The Friday Five: February 4, 2011
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
“Naima” by John Coltrane (from Giant Steps, 1959)
I spent the better part of my 20’s as a full on record store junkie—albeit, a paid one. On the occasions where I found myself opening the store on a Sunday morning, I had only one requirement: Coltrane was to be played for the first three hours of the day. It’s a ritual that I carried for years, and to this day, when I’m up early on a Sunday morning I’ll revisit one of his classic sides.
“P Control” by Prince (from The Gold Experience, 1995)
Oh, Prince … you dirty motherfucker, how I miss you.
“Boy” by Ra Ra Riot (from The Orchard, 2010)
I’m still quite smitten with The Orchard.
“Burning Up” by Madonna (from Celebration, 2009)
I think it was my musical “brother from another mother” Mike Heyliger who started the discussion on Madonna’s lesser appreciated singles a few weeks back. I completely forgot about “Burning Up,” opting instead for “Angel.”
“Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own” by U2 (from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, 2004)
Speaking of under-appreciated singles, this should have been every bit as big a hit as any of the band’s hits of the aughts.
What’s on your shuffle today?
New Funk: Michael Dean’s ‘Stroke the Mind B4 the Behind’
Followers of the Funk, lend me your ears. You won’t be sorry…Friend of Ickmusic and fellow avid Prince fan Michael Dean not only runs one of the coolest funk-centric sites on the web (Freedom Train), but the man is clearly a talented funk-man in his own right. I have to admit, I was pretty floored when I listened to his brand new album, ‘Stroke the Mind B4 The Behind’.
Like the purple man from Minneapolis, Michael produces, arranges, composes and performs everything you hear. As for the content, it had me from the start. “Kingdom”, which leads off the record, hooked me in with the insatiably funky groove. The handclaps, the synths, the sly exchange between Michael and his guest lady friend.
For you Prince fanatics, tell me that Michael’s vocals – especially on “Kingdom” – don’t remind you a little of André Cymone?
I’m impressed. Every track has something good: a little techno on “She Was a Problem”; the Four Loko funk of “I’m Coo”; slowed down R&B on “Epic Fail”; the 80’s new-wave soul of the title track (speaking of Mr. Cymone).
It’s like Michael takes everything we love about that Minneapolis sound in its prime and updates it for 2011. I’ve already listened to Michael’s joint more times than Planet Earth
. That says something.
Michael Dean – “Kingdom” (mp3)
[audio:kingdom.mp3]Buy the Stroke the Mind B4 The Behind digital album for only $0.99. That’s a buck, funk lovers. Just do it.
And be sure to check out Michael’s ongoing series of Prince podcasts on Freedom Train.
The Friday Five: January 14, 2011
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
“Lets Go Crazy (special dance mix)” by Prince (from Ultimate, 2006)
“Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here to get through this thing called life.” I’m particularly fond of this version, as it features the extended guitar breakdown that was featured in the film.
“Got the Time” by Joe Jackson (from The Best of Joe Jackson, 2007)
Looks like we’re entering another “Greatest Hits” shuffle. I dig Joe.
“Will You Still Love Me?” by Chicago (from Greatest Hits 1982-1989, 1989)
Between the snow storms that have dumped over 30 inches of snow in the last week, my dear friends Jason and Jessica Hare paid the wife and I visit. During the ensuing music geek-off, Jason revealed the following performance that, well … I’ll just let you see for yourself:
“Starfish & Coffee” by Prince & The Revolution (from Dream Factory, 1986)
Yes, that does say by Prince & The Revolution. Yes, I do have a copy of the July 18, 1986 configuration of the unreleased gem that would later become part of His Royal Badness’ magnum opus, Sign “☮” the Times. With a minimal amount of internet sleuthing, you too could unearth the glory of Prince’s unreleased treasures.
“If I Had $1000000” by Barenaked Ladies (from Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits: 1991-2001, 2001)
I’ve always wanted a monkey.
What’s on your shuffle today?
BET’s Tribute to Prince: Janelle Monae, Esparanza Spalding, Alicia Keys, Patti LaBelle
This past Sunday, Prince was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 10th annual BET Awards. Prior to the presentation, four of his favorite ladies took to the stage to pay tribute to His Purpleness, and let me tell you, this was no half-ass tribute. The performers were reportedly hand picked by Prince: Janelle Monae, Esperanza Spalding, Alicia Keys, and Patti Labelle – and they all killed. Let’s take a look…
Janelle Monae – quirky, unconventional, and flat out weird (in the good sense of the word) – chose the perfect song to match her style and to kick off the festivities: “Let’s Go Crazy”. Watching her perform made me slap myself for missing her when she stopped through town last week with Erykah Badu. I love the way she writhes and slides and pops and twists (aka her flavor of dancing). And to top it all off, she’s carried off the stage after the tune. Prince seemed to dig it, didn’t he? So did I.
Esperanza Spalding was next, stepping to the mic with her stand-up electric bass, and launched into the classic from side 3 of Sign ‘o’ the Times, “If I Was Your Girlfriend.” It sounds like they used the original studio intro, sans Prince’s “oooo’s”. I wonder if Prince provided the backing track? Top notch performance of one of my favorite Prince tunes.
Next up was Alicia Keys with another Sign ‘o’ the Times standout: “Adore”. I have NEVER been more attracted to Ms. Alicia Keys than during this performance. It may have something to do with kicking off her heels and crawling barefoot on top of her piano and doing serious lusty justice to the song. She stayed pretty true to the nuances of Prince’s vocal delivery too – though she couldn’t hit some of those falsettos where Prince is up in the stratosphere like only Prince can do. Outstanding stuff from Alicia Keys. Yum yum yum.
To top off the tribute, Patti LaBelle emerged for “Purple Rain” (which Trey Songz had segued into briefly during his performance a few minutes earlier). Patti was on fire. She was having some issues with moving around in her heels, so off they came. She kicked one toward Prince, who swiftly grabbed it up. Patti’s voice was in top form, and was letting loose after her first and only verse. It was a great finale, and Prince was clearly moved, as you’ll see.
Since 1984, for better or worse, through good times and bad, I’ve always loved this man’s music. It was a treat to see him honored like this, and a treat to watch him enjoy and be emotionally affected by these performances.
Nicely done, ladies, nicely done.
Home Town Boys: The Time live in Minneapolis
I wish I was Morris Day.
This desire might seem odd coming from someone who is quite literally whiter than anyone – including all white people – on the entire planet. As Morris said long ago, “You got to shake your ass like the black folks, you might get some tonight!” Needless to say, I can’t really shake my ass without eliciting laughs and hardy guffaws from my family and friends. This has always been a source of enormous consternation on my part given the undeniable fact that I love funk and soul so much that they are pretty much exactly like my blankie that I had when I was a kid.
When it comes to the greatest funk band in history I’m not white, though, I’m CLEAR. And I always will be for The Time.
I had heard the original line up of Morris Day, Jerome Benton, Jesse Johnson, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Monte Moir and Jellybean Johnson was back together again making a new record produced by Jam and Lewis. More importantly, there was little or no involvement by Prince. It would truly be a Time record unlike their first four releases. My favorite of those four will always be Pandemonium simply because the tyrant from Chanhassen allowed Jam and Lewis to really take the reins and make a great record with some of his songs. In so many ways, that record sums up the very essence of the band: silly, fun, happy, sexy, and super funkilicious.
Of course, I had seen Morris Day’s touring version of the Time with Jellybean, Moir and sometimes Jerome over the years but not the original (and best) line up. The yearning to see the original line up has always been strong and when I heard about the new record, I was amped that a tour would be forthcoming. That feeling went nuclear when I heard that two quick gigs were planned to get the band “feeling tight again” as Jimmy Jam put it. One was scheduled in Detroit and one in the band’s hometown – my hometown -Minneapolis. I found out about it two days before the show and snagged a ticket immediately.
The venue that was chosen was quite ironic. Now called Club Epic, it used to be Prince’s old club from the 90s, Glam Slam. They have since remodeled and it really looks and sounds fantastic. Everyone was in a great mood, dancing to the DJ and waiting for the band to come on. When they did, it was (pardon the pun) Pandemonium. Minnesota loves it’s hometown heroes and the adulation was insane – stunning really – when Morris and Co. first took the stage.
Their set list was the same as the Detroit show two nights earlier, and simply spectacular. “Wild and Loose” and “777-9311”, both almost 30 years old now, sounded as fresh as ever. Songs from Pandemonium (“Blondie”, “Jerk Out”) were completely out of sight. I also quite enjoyed “Skillet”, a hilarious number about the joys of cooking and food.
The real treat of the night was Jesse Johnson. That guy can fucking play the guitar! There were moments when I felt the spirit of Jimi Hendrix and this was never more true than his mini 4 song solo set in the middle of the show. Playing old and new songs, Jesse stunned the crowd with his prowess on his gorgeous white Fender. Honestly, I really felt blessed to witness it.
The show wrapped up with the customary girls on stage for “If The Kid Can’t Make You Come”, a loving and dedicated-to-Minneapolis “Ice Cream Castles”, a heartfelt and surprisingly crushing “Gigolos Get Lonely Too”, a military crisp version of “The Walk” with the whole band dancing, and anyone who wanted onstage for the melee know as “The Bird”. As the rest of the band filed off to await the encore cheers, Jimmy Jam and Jerome Benton stayed on stage to thank all of us for starting their careers and talked a little bit about the new record due soon. Jimmy Jam is just a class act. No doubt about it. Everyone came back out and they did “Jungle Love” (natch!), and were then sent off into the night dreaming of phone numbers, sticks, COOL, birds and gigolos. Weary eyed, I dreamed of what always do…
I wish I was Morris Day.
More photos after the jump…
Prince’s 52nd Birthday
Shout out to The Kid today, as June 7th marks the occasion of Prince Rogers Nelson‘s 52nd birthday – a milestone that Prince himself will choose to ignore, as Jehovah’s Witnesses tend to do.
So what is the State of Prince at the moment? Not much this year, it appears, at least from a fan perspective. There is a brand new issue of Ebony that features an interview, which I haven’t picked up yet. But as far as music goes, his last effort was the triple CD release of Lotusflow3r last year. Seems so long ago, right? It was March 2009 when we saw a flurry of activity with the release of Lotusflow3r, MPLSound, and ladyfriend Bria Valente’s Elixir album – along with three straight nights on Jay Leno, and a special series of shows in Los Angeles. It also saw the debut of www.lotusflow3r.com – which offered fans the chance to enter Prince’s online universe at a fee of $77 (nope, didn’t bite).
2009 carried on, and, except for a few one off performances here and there (mostly overseas), Prince’s enthusiasm for the project apparently faded quickly. Once again, no tour. In fact, it has been six years since Prince has toured (Musicology was the last).
So once again we’re faced with a lull in Prince Land. Even Lotusflow3r.com has gone offline, and we’re looking again at a major artist who chooses not to have an official online presence in the 21st century – a concept that befuddles me.
There is one bright spot this year, however, and that’s the re-emergence of quality Prince videos on YouTube. He’s either given up the fight, or his attention has shifted elsewhere. But it’s good for us, as all sorts of good stuff is popping up again.
For me, I look to the 80’s. This video (parts 1 and 2 below) was filmed in Atlanta on the Purple Rain tour. It was late 1984 during Christmas break when Friday Night Videos aired this entire performance of “I Would Die 4 U” and “Baby I’m A Star.” Other than the performance footage in Purple Rain, this was my first glimpse into Prince as a live performer. I was 14 years old, I had just discovered this eccentric, indefinable force of an artist, and – needless to say (because here I am 26 years later talking about it) – I was just blown away.
Here’s a 26 year old Prince at the top of his game. Prince the showman; Prince the presence, the undisputed ringleader.
UPDATE: There’s a new Prince song making the rounds today. It’s called “Hot Summer“, and here it is…
The Friday Five: April 9, 2010
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
“One More Try” by George Michael (from Faith, 1987)
Oh, the overwrought teenaged melodrama that accompanies this tune in my memory bank. I could fill pages, upon pages, of the tales of the end of the world, listening to Chicago, Richard Marx, and so much more wuss-rock. It’s a wonder I didn’t get my ass kicked every day. (It was every-other day.)
“Runaway” by Bon Jovi (from 7800º Fahrenheit, 1985)
I never really gave a shit about Jon-Bon until Slippery When Wet, but I was fully aware of the band during the pre-slippery era thanks to the VCR tapes my aunt would send with 8 hours of MTV content.
“Feels Good” by Tony! Toni! Toné! (from The Revival, 1990)
This song was inescapable during the summer of 1990. In retrospect, I don’t think that I liked it then quite as much as I do now. To be fair, in 1990 I was likely still heavily under the influence of the crew of metal-heads that I associated with. I was forced – peer pressure is a bitch – to keep my guilty pleasures under wraps, stashing my Prince and MJ records in lieu of the latest Megadeth and Metallica.
“Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga (from The Fame Monster, 2009)
While on some level I agree with M.I.A.’s recent assertion that Gaga is “the industry’s last stab at making itself important,” I can’t help but secretly enjoy the hell out of her over-the-top shtick.
“The Dragon” by The Guggenheim Grotto (from Happy the Man, 2009)
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Ireland’s Guggenheim Grotto twice in the last month. With any luck, I’ll be seeing them again this weekend. If it seems a bit obsessive: I’ll fully admit it is, and with good reason. The duo’s songs are poetic and intimate, and tug at the heartstrings like few others can. If you are in the NYC area, I highly recommend making it to at least one of their upcoming shows. They are setting up residency at The Bowery Electric each Wednesday in June, and there is a good chance that you’ll run into me – and maybe Jason Hare – at any one of these shows.
What’s on your shuffle today?
Side Note: What do you guys think of the lala.com embedded tracks?
The Friday Five: April 2, 2010
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
This week, I’m letting the music do the talking!
“You Really Got Me” by Van Halen (from The Best of Both Worlds, 2004)
“When I Come Around” by Green Day (from Dookie, 1994)
Apparently Prince doesn’t want anyone to hear this next tune. Probably a good thing, I’m just sayin’…
“Home” by Bria Valente (from Elixer, 2009)
“No Ordinary Love” by Sade (from The Best of Sade, 2001)
“Heard It on the Radio” by The Bird and the Bee (from Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute To Daryl Hall And John Oates, 2010)
What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: March 5, 2010
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
Editor’s Note: This week’s Friday Five comes courtesy of the iPod and was listened to in-between taking conference calls. The awesome side-effect was I went into each meeting with a smile as there wasn’t a stinker in the bunch.
“Take Me Home Tonight” by Eddie Money (from Can’t Hold Back, 1986)
“Take Me With U” (feat. Apollonia) by Prince & The Revolution (from Purple Rain, 1984)
“Easy Lover” by Philip Bailey & Phil Collins (from Chinese Wall, 1984)
“Suedehead” by Morrissey (from Viva Hate, 1988)
“The Authority Song” by Jimmy Eat World (from Bleed American, 2001)What’s on your shuffle today?
Editor’s Note, Part Deux: Thanks to Jason Hare for the on the fly proofreading. When you are done with the five, make sure you get your a** over to Popdose for this month’s episode of The Popdose Podcast which is all about a**holes!
The Friday Five: January 29, 2010
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
“So Into You” by Shudder to Think (from Pony Express Record, 1994)
Bringing post-hardcore though pop colored glasses, Shudder to Think brought something different to the oversaturated, grunge-fueled alternative scene in ’94. A cover of the 1977 hit by Atlanta Rhythm Section, the track is angular and tense; singer Craig Wedren croons in a devilish falsetto taking the track in a darker direction than the original.
“Hot for Teacher” by Van Halen (from 1984, 1984)
Like many burgeoning guitarists of the day, I spent months dissecting the legato tapped intro of this classic. I was convinced that somehow, Eddie Van Halen was in possession of extra digits on each of his hands to be able to play the impressive passage. All this before the tune even kicks off into its school-boy crush inspired shuffle. While many will point to his signature cadenza, “Eruption,” as his finest moment, I have to point to this track as the defining track of the David Lee Roth era.
“Fool in the Rain” by Led Zeppelin (from In Through the Out Door, 1979)
I may have mentioned it here before; I am not a huge Led Zeppelin fan. This is immediately apparent when I say that “Fool in the Rain” — possibly the least “Zeppelin” tune in the band’s oeuvre — is my favorite tune by the band. From the slow shuffle, building up to the samba breakdown and Jimmy Page’s super-processed octave guitar solo, the song has long been on my “desert island” list.
“Pink Cashmere” by Prince (from The Hits/The B-Sides, 1993)
His Purple Badness shows up for a second week in the number four slot. “Pink Cashmere” was one of three ‘new’ tracks included on The Hits/The B-Sides, and by far the most solid of the bunch. Recorded during around the time of Lovesexy, the song bears only a passing resemblance to the other tracks recorded during that cycle. As the story goes, Prince wrote this track for his special woman of the moment, to whom he presented with a rather expensive custom pink cashmere and black mink coat.
“If 6 Was 9” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (from Axis: Bold as Love, 1968)
The shuffle has hit the trifecta this week. Starting with Eddie, followed by Prince, and closing with Jimi; three of my favorite guitarists turn in appearances on this week’s Friday Five. The psychedelic blues-rock jam of “If 6 Was 9” is a truly a headphone masterpiece. If you doubt this, grab your favorite set of cans — and those earbuds do not count — and click on the little blue arrow above.
What’s on your shuffle today?