Guitars

  Living Legends

  The Protege’

  The Rebel

  The Legacy

  The Master

  The Student

  The Genesis

 

Remember…

…all gave some, some gave all.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.   — John 15:13 

  I Will Remember You, Sara Mclachlan

 

40 years ago today, Sgt. Pepper…

Well, wrong album…right group.

That’s right.  Just over 40 years ago, The Beatles recorded Get Back with a B side of Don’t Let Me Down as part of the new album that would become Let it Be.  To commerorate their collaboration with Billy Preston, they headed for the roof of the Apple Building at 3 Savile Row in London to perform a few numbers off the anticipated album.  Of course, cameras were rolling in anticipation of a clash with police, however the appropriately civil bobbies would not provide that satisfaction.  “Just shut down the noise, please”, after 42 minutes of Beatlemania.

The Beatles hadn’t performed live together since 1965, so I can imagine the startled passersby and rooftop audiences’ glee in the impromptu and one of a kind “concert”.  It also marked the beginning of the end for the most prolific band ever.  Less than a year after this dramatic rafter jam session, the fab four were individually persuing music down four separate paths.  

But for one dreary, London afternoon The Beatles made the world right and exciting.  Where is this kind of musicianship and desire to share new music from artist to fan, today?  I would love to see/hear John Mayer do a rooftop concert somewhere in Brooklyn…with Eric Clapton…in that Captain’s suit.  Ok, I digress…

The Beatles were originals and perhaps it’s just impossible to re-capture their spirit and connection to fans.  Only Paul and Ringo are left to tell the tales of the rooftop, now, as John and George are gone, as well as the great Billy Preston, who famously played the organ on Get Back. (He is left of, and behind, Paul.)

40 years.  I remember my parents talking in those increments and never being able to comprehend that time span.  Now…I see.

In May of ’69, both of these songs would be on the charts, with Get Back at #1.

  Get Back

  Don’t Let Me Down

To view the Rooftop Concert in its entirity, click here.

 

Colette’s Corner: Hot Buttered Soul, American Style

Here is a long awaited entry from Colette.  Personally, I think Soul is alive and well in the good, ole U. S. of A.  Of course, if you are a creature of terrestial radio, you’re not going to hear it.  That’s why the interwebs are so important.   I have some additional thoughts on “the new radio”, but I’ll save that for later.  For now, enjoy Colette’s Soul buffet:

Listening Party:   Hot Buttered American Soul Singers 2009

 As young Brits like Duffy and Amy Winehouse and Adele rack up big record sales and Grammy Awards, I’ve been wondering what’s up with our homegrown soul singers.  I’m not talking about that heavily processed dance-beat monotony mulch that is sometimes called Neo-Soul, no no no.  I’m talking bluesy voices, rugged and smoother, that are bringing the Motown/Stax/Philly sound of yore back with a new twist.

 What do you think?  Do they have the right stuff?  

 You’ll note that quite a few of these performances are from the terrific British music TV show Live with Jools Holland.  Holland is a good piano player and an excellent scout for cutting-edge talent — all the great young Brit acts have appeared on his program, and a lot of American artists (young & older) too.  I’m jealous: why can’t we have a show like his?   A new “Soul Train”?

Someday, in my dreams.  In the meantime, here a few I like, and wonder what your take is:

Rafael Saadiq isn’t exactly a new artist — he was one of the members of  the top New Jack Swing group (ok, anyone recall what New Jack Swing was??) called Tony! Toni! Tone!  And he’s been through several musical phases.    Now he’s done a very, very cool maneuver, his own version of Temptation-esque retro-soul, smooth as silk.  (He’s also Joss Stone’s boyfriend, but don’t hold that against either of them….)  Love this hot, hot appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s TV show last month:

  –  Rafael Saadiq, “The Hundred Yard Dash”

And one of the best songs on his recent disc:

  — Rafael Saadiq, “Love That Girl”

Someone here recently put up a link for Melody Gardot.  Is she jazz? Pop? Soul?  Who cares?   This young woman, disabled since a car crash, has just a classic, achy-breaky voice steeped in cool.  Am loving her — she deserves a big future:

 — Melody Gardot, “Worrisome Heart”

Sugarush Beat Company is an  interesting group with a cool Stax-y vibe in their tune “L-O-V-E.”  They released their first album last September.  And they’re multinational, with members hailing from the US, Denmark and Britain.  Here they are on Jools’ show recently:

 — Sugarush beat company, “L.O.V.E.”

Here’s the wildcat kid from Massachusetts (previously featured by Music Maven), who is tearing it up in Europe, but pretty obscure in the U.S.  He plays a mean guitar, and is a wail of a singer, Eli “Paperboy” Reed — love the moniker!  And he reminds a little of a male Janis Joplin:

 == Eli Paperboy Reed & The True Loves, “Everywhere You Go”

Ruby Turner had some shlocky pop hits in the late 1980s, but her purified blues-soul approach today is kickin.’   Here she is with Jools Holland recently, on a swinging tune they recorded together (check out the female alto sax’s solo!):

  — Ruby Turner, “The Informer”  (with Jools Holland)

One of my favorite American Idol contestants, really too good to win!, is Melinda Doolittle.  She came out with a very fine first album, “Coming Back to You,” and the Idol franchise could help her enormously if they just gave her a guest spot this season!  But nooooo, they have to give the spotlight to the far, far inferior Kellie Pickler!  Drat….but I really encourage you to support Melinda’s career — she’s worthy indeed.  Here is her great opening salvo on American Idol 2007:

 — Melinda Doolittle, “Since You Been Gone”

And here’s her first single from the  new album:

 — Melinda Doolittle, “It’s Your Love”

I also can’t give up on Taylor Hicks.  As Music Maven has duly noted, he has a new album out and while it’s not the soulful stuff of my dreams, its closer to the bone than Taylor’s misbegotten first post-Idol disc.  As usual, it’s always best to hear him entertain live. Here’s a clip from a recent appearance on “Regis and Kelly”:

  –“What’s Right Is Right”, Taylor Hicks

I adore Ryan Shaw, and I just wish he would get a boost because he’s HOT.  He did have a Grammy nomination recently, but not enough people know about this sweet Southern guy, and his superior soul pipes.  Here he is live on the BET network:

 —  Ryan Shaw, “I’m Your Man”

If I can get one other person excited about Tyrone Wells, I’ll be happy.  This Washington State native has a rabidly loyal semi-underground following, and he’s just terrific live. Good songwriter and guitarist, and great singer, and just put out a new album, “Remain.”   Here he is with one of my fave tunes of his:

 — Tyrone Wells, “Baby  Don’t You Change”

Some soulful artists really deserve an encore, and jazzy singer Randy Crawford is back with a cover of a terrific old Staple Singers tune that’s getting a lot of airplay on some FM stations.  Here she is on French TV — you can catch glimpses of  British soulster James Morrison, really diggin on Randy and the wonderful jazz pianist Joe Semple.  Their new album together is a grand groove — sorry the clip is a little out of sync — but it sounds great!

 — randy crawford &  joe semple, “Respect Yourself”

LeRoy Bell, whose folky-soul is very popular in the Pacific NW, and really deserving of more attention.  (His uncle, by the way, is the great Thom Bell, co-architect of the 1970s Philly Sound of Lionel Ritchie, etc.)  This is from his last album, released in 2008:

 

 — LeRoy Bell, “Fly on the Wall”

I gotta end with the hardest working soul singer in show biz, Sharon Jones.    With her fab young band the Dap Kings (who appeared on Amy Winehouse’s record) she’s keeping the funk flame  burning — what a scorcher!   Seeing her live is being sent into a time capsule right back to early Tina-land.  Here she is on French TV, tearin’ it up as per usual:

 — Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

Thanks, Colette.  Great list, but I HAVE to include my boy, Marc Broussard.   Marc was at the forefront of the recent soul revival and besides, he’s a child of God’s Country.

  Let Me Leave, Marc Broussard

 

Happy Mother’s Day

This is my Mother.  Despite popular belief that I was hatched from some quasar during a particularly spectacular Libra Dragon season, I was actually conceived and delivered the normal way by two pretty great parents.

At 77, my Mother is in seriously good shape for her age.  (And, if you need confirmation, just ask her.  😉 )  She’s been through polio at 2 years old, leaving her with a paralyzed left arm, her oldest child was found to be deaf at 9 months old, she had a major brain surgery in her early ’50s that would have killed a weaker person, and she watched her loving husband of 57 years suffer extreme pain for over ten years and die an agonizing death.  She’s been rich, poor and in between, but she never lost faith nor wavered in her love of life….and of her children.

At an early age, she instilled a love of music in me that I’m eternally grateful for.  My childhood was filled with wonderful harmonies and encouragement to sing and play musical instruments.  I never did have the patience to master piano and guitar, but I was definitely given the opportunity.  The house was always filled with tuneage growing up, either from the radio in my nursery (the ’60s version of white noise) or the actual “live” music with friends on Friday nights.

There are several songs that, for me, are forever linked to my mother.

  All I Have to do is Dream, The Everly Brothers

Many times, in the car, driving around, I’d beg my mother to sing “Dream” with me.  She taught me the harmonies and it is one of my favorite and most indelible memories of my mother.

  Prisoner of Love, Billy Eckstine

A family favorite, Prisoner of Love still holds a special place in my heart.   My Godmother, her daughter, my Mother and I all have sung this song 100 times — in four part harmony.  Those times are among my favorite memories.

C C Rider, Elvis Presley

Another memory from those Friday night “jam sessions”, C C Rider seemed to be my Mother’s “riscque” song.  Must say, she sang it with conviction.

  A Good Man is Hard to Find

My Mother and Godmother actually worked out the Cajun French version of this…Et Bon Homme et Deur a Trouvier.  I mastered both versions before my 13th birthday.  To this day, it is Mr. D’s favorite song.

  Whole Lotta Shakin’, Jerry Lee Lewis

My Mother adores piano and piano players.  Since “The Killah” is from Ferriday, Louisiana, he is/was like a local god for the Cajun folks in the 50s and 60s.

I am her baby, the youngest of three.  For years, I denied my obvious resemblance and now I’ve come to realize that it’s an honor.  While she is the most aggravating person I have ever come across, she is also the most loving and endearing.  She is passionate and caring, independent and sensitive.  And, I’m sooooooo glad that she’s still here.

To my wonderful Mother and all the Mothers out there, I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing Mother’s Day with the peace that you are loved unconditionally by your children. 

And, Mamma, thanks for the music.

 

May Musings

Sorry for the lack of attention here over the last few weeks.  Our lives have been quite busy and something’s gotta give.  Hundred of post ideas pass me during the week, but I’m usually not in a position to post it.  Therefore, I thought I’d throw out the week in review (from my mind).

On the personal front, we’re starting to center life around the river and the boat.  We’re readying our house to sell in order to build our dream house, so there’s plenty of work to keep us busy.  More to come on the dream house, but here’s a preview….

While this has been top of mind for us, other exciting things are also happening.  May is shaping up to be quite a nice month.  On Monday, Mini DD fulfilled a big goal (at least one of his Mom’s) in becoming an official member of the National Honor Society.

Part of the induction ceremony is the new Junior members being “tapped” by a graduating Senior member.  5′ 6″ Mini DD was tapped by 6′ 8″ GM.  It received the biggest laugh of the night.

Very nice way to start off the week and so proud of our progeny.

Cinco de Mayo — which seemingly lost it lustre this year because of Swine Flu — required travel starting at 3:00AM (that’s not a typo), with meetings/dinner until after 9:00PM.  I therefore, missed Idol, but was kept informed by  Shrew and KD. 

On Wednesday, John Mayer posted the second video chronicling the creation of his new CD, Battle Studies.

Johnny Boy’s been particularly busy on Twitter and on Wednesday twittered right before playing this…

Since I was traveling home on Wednesday, I once again missed Idol.  I was kept informed that the dudes were safe and Allison was going home, but an important detail was omitted.  No-one told me of the absurd Paula Abdul “first time on TV” performance.  This is wrong on so many levels, but SO telling regarding what the “judges” endorse as good music.

WARNING:  Viewing this video may be hazardous to your musical health.

Along  American Idol lines, Taylor “Tinks” Hicks released his country foray, Seven Mile Breakdown, complete with video.  Perhaps Taylor is reading?  From my March 15th, 2009 post on The Distance:

Along with Nineteen, Seven Mile Breakdown (co-penned with Hicks by Spoonful James’ guitarist and pre-Idol buddy, Wynn Christian) and the title-track, The Distance, Maybe You Should has serious Country potential, if appopriately brought to Nashville.  Even the blues number, Wedding Day Blues is oddly reminiscient of Garth Brooks’ Country anthem, Friends in Low Places.

I think that Country will be much kinder to Taylor and there are even better Country songs on the current CD to be released.  This might have legs.  (**clapping as hard as I can**)

Taylor is also a twitterer, recently tweeting that he LOVES FEIST!!!  See, all you Feist haters.  Taylor thinks she’s the female Paul McCartney.  I might not go that far, but do still love me some Feist.

  Feel it All, Feist

Rather excited to find this morning that Janiva Magness was named Entertainer of the Year at the 2009 Blues Music Awards in Memphis last night.

….although she beat our Watermelon Slim….

Pretty cool, as the guy is left-handed — so he’s playing that dobro upside down and backwards.

All in all, a pretty solid week except for the fact that Dom Deluise died.  Sure miss the great comedy of Carson and Company.

R.I.P. Captain Chaos.

 

I will be back to regularly scheduled programming soon….just trying to catch my breath.