Tag Archives: Music

Bulo’s Music for the Masses: R. I. P. Bobby Charles

Far too many of these lately. But I do these tributes so that people remember, or perhaps learn for the first time, about the special musical legacies these artists have left behind.

Bobby Charles, actually Robert Charles Guidry, was a Cajun who was first inspired by Fats Domino and who helped to create that wonderful musical gumbo known as ‘swamp pop”. A reluctant performer, he was a first-class songwriter who wrote some classics and some songs that deserve to be classics. Here are a select few:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEiiLZdA3Sg[/youtube]

“See You Later, Alligator” -Bill Haley & the Comets

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdHG8wnkUuQ[/youtube]

“Walking to New Orleans” -Fats Domino

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIAmcJHu1Z0&feature=related[/youtube]

“I Don’t Know Why I Love You, But I Do” – Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry

“Tennessee Blues” -J. D. Crowe & the New South (featuring Keith Whitley)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s2R511jHKs&feature=related[/youtube]

” No Use Knockin'” -Bobby Charles


R. I. P. Teddy Pendergrass

The soul singer who first burst onto the scene with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and was one of the greatest stars ever to come out of the TSOP Sound of Gamble & Huff, has passed away at the age of 59.

Here’s an interview with Teddy talking about his accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSE6QQUHUME&feature=related[/youtube]

And here’s why we can’t let this passing go without remembering his singular voice:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7Ni7LGXW7g&feature=related[/youtube]

Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes-“If You Don’t Know Me By Now”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itUrjWNGnZQ&feature=related[/youtube]

Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes-“Wake Up Everybody”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HPAgiVdILo&feature=related[/youtube]

Teddy Pendergrass-“Love TKO”


Bulo’s Music for the Masses-R. I. P. Willie Mitchell

Acclaimed music producer, performer, and musician Willie Mitchell passed away yesterday at the age of 82.

He created a singular soul sound at Hi Records, with a superb group of house musicians, that propelled Al Green to stardom and produced some of the finest soul music of the 70’s from artists like Ann Peebles, O. V. Wright, Syl Johnson, Otis Clay, and others.

Here is a small sample of his legacy:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiOIFHSFp9w[/youtube]

Ann Peebles- “I Can’t Stand the Rain”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edN7zL54RCc[/youtube]

Ann Peebles- “I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2MsF3sTftg[/youtube]

O. V. Wright- “A Nickel & a Nail”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-6YmhHnLI4[/youtube]

O. V. Wright- “Ace of Spade”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hQ37rocXf8[/youtube]

Otis Clay- “Tryin’ to Live My Life Without You”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy6OVlXriR8[/youtube]

Syl Johnson- “Could I Be Falling In Love With You?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjBChRG-nok[/youtube]

Al Green- “Sha La La”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tgm7v284JI&feature=related[/youtube]

Al Green- “Take Me to the River”

and, just in case you haven’t had your coffee yet…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lus8OTnLo7w&feature=related[/youtube]

Al Green- “Let’s Stay Together”-Live at the Apollo Theatre

Rest in peace, Willie. Your legacy is always with us. Thank you for it.

2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

The full list here. The Performer Inductees are:

ABBA
Genesis
Jimmy Cliff
The Hollies
The Stooges

Arguments around the internets include speculations about why Kiss did not make it after being snubbed (?) for so long, Red Hot Chili Peppers did not make the list (really?) and neither did LL Cool J.

I’m definitely down with the inclusion of Jimmy Cliff and the Stooges (who took a long time to get here!) and I have no idea if this Genesis is the Phil Collins Genesis or the Peter Gabriel Genesis (looks like the Phil Collins one — oy).

What do you think?

‘Bulo Remembers 2009-The Best in Music Including…His Own List!

NObody does music lists like Largehearted Boy does music lists. If you’ve got a list, he’ll post it. Meaning every shoegazer with a laptop is free to post their choices. So, you’ll likely want to winnow out at least 80% of the stuff on his site. But, trust me, there’s something there for everyone’s tastes, and I mean EVERYONE. From death metal to rap to the most obscure of the obscure, it’s there. As is much more mainstream fare.

I view these lists more as providing readers with musical suggestions for further discovery, and I took some successful stereophonic sidetrips based on what I read. Serious music people like X-Stryker should love these lists. And Largehearted Boy also has a whole slew of Best of the Decade (2000-09) lists there as well.

2009 featured one album that emerged as the consensus top album of the year, and it was released in the first week of the New Year: Animal Collective’s  “Merriweather Post Pavilion”. I fully expect it to win the Village Voice’s annual “Pazz & Jop Poll”, which is the most definitive reflection of critics’ favorites.

While there is no denying the creative  inspiration behind this album,  my ‘old ears’ gravitate more towards songs as opposed to sonic constructs. I also tend to like ’em loud and rocking. My Albums of the Year and Songs of the Year lists reflect that aesthetic. Except when they don’t. Here are my lists as I submitted them to WXPN for their end-of-the-year countdown:

ALBUMS
1. Chuck Prophet-Let Freedom Ring
2. Rosanne Cash-The List
3. Phoenix-Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
4. Chris Smither-Time Stands Still
5. Kurt Vile-Childish Prodigies
6. Reigning Sound-Love & Curses
7. Bill Callahan-Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle
8. James Maddock-Sunrise on Avenue C
9. Bloodkin-Baby, They Told Us We Would Rise Again
10. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart-The Pains of Being Pure At Heart

SONGS
1. Chuck Prophet-American Man
2. Rosanne Cash-Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow
3. Chuck Prophet-Where the Hell Is Henry?
4. Phoenix-1901
5. Kurt Vile-Freak Train
6. Bill Callahan-The Wind & the Dove
7. Shemekia Copeland-Never Going Back to Memphis
8. Chris Smither-Time Stands Still
9. Bloodkin-Easter Eggs
10. James Maddock-When the Sun’s Out

Hey, I’m a listaholic. It’s what I do. I make lists.

I would love to see other readers’ choices. It takes a long time and lotsa listening to put together lists like these. However, please share with us your personal faves, even if it’s just one or two albums or songs. There are no right or wrong answers, but it gives us a chance to explore on our own.

Which, after all, is the purpose of today’s lists of lists.

‘Bulo’s Music For the Masses-Johnny Mercer Edition-Volume 1

The great lyricist Johnny Mercer would have celebrated his 100th birthday this November 18 were he still around. I just saw a great documentary on Turner Classic Movies about him. It’s what inspired me to do this two-part Music for the Masses.

Here are some reasons why you may want to celebrate what the great Johnny Mercer left us all:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z45EB4TiYz4[/youtube]

Bing Crosby/Bette Midler- “Accentuate the Positive” (Mercer/Harold Arlen)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IDUxk9sSXI&feature=related[/youtube]

Nat King Cole- “Autumn Leaves” (Mercer/Joseph Kozma)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03W-hOoo_Ro[/youtube]

Peggy Lee- “Blues In the Night” (Mercer/Arlen)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JS9dFJVcQU[/youtube]

Sarah Vaughan- “Come Rain Or Come Shine” (Mercer/Arlen)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGA6b-DoX4c[/youtube]

Andy Williams- “The Days of Wine & Roses” (Mercer/Henry Mancini)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8myK93FqbYc[/youtube]

The Mills Brothers- “Glow Worm” (Mercer/Paul Lincke/Cayley Robinson)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxGWOi66-4U[/youtube]

Johnnie ‘Scat’ Davis/Frances Langford/Dick Powell/Benny Goodman/Gene Krupa- “Hooray for Hollywood” (Mercer/Richard Whiting)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8_up5AvEEc[/youtube]

Bono/Tony Bennett- “I Wanna Be Around” (Mercer/Sadie Vimmerstedt)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UITBjbEkr6U[/youtube]

Bing Crosby/Jimmy Dorsey Orch.- “I’m An Old Cowhand” (Music & Lyrics-Johnny Mercer)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53sCut6XxZE[/youtube]

Frank Sinatra- “One For My Baby (and One More For the Road)” (Mercer/Arlen)

‘Bulo’s Music For the Masses-40th HS Reunion Tonight!!

I wonder how many of these great songs from 1968-69 I’ll  hear tonight. With any luck, quite a few…:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkMhWQgkZ8c[/youtube]

Wedding Bell Blues-5th Dimension

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8zmkzshUvE&feature=related[/youtube]

Something In the Air-Thunderclap Newman

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp_HlNf_mjM[/youtube]

Give Me Just a Little More Time-Chairmen of the Board

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMHyovwX7JM&feature=related[/youtube]

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down-The Band

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nBIGLIU8W8&feature=related[/youtube]

Hot Fun In the Summertime-Sly & the Family Stone

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vAqekT-GuA&feature=related[/youtube]

Come Together-The Beatles

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJMnES7WoT4[/youtube]

Gimme Shelter-Rolling Stones

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcpXpQx9aLM&feature=related[/youtube]

Fortunate Son-Creedence Clearwater Revival

And here’s my favorite song of  1968-’69. Just check out how brilliant every single element of this song is. I’m gonna hear this tonight…or else!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYdHmNrfBWU&feature=related[/youtube]

I Heard It Through the Grapevine-Marvin Gaye 

‘Bulo’s Music for the Masses-40th Year HS Reunion Edition

Yes, I AM that old, and next week will be our 40th. So, for the next two weeks, I’m gonna highlight some of the (IMHO) best music from 1968-69. While there was still a strong string of 45 RPM single classics, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band from a few years earlier had ushered in the era of album-oriented rock as well. Combine that with the social upheaval of the late-60’s and burgeoning opposition to the Vietnam War, and what you get is an era of tremendous musical creativity, although one that cannot easily be capsulized. So why try?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfyjhtOTy1s[/youtube]

The Band-The Weight

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2qw4YRK7CY[/youtube]

Max Frost & the Troopers-Shape of Things to Come

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kYN9AXA8Fs&feature=related[/youtube]

Jerry Butler-Hey, Western Union Man

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL9tyzE83nc&feature=related[/youtube]

The Kinks-Village Green Preservation Society

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAqtsNWkpUk[/youtube]

Rolling Stones-Jumpin’ Jack Flash

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svAs-6MiqxE[/youtube]

Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell-Ain’t Nothin’ Like the Real Thing

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hthiLHVAMho[/youtube]

Dusty Springfield-Son of a Preacher Man

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjzSIGt74T0&feature=related[/youtube]

The Foundations-Build Me Up, Buttercup

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nA18g_PwG0&feature=related[/youtube]

Otis Redding-Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay

‘Bulo’s Music for the Masses-Happy 60th to the Boss

People of a certain age (mine) were present at the beginning. It (and he) were a revelation. Some amazing musical treats from  fans of the Boss (he turns 60 today) and maybe, just maybe…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfx2f9db-BE[/youtube]

Bettye LaVette-Streets of Philadelphia

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boHnBtOiVp4&feature=related[/youtube]

Patty Griffin-Racing in the Streets

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0t4aY8lfOg[/youtube]

The Hollies-Sandy (4th of July, Asbury Park)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kwW2U19sYg[/youtube]

Bruce/The Arcade Fire-State Trooper

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSAevK9__3k&feature=fvw[/youtube]

Bruce/E Street Band-If I Should Fall Behind (my favorite ‘later-era’ Bruce song); Simply chill-inducing version!

Finally, here’s why I became a fan back in the early ’70’s. Saw ’em in the cafeteria of Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA back in ’74. Opened with a guitar and violin version of Incident on 54th Street, then  the whole E Street Band hit the stage, and they kicked right into this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDHmWjLBHic&feature=related[/youtube]

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band-Spirit in the Night

Happy birthday, Boss, and thank you for more reasons than you’ll ever know!

Your amigo,

El Somnambulo

‘Bulo’s Music for the Masses-Brill Building Edition

Editor’s Note: El Somnambulo had already prepared this piece last week before he accepted Nemski’s challenge to post his 10 ‘Desert Island’ songs. He did this in memory of  Ellie Greenwich, one of the great Brill Building songwriters. As ‘bulo’s return draws near, he wants to share this with you:

While the Brill Building itself was located at 1619 Broadway, the ‘Brill Building Sound’, consisting of a gifted group of songwriters, most writing as teams, also flourished at 1650 Broadway, right across the street, where music impresario Don Kirschner helped bring the ‘factory’ approach to songwriting. In honor of the great Ellie Greenwich, who co-wrote most of the Phil Spector classics, the Beast Who Slumbers presents some of the great songs by these great songwriting teams:

ELLIE GREENWICH/JEFF BARRY:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqgtsai2aKY[/youtube]

The Crystals-Da Do Ron Ron

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa4WzE_CrdY&feature=related[/youtube]

The Shangri-Las-The Leader of the Pack

JERRY LEIBER/MIKE STOLLER:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRu3tw9fYxE[/youtube]

Elvis Presley-Jailhouse Rock

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe9kKf7SHco[/youtube]

Peggy Lee-Is That All There Is?

BURT BACHARACH/HAL DAVID:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6inwzOooXRU[/youtube]

The Carpenters-Close to You

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht25gK5TcUI&feature=related[/youtube]

Dionne Warwick/Burt Bacharach-A House Is Not A Home/What the World Needs Now/Alfie

DOC POMUS/MORT SHUMAN:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4jINDaWKzA&feature=related[/youtube]

The Drifters-Save the Last Dance For Me

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5XJX8sjYDE&feature=related[/youtube]

Robert Plant/Rockpile-Little Sister

GERRY GOFFIN/CAROLE KING:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olqvPg3GL1M[/youtube]

The Byrds-Goin’ Back

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi6dqhi8Ptw&feature=related[/youtube]

Aretha Franklin-(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MopbhuZ2Bh0[/youtube]

Carole King-Up On the Roof

EDITOR’S NOTE: As to the Beast Who Slumbers’ return, he will be back, well, let’s let Burt Bacharach, Hal David, and Chuck Jackson tell us when:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLeGsRpRAr0&feature=related[/youtube]

JMY’s Media For the Masses: Obama School Daze Edition

First we RISE:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ95FaapL58[/youtube]

Herb Alpert-Rise

Perhaps we then LISTEN:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF2vKBjmAkI[/youtube]

Doobie Brothers-Listen to the Music (Quote from Robert Christgau: “You can lead a Doobie Brother to the recording studio, but you can’t make him think.”)

I mean REALLY LISTEN HARD:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM8GcPWyE2k[/youtube]

Check It Out For Yourself

If you don’t you may need Adult Education, and that would be bad…..:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvR-es_8hZM[/youtube]

Hall & Oates-Adult Education

If all goes well, the children stay in school and we get teachers that help the next generation avoid the repeating of history….. like Professor Turgeson:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfi4s8cjLFI[/youtube]

Contemporary American History…Or Something Like It

Finally, as we leave with God Bless America from the President, we do so here too:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gktXAlOGc6c&feature=related[/youtube]

Kate Smith-God Bless America

“And so,  may God bless you and your family, may God bless America, and LET’S GO FLYERS!”

‘Bulo & Nemski’s Music For the Masses-WXPN Desert Island Songs

The Beast Who Loves Non-Commercial Radio is a big fan of Philly’s WXPN (He’s a member!) and the U of D’s WVUD. 

Every year, ‘XPN does a countdown (from 885 to 1). This year’s countdown theme is Your Top 10 Desert Island songs. 

The Beast Who Overthinks Things ultimately chose the 10 songs that he would most enjoy listening to over and over again. A couple of the pieces are longer b/c, hey, El Somnambulo’s stuck on a desert island and ain’t goin’ nowhere. No doubt ‘bulo’s list would and will change next week, but he spent over a month allowing these choices to coalesce:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRcSIoVIpI8[/youtube]

People Get Ready-The Impressions

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBLqXAN5cSQ&feature=related[/youtube]

The Girls On the Beach-The Beach Boys

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK70vImXkgY&feature=fvw[/youtube]

Hickory Wind-Gram Parsons/The Byrds

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9lrVZdaluk&feature=fvw[/youtube]

The Wolves-Parts I and II-Bon Iver

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmhP1RgbrrY[/youtube]

Blue Monk-Thelonious Monk

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oGVDLcpXQ8&feature=related[/youtube]

I’ll Take It With Me-Tom Waits

El Somnambulo searched in vain for vids of his other four choices:

Dr. Wu-Steely Dan

Killin’ the Blues-Chris Smither

Tell the Truth-The Five Royales

Our Time-Stephen Sondheim (from the Broadway show, “Merrily We Roll Along”)

‘Bulo understands that Nemski will post his list today also. Please share yours with us.

And, if you’d like to post your list with XPN, you can do it here  and also maybe win some cool stuff.

What better way to waste some time on Labor Day weekend?