...to the Sublime

25 Years Ago...

I run hot and cold with Sting--mostly cold. But in 1985, for his post-Police debut, he assembled a tight jazz band, including pianist Kenny Kirkland and saxophonist Branford Marsalis, for the megahit album "The Dream of the Blue Turtles." They also recorded a live album, "Bring on the Night" (which was accompanied by a documentary directed by Michael Apted that's worth seeking out). Marsalis and his fellow jazzbos took some heat for slumming with a pop star, and Sting was criticized for deigning to pose as a jazz artiste. But the album had some great songs and this live version of "Consider Me Gone" swings like a MF.

Download 1-02 Consider Me Gone (Live)

More From the Philly-Motown Axis

Among the many great artists who were produced by Philadelphia's Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff was Laura Nyro, whose 1971 album, "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" (featuring Labelle), included a beautiful version of "The Bells." First recorded by Motown act The Originals, the song was written by Marvin Gaye, his wife Anna Gordy (Berry Gordy's sister), Iris Gordy (daughter of Berry's brother, Fuller), and Elgie Stover (nephew of Motown producer Harvey Fuqua). This is like playing Six Degrees of (Soul) Separation: Iris Gordy was married to singer/songwriter Johnny Bristol, who produced one of my favorite Boz Scaggs albums, "Slow Dancer." It goes on and on...

Download 1-12 The Bells

 

RIP, Steve Jordan

Tejano accordionist extraordinaire Esteban "Steve" Jordan died from liver cancer Friday in San Antonio at the age of 71. Known as the "Jimi Hendrix of the accordion" for his groundbreaking use of effects more common to the electric guitar, Jordan took Tex-Mex to a new level. He was just one month older than fellow accordion legend Flaco Jiménez, but Jordan--whose hero was Miles Davis--was hipper and more prone to experimentation. Journalist/musician Hector Saldaña has an excellent obit here. And here's a great example of Jordan's ability to mix norteño and pop.

Download 04 You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling

  

 

The Philly-Motown Connection

Someone on Facebook pointed out that today is Kenny Gamble's 67th birthday, which is a perfect excuse to follow up on my previous post. Philadelphia and Motown had distinct music scenes: the latter was dominated by Berry Gordy's Motown; the former was defined by the Philly Sound as constructed by songwriter/producers Kenny Gamble (above, standing) and Leon Huff. But there's a key song that ties the two scenes together. Gamble got his start by working with Jerry Ross, who produced--among many other hits--Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" (see previous post). According to this interview, Ross says: "Before there was a Gamble & Huff, there was Gamble & Ross! I discovered Kenny when he was only 17." They eventually began writing songs together, and then with Huff as well. One of them was "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me." Again, according to Ross: "I must've recorded 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me' ten times in my career, but Kenny never cut it once with any of his acts...Ashford & Simpson, however, who sang backup on all the versions that I produced, loved the song! When they signed with Motown, they co-produced it, with Frank WIlson, with the Supremes and the Temptations, and had a million-seller #1 record." Here is one of those versions that Ross produced, by Bill Deal & the Rhondels (best known for their hit "I've Been Hurt").

Download 06 I'm Gonna Make You Love Me

 

RIP, Bobby Hebb

Bobby Hebb, who died this week at the age of 72, might be remembered as a one-hit wonder for his 1966 smash, "Sunny." But unlike many lucky artists and bands who stumbled onto a solitary hit, Hebb was a truly talented singer-songwriter with a fascinating story. Born in Nashville to blind parents who were musicians, guitarist Hebb was in his early teens when he was invited to join the band of C&W legend Roy Acuff and became one of the first black artists to appear on the Grand Ole Opry. After a stint in the Navy, Hebb ended up in New York and signed to Mercury Records, where he was teamed with a producer from Philadelphia named Jerry Ross (more on him later). Hebb's debut album featured "Sunny" (with backing vocals by Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson, and Melba Moore!), and also included a song that reflected Hebb's country roots, "A Satisfied Mind," which had earlier been a hit for several C&W artists including Porter Wagoner. This song from Hebb's album is on iTunes, but it's also part of a fantastic 3-disc compilation titled "From Where I Stand: The Black Experience in Country Music."

Download 2-13 A Satisfied Mind

 

In Wolves We Trust

Whenever Los Lobos work on a new recording, I think about these longtime friends gathering at a studio--Steve Berlin from the Pacific Northwest, the original quartet from various parts of Southern California--and resurrecting the creative process that has served them so well all these years. By now they could phone it in, but they never do. And that's certainly the case with their new CD, "Tin Can Trust." This one sinks in slowly--with each listen, the effect deepens. There are the usual Hidalgo-Pérez gems, including the title track; there's a return to norteño ("Mujer Ingrata"); a Grateful Dead cover ("West L.A. Fadeaway"); and an instrumental jam dedicated to the Hidalgo family's late pet ("Do the Murray"). In this age of so much disposable music, the Wolves dependably serve up a mix of soulful, meaningful songs. That's saying something. (The CD is available on iTunes as well as here, where you can also get a free download of the track "Jupiter or the Moon." Also, David and Louie's collection of never-released songs, "The Long Goodbye," can be obtained here.)   

 

RIP, Al Goodman

I've been meaning to post this song ever since Jay-Z sampled it for "Empire State of Mind." Now I have an unfortunate reason: the recent passing of The Moments' baritone Al Goodman (center). After this 1970 hit, The Moments changed their name to Ray, Goodman & Brown and had another chart-topper, "Special Lady." Classic, old-school soul.

Download 05 Love On a Two Way Street