Thursday Throwdown ~ “City, Country, City” ~ War

When it was Soul & Funk….with a bit of jazz & blues.

 

Wednesday When It Was Music ~ ~ “Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore” ~ Ruby & The Romantics

The music business referred this group as one hit wonders when they were anything but. Their first song was their biggest hit at #1 “Our Day Will Come” but it shouldn’t have ended there.

My Summer Love” had reached #16 on the Hot 100 their third release, the original version of “Hey There Lonely Boy” went to #27.

Songs like Baby Come Home, When You’re Young and in Love, By The Way and certainly this 1965 release of the one you are hearing should have topped the charts.

Nash had a beautiful voice and the group sounded beyond good enough to have stayed on the top. In reality Allen Stanton of the label they were signed to Knap didn’t even want them to record “Our Day Will Come” and later cut another fabulous song Moonlight and Music out of an album. So you tell me.

Sunday Evening ~ “Down In Mississippi” ~ Ry Cooder & The Moula Banda Rhythm Aces (Featuring) Terry Evans

Filmed and recorded at The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA on March 25, 1987.

When Cooder got this ensemble together it was more heavenly made and magical. The harmonies of Bobby King, Terry Evans, Arnold McCuller & Willie Green Jr. enhanced more than just the music. Terry Evans on this song brought it all the way down to where the Blues had originated. The Soul…and it poured out of him and the rest that night up on the stage and moved the emotions of every single individual in the audience not just listening but actually hearing and feeling it.

And that in itself defines what the Blues is all about. Pure raw emotion expressed from the heart and Evans sang it convictionally.

The man who wrote the song J. B. Lenoir was born in Mississippi in 1929 and the lyrics were inspired by Civil Rights and the Free Speech movements. He died in 1967 after suffering a heart attack associated from a car accident three weeks earlier.

No doubt he was smiling from up above from the performance Terry Evans who gave it more than his all singing Lenoir’s work that night.

And Cooder is a genius who has always played with genuine originality, another guitarist that will go into the history books as being among the best.

 

Motown Monday ~ “Laughing Boy” ~ Mary Wells

 

Written by Smokey Robinson
Released in 1963

Mary had 10 consecutive #1 hits between 1962-63, this should have been number 11.

There is something about this song that puts a smile on my face but in reality every early Motown song does that. A classic period and a classy singer who started off the very long ride Motown had.

Laughing Boy also made you appreciate the Muse behind the singers with Ivory Joe Hunter’s piano, James Jamerson’s bass and the beat of William “Benny” Benjamin’s drums. Music never had it so good.

Friday Freak Flag Flying ~ “Are You Ready” ~ Pacific Gas & Electric

This song came out in 1970 and it reminded me of something out of “Hair”.

This group formed in 1967 as a blues band and with members already leaving and others coming. When they released their first unsuccessful album for a virtual unknown record label it wasn’t until they played the Miami Pop Festival in 1968 that they caught fire. Columbia signed the band.

Their first self entitled band name release in 69′ did alright, but their next in 70′ with the song’s titled album “Are You Ready” sent them on their way when it charted at #14 and the rest is history.

Saturday Soul & The Detroit Red Wings Keep The Steak Alive with #22! ~ Higher and Higher ~ Jackie Wilson

The Motor City Always Had It!!!

Red Wings now have 22 consecutive wins on home ice. And as in our past with “Mr. Excitement” we keep going higher and higher.

Enjoy The Ride…….

Motown Monday ~ Trouble Man ~ Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye wrote every single song on this films soundtrack. He not only composed, produced and arranged them but along with the vocals he played the drums, keyboards & piano for the songs. Sadly the title track would ultimately epitomize his life at its conclusion.

One very talented yet tormented soul that has been very missed not only by the fans of the city who enjoyed his early works with Motown, but by the entire music world.

Etta James Broke Down the Barriers and Won.

Friday At The Fillmore ~ Sly and the Family Stone- Fillmore East, NY 10/5/68 (late show)

Ah the Internet issues resolved so better late than never.

Besides it’s a Late Show!