Living To Music January 2012

Join in if you can, alone or with friends, this Sunday at 9pm with Greg Wilson's Living To Music worldwide communal listening experience. The selected album this month is the Stone Roses' self titled debut from 1989.

http://www.gregwilson.co.uk/2011/12/living-to-music-the-stone-roses-the-stone-roses/

Christmas Wall Of Sound

This arrived via eBay yesterday just in time for the final run-up to Christmas - a snip at £4.06.  Originally released in 1963 and called "A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector", it was reissued with this different title and cover art 20 years later.

Phil Spector's Christmas Album (1983)

It features four of Phil's artists; The Ronettes, The Crystals, Darlene Love and Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans.  Spector's Wall of Sound is put to phenomenal effect on seasonal classics Frosty The Snowman, White Christmas, Sleigh Ride, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and many others.  Some kind soul has put some of the tracks on youtube:

Fantastic!  The album ends with a spoken message from Phil himself over a rendition of Silent Night by all of the artists.  It really is an essential part of Christmas, so here's the Spotify link to the entire album:  Various – A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Merry Christmas all xxxx

Just Like A Woman

I bought a copy of Nina Simone's 1971 album Here Comes The Sun at a car boot sale in the summer for £2.

Nina Simone - Here Comes The Sun (1971)

Here Comes The Sun is an album of cover versions recorded with an orchestra, including the title track, Dylan's Just Like A Woman, Angel Of The Morning and My Way.  The best track by far is her version of Mr Bojangles.  It's the most moving version of this song (by Jerry Jeff Walker) I've ever heard.

Other top tracks (Spotify):  Nina Simone – Just Like A Woman  

                                                     Nina Simone – O-O-h Child - 1994 Remastered

Knocks Me Off My Feet

Songs In The Key Of Life was Stevie Wonder's 13th studio album and the fourth and last of those from his so-called 70s "classic" period which began in 1972 with Talking Book.  A few weeks ago I found a copy for 50p at a boot sale:

Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life (1976)

The album boasts 21 songs over a double LP and a 7-inch four-song EP.  The EP was missing but the huge lyric book was present and everything was in excellent condition. 

Wonder does indeed cover a vast array of life's issues including religion, politics, love, birth, death, racism and poverty.  Much has been written about this sprawling critical and commercial gigantic success.  Here's the original Rolling Stone magazine review from 1976:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/songs-in-the-key-of-life-19761216

It spawned several successful singles and went straight in at no.1 on the US Billboard album chart.  It reached no.2 in the UK and is listed as no.56 in the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time.

It's difficult to pick out favourite tracks, as the overall quality is so high, but here are a couple of zingers, followed by the link to the whole album on our good friend Spotify.



 

Spotify:  Stevie Wonder – Songs In The Key Of Life

Probably the best 50p's worth of tunes I've ever bought.

Living To Music December 2011

Join in if you can, alone or with friends, this Sunday at 9pm with Greg Wilson's Living To Music worldwide communal listening experience. The selected album this month is Michael Jackson's 1979 album Off The Wall.

http://www.gregwilson.co.uk/2011/11/living-to-music-michael-jackson-off-the-wall/

My used vinyl copy, newly arrived from eBay today in preparation for Sunday night is currently on the turntable and sounding great.

Magnificent Millie

Millie Jackson has been a recording artist since the early 70s.  An American Soul/R&B singer with an incredible rich, deep voice, she is given to peppering her performances with spoken word sections, some of which contain language that ranges from the saucy to the explicit.

I bought two of her LPs at a car boot sale earlier this month for 50p each:

Still Caught Up (1975)

Still Caught Up was the follow up to the hugely successful 1974 concept album "Caught Up" which told the story of a love triangle from the perpectives of the two female sides.  Still Caught Up continues the theme, with Side 1 sung from the point of view of the wronged wife who still loves her cheating hubby, with telling songs like "Making The Best Of A Bad Situation" and "Tell Her It's Over".  On Side 2 we hear from the mistress with "Do What Makes You Satisfied" and "Leftovers".

Here's her cover of Loving Arms:

Spotify:  Millie Jackson – Leftovers 

Still Caught Up reached no.27 on the US R&B album chart.

Lovingly Yours (1977)

Lovingly Yours is another collection of songs about love, sex and heartbreak.  The combination of spoken word, strings and subject matter give the album a very Barry White vibe.

Spotify:  Millie Jackson – Somethin' 'Bout 'Cha        Millie Jackson – A Love Of Your Own

Lovingly Yours reached no. 44 in the US R&B album chart.

Millie still records and performs today (her website is here) as well as hosting a regular show on a Dallas radio station.





Break it again

Back in September I posted about a track from Breakdance - The Movie; a cheesy but fab 80s film.  A couple of weeks ago I picked up the full soundtrack LP for £1:

Breakdance - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1984)

The original post with the lead single and movie info is here.  It's a great soundtrack and as you can see from the album cover, the female lead is once again rocking the leotard/legwarmers combo.

Top tracks:  Chaka Khan – Ain't Nobody  (Spotify)