0 Soul of the Beatles

• Songs
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 11/15/2023

Soul of the Beatles past and present Why has everyone under the sun recorded John Lennon - Paul McCartney songs? Why have artists from all genres recorded Beatles music? Because whether it was John, Paul, George Harrison, or Ringo Starr, the fab four are icons of twentieth century music.  Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. even note the iconic status of the Lennon - McCartney songwriting team in the subtitle of their 2021 record Blackbird. In the early 2000s, I named one of my two online music streams fabfoursoul. You'd hear all Beatles music performed by R&B, soul, and jazz artists. I mention it in my book Powerhouse Radio: Rough Roads, Radiance, and Rebirth. Read on to discover more about the fascination hundreds of musical performers share with Beatles songs. Recently, I finally listened, for the first time to all of the songs on the McCoo & Davis CD multiple times. Lucky for me and other CD owners with a paper package, Marilyn and Billy present written social posts we can see within the art space on the CD jackets. You don't get that if you pick their MP3 downloads. There are six panels containing art. The cover above is a "say their name" tribute. Whose name? People who are no longer with us due to murder, violence and hate. Another panel shows a timeline titled Blackbird Tears listing eighteen violent attacks on Black churches and worshippers from 1822 to 2019. Yet another page takes a lighter tone. Davis & McCoo are depicted in a colorful illustration brushed in oil painting style. The pair walk cross "Abbey Road." The depiction mimics the famous cover from the Beatles album. One super benefit of the CD: complete song lyrics are printed in an easily readable font size inside of a stapled booklet. The songs "Got to Get You Into My Life" featuring Yancyy "The Fool on the Hill" featuring Natalie Hanna Mendoza "Blackbird" "Yesterday" "Ticket to Ride" "The Long and Winding Road" "Silly Love Songs" "Help!" "(Just Like) Starting Over" featuring James Gadson "And I Love Her" The Marilyn and Billy husband and wife team have called their record "Blackbird." If you are not familiar with the reason why Lennon - McCartney wrote "Blackbird," I will point you to an audio interview McCoo & Davis Jr. did that partially explains the social awareness of their album name and covers. See below for more information. Here's a summary of the CD. "Got to Get you Into My Life" is sung in a medium tempo by Billy who takes the lead with help from Yancyy. This one is breezy, bouncy, jazzy and soulful. The explosive energy igniting Earth, Wind & Fire's "Got To Get You Into My Life" is still my favorite cover version. "Fool on the Hill" gets a slow to medium pop treatment and reminds me of the 5th Dimension's "Love Lines, Angles and Rhymes" in the way it is orchestrated. Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. were members of the hit making group the 5th Dimension. You may not know the 5th Dimension, but you've heard their songs. "Fool on the Hill" features McCoo, Davis, and Natalie Hanna Mendoza sharing lead vocals. Nice! "Blackbird." This is my favorite song in their collection. Marilyn's lead carries the song's gospel overtone while she is accompanied by a sublime choir. Crafted orchestral touches are prominent in the arrangement. Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. have different vocal styles. They do know how to blend them together on duet parts. Marilyn's controlled voice has lots of pop appeal. That's why the 5th Dimension were so successful back in the day. Billy Davis Jr.'s song styling is harder edge with a subtle touch of R&B rasp when he sings solo. He's smooth, but reminds me of Johnnie Taylor, Wilson Pickett and Charles Bradley. That's a compliment. Track four, "Yesterday," features McCoo immersed in a medium to up-tempo Bossa nova style. Think South American and Brazil. Think Astrud Gilberto and Flora Purim. The treatment is jazzy. Marilyn gives it a fine rendering. This song is the only one on the album that fades out. "Ticket to Ride," handled by Billy Davis Jr. is certainly bluesy. A blues guitar solo takes charge during this medium to up-tempo song. A touch of neck bone ad-libbing by Davis Jr. near the end of the song reminds you of traditional blues belting. "The Long and Winding Road" is done slowly with just enough rhythm to keep the pace toe tapping with a delightful beat. Marilyn sings this one close to the Beatles original. It's the closest cover on the record to a Beatles original version. I really like "Silly Love Songs." It is the only real up-tempo song here.  The rapid pace echoes an Al Green - Willie Mitchell produced styled (but faster) with lots of horns that even Isaac Hayes would love. Billy Davis Jr. takes the Paul McCartney song and gives it new life with his strong delivery. We get a tight 4 minute 18 second song rather than the almost 6 minute Wings original. "Silly Love Songs" was written by Linda and Paul McCartney and appears on their album Wings at the Speed of Sound (by Paul McCartney & Wings). You might choose something else, but this is my second place personal favorite on this collection. Songs eight, nine, and ten are fine and should be slotted where they are. "Help!" is turned into a slow ballad. I wasn't expecting that. The Beatles original is fast. You get some good emotional expression here from Billy Davis Jr. in this slow interpretation. "Help!" is sung with spiritual soul that exposes the desperation of the original song lyrics. This one is different. "(Just Like Starting) Over" featuring James Gadson is light and bouncy with a big pop treatment style that opens with dare I say a touch of new jack swing! This is a charming, middle of the road duet. It is not father John Lennon's style. I had to pull out the original 12 inch vinyl single from my library to listen to the John Lennon original (off of the John Lennon / Yoko Ono album Double Fantasy). The Lennon version teases with nostalgia. Music artist Big Bopper and other styles from the 1950s and 1960s are used while Lennon frolics along with a heavy rock and roll beat. Finally, "And I Love Her," presents Billy and Marilyn trading duet and lead parts giving the tune a sweet, torch song treatment. If you like Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. and the Beatles, then you'll like "Blackbird." The McCoo - Davis Jr. versions are strong. Musicians backing the songs are excellent. Beatles: Motown, folk, reggae, acappella, and more Here are five other soul of the Beatles albums that are quite good. We'll list them in chronological order. Motown Meets the Beatles: seventeen songs are on the CD released in 1965. Who doesn't love The Supremes, Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Jr. Walker, Edwin Starr, and Syreeta. All of the Beatles favorites are here along with the feel-good Motown Motor City magic. It is wonderful to listen to Diana Ross in her prime singing John Lennon's "Imagine." That's one of the standouts. We played this version often in our fabfoursoul R&B, jazz online Beatles stream.   Richie Havens sings eleven of the eighteen Sings Beatles and Dylan songs from the Beatles songbook. Subtitled Old & New Together & Apart, this CD dropped in 1987. Vocals are mixed upfront so you can hear the clarity of Haven's voice. Acoustic guitar, synth-bass, drums, electric guitars, conga, and percussion is all that's needed to convey the Beatles musical message. Top notch. As 2001 rolled in, the Snapper Music label released A Reggae Tribute to The Beatles. There are thirty-two tracks on this double CD. Among the artists, John Holt might be the most familiar. He sings two songs, including John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War is Over)." All reggae and all Beatles. Nuff said.   This is the back of the CD that I chose instead of the front so you can easily see the songs. The Persuasions are an all voice only group. Their style is commonly called acappella. KEM who sings "Doo Wop Christmas (That's What Christmas Is All About)" is a contemporary acappella group. What do you get with no instruments other than the authentic human voice? You get a street corner vocal style with The Persuasions giving you Beatles melodies with soul.   Soul Tribute to the Beatles was released in 2003. You can see the artists above. Fats Domino, Otis Reading, and Esther Phillips are performers you might not expect. As I've already noted, everyone in music could record the Beatles without any fear or reservations. I had digitized just under 400 tracks from R&B, soul and jazz performers belting out the Beatles during the days when I presented the fabfoursoul online stream that won a Best of Live365 station award. Here's one song that was very different. James Brown's version of "Something," was written by George Harrison. I found Brown's "Something" on the 'B' side of one of his hit 45 RPM vinyl singles. James' version is unique! It's certainly soulful, certainly unexpected, and certainly James Brown. Tropical Tribute to the Beatles A sixth bonus for you is below. Our Latin community amigos can't be left out. "Live" from Radio City Music Hall: Tropical Tribute to the Beatles was released on DVD in 2003. Video clarity shot at the New York City venue is not 2023 high definition 4K quality, but it's good enough to experience exciting Latin flavor lighting up Beatles songs. Thirteen performances are captured live. Half of the songs are sung in Spanish. Half are sung in English. A couple of the featured stars are Tito Nieves who sings "Let It Be" accompanied by percussionist Tito Puente on timbales / drums. Celia Cruz closes out the show singing "Obladi Oblada." How do you sing "Obladi Oblada" in Spanish?" You sing "Obladi Oblada" and it works! Here are some of the many Beatles books in my library: Max Milk, Yellow Submarine, New American Library, 1968. This is a picture book building off of the "Yellow Submarine" movie based on the song by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Edwin Goodgold and Dan Carlinsky, The Compleat Beatles Quiz Book, Warner Books, 1975.  What's inside: Questions about song lyrics Song rhymes to complete Song titles Beatle history Beatle travel trivia Beatle bio facts The Compleat Beatles Quiz Book also contains games and other fun stuff. Penelope Rowlands, The Beatles Are Here!, Algonquin Books, 2014. If you want to read what fans, musicians, disc jockeys, writers, and significant personalities of the Beatles era have to say, The Beatles Are Here! is the book for you. I learned a lot from this one. Organized into chapters, reflections of Beatles memories and influence are told by 50 folks including: Billy Joel Cyndi Lauper Renee Fleming Janis Ian "Cousin Brucie" Bruce Morrow, disc jockey David Dye, radio host Gay Talese, reporter Other musicians, writers, and fans talk about their connection to the Beatles in a historic context. The complete title: The Beatles Are Here!: 50 Years After the Band Arrived in America, Writers, Musicians, and Other Fans Remember."  More about Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. Summer of Soul…or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. Stay Sweet 5th Dimension Catalog to be Reissued  You'll find the location of the McCoo - Davis Jr. "Summer of Soul" and "Blackbird" interview in post #1. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Melba Moore: She Hangs On, Tougher Than Nails

• Songs
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 06/28/2023

There's a long history of Melba Moore appearing with the song writing and performing duo Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson. Melba has released "It Seems To Hang On," a single off of her 2022 album "Imagine" recorded on her daughter's record label. Watch the video. Close to the top, Melba thanks you, and Ashford and Simpson for opening doors for her when all of them first started in the music industry. Melba's take on "It Seems To Hang On" is quite different from the dance driven Ashford and Simpson original. This new version, propelled by a strong bass line and accompanying synthesizers, is slower than the original and puts the focus on Melba's unique, charming, evocative voice. It's a modern arrangement and approach to the song. Here are Melba Moore's top 5 R&B hits in order: "This Is It" (Buddah Records) "Lean On Me" (Buddah) "You Stepped Into My Life" (Epic) "Take My Love" (EMI America) "Love's Comin’ At Ya" (EMI America) One of my personal favorites, not in the top 5, was her 1986 hit song "Falling." She was born in Harlem, New York. Melba Moore appeared in the Broadway and movie productions of Hair and in the musical Purlie. You may have caught her in the movies Def By Temptation and The Fighting Temptations. For more about Melba Moore and Ashford and Simpson: Ashford & Simpson Bring Classic Soul Back To The Apollo Hair Raising Melba Moore is Still Here Ashford & Simpson Send It Ashford and Simpson High Rise Ashford and Simpson Cook Up Haute Hit Cuisine Over a decade ago, Nicholas Ashford passed away (2011). I enjoyed a great dinner with live entertainment (not by Nick and Val) at their Manhattan, New York City restaurant Sugar Bar on 72nd Street. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Harry Belafonte's Carnegie Hall Activism

• Songs
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 04/27/2023

Major League Baseball lovers may or may not know that it's Harry Belafonte's sonic shout-out that occasionally serenades home town stadium attendees. The audio blast is used to generate fan excitement for the home town team. Among my late mother's Nat King Cole, Doris Day, Dick Gregory, Aretha, and Sinatra records is this two-disc Harry Belafonte gem recorded at Carnegie Hall, New York City on April 19 and 20, 1959. RCA released the double album in 1959. Here's 14 seconds of Mr. Belafonte's "Day-O" anthem from the evening's performance.  Your browser does not support the audio element. That night Harry sang with a single guitar accompanied by bongos. He also festively crooned along with a 47-piece symphony orchestra. Always the activist and philanthropist, Harry Belafonte donated $58,000 from one night of this two-night gig to the Wiltwyck School. Wiltwyck School worked with boys experiencing emotional disabilities. Harry Belafonte, R.I.P. (1927 -2023). The decade you were born in usually defines your musical affinities. Sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties... if you were in high school in one of those decades, your favorite music probably comes from that era. As I write in my book Powerhouse Radio: Rough Roads, Radiance, and Rebirth "My love of radio's pulsating magnetic sound track in the 1960s was a strong attraction as I entered my preteen years. Sadly, middle-of-the-road crooners Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald were not my personal soundtrack. "These were the singers my mother listened to on the 'standards' music station WNEW AM in New York City. 'Standards' were calm, pre-rock-era vocals. My appreciation for the Cole–Fitzgerald song era would blossom later with maturity." So here's a well honored toast to maturity, and a "Day-O" salute to Harry Belafonte, the activist, philanthropist, actor, and music man who left his lyrical mark on popular culture. Watch and listen to Harry in this 64 second video talking about his 2011 book Harry Belafonte My Song: A Memoir? I posted the video in 2011 as part of my review of his book for my Black History website. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Songwriter Salute to Reggie Calloway

• Songs
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 11/10/2022

"Impossible Blues" is the one song I wrote as a teen. I've memorized the first two verses, but a bridge and refrain lyric have eluded me for years. It's a song to be continued. Songwriters become known when one or more of their songs becomes hits or their vibrant words survive through social impact in popular culture. Reggie Calloway is a songwriter I've admired for years. I've played his tracks performed by others during my shows on the radio. When the hits stop coming or focus shifts, many artists sell their intellectual property to the large companies who buy up song catalogues. Whitney Houston, Bob Dylan, and Barry Manilow are just a few who have sold their entire song portfolios. Beyonce', Justin Timberlake, and Olivia Newton-John have sold individual songs. Reggie Calloway is no different. I noticed that Mr. Calloway was offering a five percent writer's share of two of his hit songs back in 2009. You'll learn more about these songs after I explain more. Reggie retained Songvest, the first online music marketplace to offer fans and investors the ability to purchase a writer's share from their favorite songs and artists. My bids for both "Love Overboard" and "Freak-A-Zoid" did not meet the reserve price which is the minimum bid the seller will accept. When the auction was extended because no one met the reserve price for these two songs, I bid again for both songs seeking 1.5% of Reggie's writer's share. There were other Reggie Calloway songs in the auction. I won both bids offering several hundred dollars for each 1.5% share. Today I consider the price a real bargain. Here are my gold and platinum record presentations complete with Reggie Calloway's handwritten lyrics. The awards are enclosed in two large cases that are both 30-1/2 inches tall, and 18-1/2 inches wide. That's "Love Overboard" from Gladys Knight and The Pips on the left," certified gold for 500,000 album, cassette, and CD sales. "Freak-A-Zoid" from Midnight Star is on the right certified multi-platinum for two million album, cassette, and CD sales. Here's more about Reggie Calloway from part of his official biography shared with me by his marketing manager. ----- "Creating music that rings in the heart of souls has been a breeze for the Grammy songwriter, Reggie Calloway. "His prolific talent as a top music producer, hit writer, musician and artist has attracted some of the biggest names in the music industry. "Best known as the founder and leader of one of the most popular techno-funk bands, Midnight Star, Calloway lead the group to international success, writing producing and arranging a string of top mega #1 hits: "Operator" "No Parking On The Dance Floor" "Freak-A-Zoid" "Reggie Calloway is from Ohio. He earned the respect of music industry insiders for consistently writing a string of Grammy-nominated #1 hits for Teddy Pendergrass, Natalie Cole, and LeVert. "Mr. Calloway has produced several multi-platinum and gold albums. "In 1987 Reggie wrote "Love Overboard" for Gladys Knight and The Pips which won a Grammy Award. "Reggie received a Grammy nomination for R&B Songwriter of the year for the hit song "Casanova" by LeVert in 1987. He remains active today dazzling us with the magic of his music!"  Previous Post | Next Post

0 16 Powerhouse Radio Summertime Song Favorites

• Songs
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 08/11/2022

A week ago I updated 13 Powerhouse Radio Summertime Favorites to the new list below. The original thirteen songs were mixed from my vinyl or CD library to a standalone CD in 2007. Unfortunately modern cars no longer have CD players. One song was not included this time: "Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer" by Stevie Wonder. Just an oversight. Today, the summer playlist is expanded to sixteen tracks lasting fifty-nine minutes. My current automobile without CD player does have one USB port. Two previous cars had a couple of USB ports in each vehicle (without CD players). Time marches on! Today, this playlist lives, as one premixed track on a thumb drive that I can listen to at home, in the office, or while driving. You may want to try it as a Spotify playlist. The song order has been updated from the older version to maximize emotional enjoyment: "Picnic In the Park" - MFSB "Summertime" - Will Smith "Summertime" - MFSB "Summertime" - Janis Joplin with Big Brother & the Holding Company "Summertime" - Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong "Summer Snow" - Blue Magic "Indian Summer Love" - Con Funk Shun "My Sweet Summer Suite" - Love Unlimited Orchestra (Barry White) "Summertime" - Billy Stewart "Summertime" - Sam Cooke "Summer Madness" - Kool & The Gang "It's Summer" - War "Hot Fun in the Summertime" - Sly & the Family Stone "Long Hot Summer" - Jimi Hendrix Experience "Summer Breeze" - Isley Brothers "Cruel Summer" - Bananarama Previous Post | Next Post

0 Elton John Diamonds

• Songs
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 05/21/2020

I don't buy many CDs anymore, but I finally took the plunge to grab a lifetime of tracks created by a music maker that I've enjoyed for many years. You can say I've enjoyed him from the very beginning of his career. With only a couple of of seven-inchers and one twelve-inch 45 RPM vinyl track from this performer among my countless collection, it was time to get Elton John Diamonds at a great price. Diamonds is a three CD set with all of his hits and heavies. When you think of Elton John and Philadelphia, you might think of "Philadelphia Freedom." I was especially in the hunt for the overlooked Philly gem "Mama Can't Buy You Love." "Mama," included on the third CD is a very soulful track produced in the spirit of hit maker Thom Bell, the Spinners, and other Philly music stars of the 1970s. Leroy Bell and Casey James produced "Mama Can't Buy You Love" for Elton. Bell & James had their own solo hit in 1979 "Livin' It Up (Friday Night). Leroy Bell's uncle is Thom Bell. Here's a quick 56 second sample of "Mama Can't Buy You Love." The full length of the song clocks in at just under four minutes - about 30 seconds too long because of the monotonous yet silky smooth chorus that pads out the song until it ends! Your browser does not support the audio element. You have to lean into Elton John's ballads for the songs that made him a musical icon. You'll find them all on Diamonds: "Your Song," "Tiny Dancer," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," etc. My one disappointment was "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" presented as a live duet. George Michael and Elton John share the mic. This version is good, but I really wanted the solo Elton effort. I could have consumed more background material from the CD liner notes. There's not much info. You get the track list, writers, and song producers. That's it. However, if you only care about the songs, they are all here for you to enjoy! Elton John Diamonds. lapidarians rejoice! Previous Post | Next Post

0 The 20 Best Stax Records Songs

• Songs
• by Kingsley H. Smith and guest
• 05/29/2017

  I can't recommend enough Robert Gordon's excellent book Respect Yourself: Stax Records and the Soul Explosion. Robert takes you into "The Spirit of Memphis," the California dreamin' of Wattstax, and the buffet of "Green Onions" from Booker T. Jones (and supporting cast). Above is a photo I took of Booker T. Jones in April, 2011 at a private performance in Washington, D.C. To catch up on the song history of Stax Records and the staying power of the label's music, see our Stax 50 Delivers Classic Soul Grand Slam Hits. What are the 20 Best Stax Records Songs of all time? The Paste Magazine staff has selected their choices. Their picks are almost perfect. You might guess who is at number one and number two. Scan through the list at the Paste Magazine website. Celebrate 60 years of Stax! You can bet the two guys on Robert Gordon's book cover below made the list, but at what number? Find out! Previous Post | Next Post

0 10 Classic Soul Songs To Enjoy

• Songs
• by Kingsley H. Smith and guest
• 07/20/2016

9 out of 10 ain't bad. Rob Patterson has an excellent selection of what he calls "10 Totally Cool Classic Rock/Soul Songs." His inclusion of 'classic rock' in the title is generous. Let's face it. Classic rock radio stations and online streams usually don't play any Black artists whether their sound fits or not. That's just the truth. Also, I disagree with his song pick for Aretha Franklin. You can understand why he passed on the obvious song choice. That would be too predictable. Read Rob's "10 Totally Cool Classic Rock/Soul Songs" at Best Classic Bands and watch the YouTube videos. Reminisce, remember, or reach for something new (if you are too young to have experienced them back in the day)! Previous Post | Next Post

0 Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics

• Songs
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 12/11/2014

Clive Davis signed Aretha Franklin to Arista in 1980. Davis left Arista in 2000. In October, 2014 Aretha and Davis reunited for "Great Diva Classics." This album features hit covers including Barbra Streisand's "People," Gladys Knight's "Midnight Train To Georgia," Alicia Keys' "No One," Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive," Destiny's Child's "Survivor" and more. http://amzn.to/1us5j73 Have you heard it? Available from Amazon. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Millie Jackson - On The Soul Country Side

• Songs
• by Kingsley H. Smith and guest
• 11/15/2014

Here's another touch of country from the soul of Millie Jackson. Also see our Millie Jackson Country update. Steve Horowitz has his own take on Millie's The Soul Country Side where he talks about all of the country songs she sings. Let's face it, R&B is a fusion of soul, blues and country. Ray Charles, Lionel Richie, Charley Pride and others have all delivered emotional melodies when they sing country. A mix of rural towns, forlorn ladies and urban cowboys make for great story telling. Read both updates above, and listen to Millie Jackson sing a quick segment of  "Here You Come Again" made popular by Dolly Parton.   Previous Post | Next Post