HERE COMES XMAS 🎄 “White Christmas” by the The Drifters live — Awesome!!!

And another year almost over. Time to count our blessings and be grateful for all the good moments we experienced even though the world around us seemed determined to make us all miserable.

"White Christmas" always was one of my favorite Xmas songs. When I found this live performance of the song by the Drifters, I realized how important it is to be able to cherish whatever good came our way. If the here and now sucks, so to speak, just escape for a while to the great times in the past. 

 

Merry Christmas to all of you!    

Elvis Presley -- "If I Can Dream"

 

Happy Sunday everyone! 

Texas fall is the most beautiful time of the year. The sun is shining, the sky is of a clear blue, and going for a walk around the block feels like being on vacation. For a while, forgetting the problems that befell the nation and soaking up the beauty of a gorgeous day in fall makes life good again.

While I was walking, this song I had found a while back on youtube came to my mind. I think it is the most soulful, honest performance by Elvis I've ever seen. He seems to experience the lyrics while he's singing ... He put his soul into this one.

Enjoy! 

Don’t miss this one!

Soultaker73 has posted another great set on his mixcloud page.

Listen to it here:  https://www.mixcloud.com/Soultaker/

Jean Carn & The Temptations -- "If You Don't Know Me By Now"

 

 “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” has been sung by some great vocalists. Jean Carn definitely belongs to them. Now, when an accomplished singer is backed by The Temptations, as on this track, the result couldn’t be any better.

Today’s track is from Jean Carl’s album Trust Me (Motown, 1982).

WRAG Radio Raggedy -- The Best Of Voices

 

WRAG Radio Raggedy Oct. 1, 2021

[Intro]

And Tomorrow Means Another Day We’re Apart — Troy

Naturally — Dennis Edwards

Let Me Hold You For A Night — David Ruffin

Misty Morning— Ali Ollie Woodson

I’m On Fire — Glenn Leonard

[Stinger]

Live In Peace — Temptations (Louis Price)

Always And Forever — Theo Peoples

Thought I Could — The Dells

A World I Never Made — Johnny Adams

Really Wanna See You Tonight — David Sea

[Outro]

Keith and Tex -- "Stop That Train"

 

Happy Weekend y'all!   

Joe Cocker — “When A Man Loves A Woman” live

Darned! This is the first time I've heard Joe's cover of the greatest love song ever written. 

I am fascinated. Percy has reason to feel a bit jealous ... 

And then, to top off  this tremenduous  experience, there's Mr. James Brown on the same stage. Two unforgettable and unforgotten artists. 

When we wish we could fly ...

What is a sure sign of homesickness?

Well, for me it usually is my listening to old songs from the old country. It's been four long years since I last saw and hugged family and friends in Germany. Listening to the music we used to listen to together somewhat takes the edge off that longing ...

Instead of growing wings to fly across the Atlantic, I embark on a musical journey that takes me back to a good place and time.

Here is the song that actually plays a lot -- I mean A  LOT -- lately around here. 

It holds so many memories it would take hours to share them ... Happy times!

The orchestra and choir are fantastic. The horn section is pretty darned good, in my opinion.  Also Peter Maffay was and still is,  the German rocker with lots of feeling in his lyrics and singing. 

Peter Maffay "Du" 

 

Erik Silvester "Du Liebst Nur Einmal"  

This is the German version of Percy's "Take Time To Know Her." And I absolutely love it -- even when I'm not homesick.

 

Vickie Leandros "Apres Toi"

This is one of those songs that make me happy and sad at the same time ... That lady has a lot of soul in her voice and presentation.

The Real Thing -- "You To Me Are Everything"

I definitely need a mood mender today. Sometimes, I just wish all the ugliness, filth, and depravity inhabiting the world would just disappear ... The only thing I need to bring back some sunshiny feel in my world is an upbeat song. I'll put it on repeat until the misery is gone. Then, I'll switch into maintenance mode with more of that happy sound.

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Johnny Copeland — “Tin Pan Alley”

Just the right music for a Sunday night! 

Troy -- "And Tomorrow Means Another Day We're Apart"

 

Oooooh! What a gorgeous song. Can someone please bring TSOP back. Harmony, passion, excellence. What a time it was to be young and happy. 

   

Damon Harris -- "I Fell In Love"

Damon Harris -- what can one say. He had that sweet falsetto of a dreamy young guy. 

He joined the Temptations in 1971 to replace Eddie Kendricks. And he definitely did a great job. 

"I Fell In Love" is one of his solo works, though, that is not very well known. It was released on the album Silk in 1978. 

Bobby Blue Bland -- "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone" live

I don't think this clip needs any words. Bobby Blue Bland live -- simply great. 

The Dells — “So You Are Love”

Alright. I have been quite busy, but that didn't keep me from finding some music I wanted to share with you all. 

I heard this track while I was on the way to Corpus Christi to spend a weekend on the Gulf coast. Hubby and I just love it there. So, this song came up and I was surprised I had never heard it before. At least, I can't remember I did. Next thing I did, I looked it up and found out why.  It was released in 1980 on their album "I Touched A Dream." From the late 70's on, my life had revolved around building our future together. There was not much time for fun. 

 Anyway, I really love this song and agree with the description of the album I found on Allmusic. 

 "The last great Dells album, and one of the year's big surprises. The Dells were on another new label, and now were working with Carl Davis and Eugene Records (also of The Chi-Lites). The pair simply restored The Dells' strengths; each production made sure Marvin Jr.'s roaring leads and Johnny Carter's wavery falsetto were at the forefront. They also got them a superb ballad in the title track, a good message song in '"It's All About The Paper," and other fine cuts.'" 

Here's the track list from that album:

A1		So You Are Love Written-By – D. Addrisi* Written-By – D. Addrisi*	5:07
A2		All About The Paper Written-By – Clarence McDonald, Lowrell Simon Written-By – Clarence McDonald, Lowrell Simon	5:30
A3		Passionate Breezes Written-By – Chuck Jackson (2), Marvin Yancey* Written-By – Chuck Jackson (2), Marvin Yancey*	5:35
B1		I Touched A Dream Written-By – Eugene Record Written-By – Eugene Record	5:18
B2		Just A Little Love Written-By – Buddy Martin, James Jolis, Kevin Simone* Written-By – Buddy Martin, James Jolis, Kevin Simone*	3:39
B3		Look At Us Now Written-By – Carl Davis, Clarence McDonald, Lowrell Simon Written-By – Carl Davis, Clarence McDonald, Lowrell Simon	3:29
B4		Your Song Written-By – Cecil Womack, Don Davis (2) Written-By – Cecil Womack, Don Davis (2)	3:27

You all know me. Once I get started, it's hard to stop me. I just found this interview with Marvin Junior -- and it is simply too good not to be shared. Enjoy! He was a great singer and, I am sure, he will win many a heart even after he left us. 

David Ruffin -- "Out In The Country" and "Mountain of Memories"

I hope you all are having a beautiful, blessed Easter. It's a special Easter for us here in Texas. Somehow, opening the state feels like a personal resurrection to me. Gone are the staying at home and all the gloom it created. Let's just hope my fellow Texans are smart and considerate enough not to get carried away and spoil the chance at freedom. That said, I'll share my two Easter eggs with you. They are from David Ruffin's shelved Motown material that was released in 2004 on the album David. Of course, I remember the days when Easter was still about going egg hunting and long, long walks through the fresh green forest ... and somehow, the two songs conjure those images up. I guess, we all have our very own mountains of memories.

I just love this one. Dennis was one great singer.

Get On Up -- WRAG Radio Raggedy

I spent a few -- well actually a lot of -- hours in my closet trying on my favorite spring time outfits. And what a disaster that was. Everything had shrunken to a size that I had never ever worn. Those parasitic calories must have eaten inches off all the waistbands ... Unbelievable! 

So I dug out my old exercise playlists from a time before COVID to shrink myself to the reduced size of my clothes ...  

Since I am 100 percent sure, I am not the only person with that problem, I thought I'd share my favorite exercise playlist with you all.

Just keep dancing and moving to the music, eat a little less -- and you'll lose a few pounds. Show those calories who's the boss in your closet! 

Playlist

Intro

00:18 Sweet Soul Music -- Arthur Conley

02:33 Every Time I Turn Around (Back In Love) -- L.T.D. 

07:03 Party Time Man --The Futures

10:42 Baby Come Back --The Equals

13:18 Don't You Believe Him -- Ivory Joe Hunter

15:39 Get On Up-- Tyrone Davis

19:23 Build Me Up --The Foundations

22:15 Stand By Me -- Johnny Adams 

28:50 No More Heartaches -- The Beltones

Outro

            

UB40 -- "Red Red Wine"

I had a wonderful day today.Went shopping at my favorite outdoor shopping mall. It was just so, so great. All the people out there: families with little babies, the Hippie generation out and about, young couples holding hands ... and the Texan sun shining on us all. 

And then I had this wonderful red wine with dinner tonight ... Life is just good! 

Ronnie Dyson -- "She's Gone"

Now, Ronny Dyson cannot hide his ties to Broadway. Ever since he sang lead on "Aquarius," in the musical "Hair" in 1968, his singing shows where he got his vocal training. 

He was born June 5, 1950 in Washington, DC and died way too young on November 10, 1990. 

 

 "She's Gone" is not one of his biggest hits, but definitely a fine piece. Together with "Familiar Strangers," which I included in my last podcast, today's post ranks among my alltime favorites. Perfect vocals matched with first rate musicians -- that's art. 

 Between 1970 and 1983, he released seven albums. 

"She's Gone" was the B-side of "I Don't Wanna Cry" (Columbia, 1970). 

And here's "Familiar Stangers" again -- just so you know what you've missed if you didn't listen to my last podcast on MixCloud.

Enjoy!

 

The Impressions -- "Times Have Changed"

Lead singer on this track is Leroy Hutson. He joined The Impressions in 1971 as Curtis Mayfield’s successor.

The song is from the album Impressions (Curtom, 1972). 

Sam Dees -- "Secret Admirer"

Happy Sunday!

 

The Stylistics -- "You Are Everything" and "I Can't Give You Anything"

 

 It Appears to me that the worse the video quality is, the better the music sounds ... I know, it's nothing but nostalgia. 

Dennis Edwards -- "Naturally" live

 

This is a favorite of mine. Dennis knew how to use his voice. "Naturally" showcases a range of feelings: tenderness, urgency, passion, ecstasy ... That's what I love most in a song. 

Dennis Edwards definitely represented everything a Temptations lead singer had to offer to make that group unique. 

One thing I don't understand is that I don't find any info on that song. Who wrote it? Was Dennis's version the only one? I would really love to find out more. 

Vernon Guy -- "For Your Precious Love" live with Ike & Tina Turner Revue

 

 I am always on the look for live performances that are captivating. Today's post is such a piece. It is on a compilation of live recordings by The Ike and Tina Turner Revue, which consisted of Ike and Tina Turner, of course, The Ikettes, Ike's Kings of Rhythm and several other artists, such as Vernon Guy. 

Vernon Guy started his career with Ike but left in 1964 when he founded a group named The Sharpees. 

(The Sharpees)

Vernon Guy died in a car accident at age 53 on September 10, 1998        

Morgan Heritage -- "She's Still Loving Me"

All that  beautiful snow is already melting. Grey skies and dejection rule ... So, what would be the best of all cures? You guessed it. Music with a pep. 

Here we go with  Morgan Heritage's "She's Still Loving Me." I just found the group and need to find out more about them. All I can say so far is that I love this tune big time. 

WRAG Radio Raggedy -- Messin' Up A Good Thing

Messin’ Up A Good Thing

00:00 Intro

00:19    Don’t Keep Wastin’ My Time — Teddy Pendergrass

04:18    I Let You Let Me Down Again — David Sea

07:49    Forgotten Man — David Ruffin

10:22    The Agony and The Ecstasy — Smokey Robinson

15:00    Your Body’s Here With Me — The O’jays

19:45    I Won’t Remember Ever Loving You — Walter Jackson

23:52    Familiar Strangers — Ronnie Dyson

27:42    Turn Out The Stars — Ali-Ollie Woodson

32:30    Messing Up A Good Thing — John Edwards

35:24    So Soon We Change -- David Ruffin

Outro

Felice Taylor -- "It May Be Winter Outside (But In My Heart It's Spring)"

Climate change has finally found its way to Texas, and I can spend a nice winter vacation right at home -- for free!

The first song that springs to mind in connection with snow, ice, and cold is, of course, "It May Be Winter Outside (But In My Heart It's Spring)." 

Today, I'll post a different version of the famous one by the Love Unlimited Orchestra. It is by Felice Taylor, a singer I've never heard of. 

Felice began her career singing in a trio with her sisters Norma and Darlene. They released "The Richest Girl,"their only single,  for Valiant Records in 1965. Felice kept recording throughout the 60's. She was married to her manager and song writer Johnny Taylor from 1960 to 1977. 

She died June 12, 2017. 

Her version was first released on Mustang Records in 1966. Such a sweet and mellow voice. 

 

Donald Byrd -- "Street Lady"

Okay, let's get funky-jazzy now! Title track from the 1973 album (Blue Note).

Tender Touch -- "Can I See You Tomorrow"

 

This is the perfect song to listen to when you want the world to go away ... I found it tucked away in a folder that contains songs I planned to post when I was around here more often. 

I couldn't find any more info about the group than what one can find out on the record's label. 

Wilson Pickett -- "Woman Likes To Hear That"

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you! I honestly hope everyone is happy and healthy and able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know there is one -- no matter how long and dark that tunnel is. 

It feels great to be back after a bit of a difficult time, and I say Hello with a song sung by the great, gritty voiced Wilson Picket. The song was written by George Jackson and was released on Wilson's "Right On" album (Atlantic, 1970).

You guys listen carefully! 

Hard to believe that Wilson Pickett died 15 years ago. So, he gets his candles on ol' Raggedy's blog. 

RIP

Wilson Pickett

March 18, 1941 -- January 19, 2006