Michael Jackson, King of Pop (1959-2009)
For those who grew up in the 80s, it was his music that got us up to dance and kept us dancing at every party. It was his videos that kept us up late on Friday nights to watch Friday Night Videos. Almost everyone I grew up with attended a “Thriller” video premiere party. For my 15th birthday in May of 1983, I received two Thriller albums (yes, vinyl) as gifts. I already had the album, of course, so I returned one to the store and re-gifted the other.
What are your Michael Jackson memories? Let me know by commenting on here.
It’s understandable to be shocked and saddened but let’s remember and celebrate the music that added so much to our lives. Thanks for the boogie, Michael!
Everybody say, “Ma Ma Se, Ma Ma Sa, Ma Ma Coo Sa!”
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
With The Jacksons:
ABC
With Janet:
Solo:
Dirty Diana
Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough
They Don’t Care About Us
We Are The World
Wanna Be Startin’ Something 2008 – Michael Jackson and Akon
Summertime
Ah, summer! ugh, humidity! Whether you love the summer sun and fun or you suffer from the summertime blues, there’s a song for it. It seems that of the four seasons, summer, and its related activities, is the subject of the most songs. This theory excludes the genre of holiday songs, where winter is often mentioned. I’ve chosen some off the top of my head and welcome more suggestions from you.
We’ll begin with the California group that sang extensively about summer fun and named themselves after the number one summer activity – The Beach Boys.
The Mamas & The Papas
John, Michelle (who epitomized the California girl), Mama Cass, and Denny needed no instruments. Their harmonies were angelic. The foursome’s greatest success came with the anthemic California Dreamin’. Check it out below.
Other summer songs:
Summer in the City – Lovin’ Spoonful
Hot Fun in the Summertime – Sly & The Family Stone
In The Summeritme – Mungo Jerry
Heatwave – Martha & the Vandellas
Summer Nights – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
Summer Breeze – Seals & Croft
4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) – Bruce Springsteen
Girls In Their Summer Clothes -Bruce Springsteen
Summertime – Janis Joplin
Summer of ‘69 – Bryan Adams
Summertime – Sublime
Summer Love – Justin Timberlake
Summertime – Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff
Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran
Please send me comments with more suggestions, and we’ll make this list longer throughout the summer.
Luther Vandross: Dance With My Father
During this week in 2003, the late Luther Vandross topped the charts with his album Dance With My Father. At the time, he was recovering from a stroke he suffered that April.
As far as I can tell, and I have searched, there isn’t an official video to this lovely song, as Luther was already ailing at the time of its release. But here’s a fitting tribute to Luther.
Jazz: Sax vs Trumpet, Part 2
Recently, I put out the question “Which instrument the sax or the trumpet is more important to jazz?” Take a look at the following videos, and then cast your vote. Please send me your comments and suggestions on other great jazz performances and artists.
On the sax, Paul Desmond with Dave Brubeck on the piano – “Take Five”
Miles Davis on trumpet – “Tutu”
Or is a combo better?
Miles Davis on trumpet, John Coltrane on the sax – “So What”
Cast your vote!
10 Years Ago
Backstreet Boys’ Millenneum was the Number #1 album this week in 1999. It was nominated for five Grammy Awards and produced four Top 40 singles, including “I Want It That Way.” Millennium set records for most albums sold in its debut week; most albums sold internationally in one week (2.2 million); and was certified at least platinum in 45 countries. It has sold 40 million copies worldwide. It was the best selling album of 1999 and spent 93 weeks on the Billboard chart.
Here’s the track listing: (Click on titles for videos)
Larger Than Life
I Want It That Way
Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely
It’s Gotta Be You
I Need You Tonight
Don’t Want You Back
Don’t Wanna Lose You Now
The One
Back to Your Heart
Spanish Eyes
No One Else Comes Close
The Perfect Fan
Happy Birthday, Prince!
Today is Prince’s 51st birthday. Prince Rogers Nelson was born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, MN. He has won seven Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Rolling Stone ranked Prince #28 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time in 2008.
Prince is one of the most prolific musicians, composing all his music, along with music for other artist. Prince was responsible for helping several lovely ladies enter the music biz. All of Prince’s albums are written and, most often, entirely performed by him. He is also a very talented guitarist. Prince and his music don’t fit in any one genre, however he mixes elements of R&B, soul, funk, rock, blues, new wave, psychedelia, folk, jazz and into his compositions. He has recorded 30 albums, which include the soundtracks Purple Rain, Batman, Graffiti Bridge, and Parade.
Prince is complex and controversial. Most people have an opinion – positive or negative – about Prince: weirdo, perv, musical genius… Ok, so maybe he’s all three. Regardless, the man has been a true entertainer, musical poet, and innovator for 30 years.
Here a few Prince classics:
Let me know your thoughts on Prince by making comments on this site. Be sure to join me in August for the 25th Anniversary of Purple Rain.
Smackdown: Sax or Trumpet?
Which horn rules jazz – the sax or the trumpet?
John Schaefer, the host of WNYC’s Soundcheck, talks to Branford Marsalis, who defends the saxophone, and music critic Will Layman, who says the trumpet rules jazz.
Chick Corea and John McLaughlin: Five Peace Band Live
The legends Chick Corea and John McLaughlin have reunited! Forty years after their sessions with Miles Davis, they’ve assembled a stellar jazz quintet. Corea and McLaughlin met in 1969 and the first song they played together was Davis’ “In A Silent Way.” They also appeared together on the Davis’ groundbreaking jazz/funk album Bitches Brew.
Corea and McLaughlin are virtuosos on the piano/keyboards and the guitar respectively, and have led successful and prolific solo careers that helped shape jazz. Their double-album Five Peace Band Live captures their new quintet on the first leg of its European tour. Joining Corea and McLaughlin are Christian McBride on bass, Kenny Garrett on alto sax, and Vinnie Colaiuta on drums.
The album contains complex acoustic jazz, burning jazzy funk, some Corea and McLaughlin solo career classics, and a nice tribute to Miles Davis, who brought Corea and McLaughlin together in the first place. The set begins with McLaughlin’s fiery “Raju,” with Garrett’s sax blowing the tune to new heights and Corea giving it some additional harmony. Corea’s “Hymn to Andromeda” runs almost 28 minutes and begins with him on the piano. McBride delivers a moving bass solo as then the rest of the group joins in, with Garrett delivering another set highlight. “New Bruise, Old Blues,” another McLaughlin original, is the funkiest tune on this album; Corea adds his most instinctive moves on the synthesizer. “Senor C.S.” has been reworked as a high-speed samba that begins with a Corea/McLaughlin duet that demonstrates the friendly bond that makes this pairing so special. Again, Garrett and his horn steal some moments from the duo.
Five Peace Band Live closes with a tribute to Miles Davis, reworking “In a Silent Way/It’s About That Time,” with Herbie Hancock accompanying them on the piano. Corea and McLaughlin close the show with “Someday My Prince Will Come, which Miles made famous.”
Five Peace Band Live is an exceptional opportunity to hear two masters create something which points to their individual accomplishments as well as creating something with a new personality. This musical pairing is a very important collaboration for today’s jazz world.
June 2nd: Number 1 Songs
1985:
1975: “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” by John Denver
1954: “Little Things Mean a Lot” by Kitty Kallen
Paul Brown & Marc Antoine: Foreign Exchange
The pairing of guitarists Paul Brown, smooth jazz’s top producer, and Marc Antoine was a brilliant idea. One listen to Foreign Exchange and you’ll agree. These two superstars combine a variety of genres, including pop, jazz, R&B, Brazilian & Latin music to create a perfectly smooth listening experience. Foreign Exchange is a fantastic record! All ten tracks standout; there are no fillers here.
This listener has been a fan of Marc Antoine since his early album Madrid, and felt he needed no further accompaniment on the guitar. However, Paul Brown and his Gibson L-5 electric complement Antoine and his nylon acoustic quite fabulously. Brown’s production and playing is slick, while Antoine co-produces and adds his special touch of French and Spanish flavors to the mix. Both contribute drums and percussion to some of the tunes on Foreign Exchange.
As often happens on smooth jazz albums, many songs just blend into one another without being noticed by the listener. This is certainly not the case on Foreign Exchange. All tracks differ enough from each other, so that a listener could have his or her favorites to replay. Smooth grooves like Wine Night, Flight Of The Conchords, the bluesy Brother Earl and What About Bob, the title track, and the closer Bridges of Paris are possible favorites.
These chart-topping smooth jazz masters are stellar and talented musicians, including Jerry Hey on trumpet, Philippe Saisse on keys, Dan Higgins on the sax, and Bill Rickenback on the trombone make them shine even brighter.
It wouldn’t be a too much of a stretch to say that this CD deserves to be the best-selling smooth jazz recording of 2009. Paul Brown and Marc Antoine should continue collaborating, since it is a magical combination. Foreign Exchange is a flawless collection of ultimate smoothness.
Michael McDonald: A Tribute to Motown
Mr. Blue-Eyed Soul, Michael McDonald, with his distinctive baritone voice, pays tribute to Motown’s greatest hits once again in this live performance for the PBS concert series Soundstage. Michael McDonald: A Tribute to Motown was taped in Memphis, Tennessee, hometown to McDonald and most of his band members.
The Grammy Award-winner, along with some special guests, performs classics from his two critically acclaimed and highly successful Motown concept albums. McDonald and guests Toni Braxton, India.Arie, Take 6 and the legendary Billy Preston, perform about a dozen of the most influential and famous American classic songs.
He jump starts the concert with Smokey Robinson’s “I Second That Emotion.” He pays homage to Stevie Wonder by performing “I Was Made to Love Her,” with Billy Preston on the keyboard and vocals, and “All in Love is Fair,” McDonald’s favorite (my favorite too).
From the Marvin Gaye vast music catalog, McDonald performs a very stirring rendition of “What’s Going On,” also with Preston, and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine.” And later, with the help of the very talented India.Arie, he takes on Marvin’s most famous duets with Tammy Terrell, “You’re All I Need to Get By,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing,” songs composed by Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, two of Motown’s greatest songwriting duos.
Toni Braxton joins McDonald on “Stop, Look, Listen To Your Heart” and Take 5 lend its harmony to “Tracks of My Tears” and “Since I Lost My Baby.” “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever” and “Nowhere To Run” are two uplifting tunes McDonald includes in this great Motown tribute.
A Tribute To Motown runs a little over one hour and is quite enjoyable for Michael McDonald and Motown fans alike. And the audience certainly seems to be having a blast. McDonald’s “soul” shines brightly on these songs and he does a fabulous job at honoring some of America’s great songwriters by singing their timeless songs.
Happy Birthday, Bob Dylan
Today, May 24th is Bob Dylan’s 68th birthday. America’s musical poet has released 33 albums and has written and performed some of the most influential and popular songs of this century, some of which appear on Greatest Songs lists.
Let’s take a listen to some of Dylan’s timeless songs below:
Today is Your Birthday!
Okay, so today might not be your birthday, but it is mine. So, happy birthday to me and my fellow May 23rd people.
Here are some tunes to help me celebrate. Feel free to use when it’s your birthday.
“Today is Your Birthday”- The Beatles (performed here by Paul McCartney)
“Happy Birthday” – Stevie Wonder
“Happy Birthday to You” – Mariah Carey (performed for Muhammad Ali)
“Snuffy’s Birthday Song” – Sesame Street Gang
American Idol
American Idol, or rather America, chose Kris Allen as the winner. And that’s cool. He can play guitar and piano and has that singer-songwriter thing going on. He also deserves credit for showing improvements each week. He is a winner and deserves to be successful.
But, there’s no way he has the voice or the star factor of the runner-up Adam Lambert. Adam’s got the Elvis Presley look circa 1968 and a touch of the Freddie Mercury flamboyance, and when KISS joined him on stage, he held his own. So, I was disappointed with America’s decision, but realized that it was probably best Adam wasn’t chosen. He’s better off working on his own career rather than abiding by the Idol contract restraints. He’s already a star and just needed the exposure that American Idol provides.
Here he is singing Tears For Fears’ Mad World
Federico Aubele: Amatoria CD Review
Federico Aubele, the Argentinean singer-songwriter and classical guitar payer, is known for blending a variety of genres and styles, including reggae and ambient. On his most recent album Amatoria, he mixes the classic and passionate sounds of the Argentine tango and the Mexican bolero. It is no surprise that Aubele records on the Eighteenth Street Lounge Music label of the master mixers themselves, the Thievery Corporation.
One of Aubele’s inspirations for his third album and its title was the Roman poet Ovid’s Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love), a poem in three books that claims to instruct on matters of the heart. Aubele composed the twelve love songs on Amatoria; sings and plays classical and electric guitars and the electronic beats on all songs; and produced the album.
Luna y Sol (Moon and Sun) and Suena Mi Guitarra (My Guitar Sounds) start things off with a reggae beat. The lyrics are sensual and set the tone of the album. For example, the first song says: En tu boca, el primer beso y todo el amor de tu luna y mi sol (In your mouth, the first kiss, and all the love of your moon and my sun).
To add a sexy female touch to the album, Aubele duets quite nicely with his wife Natalia Clavier, Sabina Sciubba, and Miho Hatori on Este Amor (This Love), Otra Vez (Once More), and Riendo Asi (Laughing Like This) respectively. These compositions standout and add substance to the album.
Even with its electronic aspects, Amatoria has an intimate feel to it. Aubele’s sultry voice and guitar-playing style easily fit into a small club with a dozen people in the audience. Hermosa is a good example of an acoustic performance in this type of setting.
Del Ayer (About Yesterday) and the upbeat Siempre Nuevo (Always New) are this listener’s favorite songs so far, but with more listens of Amatoria that might change.
Federico Aubele is an artist of many talents and proves it on this album. The man, who lived in Buenos Aires, Berlin, Barcelona, now lives in another B locale, Brooklyn, New York, allowing him to better make his mark in America. Whether he continues singing in his native Spanish or tackles English, he’s got a sensual voice that transcends languages and cultures. Amatoria is an outstanding work of art.
Visit Federico Aubele’s MySpace page to hear his music: http://www.myspace.com/aubele
Let’s Dance
David Bowie had the Number One spot on the charts on this day in 1983 with “Let’s Dance.”
Let’s take a look at his performance of this song and other classics.
Here Comes the Rain, Again!
Here in NYC, it’s been raining, and raining. So, in honor of all the water that keeps falling from the sky, let’s enjoy some “rain” songs.
“Here Comes The Rain Again” – Eurythmics
“Rain King” – Counting Crows
“Rain” The Beatles
“It’s Raining Again” – Supertramp
“The Rain Song” - Led Zeppelin
“Rhythm of the Falling Rain” – The Cascades
“Purple Rain” – Prince
“Blame It On The Rain” – Milli Vanilli
“A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall” - Bob Dylan
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
And my favorite rain song: “November Rain” – Guns N’ Roses
On the sunny side, we have Blind Melon singing “No Rain” and George Harrison telling us it’s alright with “Here Comes The Sun.”
On this day …
On May 6th, these were the Number 1 Billboard Pop Hits:
1958: “All I Have to Do Is Dream” – The Everly Brothers.
1984: “Hello” – Lionel Richie (Is it me you’re looking for?)
The following 1973 song sold 3 million records in three weeks.
“Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando & Dawn
