Flashback Friday – Ella Fitzgerald – These Are The Blues
“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” – Ella Fitzgerald 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 […]
Flashback Friday – Luther Vandross – Never Too Much
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 […]
Flashback Friday – Vanessa Bell Armstrong – Chosen
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 […]
Flashback Friday – Shirley Horn – Embers and Ashes
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 […]
Flashback Friday – Two Tons O’ Fun/Weather Girls
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. […]
Flashback Friday – Ashford & Simpson – Send It
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 […]
Flashback Friday – Shirley Horn – Travelin’ Light
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 […]
Flashback Friday – Bob James & David Sanborn – Double Vision
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, […]
Flashback Friday – Roberta Flack – Roberta
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 […]
Flashback Friday – Dianne Reeves
“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 […]
Flashback Friday – Jennifer Holliday – Feel My Soul
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 […]
Flashback Friday – Gladys Knight & The Pips – About Love/Touch
“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 […]
Flashback Friday – Duke Ellington – Three Suites
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 […]
Flashback Friday – Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song
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. Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe, Help to make the season bright, Tiny tots with their eyes all a-glow, Will find it hard to sleep tonight. They know that […]
Flashback Friday – Patti LaBelle – I’m In Love Again
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 […]
Flashback Friday – Patrice Rushen – Straight from the Heart
“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 […]
Flashback Friday – Natalie Cole – Thankful
“Picture yourself on the sea of a setting sun The salty air and the taste of your lover’s hair Inside you want to fly Ah, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi Come to the magical mist where the oceans kissed A thousand kisses or more on the sandy shore And never says goodbye Ah, yi, […]
Flashback Friday – Rufus featuring Chaka Khan – Street Player
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 […]
Flashback Friday – Randy Crawford – Now We May Begin
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 […]
Flashback Friday – Rachelle Ferrell
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 […]
Flashback Friday – Oleta Adams – Circle of One
“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” – Oleta […]
Oh no….where’s the Friday Flashback!!!
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 […]
Flashback Friday – Aretha Franklin – Aretha Sings The Blues
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 […]
Friday Flashback – The Emotions – Rejoice
Best Of My Love Doesn’t take much to make me happy And make me smile with glee Never, never will I feel discouraged Cause our love’s no mystery Demonstrating love and affection That you give so openly yeah I like the way ya make me about you baby Want the whole wide world to see […]
