Was (Not Was) Says Boo!
Was (Not Was) has released a new album, finally. After more than sixteen years, the funky Was Brothers are back with Boo!. Both brothers have been using their talents elsewhere: Don was producing Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones albums, and David was working on film scores. But now, the Detroit duo is back with Sweet Pea Atkinson and Sir Harry Bowens making some groovy, soulful sounds on Boo!.
The funkiest songs on Boo! are the opener “Semi-interesting Week,” “Your Luck Won’t Last,” “Big Bad Hole”, “Crazy Water” — a highlight for Sweet Pea’s vocals — and “Mr. Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (co-written by Bob Dylan).
The techno, outer space-sounding “Needletooth” doesn’t work here, at least not for this listener. “Forget Everything” is a bit strange too, but works a little better.
But it’s not all high-spirited songs on this album. There are some nice slow grooves too. “It’s a Miracle” and “From the Head to the Heart” are great additions to this funky reunion party. Kris Kristofferson, with his gravely serious voice, makes an interesting appearance singing “Green Pills in the Dresser,” the final track.
There’s a fine group of soul masters helping Was (Not Was) on this new set. James Gadson on drums, Marcus Miller on bass, and the renowned Booker T on Hammond join in to make Boo! a great return for Was (Not Was).
Welcome back, boys! Your fans do ask that you don’t keep us waiting another decade before we hear from you again.
If you need a refresher on Was (Not Was) click below:
Happy Birthday, Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison was born on this day in 1936, in Vernon, Texas. For his sixth birthday, Roy asked for a harmonica, but his father Orbie Lee gave him a guitar. And the rest is history.
The main thing that contributed to Roy’s success, aside from his tenor voice, was that his songs were completely original in structure, sound, and style. He was an innovator. Roy was a pioneer in rock and roll, and his career spanned more than four decades. He got his start in Memphis at Sun Records, with the other music pioneers: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.
His hits include Only the Lonely, Crying, Blue Angel, Running Scared, Dream Baby, In Dreams, Blue Bayou, You Got It, and his biggest hit Oh Pretty Woman.
Late in his career, he joined Bob Dylan, George Harrison (Beatles), Jeff Lynne (ELO), and Tom Petty to form the supergroup Traveling Wilburys. Their hits include Last Night, Handle With Care, Tweeter and The Monkey Man, Heading For The Light, and End of the Line.
Roy died at the age of 52 in Dec. 1988. The Traveling Wilburys won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Group in 1990. For more on the Traveling Wilburys click here.
Let’s watch some of his performances.
We’ll start with a 1960 performance of Only The Lonely.
Roy on The Johnny Cash Show in 1969 singing Crying
Crying (with kd lang)
His last hit, You Got It.
For a complete biography, visit : www.royorbison.citymusicnetworks.com
Songs For Lovers
Carol Duboc’s new release Songs For Lovers is just what it promises – a smooth collection of romantic tunes for couples. Ms. Duboc, while not a household name, has been around for a long time and has written songs for others musicians, including R&B artists Patti LaBelle, Stephanie Mills and Chanté Moore. On Songs For Lovers, her third album, Duboc wrote all the new material, and produced the album with her musical arranger Tom Carmon.
Ms. Duboc’s style is a mix of jazz and R&B, and her lyrics and songs are uplifting. The album is perfect mood music for a romantic evening, or just for relaxation. My Valentine, the first single is a nice opener. Other songs that standout on Songs For Lovers are Brownies and Wine, Around You, and Night Moods. The latter is my favorite song from this album, reminding me of Sade’s Smooth Operator days.
Two highlights on this album are instrumentals, with Duboc on the piano. Passion and A Longing are the shortest songs on the album, and serve almost as interludes to the other more upbeat songs.
Duboc does a great job covering two R&B classics, Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing and Roberta Flack’s Feel Like Making Love. She adds her special touch to these songs. Sexual Healing is a bit slower than Marvin’s and sung in a way that it could initially pass for another song. Duboc takes the sexy lyrics slowly, giving them the chance to be savored. Duboc’s version of Feel Like Making Love is more upbeat than the original, with a tinge of funk. While a fan of the original, this listener favors Duboc’s version a little more.
Songs For Lovers is a great collection for easy listening and for when you’ve got romance on your mind and want to set the perfect mood.
Carol is singing “Sunny” on the jukebox to the right.
Watch an interview with Duboc on Smooth Jazz TV here.
Visit her MySpace page and listen to songs from the new album and some of her previous work: http://www.myspace.com/carolduboc
#1 Songs in ’83, ’77 & ’65
On this day in 1983, the Number 1 song was Come on Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners.
The disco hit Don’t Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston was Number 1 on April 18, 1977.
And in 1965, Game of Love by Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders had the top place on the music chart. This song became a favorite of mine when it was featured on the Good Morning Vietnam soundtrack. And you’re hearing it on the jukebox now!
Click below to watch the video for Come on Eileen and live performances by Thelma Houston and Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders.
More from the Mindbenders and Dexys Midnight Runners:
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield (Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien), born on April 16, 1939, made the biggest impression among the female artists of the British invasion. From 1963 to 1970 she scored 18 Billboard Hot 100 singles. Dusty Springfield is an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame.
Dusty Springfield sang with soul, earning her the nickname “White Queen of Soul.” Her husky voice communicated a sense of longing, and created music that was evocative. Dusty’s image included her peroxided blonde hair in a beehive style, heavy eyeliner and fake eyelashes, and elegant evening gowns.
Her hits include Son of a Preacher Man, The Look of Love, I Only Want To Be With You, You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, Wishin’ and Hopin’, Stay Awhile, and I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself.
After some time away from the music business, Dusty accepted an invitation from the British pop duo Pet Shop Boys in 1987 to sing on their single What Have I Done to Deserve This? and appear on the promotional video. The record rose to Number 2 on both the British and American charts. With BJ Thomas, Dusty recorded the theme song As Long as We Got Each Other for TV’s Growing Pains.
Dusty lost her battle against breast cancer and died at the age of 59 on March 2, 1999.
Below, some of Dusty’s performances.
Money, Money, Money
In honor of…in respect for, or in fear of the IRS on this 15th of April, here are my Top 10 songs about money. Click on the song titles for the videos or live performances of these songs.
Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems – Notorious B.I.G. with Puff Daddy and Mase
Money’s Too Tight to Mention (To Mention) – Simply Red
Take The Money And Run – Steve Miller Band
Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money) – Pet Shop Boys
You Never Give Me Your Money – The Beatles
Money – Pink Floyd
Money, Money, Money – ABBA
Money – The Beatles
Money For Nothing – Dire Straits
Money Talks – AC/DC
Vince Gill
Vince Gill, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and recipient of 18 CMA Awards, came on the national scene with the country rock band Pure Prairie League in 1979. Gill sang lead on the hit Let Me Love You Tonight. Gill went solo in 1983 with some success. In 1989, he joined MCA Records and recorded his breakthrough song When I Call Your Name. Since then, Gill has been a force in country music.
Vince’s velvety voice isn’t his only talent. He is a marvelous guitarist, and also plays banjo, bass, mandolin, and the fiddle. Gill has transcended genres by singing duets with leading ladies from country, pop, rock, and R&B, including Dolly Parton (I Will Always Love You), Reba McEntire (Oklahoma Swing, The Heart Won’t Lie, It Just Has to Be That Way, These Broken Hearts), Faith Hill (Let Me Let Go), Barbra Streisand (If You Ever Leave Me), Gladys Knight (Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing), and Amy Grant (House of Love).
In 2006, Gill released the Grammy Award winning-album These Days, a groundbreaking, four-CD set featuring more than 40 new recordings. Each album in the set explores a different musical mood – traditional country; ballads; contemporary, up-tempo; and acoustic/bluegrass music. The set features guest performers including Sheryl Crow, Phil Everly, daughter Jenny Gill, wife Amy Grant, Emmylou Harris, Diana Krall, Michael McDonald, Bonnie Raitt, Leann Rimes, Lee Ann Womack, Trisha Yearwood and more.
Check out some of Vince’s performances below:
House of Love
Important Music Events of 1957
1957 was a big year in music. Probably the most important event of the year was the birth of American Bandstand. On August 5th, American Bandstand began its 30-year run on TV. Dick Clark helped launched the careers of many starts and got America dancing.
In 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis and Patsy Cline started their musical careers. Here’s Jerry performing Great Balls of Fire. And here’s Patsy crooning her classic I Fall To Pieces.
Also, in 1957, John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met in Liverpool, and Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel started out as the duo Tom and Jerry with their first song Hey, Schoolgirl. And on March 19 of that year, Elvis Presley purchased a mansion in Memphis and called it Graceland, the place where fans would flock to for years after his death.
Top Songs of 1957
The No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit during this time in 1957 was All Shook Up.
Other notable songs of 1957 include:
Diana by Paul Anka
Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley
Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis
At The Hop by Danny & The Juniors
Ricky Nelson
One week of each month, Adeli’s Music Blog will focus on a year in music history. This week we’ll take a look at 1957.
On this day in 1957, Ricky Nelson sang for first time on his family’s long-running TV show Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. He performed his hit I’m Walking.
Below, other performances by Ricky Nelson from the show.
Young World
Visit the Ricky Nelson website at: www.ricknelson.com
Photo credit: Picture taken from Boomers Pinups, The Fifties Teen Idols located at http://boomers-fifties-pinups.com
Tony Orlando & Dawn
Tony Orlando (Michael Anthony Orlando Cassivitis) was born on this day in 1944 in New York City. He formed Dawn with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson. The trio was together from 1970 to 1977. The group’s biggest hit was 1973’s Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree, and it topped Billboard’s Hot 100 for four weeks. The group had the first multi-ethnic variety show on TV. The biggest names in show business appeared each week as Tony’s guests, including the comedians Jackie Gleason, Ted Knight, and Jerry Lewis.
Below are clips from the show and live performances.
Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round Ole Oak Tree
I’ll Teach You Everything I Know (with Jackie Gleason)
Little Ones Out of Big Ones (with Johnny Cash)
Marvin Gaye: Sweet, Silky Soul
In honor of Marvin Gaye’s birthday today, I’ve compiled his best work from the early days, his duets, to Sexual Healing. So, let’ s get it on and take a look at his finest performances.
The first video is a performance not many people have seen: Marvin singing The Star Spangled Banner at the 1983 NBA All Star Game.
Here’s his biggest hit I Heard It Through the Grapevine, which held the top spot for seven weeks in 1968-69.
During his early days at Motown, Marvin Gaye teamed up with Tammi Terrell for three albums of duets. Here are some of their best tunes:
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Your Precious Love
Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing
Below, the very best of Marvin. Enjoy!
Got To Give It Up
Sexual Healing
Finally, Diana Ross’ tribute to Marvin: Missing You
Adeli's Music Blog 
1 comment