LP Cover Lover (Free subscription) | 11/16/2009
The Sweet Inspirations Atlantic Records (1967) Includes “Why (Am I Treated So Bad),” a song previously recorded by The Staple Singers and a soulful version of “Let It Be Me”, a French song which had been a pop and R&B hit for Betty Everett & Jerry Butler. The Sweet Inspirations was founded by Cissy Houston, mother [...]
Glorious Noise (Free subscription) | 10/20/2009
Remember earlier this year, when Daptone Records was robbed, how they threw out the teaser that the Dap-Kings were scheduled to lay down some music for Rod Stewart? We wondered if this could be a good sign of a return...
tantramar (Free subscription) | 10/13/2009
Louisa (at work) asked me what I was listening to the other day and I couldn't really explain. Sometimes you know, you can't. Well anyway I put a couple of tracks together to try and explain this and before you know it, there was a chunk of music. Enjoy. Listen / Download here Shirley Ann Lee - there's a light Death - Let the world turn Sonic Youth - Sacred Trickster Let's Wrestle - Let's Wrestle Xray...
The Vinyl Word (Free subscription) | 10/08/2009
My reader (maybe the only one!) Private Beech suggested that I add a Great Duos to the recent blogs listing Great Female Singers and Great Girl Groups. Sounds like a good idea to me, so here is a list of the great duos of the 1950s and 1960s. I've included some duet pairings by established singers, but only where they made a real impact via one or two albums, not just one offs. To kick off, here are...
Band Weblogs (Free subscription) | 10/05/2009
Rod Stewart to release SoulBook on November 9, 2009 on RCA Records Superstar duets include Mary J. Blige on "You Make Me Feel Brand New" and Jennifer Hudson on "Let It Be Me" ...
The Vinyl Word (Free subscription) | 09/29/2009
I've just watched Gladys Knight on Jools Holland's show on BBC2 and was in raptures. She's fantastic. To think that it's nearly 50 years since I first heard her sing with the Pips. Doesn't seem possible. Still. it made me think about the great female singers who I've had the pleasure of hearing and, in some cases, seeing over the years. So here is my top 50 female singers (and apologies to any I've...
History is made at night (Free subscription) | 07/24/2009
Interesting obituary in The Guardian this week for Norbert Rondel (1927-2009), another of those dodgy figures straddling crime and nightlife in 1960s/70s London. A Jewish refugee from Berlin, he was, among other things a professional wrestler, South London used car salesman, landlord's heavy for Peter Rachman, prisoner, chess player, (alleged) conspirator in the famous 1975 Spaghetti House robbery...
Keep The Coffee Coming (Free subscription) | 06/27/2009
Funky16Corners (Free subscription) | 05/24/2009
Curtis Mayfield “Listen – Curtis Mayfield – Give Me Your Love (Love Song) – MP3″ Greetings all. I hope that everyone had a most excellent weekend (many of us here in the States have it extended through Monday due to Memorial Day). It has – against all odds – been fairly warm and sunny, though the nice [...]
Funky16Corners (Free subscription) | 05/22/2009
Miss Betty Everett “Listen – Betty Everett – Is There a Chance For Me – MP3″ Greetings all. Here’s hoping that you’re all as happy as I am that the week is at an end, and that the long weekend (at least here in the States) is upon us. Despite a couple of chilly days, things have [...]
Susie Bright's Journal (Free subscription) | 03/20/2009
Amazon.com Widgets Have you marked your calendars? I'm coming up to my annual trap-door of wisdom, free-falling next Wednesday. I started my foray into Birthday Music with nothing more than the weirdness of my impending number, 51. It's too many candles for a cake. Apparently it's the dialing code for...
bookofjoe (Free subscription) | 01/21/2009
Among his many hits was the Hollies' 1965 "I'm Alive" (above), which reached No. 1 in Britain and has always been one of my favorite songs.Here is Douglas Martin's obituary from this past Monday's New York Times.••••••••••••••••••••Clint Ballard Jr., Writer...
Contactmusic Ltd (Free subscription) | 01/19/2009
American songwriter CLINT BALLARD JR. has died, aged 77. Ballard Jr. died on 23 December (08) at his home in Denton, Texas, after a long battle with ill health which ...
Adrants (Free subscription) | 12/05/2008
Betty Everett once advised a shoop-happy generation that a man's true feelings lie in his kiss. That may be so. But if social media's taught us anything, it's that you are in no position to decide by yourself.
Denver Post (Free subscription) | 10/26/2008
Dee Dee Warwick, 63, the gritty soul singer eclipsed — unjustly, in the opinion of some critics — by her older sister Dionne and other vocalists who covered songs she recorded in the 1960s, has died.
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