Friday, September 21st
sweet soul music
Ry Cooder featuring The Hamiltones, “I Can’t Win,” Danbury, Conn., 2018
music clip of the day
jazz/blues/rock/classical/gospel/more
Category: soul
2018
Thursday, September 13th
basement jukebox
Aretha Franklin, 1942-2018
“I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” (R. Shannon), 1967
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“Do Right Woman, Do Right Man” (C. Moman, D. Penn), 1967
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“Respect” (O. Redding), 1967
2018
Tuesday, August 21st
what’s new
Tower of Power, live, Washington, D.C., 8/13/18
2018
Friday, August 17th
passings
Aretha Franklin, singer, pianist, March 25, 1942-August 16, 2018
Today we remember her by revisiting previous posts.
10/18/09
Here—at the funeral service for Bishop David L. Ellis, pastor of Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple of the Apostolic Faith—Aretha testifies.
Aretha Franklin, “Never Grow Old,” live, Detroit, 1996
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lagniappe
[A] lengthy service was perceived to be an honor to the deceased—a testimony to the great impact of his or her life. Consider the 1996 funeral of Bishop David Ellis Sr., pastor of Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple of the Apostolic Faith, whose services stretched over three days. His body was laid to rest in a $30,000 gold-plated casket that was ‘propped at an angle in the church aisle so mourners could see his body resting on red velvet cushions.’—Karla FC Holloway (in Passed On: African American Mourning Stories [2002])
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10/25/09
When someone sounds as good as Aretha did last Sunday, only one word seems to fit: more.
Aretha Franklin (joined on the second number by Billy Preston and Little Richard), “Surely God Is Able,” “Packin’ Up,” live (Tribute to Marion Williams), Washington, D.C., 1993
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lagniappe
My heart is still there in gospel music. It never left.—Aretha Franklin
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11/1/09
Aretha didn’t have to wait until she was grown to be great. She was great when she was 14.
Aretha Franklin (at 14, vocal and piano), “Precious Lord,” live, Detroit (New Bethel Baptist Church, where her father, Rev. C. L. Franklin, was pastor), 1956
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10/24/10
Here’s more of the late Albertina Walker.
“Lord, Remember Me,” live
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“I’m Still Here” (joined by Delores Washington), live, 1998, Philadelphia
Want more? Here.
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lagniappe
Here’s a better clip from this service than the one posted last Sunday (now deleted).
Aretha Franklin, “I’ll Fly Away,” live, Homegoing Service for Albertina Walker, Chicago (West Point Baptist Church, 3566 S. Cottage Grove), 10/15/10
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12/12/10
Friends and fans of Aretha Franklin offered prayers and good wishes after learning that the Queen of Soul, one of Detroit’s beloved musical artists, is suffering from pancreatic cancer.
A world without Aretha?
Impossible.
Aretha Franklin, “Oh It Is Jesus,” “Old Landmark,” live, featuring Rev. Cecil Franklin (brother) & Erma Franklin (sister), Detroit, 1985 (TV broadcast 1986)
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4/8/12
Aretha testifies
Aretha Franklin, “Surely God Is Able,” live, Detroit, 1990
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1/6/13
The other day, in the wake of Inez’s [Andrews] passing, we heard several takes on this. How about another?
Aretha Franklin (with James Cleveland & The Southern California Community Choir), “Mary, Don’t You Weep,” live, Los Angeles, 1972
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6/23/14
passings
Gerry Goffin, lyricist, February 11, 1939-June 19, 2014
The Shirelles, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” (G. Goffin, C. King), 1961
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The Drifters, “Up on the Roof” (G. Goffin, C. King), 1962
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Aretha Franklin, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” (G. Goffin, C. King, J. Wexler), 1967
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1/1/16
What better way to start the new year?
Aretha Franklin, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” (G. Goffin, C. King, J. Wexler), live, Washington, D.C., 2015
2018
Friday, July 27th
sweet soul music
Anthony Hamilton, live, Washington, D.C., 2016
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Monhegan Island, Maine
2018
Thursday, June 21st
basement jukebox
Jimmy Ruffin, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” 1966
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lagniappe
reading table
Our share of night to bear –
Our share of morning –
Our blank in bliss to fill,
Our blank in scorning –Here a star, and there a star,
Some lose their way!
Here a mist – and there a mist –
Afterwards – Day!—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), 116 (Franklin)
2018
Saturday, June 16th
desert island disc
Ann Peebles, I Can’t Stand the Rain (Willie Mitchell, prod.), 1974
Track list:
- “I Can’t Stand The Rain” (Don Bryant, Bernard “Bernie” Miller, Ann Peebles) – 2:31
- “Do I Need You” (Bryant, Peebles) – 2:33
- “Until You Came into My Life” (Bryant, Miller, Peebles) – 3:13
- “(You Keep Me) Hanging On” (Ira Allen, Buddy Mize) – 2:44
- “Run Run Run” (Bryant, Darryl Carter, Peebles) – 2:38
- “If We Can’t Trust Each Other” (Earl Randle) – 2:55
- “A Love Vibration” (Bryant, Miller, Peebles) – 2:50
- “You Got to Feed the Fire” (Bryant, Miller, Peebles) – 2:22
- “I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down” (Earl Randle) – 2:45
- “One Way Street” (Bryant, Peebles) – 2:50
2018
Thursday, April 19th
basement jukebox
O.V. Wright, “A Nickel and a Nail” (Willie Mitchell, prod.), 1971
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
2018
Thursday, April 12th
basement jukebox
Syl Johnson, “Take Me to the River” (Al Green, Mabon “Teenie” Hodges, writers; Willie Mitchell, producer), 1975
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lagniappe
musical thoughts
I am waiting, patiently, for the United States Postal Service to issue a Forever stamp honoring Willie Mitchell. Nobody—nobody—has produced better records.
2018
Friday, February 23rd
timeless
Marvin Gaye (1939-1984), “What’s Going On” (M. Gaye, A. Cleveland, R. Benson), “What’s Happening Brother” (M. Gaye, J. Nyx Jr.), live, Chicago, 1972
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
