Little Richard...

As you guys know, I am a big fan of music from the 1950's.
It's my Daddy's fault.
When I was a kid he used to come in my brother's and my bedroom to check on us and he would sing samples of his favorite songs. Fats Domino, Chuck Berry...
...and Little Richard.
As I grew up these songs stuck in my head and I eventually bought "Greatest Hits" versions of their work.
Let me tell ya, Little Richard's is "The Bees Knees."
"Good Golly Miss Molly", "Lucille", "Rip it Up", "Ready Teddy"...all classics.
I had always wondered if Richard was gay or straight. He liked to wear women's clothing and pancake make-up. He also dated a couple of gorgeous chicks.
He may be bi-sexual, but one thing I DO know is that his sound is very infectious and it will live on forever.
  I also know that Berry is one of the Original Founders of Rock and Roll.

(Revised from 12/12/2008)

The O'Jays...

My little brother Billy called the other night wanting to know if I had any O'Jays Cd's.
Surprisingly, I don't.
He was looking for the tune "Used To be My Girl." An O'Jays classic. It seems his "Greatest Hits" CD didn't have it.
So I went to amazon.com and found a collection for $3.97 (!) and ordered it for him.
Amazon.com is great for old music. You have to really read the descriptions of the condition of the CD, but I have been ordering from them for years and I have never received a bad item.
I also buy DVDs and even sheets (!) from amazon.com.  I also have signed up for the "Prime" program, which guarantees 2-say shipping and offers tons of other benefits.
  The O'Jays are still performing to this day and I would travels 80 miles to hear "Love Train"...
 

HAIL, HAIL ROCK AND ROLL...

I was going through some of my father's old stuff the other day and I came across a copy of "Hail, Hail Rock and Roll."
This is a documentary about one of the Kings of Rock and Roll, Chuck Berry.
I was amazed at how many people that were influenced by the man. There were interviews with Little Richard, Keith Richards, Bo Diddley, Bruce Springsteen, Jerry Lee Lewis, to name a few.
There were performances with Linda Ronstadt, Etta James, Julian Lennon and Robert Cray...
My father hipped me to Chuck years ago. He used to sing "Too Much Monkey Business" to me and as I grew up I fell in love with his ways with words, his guitar playing and his "duck walk."
And the songs! "School Days", "Little Queenie", "Nadine", "Johnny B. Good", and the classic 'Maybellene."
The documentary is a classic and if you get a chance to view it, do.
Reprinted from 7/30/2008

AC/DC..."U Shook Me All Night Long"...

I am a big fan of rock music and I have been a fan of AC/DC for years. My favorite LP?
"Back In Black." (Duh!...)
From the opening cut "Hell's Bells", to "Shoot to Thrill" to my all-time favorite "You Shook Me All Night Long", the album is what rock and roll is all about.
When The band has released a new LP called "Black Ice", and it is as great as "Black." 
  Every song will get your head to bopping and the guitar work is incredible.
  Rock on brothers...rock on...
  (updated from 10/27/08)

The Fifth Dimension...

I was watching Dave the other night and at the end there was a group of actors from the Broadway musical "Hair."
They performed "Aquarius" and "Let The Sun Shine In.
I immediately thought of the Fifth Dimension.
Growing up in yje '70's they were a very popular group and they put their unique stamp on the world of music with tunes like "Up, Up, and Away", "One Less Bell To Answer", "'Wedding Bell Blues", and "Stoned Soul picnic."
The two lead singers, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr (who are married, by the way) eventually went on to record on their own and enjoyed success as well.
There are several greatest hits collections available on good 'ol Amazon.com.
(Originally published 5/6/09)

Ah...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby...

You guys know that I am a huge fan of Prince, but in the late '70s and early 80s, my music of choice tended to veer toward the original funk side with a bassist named Bootsy Collins.
Bootsy was an original. His tunes such as "Bootzilla", "I'd Rather Be With You", "Can't Stay Away", 'She Jam"...Classics.
Oh my God,  and those are just a drop in the bucket.
There never was and I believe never will be a bass player that has meant so much to music.
  I saw him appear on "Letterman a few months back as a guest artist, and he was fantastic...he even let Dave wear his trademark top hat.
  Priceless.
If you ever get a chance to see his story on "TV One's "Unsung", check it out.
  (Updated from Oct. 2010)

"Emancipation."..

Prince released a three album set in 1996 called "Emancipation" and I recently (yes, like last week) listened to the entire recording.
I had heard that it was a "so-so" album but let me now say that is quickly becoming one of my favorites by the Purple One.
I may be wrong, but I think this is the first album that Prince covered songs by other artists,,,there is "One Of Us", by Joan Osbourne, and "Betcha By Golly Wow", by the Stylistics." He also covers "I Can't Make You Love Me", by Bonnie Raitt.
The original cuts include "Soul Sanctuary", "Jam of the Year", the title cut, "Holy River", "Face Down" and my favorite cut "Some body's Somebody."
It is a thoroughly enjoyable lp and you can find it at amazon.com for under $2.00
It is worthy of a spot in your collection.
 (Reprint from 2010)