Rihanna’s Umbrella
You usually won’t find me too in touch with the Top 40 hits of the day (or the Hot 100 on Billboard), but Rihanna pulled me right in to this video. I could do without Jay-Z’s bantering at the beginning,…
Harlem Shufflin
I’ve always loved the Stones version of “Harlem Shuffle” (and the video above, particularly the fine female dancing with Mick – rarrrr – feel like I’m 16 again). Silly thing is, I don’t think I had heard another version of…
Being James Brown, by Jonathan Lethem
If you haven’t had a good fix of James Brown lately, or if you’re not that familiar with his stuff other than what you’ve heard in hip hop samples, allow me to steer you toward a great piece in Rolling…
Time is Tight
I finally filled my Clash collection this weekend when I picked up ‘Super Black Market Clash’. What took me so long? I have no clue. But I’m really enjoying hearing some new-to-me Clash songs like “Long Time Jerk”, as well…
Prince does, um, American Idol
Do you really think I’d let this one slide by without a comment? Yeah, the rumors from a few weeks ago proved true after all. Prince showed up on the season finale of American Idol. He came out unannounced to…
Easter Sunday Soul
As I wait for my wife to have our second little girl (any day now), I throw on some classics from back in the day to help me cope with the anxiety and impatience……. Prince: Soft & Wet [live, March…
Join the Caravan of Love
Showcasing another great song from my mid-teens (Ickmusic: The High School Years!), our focus shifts once again to 80’s R&B…..In 1984, bassist Marvin Isley, keyboardist Chris Jasper, and drummer/guitarist Ernie Isley split off from the 70’s icons of R&B, the…
Get Funky with Cameo and Zapp
Larry Blackmon and the boys from Cameo start the weekend off right with one of their hits on the R&B charts, from their pre-“Word Up”, pre-“Single Life” days. These guys will always have a spot reserved in the Ickmusic Hall…
Two New Prince Tracks
2 new Prince tracks up at The Music Slut: ” Get on the Boat” (with Maceo Parker on sax) and “Love”. Pre-order 3121 here.
Into the Melting Pot
Speechless. How I went 35 years without discovering the wonder and brilliance of this song, I have no idea. I have a lot to learn. I’ve always been familiar with Booker T. & the MG’s, their role in the history…