Soundtrack to my Day

2Cellos Do Sting

2012-01-28T09:00:00.001-05:00

Standing: Stjepan Hauser and Sitting: Luka Sulic.

I have already written about the amazing music being made by the absolutely brilliant duo of Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser, better known as 2Cellos. They have made some excited interpretations of some Pop and Rock classics, by Nirvana and Michael Jackson. Watching them play their instruments with the amazing passionate and kinetic energy just keeps me entranced. But this fine Saturday morning, I will go just a little bit easier, as the handsome duo takes on Fields of Gold, written and performed by Sting.

I will also share with you a rather beautiful version of a song by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. They add something just a little special to Michael Jackson's 1983 hit Human Nature. The song was off the colossal album Thriller.

While I am mentioning Michael Jackson, I see that the boys will be appearing of the next episode of GLEE this Tuesday, the episode devoted to Michael. They will be performing the 1988 hit, Smooth Criminal. I think it will be Santana singing it with Kurt's rival for Blaine's affection, Sebastian. Should be great, since I have been loving Santana's voice each time we hear it. But first, let me move on. And for the last song this morning, the boys tackle Californication, the song written and performed by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, from the 2000 album of the same name.

They are a brilliant combination of Classical music with a renegade twist, tossing a bit of Jazz and Pop in the mixture, along with some real Rock Star bravado as well. You can find many of the songs on the album 2Cellos, on iTunes and on Amazon. I am so glad I made my purchase, and sure you will be too.

B.Slade™ • The Children • Share Now

2012-01-27T15:55:00.001-05:00

I have been clear in my appreciation of the great talent of B.Slade™ over the past year. As an added bonus, he has made his latest track, The Children, available on his Bandcamp page. Listen, drink in, and share it with others. I don't know who he managed to think of it, but sampling the theme of a recently defunct soap, to make a statement about LGBT Youth is brilliant. Listen...

&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://bslade.bandcamp.com/track/the-children"&amp;amp;amp;gt;The Children by @BSLADE&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;

You can get find The Children on bandcamp here. You can learn more about B.Slade by visiting his official website here. You can also follow him on Twitter and Tumblr.

Catch The New Wave...

2012-01-27T09:00:00.002-05:00

Clockwise: Lloyd Cole; Haircut 100; Nik Kershaw; and Fine Young Cannibals.

As we take one last breath before going out tonight, and try to not let the last day of work get us down, I thought I would offer up some of the music I was listening to about 30 years ago, give or take a year or two. I will start with a singer/songwriter I loved back then, and still love today. That would be the delicious Lloyd Cole, here performing with the wonderful group, The Commotions. It is so amazing, for I did purchase his latest release, Broken Record, in 2010. But now, we are going back to 1985, and enjoy Lloyd's Lost Weekend.

There is something that is just far too delicious about the music of Haircut 100, and the amazing Nick Heyward. I loved their yummy Pop music. I fell in love with Favourite Shirt (Boy Meets Girl) in 1981. And the following year, they had the coolest song of them all, Love Plus One. You can't help but move when you hear this!

I won't like, I had such a crush on Nik Kershaw. I first discovered him when I heard Wouldn't It Be Good, an amazing song he released in 1984. The song had me running to the import store, and buying his album. It was then I heard the song that would quickly become my favorite, the intricate Don Quixote. Some 28 years later, and I can say that Don Quixote is still a favorite of mine. And I still have a bit of a crush on Nik!

There is something about the music of Fine Young Cannibals that is ultimately sexy and sultry as hell. Roland Gift's voice is just amazing to hear, with nuance and a nod to earlier rock 'n' roll music, but certainly looking forward to a new and exciting combination of sounds. I remember hearing Johnny Come Home for the first time in 1985, and actually getting excited, and wanting to own the album.

You can find all of the music on both iTunes and Amazon.

Lloyd Cole & the Commotions iTunes and Amazon
Haircut 100 iTunes and Amazon
Nik Kershaw iTunes and Amazon
Fine Young Cannibals iTunes and Amazon

Countdown to the weekend has begun...

New Years Resolutions

2012-01-26T19:00:00.004-05:00

Clockwise: Dylan Rice; Breathe; Tom Waits; and Shane Mack.

I decided that since we are coming up on the last week of January, it was time to discuss all those New Years Resolutions that were made in a fit of panic, or a somewhat altered state. No matter the case, for a majority of people, by this time all the Resolutions made have been broken in one way or another. They have been forgotten, actively abolished, or willpower has not held. But, no matter the reason, they hare a thing of the past, much like certain bets in bars with your best friend, or promises to call that one-night-stand the next day. So,whenever I hear resolutions or the aforementioned promises being made, I feel like shouting one thing: lies! Even on New Years Eve, as a friend is sipping on their cocktail, once they start the sentence with "my New Years Resolution will be..." I hear Dylan Rice singing in my head, to his amazing song off the 2004 album Wandering Eyes. Yes, my mind starts hearing The Lie.

I have always loved that song, and that whole album. You can find Dylan Rice on iTunes and on Amazon.

There are also times when my 1980s retrospective comes online, and the next thing I know, I am hearing the lovely voices of Breathe sing on of their big hits, Don't Tell Me Lies from the 1987 album All That Jazz. Man, this is so infectious, there are times I swear I can't get it out of my head!

See, now it might be stuck in your head! You can find Breathe on iTunes and on Amazon.

And there are many times she the gorgeous voice of the handsome Shane Mack comes into my head, singing to something I or a close friend has said. Well, that he sang, as part of the soundtrack to the Movie Shelter, released in 2007. I have been waiting for at least five years for Mack to put out an album, and have yet to be greeted with a definite answer. Until then, I will be content to listen to Lie To Me by Shane.

That song is all kinds of sexy and sultry, I think I would lose it if I saw him performing that in person. You can find Shane Mack on Music From The Here! Original Film Shelter on iTunes and on Amazon.

And, finally, we have a sweet little ditty by the same name by the outrageously talented Tom Waits. Here is Tom singing Lie To Me from his 2006's Orphans album. And check out this clever video for the song.

I just find Waits almost impossible to resist. You can find Tom Waits on iTunes and on Amazon. And that is what I think of New Years Resolutions!

Chris Keys • New Day EP

2012-01-26T09:00:00.003-05:00

I have discovered that another of my favorite indie musicians, Chris Keys, has new music out. I was delighted to find New Day on iTunes, and make it a part of my music collection. First, let me reminisce a bit, to that fine day a couple of years ago when I ran across the music of a talented musician from Belfast, Northern Ireland. I was immediately charmed by the slight smoke in his voice, and such honesty in his words. I loved songs like Shooting Star and Seven Seas, and they quickly went into rotation on my iPod. I am amused that I can look back, and see that I first wrote about him on this blog more than two years ago, here and here. But that was then, and this is now. I recently downloaded his latest release, New Day, and find he still knows how to make music that charms me to the core. Take, for instance, the title cut, New Day. Listen and watch this sweet performance.

I thought that was wonderful, so sweet, so honest. The New Day EP is a six-song collection, settled with beautiful songs that tell great stories in the tradition of Irish music. And much like one of my favorite Irish singer/songwriters, Van Morrison, the final product is more than just a story, it is a wonderful journey connected to the soul. I love the ride he takes me on when he sings Shadows, a song off New Day.

Over the past few years, I heard a maturity in both Chris' voice, and his original material. The new music found on New Day just speaks to me so completely, so totally, I can't stop listening. One of my favorites is You and I.

The New Day EP is available on iTunes and Amazon. You can find out more about Chris Keys by visiting his official website here. You can also watch more live performances on his YouTube channel here.

Ladies Take On The Beatles

2012-01-25T19:00:00.004-05:00

Clockwise: Karen Carpenter; Marianne Faithfull; Emmylou Harris; and Judy Collins.

After listening once again to the first entry of this post, I was inspired to seek out other covers of Beatles songs, and found some incredible performances by many gorgeous voices. There are way more than the four that I post here, but picked these because of the purity of the voice, and the honesty they brought to the table that made them stand out. So I will start with Karen Carpenter's haunting version of Ticket To Ride. The song, written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, was a hit for the Beatles in 1965. In 1969, it became the first song Richard and Karen Carpenter had on the Billboard charts.

You can find Ticket To Ride, both the single and the album, on iTunes and Amazon.

A stalwart on the folk scene for the last 50 years, playing in coffee houses since the early 1960s. In 1967, she released her first album, In My Life. It had songs from some of the top writers of the 20th century, from Bob Dylan, Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill, Leonard Cohen, Jacques Brel, Randy Newman, Donovan, and, of course, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. In fact, the stunning singer used the Beatles tune as the title track. Here is Judy Collins singing the great ballad, In My Life.

You can find In My Life, both the single and the album, on iTunes and Amazon.

The stunning Marianne Faithful sang a beautiful version of the Lennon-McCartney song Yesterday in 1965. This was before she was having affairs with The Rolling Stones, before she discovered the joys and pitfalls of the 60s drug culture. It was when she was a beautiful girl, with a lovely voice, singing an early cover of a song that is perhaps the most covered song in the history of recorded music.

You can find Yesterday, part of her Greatest Hits collection, on iTunes and Amazon.

At times, there is just a very fine line between Country and Folk, a line that has often been blurred. You could easily say that an artist like Emmylou Harris has not only crossed that line, but made it useless. The brilliance of her tone, the amazing phrasing she has, all makes her an amazing artist. And in 1975, she released an album that included Here, There and Everywhere, a song written by Paul McCartney, but credited to the Lennon-McCartney catalog. Elite Hotel was an amazing album, and the cover was just beautiful.

You can find Elite Hotel or the single Here, There & Everywhere, on iTunes and Amazon.

TimPermanent • Busy Video

2012-01-25T09:00:00.002-05:00

I can't help it, I am such a big fan of Singer/songwriter TimPermanent and his delightful music. Tim has released a new video for the song Busy off the Resident album. As I said in a previous post here, I love Resident, and am excited we are starting to see the videos.

The new video was produced and edited by TJ Daly, and features images of Tim shot by photographer David B. Arenas. It has the charming feel of a stop-action video, almost a clay-mation. Photographer Arenas captured the spirit and joy of the man and the song. I am crazy about this video!

For more about TimPermanent, you can find him on the official website here. You can find TimPermanent on iTunes and Amazon, where you can purchase he single Busy or the Resident album. I hear that Tim is already working on a video for Dance Floor Lost, one of my favorites off the album! Can't wait!

Big Mama Thornton

2012-01-24T19:00:00.004-05:00

It is hard to imagine anyone not knowing who Willie Mae Thornton, although some might know her by her nickname, Big Mama Thornton. She began singing in bars in the 1940s, and soon had a career of her own. She sang solo or a part of bands, and often joined in on harmonica or drums when she could. She was a large, formidable woman, earning the nickname of Big Mama. However, she was often seen wearing men's clothing on stage, and was rumored to have had many relationships with other women. It is generally accepted Big Mama was a proud member of the LGBT community. And like many artists of the time, Big Mama was chased by her demons during her life, in her case the demon was alcohol.

Big Mama recorded a little known song by now-legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1952. Hound Dog was a big hit, but was moved to obscurity when it was released by Elvis Presley in 1956. But it is hard to listen to Big Mama's version and not see her influence on Presley.

Ball 'N' Chain was written and recorded by Big Mama in 1969. It was a hit for Janis Joplin in 1968, on the Cheap Thrills album. As was often the case for songwriters back then, especially if they might be a minority, Big Mama was denied any royalties from the Joplin recording of her song. It did, however, give her a new audience of blues fans looking for great music.

Big Mama recorded Summertime, the great song by George Gershwin with lyrics are by DuBose Heyward for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. It was also recorded by Joplin, also on the 1968 album, Cheap Thrills. Big Mama's version is quite wonderful.

For the final clip of the post, I offer up Rock Me Baby, a blues standard recorded by BB King, who had a hit with it in 1964. It was perfect for Big Mama, who could play the harmonica for it.

Big Mama's health was not good for the latter stages of her life, with her weight, diabetes, and injuries from a car accident all took a toll. And, of course, the drinking. It was said Big Mama survived the later years on a diet of gin-spiked milk, and lost a great deal of weight. She died somewhat destitute in Los Angeles in 1984, just 57 years old. You can find a great collection of her music on iTunes and Amazon.

Casey James • Let's Don't Call It A Night

2012-01-24T09:00:00.010-05:00

As the eleventh season of American Idol is starting off, I thought it might be nice to visit some of the former contestants. Not sure why, but I am starting with one of my favorite contestants from Season 9, Casey James. I will readily admit that the 2010 season was a tough one, with only two or three contestants I really liked, and only two I wold be interested in hearing the post-Idol music. I thought Crystal Bowersox was a talented musician, and I never got the interest in winner Lee DeWyze, but he certainly wasn't the first winner to confound me. He might not be one of the few gay performers on the show, but I loved Casey's Southern Rock sound, that bluesy feeling he added to his rocky Nashville sound. It was like he was the lost Allman brother, found playing with Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Once the season was over, I kept hoping we'd hear some music from him. After 2010 passed, and there was music from the others, I didn't know what to think. By the middle of 2011, I just figured this was another one of those contestants that would be lost somewhere, and maybe he would be putting out his own stuff soon. Turns out he was signed by Sony/Nashville, and released his first single in August. I missed it completely. But I have it now, and really like it. Let's Don't Call It A Night has a nice sound. While I wasn't looking, the song made it into the Country Top 40, landing at #32. Check out Let's Don't Call It A Night.

You can purchase Let's Don't Call It A Night on iTunes and Amazon. While doing some detective work, it appears he will have an album coming out this Spring, possibly March. I am looking forward to it. You can find more about Casey James and his post-Idol life on his official website here. You can find him on Twitter here.

Happy Birthday, Chita Rivera!

2012-01-23T19:00:00.001-05:00

On January 23, 1933, Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero was born in Washington, DC. The beautiful young girl, known affectionately as Chita, grew up with a desire to perform, and in 1952 made her Broadway debut in Call Me Madam. That was followed by roles in Guys And Dolls and Can-Can, before landing the role that established her as the Broadway superstar she remains. In 1957, she appeared in a show with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, a book by Arthur Laurents, and choreography by Jerome Robbins. Chita played Anita in West Side Story, and shined like the star she was. However, once it was being filmed in Hollywood, Anita was played by Rita Moreno. In 1960, she starred as Rosie Alvarez in the new Broadway music Bye-Bye Birdie, to much acclaim. However, when the movie was released in 1963, it was Janet Leigh how played the role of Rosie DeLeon.

In some ways, Chita's performance in the 1969 film Sweet Charity was groundbreaking. There you have two women of color, a Latina and an African American, in major roles in a studio motion picture. Sweet Charity was directed by the brilliant Bob Fosse, who also did the choreography. Of course, that is unmistakable in the musical number, Hey, Big Spender!

In 1975, Chita was in another Broadway hit, Chicago. It was directed and choreographed by the great Bob Fosse. In the following clip, Chita and costar Gwen Verdon perform Nowadays and Honey Pot Rag from Chicago with a guest spot for Hal Linden. This was on the Mike Douglas Show, a talk show I remember well from my youth. Keep in mind that when Chicago opened on Broadway, Miss Verdon was 50, and Miss Rivera was 42. And, oh, could they dance. And after the number, they chat with the host.

Chita appeared on The Judy Garland Show in early 1964. She duets with Judy on I Believe In You, and does a solo turn with I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'. There is so much creamy goodness going on here, I just gotta shut up and let you watch.

In 1984, Chita starred in the Broadway musical The Rink with Liza Minnelli, playing her mother. The music was written by the dynamic duo of John Kander and Fred Ebb, winning her first Tony Award. This is a song from the show, The Apple Doesn't Fall (Very Far From The Tree). Of course, we all know who the character of Liza's mother might be based on...

In 1993, the sixty-year-old Rivera returned to Broadway in the smash hit Kiss Of The Spider Woman. In her role of Aurora, she stole the show night after night. For the greatness, she was awarded the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical once again. This is a clip of the cast singing Where You Are on the Tony Awards broadcast.

So, Chita Rivera, for all this you deserve a great big cake and the huge chorus of Happy Birthday!

Get Soul Circus Cowboys to the Grammys!

2012-01-23T12:45:00.000-05:00

I got a message from my dear friend Joni, asking if I could help out a band she knows, so they can play at the Grammy Awards. As I can never turn Joni down, I decided to post it on the blog. But first I checked them out - you know I had to. Well, they are a talented band with a Country Rock sound. Check out their video for Lay It Down.

So here is the messeage they sent their fan and good friend Joni:

This is it, last day to vote!!! Please vote, share this link, call your friends, call your family, and share share share. Thanks for all the support!

Vote for Soul Circus Cowboys to Play the Grammys!

Soul Circus Cowboys have been nominated for a chance to play the Grammys, but they need your help! Please click on the link below and cast your votes. Each Facebook account gets 10 votes per day. Please vote daily and help them rock the Grammy's. After you have voted, please share the link to your Facebook and ask your friends to do the same. Be sure to ask them to vote for Soul Circus Cowboys! Voting ends on the 24th. Vote everyday, ask your friends to vote every day. Thanks for the love and support

- Soul Circus Cowboys

You can vote on Facebook here. Joni assures me you can get in ten votes in under one minute!

Tributes to Etta James

2012-01-22T19:00:00.000-05:00

Clockwise: Etta James; Reba McEntire; Beyoncé; Jason Walker; and Adele.
This weekend, we lost a beautiful and talented singer who shared her gift with the world for more than six decades. Etta James has been performing since the early 1950s, and by 1955, she was recording and releasing songs that were hitting the charts. James was known for using her brilliant voice on soul and blues songs, and in later years, bringing her blues to jazz as well. She left this world on January 20, 2012, after a long battle with leukemia. The following songs were all recorded before Etta's passing, but they still make for an amazing tribute to a gifted singer who inspired so many. In 1961, Etta James released The Second Time Around, a truly beautiful album. First up, we have the red-hot Adele to sing Fool That I Am, a hit off that album.

In 1961, Etta James had the At Last! album, and while the title track scored much of the attention, the album also had a track written by Barbara Belle, Anita Leonard, Stan Rhodes, and Louis Prima, that demanded the attention of the public. In 1988, Reba McEntire released her 13th studio album, which had songs that sounded more Pop and Country. Among the songs Reba sang on Reba was Sunday Kind of Love, first made popular by Ella Fitzgerald in 1947, and later by Etta. Here is Reba's very beautiful cover of Sunday Kind Of Love.

Jason Walker sings At Last, a huge hit for Etta in 1961. It was off the At Last! album, and quickly became a standard, not just for James, but really a jazz standard. Enjoy while Jason puts his amazing talent to use on the song.

In 2008, the world was abuzz when superstar Beyoncé was cast to play James in the biography, Cadillac Records. In the movie, Beyoncé sang many of James' big hits, and exposed yet another generation to her music. That included little Rachel Crow, who sang I'd Rather Go Blind on the premiers season of X-Factor in the US. So this is the version by Beyoncé from the movie. Enjoy.

Sunday Morning with Elvis Presley

2012-01-22T10:00:00.004-05:00

It just occurred to me that we needed a little bit of Gospel from Elvis. I mean, how about having the King bring a little bit of Sunday morning to everyone. We can start with Elvis singing a gospel music arrangement of an 18th century hymn. That would be Oh Happy Day.

And then we can give a listen to How Great Thou Art?, a Christian hymn based on a Swedish poem written by Carl Gustav Boberg in 1885, set to the melody of a Swedish folk song. British missionary Stuart K. Hine made the English translation, and also added two original verses of his own composition. It has been performed by some of the biggest names in the music business, but not sure if any would be bigger than Elvis.

Peace In The Valley was a song written in 1937 by Thomas A. Dorsey for the great Mahalia Jackson. Elvis began singing it in the 1950s, with the support of the legendary The Jordanaires. The song also managed to make it on the soundtrack of the Broadway smash Million Dollar Quartet, sung by "Elvis" on Broadway eight times a week. Here is Elvis from the Ed Sullivan Show, with The Jordanaires behind him.

Thank you very much, y'all.

Rest In Peace, Etta James

2012-01-21T19:00:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, January 20, 2011, the world lost a voice , one that spoke with an honesty and the depth of her soul, supplied only by a life well-lived. Now the woman who has shared of herself so freely is gone, but has left so many great recordings behind for all to listen to, and learn from. Of course, there was the song for which Etta is most strongly remembered, At Last. The song was written in 1941 by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film Orchestra Wives. While other recordings do exist, it was Etta's magnificent 1961 recording that will always be regarded as the definitive version of the song.

This year, a cute thirteen-year-old made quite the impact on television when she sang a song first recorded by Etta. Young Rachel Crow took to the stage on the X-Factor, and did an amazing job with I'd Rather Go Blind. But it was James' 1968 that propelled the song, written by Ellington Jordan and Billy Foster, to become a blues classic. Here is Etta performing the song with BB King and his orchestra, and Dr. John.

The album Tell Mama was recording in December of 1967, and released in 1968. The first single was the title cut, and it was released before the album, and created a bit of a stir with strong reviews. Here is Miss Etta James performing Tell Mama live at the 1989 Montreux Jazz Festival.

In 1989, Etta James released what many viewed as a 'comeback' album. Like many others, Miss James had fought her demons, and it seemed like she finally had them conquered. She released a new album of blues music, including the next song, Damn Your Eyes, off the album Seven Year Itch. It was written by Steve Bogard and Barbara Wyrick, and sung to perfection by Etta James.

In 1963, James released Etta James Top Ten, and collection of her hits from the previous couple of years. It is certainly a collection worth owning, as it includes some iconic songs, like At Last, Fool That I Am, and Sunday Kind Of Love, as well as a wonderful song written by Etta, Leroy Kirkland, and Pearl Woods. Here is a live performance of Something's Got A Hold On Me.

Rest In Peace, Etta James. You earned it.

The Birth of the Pack

2012-01-21T10:00:00.001-05:00

The Rat Pack sings Birth Of The Blues. Who are the Rat Pack? They were a group featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. They sometimes appeared together on stage and in films in the early-1960s, including the movie Ocean's 11. In the clip below, the reported ringleaders of the Rat Pack, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra, get a little help from Johnny Carson as they sing the song written by Ray Henderson, the lyrics by Buddy G. DeSylva and Lew Brown in 1926, and recorded by Cab Calloway in the mid 1940s. However, it could be argued the most famous version of the song was by Frank Sinatra, which he often sang with his fellow Rat Packers.

Friday Night Dance Party • 1982

2012-01-20T19:00:00.001-05:00

Clockwise: Evelyn "Champagne" King; D.Train; Vanity; and Chaz Jankel.

Do you remember where you were thirty years ago? The year was 1982, and I was having quite the year. I was finishing up college in Reading, Pennsylvania. In the fall, I moved to Louisville, Kentucky, to start an internship at The Actor's Theatre of Louisville, a prestigious regional theater. I was the intern for the shop, and was helping to build sets for the season. The next year, after returning home, I would be moving to New York City. So I decided to check out the top dance songs found on the Billboard magazine Hot Dance Club Play number one hits of 1982. While I was busy working at ATL, enjoying the work with Tech Director Tom, Master Carpenter Joel, and carpenter Sly, so there was no time for me to go out to any of the dance clubs. Hey, I didn't even have a car, and had to depend on the kindness of other for a ride. But Prince was certainly making his presence felt on the charts, since the #1 on the Dance Chart for the month of November was by the group Vanity 6, put together by the artist currently known as Prince. He also wrote the song, although the credit was given to lead singer Vanity. The song was Nasty Girl, and it was fantastic!

I moved to Louisville in September, and had a small furnished apartment to myself. My only source of music was an alarm clock/radio I brought with me, and I had more of a penchant to listening to rock, but rock was tough to find in Louisville. But I remember Love Comes Down from Pop radio, as the song made it into the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. But it was also #1 on the Dance charts for three straight weeks in September & October for the effervescent Evelyn "Champagne" King. Here is King singing the great song written by Kashif, whose star shone so bright in the 80s and 90s.

In the early part of 1982, I was trying to figure out what I would be doing once I was out of college. It was then I got together with my adviser, Lynn Morrow, and came up with the plan to take the internship at ATL before moving to New York. There I would be meeting up with Bill, who was also leaving Reading in the fall to attend grad school at Columbia. Yes, there was much on my mind, but I do remember that, for seven consecutive weeks, from February 20 to April, the #1 dance song in the charts was Chaz Jankel. With one of the more interesting packaging ploys, with a trio of "A" sides, Glad To Know You, 3,000,000 Synths, and Ai No Corrida, were topping the chart. Jankel was best known for his work with Ian Drury as part of the rock band Ian Drury and the Blockheads in the 1970s. It is said that Drury brought the rock, while Jankel brought the funk to give the band a distinctive sound. So here he is delivering his own groove in Ai No Corrida, a song he also wrote.

I have to admit, at the early part of 1982, I was going out to The Glass Door in Reading, Pennsylvania, the big gay club in town. I would go out with Bill and dance and play. This was a great time. We'd go out, meet up with Russel-Bob and others, and drink a bit too much, and dance a bit too hard. We'd head home a sweaty mess. And I do remember dancing to the final song in this post. For three weeks in a row, from the end of January until the middle of February, the #1 Dance song in the clubs was D. Train singing You're The One For Me. While D. Train was officially a duo mad up of James "D. Train" Williams and Hubert Eaves III, Williams was the face and voice of the group. The song first hit the charts in 1981, but came back the following year with a great dance remix.

Whew, might be time to go shower after all that dancing!

Will Young • Friday's Child

2012-01-20T09:00:00.001-05:00

I really just love Will Young's Friday's Child, and thought now would be a great time to put it out there. The album of the same name was released in December of 2003, and went to #1 in the UK, selling Platinum 5-times over. The song has a certain sultry, sexy feeling to it.

I am a big fan of Young. His voice is just so sweet, so true. Also, Will came out as a gay man shortly after winning the first Pop Idol series in the UK, the 'daddy' of the Idol contests around the world. Just last summer, Will released Jealousy, another steamy one from Will.

You can purchase the Friday's Child album on iTunes and on Amazon. You can order an import of Echoes, the album that features Jealousy, here.

Flo Anito • Uh Oh

2012-01-19T19:00:00.003-05:00

I met Flo Anito when I was taking part of the music video by Tom Goss for It's All Over. The shoot was taking place in Washington, DC, in a park. Flo played the part of the jogger in the park, and later a guest at the backyard party. I can't be sure, but I swear she is checking out Tom's butt in that video...

During the shoot, I enjoyed talking to her, and shared some laughs. She was quite nice, smart, and quite funny. At some point, there was a CD playing in the garage of the party shoot, and I thought it had an interesting sound. It turns out, it was Flo's CD, No Dustbunnies. Honestly, I had forgotten about it, until I recently saw a new video was posted, for the song Uh Oh!

Flo's vocals are a combination of styles and sounds, like Kate Bush with a total American spin. There is an exuberance in her music, a real joy. On first listen to her album, I had an immediate infatuation with Change My Life, Uh Oh!, Mean, and the title track. I managed to find No Dustbunnies, and will be happy to share it with you.

Flo Anito's album, No Dustbunnies, is available on iTunes and on Amazon. You can find her on the web at her official website here.

Silence = Protest

2012-01-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

I am joining Wikipedia in the internet blackout to protest the SOPA/PIPA laws that will be discussed by both Congress and the Senate. Please take a moment to contact your representatives about their position on these proposed laws. As Wikipedia has said, "In a post SOPA/PIPA world, Wikipedia --and many other useful informational sites-- cannot survive in a world where politicians regulate the Internet based on the influence of big money in Washington. It represents a framework for future restrictions and suppression. Congress says it's trying to protect the rights of copyright owners, but the "cure" that SOPA and PIPA represent is much more destructive than the disease they are trying to fix."

GLEE Redux • Yes/No

2012-01-17T21:15:00.000-05:00

Clockwise: Roberta Flack; Rihanna; Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta; The Rolling Stones; Usher & David Guetta; 5th Dimension; and Maroon 5.

The show kicks off with a musical number, as Mercedes and Sam tell their own sides of their summer romance to their friends with Summer Nights, from the musical Grease, and the movie featuring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta.

Becky is up next, and we are hearing her diary, talking about the boys in the school. the voice has a surprising English accent, and the voice of Helen Mirren. Seems Becky has a thing for Arty, a fellow handicapable student. Sue tells her to ask him out, although she preferred the guy she asked to prom. And the next thing we know, Coach Beiste is married to Cooter, for they eloped. This makes Miss Pillsbury wistful, and she sings Wedding Bell Blues, the great song written by Laura Nyro for the 5th Dimension.

Sam is chasing after Mercedes, trying to get a date. She refuses his advances, for she has a boyfriend now, Shane. But memories of their time together does bring a smile to her lips as she walks away. Artie seems to be interested in asking Sugar Motta out, but she turns him down. But this gives Becky the opportunity to ask him out. He hadn't answered, but the shot goes to black as she brushes his bangs, like Streisand and Redford in The Way We Were. Mr. Schuester decides to ask Miss Pillsbury to marry him, and asks the kids to come up the perfect song. Sam decides he needs a varsity letter, so he joins the synchronized swim team. The coach is Roz Washington, played by NeNe Leaks, of Real Housewives fame. After his first practice, he gets dueling slushies, and Mercedes tries to offer a hand to clean up before Shane wants to take her away to class. Artie decides Mr. Schue needs to show off his great moves, and thinks the song should be the Maroon 5 hit, Moves Like Jagger.

They perform it as a mash-up, of course, with the Rolling Stones great song, Jumpin' Jack Flash.

Becky watched as Artie sang, and we learn that was going to be Artie's idea of a date. Becky has other ideas, and made reservations at the restaurant. Soon it is time for the girls to give Mr. Schue their song. After hearing him tell of the first time he met Miss Pillsbury, they know the choice. They sing First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, written in 1957 by Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger, who was later to become his wife.

While they sing, we of course see shots of their own loves. Rachel sees Finn, Tina sees Mike, Santana sees Brittany, and Mercedes, she sees Sam. She is unsure about what she should do. Mr. Schue decides to ask Miss Pillsbury's parents for her hand, and they refuse. They think she is too crazy... Back in the chorus room, the kids try a GLEE-tervention, and tell Artie to be careful with Becky, and Artie is angered that they were being so mean about Becky.

Soon we see Mr. Schue, Miss Pillsbury, and Carole and Burt, Finn's mother and step-father, joining Finn in a room. Mr. Schue has mentioned Finn's desire to join the Army, and be a war hero like his father. We learn his father didn't die a hero in battle, but was back in Ohio, and it was an overdose, as he was struggling with his addiction. Becky approaches Arty in the hall, and she is more than flirtatious. She also sends him a shot of herself, and he goes to Sue. She gives him the great advice, to treat Becky like any other girl. Back in their apartment, Miss Pillsbury talks about marriage to Will, and he puts it off, mentioning she might be too deep in her illness to handle a baby. She is hurt, and tells him she does her best, and he needs to think about what he wants, and what he doesn't.

Finn, Kurt, and Rachel are eating at Breadstix, and having a bit of a pity party. As Finn is complaining about having nothing "special" in his life, Rachel sings Without You, the song by David Guetta featuring Usher.

While Finn meets Rachel so they can make out in the classroom, Mr. Schue has to consider so many choices he will make, including the song to use for a proposal, if he even does ask Miss Pillsbury to marry him. After a commercial break, it appears Mr. Schue has done his thinking, and he invites Miss Pillsbury to join him in the pool area, where the girls sing We Found Love by Rihanna, and there is synchronized swimming going on.

Mr. Schue, in a white tuxedo and tails, jumps in the pool, and comes out to make a proper proposal of marriage. She, of course, says yes. Artie talks to Becky, and tells her he doesn't want to date, but to be friends. We hear her British inner-voice to say she knows it is because she has Downs Syndrome. She cries, but Sue is there to hold her hand, and help her through it. Finn is with Rachel on the stage, fand he wants to talk to her. He explains how much he loves her, and asks Rachel to marry him. She is surprised, and doesn't answer right away. And the episode is over. But there is previews for the next episode, a Michael Jackson theme on January 31st.

Abrupt Decision

2012-01-17T19:00:00.003-05:00

Abrupt Decision is the latest film from Silly Bunny Pictures, an independent production company with writer/director/actor Paul Bright exercising creative control. The film features excellent performances from Steve Callahan, best known for his great work in East Side Story, David LaDuca and Cynthia Schiebel, both of who have been in other feature films for Bright, the lovely Jaquelyn Lies, and another pair of Silly Bunny regulars, Peggy Mae Binn, and Matthew Burnett. As is always the case, Bright directs with a deft hand, telling a story of very real characters with no contrivance nor heaviness. The script, written by Paul, tells a great tale of people in real life situations that reflect our society today, with economic struggles in abundance.

Denis (Callahan) not having a good time. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize it until it is too late. He is late for work, awakened by the neighbor and their morning gunshot. In a tough economy, he loses his job when he is fired by his boss (Bright). He comes home to discover his boyfriend Milosz (LaDuca) is far from happy, his mother (Schiebel) visiting, and a party full of impatient men waiting for mama to leave to get naked in the pool. He blurts out his jobless state, surprising all.

As Denis approaches middle-age, he is obviously in crisis. He is looking for a job, searching for a true purpose, and maybe how to rediscover love. While out looking for a job, he stumbles across a pet shelter, and thinks about getting a puppy, as his mother suggested. He goes home to think about it, and builds a dog house. Milosz is not impressed with the idea, yet Denis plods on. When he returns to the shelter, he finds out 'his' dog has been euthanized.

After several failed interviews, Denis decides to try working from the home. Soon the pressures of the situation take a toll on the relationship. The more time they spend together, the more Milosz and Denis seem to be at odds. Soon Denis' turmoil drives him back to the shelter, and saves the next two dogs. And then he must rush to the hospital. He gets arrives with the two dogs fresh from the shelter. This immediately cheers up his mother, the patient. The next day, she demands to see them again, watching her 'grandchildren.' As pressures continues to escalate, Denis must make his abrupt decision. But it is in perhaps his darkest hour that Denis must figure out a plan to rise again. And he does so with a growing family of dogs. It seem like the dogs offer a lifeline for Denis, a calming force in a rather tumultuous time. But can the pets, who Denis adopted to keep alive, save Denis? You'll have to watch to see how it all turns out. Here is a trailer for the movie.

Abrupt Decision reminds me that when the world is lets us down; be it family, loved ones or career, the love of a furry friend can save us. We might think of them as rescue animals, but in truth, it is they who save us. They rejuvenate our tired soul, and nourish our hearts. And very much like the shelter dogs in the film, Abrupt Decision lifted me up in a warm embrace.

I was particularly happy when I DVD arrived, for this marks the first time I have ever been featured as a reviewer on the cover! I had received from Silly Bunny Pictures sent me a screening copy to review. It is quite an honor, especially since it is a production company and director I respect highly, since seeing the premiere feature, Angora Ranch.

For more about Abrupt Decision, you can find the official website here. The DVD has several special features, including interviews with the cast, behind the scenes clips, chapter breakdowns, and some nice short films by Silly Bunny Pictures. You can purchase the film directly from Silly Bunny Pictures here for just $12 + shipping. You can also find it on Amazon here, for a cost of $17.99.

Guy Sebastian & Jordin Sparks • Art Of Love

2012-01-17T09:00:00.002-05:00

Well, I have been waiting and waiting until I could To have a good video for Guy Sebastian & Jordin Sparks singing Art Of Love. The song was written by Sebastian and Adam Reilly for Guy's album Like It Like That. It is a beautiful R&B ballad that makes exceptional use of the voices of Sebastian and Sparks, who show perfect technique while delivering the emotion of the song. They manages to show both strength and vulnerability.

Both Guy & Jordin have more in common than just this song. Guy won the very first season of Australian Idol in 2003, while Jordin posted her win in season 6 of American Idol in 2007. And both have voices that can be haunting one song, and defiant on the next. You can purchase Guy Sebastian's Like It Like That on iTunes or Amazon. You can find out more about Guy Sebastian on his official website here. You can learn more about Jordin Sparks on her website here.

Duncan Sheik Covers The 80s

2012-01-15T19:00:00.003-05:00

I have had a bit of a crush on Duncan Sheik for the better part of 16 years, starting with my fascination with his first hit song, Barely Breathing. I've been a fan since, and have the self-titled debut, as well as Daylight, Whisper House, White Limousine, and the latest, Covers 80's, as a part of my collection. And when I first heard of the latest, I have to admit to rolling my eyes just a bit. After all, Duncan was a singer/songwriter, one whose talents I greatly admire. Why in the name of all that is holy would he be doing an album of compositions of others? And some of the greatest British New Wave bands of the time? Did my questions stop me from buying it? No, not at all. And after the first time I listened, I rolled my eyes alright, at my own ability to think I know better than the artist, cause I really like the album!

On Covers 80's, Sheik definitely puts his own spin, his own mojo on the songs. There is a peace, a calm, that is part of all the arrangements, some sort of Zen Sheik-ness. He handles the covers sweetly, but not gingerly. This isn't a karaoke album, filled with original arrangements with Duncan's vocals laid over them. He deconstructs each song, and tailored them to his own specs, and rejuvenates them. With this 12-song effort, he covers Depeche Mode, the Thompson Twins, New Order, The Cure, Howard Jones, Love And Rockets, Tears For Fears, Japan, Talk Talk, The Smiths, The Blue Nile, and the Psychedelic Furs. This is quite a cross-section of the period, and quite the daunting task. Unless, of course, you are Duncan Sheik.

There are several of his covers that infatuated me, including So Alive, the cover of the Love And Rockets song. It couldn't be more different than the original, which was this sexy, whispered, almost guttural call of the teenager for sex. Sheik's cover taps into his maturity, and is more of a search for something more. Here is the video for So Alive.

Of course, he picked a song by Depeche Mode, who in so many ways define the shifting scene of 80s music, from their early music that was Electro-Pop fun, to the dark and sexy rebellion of the teens. Sheik went for the 1986 release, Stripped, off the Black Celebration album. This is the first track off the album, and the sparse arrangement begins this journey, letting us know that the album will be "Stripped down to the bone." Sheik injects a bit of innocence to the song, and a softness. This is his version of Stripped.

I am a huge fan of the Psychedelic Furs, even before they reached mass audiences with the soundtrack to Pretty In Pink, the John Hughes teen epic. Lead singer Richard Butler had such a distinctive voice, the band had such a strong sound. So when I saw Duncan was planning to cover the 1986 hit The Ghost In You, I didn't know what to expect. Thankfully, he did a wonderfully touching job, once I truly enjoyed.

And can you believe he took on another of the holiest of sacred cows? Yes, I am talking about New Order. Duncan managed to pull up Love Vigilantes, a song off the 1985 album Low-Life. This song wasn't a single off the album, that was The Perfect Kiss. But this is a great song. And Sheik does a great job with it.

This is just a taste for four of the twelve songs on the album. I am also crazy about his cover of Kyoto Song, by The Cure. For more about Duncan Sheik, you can visit his official website here. You can find Covers 80's on iTunes and Amazon.

Sunday Morning with the Staple Singers

2012-01-15T10:00:00.001-05:00

For those living in some altered state or something, I'll give a little background on today's Sunday featured artist, The Staple Singers. This family-based group was made up of Roebuck "Pops" Staples with his children Cleotha, Pervis, Yvonne, and Mavis. They started out singing spiritual and gospel music in the 1950s, and by the end of the 1960s, they were also recording Pop music. However, they were best known for their uplifting spiritual music, and the amazing talent of their voices.

Help Me, Jesus was included on the 1961 release, Swing Low Sweet Chariot. It was written by Pops Staples, and sung as only this family could.

This next song was off the same 1961 album. Swing Down, Chariot (Let Me Ride) was written by Pops Staples

This May Be The Last Time was recorded by the Staple Singers in 1955. Later it was used as the inspiration for the Rolling Stones song, The Last Time. But here are the Staple Singers delivering the traditional favorite.

Finally, this is Mavis Staples singing their 1971 hit, Respect Yourself. The song was written by Luther Ingram and Mack Rice during the groups time at Stax Records. Mavis still sounds amazing in this 2004 recording, even at age 65.

Dame Shirley Bassey Sings Broadway

2012-01-14T19:00:00.001-05:00

Earlier this week, the amazing Dame Shirley Bassey celebrated a birthday. She was born on January 8, 1937, and found fame in the 1950s, singing with a beautiful instrument. By the 1960s, she was best known for singing some of the great movie theme songs out there, from the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979). The supple and rich tone of her voice, coupled with a true exuberance, was often amazing, and never disappointing.

She has often been referred to as the most successful female vocalist in the UK for the 20th century, and some would argue she was the tops for all times. And it would be hard to argue with that, as she has sustained a career for over six decades, and shows no signs of of lessening the glow of her talent. "For services to entertainment", Bassey was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) on 31 December 1999 by Queen Elizabeth II. She was awarded France's top honor, the Legion d'Honneur, to signify her popularity and importance in the culture of France.

But all that can take a back seat to what brought such accolades, the voice. Here is a collection of songs Bassey has performed that had their start in a Broadway musical, starting with a little number from a Broadway musical I first saw while on a trip the London back in the 1970s. A Chorus Line opened on Broadway in 1975 to much acclaim. And a great deal of that was given to Marvin Hamlisch, who composed the music with lyricist Edward Kleban. Here is Dame Shirley singing Kiss Today Goodbye from A Chorus Line.

With music by the immortal Jule Styne, and lyrics by the brilliant Bob Merrill, how could a show go wrong? Based on the life and love of singer/comedienne Fanny Brice, Funny Girl opened to rave reviews in 1964. Oh, yes, it had a little-known performer playing Fanny, a Miss Barbra Streisand. And here is Dame Shirley to sing People from Funny Girl.

Well, what can be said about any show that has music and lyrics by the incomparable Stephen Sondheim? Other than to say this song seems just perfect for Bassey, sitting in a luscious spot in her register, and her history certainly adding a layer or two of depth and pain. Dame Shirley sings Send In The Clowns from A Little Night Music.

Bassey can do more than just nail a ballad, that is for sure. In 1966, a little music with musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon, opened on Broadway to stellar reviews. It was directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, and starred Fosse's wife, Gwen Verdon. The show about working girls in Times Square offers Dame Shirley an opportunity to have a bit of fun when she sings the delicious Hey Big Spender from Sweet Charity.