Merry Christmas!

WISHING YOU ALL A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS WITH PEACE IN YOUR  HEARTS AND HOMES.

The Futures -- "Love Lives On A Windy Hill"

Just posting this title because I love it to pieces. Enjoy!

Al Wilson -- "The Snake" (rare video footage)

Johnnie Taylor -- "A Fool Like Me"

Hubby and I spent a one-day weekend between two of his trips together. As we often do, we listened to classical music. We both love the baroque era -- and alas -- we ended up discussing the state of music in general. We agreed that nothing beats a skillful orchestration, traditional instruments, and a  melody that sticks ...
And this afternoon, I was reminded of our dinner conversation, when JT's "A Fool Like Me" started  playing. I just love this song, and it never fails to have me pause from what I'm doing, turn up the volume -- and enjoy life more intensely for as long as the song lasts.

The Temptations - Silent Night (A Temptations Montage) Gordy Records 1980

The highlight of each year's Christmas season ... I just love the Tempts singing the most beautiful Christmas song.

"If I GAve You My Heart" The Temptations

"If I gave You My Heart" from The Temptations' Phoenix Rising album (Motown, 1998) is currently on repeat in my car. I think it is the best album post the original Tempts ...

It is Bo's (after which I have named my new car) debut with the Tempts. 


Have a wonderful 3rd Advent weekend!

In Memory of the Victims of the Paris Terror Attack on Nov. 13, 2015

 

Never would I have imagined I would post the Marseillaise today. I was quite happy today -- out shopping and actually finding what I've been looking for. But how fast happiness can be wiped out, I realized when I sat down at home with a cup of coffee and checked the news.

What an unbelievably barbaric act these uncivilized murderers committed in Paris! I hope and I pray that there will be no mercy shown to anyone involved in committing this atrocious massacre.

My sincere sympathy goes out to the families of the victims, and I hope that all who have been injured will fully recover.

If the French people still believe in the Marseillaise, the terrorists will face some ferocious consequences.

"Papa Was A Rolling Stone" -- Some Fails and The Real Deal

Okay, so the chief music scout and I were watching Seal live in New York City ... What a let down. The man has a great voice but no stage presence whatsoever ... In short, he is lame. We gave him a last chance to redeem himself with a classic: The Temptations' "Papa Was A Rolling Stone." And, what can I say? No pep, no energy, no soul whatsoever. Argh! The music lacked in depth and energy and Seal was just not cutting it. His voice simply lacks in depths and flexibility.



Alright, then we switched to Phil Collins -- which seemed to be a good choice at first. When he started singing, though, we quit, and I had to listen to the original to make things right again.




And now the real stuff ... never mind the pink suits. These guys knew how this song was supposed to sound and "feel."


Yesssss ... nobody does it better!

To sum things up: no matter who you think you are and what you can do -- never ever try to handle on your own a song that was written for a group that consisted of five of the the very best voices.  Any attempt to go solo on such a song will end in a disaster. Such a song needs the different voices and the perfect harmonizing of them ... It's not just a ready-to-wear item -- just as the pink suits weren't.

Temptations forever!

Shotgun & The Dynamitos -- Don't Put Off Today

Enjoy!



Shotgun & The Dynamitos -- Don't Put Off Today

In Gratitude To Our Veterans

Not to Keep
Robert Frost (1917)
They sent him back to her. The letter came Saying... And she could have him. And before She could be sure there was no hidden ill Under the formal writing, he was in her sight, Living. They gave him back to her alive— How else? They are not known to send the dead— And not disfigured visibly. His face? His hands? She had to look, and ask, “What was it, dear?” And she had given all And still she had all—they had—they the lucky! Wasn’t she glad now? Everything seemed won, And all the rest for them permissible ease. She had to ask, “What was it, dear?”                                                      “Enough, Yet not enough. A bullet through and through, High in the breast. Nothing but what good care And medicine and rest, and you a week, Can cure me of to go again.” The same Grim giving to do over for them both. She dared no more than ask him with her eyes How was it with him for a second trial. And with his eyes he asked her not to ask. They had given him back to her, but not to keep.

Robert Cray at The Jo Long Theater, November 7, 2015

Robert Cray and his band were amazing. I loved each minute of the concert: simply phenomenal.
Robert Cray's guitar just cleared the atmosphere of anything that might have bothered me before  attendending the show.

He is blessed not only with an extraordinary talent as a musician but also as a singer, which makes for a unique blend of soul and blues. If he and his band is somewhere near you, you definitely have to go and see them.



Sorry, videos where not allowed ... So no pics or clips.