The Life and Times of Coltrane Jenkins

Old School Friday: Here Come The Drums

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000

For some reason, I love listening to P.E. during Black History Month... because I HATE B.H.M.... seriously, how can you separate black history from American History? Black History IS American History.

New Black Star - "You Already Knew"

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

It's been 13 years since Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star dropped... and the duo can still bring it! This track has been on repeat since I downloaded it last week. I can't wait until the full mixtape drops.

My Favorite Albums: Al Green's Call Me

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000

I’ve never used this phase before (and I hope to never useit again), but nothing else describes Al Green’s Call Me as well as theoft-used term Grown Folks Music.

I was first introduced to a few cuts from Call Me in 1995,on a double date just after graduating from high school. My buddy (RIP Leon)supplied the wheels and the music – a 1991 Saab and Al Green’s Best Of. While Iknew most of the tracks, two in particular stood out. “Call Me (Come Back Home)”and “You Ought To Be With Me” had grit to them. There was a heft in Al Green’s voice that I hadn’theard since discovering Billie Holiday.

Fast forward five years, and I as a slightly older and wiserrecently college graduate, I rediscover Call Me while in a music store one day.Though I was far from fully comprehending the depth of the album, I was able tofeel what Rev Al was singing. Though he would claim in his autobiography thathe hurned those songs out without real thought, those nine tracks stirredsomething in me.

“Call Me”, “Have You Been Making Out O.K.” and “Your Love IsLike The Morning Sun” are damn-near heartbreaking: to this day, I’ve neverheard a man beg for his woman with such hurt, class, and dignity (Keith Sweatneeds to take notes). I can’t say how grateful I am that I don’t know theheartbreak of those tracks.

For me, the two tracks that forever stand the test of time are“You Ought To Me With Me” and “Jesus Is Waiting”. The former is ballsy in its delivery:think Teddy Pendergrass does Memphis Soul. To this day, it remains one of myfavorite tracks. I actually played it for my then-girlfriend when I wasthinking about getting married.

“Jesus Is Waiting” signals Al’s slow departure from secularto gospel recordings. Though he spends 30 minutes belting out songs of lostlove (excluding the black-power “Stand Up”), Al winds down his magnum opus witha most real gospel song I’d ever heard.

I hope you enjoy these tracks as much as I have.

I'm back... kinda

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:33:00 +0000

It’s been 5 months since my last blog post… I actuallythought about shutting my site down… then I came across a comment by bartdogggywhile listening to Janelle Monae’s “Suite II” on YouTube:

Best album easily of 2010. Everything about it makes me wonderif this is how Stevie's fans felt in the 70s.

His comment hit home for me; I love this album and I can’twait for her next album to drop. More importantly, I love good music, and Ilove sharing my likes with others.

So I’m back… at least for a while

Old School Fridays - "Funny, he said I can call him up anytime"

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Last week Soulbounce posted a new track from one of my faves - Meshell Ndegeocello. That got me thinking of this video... which was one of her biggest hits. The video is... interesting. Not sure how I feel about the "interviews"... regardless, it's a good song.... nice and funky.

"Why'd She Have To Go" - Top Five Depressing Songs

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

I travel for work; I hate being gone for 3-4 days at atime. I miss my beautiful wife, my kids… and my music collection. In fact, whenI get home, I usually spend a few hours in my office, with the lights off, listeningto good music and drinking a cold beer.

That sounds kind of depressing, but it’s actually not… butthat being said, there are some songs that I avoid. Here are my top five most depressingsongs in my iTunes library:

"A House I Not a Home" – Luther Vandross

This song doesn't rate higher on the list, because he’s actuallysinging to her… so at least he has a chance to winning her back.

"By The Way" – Barbara Streisand

This is a relatively new add to my library (thanks to mybrother). I hope she’s not singing about Elliott Gould… whoever the guys is; he’scold. He even took the towels.

"Yesterday" - The Beatles

My kids were utterly confused when they overheard melistening to this song: “Why did she leave?” “Where did she go?” "Why didn’t she tell him where she was going?”

Finally, I gave up and switched to a song from The LittleMermaid.

"It Was A Very Good Year" - Frank Sinatra

Frank belted out some tear-jerkers in his time, but nothingbeats mob-movie favorite “It Was A Very Good Year”… maybe because it’s notabout love lost as much as it’s about time slipping away.

"Better Off Dead" - Bill Withers

Actually, if this was a list of depressing albums, BillWithers would still come in first. Just As I Am, his debut album, has fourgloomy tracks: “Hope She’ll Be Happier, Ain’t No Sunshine”, “I’m Her Daddy”,and our number 1 “Better Off Dead”. It’s clocks in at just under two and a halfminutes, but Billy makes the most of his time. He starts out with these lyrics:

“She couldn’t stand me anymore, so she just took the kids and went/ You see I’vegot a drinking problem, all the money that we had, I spent/Now I must die myown hand, ‘cuz I’m not man enough to live alone/She’s better off without me,and I’m better off dead now that she’s gone.”

And the ending… damn.

New Music: Thundercat's The Golden Age of Apocalypse

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:00:00 +0000

I am loving some of these tracks from Thundercat's latest release, The Golden Age of Apocalypse - especially "Is It Love", "For Love I Come" [a cover of George Dukes "For Love (I Come Your Friend)"] and "Boat Cruise". Just released last week (Aug 30th, 2011). Check it.

And yes... I even like the funky 20 second "Hooooo" intro (because I have a soft spot for the 80s cartoon and because it uses a sped-up sample of "For Love I Come").

[H/T - Steady Bloggin']

My Favorite Albums: Incognito's Positivity

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:17:00 +0000

Spring 1995: I was a senior in high school, preparing for graduation, submitting college applications… and getting ready for my senior prom.My senior year had turned out to be pretty good, and I was aiming for Senior Prom to be my magnum opus. I wanted to be the best dressed, smoothest, most sophisticated cat in the building.

By April, I had just about everything in order: my date locked down, the ride on lock (my mom’s brand new Buick LeSabre), my tuxedo selected (playerific… for 1995 at least)... all I needed was my mixtape.

As I’ve written about before, the perfect mixtape has to have six key elements:

The Intro Song
Transitions
Mid-Tempo Jams
Instrumental/Acoustics
Message Songs
Closers

I was set on most elements… all I needed was a signature song (aka “the message song’). I remember struggling for weeks to find the perfect song. Then one day, while I was sitting in my father’s flower shop, “Deep Waters” came across the radio. Maysa Leak’s vocals had me from the jump: “Is it a crime, for me to be feeling this way/I’m going out of my mind, and there’s no change from a runaway love”.

Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick’s masterpiece hit me square in the gut; at that moment, I knew my mixtape was complete.

Over fifteen years later, “Deep Waters” remains as one of my all-time favorite jams (it has one of the few 5 star ratings in my iTunes library). That song, by itself, is why Incognito’s Positivity is on my list of favorite albums (though don’t sleep on other cuts from the album; it’s chock full of great songs: the Maysa Leak-led “Still a Friend of Mine” and “Smiling Faces”, as well as the instrumental “Inversions”).

Enjoy.

The Best Music You've Never Heard: Michael Jackson

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:00:00 +0000

Note: For MJ's birthday, I've re-posted part 1 and 2 of a series I wrote in July.

Part 1

Don McLean’s mention of 'The Day The Music Died' (from “American Pie”) refers to February 3, 1959: the day Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash outside of Clear Lake, Iowa.

Unfortunately, June 25 2009 serves as another unofficial reference to that verse: the death of the The King of Pop.

Last weekend, radio stations across America played Michael’s greatest hits; I thought it would be nice to do something different. Instead of Michael’s chart-toppers, we’ll instead look at some of his lesser-known recordings.

I believe Michael Jackson’s career can be summarized in two chapters: pre 1979 and post 1979 (or as non-music aficionados would reference it – pre Off the Wall and post Off the Wall). Part One of this blog series will focus on the pre 1979 era, where Michael primarily recorded with his brothers and was backed by the machinery of Motown (and later Epic).

Motown had a stable of writers and producers to work with Michael - most notably The Corporation (Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Deke Richards, and Alphonzo Mizell) and Hal Davis. Motown scored a string of hits with Michael Jackson, both as a solo artist, and recording with the Jackson 5: “I Want You Back”, “The Love You Save”, “ABC”, “I’ll Be There”, “Never Can Say Goodbye”. Sometimes missed, however, are quality recordings that were never released as singles.

Motown took the Stylistics’ “People Make The World Go Round” and tweaked the lyrics to fit the baby-voiced Michael Jackson. While not as resonant as the original, Michael’s take is refreshing. His bubble-gum-pop voice actually gives the song a child-like innocence.

I first heard “If I Don’t Love You This Way” on Mary J. Blige’s Love & Life album. Her version is basically a line by line cover of the original, which was released on the Jackson 5’s Dancing Machine. Leon Ware (also the songwriter of the hit “I Wanna Be Where You Are”) crafted an airy ballad that fit Michael’s now-teenaged voice perfectly.

“One Day In Your Life” was recorded in 1974, but not released as a single until 1981 (to piggyback on Epic’s success with Off The Wall). Though Michael was a teenager at the time of the recording, the melancholy lyrics make him sound years older.

By 1976, The Jackson 5 (minus Jermaine) had moved to Epic and re-branded themselves as The Jacksons (with youngest brother Randy joining the group). Produced by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, The Jacksons album had the ‘Philadelphia Soul’ sound (funky horns, lush strings) of other Gamble and Huff produced artists, such as the O’Jays, Patti LaBelle, MFSB, and Teddy Pendergrass.

The underated “Strength of One Man” gets a double dose of philly soul (due to the songwriting duo McFadden and Whitehead). The chorus has a grittiness unheard of (at that time) from Michael Jackson; a grittiness that he would explore in later tracks such as “Dirty Diana”).

Part Two

Part One of this series focused on Michael's lesser known recordings prior to 1979's Off The Wall. Part Two covers 1979 through 2001's Invincible.

After Off The Wall dropped, Michael went back to work with his brothers, collaborating on 1980’s Triumph (which, in my opinion, is the best Jacksons/Jackson 5 album). By this point, the brothers were writing their own music, scoring hits with “Can You Feel It” and “This Place Hotel”. Oftern overlooked is the ballad “Time Waits For No One”… or as I call it, “She’s Out Of My Life, But With Balls”. Great writing by Jackie and Randy.

We all know everything there is to know about 1982’s Thriller… “Beat It” paved the way for black music on MTV… the moonwalk… the sequin glove…the eight Grammys… how 7 of the 9 tracks were charted in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 (and “Lady In My Life”, one of the two tracks not released as a single, would have easily been another Top 10). So given than, I’m giving love to often forgotten “Baby Be Mine”, which is a strong track, but gets overshadowed by other juggernauts. It's a classic Rod Temperton/Quincy Jones collaboration; in fact, one could argue that "Baby Be Mine" fits better on Off The Wall versus Thriller. Regardless, its a nice jam.

No one, absolutely no one, could top Thriller, but Michael did his damnest with Bad. Like Thriller, the track we’re highlighting is the only track not released as a single: the Steve Wonder duet “Just Good Friends”. Though not as impactful as previous MJ/Steve collaborations (notably “I Can’t help It”), it’s still a solid track.

2001’s Invincible was seen as a disappointment (though there were some great songs – like "Butterflies" and "Break Of Dawn"). My favorite track from this album is Michael’s collaboration with Carlos Santata – the Spanish-tinged “Whatever Happens”. Too bad it wasn’t released as a single… I think it could have charted (given the popularity of 1999’s "Smooth").

Hope you enjoyed the music. Check 'em out, and if you like them, buy the tracks on iTunes or Amazon. Rest In Peace, Michael.

Old School Fridays - "Got Distracted On Her Way To Grandma's House"

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0000

I never knew that there was an official video for this song. Sure, it's not too fancy... but with the subject matter (prostitution), what else could they do?

I love the comments about this song on youtube; some of my favorites:

Classic, awesome song. I love it dearly. However, I hate that they play this on the slow jams program. #moodkiller

My dad named me after this song. I love listening to this song sometimes, the beat is so smooth. I used to hate he named me after the song after listening to the words but hey like I he loved music and this song is beautiful.

they made a song about a hoe sound magical! Now thats talent, Lost and turned outtttttttttt! I LOVE THE WHISPERS!!!

Speaking of which... has there ever been a better song about this subject?

Podcast Episode 5 - Tribe's Vibes

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

After last week's blog post on Midnight Marauders, we (the royal we - meaning I) wanted to keep focus on A Tribe Called Quest; instead of highlighting favorite songs, the focus is instead on originals sampled by the hip-hop trio [excluding Jarobi].

I primarily stayed with samples from the ATCQ holy trinity: 1990's People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, 1991's The Low End Theory and the previously mentioned Midnight Marauders album from 1993. I also threw in a few joints that fall in the Tribe sphere (either produced by or a cameo from a group member).

While most of the podcast is jazz (Grover Washington, Roy Ayers, Dianne Reeves, etc) we also include some funk and soul.

Enjoy. Podcast listing after the bounce.

"Aquarius" - Cal Tjader (Midnight Marauders Interlude)
"Fourty Days" - Billy Brooks ("Luck of Lucien")
"Baby, This Love I Have" - Minnie Riperton ("Check The Rhyme")
"Brazilian Rhyme (Beijo)" - Earth Wind & Fire ("Mr. Muhammad")
"I'll Always Love My Mama" - The Intruders (Raphael Saaqid's "Get Involved")
"Gentle Smiles (Butter)" - Gary Bartz ("Butter")
"Daylight (Bonita Applebaum)" - Ramp ("Bonita Applebum")
"Mystic Brew" - Ronnie Foster ("Electric Relaxation")
"Loran's Dance" - Grover Washington Jr. ("Push It Along")
"Jagger The Dagger" - Eugene McDaniels (People's Instinctive Interlude)
"(Not Just) Knee Deep" - Funkadelic (De La Soul's "Me, Myself, and I")
"Smilin' Billy Suite" - Heath Brothers (Nas' "One Love")
"Down Here On The Ground" - Grant Green & Dianne Reeves ("Vibes and Stuff")
"Beddie-Biey" - Steve Arrington ("The Chase, Pt II")

Boom Clap Bachelor's "Skynd Dig Langsomt" shows that good music crosses borders

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

I just can't get this song out of my head... it goes to show you that good music crosses all the borders and barriers that we (humans) put up. From what I can gather, 'Skynd Dig Langsomt' is Danish for "Hurry Slowly'... which totally matches the mood of this vibe.

And is it just me, or do you hear touches of Lupe Fiasco's "He Say, She Say" in the chorus?

Video after the bounce.

Waiting on (more) new(ish) Jill Scott

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 19:10:00 +0000

Jill Scott's The Original Jill Scott from the Vault (Vol. 1) will be released on August 30th; I've been waiting for a while for Hidden Beach to drop the album - specifically because I love "Comes to The Light (Everything)" (Jill's track from the Can't Buy Me Move soundtrack).

I guess until then, I'll have to keep this youtube clip on repeat.

My Favorite Albums: Midnight Marauders

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

My love of A Tribe Called Quests’ Midnight Marauders starts, like most stories, with a girl.

I was a junior in high school and was on campus late one Saturday evening for an anti-drug rally. There were some girls from a neighboring town in attendance and I had taken a liking to one of them. The rally ended at 10PM, but their ride was late… so I chivalrously (and maybe selfishly) volunteered to wait with them. It was cold, but that’s ok: I let lil shorty wear my Starter jacket (and didn’t wash it for a month afterward because it smelled like her), let her sit in my dad’s Ford Escort Hatchback, and passed the time by trying to come up with the cryptic words to the chorus of “Electric Relaxation”.

“Electric Relaxation” was to 1993 as “I Need Love” was to 1987. Q-Tip was the smooth operator; Phife was the realist (I love the line: ‘I like ‘em brown, yellow, Puerto Rican, or Haitian’). Ali Shaheed Muhammad masterfully reworked Ronnie Foster’s “Mystic Brew” (played by Raphel Saadiq on the track) into an instant classic.

Some months later, I found myself at South Carolina Boys Camp and had the fortune of spending the week with three really cool brothers. We spend our nights talking about girls, playing spades, taking basketball, and listening to a bevy of hip-hop albums, most notably Midnight Marauders. We must have rapped that entire album back and forth each night, with all of us taking turns as Q-Tip or Phife.

Those six months would set up the best 18 month stretch of my teenage life. I was rounding out my junior year and headed into a great senior year. I had a bevy of firsts – first car, first date, first (real) kiss, first teenage love (not the young lady referenced above). I was growing up. It made sense that I was moving to grown-up music.

This album (a slight step down from Low End Theory) was magnificent from the start. “Electric Relaxation” rightly gets the most press, however the entire album is worthy of multiple listens. The album starts with the electronic Midnight Marauder Tour Guide (backed by a dope sample of Cal Tjader’s “Aquarius”). From there, the boys kick into high gear with the underrated “Steve Biko (Stir It Up)”, then move to a murders row of great tracks: “Award Tour”, “8 Million Stories”,” Sucka Nigga”, and “Midnight”. There’s a slight misstep (the ‘just-ok’ “We Can Get Down” before they start dropping bombs: the before mentioned “Electric Relaxation” (note: those weird lyrics are ‘Relax Girl, Please Set-tle Down’), “The Chase, Part 2”,“Oh My God”, “God Lives Through”.

My second favorite track (behind “Electric…”) is the Large Professor produced “Keep It Rollin’”. It’s just smooth as all get-out (I love the sample from Roy Ayers’ “Feel Like Makin' Love”). Phife and Q-Tip are at their best, playing off each other like Dre and Big Boi would master 5 years later on Aquemeni).

Damn... they just don't make music like this anymore.

Old School Fridays - "During the Gunflight, We Fell In Love"

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:15:00 +0000

I just saw L.A. Reid in a promo spot for Simon Cowell's X-Factor. He's come a long way from The Deele.

Old School Fridays - "Now Take A Deep Breath"

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:08:00 +0000

I was mousing around on the web a few days ago, and came across Oaktown 3.5.7's 'Juicy Gotcha Krazy'... which featured background vocal from Angela "just be Angie" Boyd.

That got me thinking of B. Angie B.'s 'I Don't Want To Lose Your Love'. I love the horns in this remake of the Emotion's hit.

My Favorite Albums: CooleyHighHarmony

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

I have to give my brother credit; he was the one that originally suggested that we pool our money and buy Boyz II Men’s CooleyHighHarmony. I liked “Motownphilly”… but I wasn’t sure if I was ready to go half on an $8.99 purchase.

Lucky for me, I listened to my brother: it was probably the best music purchase I ever made.

I’m not insinuating that CooleyHighHarmony is an album that will stand the test of time; actually it sounds somewhat dated when you listen to it today. However, 1991 was a special time in my life. I was leaving middle school and heading to high school. I was just turning 14 years old and was in the throes of puberty. Coolyhighharmony (along with Jodeci’s Forever My Lady and Tevin Campbell’s T.E.V.I.N.) were the soundtrack to that time in my life.

I love just about every track from that album; however, one will always stick out: the Nathan Morris penned “Please Don’t Go” – arguably one of my favorite songs ever recorded.

I remember opening the plastic wrapping and popping in the tape. “Please Don’t Go” was the first track on the album. Those first bars (with the throwback spoken intro) was like listening to a new-age Temptations for my generation.

In fact, I’m not the only one that feels this way. Check what was written on Daswon’s Ink:

It was your first introduction to the group once you cracked open the cassette tape, or the CD. The first track that led them to supergroup-dom. The first track that celebrated their harmonies and let us know they’d be around for a while.

Of course, we’re talking about the track “Please Don’t Go.” It didn’t get the hype of a lot of their other songs, and it didn’t even get a video. But that’s OK… this track became the ‘go-to’ song for the fellas when they got into any kind of trouble with their women. They clearly couldn’t sing it like Nate, Shawn, Wanya and Mike, but dammit, they could just press Play on Track #1 and get into begging mode.

Enjoy!

My Favorite Scores: Batman (1989)

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

While I loved what Christopher Nolan has done with Batman series, I still hold a special place in my heart for the 1989 Tim Burton movie. His Batman kicked off a new re-interest in comic-book inspired movies and television – with some good (Batman: The Animated Series, The Flash) and some bad (the 1990 Captain America movie).

My favorite parts of Burton’s movie are when we get to see Batman without the mask; in other words, when we can see Bruce Wayne in his true persona, without the airs he puts on to fool the general public. There are three scenes that really capture those moments:

Bruce checking the tapes [watch here] – A great back-to-back view of the duality of Bruce Wayne
Bruce hanging upside down [here, at the 16:45 min mark]– Ok, so maybe he’s taking the bat thing a little too seriously

Bruce in Crime Alley - [start at the 3:45 minute mark below] - I'll be the first to admit that this scene has one gigantic flaw: Batman, the worlds greatest detective, doesn't realize that Vicky Vale is following him. However, if you can ignore that, then this is a great scene. There's no talking, but plenty of emoting, as Bruce Wayne (played by Michael Keaton) looks tortured over this parents death, and the life that he's adopted as a result. As stated on sputnukmusic.com:

[Bruce Wayne (played b Michael Keaton)] displays a full range of emotions, showcasing a man barely able to cope with his double identity. It slowly tears away at his sanity, as he tries to lead a normal life while still being an avenger of the night.

Elfman’s soundtrack is the perfect accompaniment, displaying the full range of emotions, themes and tones portrayed throughout the film. It’s a dark reimagining of classic movie scores whilst still being entirely original. And it’s that originality that makes this so wonderful to hear.

Elfman's "Flowers of the Past" (simply titled "Flowers" on the album release) is the perfect accompaniment to the scene below. Like Bruce Wayne, it's moody, conflicted, and ultimately heroic. [Skip to the 3:45 minute mark]

Old School Fridays - "I Want To Run My Fingers Through Your Hair"

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:21:00 +0000

Turtleneck and suit? Check. Spastic dance moves? Check? Unibrow? Check. Then it must be a late 80's music video from Al B. Sure!

My Favorite Scores: Carlito's Way

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 03:46:00 +0000

Last week, I blogged on the Rocky Original Motion Picture Score. That post got me thinking about how the most iconic scenes from my favorite movies are bolstered by their musical scores. Over the next few months, I’ll share a few thoughts on some of my favorite scores. First up: Carlito’s Way.

Carlito’s Way is a 1993 crime drama directed by Brian DePalma and starting Al Pacino. The three sentence summary: Carlito Brigante is an incarcerated drug dealer just freed on a technicality. Vowing to go straight, Carlito finds himself in situations where his sense of honor and loyalty pull him into law-breaking activities. Those decisions play out with dire consequences - with him ultimately losing his life, though not before he can get Gail, and his unborn child, off to safety.

I have three favorite scenes from Carlito’s Way:

The ‘Where’s my cheesecake?’ scene (which is great, until the syrupy “You Are So Beautiful” is introduced)
the ‘Big Time’ scene (famous for introducing the phrase ‘here come the pain’)
The rooftop scene [below], where Carlito tracks down Gail, his old flame. It’s eerily reminiscent of the rooftop stalking scene in The Godfather II; however, where DeNiro’s actions are nefarious in nature, Pacino is… well, the following excerpt [from Reverseshot.com] explains it better that I can:

Spying on her ballet class from an adjacent rooftop—a scene that visually echoes Rear Window and Body Double, but trades menace for helpless romantic longing—Carlito is moonstruck. Keeping the rain off his head with a trash can lid like a knight using his shield as an umbrella, he just watches her dance; De Palma zooms closer to him and closer to her, literally removing the distance between Carlito’s memory of Gail and Gail herself.

Patrick Doyle, the score’s composer, does a bang up job with Carlito & Gail (the name of the piece in the scene). Check the scene, and the music from the score, below:

Old School Fridays - "Let Me See Your Earrings Jingle"

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

A few days ago, I came across a great blog - Euphoric Ears. Specifically, I happened across a post titled "Ratchet Music". Ratchet music, for those not in the know, is booty-shake music. I'm not going to pretend that I've never heard some of the songs... heck, I was the first one on the dance floor when the first bars of Luke's "I Wanna Rock" came across the speakers.

The post got me thinking about what I consider the first 'booty-shake' songs I heard; I'd say it's a toss up between E.U.'s "Da Butt" and L.L. Cool J's "Jingling Baby"... so I posted LL's video above and E.U.'s after the break.

My Favorite Albums: Rocky Motion Picture Score

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Though I rarely mention film scores here, I’m a high fan of the original compositions that color movies. Of the twenty plus file score albums I own, none is as special to me as Bill Conti’s Rocky. Note that I said Rocky, not Rocky III (that introduced “Eye of The Tiger”) or Rocky IV (“Hearts On Fire”).

I listened to this film score non-stop during the summer of 1998. I was living in Columbus, OH, working as a college intern at a technology company. Though a series of mistakes and mis-steps, I was facing cross-roads in my college career. Nothing as serious as dropping out (never that)… but I was struggling with my grades (too much Alpha and not enough studying).

So I took 7 months off (the summer, plus the fall 1998 semester) and I worked as an engineering intern. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. I got focused and afterwards, went back to school and pulled my GPA up to respectable numbers.

It wasn’t always easy. My Mercury Topaz died on me, so I walked to and from work every day. I was trying to save as much as I could, so I lived in a crappy studio apartment – which wasn’t too bad, except that the apartment sat on top of a dive bar (my place always smelled like stale beer).

I don’t mean to make it sound like it was hard living, but it was gritty – like the Rocky score. In fact, that score was the perfect soundtrack to that time in my life. I was working hard, saving everything I could, trying to eat right and live right.

I love almost all the tracks from Rocky: we all know “Gonna Fly Now” (I like this rendition over the children’s chorus version from Rocky II). “Philadelphia Morning” (later used as Mickey’s theme in Rocky III) is melancholy; I think about my crappy one-room apartment every time I hear it. “Going The Distance” is worthy of its own blog post (coming in the next few days).

The song that means the most to be is “Butkus” – because that’s the song I listened to every day as I walked to and from work. It’s a little dated, but still a good jam.

Enjoy!

More Amy Winehouse: Remixes and Demos

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:30:00 +0000

I shared some of my favorite Amy Winehouse songs in my last post; I thought I'd follow that up with some of the music I just discovered due to her untimely passing.

I have both Frank and Back To Black; however, I never dived into some of her demos and remixes. Here are three that stand out.

"In My Bed (CJ Mix)" - A nice use of The Heath Brothers' "Smiling Billy Suite" (famously used by Q-Tip on Nas' "One Love"). It takes the edge off the original.

"Someone to Watch Over Me" - I've been a sucker for Gershwin since I discovered Porgy and Bess; we forget that Amy started out as a jazz vocalist. The first minute and a half are classy, with a hint of the "bad girl" vibe we hear in later albums; it sounds so seductive when she sings the lines: "Only man I ever think of with regret/I'd like to add his initials to my monogram."

"Some Unholy War (Down Tempo)" - The moody backing tracking turns the tune into an elegy of sorts. It fits, especially if you believe that the song is an allegory to drug use and marriage (in effect, Amy's marriage to Blake Fielder-Civil).

The Best Music You've Never Heard: The Late Amy Winehouse

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 02:14:00 +0000

I was all set to grind through a 1000 word discourse on the genius, talent, and self-destructive nature of the late Amy Winehouse.

There’s so much to cover: her gritty, earthy, doesn’t-match-her-body voice (reminds me of Tina Turner); the inspiration for the “screw-you” nature of Frank and the depression of Back to Black; her recent attempts at a comeback.

But then I came across two quotes from Ms. Winehouse:

“If I haven’t done it, I just can’t put it into a song. It has to be autobiographical.” (1)

and

"Sorry, I'm really s---ty at interviews. I'm not great at talking about...I just think...the songs are enough." (2)

And that, dear readers, is good enough for me. Amy thought that her songs spoke for themselves… so I’ll simply share a few nuggets about some songs you may not be familiar with, and let Amy speak for herself.

"In My Bed" - The best track off Frank; less jazzy that the other tracks. It’s bold and serves as a statement song for the album (and her state of mind at the time).

"Brother" - This is the second song in the three-part “Outro” on Frank. I don’t know if this is really about her brother, or a deeper self-evaluation of her own demons.

"Just Friends" - This reggae/ska (with tinges of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit”) ditty from Back to Black is both playful and remorseful. It’s my favorite Amy Winehouse track.

"Love Is a Losing Game" - There’s a famous youtube clip where she breaks down in tears while singing the song (a la Frank Sinatra on “When Your Lover Has Gone”). The highlight of Back to Black; in fact, I consider it her magnum opus.

R.I.P. Amy

Old School Fridays - "I Really Wanna Meet You Girl"

ColtraneJenkins@gmail.com (Coltrane Jenkins) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Mushroom 'dos... Cross Color Jeans... Timberland boots... high top fades... silk shirts... Starter caps... air-brushed jackets... and puberty. Better known as the Summer of 1992 (or as a friend likes to refer to it: The Summer of Hard Times).

I've been working on my next "favorite albums" post (here's a hint)... and it got me thinking of this song. I liked the original album version, but I LOVED the remix.