Gladys Knight and The Pips – Midnight train to Georgia
Have been busy preparing for a busy week ahead today – sorry for short post. This is a classic soul tune, heartfelt and moving. It was one of the very first soul tunes to register on my musical radar.
Another point to note. I had the interesting experience of eating in a Gladys Knight and Ron Winans chicken and waffles (better than it sounds) restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia a few year ago (see picture below).
/RjKArthur Russell – This is how we walk on the moon
I heard this last night on Tom Ravenscroft’s radio show, and was transfixed by it. It is minimal but intriguing. I had never heard of Arthur Russell, but I certainly intend to track down some more of his music and find out more. From his wikipedia page he certainly sounds like an interesting character.
I also quite like the video the song is put to here. Images from the 60’s still seem so futuristic and iconic.
The Roots – How I got over
The roots are a great band. I would see them as musical descendents of Gil Scott-Heron, also making making music that is both funky and profound. This is probably my favourite of their’s – soulful and sobering, a powerful mixture.
Saint Germain – Rose Rouge
This song is just plain cool. I love how it is smooth as silk yet rapid and relentless.
The Streets – Weak become heroes
Was reminded of this over the weekend by an old friend. It was a massive tune when I was at university, hearing it brings to my mind a house I used to live in and the guys I lived with.
I like it’s cool beat and strong imagery. It makes me think of heading out for a night on the tiles in a foreign city for the first time, taking in all the sights, sounds and smells.
Delorean – Stay Close
This is another uplifting dance tune by a band with a name that is linked to my home land. Perhaps there is a trend to be started? Can anyone suggest some Belfast-centric named bands? I will put my mind to it.
The track is a euphoric slice of summer and it sped my journey home this evening. I also love the fact it was released on Mushroom Pillow Records.
The Crusaders – Street Life
I thought it was about time I posted a Disco classic. I love this, it is so smooth and funky and the vocal, courtesy of Disco-royalty Randy Crawford (see picture below, thank you Wikipedia), is truely amazing.
I listen to this and wonder why people were so anti-disco back in 80’s. I can’t think of anything more fun that giving it stacks on a dancefloor to a tune like this.
Solomon Burke – Everybody needs somebody to love
After being inspired to post Brian Wilson after seeing him on Jools Holland I was moved to mine YouTube for some more BBC musical gems and I came across this. Pretty good.
I have wanted to post it for a while anyway, as it is a classic soul tune. A great version also features in a favourite movie of mine – The Blues Brothers. Check out Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi MOVE.
I need YOU, YOU, YOU. Just to see me through.
Suede – Beautiful ones
I have recently been a little fixated by Britpop and warmly reminiscing about the mid-90’s. As such, I have wanted to post this for a while. It features one of my all time favourite intros. Taken from the excellent Coming Up, which was released at Britpop’s zenith in 1996.
Gil Scott-Heron – The Bottle
Sorry I have been slack in posting over the past few days. It has been a hectic week.
I was sorry to hear that Gil Scott-Heron had passed away last night. He was one of the pioneers of rap music, making socially conscious and challenging music. The revolution will not be televised made a big impression on me the first time I heard it as a very green teenager unaware of much outside my bucolic immediate surroundings.
This, however, is my favourite track of his. It strikes the perfect chord between funky and profound.