Category: Remembering

Song Of The Day – Remembering Chuck Brown

wind me up chuck
wind me up chuck (Photo credit: firmleague)

On May 16, the Father of Go-Go, Chuck Brown passed away at the age of 75.  The Father of Go-Go.  Why?  The man was a DC legend, defining and perfecting his take on the genre.  He died as the acknowledged leader in this form of music.  Another great player who helped shape our musical world in a fairly anonymous way.

If you are a Washington Nationals fan, you will recognize this one.  Bustin’ Loose is played when the Nats hit a home run.

Bustin’ Loose

–

Cover of "The Other Side"
Cover of The Other Side

Chuck’s legacy includes stints with Jerry Butler, and with the Soul Searchers.  He also recorded an album “The Other Side“, with one of my favourites, Eva Cassidy in 1992.  This record is a keeper.  Eva could sing the phone book.  Here is a tune off it.

Need Your Love So Bad

–

His other notable contribution to the world of entertainment was performing the theme song to the “Sinbad’ TV show.

Related articles

Song Of The Day – Remembering Belita Woods

 

Belita Wood
Belita Wood (Photo credit: snabby)

May 14 saw the passing of 70’s soul singer Belita Woods.  She was 63.  She was with the group Brainstorm and recorded “Lovin’ Is Really My Game”, a disco hit in the late 70’s.

–

–

She spent time in the 90’s and 2000’s with Parliament – Funkadelic.  I think most will enjoy this one.

–

Related articles

 

Song Of The Day – Remembering Belita Woods

 

 

Belita Wood
Belita Wood (Photo credit: snabby)

 

May 14 saw the passing of 70’s soul singer Belita Woods.  She was 63.  She was with the group Brainstorm and recorded “Lovin’ Is Really My Game”, a disco hit in the late 70’s.

 

–

 

 

–

 

She spent time in the 90’s and 2000’s with Parliament – Funkadelic.  I think most will enjoy this one.

 

–

 

 

Related articles

 

 

Song Of The Day – Remembering Donald “Duck” Dunn

 

Photo of musician Donald "Duck" Dunn
Photo of musician Donald “Duck” Dunn (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Just a quick note to acknowledge the passing of a great one, Donald “Duck” Dunn, on May 13.  A member of Booker T & the MG’s, he replaced the original bassist, he is forever connected to Green Onions, even though he was not on the original recording.

–

–

He was also notable as a session player for Stax Records, which means he is on about 50 zillion songs recorded there.  He also performed with a multitude of bands, such as CCR, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Rod Stewart, Levon Helm, Bob Dylan and the list goes on and on.    He was also the pipe smoking, wild hair bass player in the Blues Brothers.

–

Related articles

Song Of The Day – Remembering Michael Burks

Cover of "Iron Man"
Cover of Iron Man

Blues-man Michael Burks passed away on May 6, after having a heart attack. He was 54. If you love the blues (like I do), then you will really like what Michael had to offer. He recorded 4 albums between 1999 and 2008, with “Iron Man” reaching number 4 on the Billboard Blues Chart. I have attached a couple of videos in memorial.

Michael Burks – Home

Michael Burks – Last FM

–

“Empty Promises”

–

Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue – Michael Burks – Cadillac Assembly Line

–

Trivia Question of the Day

Who did (and wrote) the first recording of Aretha Franklin’s classic “Respect”?

The last Question answered

Q: What was the first album released on CD?

A: ABBA – The Visitors in 1981

–

Song Of The Day – Remembering Sweet Joe Russell

 

 

The Persuasions
The Persuasions (Photo credit: cisc1970)

 

Sweet Joe Russell died on May 5.  Best known as a singer for The Persuasions, Joe recorded 22 albums with the group.  Strange as it sounds, frank Zappa discovered them and was responsible for their first recording.  The group was a capella and recorded songs by such diverse people as Elvis Presley and The Grateful Dead.  The clip here covers The Everly Brothers tune, “Dream” and an old gospel song “Somewhere To Lay My Head”.  Love this era of music.  Very diverse and very fresh, at the time.

 

The Persuasions

 

–

Trivia Question of the Day

What was the first album released on CD?

The last Question answered

Q: Who was the first British musician to have a #1 single in the USA.

A: Mr Acker Bilt.  He topped the charts in 1962 with “Stranger On The Shore”

Stranger On The Shore

 

Related articles

 

 

Song Of The Day – Remembering Adam Yauch

Adam Yauch, Bestie Boys at Brixton Academy - 0...
Adam Yauch, Beastie Boys at Brixton Academy – 05/09/07 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A bit late, but have to comment on a pioneer.  Like them or not The Beastie Boys have had a huge impact on modern music.  Adam Yauch was a huge talent and will be missed greatly.

Intergalactic

Related articles

Song Of The Day – Remembering Lloyd Brevett

Lloyd Brevett
Lloyd Brevett (Photo credit: rudijamikko)

Lloyd Brevett, a founding member of The Skatalites, passed away on May 3 in Jamaica.  He was 80.  With the band, he played double bass and also produced 2 of their albums.   Ska was his passion, and he traveled the world playing his music with the band.  The attached is a live version of “Peanut Vendor”.  As I always say, live music is the best way to listen to anyone, and this song will take you deep into summer.

Peanut Vendor

Trivia Question of the Day

Who was the first musical guest on Saturday Night Live?

The last Question answered

Q. Who was the first American pop band to tour the Soviet Union?

A. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Fishin’ In The Dark

Related articles

Song Of The Day – Remembering Charles Pitts

Trivia at the end of the post.

Skip Pitts
Skip Pitts (Photo credit: Paul Lowry)

On May 1, music lost a true giant, Charles Pitts.  He was 65 and suffered from cancer.  Charles was a renowned soul and blues guitarist.  His major accomplishments included playing with Al Green and Cyndi Lauper on their Grammy nominated albums, a session player at Stax Records, and his time with Isaac Hayes.  He played with Hayes for 30 years and created the wah-wah at the beginning of the “Theme from Shaft“.  Other credits include backing Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett, Gene Chandler and the Isley Brothers (he created the riff in It’s Your Thing).  An outstanding career.  His legacy will stay with us forever.

Theme From Shaft

–

It’s Your Thing

–

 

Trivia Question of the Day

What was the first “rock” double album?

The last Question answered

Q. What was the first double album?

A: Benny Goodman‘s “Live At Carnegie Hall” in 1938.

English: Benny Goodman in concert 1971
English: Benny Goodman in concert 1971 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The winner (although admitting it was googled) is A Gripping Life.  She has a terrific blog with a mix of movies and music and miscellany.

Sing Sing Sing

Related articles

Song Of The Day – Remembering Edith Bliss

Divisional Trivia trophy
This will have to do until I find a better one

Trivia Question of the Day

What was the first foreign song to hit #1 on the Billboard Pop Chart?

The last Question answered

Who was the first singer to refuse a Grammy?

Sinead O’Connor in 1990.  Strange person, great singer.  Lizziecracked is the first holder of the Trivia Championship Trophy, and will hold until I post the answer to the new question.  Lizziecracked runs a great blog that everyone, contrary to belief, should try at home, called Running Naked With Scissors.

Edith Bliss

Australian singer Edith Bliss passed away on May 3.  She was 52, far to young.  Edith had a couple of hits in 1979 and 1980, including “If It’s Love You Want”, her biggest hit.  She ended her singing career in 1980 and became a reporter.  In 2006 she appeared on Wheel of Fortune.

“If It’s Love You Want”

Related articles