Review

Technorati tags: 7 Top Soulful Picks for Classic R&B 2007

Monday, November 19, 2007

J.B. Sings White Christmas for You

How many guys can claim that they’ve recorded the first Irving Berlin Music Company approved rendition of “White Christmas” since 1954.

J.B., pictured here, claims this honor.

Berlin wrote this song in 1942.  With over 500 versions out there, what does this Savannah, Georgia native, J.B., now living in Atlanta, bring to “White Christmas?"

Listen to the first 1 minute 47 seconds of the track, and find out.

J.B.’s “White Christmas” is smooth.  Do you hear just a little touch of Freddie Jackson?

Find out more about J.B. at JbSings.com

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Thursday, November 08, 2007

Darlene Love Shines on It's Christmas of Course 2007

Darlene Love, the famous voice of The Crystals, has released her first Christmas Album.

It’s Christmas Of Course features a welcome blend of contemporary holiday songs from the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Darlene digs right into a variety neo-classics, showing her versatility as a singer.

You won’t find Irving Berlin or Felix Mendelssohn inspired Christmas music on this upbeat release.  Darlene Love is a child of the rock and soul era.  She punches out these multi-genre holiday anthems with allegiance to the rhythmic pop beat.

"We had a rule on this album: no oldies. We wanted to leave the ‘50s and ‘60s behind,” according to Shawn Amos, Vice President of A&R for Shout! Factory, (the record label releasing Love’s It’s Christmas Of Course).

Darlene is an example of how talent and luck can keep one in the game for the long haul.

She’s had her share of hits with The Crystals under the guidance of Phil Spector.  She’s paid her dues singing background vocals for Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, The Mamas and Papas, Dionne Warwick, The Beach Boys, and Cher.

What I like the most about It’s Christmas Of Course is how Darlene Love sings such a wide range of material with authority, refinement, and subtlety.

But then, she’s worked with the best.

I like all of the tracks on It’s Christmas Of Course, however, 4 of my favorites are:

• “Who Took The Merry Out of Christmas”
• “Please Come Home For Christmas”
• “What Christmas Means To Me”
• “Thanks For Christmas”

Here are all of the tracks with a notation about the original artists:

1. “Christmas All Over Again” (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
2. “Who Took The Merry Out of Christmas” (The Staple Singers)
3. “Christmas Wish” (NRBQ)
4. “Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto” (James Brown)
5. “Please Come Home For Christmas” (Charles Brown)
6. “2000 Miles” (The Pretenders)
7. “Christmas Is The Time To Say ‘I Love You’” (Billy Squier)
8. “What Christmas Means To Me” (Stevie Wonder)
9. “Christmas Must Be Tonight” (The Band)
10. “Thanks For Christmas” (XTC)
11. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (John & Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band w/the Harlem Community Choir)
12. “Night Of Peace” (Original Song)

Cissy Houston, the famous mother of Whitney, is a guest vocalist on “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)."

The first track, “Christmas All Over Again,” features a nice retro arrangement bringing to mind some classic Spectoresque girl group gusto.  You know it’s Darlene Love when you hear this one.

Darlene gets gritty on “Who Took The Merry Out of Christmas,” and “Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto.” She’s got a lot of soul in her powerful voice.

Whatever your musical taste, these 12 songs offer a fresh and enjoyable take on a cross-section of neo-classic holiday favorites.

Even though this is Darlene’s first solo Christmas album, she recorded “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” for Phil Spector’s Christmas album in 1963.

Love has performed the song for the past 20 years on David Letterman’s Late Show television broadcast.  Dave says that the performance is his favorite thing about Christmas.

What else has Darlene been doing in recent years? Just Lighting up Broadway with her performances in… 1) “Grease,” 2) the Tony-Award nominated “Leader of the Pack,” and 3) her current 2-year run as Motormouth Maybelle in the Tony-Award winning “Hairspray."

Darlene Love will appear at the Lincoln Center in New York City on December 17, 2007 for her annual Christmas Concert performance.

She’ll also appear on The David Letterman Show for the 22nd consecutive year on December 24, 2007.

Technorati tags: Darlene Love It’s Christmas Of Course 2007

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Arrested Development Delivers New Music

Atlanta, Georgia’s Arrested Development is back.

Pictured is their 1992 release, 3 Years, 5 months and 2 Days in the Life Of...

Bookdiva D reviews Arrested Development’s new 2007 CD, Since the Last Time.

Technorati tags: Arrested Development Since the Last Time

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Retro-Soul makes a Mighty Comeback

Retro-soul has made a mighty comeback.

New generations of inspired singers are latching onto musical arrangements from the old school.

These artists make no apologies for belting out classic soul vocals wrapped around horns, organs, and bluesy keyboards.

This is what separates them from neo-soul troopers Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, and others.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings have released a new 2007 CD that sounds like a time warp from 1967.  Sharon and The Dap-Kings have a cult following, and it’s easy to see why.

She packs a punch delivering sounds reminiscent of Aretha, Gladys Knight, and Etta James.

James Hunter is the real deal.  His 2006 release People Gonna Talk blends a fusion of reggae, soul, and blues.

Britian’s Hunter has a lot of authenticity in his music.

When you dig deep into his song catalogue, you realize that his love of classic soul is legitimate.

The Dynamites are slightly over the top in lead singer Charles Walker’s penchant for James Brown licks.

This Nashville based band drives heavy and hard, as if they were the Stax rhythm section on speed.

Even though I think James Hunter is a lot better, The Dynamites offer a nice recipe for some relentless R&B that pounds along using a commanding rhythm section.

For my money, Charles Walker sounds more like David Clayton Thomas, (of Blood Sweat & Tears), Huey Lewis, or Wayne Cochran of Wayne Cochran & the C.C. Riders, rather than James Brown – the big influence on The Dynamites.

(A big shout-out to you if you remember Wayne Cochran & the C.C. Riders!)

Last but not least, another Brit, 20 year old Joss Stone is in the house.

When her debut record came out in 2003, I couldn’t believe I was listening to a 16-year-old.  Joss Stone has an original sound mimicking no one, although she does have the blood of Janis Joplin running through her veins!

Stone’s voice caught my immediate attention as her song played through store speakers at a Tower Records outlet I was visiting.

We’ll see how her career develops.

On a side note, it’s interesting how reviewers generally place these artists in the wrong musical categories.  But then, in the modern music business, it’s all about the marketing.

Don’t miss our 2 minute 59 second playlist featuring all four of these retro-soul sensations.

Technorati tags: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings James Hunter The Dynamites Joss Stone

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Patti LaBelle's Christmas 2007

Patti LaBelle’s Miss Patti’s Christmas is a pleasant surprise, but it shouldn’t be.

The vocal chops of Miss Patti are never in question, but the fear that this would be another typical Christmas song collection was.

Fear not!  Miss Patti’s Christmas is an unusually surprising good mix of both the secular and sacred.

Dynamic duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, who’ve had a great 2007 with plenty of work, guide this project as the executive producers.

Clearly, there was a careful process to select just the right mix of songs for Miss Patti’s Christmas.  The contemporary songs are great, the traditional songs are wonderful, and the 2 gospel songs sparkle with praise.

You won’t find all of the usual suspects on Miss Patti’s Christmas.

She imprints her legendary personality on traditional holiday favorites: “It’s the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year,” “Do You Hear What I Hear,” and “Away In The Manger."

We get a different arrangement and a slightly faster tempo on “Away In The Manger,” a Christmas song Patti has previously recorded at a slower tempo.

"What Do The Lonely Do at Christmas,” made famous by The Emotions, gets a nice update by LaBelle.

It’s hard to imagine a version of Luther Vandross’ “Every Year, Every Christmas” as good as the original, but once again, LaBelle rises to the occasion.  This is one of the best tracks on the collection.

You’ll like the contemporary “Christmas Jam,” a rhythmic rouser that opens the album.

As a package, there’s a good balance between uptempo and slower selections.  Her voice is right in the pocket on the following 10 tracks...

1. “Christmas Jam”
2. “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”
3. “What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas”
4. “Holiday’s Mean More To Me”
5. “It’s Going To Be A Merry Christmas”
6. “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
7. “Nativity”
8. “Jesus, Oh What A Wonderful Child” featuring The Soul Seekers
9. “Every Year, Every Christmas”
10. “Away In A Manger”

Deck the Halls!  Miss Patti’s Christmas is excellent, and highly recommended.

Technorati tags: Patti LaBelle Miss Patti’s Christmas

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Chaka Khan Funks Up Her New Release

Chaka Khan dedicates her new CD, Funk This, to her grandma, and to her recording industry mentors Arif Mardin and Ahmet Ertegun.

She digs deep into her soul to project some sonic emotion through an adventurous collection of songs, all produced by the crafty song-hook magicians Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.

Chaka pulls you in and commands your attention with her magnetic voice, but the subtleties of her mastery of different genres reveals the cadence of a song styling surgeon who knows what she is doing.

When called for, her trademark powerful pipes still pump up the vocal volume.

Overall, Funk This takes risks with material that you might not expect on a Chaka Khan record.

Most of the songs are uptempo, and they don’t all fit into the classic definition of “funk."

The track that will sell the album, (or downloads), is “Disrespectful,” a soul shoutin’ hootenanny with the mesmerizing Mary J. Blige as Chaka’s duet partner.  This is the best cut on the collection.

Guitarist Tony Maiden of Rufus & Chaka Khan fame contributes to a couple of tracks, including the opening cut “Back In The Day,” and a medley: “Pack’d My Bags/You Got The Love."

Do we really need a rehash of “You Got The Love?” It seems to appear out of nowhere as “Pack’d My Bags” fades.  The synthesizer arrangement on this version of “You Got The Love” lacks the horn overlay of the original, but it is true in tone to the way the song was sung the first time around, and Chaka punches it out.

"Back In The Day” has that ‘Rufus rhythm’ old school fans should enjoy.  Track 2, “Foolish Fool,” reminds me more of Macy Gray than Chaka Khan, despite the voice differences.  In “Foolish Fool,” guitars dominate and drive the track with Chaka in control.

"Castles Made Of Sand,” from the Jimi Hendrix songbook, parallels the original song.  Chaka does not jump into uncharted “funk” on this one.  You are listening to a mostly mellow mid-tempo rock classic.

I never really liked Prince’s “Sign of the Times” because it’s much too depressing.  Chaka Khan’s version builds on Prince’s arrangement but just can’t rescue me from the morose.

Michael McDonald stops by for a remake of the Carly Simon classic, “You Belong To Me.” To my ear, this new duet with Chaka sounds overproduced.

More successful is “Ladies Man,” a Joni Mitchell song which lends itself to Chaka’s careful reading of the lyric while fusing elements of jazz into the pulse of the song.

"Super Life,” an uptempo anthem about carrying the flag forward in the memory of those who have lost their lives (through genocide) is a great cut that features Chaka Khan radiating the energy of “I Feel For You."

Funk This is a misleading title for this CD.  Yes, it’s a departure from the jazz of her 2004 Classikahn, but Funk This is much more of an expansion into a broader array of music.

There are several hits here.  Chaka expands her scope yet again.  Ms. Khan has also co-written 7 of the 13 songs.

Producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis show some restraint and don’t get in the way.  What they do is guide the project with creative resourcefulness, showcasing the unique manifestations of this daring diva: Chaka Khan.

1. “Back In The Day”
2. “Foolish Fool”
3. “One For All Time”
4. “Angel”
5. “Will You Love Me?”
6. “Castles Made Of Sand”
7. “Disrespectful” featuring Mary J. Blige
8. “Sign ‘O’ The Times”
9. “Pack’d My Bags/You Got The Love” featuring Tony Maiden
10. “Ladies’ Man”
11. “You Belong To Me” featuring Michael McDonald
12. “Hail To The Wrong”
13. “Super Life”

Technorati tags: Chaka Khan Funk This

Here’s a bonus Chaka Khan treat from the past...

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Millie Jackson & Isaac Hayes Exposed

What are Millie Jackson & Isaac Hayes so happy about in this photo?

The pair are celebrating during a photo shoot from their 1979 album Royal Rappin’s, a much overlooked release featuring:

1. “Sweet Music, Soft Lights, And You”
2. “Feels Like The First Time”
3. “You Never Crossed My Mind”
4. “Love Changes”
5. “I Changed My Mind”
6. “Do You Wanna Make Love”
7. “If I Had My Way”
8. “If You Had Your Way”
9. “You Needed Me”

Although not a chart topper, the album was a unique collaboration between Jackson, and Hayes, two gritty R&B entertainers who extended their reputations as flirtatiously naughty sex symbols.

As for the music, the songs are thoroughly enjoyable, rolling through some smooth and entertaining tongue and cheek adlibs between Millie and Isaac on both slow and medium tempo tracks.

Favorite songs: the uptempo “Do You Wanna Make Love,” and the old Anne Murray hit ballad, “You Needed Me."

Royal Rappin’s is a regal effort from a noble king and a majestic queen of soul: Millie Jackson & Isaac Hayes.

Technorati tags: Millie Jackson & Isaac Hayes Royal Rappin’s

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Chris Jasper's Journey from The Isley Brothers to Invincible

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chris Jasper was an important member of the expanded Isley Brothers.

Chris, along with Marvin and Ernie Isley, joined original members Ronald, Rudolph, and O’Kelly Isley in 1973.

After 13 years with the Isley Brothers, Chris, Marvin, and Ernie formed Isley/Jasper/Isley in 1984, delivering the number one 1985 hit, “Caravan of Love,” featuring Chris on lead vocal.

After moving on from Isley/Jasper/Isley in 1988, Chris formed the independent label Gold City Records.

While with Gold City Records, Chris Jasper has performed and written music for other artists.

Invincible, is his new 2007 release, featuring these tracks:

1. “Invincible”
2. “Keep Reaching Higher”
3. “I Know That You Love Me”
4. “Without Love”
5. “Let God’s Will Be Done”
6. “Thank You Lord”
7. “A New Life In Christ”
8. “He’s The Judge”
9. “Do You Believe”
10. “Come On and Testify”

Invincible is very much a producer project.  Jasper writes, produces, and performs all of the tracks.  He sings lead and background vocals.

Each original song is based on a particular scripture from the Bible, (listed in the CD credits).

Jasper projects a clear, inspirational, positive message, skillfully weaving divine themes into these 10 “songs of praise."

Chris doesn’t deviate from the melodic rhythms of his past success.  This CD presents familiar Isley styled instrumentation that should easily appeal to progressive R&B fans.

When an artist conceives and implements an entire project by themselves, there’s a danger that the final result becomes an expression of perceived perfection.  One point of view controls every aspect of the creative process.

There’s a formula to how the lyrics are integrated into these songs, and the lyrics are the focus.  I suppose I was expecting more musical virtuosity highlighting Jaspers’ skill as a musician with more instrumental soloing.

I wonder if the spiritual message of some of these poetic praises might have been better presented in a more traditional way with more gospel, and less R&B.  However, it’s clear that the aim of this release is to appeal to both R&B and sacred fans, and C.J.’s goal for the most part has been accomplished.

I found Jasper at his best on “Without Love,” and “A New Life in Christ.” Vocally, “Without Love” recalls the classic harmonies of The Impressions with Curtis Mayfield.

Compared to the first 7 songs, the last 3 tracks, “He’s The Judge,” “Do You Believe,” and “Come On and Testify” embrace the Isley/Jasper/Isley-Isley Brothers style more openly with slightly more funk to the bottom beat.

"Come On and Testify” has a nice guitar riff that hints respectfully to “Move On Up,” the solo track by Curtis Mayfield.

Tailor-made for the lovers of inspirational music, Invincible may attract an expanded base of R&B lovers too, as Chris Jasper has fused a sound he pioneered together with the reverent message of God on this accessible release.

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Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Thelma Houston Celebrates Her New CD: A Woman's Touch

Scheduled for a Tuesday, August 14, 2007 release, Thelma Houston is back with her first album in 17 years: A Woman’s Touch

Every song is a winner.  There’s not a weak track.

She’s put together a great collection of songs based upon her favorite melodies from some gallant hit making gentlemen you know.

In the tradition of Lou Rawls, Isaac Hayes, and Barry White, Thelma launches a few selections with a quick monologue talking directly to us about her personal observations.  It’s a nice touch serving to reinforce the themes of the songs.

She calls these brief introductions “preludes.” Peitor Angell has contributed to writing three of them, while Thelma has co-written one.

The “Don’t Leave Me This Way” diva sounds as good as ever.  She’s crafted a solid CD, featuring a strong supporting cast of musicians.  Valerie Pinkerton, Myrna Smith, Portia Griffin, Pat Hodges and Denita James are the talented background singers supporting Ms. Houston.  (Hodges & James were formerly of the girl group Hodges, James & Smith).

The CD starts off with a chant to introduce a perky version of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes “Wake Up Everybody."

Luther Vandross’ anthem, “Never Too Much,” is the 2nd track, which really gets my attention.  “Never Too Much” showcases Houston’s strong voice inside of a skillfully crafted, well arranged, dance track.

Here are the songs:

1. “Wake Up Everybody”
2. “Never Too Much”
3. “Brand New Day”
4. “Ain’t That Peculiar”
5. “By The Time I Get To Phoenix”
6. “Distant Lover”
7. “Love and Happiness”
8. “Dance (Disco Heat) / You Make Be Feel (Mighty Real)”
9. “That’s The Way of the World”
10. “Please Send Me Someone To Love”

”Brand New Day” from Sting gets an uptempo bluesy, gospel, revival.  Thelma testifies with a touch of praise.  Terrific.

You may not recognize Smokey Robinson’s “Ain’t That Peculiar” at first listen.  The Marvin Gaye hit has been turned into a compelling torch song with some big band embellishments.

Thelma captures an enjoyable reading of “By the Time I Get To Phoenix,” songwriter Jim Webb’s classic, a hit for both Isaac Hayes and Glen Campbell.

Marvin Gaye’s “Distant Lover” is produced with a real retro 1950’s – 1960’s feel.  This one is also tastefully done.

Al Green’s original phrasing on “Love and Happiness” is quite unique.  Thelma Houston throws her soul into this one too, and the results are very satisfying.

The Sylvester hits “Disco Heat” and “You Make Me Feel Mighty Real” get real clever arrangements, freshening up these songs, driven along by Houston’s powerful and clear voice.

”That’s The Way of the World” keeps the Earth, Wind, & Fire spirit alive as Thelma captures the fulfilling essence of this song.

She throws her soul into Percy Mayfield’s “Please Send Me Someone To Love,” closing out the CD with a nice bluesy vamp.

A Woman’s Touch by Thelma Houston offers powerful classic soul favorites, sung with inspiration, creativity, and energy.

She’s having fun, and you can hear it.  Her band is excellent too.  Technically, the CD is well produced and mixed, with Thelma’s voice positioned just right so you can clearly hear and appreciate all of the words.

Thelma Houston’s biography has more about her Grammy winning history.

A link to the official Thelma Houston website, (also leading to her MySpace site), can be found in the Powerhouse Radio R&B Music Artists Official Website Directory.

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