(Above: The title song from Naomi Shelton’s debut album.) By Joel Francis The Daily Record The first month of 2010 is almost in the history books. Fortunately, there’s still time to take one last look at some overlooked releases from the final quarter of 2009. The Dodos – “Time to Die” The Dodos third album [...]
Posts Tagged ‘soul music’
Review Roundup – Rakim, Dodos, Naomi Shelton, Blakroc and Daptone Gold
Posted in Album review, tagged A Tribe Called Quest, Antibalas, Bettye LaVette, Black Keys, Charles Bradley, Damon Dash, Daptone Records, Dodos, Dr. Dre, Eric B and Rakim, gospel, hip hop, indie rock, Jay-Z, Lee Fields, Lou Rawls, Ludacris, Menahan Street Band, Mos Def, Naomi Shelton, Otis Redding, Pharoahe Monch, Q-Tip, Rakim, Roc-a-fella, Sam Cooke, Sharon Jones, soul music, The Shins, Vampire Weekend, Wilson Pickett, world music, Wu-Tang Clan on January 25, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The Originals – “Baby I’m For Real”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged After 7, Anna Gordy Gaye, Berry Gordy, Bloodstone, Esther Phillips, Hitsville U.S.A., Marvin Gaye, Natural High, soul music, Temptations, the Originals, What's Going On on January 13, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The Originals – “Baby I’m For Real,” Pop # 14, R&B # 1 By Joel Francis The Originals had appeared on nearly a dozen Motown hits before they finally landed one with their name on the label. As backing vocalists, the Detroit quartet saw their performances on “Function at the Junction,” “Twenty-Five Miles,” “For Once [...]
Jr. Walker and the All Stars – “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Harvey Fuqua, Harvey Records, Hitsville U.S.A., Johnny Bristol, Jr. Walker and the All-Stars, Junior Walker, Kenny G, soul music on December 30, 2009 | 3 Comments »
Jr. Walker and the All Stars – “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love),” Pop # 4, R&B # 1 By Joel Francis “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” was Jr. Walker’s second chart-topper and first since 1965’s “Shotgun,” but the two songs couldn’t have been more different. While “Shotgun” was a [...]
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles – “I Second That Emotion”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Al Cleveland, David Ruffin, Dennis Edwards, Diana Ross, Grateful Dead, Hitsville U.S.A., Japan, Jerry Garcia, Marv Tarplin, Smokey Robinson, soul music, Tammy Wynette, The Miracles, the Supremes, The Temptations on September 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles – “I Second That Emotion,” Pop # 4, R&B # 1 By Joel Francis Smokey Robinson was Christmas shopping with fellow Motown songwriter Al Cleveland when Cleveland let slip the malapropism “I second that emotion.” Intrigued, Robinson penned a lyric about a man disinterested in flirting, fishing for long-term love. [...]
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Ashford and Simpson, Berry Gordy, Harvey Fuqua, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Marvin Gaye, soul music, Tammi Terrell on August 26, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” Pop # 19, R&B # 3 By Joel Francis Marvin Gaye found his greatest early success as a duet partner. The 1964 album “Together” was his first album to chart, and his duets placed in the Top 20 with a consistency that eluded him [...]
The Marvelettes – “The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Blondie, Bobby Rogers, Ella Fitzgerald, Grace Jones, Grateful Dead, Harvey Fuqua, Hitsville U.S.A., Jerry Garcia, Marvelettes, Miracles, New Birth, Please Mr. Postman, Smokey Robinson, soul music on July 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Marvelettes – “The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game,” Pop # 13, R&B #2 By Joel Francis The Marvelettes gave Motown its first No. 1 hit with “Please Mr. Postman,” but that was way back in 1961. But that was five years before “The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game” came out – a [...]
“Stax Does the Beatles”
Posted in Album review, Stax, tagged Beatles tribute, Booker T and the MGs, David Porter, Duane Allman, George Harrison, Isaac Hayes, John Lennon, McLemore Avenue, My Sweet Lord, Otis Redding, Paul McCartney, soul music, Soulsville U.S.A., the Beatles, Wilson Pickett, Yesterday on July 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
By Joel Francis The ultimate Stax tribute to the Beatles was Booker T and the MGs 1970 album “McLemore Avenue.” None of those tracks appear on the 2007 compilation “Stax Does the Beatles,” but strong contributions from Isaac Hayes, the Bar Kays, Carla Thomas and four other MG tracks make collection as strong as it [...]
Album review – “Stax: The Soul of Hip-Hop”
Posted in Album review, Stax, tagged 24-Carat Black, Booker T and the MGs, C.R.E.A.M., Charmels, Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Dramatics, Ghostface Killah, hip hop, Isaac Hayes, Jay-Z, Little Milton, Notorous B.I.G., Public Enemy, Robert Cray, Rufus Thomas, RZA, soul music, Soulsville U.S.A., Stax, Supreme Clientele, the Emotions, Wendy Rene, Wu-Tang Clan on June 22, 2009 | 1 Comment »
By Joel Francis When RZA needed a hook for “C.R.E.A.M.” he turned to the Charmels’ “As Long As I’ve Got You” and joined a large fraternity of rappers and producers who have leaned on the Stax catalog for their tracks. And though Stax has provided the samples for hits by Jay-Z, Public Enemy, Notorious B.I.G. [...]
The Temptations – “(I Know) I’m Losing You”
Posted in Motown, tagged Cornelius Grant, David Ruffin, Every Picture Tells a Story, Funk Brothers, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Norman Whitfield, Rare Earth, Rod Stewart, soul music, the Faces, The Temptations on June 17, 2009 | 2 Comments »
The Temptations – “(I Know) I’m Losing You,” Pop # 8, R&B # 1 By Joel Francis The list of Motown songs based around a guitar riff is a short one, but this masterpiece should be at the top of that one and several others. Producer Norman Whitfield wrote the song with Edward Holland of [...]
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