9zhvA14O58/s1000/Kimbra_AReckoning_AlbumArtwork.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkXKlBiEMcV3NGG-P28IZBumx4lRnxxtjCz2PCcDT7oHKOgWExpQ5qnP8eyZ-8M7EV91omwv_IOycm5tzlnB4xR9gYnH20nvtq8jSn7S3Vxu5B0ICfTrcGWMjr6mcMnm0f3oZDenv1xvYMGbyzH5JoLS92tmVY-0TZotOGsl9ECsI0tWHdb9zhvA14O58/w320-h320/Kimbra_AReckoning_AlbumArtwork.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>New Zealand-born singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Kimbra gets down and dirty on her funky track “LA Type.” The two-time Grammy-winning artist has dipped her toes into funk before but nothing quite as audaciously funky as this cut. She even brought in ace groovemaster and drummer extraordinaire Questlove to maximize the funk level. He contributes a monstrous beat that’s complemented by Spencer Zahn’s nasty bass line. The funk is further deepened by some electrifying keyboard work from Taylor Graves. And Kimbra delivers a dynamic vocal performance that’s full of attitude and sultry soul. She even raps on a few verses. Also, the song features some tight bars from guest rappers Pink Siifu and Tommy Raps. Additional background vocals are provided by Jacob Collier.<p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“LA Type” is a track from Kimbra’s fourth album,</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> A Reckoning</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, which was released on January 27, 2023. In an interview with</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Paper Magazine</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> last year, she said that the song is about her dating experiences in LA and “just some of the bullshit that comes with a city that’s built on entertainment.” She added that it addresses a culture in Los Angeles “that is very distorted and superficial.” Kimbra said that the song was inspired by Prince, whom she has frequently cited as a major influence and inspiration.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Kimbra is most recognized for her feature on Gotye’s Grammy-winning global smash “Somebody That I Used to Know,” which hit the airwaves in July of 2011. She has released some really interesting and cool music over the years. Her sound is an eclectic fusion of pop, jazz, R&B, indie rock, electro-pop and dance. She is an adventurous artist who’s known for her daring and inventiveness in the studio and in her music videos. And she’s a captivating live performer–thrilling audiences with her magnetic stage presence and raw charisma. Kimbra kicks off her 2024 tour in April. She has some tour dates and venue info posted at her</span><a href="https://www.kimbramusic.com/" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> website</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0OduvMasr-0?si=aNSDAxL7kNJviCsy" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Kimbra performing "LA Type" at an Amsterdam concert last year</div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HkeUnCfZr1E?si=h3dXg1BK3-ornT8N" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3v45VwF">"LA Type" available at Amazon</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-12837979906014540502024-03-02T22:05:00.000-08:002024-03-11T22:22:26.760-07:00Album Review of The Isley Brothers’ Go For Your Guns<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaOgjClU140eMOWdT3lZZYtcvkXs_I-VK1zckzUWnGLIRM6rPg6aSr0HgQC05T0323gDffkDx4onuGuDr8WfC2-_22KqY4ubESj8HGs-67L2eGULjbKKltpqYtMPH5cBkmVYh7LSnKYCvL0ksfm7v5jGqAZrhbY14ryhww2cKCt2fygSxYZOhdrm4B0wj/s1000/Go%20For%20Your%20Guns.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaOgjClU140eMOWdT3lZZYtcvkXs_I-VK1zckzUWnGLIRM6rPg6aSr0HgQC05T0323gDffkDx4onuGuDr8WfC2-_22KqY4ubESj8HGs-67L2eGULjbKKltpqYtMPH5cBkmVYh7LSnKYCvL0ksfm7v5jGqAZrhbY14ryhww2cKCt2fygSxYZOhdrm4B0wj/w400-h400/Go%20For%20Your%20Guns.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Isley Brothers had been in the music game for more than 20 years when they dropped their fifteenth studio album <span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Go For Your Guns</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> in 1977. By the end of the ‘60s, the band had adopted a more funk-based sound as well as adding hard rock to their sonic palette. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The album</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> offers an exciting mix of funk, R&B and rock. And it showcases the band’s formidable musical, songwriting and production talents. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>Go For Your Guns</i> kicks off with the powerhouse funk track “The Pride (Part 1 & 2)." This super-charged groove was bumped at parties and clubs everywhere back in the day. It features a furious bass line, percolating keyboards and a massive beat. The song is about maintaining dignity and perseverance in the face of life’s many adversities. It stresses the importance of self-esteem, inner strength and fortitude. The song also touches on how political leaders often have to straddle a fine line between representing the people and capitulating to the pressures of their position, as well as battling the seductive lure of power and influence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Footsteps in the Dark (Part 1 & 2)” is a superb slow jam. It’s beautifully arranged, produced and performed. The song features some ace guitar work from Ernie Isley, and Ronald Isley delivers an exquisite lead vocal performance. The song’s narrator expresses some doubts he has about his relationship. He’s uncertain if it is strong enough to weather the inevitable rough patches that often occur in relationships. This is one of the Isley Brothers' best-known tracks and was famously sampled on Ice Cube’s 1993 hit “It Was a Good Day.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Climbing Up the Ladder (Part 1 & 2)” is a scorching rock-fueled groove. It's about striving to achieve your dreams and reaching higher ground spiritually and mentally. The song’s protagonist will not allow circumstances or life’s many obstacles to prevent him from reaching his goal in achieving a higher plane and improving himself. The track features blistering guitar work from Ernie, who also kills it on the drums.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Tell Me When You Need It” is a smooth, solid groove. </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The track is expertly arranged and produced. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s elevated by Ronald’s sterling vocals and features an irresistible bass line and sweet keyboards. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Isley Brothers go hard on the electrifying “Livin’ in the Life.” The funk doesn’t let up on this fearsome hard-hittin’ groove. The track features an explosive beat that’s enhanced by thunderous handclaps, as well as funky keyboards and a powerful bass line. The song’s narrator is living his life to the best of his abilities and continues to push forward through tough times and hardships. And he basically tells those who think he had it easy to kick rocks because they haven’t walked a mile in his shoes: “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">You ain't me and I ain't you/Check out the difference between the two.” </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ronald serves up an incredible vocal performance on the majestic “Voyage To Atlantis.” This sonic gem is another example of the Isley Brothers’ absolute mastery of the R&B ballad. They never missed on their slow jams. The song boasts an impeccable arrangement that’s elevated by Ernie’s amazing guitar work. It’s about undertaking a pilgrimage to self-discovery and envisioning a life in “paradise” in the mythical Atlantis. The song’s narrator is torn between staying with his lover or undertaking the journey alone. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The album closes out with the scorching “Go For Your Guns," which is basically an instrumental part two of “Livin in the Life.” Ernie unleashes a face-melting guitar solo on this funky high-voltage groove.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Go For Your Guns</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> is widely considered one of the Isley Brothers’ best albums. It’s definitely a must-have for Isley fans as well as lovers of good R&B and funk music. The album was a huge commercial success. It topped Billboard’s R&B album chart and peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It remained on the charts for 40 weeks, making it one of the Isley Brothers’ longest-running chart successes. The album eventually went double platinum by the RIAA with sales of more than two million copies. And album singles “The Pride” and “Livin’ in the Life” performed extremely well on Billboard’s R&B singles chart, peaking at #1 and #4, respectively. However, “Voyage to Atlantis” had a rather disappointing showing on Billboard’s R&B singles chart, only climbing to #50. But the song is now recognized as a classic and one of the great R&B slow jams of the ‘70s.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The album was written, arranged and produced by the Isley Brothers. It was released on T-Neck Records, which was founded by the Isleys in 1964. And it was the band’s fifth album to be distributed through their deal with Epic. The full personnel on </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Go For Your Guns</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> was Marvin Isley (bass and background vocals), Ronald Isley (lead and background vocals), Ernie Isley (guitar, drums, congas and background vocals), Rudolph Isley (lead and background vocals), Chris Jasper (keyboards, background vocals and tambourine), O'Kelly Isley Jr. (lead and background vocals) and Everett Collins (congas).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Following </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Go For Your Guns</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, the Isley Brothers continued to release great music and scored more big hits. They left behind an incredible musical legacy that spanned several decades. The band still tours and have some upcoming concert dates posted at their official<a href="https://officialisleybrothers.com/"> website</a>.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d4f6ac1e-7fff-366b-d984-b5b423d53757"><div><span><br /></span></div><i>Go</i> <i>For Your Guns</i> full album<br /></span>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LOgVoATFjpQ?si=y6DVv7mXUxbrzdFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/49WHjVu">Go For Your Guns available at Amazon</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-8997238038665828592024-02-18T21:13:00.000-08:002024-02-21T00:30:41.786-08:00“Doing It to Death” (aka "Gonna Have a Funky Good Time") Pts. 1 & 2 by Fred Wesley & the J.B.’s<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk345LgB8TJzuV3pWSghMBri4YSEsuB4PzhI5MZpg144pxfL4cyqaWIWY5ynVXDhRxSzJPLtGWvwPea-lKSI8OPynqeZOcfk2ifiZQu1nAog4TF1eva_cdZalpUNvFo7gVnnYov6WSQTbmkL_m5dn4KIcsQO0Yk21qfqEEJxVrD89PjGyqgsc9iSn0BIqo/w320-h320/Doin'%20It%20To%20Death.jpg" width="320" /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">This rousing funk classic could be heard blasting out of car stereos everywhere back in 1973, and it had folks setting dance floors ablaze across the U.S. It’s one of the great feel-good party jams of the ‘70s. The Godfather of Soul and his superbad groove battalion the J.B.'s unleash an avalanche of funk on this bumpin’ track. It’s anchored by a wicked bass line and a hot beat. The track also features some killer guitar riffs and a sweet horn arrangement. The J.B.’s bandleader and musical director Fred Wesley delivers a dazzling trombone solo, and horn legend Maceo Parker pulls </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">double duty–serving up</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> an extra-funky alto sax solo that’s followed by an exquisite solo on flute. And Jimmy Nolen accompanies Maceo's flute solo with some smooth Wes Montgomery-style guitar work. </span></span></div><div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Also, the track has a terrific hook with the catchy chorus, “We’re gonna have a funky good time.” And it boasts one of the baddest buildups to a key change ever put on wax: “I need to get down and order for me to get down, I got to get in D, need to get in D, down D, funky D, stankin’ D.” </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Doing It to Death” was written and produced by James Brown. It’s the title track from the J.B.’s third studio album, released in 1973 on Brown’s label People Records. </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The complete nearly 13-minute-long original recording of the track was first issued on the J.B.’s compilation </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Funky Good Time: The Anthology (</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">1995).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The song topped Billboard’s R&B singles chart and climbed to #22 on Billboard’s Hot 100. It’s the J.B.’s biggest hit and has sold over a million copies. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Doing It to Death” has been sampled on 10 songs, including “Cold Blooded” by Common and Eazy-E’s “Eazy Street.” Also, talented dancer/choreographer Moga Almeri created an excellent dance routine to “Doing It To Death.” The video of her and the Beat Turf Tendo Dancers performing the routine currently has 2.6 million views on Youtube.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The personnel for "Doing It to Death" was James Brown (lead vocals), Fred Wesley (trombone, backing vocals), Fred Thomas (bass), Maceo Parker (alto saxophone, flute), John "Jabo" Starks (drums), St. Clair Pinckney (tenor saxophone), Jimmy Nolen (guitar), Darryl "Hasaan" Jamison (trumpet), H</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">earlon "Cheese" Martin (guitar), </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Ike Oakley</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> (trumpet), </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Jerone "Jasaan" Sanford (trumpet) and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Eldee Williams</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> (tenor saxophone).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Brown often performed "Doing It to Death" at his concerts, and he never failed to blow the doors off the hinges whenever he performed it. </span></p></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NNw2F_LevVU?si=II3D9gZdXBQK9RHo" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>James Brown and the J.B.'s performing "Doing It to Death" in Zaire in 1974</div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TJM_yOv7Z8w?si=NrTMnrZUYSZLvqmk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Moga Almeri and </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">the Beat Turf Tendo Dancers performing a stellar dance routine to "Doing It to Death"</span></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/48hpAXq">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d2epnWu5VjI?si=Z5utHEY8pOezi_Tg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/48hpAXq"> Doing It to Death single and album available at Amazon</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Related blog entry: <a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2014/07/gimme-some-more-by-jbs.html">Gimme Some More by the J.B.'s</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-81206490131745134852024-02-03T00:07:00.000-08:002024-02-07T23:04:18.151-08:00 “I Was Made To Love Her” by Stevie Wonder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxQpAcd8BtzNFeGw68rfqzuek5wRfXE-QnWZVZMlDKXFpS3o-MQetfjIH_7Q9x8t6WLcaiXNwN9QhG6W1eawEPPPMa6GAo9ReRofhQ_SiHh-TlWlD8hTU9H4WoIMzKzgYtKZ2oXqmSfqR6zrMWZlMbMkB19Lf6Q3icps3_iNrFfSzohDF0e2ewB2B__He/s1000/Stevie%20in%20tux%20and%20bow%20tie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxQpAcd8BtzNFeGw68rfqzuek5wRfXE-QnWZVZMlDKXFpS3o-MQetfjIH_7Q9x8t6WLcaiXNwN9QhG6W1eawEPPPMa6GAo9ReRofhQ_SiHh-TlWlD8hTU9H4WoIMzKzgYtKZ2oXqmSfqR6zrMWZlMbMkB19Lf6Q3icps3_iNrFfSzohDF0e2ewB2B__He/w400-h400/Stevie%20in%20tux%20and%20bow%20tie.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This sweet slice of Motown soul was an early Stevie Wonder classic that was released when he was still in his teens in 1967. The 17-year-old wunderkind brings tons of soul and conviction to his sterling vocal performance. His harmonica playing at the intro is also excellent. The song is masterfully arranged and boasts an infectious melody. And James Jamerson takes the song to a whole other level with his brilliant bass work. It’s truly a joy to listen to Jamerson work his groove magic on this track. The smooth, effortless finesse he always brought to his playing was unparalleled. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Stevie wrote “I Was Made To Love Her” with his mother Lula Mae Hardaway, Motown songwriter/producer Sylvia Moy and Henry Cosby, who also produced the track. Stevie told </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Rock Around The World</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> newspaper that the song, “kind of speaks of my first love to a girl named Angie, who was a very beautiful woman." He added, "Actually, she was my third girlfriend but my first love. I used to call Angie up and, like, we would talk and say, ‘I love you,’ and we’d talk and we’d both go to sleep on the phone. And this was like from Detroit to California, right? You know, mother said, ‘Boy, what you doing? Get off the phone!”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The song was a massive hit. It rose all the way to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent four non-consecutive weeks atop Billboard’s R&B singles chart. It also performed well on the charts in other parts of the world: The UK (#5), New Zealand (#16), Canada (#5) and Australia (#40).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The personnel for “I Was Made To Love Her” was Stevie Wonder (lead vocals, clavinet, harmonica), James Jamerson (bass), Benny Benjamin (drums), Eddie Willis (guitar) and The Andantes (backing vocals). It</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> was the title track from Stevie Wonder’s album </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I Was Made To Love Her</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, released on Motown’s Tamla Records on August 28, 1967. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The song has been covered by a slew of major artists, including Whitney Houston, The Beach Boys, Chaka Khan, Tom Jones, Boyz II Men, The Jackson 5 and Sister Sledge. Also, Stevie played drums on The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s instrumental cover of the song. It was recorded sometime in 1967. It’s included on </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Jimi Hendrix Experience: The BBC Sessions</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, released on June 2, 1998. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Additionally, “I Was Made To Love Her” has been sampled on five songs, according to WhoSampled.com. The song has been featured on the soundtracks for the films </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dead Presidents</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (1995), </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bobby</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (2006) and </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Secret Life of Pets 2</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (2019).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This track was released during Motown’s golden era when artists from the label were a constant presence on the U.S. pop and R&B charts top 10. Many of the label’s releases during that period went on to become standards, including this one.</span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9pYux5-d1Es?si=dDdD9hHYq9DAuqp-" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Stevie performing "I Was Made To Love Her" on <i>The Merv Griffin Show</i> in 1967</div>
<div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ykezvBZd35w?si=1xnHtCnYAHAnW05X" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3ugnGIL">"I Was Made To Love Her" available at Amazon</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Related blog entries:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2023/02/if-you-really-love-me-by-stevie-wonder.html">"If You Really Love Me" by Stevie Wonder</a></div><div><a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2017/11/stevie-wonder-explores-love-heartbreak.html"><br /></a></div><div><a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2017/11/stevie-wonder-explores-love-heartbreak.html">Stevie Wonder Explores Love, Heartbreak and Spirituality on Fulfillingness' First Finale</a></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-62954288129942480322024-01-31T17:07:00.000-08:002024-02-18T15:28:47.056-08:00 "Everybody Is a Star" by Sly & the Family Stone<p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkiZ8Qq1eyaaoUjBhGQSZicy_BqKeD9u0MizVgqWmqOGIuQzV6FfYq0yB7w6YYMLzEiyTBq2XyIioFLbkIWxUKEYU61woChn5KeXNS17vBAfwox_SpGdomIpCClO6evMI7ufYhKoWz_uCIuQbFMtTxtEsZR5SyiQv1srU42VbVMkfZYdGwp-eRXRhWqvG/s1000/Group%20shot%20Sly%20and%20The%20Family%20Stone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkiZ8Qq1eyaaoUjBhGQSZicy_BqKeD9u0MizVgqWmqOGIuQzV6FfYq0yB7w6YYMLzEiyTBq2XyIioFLbkIWxUKEYU61woChn5KeXNS17vBAfwox_SpGdomIpCClO6evMI7ufYhKoWz_uCIuQbFMtTxtEsZR5SyiQv1srU42VbVMkfZYdGwp-eRXRhWqvG/w320-h320/Group%20shot%20Sly%20and%20The%20Family%20Stone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Everybody Is a Star” is a gorgeous psychedelic-soul ballad that Sly & the Family Stone released in December of 1969. The song’s message is that every individual has inherent worth, no matter what their social station, income level, race, religion or ethnicity; and also that people should remain true to themselves and not try to change who they are to conform to what society or the powers that be tell them they should be: “I love you for who you are/Not the one you feel you need to be.”</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The vocals on this track are absolutely stunning. Sly Stone, Freddie Stone, Larry Graham and Rose Stone trade off on lead vocals, and they all bring the fire. This song highlights just how formidable the vocal talent was in Sly & the Family Stone at the time. And the horn charts are magnificent. The song also features some of the most beautifully poetic lyrics that Sly has ever written. Additionally, the musical arrangement is superb, and the production is flawless.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Everybody Is a Star” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">was written and produced by Sly and released on Epic Records. </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It was released as the B-side of the band’s influential funk classic </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).” It’s also included on their 1970 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Greatest Hits</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> compilation album and the two-disc best of/career overview <i>The Essential Sly & the Family Stone</i> (2002).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Everybody Is a Star” has been covered by a host of well-known artists, including The Pointer Sisters, The Jackson 5, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Joan Osborne, Fishbone (featuring Gwen Stefani) and Al Jarreau and Miki Howard. It has been sampled by Madonna (“Everybody 1994”) and The Roots (“Star/Pointro”). And it has been featured on the soundtracks for the films </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Crooklyn</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (1994), </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Moonlight Mile</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (2002) and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Molly’s Game </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(2017). The song was also performed in a 1977 episode of <i>The Brady Bunch Variety Hour</i>.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The players on “Everybody Is a Star” were Sly Stone (vocals, keyboards), Cynthia Robinson (trumpet), Larry Graham (vocals, bass), Rose Stone (vocals, piano),Greg Errico (drums), Freddie Stone (vocals, guitar) and Jerry Martini (saxophone).</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1975 chart-topping smash “Shining Star” has a similar theme to "Everybody Is a Star," that all individuals have value no matter who they are. Sly & the Family Stone were a major influence on EWF and many other funk artists and bands from the '70s to the present.</span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3-1s2gqDs_U?si=pAZ-zQGnB9JPYiUR" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/480jyKL">"Everybody Is a Star is available at Amazon</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Related blog entries:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2010/11/thank-you-falettinme-be-mice-elf-agin.html">"Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)": Sly & The Family Stone's Groundbreaking Funk Classic</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2009/11/review-of-sly-family-stones-stand.html">Review of Sly & The Family Stone's <i>Stand!</i></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-43761642482519812602024-01-29T00:21:00.000-08:002024-01-30T05:05:51.286-08:00"Never Noticed" by Cool Cool Cool<p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQ0l3c5AY7y6sG9KFghA4hlYskBNBlOCCXlOZ11VLO0jQK7xoAryszQc7RIcO1-dcoCqmDjvRapwOWHsJua5nprkikn4WgqJCo5XNt5IK_94KldMYuZbcgyA9U0HnFhSSY7-8Ztl6KCV7pTKrvaZCYSSHlN9zKUMONJTu7Za3mZuC95g1vD_PPh9w7cbA/s1920/Cool%20Cool%20Cool%20Never%20Noticed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQ0l3c5AY7y6sG9KFghA4hlYskBNBlOCCXlOZ11VLO0jQK7xoAryszQc7RIcO1-dcoCqmDjvRapwOWHsJua5nprkikn4WgqJCo5XNt5IK_94KldMYuZbcgyA9U0HnFhSSY7-8Ztl6KCV7pTKrvaZCYSSHlN9zKUMONJTu7Za3mZuC95g1vD_PPh9w7cbA/w400-h400/Cool%20Cool%20Cool%20Never%20Noticed.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cool Cool Cool is a talented group of musicians who have been creating quite a buzz recently with their exciting live shows and unique mix of funk, house and R&B. Formed in 2022, the septet is composed of former members of the funk band Turkuaz. After working with Turkuaz for more than a decade, they decided to form their own band. They had developed a strong musical synergy after working together all those years in a variety of settings–from international festival stages to dive bars. And they have brought that chemistry to Cool Cool Cool.</span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2d13828c-7fff-ccab-3297-65c82b6795de"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The band released their debut single “Never Noticed” last November. This dreamy, atmospheric groove takes the listener on a majestic sonic ride. The song sets a soothing, tranquil mood. It boasts a marvelous horn arrangement, exquisite vocals and a hypnotic bass line. In a statement, the band explained the meaning behind “Never Noticed”: “The realization of our universal connectedness is at the heart of this song, which we hope the listener can associate with their own lives.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> The band added that they “want people to contemplate and discover how our stories are told and how they interconnect.” Cool Cool Cool also produced "Never Noticed," which was released on the Color Red label.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The members of Cool Cool Cool are Sammi Garett (vocals, percussion), </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Chris Brouwers (trumpet, keyboards, synthesizers), Michael Carubba (drums), Shira Elias (vocals), Craig Brodhead (guitar, keyboards, synthesizers), Greg Sanderson (alto sax/tenor sax, vocals, EWI) and Josh Schwartz (baritone saxophone, vocals). In addition to Turkuaz, individual members of Cool Cool Cool have toured with notable acts such as George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, Zac Brown Band, The Motet, Andy Frasco & the U.N. and more. The band has enlisted a number of great bass players for their live performances. They brought in Garret Sayers from The Motet to play bass on “Never Noticed.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Up until the release of “Never Noticed,” the band drew from its members’ individual solo projects and various artistic influences to create setlists for their live shows. This includes everything from performing as both the opening act and backing band for Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew’s R<i>emain In Light </i>Tour to supporting Andy Fraso & The U.N. on their </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">L’Optimist</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> tour. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Never Noticed” is Cool Cool Cool’s first offering of new material that they created entirely as a unit. In an interview with website Live Music & Review.com, Greg Sanderson said the song was born out of “a true collaboration from the band.” “It started from a multi-day writing session, bouncing ideas around between Craig and the horn section, then passed around to really bring it to life,” he said.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> The band has some concert dates lined up in February, March and April for their <i>Never Noticed </i>tour. Visit their <a href="https://wearecoolcoolcool.com/home">website </a>for more tour details. "Never Noticed" is available on all streaming platforms. </span></p></span>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pigMvqYSeSA?si=6Du4EK5lk3lGW9re" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3Sf7cZq">"Never Noticed" is available at Amazon</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-50996757977321203412024-01-24T15:26:00.000-08:002024-01-26T15:05:35.839-08:00 "Open Up" by Chic<p><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIm_eDqFo-0h_ua3DKniF0Ux2h9HcxUssjqC9R-s7G8G-nP7JEqPUrUr80x7NZ_eq5Oe3v0YBPG8isK2AH4pVErtYwRP9ju0i4h7sNIL3qeB0VgCXnm_4x5jlfIk1VIrOfXDBIeL5ltTGnydq2BQ88VqSP8GMQZWTXTGVP6GLrh6jVvZJkq0-hdkpUdlhD/s1000/Chic%20album%20cov%20er%20for%20Real%20People.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIm_eDqFo-0h_ua3DKniF0Ux2h9HcxUssjqC9R-s7G8G-nP7JEqPUrUr80x7NZ_eq5Oe3v0YBPG8isK2AH4pVErtYwRP9ju0i4h7sNIL3qeB0VgCXnm_4x5jlfIk1VIrOfXDBIeL5ltTGnydq2BQ88VqSP8GMQZWTXTGVP6GLrh6jVvZJkq0-hdkpUdlhD/w320-h320/Chic%20album%20cov%20er%20for%20Real%20People.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chic were one of the premier disco acts in the world during the late ‘70s. Led by </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">guitarist Nile Rodgers and</span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> bassist Bernard Edwards, Chic dominated the airwaves and filled dance floors across the globe with their thrilling brand of R&B, disco and funk. The band cultivated their own singular sound–adding a dash of sophistication and class to their dance grooves. This distinguished them from other popular bands on the scene at the time. Hits like “Good Times” and “Le Freak” are era-defining classics that still get a lot of play to this day. And in addition to the hits that everyone is familiar with, Chic have some great underappreciated tracks in their discography that deserve more recognition.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One of them is the incredible instrumental “Open Up.” The track is exquisitely arranged and produced. And the musicianship is simply phenomenal. Edwards brings equal shares of funk and smooth elegance to the groove with his brilliant bass work. The track features a magnificent string arrangement, sizzling drums and Rodgers’ super-tight rhythm guitar riffs. The sleek, intoxicating groove demands repeated plays. </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">This is stylish funk as only Chic could do it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Open Up” is the opening track on Chic’s fourth studio album </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Real People</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, released in 1980 on Atlantic Records. It was written and produced by Edwards and Rogers. It has been sampled on four songs, according to WhoSampled.com. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The full personnel for </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Real People</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> is Nile Rodgers (guitar, vocals), Bernard Edwards (bass, vocals), Andy Schwartz (keyboards), Tony Thompson (drums), Alfa Anderson (lead vocals), Raymond Jones (keyboards), Luci Martin (lead vocals), Michelle Cobbs (vocals), Fonzi Thornton (lead vocals) and the Chic Strings: Cheryl Hong, Karen Mine and Valerie Haywood. Gene Orloff was concertmaster. The album was produced by Edwards and Rodgers.</span></p><p>Chic pretty much defined the disco era and had a major impact on contemporary music. <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Their influence is far-reaching–touching genres such as hip-hop, dance, funk, R&B and more.</span></span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M0QALwtq7is?si=zIU6yUoGc8pTN2zi" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3u5LVsZ">"Open Up" available at Amazon</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-79206210967884507692024-01-19T17:51:00.000-08:002024-01-26T02:33:13.470-08:00 Album Review of Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby! by Bootsy’s Rubber Band<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sgVBKpoz3xcDJfKUpU24Dxus-NY30ov8qc-kOolEw59KCfkdmPNQdIGWc96NYRxpWtotPxOm5Me-bN853ZqIt1z6JX5Df9pV74WUzDSn9G6r-bBqbVXRrmiJB7svBqsj1OJw2mJqSYGNi-nHtjEixnITIGc5ny1NksiQRhwnGZ7B9YaejnwFZRaJyc2f/s316/Pinocchiofunk.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="316" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sgVBKpoz3xcDJfKUpU24Dxus-NY30ov8qc-kOolEw59KCfkdmPNQdIGWc96NYRxpWtotPxOm5Me-bN853ZqIt1z6JX5Df9pV74WUzDSn9G6r-bBqbVXRrmiJB7svBqsj1OJw2mJqSYGNi-nHtjEixnITIGc5ny1NksiQRhwnGZ7B9YaejnwFZRaJyc2f/w400-h399/Pinocchiofunk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>1977 was a banner year for funk and R&B music. That year, Parliament, the Isley Brothers and Earth, Wind & Fire released albums that rank among their best works. ‘77 also saw a slew of other great releases from major funk acts such as Brick, Cameo, The Commodores, Slave and the Brothers Johnson. Bootsy Collins’ second album, <span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, was another excellent funk release that year. He set the music world on fire the year before with his fantastic debut album </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Stretchin’ Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, which received tons of love from funk fans and music critics. Incredibly, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">is even better. It’s widely hailed as Bootsy’s best album and regularly appears on greatest-funk-albums-of-all-time lists. The charismatic funkster and his talented Rubber Band brought their A game to this superb collection. </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The album kicks off with the exciting and tremendously funky title track. It’s driven by Bootsy’s powerhouse bass line, which is augmented by a Mu-Tron III Envelope Filter to give it a funky elastic sound. The track features a killer horn arrangement and some dope chicken-scratch rhythm guitar licks. Bootsy, assuming his funky-ghost alter ego Casper, responds to questions from his ardent fans with witty retorts. Also, sax legend Maceo Parker serves as the band's emcee and hype man at the song’s opening, enthusiastically introducing Bootsy and his funky crew. Bootsy often opened his live shows with this thrilling funk track, which eventually became his theme song.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The album’s second track is the electrifying funk burner “The Pinocchio Theory.” The funk level on this imaginative groove is stratospheric. It’s flawlessly arranged and boasts impeccable musicianship from the Rubber Band. The track is elevated by Bernie Worrell and Joel “Razorsharp” Johnson’s inventive keyboard work and the Horny Horns incredible horn charts. And Bootsy rains down a thunderstorm of funk with his furious bass work. The line “Don’t fake the funk or your nose will grow” is a clever twist on the Pinocchio paradox that lying will make your nose grow. It also served as the inspiration for Dr. Funkenstein's arch nemesis Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk. The song also features a marvelous vocal arrangement that includes Gary “Mudbone” Cooper and Robert “P-Nut” Johnson spelling out “R-U-B-B-E-R F-A-N-S.” At the song’s opening, Bootsy proclaims, “This is the world's funkiest singalong.” No lies told. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bootsy brings his signature droll humor and goofy charm to the irresistible “Rubber Duckie.” The super-funky groove features creative synth work and blazing horn lines. The vocal work is also topflight, with Mudone and P-Nut killing it with their smooth harmonies.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One of the things that distinguishes this album from a lot of other funk albums is that the ballads are just as strong as the funk cuts. “What’s a Telephone Bill?” and “Munchies for Your Love” are both exceptional and rank among the best ballads in P-Funk’s discography.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“What’s a Telephone Bill?” is a majestic soul ballad where Bootsy serves up a dazzling bass performance. His liquid-funk bass solos on this track are simply mind-blowing. All of the elements on this amazing track gel so perfectly, from the splendid musical arrangement to the stunning vocal work. This captivating slow jam stands up well after repeated plays.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Munchies for Your Love” takes listeners on a soul-stirring sonic journey. The song is beautifully arranged and produced. It begins quietly with delicate guitar parts, soothing keyboards and Bootsy’s slippery bass. Then, it slowly builds to a rapturous crescendo where Bootsy, Mudbone and P-Nut unleash a passionate declaration of their love addiction. This powerful climactic section features some sensational drumming from Jerome Brailey. The song uses “munchies” (a strong and sudden craving for food, often after smoking marijuana) as a metaphor for intense romantic yearning and sexual desire. “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Your love is kind of sweet, sweet enough to eat/I'm hooked on you chocolate star/I got the munchies for your love.” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bootsy’s bass work is phenomenal on this track, and he makes great use of the Mu-Tron III and Echoplex delay pedals to enhance the song’s cosmic, psychedelic vibe. This track is an absolute gem.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Can’t Stay Away” is a funky ray of sunshine. Bootsy lays down a sweet bass line on this breezy, infectious groove. And Mudone serves up one of his best vocal performances. His vocals are at once mellifluous, butter-smooth and unbelievably soulful. The singer's fantastic vocal work on this album shows just how essential he was to the Rubber Band’s singular sound. The album closes out with a short reprise of the title track. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> displays Bootsy’s great versatility as a musician, songwriter and producer. He co-produced the album with George Clinton and co-wrote all of its tracks. In addition to bass, he played guitar and drums on some of the songs. For instance, he played guitar and drums on both “The Pinocchio Theory" and “Can’t Stay Away.” The album also showed how amazingly talented all of the Rubber Band members were. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The album, which was released on Warner Bros. Records, topped Billboard’s R&B album chart and peaked at #16 on the Billboard 200. It was certified gold by the RIAA with 500,000 copies sold. “The Pinocchio Theory” had a strong showing on Billboard’s R&B singles chart, peaking at #6, and “Can’t Stay Away” had a solid performance on that chart, rising to #19.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The full personnel for the album was Bootsy (bass, drums, guitar, vocals), Phelps “Catfish” Collins (guitar), Gary “Mudbone” Cooper (vocals, drums), Garry Shider (guitar), Frankie “Kash” Waddy (drums), Bernie Worrell (keyboards), Jerome Brailey (drums), Joel “Razorsharp” Johnson (keyboards), Glenn Goins (guitar), Robert “P-Nut” Johnson (vocals), Michael “Kidd Funkadelic” Hampton (guitar); and the Horny Horns: Maceo Parker (saxophone), Fred Wesley (trombone), Rick Garner (trumpet) and Richard “Kush” Griffith (trumpet). Additionally, the Brecker Brothers, Michael (saxophone) and Randy (trumpet), contributed their considerable talents to the album. And Bootsy and Fred Wesley handled all the horn arrangements for this collection.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">is another jewel in the P-Funk crown and one of the greatest sophomore albums in funk music history. </span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eY5gZdu9DJI?si=rvynMW0R4V3toc_2" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UGXUNDk6Gno?si=v1-DtQLMFHkffBR1" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Ahh+the+name+is+bootsy+baby&i=digital-music&crid=2SJGX9DG1FMHX&sprefix=ahh+the+name+is+bootsy+baby%2Cdigital-music%2C146&linkCode=ll2&tag=funkatropolis-20&linkId=61df9080910d5356886da110924b87fd&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-style: italic; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; white-space-collapse: preserve;">is available at Amazon</span></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Related blog entry: <a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2020/09/bootsy-collins-blazes-up-funk-with-hot.html">Bootsy Collins Blazes Up The Funk With Hot New Track "The Power Of The One"</a><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-90626706882230078562024-01-07T20:23:00.000-08:002024-01-26T15:30:32.933-08:00 “Fashion” by David Bowie <p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6OhhVE5Jsq6M2jv7n-fQfEVU5cCGvt_75mrEn0GbWFgiBVNNuZMKSazmYcYTbujVk3o8ToNZA2ggFs9JCB9tWMcr6pe0G-fXKAlldGofxVpC9Hd21tGe1M8_TJIq-udXxfYShWH4DWuWyLQtkFaP3YpGZ9oM1REr7i2FkIkptq65XHy44JmQ2lqilnc0/s711/David%20Bowie%20at%20the%20Mic%20from%20Pinterest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6OhhVE5Jsq6M2jv7n-fQfEVU5cCGvt_75mrEn0GbWFgiBVNNuZMKSazmYcYTbujVk3o8ToNZA2ggFs9JCB9tWMcr6pe0G-fXKAlldGofxVpC9Hd21tGe1M8_TJIq-udXxfYShWH4DWuWyLQtkFaP3YpGZ9oM1REr7i2FkIkptq65XHy44JmQ2lqilnc0/w318-h400/David%20Bowie%20at%20the%20Mic%20from%20Pinterest.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>After electrifying the ‘70s with his powerful sonic brew of glam rock, protopunk, blue-eyed soul, post punk and art rock, music chameleon David Bowie kicked off the ‘80s with a bang with </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">, released in September of 1980. The album’s lead single is the brilliant “Ashes to Ashes,” which continues fictional astronaut Major Tom’s saga that began with Bowie’s 1969 classic “Space Oddity.” The second single is the high-voltage funk/dance/rock attack “Fashion.” Bowie had previously shown his strong funk credentials on tracks like "Golden Years,” "Stay" and “Fame,” so it’s not surprising that “Fashion” is so funky. The groove is powered by a piledriver bass line and mammoth beat. Guitar wizard Robert Fripp tears it up with his inventive lead-guitar work. The funk is further deepened by some wicked rhythm guitar licks. “Fashion” was originally a reggae song titled “Jamaica,” but Bowie and his band gradually began funkifying the groove as the session went on until it evolved into the funk gem that we know today.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">On “Fashion,” Bowie slams the fashion industry for its superficiality and commercialism. With tongue-in-cheek, he draws parallels between those who slavishly adhere to fashion trends and fascism: “We are the goon squad and we’re coming to town.” Bowie was initially fascinated with the disco/fashion scene of the ‘70s but then soured on it when it became inorganic, commercialized and regimented. He shared his thoughts on it in an old interview: “When I first started going to discos in New York in the early ‘70s, there was a very high-powered enthusiasm and the scene had a natural course about it. It seems now to be replaced by an insidious grim determination to be fashionable, as though it’s actually a vocation. There’s some strange aura about it.”</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Bowie was an influential fashion icon throughout most of his career; he was constantly setting new fashion trends with his ever-evolving image and persona. Each of his new music eras involved a drastic transformation of his look and sound. He served as the blueprint for superstar pop/fashion chameleons such as Madonna, Prince and Lady Gaga.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">“Fashion” was written by Bowie, and he co-produced it with musician, singer and producer Tony Visconti. The song was released on October 20, 1980 on RCA Records. It peaked at #5 on the UK singles chart. It also performed well on the charts in Sweden (#7), South Africa (#8), Norway (#9), Ireland (#11) and New Zealand (#22). And it rose to #22 on Billboard’s dance club chart in the U.S. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">“Fashion” has been sampled on four songs, per WhoSampled.com. It has been featured on the soundtracks for the films </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Clueless</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> (1995) and </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Raising Helen</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> (2004). The song was also used for a tribute to the fashion industry during the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. New Musical Express (NME) ranked "Fashion" the eighth best song of 1980.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Here is the full personnel for “Fashion”: David Bowie (lead and backing vocals), Robert Fripp (lead guitar), Carlos Alomar (rhythm guitar), George Murray (bass), Dennis Davis (drums) and Andy Clark (synthesizer).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Director David Mallet shot the song’s music video in a New York nightclub called Hurrah. Shots of Bowie performing onstage with his band are interposed with footage of dancers rehearsing </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">and a procession of New Romantics outside a soup kitchen. (The New Romantic was an underground subculture movement of the late ‘70s that was characterized by its flamboyant and outré fashion.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Bowie often performed “Fashion” in concert, and he never failed to bring massive doses of funk each time. The song always got a rousing response from the audience. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F-z6u5hFgPk?si=B-icAP1_eD2MGDbS" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>David Bowie performing "Fashion" on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2002</div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z_jepQe-BZo?si=UZUKVs3FW6xxOd6e" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3Hb5V08">"Fashion" at Amazon</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-74904695190418868442023-12-29T00:21:00.000-08:002024-01-26T17:07:33.871-08:00Review of MJ the Musical<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoHUQZugenM_lKKoZZ2QbI8eWanhNoD3iARCmx5MjUgODgUrcInngF1Bwmmn8bFipdHuLJ1VElR1zkaDDCQywIdpBW3tmh6SogW1U6jEEdKF_CU68GWMDC-ZbAibLLvukwmGcOoXLj5a1zOpCsmwGhbyGsvS5Bx38P57ZCcQ-Hol3_-OY7crxzITIWlS4/s1200/mjmusical01_courtesy%20pic%20by%20Matthew%20Murphy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1200" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoHUQZugenM_lKKoZZ2QbI8eWanhNoD3iARCmx5MjUgODgUrcInngF1Bwmmn8bFipdHuLJ1VElR1zkaDDCQywIdpBW3tmh6SogW1U6jEEdKF_CU68GWMDC-ZbAibLLvukwmGcOoXLj5a1zOpCsmwGhbyGsvS5Bx38P57ZCcQ-Hol3_-OY7crxzITIWlS4/w640-h435/mjmusical01_courtesy%20pic%20by%20Matthew%20Murphy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Matthew Murphy</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">MJ the Musical </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">recently moonwalked its way to Los Angeles. It opened on December 20 at The Hollywood Pantages Theatre and will run through January 28, 2024 at the famous LA venue. The four-time Tony Award-winning hit has been captivating audiences since early February of 2022 when it began its blockbuster run on Broadway. The production is an exhilarating celebration of Michael Jackson and his music. It features amazingly choreographed dance numbers, fantastic music arrangements and stunning stage designs. And the extremely talented cast delivers dazzling performances of more than 25 MJ songs.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The musical effectively captures the energy, excitement and mania of the pop/soul superstar’s storied career. It begins with dance rehearsals for the 1992 </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dangerous World Tour</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> with MJ obsessing over every minute detail and his business people fretting over the tour’s ever-growing costs. He's deep in debt and putting every dime into the </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dangerous</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> production to ensure that he gives his fans the most exciting and entertaining show possible. At the same time, he’s being followed around by an overeager MTV film crew that is looking to dig up some controversial tidbits on the legendary artist. This scene touches on MJ's notorious perfectionism and how he always swung for the fences in everything he did. Going small was not in his vocabulary.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And through cleverly set up flashbacks, the musical explores different periods in MJ’s career. It goes all the way back to his younger days before he and the Jackson 5 signed with Motown, as well as his teen years when the group parted ways with the legendary Motor City label and signed with Epic Records. There are also some terrific flashbacks to his</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Off The Wall</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thriller</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> and </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Bad</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> eras.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The cast is led by actor/singer/musician Roman Banks. He transfixes the audience with a masterful portrayal of the King of Pop–from the <i>Thriller </i></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">era through </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Dangerous World Tour</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. Banks skillfully channels MJ’s unique mannerisms and performance style. And like MJ, his dance movements are at once slinky, smooth and explosive. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Brandon Lee Harris delivers a knockout performance as teen-through-early 20s MJ</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. And gifted young actor/performers Josiah Benson and Ethan Joseph are outstanding in their respective roles as Little Michael. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Among the musical’s many highlights is a brilliant reimagining of</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Thriller"</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">with inventive new choreography and a simmering Bob Fosse-ish dance routine set to a jazzy instrumental version of “The Way You Make Me Feel” that flawlessly segues into a show-stopping performance of “Smooth Criminal.” And the cast blows the audience away with incredible performances of other MJ classics such as “Billie Jean,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” “Man in the Mirror,” “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” “Beat It” “Black or White” and “Bad.” Also, several of the Jackson 5’s hits were performed in the show, including “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” “The Love You Save” and “Dancing Machine.” And Anastasia Talley (playing Jackson family matriarch Katherine Jackson) lights up the stage with a beautiful rendition of “I’ll Be There.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A few of MJ’s less-popular tracks were also included in the production. For instance, Banks serves up a powerful performance of the criminally underrated “Stranger in Moscow.” He also treats the audience to a killer rendition of “The Price of Fame,” which was originally slated to be used in a 1986 Pepsi commercial but was replaced by an edited version of “Bad.” It was later included on the</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Bad 25</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> album, released on September 28, 2012. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In addition to Bob Fosse, the musical also gives big shout-outs to other great performers who influenced MJ, including James Brown, Fred Astaire, Jackie Wilson and The Nicholas Brothers. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The musical briefly touches on MJ’s addiction to painkillers but wisely steers clear of the sexual abuse allegations. That’s a subject better suited for an in-depth and balanced documentary–but definitely not a one-sided, factually inaccurate hit piece like HBO’s </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Leaving Neverland</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (2019). This production is designed to be a celebration of the artist and his music, and bringing up the allegations would seriously spoil its celebratory spirit. It’s for MJ fans who just want to enjoy the music and performances and relive the moments when they first heard one of his classic songs or first saw one of his groundbreaking music videos. It’s also a great experience for young MJ fans who never got the opportunity to see him perform live. This is the next best thing, because it definitely feels like you’re at a Michael Jackson concert in many parts. The audience roared and cheered following the rousing finale like they had just witnessed a real MJ concert.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage wrote the book for </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">MJ the Musical</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. It was directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. He won a well-deserved Tony Award for his exquisite choreography in this amazing production. Victor Simonson is the production's musical director and conductor. As of November 2023, the musical had grossed $157.2 million, with attendance of more than one million people.</span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/64NrPKB4CTo?si=a9Mnhtkiq6M0D-Wg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Related blog entries:</div><div><a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-jacksons-perform-shake-your-body.html"><br /></a></div><div><a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-jacksons-perform-shake-your-body.html">The Jacksons Perform Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground) In Toronto For 1984 Victory Tour</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2022/05/review-of-michael-jacksons-off-wall.html">Review of Michael Jackson's Off The Wall Album</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2012/03/dancers-and-performers-who-have.html">Dancers and Performers Who Have Influenced Michael Jackson</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-48993087603389416372023-12-18T23:35:00.000-08:002023-12-22T14:19:28.736-08:00"Will It Go Round In Circles" by Billy Preston<p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnX-JXjAiL3NuMkhw_yMLhXhn9ciuz6G8iLkf1SVSM-uDXLFlhtmBjTFQUNLunr23bl-TmMi4HwTEbPXRITTugfwsWDXJldeqU63Ly0SOXUE2Rh6QBq-gTC9Xnmpxeqycr8cqv86rVdNgiKVd048mn1bjMu6gLOSNUJi0Nha7UYEvH8f5MBrMqRknrKe6/s600/Billy%20P..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="460" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnX-JXjAiL3NuMkhw_yMLhXhn9ciuz6G8iLkf1SVSM-uDXLFlhtmBjTFQUNLunr23bl-TmMi4HwTEbPXRITTugfwsWDXJldeqU63Ly0SOXUE2Rh6QBq-gTC9Xnmpxeqycr8cqv86rVdNgiKVd048mn1bjMu6gLOSNUJi0Nha7UYEvH8f5MBrMqRknrKe6/w306-h400/Billy%20P..jpg" width="306" /></a></div>Billy Preston scored his first solo number-one on the pop charts with the smash “Will It Go Round In Circles” in 1972. The multitalented artist blessed the ears of music lovers everywhere with this irresistible slice of rapturous funk. Preston's musical gifts are on full display here. He elevates the groove with some rollicking blues piano and gospel organ. And he serves up loads of sanctified soul on vocals. The track also features dynamic horn lines and gutbucket bass. Additionally, Preston doubles down on the funk with a wicked melodica solo.<p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The song’s origin stems from a joke Preston made to his songwriting partner Bruce Fisher about having a song that has no melody. This inspired the song’s opening refrain: “I got a song, I ain’t got no melody/I’ma gonna sing it to my friends.” The song continues with this paradoxical theme, such as having a dance with no steps and a story with no moral. The lyrics are really contrarian and clever; and it sounds like Preston is having a blast singing them. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Will It Go Round In Circles” was co-written by Preston and Fisher, who’s a singer-songwriter, musician and producer. It was a single from Preston’s seventh studio album</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Music Is My Life</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, released in October of 1972. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and rose to #10 on Billboard’s Soul singles chart. It also reached the top spot on the charts in Canada. The song went on to sell over a million copies. Preston landed his second #1 on the pop charts with “Nothing from Nothing” in 1974. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The personnel for “Will It Go Round In Circles” was Preston (keyboards, vocals, melodica), Louis Johnson (bass), Manuel Kellough (drums), George Johnson (guitar), Hubert Heard (keyboards) and the horn section: Tom Scott (saxophone), Buck Monari (trumpet), George Bohanon (trombone), Paul Hubinon (trumpet) and Jim Horn (saxophone). The track was produced by Preston and released on A&M Records.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Will It Go Round In Circles” has been sampled on five songs, per WhoSampled.com. It has been featured on the soundtracks for the films</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Beautiful Girls</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (1996) and</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Hesburgh</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (2018). It’s also featured on the soundtracks for five television series, including an episode of HBO’s</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Vinyl</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (season 1, episode 5, titled “He in Racist Fire,” originally aired March 13, 2016).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When Preston released “Will It Go Round In Circles,” he was a well-established and respected artist with a number of major career achievements already under his belt. A self-taught child prodigy, he was playing organ for legendary gospel queen Mahalia Jackson at the young age of 10. At 11, he performed Fats Domino’s hit “Blueberry Hill” with music icon Nat King Cole on the NBC TV series</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> The Nat King Cole Show</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. And a 12-year-old Preston played young W.C. Handy in the film</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> St. Louis Blues</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (1958) with Cole cast as adult Handy. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Preston joined Little Richard’s band as an organist in 1962. He was only 16 at the time. When Little Richard was touring in Hamburg that year, the Beatles were his opening act. Preston developed a close friendship with the four soon-to-be global superstars during the Hamburg dates. This friendship led to Preston contributing his talents to three Beatles albums: </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Beatles</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (better known as The White Album, 1968), </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Abbey Road</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (1969) and </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Let it Be</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (1970). He also performed with the Beatles on their historic 1969 rooftop concert at Apple Corps headquarters in London. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Moreover, Preston has the distinction of being the only non-Beatle to be credited on a Beatles song. His amazing keyboard work on the Beatles classic “Get Back” earned him a title credit. "Get Back" is credited as The Beatles with Billy Preston. He’s often referred to as “The Fifth Beatle” due to his significant contributions to the three aforementioned Beatles albums. There was even serious talk of possibly bringing Preston onboard as a new member when he was working with them on the</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Let It Be </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">album. In the subsequent years, Preston worked with former Beatle members on different music projects. He played on solo albums by George Harrison, John Lennon and Ringo Starr. He also performed at Harrison’s “Concert for Bangladesh” in 1971.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Preston also frequently toured with The Rolling Stones and played on the classic Stones albums </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sticky Fingers</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (1971) and</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Exile on Main Street</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (1972). And he played on Sly & The Family Stone’s groundbreaking album </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There’s a Riot Goin’ On</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (1971). Some of the other major artists who Preston had worked with include Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton and Johnny Cash. Also, Preston co-wrote Joe Cocker’s 1974 classic “You Are So Beautiful.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jazz giant Miles Davis’ 1974 album </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Get Up with It</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> has a track titled “Billy Preston” in Preston’s honor. And during rehearsals for “The Concert for George” in 2002, Ringo Starr called Preston “one of the greatest Hammond players of all time.” In 1979, Preston and singer-songwriter Syreeta Wright landed a huge international hit with their duet “With You I’m Born Again.” Additionally, he wrote and performed the funky theme song for the 1972 blaxploitation film </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Slaughter</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> starring Jim Brown. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">P</span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">reston was nominated for nine Grammy Awards and won two. He was inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame posthumously in 2021 and was honored with its Musical Excellence Award. That same year, White Horse Pictures and Homegrown Pictures announced the making of a Paris Barclay-directed documentary on Preston. The yet-to-be-titled documentary is currently in post-production and has no release date set so far.</span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W1TmIhddn0c?si=aMTY7eyl8WfrAHpo" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<div><br /></div><div>Billy Preston performing "Will It Go Round In Circles" on<i> The Midnight Special</i> </div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cuFOkAL8ihM?si=GiVHoSU3o2UzkxnO" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/481R3x6">"Will Go Round In Circles" available at Amazon</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Related blog entry:<a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2022/02/review-of-peter-jacksons-beatles-get.html"> Review of Peter Jackson's The Beatles: Get Back Documentary Series</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-4101957424208709312023-12-11T14:07:00.000-08:002023-12-29T01:27:28.997-08:00"Jive Talkin'" by The Bee Gees<p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QLtUd7QeuMxz097XvkXSHFuseAib95BKiEtWIhbAPGcufImOxzZI6gxrheCM83fR9i_eg004ah4ALg4hnUhfO3nEj13kqQyJ7BFoYLiSrG_z60ZUx2KFK18THYEFjwJaUFpI-ZvyFnK-jMKk-OAywr-Age0Nyg4t6qBrO15lTHQYnwnkriN9kMrwAh6a/s640/The%20Bee%20Gees.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QLtUd7QeuMxz097XvkXSHFuseAib95BKiEtWIhbAPGcufImOxzZI6gxrheCM83fR9i_eg004ah4ALg4hnUhfO3nEj13kqQyJ7BFoYLiSrG_z60ZUx2KFK18THYEFjwJaUFpI-ZvyFnK-jMKk-OAywr-Age0Nyg4t6qBrO15lTHQYnwnkriN9kMrwAh6a/s320/The%20Bee%20Gees.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>The Bee Gees’ 1975 single “Jive Talkin’” marked a major turning point in the legendary trio’s career. It was their first foray into R&B and funk-influenced dance music–a sound that would not only revive their flagging careers but also elevate them to global superstar status within a few years. This track is an exciting mix of disco, pop, R&B and funk. It’s anchored by a funky, pulsating synth bass line, which was pretty unique at the time. Only a handful of R&B and pop artists were laying down synth bass lines on their tracks back in ‘75–most notably Stevie Wonder on his groundbreaking “classic period” albums. “Jive Talkin’” has a powerful, energetic beat and an infectious rhythm guitar riff. It also features a great instrumental section where keyboardist Blue Weaver contributes a fantastic synth part. <p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Barry Gibb serves up a sweet, soulful lead vocal performance, and his brothers, Robin and Maurice, provide strong support on background harmonies. The song’s narrator voices his frustrations with his jive-talkin’ lady who can never be straight with him. She constantly lies to him and treats him badly, making him feel like a first-class chump. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Jive Talkin’” was co-written by all three Bee Gees. In the Emmy-winning documentary </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Bee Gees:</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">How Can You Mend a Broken Heart</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, Barry explained the genesis of the song. He said its rhythm was inspired by the “clickety-click” sound their car made as they crossed the Julia Tuttle Causeway Bridge on their daily trips from Biscayne Bay to Criteria Recording Studios in North Miami. Barry said it sounded like “ch, ch-ch, ch-ch” in his head, and he eventually began singing to the rhythmic sound–and “Jive Talkin’” was born. You can hear the “ch, ch-ch, ch-ch” scratchy chicken-picking guitar lick that the song was built on at the intro. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The inclusion of synth bass on “Jive Talkin’” was an instance of pure serendipity. Group bassist Maurice couldn’t make it into the studio one day, so Blue Weaver played the bass line on a Minimoog synthesizer. It was only meant to be a temporary placement until Maurice returned. When he came back to the studio, they played him the demo with the synth bass line and suggested he re-record it on his bass guitar. However, Maurice really dug the synth bass part, so they left it in. He just added a few touches in certain sections for added emphasis. Also, Weaver played the stellar synth part in the song’s instrumental section on an ARP 2600 synthesizer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Jive Talkin’” was the lead single from the Bee Gees’ thirteenth studio album </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Main Course</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, released in June of 1975 on RSO Records. It shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at #9 on Billboard’s Hot Disco Singles chart. The song rose to #5 on the UK singles chart. It also charted in the top 10 in three other countries: New Zealand (#4), Ireland (#5) and Canada (#1). The song has sold over a million copies in the U.S. and moved 250,000 units in the UK and 75,000 in Canada. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Main Course</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> was produced by Arif Madin. The acclaimed producer and arranger had worked with soul legends such as Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack, so he was the ideal choice to help the Bee Gees take their sound in a more R&B-focused direction, which was their goal with this album. He’s the one who suggested that Barry sing falsetto ad-libs on the chorus of “Nights on Broadway,” the second single from </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Main Course</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. It worked out so well that Barry began singing falsetto on the majority of the group’s tracks after that; his falsetto has become an iconic signature of the Bee Gees’ sound. “Nights on Broadway” was also a big hit. It rose to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted in the top 10 in several other countries. The album spawned one more hit with the third single “Fanny (Be Tender with My Love),” which peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Jive Talkin’” has been sampled on eight songs, per WhoSampled.com. Funk band Rufus recorded a terrific cover of the song for their fourth studio album </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Rufus featuring Chaka Khan</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (1975). Additionally, “Jive Talkin’” was featured on the soundtrack for the 2016 film </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Nice Guys</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. It was also featured in an episode of </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Simpsons</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (season 20, episode 10, 2009), as well as an episode of </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The King of Queens</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (season 8, episode 4, 2005). "Jive Talkin'" is also included on the 1977 <i>Saturday Night Fever</i> soundtrack.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Here’s the full musician lineup for “Jive Talkin’”: Barry Gibb (vocals, rhythm guitar), Maurice Gibb (bass, rhythm guitar, vocals), Robin Gibb (vocals), Blue Weaver (keyboards, synthesizer), Dennis Byron (drums percussion) and Alan Kendall (guitar). </span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oALKAh_bL5g?si=5hBg_F9ccAEtHIvx" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>The Bee Gees performing "Jive Talkin'" on <i>The Midnight Special</i> on December 5, 1975.</div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DXskJm1RwmM?si=Z_j4pTSfKiAmA0Bp" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3tiPlrO">"Jive Talkin'" available at Amazon</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Related blog entry: <a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-bee-gees-get-funky-on-boogie-child.html">The Bee Gees Get Funky on "Boogie Child"</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-16209126716248019192023-12-03T03:09:00.000-08:002023-12-04T16:52:47.483-08:00"Movin'" by Brass Construction<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44_VYZ6KbmBs4vPnr9uPxkM8tC3hoK6ljZ-S1B3EfvLD_BbSp-G756QasnXeRKwNOOi94GOFHdvA9KryEwnjDkW92p5S0EIcJtOAqiBhF4K2p850LJ-3TJLl67fB6YnWZQKvVL07_tHIOAj_bGQkmY-bG1UZIp-KoqUzq0I21eh6monW7XsKhX5_VKMQ7/s510/Brass%20Construction%202020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="510" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44_VYZ6KbmBs4vPnr9uPxkM8tC3hoK6ljZ-S1B3EfvLD_BbSp-G756QasnXeRKwNOOi94GOFHdvA9KryEwnjDkW92p5S0EIcJtOAqiBhF4K2p850LJ-3TJLl67fB6YnWZQKvVL07_tHIOAj_bGQkmY-bG1UZIp-KoqUzq0I21eh6monW7XsKhX5_VKMQ7/w400-h300/Brass%20Construction%202020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Funk/R&B/disco band Brass Construction scored their biggest hit with the exhilarating dance groove “Movin’” in 1976. The track is impeccably arranged and features stellar musicianship from the talented Brooklyn funk crew. The track boasts magnificent horn charts, high-voltage synths, funky guitar licks and a monster beat. And Wade Williamston powers the</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"> groove with a smoldering bass line. This cut was a dance-floor magnet at parties and clubs back in the day. People would come off the dance floor drenched in sweat after shaking it to this epic party jam. </span></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Movin’” was co-written by Williamston and Brass Construction's founder and leader Randy Muller. It was the first single from the band’s platinum self-titled debut album, released in December of 1975 on United Artists Records. It topped Billboard’s R&B singles chart and peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. And the track spent four weeks atop Billboard’s Dance Club chart. It also performed well on the charts in other parts of the world: the UK (#23), the Netherlands (#10), Belgium (#20) and Canada (#47).</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to Whosampled.com, “Movin’” has been sampled on 216 songs, including Michael Jackson’s “Can’t Let Her Get Away,” MC Hammer’s “Pump and a Bump,” DJ Quik’s “Quik is the Name," DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince’s “Boom! Shake the Room" and "Back That Azz Up" by Juvenile, featuring Mannie Fresh and Lil Wayne. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Movin'" has been featured on the soundtracks for the films</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Auto Focus</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (2002) and </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">All The Way </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(2003), as well as the HBO series</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> How to Make It in America</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (season 1, episode 1, Pilot, originally aired February 14, 2010). Additionally, it was featured in an episode of the famous sitcom </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Good Times</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. It can be heard playing in the background during the Evans family's going-away party where they receive the tragic news that the Evanses’ patriarch, James Evans Sr., has been killed in an auto accident. The episode was titled “The Big Move: Part 1,” and it originally aired on September 22, 1976.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The players on “Movin’” were Randy Muller (keyboards, percussion, vocals), Wade Williamston (bass), Larry Payton (drums, vocals), Joseph Arthur-Wong (lead guitar), Jesse Ward Jr. (saxophone, vocals), Wayne Parris (trumpet, vocals), Irving Spice (strings), Michael Grudge (saxophone, vocals), Sandy Billups (congas, vocals) and Morris Price (trumpet, vocals, percussion).</span></span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UzsUd37xPXo?si=vkP0z18S4kmAL7B9" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3sRMjLf">"Movin'" is available at Amazon</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Related blog entry: <a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2022/04/changin-by-brass-construction.html">"Changin'" by Brass Construction</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-29244673103016983072023-11-22T22:56:00.000-08:002024-01-07T22:37:02.094-08:00 George “Funky” Brown, Kool & The Gang Drummer and Co-Founder, Dead at 74<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Pmel6IkHUA1cOneQ8-UHV-gSWng5Ys32alZmBkHTajcG-qwdCctiAeQYf2Fw-Q8EqO5_26RXzXs6ay7qxV3LZCW2F7D_4eHeBzl8rK6Vi4h7RuduL1bBwu6m_7inVlqW9cEoNNxRP1C_9izHRJk9OkE9H9th-61mSTmx_mSlTsdVojramwz61geAsJ-7/s534/George%20Brown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="534" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Pmel6IkHUA1cOneQ8-UHV-gSWng5Ys32alZmBkHTajcG-qwdCctiAeQYf2Fw-Q8EqO5_26RXzXs6ay7qxV3LZCW2F7D_4eHeBzl8rK6Vi4h7RuduL1bBwu6m_7inVlqW9cEoNNxRP1C_9izHRJk9OkE9H9th-61mSTmx_mSlTsdVojramwz61geAsJ-7/w400-h313/George%20Brown.png" width="400" /></a></div>Kool & The Gang’s longtime drummer and founding member George “Funky” Brown died on November 16 of lung cancer. He was 74. The super-talented drummer provided the funky backbone for the legendary soul/funk/jazz band's tracks for decades. He was also one of the band’s main songwriters and co-wrote classics such as “Celebration,” “Ladies’ Nights,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Too Hot,” “Summer Madness,” “Get Down On It" and "Cherish." Brown, along with fellow Kool & The Gang members Robert “Kool” Bell, James “J.T.” Taylor and Ronald Bell (aka<span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Khalis Bayyan), was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">George Melvin Brown was born on January 15, 1949 in Jersey City. His father, George Sr., worked in the coal business, and his mother, Eleanor White Brown, was employed as a maid and key puncher. His parents made sure that music was always a big part of his life. Brown developed an interest in drumming at a young age. He saved up money from his newspaper route to buy his first drum set. He paid $3 for a drumming lesson from a drummer who used to play for renowned vocal group the Shirelles. He told Brown that he was a “natural” and gave him the book titled</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Buddy Rich’s 16 Essential Snare Drum Rudiments</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. Brown took one more lesson and never returned, as he already had the necessary tools to become a great drummer. He modeled his drumming style after jazz drummers like Art Blakey, Buddy Rich and Elvin Jones.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In 1964, Brown, tenor saxophonist Ronald Bell, trumpeter Robert “Spike” Mickens, keyboardist Rickey West, bassist Robert “Kool” Bell (Ronald’s brother), guitarist Charles Smith and saxophonist Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas formed the Jazziacs. They were neighborhood friends, and all of them, except for Smith, attended Lincoln High School in Jersey City. The band members were influenced by jazz giants such as Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, so their early sound was very jazz-heavy. They gigged around the East Coast for years honing their chops, developing band chemistry and building a following. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The band also went through various name changes, including The Funk Town Band, The Soul Machine Review and The New Dimension, before finally settling on Kool & The Gang. By the time they changed their name to Kool & The Gang, their sound had become much more funky and R&B-based; however, there were still strong jazz elements in their music.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The band signed to De-Lite Records in 1969. They released their self-titled debut album on the label in December of that year. The album is a high-quality collection of R&B, funk and soul-jazz tracks. It showcased the band’s formidable musicianship and impressive production and arrangement skills. The album’s two singles, “Let The Music Take Your Mind” and “Kool & The Gang,” both peaked at #19 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart. The LP reached #43 on Billboard’s R&B album chart. The collection served as a great launching pad for the band’s incredible music career.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Kool & The Gang went on to become one of the biggest R&B bands of the ‘70s and ‘80s. They have sold more than 70 million albums worldwide and boast 25 top-10 singles on the R&B charts (including nine #1s) and 12 top-10 singles on the pop charts. The band also has 31 gold and platinum albums and has landed numerous music honors and awards, including two Grammys and seven American Music Awards. In 2014, they were honored with the BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award. And they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015. Additionally, Kool & The Gang are the tenth most sampled artist of all time; their music has been sampled </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">1922 times, according to WhoSampled.com.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">George “Funky” Brown's drumming was an essential ingredient of Kool & The Gang's sound, and he has influenced legions of drummers with his tremendous skills and dynamic funk feel. He never failed to deliver the funk, be it in the studio or onstage.
</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Let The Music Take Your Mind"</span></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iJfKHFrpfzw?si=1KwabZ1kUN7rtLty" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p>Kool & The Gang performing "Who's Gonna Take The Weight" on Soul Train in 1972<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hBdgcI-sJb8?si=fcchKTtjMQKispLs" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p><br /></p><p>"Funky Stuff"</p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4kz0GIJbwIo?si=VTVfhxG03MBt2ZTr" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-82448067282565533732023-11-20T03:34:00.000-08:002023-11-20T11:28:46.780-08:00 "Gator Bait" by The Gaturs, featuring Willie Tee<p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGE0ly1uhBd6qejCalQfAXaBWQlvoIK38SkziGDfHXDeZyiF4uJg6M9VcRpJwDnpIzZRfK_o73nxhOU3cgMVKa6w6gslY3mTv9jkZjVKppY2q26jjOZFz8Yp7hcHFxkXgDZraHqA3mnIQhBxfcV-61zqRHJA3f-Lt_t9U3MLHtSUMBKyvRYEKAPuoMfY8I/s700/The%20Gaturs,%20featuring%20Willie%20Tee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGE0ly1uhBd6qejCalQfAXaBWQlvoIK38SkziGDfHXDeZyiF4uJg6M9VcRpJwDnpIzZRfK_o73nxhOU3cgMVKa6w6gslY3mTv9jkZjVKppY2q26jjOZFz8Yp7hcHFxkXgDZraHqA3mnIQhBxfcV-61zqRHJA3f-Lt_t9U3MLHtSUMBKyvRYEKAPuoMfY8I/w400-h400/The%20Gaturs,%20featuring%20Willie%20Tee.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This jazzy deep-funk groove is by influential New Orleans band the Gaturs, featuring Willie Tee. The talented players show how they funk things up NOLA style on this 1970 instrumental. Erving Charles Jr. lays down a smokin’ bass line, which is complemented by Larry Panna’s dynamic drumming and Alfred “Uganda” Roberts’ poppin’ congas. The track also features some tight wah-wah guitar licks from June Ray, and Tee serves up some smooth funk on keyboards. The groove is further elevated by a badass bass solo from Charles. “Gator Bait” was written, produced and mixed by Tee. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Willie Tee (born Wilson Turbinton) was a keyboardist, singer, songwriter and producer. He was a seminal figure in New Orleans music and helped forge its sound through his influential funk and soul recordings of the ‘60s and ‘70s. He was also the creative force behind the landmark 1974 album </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Wild Magnolias</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, which he co-wrote and arranged. He also assembled the session’s backing band. The album was the first to combine New Orleans funk with the parade chants of Mardi Gras Indian tribe, the Wild Magnolias. The album, and its follow-up</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> They Call Us Wild</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (1975), brought Mardi Gras Indian funk to the world stage. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Tee formed the Gaturs in 1970. They were one of the architects of the New Orleans funk sound. Their music was a delicious stew of funk, jazz, soul and jazz-funk. The band released some topflight grooves on New Orleans soul label Gatur Records, which was co-owned by Tee and his cousin Ulis Gaines. Tee and the Gaturs' reputation grew, and they soon became a staple of the New Orleans club scene. In 1994, a 10-song compilation of the Gaturs’ music was released on Funky Delicacies, a subsidiary of New York-based Tuff City Records. The compilation, titled </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Wasted</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, is named after a Gaturs track. “Gator Bait” is also included on the compilation. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">During his distinguished music career, Tee played with a number of prominent New Orleans artists–in the studio and on stage. And in addition to his prodigious keyboard skills and impressive songwriting and production abilities, he was a talented vocalist. He brought his rich vocals to soul gems like “Teasin’ You” and “Please Don’t Go.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Tee’s music has also been embraced by the hip-hop community. His tracks have been sampled by big-name rap artists such as Diddy, Lil Wayne, Nas and Geto Boys. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Additionally, Tee’s music has been featured on the soundtracks for films such as </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ray</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (2004) and </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Undercover Blues</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (1993). And his tracks have appeared on two episodes of the HBO series </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Wire</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (season 4, episodes 4 and 12, 2006), as well as one episode of HBO series</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Treme</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (season 1, episode 1, 2010).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Tee was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame on April 14, 2007. He died of colon cancer on September 11, 2007 at the age of 63, leaving behind an amazing musical legacy. His immense contributions to New Orleans music will forever be remembered and celebrated.</span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fcC7f96340E?si=4eCE1HIw9GD56U8M" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3uxdECw">The Gaturs music available at Amazon</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-35375973666899490132023-11-08T03:44:00.013-08:002023-11-10T23:36:32.000-08:00Film Review of The United States vs. Billie Holiday starring Andra Day<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDTCqovUzUPW_ZgYd_nvM6wGKaqwIy2MqnHyq8ZNDSd7_mrugDJBZmQ9SP-FwvnQU3utM50-Z3mKGIiGZtLT9s0QOLjs2Dy4eUkyCeBOz7w64TkMWrSE7Za84fX97EK4Jz7K5r5OowaIar2ZplwP0So6rcQsAqJaW-WKLuZyP1Di2eyFg7OrlX57v05a8/s1440/Billie%20Holiday.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDTCqovUzUPW_ZgYd_nvM6wGKaqwIy2MqnHyq8ZNDSd7_mrugDJBZmQ9SP-FwvnQU3utM50-Z3mKGIiGZtLT9s0QOLjs2Dy4eUkyCeBOz7w64TkMWrSE7Za84fX97EK4Jz7K5r5OowaIar2ZplwP0So6rcQsAqJaW-WKLuZyP1Di2eyFg7OrlX57v05a8/w266-h400/Billie%20Holiday.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The United States vs. Billie Holiday</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> is a</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">biographical drama that explores legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday's struggles with heroin addiction and the U.S. government’s quest to destroy her reputation and career. The 2021 Lee Daniels film also focuses on the importance of Holiday’s landmark song “Strange Fruit” and how it shed light on anti-black racial terrorism taking place in the American South.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The film is based on a chapter from the nonfiction book </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> by Johann Hari. It was adapted for the screen by Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks. The film stars </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">singer-songwriter/actress Andra Day as Billie Holiday.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The United States vs. Billie Holiday</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> covers the years 1947 to 1959. Much of it takes place in the late ‘40s when Holiday was battling heroin addiction and alcoholism. She was also being targeted by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) at that time. FBN commissioner Henry J. Anslinger, an avowed racist, launched a vicious personal crusade against Holiday. He used her heroin addiction as a pretext to silence her and prevent her from performing her 1939 song “Strange Fruit.” </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The powerful protest anthem describes a lynching in horrific detail. Its harrowing imagery sent chills down the spines of listeners whenever Holiday performed it. She infused the song with a haunting mix of sorrow and bitterness with every verse dripping with pain and heartbreak. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The song became a much-requested favorite at Holiday’s shows, and she defiantly continued to perform it despite many threats and warnings from Anslinger, who believed the song was dangerous and could incite riots. And he did everything in his power to prevent Holiday from performing it. He had the singer arrested three times and repeatedly attempted to plant evidence on her through his agents or her lovers. Anslinger was eventually successful in framing Holiday for the purchase and use of heroin–landing her an 18-month stint in prison and the revocation of her cabaret card. The federal government refused to reinstate Holiday’s cabaret card upon her release from prison in 1948. At that time, a cabaret card was mandatory for musicians and singers who performed at clubs or bars that served alcohol. This seriously undermined her career, as she could no longer travel the nightclub circuit. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">However, that didn’t stop Holiday from making a triumphant appearance at Carnegie Hall just 11 days after her release from prison. This was her first performance at the fabled venue as a headliner, and she completely mesmerized the sold-out crowd with her incredible talent. She had three curtain calls during this historic performance. This amazing scene is one of the biggest highlights of the film. And it illustrates why Day was cast in the title role.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Day delivers a phenomenal performance as Holiday. She hits all the right emotional beats and commands the screen in every scene. She completely embodies Holiday–both onstage and off–in the role. And what makes this even more impressive is that this was Day’s first starring role and only her third film. The performance landed Day a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama. It also garnered her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The film also boasts a really strong supporting cast. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191701; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Trevante Rhodes (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191701; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Moonlight</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191701; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">) is a standout as conflicted black federal agent Jimmy Fletcher. He goes undercover as one of Holiday’s ardent fans to dig up dirt on her to bring back to his superiors; however, he eventually starts to empathize with the singer and grows to understand the reasons behind her addiction to heroin and alcohol; he learns that she uses them to salve deep emotional wounds born from an extremely rough life, which included abject </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">poverty, sexual violence and prostitution.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191701; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> The character, who is based on a real-life FBI agent, even develops a romantic relationship with Holiday in the film. However, a romantic relationship between the two in real life has never been confirmed. Rhodes was an inspired casting choice as Fletcher. He and Day share amazing onscreen chemistry.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #191701; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Another cast standout is Da'Vine Joy Randolph (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191701; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dolemite Is My Name</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191701; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">) who plays Holiday’s close friend and confidante Roslyn. Joy brings an entertaining mix of toughness and vulnerability to the role; she also brings some much-needed humor to this serious drama. Also, Natasha Lyonne (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191701; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Orange Is the New Black</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191701; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">) is great as stage and film actress Tallulah Bankhead, who was a rumored lover of Holiday’s. Although a romantic relationship between the two has never been confirmed, they were definitely close friends until they had a falling out due to Bankhead’s insistence that she be kept out of Holiday’s autobiography </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191701; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Lady Sings The Blues </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191701; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(originally published in 1956)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191701; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. She even threatened to file a lawsuit if she wasn’t kept out of the book, as she feared it could ruin her career. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #191701; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Some of the other members of the talented cast include </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Erik LaRay Harvey, Miss Lawrence, Tyler James Williams, Leslie Jordan, Garrett Hedlund and Evan Ross. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The United States vs. Billie Holiday </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">is overall a really good film, and Daniels does a great job of showcasing all of the pressures that Holiday was facing during that period in her life as well as touching on the historic significance of “Strange Fruit.” However, the film starts losing focus during its final third. The rhythm and pacing just feel off during this portion of the film. Everything is kind of disjointed and lacks cohesion. The momentum and energy that drove the earlier scenes are missing here. Nonetheless, Day’s superb performance even elevates these weaker scenes and makes them work. Credit must also go to the terrific supporting cast for bringing their best to each scene. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-877af6eb-7fff-03aa-4520-41e5717f3c8a"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The film is currently streaming on Hulu. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p></span>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/USi-ppCfxEA?si=xfGztry_kLdGz-Bi" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3symaAC">The United States vs. Billie Holiday available at Amazon</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-35203287808029943692023-10-11T03:17:00.022-07:002023-10-13T11:57:25.344-07:00"Ladies’ Night" by Kool & The Gang<p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnde3FfZGHw-SYGLKFAOdhX5njVI3p1Xmzmmf7m6hSYwvWre5dxh53ODOwgJ7z4J87s26f4cXxpwBBsh7gxGtEO_YjjcoAN-GSIuBghhQikPjDl-yVAkiWo-uzzSc3qX1mwp4MJh5FK6YWMYho9TtdxVpkwTpETgT1PgFzpyEeCJ2QUh_ifCW6RNhyphenhyphenT7E/s1000/KooltheGang-79.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="1000" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnde3FfZGHw-SYGLKFAOdhX5njVI3p1Xmzmmf7m6hSYwvWre5dxh53ODOwgJ7z4J87s26f4cXxpwBBsh7gxGtEO_YjjcoAN-GSIuBghhQikPjDl-yVAkiWo-uzzSc3qX1mwp4MJh5FK6YWMYho9TtdxVpkwTpETgT1PgFzpyEeCJ2QUh_ifCW6RNhyphenhyphenT7E/w400-h296/KooltheGang-79.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Kool & The Gang were one of the few big-name ‘70s R&B/funk bands to become even more popular and successful in the following decade. A number of great R&B/funk ‘70s acts saw their sales and popularity decline considerably once the ‘80s arrived. To prevent this from happening to them, Kool & The Gang reshaped their sound and image. First, they smoothed out the rough edges of their raw funk sound and replaced it with a polished funk-light/disco sound that would be more palatable in the early ‘80s R&B/pop market. Another important part of the band’s makeover was the recruitment of South Carolina-born vocalist James “J.T.” Taylor as their lead singer. It was a shrewd move to bring in a charismatic young frontman to give the band a focal point that would help bring in more young female fans. And he didn’t just have looks and stage presence, he could deliver the goods vocally as well. He was also an invaluable asset on the ballads, bringing a genuine warmth and soul to them.<p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Some viewed the band’s mainstream-focused overhaul of their sound and image as blatant selling out; others saw it as simply smart business. But whatever one's views are on it, the move was highly successful and made Kool & The Gang one of the biggest R&B bands of the '80s. During that decade, they landed a string of R&B and pop hits and sold tons of records.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Ladies’ Night” hit the airwaves on September 6, 1979. It was the band’s first offering of their new radio-friendly sound. The dance smash struck the perfect balance: It was just funky enough to please the band’s longtime fans, but also polished and toned down enough to be embraced by a large audience of of pop/disco listeners. The title refers to promotional specials in which bars and clubs offer free admission and other discounts to female patrons. This practice is designed to bring more ladies into the establishment, which would in turn draw more paying male clientele. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Robert “Kool” Bell’s captivating bass line powers this funky dance groove, which features an irresistible keyboard part, dynamic horns and a scorching beat. Taylor serves up a smooth and assured lead vocal performance, showing that the band made the right decision in selecting him as their frontman. The track also has a rousing chorus and a terrific bridge. Additionally, the soulful female background vocals help bring home the song's theme. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Ladies’ Night” was the lead-off single and title track from Kool & The Gang’s eleventh studio album, released in 1979 on De-Lite Records. It was written by George “Funky” Brown and Kool & The Gang. The song was produced by Brazilian pianist/composer/ producer and arranger Eumir Deodato, who also produced the entire album.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Ladies’ Night” reached the summit of Billboard’s R&B singles chart, where it remained for two weeks, and it peaked at #8 on Billboard’s Hot 100 pop singles chart. It also made the top 10 in the UK (#9), Switzerland (#7), Finland (#5) and Norway (#10). And it charted in the top 20 in several other countries. It was eventually certified gold by the RIAA with 500,000 copies sold. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The personnel for “Ladies’ Night” was Robert “Kool” Bell (bass, backing vocals), George “Funky” Brown (drums, backing vocals), Claydes Smith (guitar), Dennis “D.T.” Thomas (alto saxophone), Robert Mickens (trumpet), Ronald Bell/aka Khalis Bayyan (tenor saxophone, backing vocals), Clifford Adams (trombone), James “J.T.” Taylor (lead and backing vocals), Chris Alberts (trumpet), </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Adam Ippolito (keyboards) and Jon Faddis (trumpet). The female backing vocals were provided by the vocal group Something Sweet (Cynthia Huggins, Joan Motley, Beverly Owens, Renee Connel, Kelly Barreto).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Ladies' Night” has been sampled on 37 songs, per WhoSampled.com. It has been featured on several film soundtracks, including </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Charlie Wilson’s War </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(2007), </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Undercover Brother </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(2002) and </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">200 Cigarettes</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (1999). It has also appeared in popular TV series such as </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Vampire Diaries</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (season 6, episode 20, originally aired April 30, 2015) and</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Love Island</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (season 5, episode 4, originally aired July 21, 2023). English pop girl group Atomic Kitten recorded a cover of the song in 2003 and turned it into a girl-power anthem. It peaked at #8 on the UK singles chart and #3 in Spain.</span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PVWqSWmzgYA?si=YDICRyZjXmeQCL2m" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Kool & The Gang performing "Ladies' Night" on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert</div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sxBZ6rNC_Q0?si=6BMagNTB89VGHzAP" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/46kI0X4">"Ladies' Night" available at Amazon</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Related blog entry: <a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2014/06/album-review-of-kool-gangs-wild-and.html">Album Review of Kool & the Gang's Wild and Peaceful</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-49160184498064187522023-10-04T01:10:00.017-07:002023-10-09T11:20:30.210-07:00Singer-Guitarist Paolo Fuschi Releasing Funky New Single “This Old World”<p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXg9u5GbDD5qJfJDEo7rYdikxI7Nx2vkXBzEEDFQ8WqmIIdwg0FKEQVUllVEd9PcIESEqP5zz-WG8GK1KCYdC_yF4f9Wx7zQVKhvZnGy_owhFgES2rM76fB_czrEVJu76xb2AueOVP5yNSA3veKhld4hK06uow7fHRkuLAwfgqKWogHUrTyInwtXaRFq9/s320/Paolo%20Fuschi%20photo%20in%20front%20of%20world.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXg9u5GbDD5qJfJDEo7rYdikxI7Nx2vkXBzEEDFQ8WqmIIdwg0FKEQVUllVEd9PcIESEqP5zz-WG8GK1KCYdC_yF4f9Wx7zQVKhvZnGy_owhFgES2rM76fB_czrEVJu76xb2AueOVP5yNSA3veKhld4hK06uow7fHRkuLAwfgqKWogHUrTyInwtXaRFq9/w320-h320/Paolo%20Fuschi%20photo%20in%20front%20of%20world.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Italian singer-guitarist Paolo Fuschi is set to drop his funky new single “This Old World” on October 6. The song is about rediscovering real human connections in a world where people have become increasingly isolated from one another due to a pervasive self-obsessed mindset that's taken hold. “This Old World” stresses the importance of communication and urges people throughout the world to come together and look out for one another, as well as practice mutual kindness and respect. <p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Fuschi delivers this positive message through a dynamic Deep Funk groove, which features an irresistible rhythm guitar part, a powerful beat and some wicked bass. The track also boasts a stellar chorus, dope horns and a marvelous guitar solo from Fuschi. He played the solo through a Mini Q-Tron, an envelope filter pedal; this gave it a very funky wah wah-flavored Sly & the Family Stone-type feel. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The full musician lineup for "This Old World" was Fuschi (guitars, bass and vocals), </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Laurie Agnew (drums and percussion), Bo Lee (bass inspiration), Jack Tinker (trumpet), </span><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Andrew Morel (saxophones) and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Justin Shearn (keyboards).</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Shearn also mixed and produced the track, and it was mastered by Stevie Williams. The official name of the band is Paolo Fuschi & The Outsiders.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Fuschi is based in Manchester UK and is heavily involved in the Mancunian soul, funk and blues scene. He has been bringing his potent mix of electric blues, classic soul and vintage funk to appreciative music lovers since 2002. And the musician has been electrifying audiences worldwide with his exciting live performances. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Fuschi’s music has been featured on national radio stations, including BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6, as well as international networks such as the Italian Rai Radio. “This Old World” has already been featured on </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Craig Charles Soul & Funk Show on BBC Radio 6.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> On February 22, 2022, Fuschi released his most recent EP, "The Outsider," which is an excellent collection of soulful original blues tracks. He has collaborated with a number of great music acts in the Manchester area, including the supertight funk outfit Buffalo Brothers. Additionally, he has taught guitar for more than 18 years, both as a freelancer and for local authorities in Greater Manchester.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Fuschi will showcase “This Old World” at Marsden Jazz Festival in collaboration with Sunday Blues Train and Pat Fulgoni on October 7 at 9:00 p.m. Pre-save the single at your favorite digital platform</span><a href="https://ditto.fm/this-old-world" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> here</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. To learn more about Fuschi and his music, visit his social media pages, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/paolofuschi1/" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> and </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/paolofuschi1/" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, or his </span><a href="https://www.paolofuschi.com/" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">website</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e01d2432-7fff-3d44-d9c9-d0d97a699b6d"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Official video for "This Old World"<br /></span>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kfMFdXQbRDg?si=hH5uZEHNC5KFhiMD" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-6026720495269381472023-09-19T00:17:00.006-07:002023-11-10T23:45:03.053-08:00 "No More Okey Doke" by The Meters<p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uxkIqekZ1LK8aYZ8hKqQmWDNZ56zlmeKx4JtOsA-jt_uLnOOD9fsMxS_Ncs0p6RD2U6rWSDriWAy30AuXvrb-FhHSC9CJvtYhyyfXB7htd45HHcgOaSNy8CXDj0uXzD3XPJVgd34UVQM_iyvdzevc300V1ytNe3siqNyxR6oIUrKvBCd17g7UHQ4W_aN/s500/the%20Meters%20chillin'.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="500" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uxkIqekZ1LK8aYZ8hKqQmWDNZ56zlmeKx4JtOsA-jt_uLnOOD9fsMxS_Ncs0p6RD2U6rWSDriWAy30AuXvrb-FhHSC9CJvtYhyyfXB7htd45HHcgOaSNy8CXDj0uXzD3XPJVgd34UVQM_iyvdzevc300V1ytNe3siqNyxR6oIUrKvBCd17g7UHQ4W_aN/s320/the%20Meters%20chillin'.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Legendary New Orleans band the Meters dropped this irresistible slice of bayou funk in 1977. The percolating groove sounds like one big funky jamboree. Cyril Neville serves up some delicious NOLA soul on lead vocals, and George Porter Jr. keeps things extra funky with a sick bass line. The funk is further deepened by some nasty guitar licks, a blazing beat and sweet horn lines.<p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The song is about a man who’s finally reached his limit, and he’s no longer going to be played or used. His eyes are wide open now, and he’s putting an end to the nonsense once and for all. And from here on out, he’s strictly looking out for number one. The exhilarating funk of this track fits this new attitude. It sounds like a man with a new groove in his step, and he's moving on to bigger and better things.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“No More Okey Doke” is a track from the Meters’ eighth and final album </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">New Directions </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(1977). The song was written collectively by all the band members. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">New Directions</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> was produced by David Rubinson and Jefffrey Cohen and was released on Warner Brothers Records. It’s a strong collection of funk, soul and New Orleans R&B.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The full Meters lineup for </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">New Directions</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> was Leo Nocentelli (guitar, background vocals), Cyril Neville (congas, lead and backing vocals), </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Joseph "Ziggy" Modeliste (drums, lead and backing vocals), George Porter Jr. (bass, backing vocals) and Art Neville (organ, lead and backing vocals). Tower of Power’s celebrated horn section played on the album.</span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bmn3cSgzvJ4?si=S6fv6nrfA9oFrN-s" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3PJFFiy">No More Okey Doke at Amazon</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-meters-drop-some-nola-funk-on-just.html">Related blog entry: The Meters Drop Some NOLA Funk On "Just Kissed My Baby"</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-66117473190139613702023-08-30T23:05:00.008-07:002023-08-31T19:46:13.209-07:00 “Love Amnesia" by Parlet<p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZAdC4sSCj6cz-QasdjyLYWWmjRxlw_2zSDW36aNNozyPhPqQKTvNX3bTcd4CN7Qvvr0oQC89kk-lQvzj21qqzqa1YZ50Fcvtl4NViCak4EkPBnBGXd9tzSoRdOUyCkgC2GkwG2cdj-jv1LXT5KWdzme_Qfg8PPUvI1Npu-p3yk0qxegI2THpcqzfGJlA/s500/Parlet-Pleasure_Principle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZAdC4sSCj6cz-QasdjyLYWWmjRxlw_2zSDW36aNNozyPhPqQKTvNX3bTcd4CN7Qvvr0oQC89kk-lQvzj21qqzqa1YZ50Fcvtl4NViCak4EkPBnBGXd9tzSoRdOUyCkgC2GkwG2cdj-jv1LXT5KWdzme_Qfg8PPUvI1Npu-p3yk0qxegI2THpcqzfGJlA/w400-h400/Parlet-Pleasure_Principle.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Parlet was a P-Funk spinoff act formed in 1978 by George Clinton. He originally conceived the trio as a female counterpart to doo-wop vocal group the Parliaments (who eventually evolved into legendary funk outfit Parliament). The vocal trio’s original name was the Parlettes, but Clinton thought it sounded a bit too Motowny and trimmed the name down to Parlet. The group’s original members were veteran P-Funk background singers Debbie Wright, Jeanette Washington and Mallia Franklin (aka “Queen of Funk”). Parlet were known for being a bit more wild and overtly sexual than P-Funk’s other female vocal group, the Brides of Funkenstein.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Parlet released their debut album </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pleasure Principle</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> in 1978 on Casablanca Records. The album, produced by Clinton, is filled with great funk, dance and R&B tracks that effectively showcase the trio’s strong vocal abilities. One of the album highlights is the exceedingly funky “Love Amnesia.” Billy “Bass” Nelson serves up some extra-nasty bass, and Bernie Worrell enhances the groove with some sensational synth work. He’s also responsible for the song’s amazing horn arrangement. Additionally, the track boasts a really cool, imaginative bridge. And Parlet bring the fire on their gritty, funkified vocals. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Love Amnesia” was written by Clinton, Nelson and Ron Dunbar. It was sampled on Ice Cube’s 1991 song “Steady Mobbin’”.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pleasure Principle</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> rose to #55 on Billboard’s R&B album chart, and the title track peaked at #66 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart. Here’s the full musician lineup for the album: Billy “Bass” Nelson (bass and guitar), Garry Shider (guitar), Fred Wesley (trombone, horn arrangements), Bootsy Collins (drums), Glenn Goins (guitar), Frankie “Kash” Waddy (drums), Maceo Parker (saxophone), Richard “Kush” Griffith (trumpet), Mike Hampton (guitar), Gary “Mudbone” Cooper (drums), Rick Gardner (trumpet), Rick Gilmore (bass), Bernie Worrell (keyboards, string and horn arrangements), Jim Wright (drums), Rodney “Skeet” Curtis (bass), David J. Van De Pitte (string arrangement), and Ron Dunbar and soul/disco trio Brandye provided background vocals. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Following the release of </span><i style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pleasure Principle</i><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, Debbie Wright had to leave the group due to health issues. She was replaced by Shirley Hayden who appears on Parlet's second album </span><i style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Invasion of the Booty Snatchers</i><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (1979). Mallia Franklin left the group in 1979 to help form R&B/funk outfit Sterling Silver Starship with her then-husband Donnie Sterling, who was a bassist for Parliament. She was replaced by Janice Evans halfway through the recording of </span><i style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Invasion of the Booty Snatchers</i><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. In 1980, Parlet released one final album, <i>Play Me or Trade Me</i>, before disbanding that same year. The trio's lineup for that album was Jeanette Washington, Shirley Hayden and Janice Evans.</span></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sz1A1nmXROM?si=Bfi68oceZhgtdgXQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><div><a href="https://amzn.to/4886q7J">"Love Amnesia" available at Amazon</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-22721995286145837532023-08-12T02:48:00.002-07:002023-08-31T19:57:16.500-07:00 "Dance Floor" by Zapp<p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdn7sDKKTfZj_RstaSuXUJ8OQDnUeKC3aDC5YJrcrrv2hHQyaSnAq-H50TIWuTtx_Srdtx5kI4LJpQfr6VW2dZueGRBvdT0fegjnx7PNNasmzkOZtefwgiAS-1_krC5_kTuLK52Ny8L2_meHVUZD81mv_UMaIwiBSXuj4S8mfZHDfP09loiyPcSWgnvdEA/s890/Zapp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="890" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdn7sDKKTfZj_RstaSuXUJ8OQDnUeKC3aDC5YJrcrrv2hHQyaSnAq-H50TIWuTtx_Srdtx5kI4LJpQfr6VW2dZueGRBvdT0fegjnx7PNNasmzkOZtefwgiAS-1_krC5_kTuLK52Ny8L2_meHVUZD81mv_UMaIwiBSXuj4S8mfZHDfP09loiyPcSWgnvdEA/w400-h248/Zapp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Ohio groove masters Zapp thrilled funk lovers with the electrifying single “Dance Floor” in 1982. This explosive funk track blew up the airwaves and had folks setting dance floors on fire. It was refreshing to have a band like Zapp who was still dropping pure, hard-hittin’ funk in the early ‘80s, a time when a lot of popular funk and R&B acts were starting to water down their funk. The track features the band’s signature electro-funk sound, replete with nasty chicken-scratch guitar licks, a ferocious synth bass line, booming handclaps and a dynamic beat. And bandleader Roger Troutman further elevates the funk level with his imaginative talkbox work. The track also boasts some high-voltage synth vamps, a smoldering guitar solo and a fantastic bridge.<p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Dance Floor” was a single from the band’s second album</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Zapp II</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, released on Warner Bros. Records in 1982. It was co-written and arranged by Roger Troutman and Larry Troutman. The song peaked at #62 on Billboard’s dance club chart and topped Billboard’s R&B singles chart.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Zapp II</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> also performed extremely well on the charts, peaking at #2 on Billboard’s R&B album chart and #25 on the Billboard 200. The album was certified gold by the RIAA, with 500,000 units sold. The collection was co-produced by Roger Troutman and Terry “Zapp” Troutman.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Dance Floor” has been sampled on 103 songs, including “California Love” (2Pac, featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman), “Wanted Dead Or Alive (2Pac and Snoop Dogg) and “Somethin’ For The O.G.’s (MC Hammer), per WhoSampled.com. The song has been featured on the soundtracks for the Mariah Carey-starring film</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Glitter</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (2001)</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and acclaimed HBO series </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Wire</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (season 5, episode 7 in 2008).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The players on “Dance Floor” included Roger Troutman (talkbox, guitar, bass, keyboards, background vocals), Lester Troutman (drums) and Larry Troutman (percussion). The horn section consisted of Jerome Derrickson (saxophone), Eddie Barber (trumpet), Randy Wallace (saxophone) and Michael Warren. The background vocals were provided by Terry “Zapp” Troutman, Gregory Jackson, Bobby Glover, Jannetta Boyce Warren, Sherman Fleetwood, Ray Davis and Roger Troutman. </span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ldqtc1OjZBU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Zapp performing "Dance Floor" live</div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M-Bcq658Ba4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/4488Ks7">"Dance Floor" available at Amazon</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Related blog entry: <a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2014/06/zapps-more-bounce-to-ounce-helped-set.html">Zapp's "More Bounce to the Ounce" Helped Set Off A Dynamic New Sound</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-60296573804694097362023-07-27T21:14:00.003-07:002023-11-09T18:37:28.510-08:00 “Boots In Place” from album Floki Sessions: Boots In Place<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVf1tMakGcuNVwS2WnHyYD3jqy3YjRj7mOco2yUYufNJVmKkmVPr9ZUOBIw954xdmHyq2eTS1i52_9KIJJlccLagEdqSe8jtpTmPMIQ_Rz5OQCt6jXGt6C90IDOGS6IzK6lkFwKdk9vUqBr2T7tFqncXdBbKzLISwrpfaEO_t8E4kvtYKtHTeJD9uP3I3J/s1080/Erica%20Falls%20onstage%20from%20her%20facebook%20page.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVf1tMakGcuNVwS2WnHyYD3jqy3YjRj7mOco2yUYufNJVmKkmVPr9ZUOBIw954xdmHyq2eTS1i52_9KIJJlccLagEdqSe8jtpTmPMIQ_Rz5OQCt6jXGt6C90IDOGS6IzK6lkFwKdk9vUqBr2T7tFqncXdBbKzLISwrpfaEO_t8E4kvtYKtHTeJD9uP3I3J/s320/Erica%20Falls%20onstage%20from%20her%20facebook%20page.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acclaimed New Orleans singer/songwriter Erica Falls</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This fantastic funk track is from the 2023 album </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Floki Sessions: Boots in Place.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> It features the exceptional talents of bassist George Porter Jr. (The Meters), guitarist Eddie Roberts (The New Mastersounds), drummer Nikki Glaspie (The Nth Power, Beyoncé) and keyboardist Robert Walter (The Greyboy Allstars). </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Floki Sessions: Boots in Place</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> is the latest installment of a series that hosts recording sessions for musicians at Floki Studios, located deep in Fljót Valley on the mountainous Troll Peninsula in northern Iceland. The series was created to provide a platform for celebrated music artists to collaborate and inspire one another. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Boots in Place” also features the soulful vocal stylings of acclaimed New Orleans artist Erica Falls, former lead singer of NOLA funk band Galactic. The deep-funk groove boasts some sweet keyboards, phat bass, a cookin’ beat, </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">dope rhythm guitar licks and a </span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">killer horn arrangement. The funky three-piece horn section on this track is composed of NEA Jazz Master Donald “Big Chief” Harrison on alto saxophone, trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom (Lettuce) and saxophonist Nate Miller (Nate Miller & The Funktion).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Floki Sessions: Boots in Place</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> is filled with top-quality grooves that showcase the considerable talents of all the musicians involved. Eddie Roberts produced the album, which was released on Color Red Records. Some of the other vocalists featured on the album include GreenTTea, Son Little and Lamar Williams Jr. </span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oA3OKiz8Y7s?si=n9Vu78o8uUjIdwhh" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3Yd0dCL"><span style="font-style: italic; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Floki Sessions: Boots in Place </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">album available at Amazon</span></a></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-88282978712501590922023-07-22T21:04:00.000-07:002023-07-22T21:04:22.515-07:00"Pink Noise" by Spacewalk<p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQB7rg7crijX5XuXmp_-pxz55y3UphzR-uGh3RDiTO6ruhSYzES8A6JliqgwauzDxuSjU-glc21AxpLX5OjekmbMKdaufKlEqAWaknPbuOqJL93e7XiVSaMFYrYnRwNFqC-_Ihda6dbicycrDLclCJhhIM7DOxE6KVwBojUxbdXz3BggMQ-ZNaFFptnc_l/s700/spacewalk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQB7rg7crijX5XuXmp_-pxz55y3UphzR-uGh3RDiTO6ruhSYzES8A6JliqgwauzDxuSjU-glc21AxpLX5OjekmbMKdaufKlEqAWaknPbuOqJL93e7XiVSaMFYrYnRwNFqC-_Ihda6dbicycrDLclCJhhIM7DOxE6KVwBojUxbdXz3BggMQ-ZNaFFptnc_l/s320/spacewalk2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This exquisite dub reggae groove was created by Joey Porter and Garrett Sayers, who are members of acclaimed funk/soul/jazz band The Motet. The track is impeccably arranged and features sumptuous bass, a powerful beat and shimmering keyboards. The groove is further elevated by a sweltering guitar solo. <p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Pink Noise” is a track from Porter and Sayers’ music project </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Spacewalk</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, which was released on June 16, 2023. The seeds for the project were planted in 2021 when Porter wrote and recorded five dub reggae grooves. Porter showed them to Sayers, inspiring him to write five dub reggae grooves of his own. And the</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Spacewalk</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> project was born. The result is a 10-song collection of amazing dub reggae cuts. Lovers of the style definitely need to give</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">this great album a listen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Spacewalk</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> was recorded at Porter’s home studio in Colorado. He played guitar, keyboards, percussion, melodica and drum-machine programming. Sayers played bass and synthesizers with Jeff Franca on percussion. Porter also produced the album, which was released on Color Red Music. </span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yfdNWQ0BWIw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3OsUd5K"><i>Spacewalk</i> available at Amazon</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-2934696988190602952023-07-06T21:02:00.000-07:002023-07-06T21:02:04.827-07:00 “Boogie Down” by Eddie Kendricks<p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9XdlmICbcJxpc9Ju0M6nIk7kIIgTxTtozYmQA2adCbaqaJsL4lvhmQXqAW5sj0O5NFOrFNnBbxooXOlB_VGG_pQat1PZTHOzZ_pU_nmPcVhqWuaRjt3MW_1Y7RjvfViG0LmNV7vbSVAmBMrwqu9GujP2kSI3J7so1uZEwC418bNtZwjAy76ATTf-6Zn4/s300/Eddie-Kendricks-profile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="300" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9XdlmICbcJxpc9Ju0M6nIk7kIIgTxTtozYmQA2adCbaqaJsL4lvhmQXqAW5sj0O5NFOrFNnBbxooXOlB_VGG_pQat1PZTHOzZ_pU_nmPcVhqWuaRjt3MW_1Y7RjvfViG0LmNV7vbSVAmBMrwqu9GujP2kSI3J7so1uZEwC418bNtZwjAy76ATTf-6Zn4/s1600/Eddie-Kendricks-profile.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Eddie Kendricks was one of the premier soul singers of the ‘60s and ‘70s. He brought his velvet-smooth falsetto to Temptations classics such as “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” “Get Ready,” “You’re My Everything” and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me).” And he enjoyed a highly successful solo career after leaving the Temptations in 1971, landing a string of top-10 hits on the R&B charts and a couple on the pop charts as well. Dance-floor filler “Boogie Down” is one of Kendricks’ biggest solo hits. This smoldering dance groove boasts an incredible arrangement, with dynamic strings, poppin’ congas, driving bass and supertight horn charts. And Kendricks delivers a soulful, high-energy vocal performance. “Boogie Down” was blasted everywhere back in the day–clubs, parties, car stereos, etc. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The song was released in December of 1973. It was the lead single from Kendricks’ fourth studio album </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Boogie Down!</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> (Feb. 1974), released on Motown Records’ Tamla label. It was written by Anita Poree, Frank Wilson and Leonard Caston. The song topped Billboard’s R&B singles chart for three straight weeks. It was his second consecutive single to reach the summit of the R&B charts. It also performed extremely well on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, rising all the way to #2. Additionally, it saw some solid chart action overseas, reaching #39 on the UK singles chart. “Boogie Down” was Kendricks' second biggest hit as a solo artist. His biggest hit was “Keep On Truckin’”, which topped Billboard's pop and R&B singles chart and reached #18 on the UK charts. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Boogie Down” was sampled on Slick Rick’s 1991 track “It’s a Boy.” Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony released an instrumental cover of the song in 1974. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The musicians who played on this Eddie Kendricks dance smash were Ed Greene (drums), James Jamerson (bass), King Errisson (congas), Jerry Peters (organ), Gary Coleman (percussions, vibes), Leonard Caston (piano, clavinet) and Dean Parks (guitar). The song was produced and arranged by Frank Wilson and Leonard Caston. </span></span></div><p></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cQoSXjqZtXY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Extended album version of "Boogie Down"</div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nD-f8BxgqPI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Eddie Kendricks performing "Boogie Down" live</div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/35HaxyXWCDE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://https://amzn.to/44cl8YBamzn.to/44cl8YB">"Boogie Down" at Amazon</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344131013143131725.post-84919303484372971002023-06-29T18:47:00.003-07:002023-07-03T00:46:28.230-07:00“Do What You Wanna Do” by T-Connection<p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd3iKvT2_jDQktL74lNlUmWTuZ0yWMmBZLo95LrtbBLN2__Zf0xSW7wxxMaDTGeK4lREGfHRFydlqo1mdIB1Tav8M0vOe5XT2vJcwPPNLmY9r8TWJPowTSAaOxF0SN63XY0lYfgIazBq0i9Cd3EiTXHaaB1vDTYLi__oWU8sia8pKoA9MkMiSAbwta6hJ/s497/TConnect79.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="497" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd3iKvT2_jDQktL74lNlUmWTuZ0yWMmBZLo95LrtbBLN2__Zf0xSW7wxxMaDTGeK4lREGfHRFydlqo1mdIB1Tav8M0vOe5XT2vJcwPPNLmY9r8TWJPowTSAaOxF0SN63XY0lYfgIazBq0i9Cd3EiTXHaaB1vDTYLi__oWU8sia8pKoA9MkMiSAbwta6hJ/w400-h216/TConnect79.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This high-powered funk/disco jam packed dance floors throughout the U.S. and the U.K. back in 1977. It’s masterfully arranged, featuring a scorching beat, crackling keyboards and some wicked bass. The track is further bolstered by an electrifying synthesizer solo and a roof-raising percussion breakdown. <span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Do What You Wanna Do” is about doing your own thing and not allowing others to dictate how you should live your life. Its message is that you’ve only got one life, so you might as well live it the way you want and do the things that make you happy, as long as you’re not hurting or negatively affecting others. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Do What You Wanna Do” is Bahamian funk/disco outfit T-Connection’s biggest hit. It topped Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart and peaked at #15 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart. And it climbed to #46 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart and reached #11 on the U.K. singles chart. Written by bandleader </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Theophilus Coakley, “Do What You Wanna Do” was a single from T-Connection’s debut album</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Magic</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, released in 1977 on Dash Records, a subsidiary of T.K. Records.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Do What You Wanna Do” has been sampled on 17 songs, per WhoSampled.com. Additionally, it was featured in a scene from the HBO series </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Deuce</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (season 2, episode 2, 2018). And it’s included on the soundtrack for the British comedy slasher film </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Prevenge</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (2016).</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The full band lineup for </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Magic</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> was Theophilus Coakley (keyboards, lead vocals), Kirkwood “Kurt” Coakley (bass, background vocals), Berkley Van Byrd (drums, background vocals), Monty Brown (guitar, background vocals) and Anthony “Monks” Flowers (percussion, background vocals).</span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dyZdLtcw388" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>T-Connection performing "Do What You Wanna Do" live in 1977</div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/asQrtIHwBmw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3CSHum3">"Do What You Wanna Do" available at Amazon</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://funkatropolis.blogspot.com/2012/07/everything-is-cool-by-t-connection.html">Related blog entry: Everything Is Cool by T-Connection</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0