Ella Fitzgerald - These Are The Blues (listen here!)

It is a hard to believe that this great lady left us 10 years ago. I have not even heard much buzz around the jazz community this month. It was shortly after her passing that a friend introduced me to this wonderful album, These Are The Blues.

My own Ella experience up to this point had been swinging standards and beautiful ballads. On this 1963 recording, Ella travels down a different road, the blues. Most of the songs for this album were written in the 1920's and performed by blues greats Alberta Hunter, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong and Ma Rainey. Ella brings a magic that is all her own to these timeless classics.

Ella sings this lyric in "St. Louis Blues." I love the suggestiveness of it. It tell you enough without giving it all away. It is followed by the signifying "Hear Me Talking to Ya." She opens the album with Bessie Smith's "Jailhouse Blues." As you listen to the song, you might not expect Ella to sing such an "adventurous" song but she wholeheartedly embraces the blues like she has embraced every genre of music that she has sung. I first heard Aretha sing "Trouble in Mind." Ella's rendition starts off simmering and swings into a boiling kettle. She also sings "Down Hearted Blues" in similar style.

A common theme is the call and response between Ella and her sideman especially Wild Bill Davis on the organ (he was one of my dad's favs.) Davis' introduction on "In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down) sets the tone for song as he frames Ella's notes impeccably here and throughout album. She is also joined by jazz greats Roy Eldridge on trumpet, Ray Brown on bass, Herb Ellis on guitar, and Gus Johnson on drums. The liner notes of this album include "Historical Note - The Blues" by Frederic Ramsey, Jr. It excellent history lesson on the evolution of the blues.

Ella will always hold a special place in my musical heart. I first saw her perform when I was eighteen at the Chicago Jazz Festival. It was an amazing experience that I have never forgotten.

Enjoy your music!

Posted by at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

It has been a little over three months since Luther passed on July 1. I was in Chicago's O'Hare Airport with my mom when I got the news from a friend. I was totally stunned. I was really hoping he would pull through and make a full recovery but I guess God had other plans for him. I likened his death to having the impact of losing Nat King Cole in the sixties for both were such great crooners of their day and adored by everyone. As there will never be another Nat King Cole, there will never be another Luther Vandross.

I remember buying Never Too Much on a Sunday in the fall of 1981 and I could not wait to get home to play it. It was so soulful that my parent's enjoyed it as well. I played it over and over again. By this time "House Is Not A Home" and the title track "Never Too Much" were all over the airwaves. Having been a background vocalist himself for such greats as David Bowie and Roberta Flack, Luther knew the importance of having tight vocal harmonies supporting him. You hear this on "Never Too Much", "She's A Super Lady", "Don't You Know That", and my favorite song, "You Stopped Loving Me" which I first heard Roberta Flack sing on the "Busting Loose" movie soundtrack (I lost my cassette of that soundtrack!!!) "A House Is Not A Home", a Bacharach/David composition made popular by Dionne Warwick in the sixties, has become a timeless Luther classic.

He later produced Dionne's How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye album which yielded a duet between them on the title track and other gems like "So Amazing" and "What Can A Miracle Do." Luther's love for the great songbirds was evident in the pairing of Dionne and The Shirelles on the classic "Will You Still Love Me Tommorrow" to close out the album. Luther also spun his magic on two of Aretha's early 80's albums, Jump To It and Get it Right. Oooo, future flashbacks.

Before his solo debut, I remember Luther singing on Change's hits "Searching" and "The Glow of Love." I later learned that he did vocal arrangements for both Chic and Change. Again, the tightness of harmonies is very evident. Luther was also on Quincy Jones' Sounds...And Stuff Like That album. He sang a beautiful duet with Patti Austin on "I'm Gonna Miss You" and he and Gwen Guthrie lead the heavenly choir on "Taking It To The Streets."

In addition,"there was no concert like a Luther concert cuz a Luther concert don't stop." It was truly concert par excellence. They were always well choreographed, his background singers were gorgeous, and the music was sensational. I saw him in concert in Chicago not long after the Forever, For Always, For Love album was released in 1982. It was an amazing show and I can still picture it in my head today. He had a great sense of humor as well. I remember at one point during singing "Bad Boy/Having A Party", Luther had a pretend bucket of chicken in his hand which was in reference to the jokes Eddie Murphy had made about him.

The above photo is from a Luther tribute in Chicago sponsored by radio station V-103. Droves of people came out to sign the giant cards that were being sent to Luther's mother in rememberance of her son and the music he gave the world.

Great music never dies. It just lives on in our hearts forever. Thank you, Luther!

Enjoy your music!

Posted by at 12:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Faith to reach the unreachable
Faith to fight the unbeatable
Faith to remove the unmovable
Faith that stands the invincible
Faith that can conquer anything

Faith that sees the invincible
Faith that expects the incredible
Faith that can conquer anything

This flashback was inspired by my friend, Kim. She recently asked if Vanessa Bell Armstrong's gospel classic "Faith That Conquers" from her Chosen album could be found on CD.

Despite her success, Vanessa Bell Armstrong's first two album, Peace Be Still (1983) and Chosen (1984), are very hard to find on vinyl and are not available on disc. There is a greatest hits CD on Muscle Shoals Records which features some of the songs from both these albums but "Faith" is not included. I can remember searching everywhere for these first two albums and I finally found them in 1988 in a gospel record store on 79th and Prairie in Chicago. "Faith That Conquers" was one of my earliest introductions to her music in the 80's. Chosen also included the gospel gems, What He's Done for Me", "Nobody But Jesus", "There's A Brighter Day", "Teach Me O Lord" and "Walk With Me." There was one other album, Following Jesus on the Muscle Shoals Gospel Sound Records label and it came out in 1986. The first two albums were on the Onyx International label and distributed by The Benson Company. My guess is that Muscle Shoals probably has the masters for Vanessa's first three albums sitting on the shelves while us fans are just aching to hear "Faith" again. A little bit of "Faith That Conquers" can be found as "Vanessa's Medley: What Shall I Render/Faith/Nobody But Jesus/For God So Loved The World/Peace Be Still/The Denied Stone" on her The Secret is Out album from 1995. So all my gospel fans out there, let's see if we can get these albums reissued on compact disc! If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment.

As I was researching Vanessa's music, I found a 1995 album from her sister, Charlene Bell, entitled Just Praise. I have had this album on heavy rotation for the last month. 4 of the 10 tracks on this album feature Charlene, Vanessa, and their sister, Margaret Bell on vocals. The rest of tracks are angelically sung by Charlene backed by a heavenly choir. After hearing it, I could not help but wonder why they do not record and tour together as a group. Margaret and Charlene have sung background vocals on most of Vanessa's albums. By the way, Margaret Bell made a solo album entitled Over and Over in 1991.

Enjoy your music!

Update: I found Vanessa's first 3 albums available on cassette on the Malaco Music Group website. Maybe we need to send a few emails to the Malaco contacts to encourage them to release these albums on disc.

Posted by at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)

Shirley Horn - vocals and piano
Joe Benjamin - bass
Lewis Powers - bass
Harry Saunders - drums
Herbie Lovelle - drums

The year would not be complete without one more Flashback Friday. This album is commonly known as Embers and Ashes but its actual title is Embers and Ashes - Songs of Lost Love Sung by Shirley Horn. I was finally able to get a copy of this album after about 5 years of casually searching and it was definitely worth the wait. I first saw it on eBay for $140 a couple of years ago and it would occasionally appear but never within my price range until earlier this year. To date, it is only available on vinyl but hopefully it will eventually be reissued on CD with alternate takes and extra tracks that were not included on the original pressing. Check either eBay or gemm.com for the album.

Ember and Ashes was Shirley Horn's first album recorded on Stere-o-craft Records in 1960 when she was 26 years old. As I listened, I was amazed by her vocal phrasing, use of space, and chord structure on the piano. She sang and played like a seasoned professional even at an early age. Much of the richness in her music today was in the making very early in her career.

Here are a couple of excerpts from the album's liner notes written by Jazz DJ Mort Fega:

As a disc jockey, I listen to just about every new release, and believe me, there seems to be a bottomless font from which the new releases spring. I've been searching, all through this incessant outpouring, for new singers, vocalists who sing well enough to challenge the hierarchy of those who have "arrived", and for the most part, my search has been completely unrewarding. It has gotten to the point where I'd be satisfied to find a new singer who stays in tune, and who doesn't feel the necessity to "gimmick" up his or her delivery, just for the sake of getting a different sound.

I can confess now that I approached this album, as I have all the others that preceded it, with that "here we go again" attitude, but after listening to only one or two tracks I thought I detected a sense of fulfillment; and after listening to the test pressing all the way through, I felt certain that Shirley Horn is going to make it, and make it for all who enjoy good singing, jazz and pop devotees, alike. You see, Shirley Horn can sing! She can sing in tune, with a straight-forward, "un-gimmicked" style that is completely musical, so she has to make it.

It is fascinating how the criticisms of music of the past still hold true today in current music and yet, Shirley's music shines ever more brightly with time.

Every track on this album is a precious gem. She opens Side A with the mid-tempo "Like Someone in Love", then shifts to her trademark slow tempo on "He Never Mentioned Love." Her words paint the listener a picture of a beautiful romance that reached a climatic peak then came crashing down, breaking with into tiny pieces. Her instrumental of "Softly As in a Morning Sunrise" showcases a bit of her early classical music training then opens into a swinging beat. If you listen closely, you can hear finger snaps toward the end of the track. On "I Thought About You", Shirley and the bass player are in step with each other as she precisely frames each of her notes while the drummer creates magical brush strokes which embellish this lush track. She picks up the pace on the whimsical "Mountain Greenery" and closes out the side with her reading of Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Child." She embraces this classic tune as her own without taking away any of its original integrity.

Shirley opens Side B with the poignant ballad "Blue City." She starts off on solo piano and does a echoing on the ending words of a couple of verses then her trio comes in adding color to this dreamy ballad. She swings sweetly on "Day by Day" and it is followed up by my personal favorite ballad on the album, "If I Should Lose You." I guess I am a sucker for a great, "hang-your-heart-out-to dry" lyric and with Shirley's gentle touch and caress, it can melt your heart.

If I should lose you
The stars would fall from the skies
If I should lose you
The leaves would wither and die

I gave you my love
But I was living a dream
And living would seem in vain
If I lost you

"Wild is the Wind" has a percussive rhythm as a backdrop for Shirley's breathy vocals. The drummer provides sounds of the wind with his malletts on the cymbals. "Come Rain or Shine" has a natural build as she effortlessly conveys this melody. She ends the album with the mid-tempo "Just in Time." The track opens with a nice bass solo which sets the mood for the rest of the song. The liner notes do not really tell which bass player or drummer played on each track but, in any case, the rhythm section was superb.

Shirley Horn has been making headlines recently with being honored at the Kennedy Center earlier in December and as an 2005 Fellowship Recipient of the National Endowments of the Art Jazz Masters Fellowships. She will be playing the Le Jazz Au Bar in New York City from January 6-9. These concerts will be used for her live album expected to be released in May 2005. Listening to her vast body of music, it is evident why she is a musical treasure. Enjoy your music.

Related Articles

NYTimes.com: A Veteran Song Stylist Swings to Her Own Beat
WashingtonPost.com: The Tender Notes of Shirley Horn
WashingtonPost.com: At Kennedy Center, a Heartfelt Tribute to Shirley Horn

Posted by at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

They don't need these dresses
They don't need no jewelries'
They don't their hair
These women can sing!

- Sylvester

My first exposure to Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes Armstead was when they were singing background vocals for Sylvester on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert in the wee small hours of the morning back in 1978. They were all in flowing frocks with glittery head pieces. I remember their powerful background vocals on Sylvester's hits "Dance With Me in the Disco Heat" (especially Izora bellowing "Get on your feet and dance to the beat and jam...") and "You Make Me Feel Mighty Real." I remember sitting on the porch late at night, listening to the quiet storm radio, and listening to Martha sing her heart out on "Taking Away Your Space." Yet, it was in 1983 when I really got to know the music of Two Tons O' Fun. A friend let me borrow a cassette of their 1979 self-titled album. This is back when the early Sony Walkman cassette players were all the rage. I nearly wore out the cassette listening to the lyrics of "Earth Can Be Like Heaven":

Life is a see-saw
Up and down
It spins and it turns on
Like a merry-go-round
What you do comes back to you
To yourself always be true, cuz...

Earth can be just like Heaven
When you know you're truly livin'
Live and share with one another
Love each man as your brother

The words from "Earth Can Just Like Heaven" still ring true today. It will always be my favorite of all their music. The lyrics were meaningful and infectious without being gimmicky and if you heard it on a big dance floor, you could have your own slice of heaven. "Make Someone Happy Today" was another feel good song. "Taking Away Your Space" was a quiet storm hit and showcased Martha as a solo balladeer and "One-Sided Love Affair" speaks for itself with it driving beat and signifying lyrics. We flip over to Side A and it opens with the catchy dance classic "Do You Wanna Boogie, Huh?" followed by another favorite, "I Got The Feeling" which featured Izora on the lead. "Just Us" was always the song you heard near the end of the night in the club. It was mellow with a nice rhythm. "Gone Away" gave Martha the opportunity to soar like a beautiful sparrow. There was church in their sound with Martha high up in the rafters with her angelic voice while Izora could shake the ground from under you with her husky, pot-liquored tones. I also learned that Izora was also a classically trained pianist and sung arias.

Martha and Izora did one more album, Backatcha, as Two Tons O' Fun before going to Columbia Records as The Weather Girls. They recorded albums, Success(1983), which yielded their biggest hits, "It's Raining Men" and "Dear Santa (Bring Me a Man This Christmas"), Big Girls Don't Cry(1985), and The Weather Girls(1988). Their last two albums produced a few small hits but never captured the magic and production savvy of their earlier albums. Martha later pursued a solo career and Izora continued the Weather Girls with her daughter, Dynelle Rhodes.

I had the pleasure of seeing The Weather Girls in concert in 1986 at the the Vic Theatre in Chicago for $10. They gave a spectacular performance and it was definitely a fun concert. In recent years, I was always hoping for a Two Tons O' Fun/Weather Girls reunion tour or recording. Unfortunately, Izora passed earlier this year. She will be greatly missed but her sound with live on forever.

Enjoy your music.

P.S. If you are looking for Two Tons O' Fun/Weather Girls music, please check out the listings for Two Ton O' Fun and Weather Girls on www.gemm.com.

Posted by at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Everyone has their favorite Ashford & Simpson song. Maybe it was Marvin's, Diana's, or Jocelyn's version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", Marvin & Tammy's "You're All I Need to Get By", Aretha's "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing", Diana's "The Boss", Ray's "Let's Get Stoned", Chaka's "Clouds" or "I'm Every Woman", Quincy's "Stuff Like That", Gladys' "Landlord" or even Stephanie's "Keep Away Girls." Of course, Nick and Valerie have had countless gems of their own including "Is It Still Good to Ya", "Tried, Tested, and Found True", "Stay Free", "Nobody Knows", "It Seems to Hang On", "Love Don't Make It Right", "So, So Satisfied" (one of my favorites), and "Over and Over." The mighty Nick-O-Val songbook kept spinning out the hits.

This was a tough flashback because there are some many great A&S album. I have been carrying Send It around with me for the past month then last week I pulled out four other albums and played them. They brought back a flood of memories of summers growing up in Chicago in the late 70's and early 80's. One of my favorite A&S songs was the classic dance instrumental "Bourgié Bourgié" (rollerskaters and party people wave your hands!!!) from Send It, which featured Valerie on piano. A couple of years later, "Bourgié Bourgié" got lyrics and was on Gladys Knight & The Pips' About Love album which Nick and Valerie produced. Other tracks on Send It included "By Way of Love's Express", "Don't Cost You Nothing", "Send It", and "Top of the Stairs."

One of the first concerts I attended was an Ashford & Simpson concert at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago in 1982. They were sensational and so intertwined in their love and music that you could feel it. I saw them again a couple of years later. One of the most special moments for me was when they visited my church in Chicago in the late 90's. We did not expect them to sing then Valerie got up and sang a couple verses of the gospel hymn "The Angels Keep Watching Over Me" and I could have just laid out in the floor. She was awesome and gorgeous too!

I promise not to stay away so long. Enjoy your music!

Posted by at 12:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I'm trav'lin' light
Because my man has gone
So from now on
I'm trav'lin' light
He said goodbye
And took my heart away
So from today
I'm trav'lin' light

No one to see
I'm free as the breeze
No one but me
And my memories
Some lucky night
He may come back again
So until then
I'm trav'lin' light

It was a spring of 1994 when I first heard this album played in a used records store in Oak Park, Illinois where I lived at the time. I had just gotten to know Shirley's music in the last couple of years and I was buying every one of her records that I could find. "Some of My Best Friends Are the Blues" was playing and I turned to ask who was singing only to find out it was Shirley's 1965 ABC-Paramount recording, Travelin' Light. I continued to listen and was instantly in love but it was the store's only copy of the recently reissued album. After a little coercing (begging), I got the store to sell me the disc and I went home a very happy man. This was now my earliest record on which Shirley sang and played piano. On her previous albums, Loads of Love/Shirley Horn with Horns, she only provided vocals while piano was played by Hank Jones and Jimmy Jones.

On the opening title track, Shirley takes it slow, making a statement with each word, letting you know the romance has ended and she will be "Travelin' Light." You immediately hear how her voice and piano are so closely intertwined in her vocal phrasing and chord structure. She is intimate and personal. "New York on Sunday" picks up the pace a bit and inspired my desire to go to see the New York City she sang about. "I Could Have Told You" is a beautiful ballad with "I told you so" theme as she watches a former love have his heart broken by a new romance. She swings on "Big City" and brings it back mellow on "I Want to Be With You" punctuating her words with sweet melodies. "Some of My Best Friends Are the Blue" is bluesy but you will need a double scotch on the rocks when Shirley does a trembling piano swell followed by silence on the dirge "Someone You've Loved." There is a finger snapping coolness on "Don't Be on the Outside" and "You're Blasé is pretty much to the point but Shirley's reading of it takes it just a little further. "Yes, I Know When I've Had It" is a swinging tribute to the end of a romance. There is a sly playfulness on the ballad "Confession" and if you are not listening carefully you will miss the ending phrase "I always go to bed at 10, then go home at 4." Shirley closes the album with a bossa nova treatment on the Lennon-McCartney ballad "And I Love Him."

Shirley band's for this album included Marshall Hawkins on bass, Bernard Sweetney on drums, Joe Newman on trumpet, Frank Wess on flute & alto sax, Jerome Richardson on flute, and Kenny Burrell on guitar. Johnny Pate provided brass arrangements on several tracks. They compliment Shirley's style of singing and playing very well.

On May 1, Shirley celebrated her 70th birthday. She has been making beautiful music for over 40 years and I dedicate this flashback to her.

"Here's to life. Here's to love. Here's to you."

Enjoy your music and have a safe holiday weekend!

Additional Resources

Rebroadcast of a Shirley Horn interview on The Connection in 2002
Shirley Horn Discography

Posted by at 8:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I had been enjoying the music of keyboardist Bob James and saxophonist David Sanborn for a few years before they joined forces on the Double Vision album in 1986. This outstanding collaboration was a top seller and brought them each a Grammy award.

The tracks "Maputo" and "More Than Friends", both written by Marcus Miller, became instant favorites on the quiet storm and smooth jazz radio formats and are still heard years later. Al Jarreau brought his mellow vocals to the classic "Since I Fell For You." "It's You" was orginally recorded on David Sanborn's 1981 Voyeur album which featured Patti Austin, Valerie Simpson, Kasey Cisyk, and Lani Groves on background vocals. The updated version felt a little naked without the vocals but it was still good. The duo closed out this great album with the classic ballad "You Don't Know Me."

In addition to their own exceptional musicianship, they were joined by some stellar musicians including Paul Jackson, Jr., Eric Gale, Steve Gadd, and Paulinho da Costa.

Enjoy your music.

Posted by at 8:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This album is special for so many reasons. Roberta celebrated 25 years for Roberta Flack as a recording artist with Atlantic Records. The album conveys so many different moods and emotions from the beginning, middle, and end of romance. It is probably one of her best recordings and least known. On a personal level, it is in my top 25 personal favorites, I love playing this album, and if I were stuck on a desert island far away, I would want this album with me. A friend and I were recently discussing the music that tells the stories of our lives and I could not readily think of an album/artist that conveyed anything about my life then I remembered how Roberta and her music have really touched my heart over the years. I purchased this album during a period of transition in my life. I was finally getting settled in California. I had just gotten a CD player installed in my car and this album was one of my purchases on that momentous weekend. Like a kid with a new toy, I had to play it in the car as soon as I left the store. It was a warm fall night in early October and hearing Roberta's sweet voice just made it perfect.

Roberta covered the music from the many aspects of her life and wove them into a beautiful tapestry. She takes the classics and brings them alive in her own soulful way. She opens with her poignant reading of Al Green's Let's Stay Together." Next, she tells us about "Sweet Georgia Brown" and let's us know that the "Thrill is Gone." She pauses for a moment in "It Might Be You" to ask "Must I stop doing the things that I love to do, for you, with you, so you can respect me? See my needs?" That's powerful. Another gem is Stevie Wonder's "Looking for Another Pure Love." Also included are "I Don't Care Who Knows (Baby, I'm Yours)", "Prelude to a Kiss", "Angel Eyes", "Tenderly" and my favorite, "Cottage for Sale." There are also a couple of Rodgers & Hart classics, "Isn't It Romantic" and "My Romance." She closes with "You'll Never Know ('Til You Let Go.) Every song feels hand-picked for Roberta.

Roberta Flack is on the top of my list for artists that I really want to see in concert. I missed seeing her in Long Beach and San Diego last summer. I am keeping a close eye on Pollstar and if she comes to California this year, I will definitely be there. I also heard that she was going to have some new music coming out but I have not seen or heard anything lately.

I dedicated this flashback to my favorite super-mom, A.J., who celebrates her birthday on 03/30.

Enjoy your music.

Posted by at 5:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

"You can't get to no better days
Unless you make it through the night"

Sometimes you find just the right album cover but when you can't, a great photo and fitting quote always works. I was 24 when I first heard Dianne Reeves' self-entitled 1987 Blue Note release, Dianne Reeves. I fell in love with her music and have been a faithful listener ever since. She travels down many roads in her music and tells her stories so wonderfully. One moment she is soaring through "Sky Island" and then she pauses to tell us about "Better Days" (aka "The Grandma Song") and meeting up again with her beloved grandmother. I can remember there was such a demand for the song in one of her early concerts, that she sang it twice. One of my favorite songs for quiet reflection is the poignant ballad "I'm O.K." and then there is her beautiful reading of the Ellington classic "I've Got It Bad And That Ain't Good." The playful scatting and that burst of laughter at the end of "That's All" lets you know that she truly enjoys her music. Also included on album are the gems "Harvest Time", "Chan's Song" (Never Said) which was penned by Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder, and "Yesterdays."

She is joined on this early album by some wonderful musicians including her cousin, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Billy Childs, Tony Williams, Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Washington, and Paulinho da Costa. I am sure they saw the greatness, grace, and beauty back then that we see in her today. Whether she is scatting a joyous melody or chanting over an African rhythm, she does it with a style and finesse that come from deep within her soul.

Her latest Blue Note release, A Little Moonlight, brought her another Grammy award for Best Jazz Vocal Album, which is her 3rd in a row. Grammy or not, it is a fine album. Both of these albums will set the mood for any romantic evening, even Valentine's Day. :) Enjoy your music.

Sample Tracks

1. Sky Islands
2. I'm O.K.
3. Better Days
4. Harvest Time
5. Chan's Song (Never Said)

Check out the Dianne Reeves Electronic Press Kit and Discography

Posted by at 8:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

I am love, love
Always here to give you what you need
Like you do for me
I am love, love
For the first time I know that it's real
Oh, you make me feel
I am love

In 1982, Jennifer Holliday took the world by storm when she sang "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" in her role as Effie Melody White in the Tony award-winning Broadway musical Dreamgirls. At the age of just 21, she was a powerhouse. The next year, she recorded her Feel My Soul album for Geffen Records. This was my favorite of her three Geffen albums. It was produced by Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire and had a who's who of contributors including a couple of The Emotions on background vocals. I enjoyed all the songs on the album. The ballads were solid and the up-tempo tracks had an EWF feel to them which was not a bad thing. "I Am Love" was the heavy-hitting ballad on the album. Other gems included "Just For A While", "Change Is Gonna Come", "Just Let Me Wait", "Shine A Light On", "I Am Ready Now", and "This Game Of Love (I'm Never Coming Down" and "This Day."

Jennifer's next two Geffen albums, Say You Love Me and Get Close To My Love yielded the hits "Come Sunday", "Hard Times For Lovers", "Say You Love Me", "Read It In My Eyes", "Heart On The Line", "Givin' Up", and the ever so danceable "No Frills Love." Her Say You Love Me album was never released on disc but several of the songs can be found on The Best of Jennifer Holliday which was released in 1996. I just recently purchased her I'm On Your Side album from 1991.

No matter the genre, Jennifer brings a lot of power to her music which makes me wonder why her star is not shining brighter. She has done some great TV and theatre roles but nothing has topped her Dreamgirls performance but is that a realistic expectation? It frustrates me when wonderful singers fade away only to be replaced by newcomers who don't even feel what they are singing. Rant off! Her most recent album, On & On, was a very well produced gospel album released in 1994. In recent years, she has provided her powerhouse vocals to the catchy dance club hits "A Woman's Got The Power" and "Think It Over." I look forward to more good music from this Dreamgirl. Enjoy your music.

Minneapolis StarTribune.com: Concert review: Jennifer Holliday's voice steals the show

Posted by at 6:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

"You're the landlord and the keeper of our love"

The flashback on Gladys Knight & The Pips has been a longtime in the making because I could not find the album cover photos so I took a photo of them myself. You like? The About Love (1980) and Touch (1981) albums are two of my favorite Gladys Knight and The Pips album. Both albums were produced by Ashford and Simpson.

About Love yielded the hit songs "Landlord", "Taste of Bitter Love", "Still Such A Thing", and "Bourgie, Bourgie" (which was originally an instrumental on Ashford and Simpson's Send It album.) This album is out of print and was never released on CD but several of its songs can be found on the compilations, The Best of Gladys Knight & The Pips and Gladys Knight & The Pips - Live at the Roxy.

"I will fight, to the end
If it means our love will win
I will do, do my best
Put me to, any test"

Touch was the first Gladys Knight & The Pips album that I owned. I got it the same year it came out and I can remember sitting by the stereo with the headphones on playing "I Will Fight" over and over again. Even when I play it now, I have to repeat it a couple of times. I am a huge fan of Valerie Simpson's piano playing and she was very prominent on this track. This album was more consistent in the selection of songs than About Love. Hits included "I Will Fight", "If That'll Make You Happy", "A Friend of Mine", "God Is", and Gladys' live version of "I Will Survive."

I saw Gladys Knight & The Pips in concert for my 20th birthday. They gave a spectacular performance and it is a concert that I will always treasure. After the concert, I bought a Gladys Knight & The Pips t-shirt. Their hit song at the time was "Save The Overtime (For Me)" and I had "Save The Overtime For James" done in lettering on the back of my t-shirt. I wish I had saved that t-shirt. Enjoy your music.

Posted by at 7:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

It is only fitting for the last Flashback Friday entry of this year to go out on a royal note. Duke Ellington's Three Suites recording has been a part of my holiday season for about the last 10 years. I heard it for the first time as the soundtrack for a soulful version of the "Nutcracker Suite" called "Nuts and Bolts" performed by the Joel Hall Dance Theatre in Chicago. After hearing it, I searched the record stores until I found it.

Three Suites is made up of wonderful adaptations of Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, and Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites Nos. 1 and 2, Ellington-Strayhorn: Suite Thursday, an original composition.

In addition to receiving the magic touch of Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, several of the pieces in The Nutcracker Suite got renamed to coincide with their new arrangements. "Dance of the Reed-Pipes" was now "Toot Toot Tootie Toot", "March" was now "Peanut Brittle Brigade" and "Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy" was now "Sugar Rum Cherry." The liner notes discuss in detail how this excellent group of musicians came together to create this magnificent body of music. It is pure genius and I am sure even Tchaikovsky would have been pleased with the finished product. Ellington and Strayhorn put the same amount of loving care into the selections for the Peer Gynt Suite Nos. 1 and 2 which includes "Morning Mood", "In the Hall of the Mountain King", "Solvejg's Song", "Ase's Death", and "Anitra's Dance." Suite Thursday is the result of a commission from the directors of the Monterey Jazz Festival for an original Ellington to be written and presented at the Festival in 1960. Monterey is Steinbeck country, and the author's "Sweet Thursday" inspired the title of Ellington four-part suite which includes the pieces "Misfit Blues", "Schwiphti", "Zweet Zurzday", and "Lay-By."

While the adaptation of The Nutcracker Suite is my personal favorite, the entire album is filled with beautiful music that you are sure to enjoy. It also displays the musical genius and complexity of these great legends. Enjoy your music and may all the best be yours for the New Year!

Posted by at 7:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,
Jack Frost nipping at your nose,
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir,
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

And so I'm offering this simple phrase,
To kids from one to ninety-two,
Although it's been said
Many times, Many ways
Merry Christmas to you.

For as long as I can remember, Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" has been a part of my holiday season. It does not feel like the holiday season to me until I hear those first few bars of "The Christmas Song." Even in the midst of the season's consumerism, I still enjoy the music the most.

"The Christmas Song" was introduced to Nat in May 1946 by singer/songwriter Mel Tormé. Nat loved the song and wanted to record it in a larger setting than his trio but Capitol Records was very reluctant about having strings on the recording. Nat convinced Capitol (aka "The House That Nat Built") to let him record "The Christmas Song" with strings. The song was released in November 1946 and reached #3 on the pop and R&B charts. Capitol reissued it every holiday season for the next 7 years, and each year it would chart in the top 5. In 1953 Nat recorded it again, this time with Nelson Riddle conducting, and, of course, with many more than the four original strings. This version was reissued for the next 8 years. Then, in 1961, Nat recorded the stereo version, with Ralph Carmichael conducting. This was the last time he recorded it, and to the present time, this is the rendition that Capitol reissues regularly.

The Christmas Song, the album, came to life in 1960 but not without some resistance. Nat was very happy with just having "The Christmas Song." He did not want to compete with the other popular holiday music of the day. He finally gave in to Capitol's persuasion and recorded the album which we love today. I have always been fanscinated by the rich orchestrations and the 20 angelic voices that accompanied Nat's honey-toned baritone voice. The album was reissued in 1999 and includes "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" and "O Come All Ye Faithful" which were never previously issued. It also includes the carefully engineered duet on "The Christmas Song" with his daughter, Natalie, which features a host of strings and other wonderful instruments from the London Symphony Orchestra. Dick LaPalm, who traveled with Nat for 13 years, provided the excellent liner notes for the reissue which were my personal history lesson about the making of this classic album. Enjoy your music.

Posted by at 8:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

I'm in love again
This I mean it
In love again
So in love again
What lies between us is discovering
This time it's for real

Wow, how many times have we heard ourselves or our friends say that? My personal joy about doing these flashbacks is that I get to pull out some of my old vinyl and blow the dust off of them. In my early 20's, going to a Patti LaBelle concert was an event. I had a friend who always had to have the best seats for her concerts so we would go to the ticket brokers and pay a little extra for the good seats. From 1983-86, we never missed her when she came to town. I was not one of those people that went running up on stage when she asked for people to come dance with her during "Lady Marmalade" but I did have my trusty Kodak Disc camera with the telephoto lense so I got some good photos. Come on now, I know I was not the only one who brought a camera to a concert trying to get that one good shot. Thank God for time and wisdom. She always had fierce gowns and her hair was a creation of its own. She came to sing you into the heavens and that is exactly what she did. You could never really capture on record the magnitude of her live shows. She loved her audience and she let us know throughout the evening. She also made us feel like we were part of her family as she shared stories about her loved ones. My favorite part of her concerts was when Patti would kick off her shoes roll across the floor on "Isn't It A Shame." Toss in Patti singing "You Are My Friend" and I would just melt. Her background singers, The Sweeties, were sparrows in their own right and kept up with Patti every step of the way which was no easy task. I also got to see Patti in the gospel musical, "Your Arms Too Short To Box With God" and she was spectacular.

As I listen to "I'm in Love Again", "Lover Man", "Love, Need, and Want You" and "If Only You Knew" from her I'm in Love Again album (1983), I am filled with memories of sharing good music with good friends. This was definitely a side A album and I can remember playing it over and over again. Side B was more uptempo and less memorable but side A was for lovers or at least it made you wish you were in love again and again.

I dedicated this flashback to all my friends and family near and far and wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Don't worry, I will post again before turkey day!

Posted by at 6:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

"Sending you "forget me nots"
To help you to remember
Baby please forget me not
I want you to remember"

I am sure you were starting to wonder what happened to Flashback Friday's. Me too! I actually had a hard time selecting a Patrice "Baby Fingers" Rushen because there are so many great ones including Patrice, Posh, Pizzazz, Now, Watch Out!, and Signature. I chose the first Patrice that I owned, Straight from the Heart. It was one of the early purchases in my burgeoning record collection back in 1982. It got a lot of play in my household and I even think my Dad liked it or got used to hearing it. "Forget Me Nots" was, of course, the summer jam heating up the streets and dance floors and is still being sampled today. It had an infectious hook like "Haven't You Heard" from a few years before. My personal jam was the instrumental "Number One" which had a soulful funk groove. "Remind Me" and "Where There is Love" were quiet storm favorites. "Break Out" featured lyrics and background vocals from Brenda Russell and "If Only" featured lyrics from Syreeta Wright. "(She Will) Take You Down to Love" had a Brazilian flavor with sounds of the rain forest and featured Patrice on guitar and Paulihno Da Costa on percussion. "All We Need" and "I Was Tired of Being Alone" were soulful and funky with catchy hooks as well. It was a solid album continuing her fine tradition of music which we had come to know and love. In addition to her outstanding vocals and songwriting, Patrice played piano, electric piano, synthesizers, clavinet, percussion, and guitar on the album. There were also a wonderful cast of musicians and vocalists contributing to this musical melting pot including Charles Mims, Jr., Paul Jackson, Jr., "Ready" Freddie Washington, Roy Galloway, and Lynn Davis (the powerhouse vocalist featured on "This All I Really Now" on the Posh album).

I had the pleasure of seeing Patrice in concert last year in a jazz setting with Buster Williams on bass and Lenny White on drums. Part of me wanted to hear some of her old soulful jams but I was mesmerized by her piano playing. Her touch and her control were amazing. I will have to check for new recordings from Patrice. I really think we need a Patrice Rushen box set. In the meantime, enjoy your music and have a great weekend!

Posted by at 8:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

If you ask me to pick my favorite Natalie Cole songs from her Capitol recordings, I would choose "No Plans for the Future", "Can't Say No", "La Costa", "Heaven is with You", "Mr. Melody", "Inseparable", "I'm Catching Hell", "Beautiful Dreamer", and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" just to name a few. My favorite early Cole album is Thankful because one of my friends in high school let me borrow it for a couple of weeks. I tried to wear the grooves off of it and knew every song very well. I was recently playing the CD in the car and realized something interesting. 20+ years after this album was recorded, it is still a very consistent recording. I can select any track and it still makes me smile. Of course, this is after I have played "La Costa" about 10 times in a row. I was at a writing workshop last year and we were discussing music. We were all in agreement that "La Costa" is one of her best recordings ever. "Picture yourself on a sea, come feel the warmth of the breeze... La Costa." The sounds of beautiful waves crashing against the sandy shores, the rich orchestration complete with horns and flutes (feeling like a Herb Alpert or Sergio Mendes arrangement), and Natalie's breezy, sensual, multi-layered vocals all made for a alluring tune. I have only heard this song remade once by pianist Ahmad Jamal as an instrumental. "La Costa", which Natalie co-wrote with Linda Williams, also gave us a glimpse into her significant jazz heritage. Other gems included the gospel and funk title track "Thankful", the playful and swinging "Lovers", and her charter toppers "Our Love" and "Annie Mae." Part of the beauty of "Annie Mae" was how it closed out with a harp solo which lead into "Keeping a Light." She signified and testified on "Nothing Stronger Than Love" and "Just Can't Stay Away" which was later remade by En Vogue. Enjoy your music.

Posted by at 12:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (20)

It was not an easy choice deciding which Chaka album to use for the flashback because there are so many good ones. Her work with Rufus as well as her solo albums are outstanding. Rufus and Chaka's album Street Player (1978) is special for me for its lyrics and music. The soulful funk rhythms of Rufus and powerhouse vocals of Chaka Khan were unstoppable. Hmmm....I wonder if there will ever be a reunion album?

Send me a stranger to love
I need a stranger to love
Send me a stranger to love
So I can leave my past behind

Often times, we initially hear a song and then go back and listen to it again years later and it will have a whole new meaning. The words and the music have stood the test of time and have even more relevance to us now.

Always look inside the people that you're with
And never hang around those who cannot give

Don't let them get the best
Of your heart leave the rest
Up to love and you'll be takin care of

Now those are definitely words to live by and taken from the song "Best of Your Heart" and the lyrics at the top are from "Stranger to Love" which are just a couple of the great ballads on this album. Other gems include "Turn", "Stay", "Blue Love", and the jazzy "Destiny" which made you say, "wow, she can sing anything!!". The title track "Street Player" and "Change Your Ways" also feature Tony Maiden on lead and background vocals, guitar, and percussion. The soul funk jazz rock band Rufus also includes Kevin Murphy on keyboards, Bobby "Wah Wah" Watson on bass and percussion, David "Hawk" Wolinski on keyboards and background vocals, and Richard "Moon" Calhoun on drums, percussion, and background vocals.

Enjoy your music!

Posted by at 4:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

One day I'll fly away
Leave your love to yesterday
What more can your love do for me
When will love be through with me
Why live life from dream to dream
And dread the day when dreaming ends

The voice of Randy Crawford is one of the most distinctive voice in R&B and Contemporary Jazz. Her sound is very unique and often underrated as are so many of the great singers of our lifetime. My first memory of her music was the 1979 hit song "Streetlife" on The Crusaders album of the same name. In 1980, The Crusaders (Joe Sample, Stix Hooper, and Wilton Felder) produced her album Now We May Begin was released. There were many hot, humid summer evenings spent listening to Randy's music on the quiet storm radio programs. This was a time when on Wednesday nights, the local radio station would spotlight an entire album of an artist. I would hear those opening guitar licks on the title track "Now We May Begin" and I was hooked. The playful "Last Night At Danceland" and the signifying "Same Old Story (Same Old Song)" were also favorites but the songs that thoroughly moved me were her beatiful and poignant renditions of "When Your Life Was Low" and "One Day I'll Fly Away." These two songs were later sung by Lalah Hathaway on The Song Lives On album with Joe Sample which proves the music truly does live on. This album also includes her self-penned ballad "Tender Falls The Rain."

Her next album, Secret Combination, which was produced by Tommy LiPuma, yielded other favorites including "You Might Need Somebody", "Rio de Janiero Blues" (still a smooth jazz favorite), "Rainy Night In Georgia", "You Bring The Sun Out", "Secret Combination" and "Trade Winds" which was later sung by Perrí.

Next weekend, Randy will be reuniting with The Crusaders at the Monterey Jazz Festival. They have been touring together this summer. I have been waiting a long time for them to get back together and hopefully they will record together again soon. Enjoy your music.

Posted by at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

With open arms
I receive you
Holding my heart in my hand
With open arms
I relieve you
From every day, in every way that I can
With open arms
With open arms"

My high school principal used to say that I would get hellbent about certain things. I would just like to consider it perseverance and determination. Now you know how when we go to a concert, we expect the artist to sing the song exactly as it was recorded on the album, if not better (yes, I know that is unfair to the artist!!!)

It was the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 1994 and we went to the Jazz Explosion concert with Gerald Albright, Jonathan Butler, Will Downing, Rachelle Ferrell, and Bobby Lyle at the Regal Theatre in Chicago. Each performer was outstanding but the anticipation of hearing Rachelle live for the first time was overwhelming. She was incredible. Her voice is angelically crafted for song. She performed songs from her self-entitled release which was still burning up the charts. One of the highlights of the evening was when her and Will Downing lovingly performed "Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This" but the song that stopped my heart was "With Open Arms" which escalated from a sensual love ballad to a song giving thanks and praise for all the blessings we all have received. Hold on, where was the note? Where was her signature note after she finished the second verse. Don't get me wrong, I was floating in the stratosphere already but I wanted to hear that exact note in the song. I thought to myself afterward, she was probably saving it for the late show after she had a chance to warm up. I understand that when you are a remarkable composer, musician, and have a vocal range of six octaves and some change, you have to take extra special care of your instrument. Well, the concert ended and as we were leaving, I told my friend Bridget that I should come back for the second show to hear her hit "my note." Of course, she thought I was crazy but I rushed her back my house so she could pickup her car and I came back for the second show. There were only minor changes in the show but guess what? Rachelle hit and surpassed that note in "With Open Arms" and I had a big smile on my face. I guess good things come to those who wait. I hope that you enjoy this story as much as I have enjoyed sharing it.

I remember first hearing Rachelle as the enchanting voice ad-libbing on George Duke's song "No Rhyme, No Reason" from his Snapshot album in 1992. Next, I would hear her on the radio singing "'Til You Come Back To Me" from her self-entitled release, Rachelle Ferrell. When I finally got the album, I played it constantly and loved every song for each was filled with a powerful message. Tracks included "I'm Special", "Welcome To My Love", "Waiting", "I Know You Love Me", "Sentimental", "With Open Arms" and "Peace on Earth." Her duet with Will Downing on "Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This" just made you want to go out and find someone to slow dance with. All of her albums are great but they do not compare to her live performances. You are definitely in for a treat. We can expect new music from Rachelle later this year and I will be going see here in Oakland this weekend. Stay tuned!!!

I dedicate this story to my favorite aunt who turns 88 years old today and also, to my friend, Bridget, who celebrates her birthday tomorrow. Have a happy and safe holiday weekend and as always, enjoy your music.

It has brought me great joy to take you back in time every Friday for the past 6 months. The Flashback Friday entries will be now be posted bi-weekly instead weekly which will give me some time to catch on all the great new music that is coming your way. Thanks for your continued support as we travel together on this musical journey.

Additional Rachelle Ferrell Recordings

First Instrument (1995)
Individuality (Can I Be Me?) (2000)
Live in Montreaux (2002)

Posted by at 6:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

"You can reach me by railway, you can reach me by trailway You can reach me on an airplane, you can reach me with your mind You can reach me by caravan, cross the desert like an Arab man I don't care how you get here, just - get here if you can"

The year was 1990 when singer/composer/musician Oleta Adams warmed our hearts like a roaring fire on a cold winter's night with her debut release, Circle of One. There was a new voice bringing forth a new song in a time when everything seemed so synthesized. Her resonance grabs you with its clarity. You hear her every note and word without studio enhancements. She tells wonderful stories in her music of love, hope, faith, family, and life. Her musicianship is superb as she mesmerizes you on piano, keyboards, or organ. "Get Here", written by Brenda Russell, became the unofficial anthem of Desert Storm. The soulful tracks "Circle of One" and "Rhythm of Life" were also popular. Her ballads "I've Got to Sing My Song" is a personal testimony and "You've Got to Give Me Room" tells poignantly of a love that can no longer grow. Her reading of "Everything Must Change" comes from a heart filled with emotion and the bonus track "Don't Look Too Closely" invites us to come look deep inside her soul.

Oleta's roots are in gospel which is evident in her soulfulness, brilliance, and control of a note. She also received classical training. She got her big break when the members of the band Tears For Fears saw her performing in Kansas City. She went on tour with them and recorded the songs "Woman in Chains" and "Badman's Song" on their Seeds of Love album ("Woman in Chains" can also be found on The Very Best of Oleta Adams.) This pairing lead to a record deal and the recording of her solo album, Circle of One, which Roland Orzabal of TFF produced. Her husband, drummer John Cushon, played on her first album and has been with her ever since.

I got to see her at an outdoor festival earlier this summer and I must say, she gives her all on record and in her live performances. A hush fell over the crowd as she sang "My Heart Won't Lie", "Get Here", and "I Just Had to Hear Your Voice" and we got up and danced on her mid and uptempo songs. She performed for over an hour and a half and she was magnificent. Her star definitely shines bright in my heart and I really hope that we can look forward to some new music from this amazing woman. Enjoy your music.

Oleta and the movies...

LaNita brought to my attention that Oleta sang "Love Never Forgets" in the movie How Stella Got Her Groove Back but it was not included on the movie soundtrack or on any of her albums. I ran out and got a copy of the movie to hear the song again and we will check to see if the song is currently available or will be available in the future. Stay tuned!!

Update: j-notes.com correspondent LaNita has learned that the song was an only an interlude for the funeral scene and not an entire song. This is why it was not included on the original movie soundtrack.

Oleta sang "Many Rivers to Cross" on the Jason's Lyric movie soundtrack and it also on The Very Best of Oleta Adams. She also teamed with Brenda Russell on the gospel flavored "We Will Find A Way" from the Corrina, Corrina movie soundtrack which also features Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Louis Armstrong, Oscar Peterson, and Billie Holiday. Amazing how one question can lead you down so many different roads.

Additional Oleta Adams Albums

Evolution (1993)
Movin' On (1995)
Come Walk With Me (1997)
The Very Best of Oleta Adams (1998)
All the Love (2001)

Posted by at 6:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

It has been a busy week and I have been in class for the last three days. I tried to put together the Flashback last night but sleep got the best of me. Look for the Friday Flashback to return this weekend next Friday. It's going to be special. Have a good weekend!

In the meantime, checkout Stephanie Mills' new website, www.stephaniemillsmusic.com. She has a new single, "Born For This", and a new album which drops in November. Thanks LaNita!!

Also, if you are in Oakland this weekend, go checkout Roy Hargrove and RH Factor at Yoshi's. I got to see them last night and they definitely funked up the place.

Posted by at 7:23 AM | Permalink

Drinking music is in a class all of its own. We know it as the music that has helped us just to make it through a situation. It has soothed the pain of a broken heart or a failed romance. You put that record of your choice on and slide on down to bluesville with a side order of dark and dreary skies. I personally love this kind of music not for its mood altering affects but for its power. Never does a lyric have so much meaning as in the blues. There are no mixed messages in these songs. You know it is over, they have left you, and your heart will be broken for awhile. You are lying on the couch with a fifth of whatever (kool-aid, of course) and co-signing with the music when you hear phrases like "I'd rather drink muddy water and sleep out in a hollow log" or "Lawd, if I only had my way, the graveyard would be the place where my man would lay."

On Aretha Sings The Blues, Aretha sets the tone for whatever ails you. These classics were recorded between 1961 and 1965, during her seven years at Columbia Records. She is also featured on piano on some of the tracks. Aretha opens the album with my personal favorite, "Drinking Again", which paints the tale of a romance that has gone south and the song ends with the prophetic line, "I ain't got nothin' but a bottle of Seagram's and just a memory." The lights are low and the embers have lost their glow. Each title tells a life story such as "Maybe I'm A Fool", "Evil Gal Blues", "Trouble In Mind", "Nobody Know The Way I Feel This Morning", "This Bitter Earth", "Muddy Water", "Only The Lonely" and "Take A Look." She embraces this music with such soulfulness, conviction, and compassion and to imagine that she was only in her late teens and early 20's when she recorded these gems. That is an amazing talent wise beyond her years. If you are an early Aretha fan, this is definitely a must have. Enjoy your music.

Sample Tracks

1. Drinking Again
2. Today I Sing the Blues
3. What a Difference a Day Made
4. Without the One You Love
5. Trouble in Mind

Other Related Albums

The Great Aretha Franklin/Sweet Bitter Love/Aretha Sings The Blues [Box Set]
The Delta Meets Detroit: Aretha's Blues
Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington

Posted by at 7:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)