basement jukebox
Big Maybelle, “That’s A Pretty Good Love,” 1956
*****
Eddie Bo, “Our Love (Will Never Falter),” 1965
*****
The Falcons, “Let’s Kiss And Make Up,” 1963
two takes
More from the Motor City.
“What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” (W. Weatherspoon, P. Riser, J. Dean)
Jimmy Ruffin (1939-; David’s brother), 1965
**********
Mitch Ryder (with Don Was, bass, et al.), live, Detroit, 2008
From Musical Scripture (3:7):
And when they heard the angels singing,
A hush came over them and they understood:
Heaven can be found anywhere—even Detroit.
The Temptations (David Ruffin [1941-1991], lead vocals), “My Girl” (S. Robinson & R. White), vocal track, 1965
My son Luke, now twenty-two and living in Kansas City, checks in:
Just got done with an assessment and had some time to listen to some music. Really digging this song lately—thought you might.
Wale (featuring Sam Drew), “LoveHate Thing,” 2013
three takes
“Grits Ain’t Groceries” (T. Turner; AKA “All Around the World”)
Little Milton with Bonnie Raitt, TV show (Late Night with Conan O’Brien), 1997
*****
Little Milton, recording, 1969
*****
Little Willie John, recording, 1955
more
O.V. Wright (1939-1980)
“God Blessed Our Love,” “When A Man Loves A Woman,” live, Japan, 1979
*****
“I’d Rather Be Blind, Crippled, And Crazy” (Back Beat, 1973)
*****
“A Nickel And A Nail” (Back Beat, 1975)
old school
O.V. Wright (1939-1980), “Into Something (Can’t Shake Loose)”
Live, Japan, 1979
*****
No other soul singer—not Otis Redding, not Al Green, no one—gives me such chills.
Stevie Wonder with Prince, “Superstition” (S. Wonder), live, Paris, 2010
Not many stars would handle this the way Prince does. Actually, what’s most impressive is what he doesn’t do. Given a guitar solo, he doesn’t try to steal the show—or even draw attention. Instead, he feeds the groove.
**********
lagniappe
reading table
Sophistication is upscale conformity.
***
What is more yours than what always holds you back?
***
The heart is a small, cracked cup, easy to fill, impossible to keep full.
—James Richardson, “Even More Aphorisms and Ten-Second Essays from Vectors 3.0” (excerpts)
summer in the city
Pitchfork Music Festival, Chicago (Union Park), July 19-21
Run The Jewels (El-P & Killer Mike), “36” Chain”
*****
Swans, “Oxygen”
*****
Savages, “She Will”
**********
lagniappe
found words
More are surviving crash landings
—front page headline, USA Today, 8/9/13
old school
James Brown and The Famous Flames, “Out of Sight”
Live (T.A.M.I. Show), 1964
**********
lagniappe
reading table
Here’s a cheery thought for the end of the week.
In life, there are no happy endings.
music clip of the day 