Desmond Dekker -- "The More You Live"

Happy Friday everyone!!! Spring is showing itself from its sunny side today ... I know the weekend will be perfect. Now -- let some of the feel good music play to welcome spring and the weekend.

Repost from 4/7/09 Schoen Bunt!

So bunt wie die Farben des Blogs, so bunt ist die Musik und die Welt, die die Musik fuer uns schafft. Es gibt keine Methode, die sicherer und geeigneter ist, mich aus dem Hier in das Dort zu beamen ...

Nicht alle Songs beschwoeren jedoch angenehme Erinnerungen herauf. Es gibt auch welche, die den Kummer vergangener Zeiten in die Erinnerung zurueckrufen. Aber auch das sollte man hin und wieder tun: die Konfrontation suchen mit dem, was man eigentlich vergessen moechte. Man kann so testen, wieviel Abstand man von einer solchen Begebenheit erlangt hat.

Al Greens For The Good Times ist solch ein Lied fuer mich. Obwohl das Lied eigentlich ja eine zu Ende gegangene Liebe beklagt, symbolisiert es fuer mich Verlorengeganges im Allgemeinen.

Just Seven Numbers (hier in der Version mit David Ruffin & Bobby Taylor) repraesentiert die Hoffnungen, die man waehrend seines Lebens begraebt ...

Ja -- und dann ist da noch die Musik, die einfach nur gluecklich macht. Dazu gehoert Johnny Adams "Love me Now" und Arethas Spanish Harlem.

... Tonight is the peak of my life

I ain't never in my live before

felt this way ...

Larry Marshall -- "Brand New Baby"

Alright! It definitely feels like I need some kind of rejuvenation ... This lousy spring takes its toll on me and my mood ...

The Temptations -- "Go For It"

While Eddie Kendricks is the most famous Temptations falsetto singer -- and deservedly so -- Glenn Leonard, in my opinion, has the best falsetto voice ever. It is clear, crisp at times, but never sounds forced. What a beautiful voice! "Go For It" could never have been anyone else's song. This is Glenn's masterpiece.

Johnny Bristol -- "Hang On In There Baby"

Oh please! Can we turn back the hands of time ... I love this song and each time I hear it, the greatest memories come flooding in. In this music is embedded everything I will always associate with the 70s: intensity, exuberance, optimism, joy of life, romance ...

Rachel Ferell & Will Downing — “Nothing Has Ever Felt like This Before”

Absolutely fantastic!

The Whispers -- "A Song For Donny"

A heartfelt tribute to the singer whose voice never failed to make my heart feel heavy ... It sounded as if all the world’s pain dwelled in that voice.

Don Bryant -- "Just A Touch of Your Hand" and "Cloudy Days"

Don Bryant, staff song writer at Hi Records and husband of the legendary Ann Peebles, in my opinion, never got enough credit for his excellent singing. As a song writer, however, he was in high demand. He wrote for such greats as Al Green, Syl Johnson, and Otis Clay as well as, of course, for Ann Peebles.

Jimmy Lewis -- "It Ain't What's On The Woman"

Yeah, yeah ... it's Southern Soul, and I know quite a few people who do not care much for that kind of music. But while I was looking for some Al Green live footage, I stumbled upon this one. I love the message and the honesty (about men's nature lol) in the song.
Jimmy Lewis also has a great gritty voice and knew how to use it ...

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles -- "Here I Go Again" and "Doggone Right"

Another grey and uninspiring Sunday afternoon in Texas! Even the "fast forward" into spring could not convince the sun to shine ... So, here's some music to sweeten a day like this.

The Love Unlimited Orchestra -- "Love's Theme"

I just finished watching a German movie -- and guess what was playing in the background ? Yessss, these tunes are as popular in 2019 as they were in the 1970's. I believe deep in my heart that The Sound Of Philadelphia will be considered classical music 200 years from now. Just like Mozart's or Beethoven's compositions are now.

 I am determined to live long enough to prove my prediction was true. Watch me!

 

The Courtships -- "Love Ain't Love Til You Give It To Somebody"

I've never heard this song before, nor did I know the group. It's a nice tune, though. Typical early 70's -- Ahhhh! And somehow reminiscent of the Stylistics sound. The song is actually the B-side of "Oops,It Just Slipped Out."

The Four Tops -- "When She Was My Girl" (live 1981)

No words can describe the power of Levi's voice ...

The Dynamics -- "What A Shame"

Wishing us all a happy new week with just another beautiful song from the glorious 70s. Enjoy!

Temptations

Well ... whenever David Ruffin is being mentioned, The Tempts are not far away. I just love this song although this is not my favorite lineup. Ron, however, sounds so sincere. Aw, and here's the perfect 90's Tempts song: "Corner of my Heart." The lyrics alone make me happy ... And this one is from their 1983 album |"Back To Basics." Yes, I know, I get carried away. But my heart belongs to The Temptations.

David Ruffin v Choice Four -- "Just Let Me Hold You For A Night"

Let's do another compare and contrast with a beautiful song, written by Charles Kipps, a prolific soul song writer and producer, who together with Van McCoy, bestowed on us some of the most beautiful songs I can think of.

He also wrote for and produced Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, and Melba Moore. "He and McCoy were partners in McCoy-Kipps Productions, one of the most successful Music production companies of the 1970s." (www.charleskipps.com)



This is Choice Four with their pretty, darned good 1976 version of the song.


 


And here comes Ruffin -- David! Ruffin! -- my all-time favorite Temptations lead singer and his version released by Motown in 1977.

Donny Hathaway & June Conquest -- "Just Another Reason"

Ecstasy, Passion, and Pain -- "Don't Burn The Bridges Behind You" & "Good Things Don't Last Forever"

This is one of those songs that are a perfect blend of depth in lyrics, beautiful arrangement, great singing -- simply timeless.



Founded in 1973 in New York City, the group released only one album and a few singles for Roulette Records. The group's lead singer was Barbara Gaskins who also played guitar.
Read more about this group and Barbara Gaskins here.

Here's the group with a typical 70's disco piece. I just love it!

Hersey Taylor -- "We're Gonna Run Out Of Time"

How about some gritty northern soul on a Sunday?


 

Eddie Kendricks -- "Best Of Strangers"

Don't we all know such situations?