Review

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Brian McKnight Comes Home for Christmas

Brian McKnight fans, Rejoice! B.M. has just released his 2008 holiday chestnut, I’ll Be Home For Christmas, his 11th album.

Brian cheerfully reports at BrianMcKnight.com that “Christmas has always held a very special place in my life and my heart."

"When it arrives, it brings with it memories of the past and the promise of a future of memories with friends and family all over the world."

5 of the 12 tracks on I’ll Be Home For Christmas feature duets with Vince Gill, Josh Groban, Nikolas McKnight, Noel Schajris, and Take 6.

"The Christmas Song” kicks of the collection. McKnight gives the spunky arrangement his best - keeping the vocal range in his trademark higher register.

When it comes to inflecting passion into his actual singing sound, McKnight has always been a vocalist who shines in the understatement. You won’t mistake his articulated sonic discipline to the flashy nature of a Luther Vandross or Marvin Gaye.

McKnight has built a solid following over the years. He now slots himself into mature R&B territory that young guns Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Akon, and Usher can’t quite occupy yet.

As for the other tracks on this new release, cut 2 “Silver Bells” chimes to McKnight’s clear, measured resonance.

In a departure, “Christmas You and Me” teams Brian with Vince Gill. This track, grounded in R&B, has contemporary country music overtones, and succeeds nicely in the way Lionel Richie’s 1986 “Deep River Woman” duet with Alabama did.

"Let It Snow,” also featuring Nikolas McKnight, is bright, frothy, and bubbly with an ample supply of strings to delight the light hearted.

"It’s the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” packs a powerful jazzy punch. It’s the best uptempo track of the collection.

Overall, the mood is mellow on the I’ll Be Home For Christmas album. The CD has a ‘quiet storm’ tone, with enough energy in the uptempo songs to provide good balance.

Piano builds the foundation of the classy instrumentation. These songs are well arranged.

Even if you are not a Brian McKnight fan, you probably will be pleased with this charming Christmas CD.

Spread the news: “Brian McKnight Comes Home for Christmas!"

I’ll Be Home For Christmas:

“The Christmas Song”
“Silver Bells”
“Let It Snow” (featuring Nikolas McKnight & Brian McKnight Jr.)
“Christmas You And Me” (featuring Vince Gill)
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
“Silent Night"(featuring Noel Schajris)
“It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”
“Adeste Fideles”
“Who Would Have Thought”
“Angels We Have Heard On High” (featuring Josh Groban)
“Christmas Medley”
“Bless This House” (featuring Take 6)

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Posted by King on 11/20 at 06:30 PM
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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Miriam Makeba's Global Crusade for Justice

South Africa’s musical giant, Miriam Makeba, passed away Monday, November 10, 2008, at the age of 76.

This vinyl album, Makeba!, Reprise 6310, is a USA import released in 1967 and was issued in either South Africa, or Venezuela.

Miriam was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her anti-apartheid activism will share equal billing with her musical legacy.

The singer appeared at the United Nations in 1963 to condemn apartheid and it’s evil of racial separation.

She spent 30 years in exile after her passport was revoked by the South African government.

Her biggest hit was 1967’s “Pata Pata.” Miriam is one of the artists credited with creating the genre called ‘world music.’

She’s one of the biggest names to emerge out of South Africa.

I’ve included this second shot from the back cover of Makeba!

The 11 tracks are listed, along with some very comprehensive liner notes written by A.B. Spellman (included on the back cover).

Here are A.B. Spellman’s complete comments...

"Unlike most of our African brothers, South Africans living in the United States usually merge immediately with the Afro-American community.

It is because we are the same men, have been similarly uprooted and dominated by European technological society, our ancestors reburied and our gods raped. and now we fight the same war.

It is no accident, then, that we love each other’s music. The brilliant South African poet Keorapetse Kgositsi le wrote: John Coltrane, John Coltrane, tell the ancestors We listened, we heard your message Tell them you gave us tracks to move, Trane, and now we know The choice is ours...

I am told a new Miles Davis record that reaches Johannesburg or Capetown is treated like a rarer-than-diamonds jewel. I also know that there is a great body of South African music that never reaches us here in the States.

But we have a small but growing colony of South African musicians who do very well among us.

The leading flame of that colony is, of course, Miriam Makeba, easily one of the world’s premier singers.

But we should never forget, even when digging a record as exquisitely truthful as this one, that the tradition runs from Makeba and Letta Mbulu to the Dark City Sisters and from Hugh Masekela to Dollar Brand; that there have been innumerable geniuses in the genre who never escaped Johannesburg.

Certainly, sister Makeba has this aura of beauty around her entire persona, and that is not a learned thing.

It is not merely that she has a beautiful voice, looks good and has a sweet personality - there are innumerable soft brown birds who get that together- but that Makeba has an added quality to her presentation, a touch that gets inside us and makes us stronger.

It may be several things. It may be that she was the first to make the South African-Afro-American synthesis and therefore has a greater element of originality in her work; it may be only that she is especially gifted (at the time the film which launched her, Come Back Africa, was made, she was already the brightest young star in South Africa).

But it seems to me that there is another element to Miriam’s singing style and feminine persona that makes us react more deeply to her singing than we would to most.

It is that the sister is what she sings, and what she sings is never trite. She is the soft, resilient fiber of nature as woman. She carries the image of African womanhood, the gentle assegai that lets us know we are warriors.

When she sings of the white-blown evil windspirit (Umoya) that cuts into the inner landscape of her people, she is the counterbreath of liberation that, quiet as it’s kept, is blowing in South Africa today.

The song is a spirit rhythm that rises in your chest and carries you out to action. My brother Steve Mncube tells me that the song floats on several levels of double entendre.

This is a defense mechanism that has been creeping into the Bantu languages since the defeat of Cetshwayo in the Zulu War of 1879.

Steve explained to me the word iliwizwe, integral in the proverb from which this song was made. It is more than land, more than soil, more than the earth that no man can possess.

It existed even before the earliest ancestors; and children, as the ongoing fruits of nature, own it more than the man who farms it.

Then this fixed ownership concept is itself an evil Moya (Spirit-wind) of European origin, and must be destroyed.

Miriam Makeba prods her menfolk gently in Magwala Ndini and Singa Madoda, both traditional men’s songs, and strengthens the warrior in us. Steve says the kind of man the word Madoda describes practically sleeps with his weapons, that he would fight bullets with an assegai.

Yes, says the sister’s versions of Magwala and Madoda, you are the men and must carry the man’s weight, but if you don’t carry it correctly, and bravely, there’ll be a lot of answering to do when you get home in the evenings.

The range of material, ideas, and vocal treatment in this record is incredible, yet it is integrated. With one rhythm Miriam pushes the recreant to be more manly, with another she invokes the Xhosa clairvoyant (U-mngoma) or calls the farmers to prepare next year’s harvest in the face of this year’s famine (Asilimanga).

In Iphi Ndilela her voice rises bravely above a lachrimose chorus to say goodbye to her homeland, friends, and family as she goes far, far away across many mountains and rivers, to find another life.

Then in Sibongile, dedicated to President Sekou Toure of Guinea, she thanks President Toure for making her an honorary citizen and, implicitly, for giving aid and assistance to South African Freedom Fighters.

There is much, much more to this deep and subtle record. I am tempted to call this her best record, but Miriam Makeba is so consistently good that there is no point in trying to decide which is best.

I will say that this is by far the most African of her recent releases. Here she is working in a purely African environment, and all the elements of her style are brilliantly focused. “Black is Beautiful” goes a current slogan, and Miriam Makeba is beautifully black."

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Posted by King on 11/11 at 12:00 AM
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Thursday, November 06, 2008

Al Jarreau's Christmas 2008

The term “song stylist” get tossed around a lot. Al Jarreau is one singer who has earned the tag.

Jarreau’s distinctive voice and phrasing style puts him in unique company among the fraternity of balladeers.

Al’s Christmas is a charming collection of holiday favorites.

"Winter Wonderland” kicks off the yuletide mix bouncing along with a soulful beat to Mr. Jarreau’s lilting inflections.

"Hark The Herald Angels Sing” gets a respectful contemporary reading embellished with nice classical touches.

If you like your Al Jarreau contemplative and melodramatic, “White Christmas” delivers in this style.

The 2 tracks featuring the group Take 6 showcase the pure magic of traditional vocal harmony.

Jarreau touches various styles from jazz to R&B to pop in this, his first holiday collection.

Some of the arrangements remind you of similar approaches other artists have taken sculpting these familiar melodies. However, the power of Jarreau prevails giving these songs a vibrant Mr. J personality.

Two thumbs up for Al Jarreau Christmas:

“Winter Wonderland”
“Hark The Herald Angels Sing”
“White Christmas”
“Interlude: By My Christmas Tree”
“Carol Of The Bells”
“O Come All Ye Faithful”
“The Christmas Song, (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) - (featuring Take 6)
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas - (featuring Take 6)”
“Gloria In Excelsis”
“Christmas Time Is Here”
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
“Some Children See Him”
“The Little Christmas Tree
“Angels Singing...” untitled bonus

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Posted by King on 11/06 at 07:00 AM
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Thursday, October 16, 2008

Tina Turner Time

As Tina Turner chugs along with her 2008 world tour, she’s dropped another greatest hits collection into the music pipeline.

Tina! was released on September 30th.

Tours sell archives, so having some “fresh” material in the marketplace generates sales.

You’ll find many of these songs on other “best of Ike & Tina Turner” anthologies. A nice exception is the inclusion of 3 powerful live tracks that brighten the compilation.

As for the studio recordings, “Proud Mary” is a newer somewhat sedate 1993 version without the presence of Ike. “Nutbush City Limits,” updated in the 1990’s with a dance floor groove, uses the classic 1973 Ike Turner guitar hero mix.

The magnificent “Private Dancer” appears in a short 4 minute version, rather than the 7 minute original from 1984.

Two hit movie themes add some depth: 1985’s “We Don’t Need Another Hero” from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, and Tina’s 1995 James Bond theme “Goldeneye."

A couple of brand new songs, “It Would Be A Crime” and “I’m Ready” round out the CD as the final two tracks. “It Would Be A Crime” is the stronger of the two.

Tina!

“Steamy Windows”
“River Deep-Mountain High”
“Better Be Good To Me”
“The Acid Queen”
“What You Get is What You See”
“What’s Love Got To Do With It”
“Private Dancer”
“We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)”
“I Don’t Wanna Fight”
“Goldeneye”
“Let’s Stay Together” (Live In Amsterdam)
“I Can’t Stand the Rain” (Live In Amsterdam)
“Addicted To Love” (Live At Camden Palace)
“The Best”
“Proud Mary”
“Nutbush City Limits”
“It Would Be a Crime” (Bonus track previously unreleased)
“I’m Ready” (Bonus track previously unreleased)

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Posted by King on 10/16 at 12:00 AM
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Tuesday, October 07, 2008

George Clinton & his Gangsters of Love

In September, 2008, P-Funk fans received a new taste of “The Mothership Connection” in the guise of George Clinton and his Gangsters of Love.

In full disclosure, I’m a big fan of the original Parliament-Funkadelic recordings. I have a combined mix of at least 9 of their very early individual vinyl albums.

Somehow, the novelty of funkmaster George Clinton, the “One Nation Under A Groove” guy, recording a new CD of love songs seems out of character with his “Dr. Funkenstein” persona.

Fear not. Clinton doesn’t exactly create a Ronald Isley styled collection of standard chestnuts.

Helped by a supporting cast, the tunes stay interesting. Lending their credibility are Carlos Santana, Sly Stone, El DeBarge, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and legendary Philadelphia producer/engineer Bobby Eli.

Still, it’s hard to take some of these covers seriously, but then, the original appeal of P-Funk mania was Clinton’s zeal for fun and unpredictability.

So get ready for several unconventional interpretations of Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Ruby & The Romantics, The Four Tops, and others.

Either George Clinton and his Gangsters of Love CD is genius, or the joke’s on us.

“Ain’t That Peculiar"- (featuring El DeBarge/Sly Stone/The P-Funk All-Stars)
“Never Gonna Give You Up” - (featuring El DeBarge)
“Mathematics Of Love” - (featuring Kim Burrell)
“Let The Good Times Roll” - (featuring Kim Manning/Red Hot Chili Peppers)
“Pledging My Love”
“Gypsy Woman” - (featuring El DeBarge/Carlos Santana)
“It’s All In The Game” - (featuring Belita Woods)
“Heart Trouble” - (featuring Paul Hill)
“Our Day Will Come” - (featuring Kendra Foster)
“Sway” - (featuring Belita Woods)
“A Thousand Miles Away”
Hidden Track 1
Hidden Track 2
Hidden Track 3
Hidden Track 4

Those 4 hidden tracks feature collaborations with some folks who I guess didn’t want their names plastered on the CD jewel case.

Hidden Track 1, borrowing portions of the melody from “I’ll be Good To You” by the Brothers Johnson, features a lively rap from guess who?

The final 3 hidden tracks sound like outtakes to pad the CD.

Listen to 1 minute & 12 seconds of Barry White’s “Never Gonna Give You Up,” featuring George Clinton and El DeBarge.

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Posted by King on 10/07 at 12:00 AM
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Thursday, October 02, 2008

Aretha Returns with This Christmas 2008

Aretha Franklin has recorded several Christmas songs throughout her career, but never a complete holiday album, until now.

On Tuesday, October 14, 2008, This Christmas Aretha is scheduled to be released.

The album is a joy. Aretha’s magic is her unique ability to stamp her vocal personality on this material with trademark nuances of gospel, blues, and straight ahead soul.

Every cut is a pleasure to listen to. It’s hard to choose a favorite. This Christmas Aretha weaves a tone of tradition tying together the varied selections. The songs are a vibrant showcase for a style that only Ms. Franklin can serve up.

Her pipes are still peppy with precision. Though she can’t command some of the silky tonality of her younger years, there’s no doubt that Aretha’s voice still has plenty of pop to dominate these excellent arrangements.

Aretha Franklin fans, old and new, will love This Christmas Aretha:

“Angels We Have Heard On High”
“This Christmas”
“My Grown-Up Christmas List”
“The Lord Will Make A Way”
“Silent Night”
“Ave Maria”
“Christmas Ain’t Christmas (Without The One You Love)”
“Angels”
“One Night with The King”
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
“T’was The Night Before Christmas”

Here’s Ms. Franklin signing copies of the This Christmas Aretha CD ‘booklet insert’ at Borders in Washington, DC (Monday, October 20, 2008) for hundreds of adoring fans.

Listen to 30 seconds of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by the Queen of Soul, Aretha.

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Posted by King on 10/02 at 12:00 AM
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Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia

Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia, is the most ambitious CD collection to date chronicling the amazing classic soul journey of R&B music innovators Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff.

71 songs are featured on the new 4 disk set, due for release at physical and digital retail outlets on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, via a partnership between Legacy Recordings and Philadelphia International Records.

How is this anthology different from The Sound of Philadelphia: Gamble & Huff’s Greatest Hits or Conquer the World: The Lost Soul of Philadelphia International Records, both released earlier this year?

33% of the tracks on this new record were never released on Philadelphia International Records! However, either Gamble & Huff, or their creative musical collaborators, are responsible for prominently injecting the Philly sound into the production of these expatriate non-P-I-R tracks.

CD 1

“Expressway (To Your Heart)” Soul Survivors
“La-La Means I Love You” Delfonics
“Cowboys To Girls” Intruders
“Hey, Western Union Man” Jerry Butler
“Ready Or Not Here I Come” Delfonics
“Only The Strong Survive” Jerry Butler
“Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” Delfonics
“Brand New Me” Dusty Springfield
“Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You” Wilson Pickett
“You’re The Reason Why” Ebonys
“Drowning In The Sea of Love” Joe Simon
“I’m Stone In Love With You” Stylistics
“I Miss You” Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
“Back Stabbers” O’Jays
“Sunshine” O’Jays
“I’ll Be Around” Spinners
“Slow Motion (pt. 1)” Johnny Williams
“Me & Mrs. Jones” Billy Paul
“If You Don’t Know Me By Now” Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
“Love Is Here” Futures

CD 2

“Love Train” O’Jays
“Break Up To Make Up” Stylistics
“Family Affair” MFSB
“It’s Forever” Ebonys
“Time To Get Down” O’Jays
“There’s No Me Without You” Manhattans
“I’ll Always Love My Mama” Intruders
“The Love I Lost” Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
“I Wanna Know Your Name” Intruders
“Dirty Ol’ Man” Three Degrees
“Put Your Hands Together” O’Jays
“Thanks For Saving My Life” Billy Paul
“Mighty Love” Spinners
“Be Thankful For What You Got (Pt. 1)” William DeVaughn
“For The Love Of Money” O’Jays
“Where Do We Go From Here” Trammps
“T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)” MFSB (featuring the Three Degrees)

CD 3

“Then Came You” Spinners with Dionne Warwick
“Love Is The Message” MFSB (featuring the Three Degrees)
“When Will I See You Again” Three Degrees
“Where Are All My Friends” Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
“Picture Us” Bunny Sigler
“Bad Luck” Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
“Give The People What They Want” O’Jays
“Billy’s Back Home” Billy Paul
“Hope That We Can Be Together Soon” Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (featuring Sharon Paige)
“Do It Any Way You Wanna” People’s Choice
“The Big Hurt” People’s Choice
“Let Me Make Love To You” O’Jays
“Wake Up Everybody” Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
“I Love Music” O’Jays
“Don’t Leave Me This Way” Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
“Let’s Groove” Archie Bell & The Drells
“Livin’ For The Weekend” O’Jays

CD 4

“Kiss and Say Goodbye” Manhattans
“I’m Not In Love” Dee Dee Sharp
“You’ll Never Find Another Love” Lou Rawls
“The Rubberband Man” Spinners
“Enjoy Yourself” Jacksons
“Free Love” Jean Carn
“I Don’t Love You Anymore” Teddy Pendergrass
“See You When I Get There” Lou Rawls
“Use Ta Be My Girl” O’Jays
“Close The Door” Teddy Pendergrass
“Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” McFadden & Whitehead
“You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else” Jones Girls
“Hurry Up This Way Again” Stylistics
“Love T.K.O.” Teddy Pendergrass
“I Ain’t Jivin’, I’m Jammin’” Leon Huff
“It’s Gonna Take A Miracle” Deniece Williams
“If Only You Knew” Patti LaBelle

Deniece Williams, William DeVaughn, Joe Simon, The Trammps, Dusty Springfield, The Spinners, The Delfonics, The Stylistics, The Manhattans, Jerry Butler, and Wilson Pickett did not record for Philadelphia International Records.

Including these performers does reveal how the Philly production sound touched a broad variety of individual styles. For instance, you’ll see in the video below the album cover featuring the spirited vocalist who went straight from Memphis to Philadelphia to capture some Philly magic.

Most of the tracks on Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia are full-length original album versions. Unlike Philadelphia Classics, the double LP set from 1977 (released on CD in 2002), which featured spectacular extended versions of “Don’t Leave Me This Way, “Love Is The Message,” and others, there are no super extended versions in this 4 CD release.

Instead of the short versions of “Be Thankful for What You Got (pt. 1)” by William DeVaughn, and “Let’s Groove” by Archie Bell & The Drells (only 3 minutes here), I would have included the longer original album versions.

My favorite lost track in this collection is “I’m Not In Love,” Dee Dee Sharp’s sexy cover of the 1975 10CC hit. I used to play Dee Dee’s version on the radio back in the day. Glad it is here, although on my pre-release copy of this box set, Dee Dee Sharp’s name is missing from the performer list on the back CD jacket!

If you treat yourself to this excellent collection, the CD bonuses include:

A booklet with unpublished photos
Philadelphia International Records Timeline
Historical essays by Felix Hernandez, Lynell George, Gerald Early, Joe McEwen, and James Miller
Conversations with Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and producer Thom Bell

This is hot stuff! A one-hour television special, Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia will blast off on PBS in November, 2008 with repeats through 2009.

Enjoy the 1 minute video tribute that I’ve produced and narrated in honor of Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia.

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Posted by King on 09/09 at 12:00 AM
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Friday, April 25, 2008

Janet Jackson Favors Little Discipline over Control

Now that the hype has settled surrounding the release of Janet Jackson’s new collection Discipline, let’s take a closer look at the music.

Heading south on the album charts, Discipline still holds onto a top 30 spot, having peaked the first week out at #1.

The biggest issue I have with Discipline is that Janet Jackson has thrown herself at the mercy of her producers.

Jermaine Dupri is all over the album as the main architect, whipping up Justin Timberlake like grooves on “Feedback."

With “Rollercoaster,” we hear the sample machine cranked up to the max, with screams, grunts, and beats bouncing around Janet’s lyrics for maximum punch.

The problem is that these musical theatrics craft the opposite effect that Janet’s sweet voice projects.

Trying too hard to be cutting Edge, Discipline disappoints.

This album is better than Janet’s last one, but the real Ms. Jackson is still pressing too hard to find her authentic voice.

You can tell a lot just from the CD pictures accompanying Discipline.

Where’s the musical beef?

Here are some other thoughts about Discipline...

The Los Angeles Times: “Discipline tries to service both Tyler Perry-loving moms and their gone-wild progeny, sacrificing Jackson’s own vision in the process."

Dot Music: “Still, if not perfect, there’s plenty to like on Discipline, and while none of it is exactly vintage Janet, there’s enough here to keep the Jackson name on pop’s A-list for a little while longer."

Boston Globe: “Jackson’s decision to recycle the nympho routine one more time is just boring."

Entertainment Weekly: “Despite a couple of promising tracks the music generally befits the absurd lyrics...Dupri, Ne-Yo, Rodney Jerkins, The-Dream, and StarGate often drown out Jackson’s breathy vocals with soulless beats.

PopMatters: “On Discipline, Janet sounds part nympho, part aging diva trying to keep up with her would be replacements. It works on some songs, but fails miserably on most."

Hartford Courant: “When juxtaposed with the album’s bubble-gum bounce, the creepy parts just seem creepier."

Village Voice: “Discipline is the most cohesive deep-groove album from La Jackson since “Control."

I’d say there is overall consensus that Discipline is pretty weak.

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Posted by King on 04/25 at 12:02 AM
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Thursday, February 28, 2008

Buddy Miles Tribute

Drummer Buddy Miles passed away Wednesday, February 27, at the relatively young age of 60.

Caught in the middle between the musical implementation of pure soul and progressive rock, Miles in his heyday never received the credit he deserved as a creative solo artist.

Radio programmers back in the day could never figure out if his music was appropriate to play for their particular audiences.

Buddy Miles was all about fusing soul, blues, pop, and rock into a unique blend of driving hardcore rhythms.

In 1967, Buddy, working his way up the musical ladder, joined “Wicked” Wilson Pickett’s touring band as the drummer. Soon after, guitarist Mike Bloomfield recruited Miles for the seminal horn-funk-blues group, The Electric Flag.

The Buddy Miles Express debuted in 1968 with the album, Expressway to Your Skull. I used the instrumental track “Funky Mule” from that album as my first and only theme song for a few years when I first started out in radio.

Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Miles had quite a few collaborations together, beginning in 1968 - 1969. Hendrix wrote the liner notes on Expressway to Your Skull, and produced “Miss Lady” from the 2nd Miles album Electric Church.

Hendrix also produced the unreleased version of the instrumental “69 Freedom Special,” (that does appear on The Best of Buddy Miles) CD.

Miles continued to experiment as he moved on to Band of Gypsys with Hendrix and bassist Billy Cox. I saw their only Madison Square Garden New York City performance live on January 28, 1970.

Unfortunately, what I remember was not positive, as Miles, Hendrix, and Cox only performed a couple of songs. Hendrix “went on strike” after a couple of songs and stormed off the stage because of some disagreement.

Miles and Hendrix recorded the classic jazz-rock “Rainy Day Dream Away” and “Still Raining Still Dreaming” from Hendrix’s historic double LP Electric Ladyland.

I genuinely enjoyed Buddy’s solo albums, as they always contained several stand out tracks.

The PowerhouseRadio.com music vault contains 7 of his solo vinyl albums, plus A Long Time Comin’ by The Electric Flag.

I suppose I should mention that Buddy Miles was the voice of the California Raisins, an animated cartoon used to promote the raisin industry in the 1970’s.

Miles was a very good singer - as soulful as the best of his day.

In 1994, Buddy Miles reformed the Express and recorded an album for Rykodisc.

I was asked if I wanted to interview Buddy in 2007. Unfortunately, we could not sync-up our schedules, so I ultimately passed. Now I’m sorry I missed the opportunity.

Luckily, I did have the chance many years ago to talk with Buddy Miles live at The Bottom Line club in New York City and record the conversation when I was a student at New York University.

If you are not familiar with Buddy Miles, a great place to start is the CD, The Best of Buddy Miles.

It includes his only bonafide hit, “Them Changes."

Take a listen and sample 2 minutes and 20 seconds of the longer “Funky Mule,” and enjoy the Buddy Miles groove. Check out his relentless percussive persuasion.

Here are my picks for the top 5 songs that showcase Buddy Miles:

“Runaway Child”
“Power of Soul” (Band of Gypsys)
“Rainy Day, Dream Away” & “Still Raining, Still Dreaming” (guest with The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
“69 Freedom Special”
“Take It Off Him and Put It On Me”

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Posted by King on 02/28 at 12:02 AM
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Monday, February 11, 2008

10 Glamorous and Gritty Grammy Highlights

The 50th Annual Grammy Award telecast was a surprising winner.

Great music performances overshadowed the disbursement of awards.

There was so much eye-candy going on during many of the performances that you could mistake the jamming for a Hollywood musical.

In order, here are my 10 Glamorous and Gritty Grammy Highlights:

Beyonce’ & Tina Turner’s tag-team performance of “Proud Mary.”
Rihanna & Morris Day (pictured above) along with the Time delivering a seemingly well-rehearsed showstopper.
Aretha Franklin’s gospel tribute along with a cast of “thousands.”
Kanye West’s acceptance speech for Best Rap Album. He refused to take the hook and get off the stage as he saluted the memory of his late mother.
The “Rhapsody in Blue” jazz/classical tribute to George Gershwin featuring Herbie Hancock.
Alicia Keys singing duet with a digitally recreated Frank Sinatra video. Good tape editing on Frank to pull this off!
Amy Winehouse’s mystical comments live from London for winning Record of the Year for “Rehab.”
George Lopez urging Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama to select “a Mexican” running mate for vice president.
Herbie Hancock winning the Grammy for Album of the Year...River: The Joni Letters. A real surprise.
Mary J. Blige sticking out her rear end (and never facing the camera) while pimping for Chevrolet in the best commercial of the evening.

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Posted by King on 02/11 at 12:02 AM
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Monday, January 14, 2008

Diana Ross Rocks Atlantic City

It was time. I’ve never seen Diana Ross in concert live, so in celebration of another birthday, it was off to The Borgata in Atlantic City to catch Ms. Ross dish out some delicious diva magic to her casino city acolytes on Sunday evening, January 13th, 2008.

In an electrifying red gown, one of four different costume changes during the evening, the Boss opened the show with what else, “I’m Coming Out."

Next, it was sing-a-long time with 3 Supremes numbers:

“My World Is Empty Without You Babe”
“Baby Love”
“Stop In The Name of Love”

Diana mixed the old and new quite well. The sold out crowd thoroughly enjoyed the vintage Supremes songs.

Ms. Ross sounded terrific. She seemed well rested with energy to spare.

Following the Supremes medley, Diana eased into “Touch Me In The Morning,” “Love Hangover,” “The Boss,” and “It’s My House,” rekindling the cachet of her solo hit catalogue.

Supremes chestnut “Love Child” grabbed the crowd next, before Ms. Ross sang the passionate ballad, “What About Love,” a new track from her 2007 album, I Love You. This was one of the few tracks most people in the audience were not familiar with.

Diana then picked up the tempo with another crowd pleaser from I Love You, “More Today Than Yesterday."

She really shook the rafters next with “Upside Down” and a sparkling version of “Ease on Down The Road” from The Wiz.

What’s a Diana Ross concert without some Lady Sings The Blues?

Ms. Ross then performed 2 back-to-back blues ballads from her Lady Day connection.

With her fans shouting for more, Diana stepped into “Why Do Fools Fall in Love,” followed by “The Theme From Mahogany,” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough."

Her band was a small combo of electric guitar, electric bass, drums, percussion, keyboards, and a male and female background singer. The songs sounded fine with these instruments, giving the older material a very contemporary feel.

The surprise of the night was the one encore after “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” a charged version of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” Towards the end of this song, a former mystery Supreme hit the stage to sing a short duet of the song with Diana.

Although the audience begged for a second encore, it was not to be. I was waiting for “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand,” but not tonight!

A younger friend who accompanied me said she enjoyed the show much better than Mary J. Blige who we both saw at the same arena last July.

I’m happy I’ve finally seen Diana Ross live. It was worth the wait! Her performance was excellent.

Catch Diana Ross Tuesday, March 11, 2008, 8pm at Bank Atlantic Center Sinatra Theater, Sunrise, Florida.

Watch Diana Ross talk about the song “More Today Than Yesterday".

Diana Ross Borgata concert photo credits: PowerhouseRadio.com.

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Posted by King on 01/14 at 12:02 AM
Concerts • News • Review • Video • (2) Comments • Permalink

Thursday, December 13, 2007

12 Days of Christmas in Soulsville

2007 has been the year of Stax Records reissues.

Concord Music Group now owns the Stax catalogue. Concord has been aggressively re-releasing music in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Stax.

New this holiday season is Christmas In Soulsville.

This CD is a Southern Soul lover’s sweet treat. The tracks reflect the bluesy sound that dominated Memphis and Stax in the 1960’s and early 1970’s.

You won’t find fancy synthesizers, glossy production gimmicks, or city slicker orchestration on these sparse arrangements. Simple is better as these songs are sung from the heart using the emotions of soul to carry the tunes.

One track appears for the first time on CD, “That Makes Christmas Day,” a charming daughter and father collaboration featuring Carla & Rufus Thomas. The song is a slow blues with lots of Memphis horns, lots of Rufus, and not enough Carla, but it works.

2 versions of “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’” from both Albert King and Mack Rice are included.

Christmas In Soulsville is a historic time capsule. Who better to serve up a buffet of classic soul Christmas delights than the R&B - blues stars of Stax.

Otis Redding - “Merry Christmas, Baby”
The Staple Singers - “Who Took the Merry Out of Christmas”
Booker T & The MGs - “Winter Wonderland”
Isaac Hayes - “The Mistletoe and Me”
The Emotions - “Black Christmas”
Albert King - “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’”
Rance Allen Group - “White Christmas”
Rufus Thomas - “I’ll Be Your Santa Baby”
Little Johnny Taylor - “Please Come Home for Christmas”
The Emotions - “What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas”
Mack Rice - “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’”
Isaac Hayes - “Winter Snow”
The Temprees - “It’s Christmas Time Again (The Christmas Song)”
Albert King - “Christmas Comes But Once a Year”
Rufus & Carla Thomas - “That Makes Christmas Day”

Remember to listen to PowerhouseRadio.com’s 12 Days of Christmas featuring all holiday music through Christmas Day, 2007.

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Posted by King on 12/13 at 08:00 PM
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Thursday, December 06, 2007

7 Top Soulful Picks for Classic R&B 2007

If you look hard enough, and dig deep enough, you can always find good new music.

Here are our 7 Top Soulful Picks for Classic R&B 2007 in order. The releases all reflect the best traditions of vintage classic soul you or someone on your gift list will enjoy.

7 Top Soulful Picks for Classic R&B 2007:

Diana Ross - I Love You - Thoroughly enjoyable over repeated listening. Mostly hit parade oldies from the catalogue of others served up Diana Ross style, packed with diva charm all the way.
Alicia Keys - As I Am - When Stevie Wonder recorded the albums Where I’m Coming From and Music of My Mind in 1971 and 1972, he pushed the boundaries of what people expected from R&B. He also pushed himself forward into uncharted waters as a creative artist. Alicia Keys has taken some risks with As I Am, and has crafted one of the most inventive albums of the year. Excellent stuff.
Thelma Houston - A Woman’s Touch - Mostly danceable chestnuts from a grab bag of good time hits and heavies we all remember. A nice effort putting Thelma Houston back in the game.
Chaka Khan - Funk This - Features one of the best tracks of the year, “Disrespectful,” with Mary J. Blige. Almost as adventurous as the Alicia Keys release, Chaka lets loose with new tunes and some classics you might not expect. Nominated for a best R&B album Grammy (2007). Let the funky times roll.
Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration - various artists - 50 fabulous tracks from the Stax Records vault to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the southern soul giant. They did make one mistake. Isaac Hayes’ “Shaft” appears in its 3 minute 10 second single form, rather than the 4 minute 30 second full version. For a song that won both a Grammy and Academy Award, I would have used the album version.
Chris Jasper - Invincible - The former Isley Brother creates a spiritually uplifting collection of praise worthy songs fusing sacred themes with secular grooves reminiscent of his past hits with the guys.
Patti LaBelle - Miss Patti’s Christmas - LaBelle’s Christmas album is the best soul/R&B holiday release of 2007. A joyous Hallelujah!

Here they are again, with additional links to album sources:

Diana Ross - I Love You

Alicia Keys - As I Am

Thelma Houston - A Woman’s Touch

Chaka Khan - Funk This

Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration

Chris Jasper - Invincible

Patti LaBelle - Miss Patti’s Christmas

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Posted by King on 12/06 at 12:02 AM
Christmas • Gifts • Review • Songs • (0) Comments • Permalink

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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Posted by King on 11/19 at 06:15 PM
Audio • Christmas • Review • Songs • (0) Comments • Permalink

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:

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

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Posted by King on 11/08 at 12:02 AM
Christmas • Review • Video • (0) Comments • Permalink

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