I was talking to a guitar teacher of mine about Charlie Hunter when I was in college. I was gushing about the technique to play his 7 and 8-string bass/guitar monstrosities and my teacher looked at me quizzically. “Hmm. I guess that explains it. I thought he was just a really sloppy player and couldn’t … Continue reading Sunday Music: “Over My Shoulder” By Charlie Hunter
Tag: soul
Sunday Music: Mike Clark + Herbie = Funky Drummer Magic
Headhunters is a classic. But Thrust, IYKYK. Mike Clark’s drums to open the album on "Palm Grease" gets me every time. And then, his syncopations on "Actual Proof”? Amazing. Without even getting into the rest of the musicianship. Check these out: https://youtu.be/sRn7WlikdUA https://youtu.be/6x3QtLCAPp8
Sunday Music: ATCQ
I finally made a playlist with The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders on it so they play through back to back. I can put this on and drive, cook, putz around with my dogs, etc. and I don’t think it gets better than that. The samples. The sounds. The lyrics (oh, Phife. Really? Sighs. … Continue reading Sunday Music: ATCQ
Sunday Music: Walk On
I’m on a Neil Young kick lately (this happens from time to time, probably a product of listening to tapes of him as a kid and thinking “I like this, but I don’t really get this,” and now I finally feel like I get it). “Walk On” was one of the first songs I really … Continue reading Sunday Music: Walk On
Sunday Music: Rip It Up
It’s the roots of rock and roll. At some point I ended up with a CD copy of Little Georgia Peach. It’s all on there. All the history, the swagger, the magnetism. It’s the sound of teenage rebellion, exploration. It’s the sound of freedom, even if it’s freedom in a constrained world. Well, it's Saturday … Continue reading Sunday Music: Rip It Up
Sunday Music: “I Want You” by Marian Hill
I have an incomplete playlist from last year and it has “I Want You” by Marian Hill on it. I love the synthy faux horn noises. I love how the staccato parts of the beat wrap around the punctuated stutters in the vocal line. And, I love how they bleed back and forth between totally … Continue reading Sunday Music: “I Want You” by Marian Hill
How A Lost Wallet Led To A Hit Song
The story behind the hit song “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” is better than the song itself. That’s not intended to be a hot take, but it is intended to remind us to look for silver linings, because when the world starts throwing funny twists and turns under our feet, following the path of our own … Continue reading How A Lost Wallet Led To A Hit Song
Sunday Music: Remembering Betty Davis
Talk about a short career with a massive impact. Betty Davis recorded 4 albums in about as many years. She played with the best musicians of the time. She married Miles Davis. She wrote. She produced. She killed. And then, she retired. She packed her bags, moved to Pittsburgh, and a few weeks ago she … Continue reading Sunday Music: Remembering Betty Davis
Sunday Music: There’ll Be Days Like This
There. Will. Be. Days. Like. This. Whether your mama told you or not. Whatever it’s like. Tell ‘em about it Van Morrison. When it's not always raining there'll be days like thisWhen there's no one complaining there'll be days like thisWhen everything falls into place like the flick of a switchWell my mama told me … Continue reading Sunday Music: There’ll Be Days Like This
Podcast Of The Week: Raphael Saadiq, Renaissance Music Man
Hey! On Saturday’s I highlight a podcast about being a creative professional. Sometimes it’s direct, sometimes it’s indirect, but it’s always entertaining and educational. This week’s Podcast of the Week is… Musician/producer extraordinaire - Raphael Saadiq on the Questlove Supreme Podcast. Raphael Saadiq started off as a kid trying to break into the local Oakland … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Raphael Saadiq, Renaissance Music Man