Archive for January, 2010
January 31st, 2010 | No Comments »
 |
|
Common (w/Kanye West & John Mayer)
Go
Download
Album: Be (2005)
|
 |
|
Linda Lewis
Old Smokey
Download
Album: Lark (1972)
|
|
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
|
Common has had quite the inconsistent career. But when Kanye West came knocking, Common stepped up his game, resulting in the pretty darn awesome LP Be. I fear Be may end up being the apex of Common’s recording career, but I’m still rooting for one of Chi-town’s finest.
Though Be has a number of enjoyable tracks, I’ve been surprised by how much its third single, "Go" has stuck with me. I think it’s the contrast between the mellow beat and the risqué lyrics that keeps it in rotation.
Kanye makes an able hype man and as for John Mayer, I think his contribution is limited to the echoed "Go" that is looped every two bars or so. (And he gets a songwriting credit?)
I hadn’t heard the Linda Lewis track Kanye sampled in "Go." To be honest, I hadn’t heard of Linda Lewis. But "Old Smokey" is a sweet, feel-good song that is ideally suited to a Sunday morning. Whatever led Kanye to isolate the short electric keyboard breakdown that appears towards the end of the song is a mystery to me, but I’m indebted to Yeezy for leading me to this rare groover.
Published in Music, Musical Cousins |
January 19th, 2010 | No Comments »
 |
|
Only You
Download
Close The Door
Download
It Don’t Hurt Now
Download
When Somebody Loves You Back
Download
Album: Life Is A Song Worth Singing (1978)
|
|
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
|
This is part two of a two-part tribute to Teddy Pendergrass. part one
Teddy Pendergrass’s Life Is A Song Worth Singing is a fine example of how Philly soul adapted to the disco/funk movement while remaining true to the diverse vocal personalities, complex orchestral arrangements, and accessible melodies that defined this popular regional subgenre. Teddy was (arguably) the biggest star of the storied Philadelphia International label, with a voice that can blow you away or woo you to bed — sometimes within the same song.
Read the rest of this entry »
Published in LP Classics, Music |
January 17th, 2010 | No Comments »
 |
|
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Don’t Leave Me This Way (Dim’s Re-Edit)
Download
Album: After The Playboy Mansion (Compilation, 2002)
Teddy Pendergrass
You Can’t Hide From Yourself
Download
Album: Teddy Pendergrass (1977)
|
|
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
|
This is part one of a two-part tribute to Teddy Pendergrass. part two
This week’s passing of soul legend Teddy Pendergrass hurts a little bit. Few can claim as much authority on the mic as Teddy. During his prime, even his ballads were turned up to 11.
Read the rest of this entry »
Published in Music, R.I.P. |
January 8th, 2010 | No Comments »
 |
|
Can’t Fake The Feeling
Download
Released in 1980
|
|
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
|
"Can’t Fake The Feeling" has been very good to me. As you can see from the photo of the label above, I paid a pretty penny for it but It was worth it. It’s one of those records that kills on the dancefloor, and few of my generation have ever heard it before — qualities that make DJs very happy.
When it was released 30 (!) years ago, it was — justifiably — a massive #1 club hit. It’s easy to see why: the beat is steady, the production is tight, and the melody is catchy. And then there’s Geraldine’s raw, expressive singing that hearkens back to a time when dance track vocals were recorded with limited to no filters, pitch correction, or digitized harmonies.
It was released on the Prism label (Prism would later morph into seminal hip hop label Cold Chillin’ Records) and was written by Geraldine and Kat Dyson, who is primarily known for playing guitar with Prince’s New Power Generation. I’m sad to say that my limited online research into Geraldine didn’t reveal much about her; "Can’t Fake The Feeling" was her biggest hit.
Published in 12" Gems, Music |
