Santana - Blues
This is one of my favorite Carlos Santana tunes - Blues of Salvador.
Entries Tagged as 'Entertainment'
LTD: “Back in Love Again”
Love Togetherness and Devotion, or just LTD, was a group led by Jeffrey Osborne in the late 70s and early 80s. They had the successful formula of a great lead singer, outstanding bass man and a hot horn section. This formula was used by groups like the Ohio Players and Earth Wind and Fire. Jeffrey Osborne went out on his own and LTD dissolved. Osborne had several successful albums. Unfortunately, his best album, Stay With Me Tonight, came out the same year that Lionel Richie put out the album Can’t Slow Down which had four or five top 20 hits including “All Night Long” and “Hello.”
LTD they did know how to jam though.
Terrence Trent D’arby: “Wishing Well”
How many people have gotten bogged down in trying to figure out who this Palin person is? I know, or at least I think I know, that she isn’t Michael Palin from Monty Python. No matter. I’m not going to focus on that for now. I’m going to revel in the afterglow of the Democratic National Convention.
The convention wasn’t perfect. Everyone wanted some one to say something else or something more. Senator Hilary Clinton didn’t support Senator Barack Obama enough– Horse feathers. Obama didn’t talk about the blight of blacks in the inner city– Give me a break. This is was the most energized and progressive convention that I have ever witnessed. It was coordinated. It was harmonious. It was as good a convention as the Democrats can put on in my opinion. It was marvelous.
So, I’m going to continue basking in this glow for a little longer. The music selection for tonight will be Terrence Trent D’arby. There was so much fanfare surrounding this one huge mega-hit. He was supposed to be the next Prince. NOT. He had this one hit then a minor one then he was gone. Poof.
Blondie: “Call Me”
Twenty years ago, Blondie was on the top of the charts with her song “Call Me.” The lead singer, Debbie Harry, was something to behold in her day.
You can find another Blondie video here.
Obama Says Don’t Question My Patriotism
Thank you, Senator Barack Obama. Even though you stated the obvious, it needed to be said again. Obama directly responded to Senator John McCain and his ridiculous charges from yesterday. McCain knows that he will lose on the issues, so he plays these games.
From JohnMcCain.com:
With less than three months to go before the election, a lot of people are still trying to square Senator Obama’s varying positions on the surge in Iraq. First, he opposed the surge and confidently predicted that it would fail. Then he tried to prevent funding for the troops who carried out the surge. Not content to merely predict failure in Iraq, my opponent tried to legislate failure. This was back when supporting America’s efforts in Iraq entailed serious political risk. It was a clarifying moment. It was a moment when political self-interest and the national interest parted ways. For my part, with so much in the balance, it was an easy call. As I said at the time, I would rather lose an election than lose a war.
Thanks to the courage and sacrifice of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines and to brave Iraqi fighters the surge has succeeded. And yet Senator Obama still cannot quite bring himself to admit his own failure in judgment. Nor has he been willing to heed the guidance of General Petraeus, or to listen to our troops on the ground when they say — as they have said to me on my trips to Iraq: “Let us win, just let us win.” Instead, Senator Obama commits the greater error of insisting that even in hindsight, he would oppose the surge. Even in retrospect, he would choose the path of retreat and failure for America over the path of success and victory. In short, both candidates in this election pledge to end this war and bring our troops home. The great difference is that I intend to win it first.
Obama finally states that we all love America. We may have different views on how to get America back on her feet but we all love America. (See video below.)
I feel I have to say something about McCain’s constant talk about the Surge. McCain acts as if a great military strategy has been carried out when, it fact, more has happened beyond what the U.S. did. The Sunni leaders decided to kick Al Qaeda out of their country. We helped, but it was their idea. It has been called the “Awakening.” This started before our Surge. Without the cooperation of Sunni tribal leaders we would still be in deep doo-doo. Yes, the Surge worked to control violence in Baghdad but it has also separated neighborhoods. As we barricaded off Sunnis and Shittes, we caused people to be forced out of their homes.
This is not mentioned by McCain at all. McCain would never mention that a group of Sunni leaders that supported the Awakening were recently blown up. The picture that John McCain paints– that America has kicked ass and taken names under the great leadership of General David Petraeus– is overly simplistic and only partially true.
Aretha Franklin: “Respect”
Not much else needs to be said about Aretha Franklin. Here’s “Respect.”
Jerry Wexler Dies
A friend of mine mentioned Jerry Wexler to me. I said, “Who?” Here’s what he wrote me:
Bad week for R&B, what with Isaac Hayes and Jerry Wexler dying. Wexler was THE reason that Atlantic Records and Stax Records were different from Motown.
Twenty essential Jerry Wexler recordings
1. Professor Longhair — “Tipitina” (1953)
2. Ray Charles — “I Got a Woman” (1954)
3. Big Joe Turner — “Shake, Rattle and Roll” (1954)
4. LaVern Baker — “Tweedlee Dee” (1954)
5. Champion Jack Dupree — “Junker’s Blues” (1958)
6. The Drifters — “There Goes My Baby” (1959)
7. Ray Charles — “What I’d Say” (1959)
8. Solomon Burke — “If You Need Me” (1963)
9. Booker T. & the MG’s — “Green Onions” (1962)
10. Wilson Pickett — “In the Midnight Hour” (1965)
11. Aretha Franklin — “Respect” (1967)
12. Dusty Springfield — “Son of a Preacher Man” (1969)
13. Dr. John — “Iko Iko” (1972)
14. Doug Sahm — “(Is Anybody Going to) San Antone” (1973)
15. Willie Nelson — “Bloody Mary Morning” (1974)
16. The Sanford/Townsend Band — “Smoke From a Distant Fire” (1977)
17. James Booker — “Winin’ Boy Blues” (1978)
18. Etta James — “Take It to the Limit” (1978)
19. Dire Straits — “Lady Writer” (1979)
20. Bob Dylan — “Gotta Serve Somebody” (1979)
Let me add a little more explanation from Rolling Stone:
Jerry Wexler, the legendary record man, music producer and ageless hipster, died at 3:45 a.m. today at the age of 91. Wexler was one of the great music business pioneers of the 20th century: as co-head of Atlantic Records from 1953 to ‘75, he and his partner Ahmet Ertegun grew the small independent R&B label into the major record company that it is today.
Wexler was much more than a top executive — he was a national tastemaker and a prophet of roots and rhythm. The impact of his deeds matched his larger-than-life personality. Because of him, we use the term “rhythm and blues” and we hail Ray Charles as “Genius” and Aretha Franklin as “Queen.” We came to know of a record label called Stax and a small town called Muscle Shoals, Alabama. We witnessed the rise of Led Zeppelin and the Allman Brothers, and we care about a thing called soul. (more… )
Lee Ritenour: “Night Rhythms”
Lee Ritenour is one of the best jazz guitarists around. I have liked his albums since… there were albums. This is a very cool tune with a great bass line.
Isaac Hayes Dead at 65
Now, this is a man who overcame his challenges. He wrote most of his greatest hits without being able to read music. Isaac Hayes was a true original.
From Rolling Stone: Grammy- and Oscar-winning soul star Isaac Hayes has died after being found unconscious in his Tennessee home. Relatives reportedly found the singer next to a running treadmill, and paramedics brought him to a hospital, where he was declared dead. While the cause of death hasn’t been released at this time, a police spokesman said the family believes “a medical condition” was to blame.
• 1972 Rolling Stone Story: Presenting Isaac Hayes
• 1975 Rolling Stone Story: Isaac Hayes — Black Moses Moves On
Hayes, who was born in Covington, Tennessee on August 20, 1942, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 by Alicia Keys. His 1971 score for Shaft earned him an Academy Award and two Grammys, and he picked up another Grammy the following year for his 1971 double album Black Moses. (more… )
Bernie Mac Dead at 50
Bernie Mac simply blew up the comedy scene about eight to 10 years ago. The Kings of Comedy introduced Bernie Mac and Cedric the Entertainer to a huge audience. Bernie Mac got his own show out of the deal. He also got into the Ocean’s series. He did a lot in a very short period of time. He was funny and in-your-face. I’ll miss him.
The Chicago Tribute has a nice write up.
Warning: The following clip does contain adult language.
Chris Brown: “Forever”
Maybe I’m getting old, but some of these new tunes are starting to sound the same. Chris Brown: “Forever.”
Buddy Rich And Doc Severinsen
Now, this is a good cut of Doc Severinsen when he was on “The Tonight Show.” Buddy Rich is simply great.
INXS
I Need You Tonight by INXS. Have a fun and safe Saturday.
Jackson 5: Medley
This Jackson 5 video is from the mid to late 70s: ABC, I want You Back, and The Love you Save.
Art Blakey and Freddie Hubbard
One of the great things about Jazz is that there are standards which everyone is expected to play at one time or another. Moanin’ is one of those tunes. This is played by the great Art Blakey and a very young Freddie Hubbard. (Sorry about the terrible ending.)
Holding the Press Accountable
I have talked about the media’s love for Senator John McCain on a number of occasions. Paul Waldman and I discussed McCain and the press on my radio show last week. In addition, Media Matters put out this nice video.
Buddy Rich vs. Animal
I was looking for something a little different. Well, I found it. The Muppet’s Animal versus the great jazz drummer Buddy Rich.
Toto: 99
Toto was a group of studio musicians who decided that they could step into the limelight. They were very hot for about three to five years. Their biggest hit was Rosanna. Here is another of their hits: 99.
Little Feat: Let it Roll
There was a time in college when I listened to a ton of Little Feat. I always thought that they were a very fun band. Little Feat: Let it Roll.
Dark Knight Blew Up Box Office (Update)
The latest in the Batman series, The Dark Knight, has hauled in $66.4 million in its first day. In the last Batman picture, Christian Bale created a Batman that was more like the later comic strip character. Batman is more melancholy and that’s not necessarily bad. Both Val Kilmer and Michael Keaton (in the 2nd Batman) were somewhat dark, but Bale takes this a step further.
I haven’t seen it yet but I’m looking forward to Batman: The Dark Knight.
Update: This isn’t your mother’s Batman. This is upfront, in-your-face violence. It’s Godfather-style violence. The Joker is wonderful but so is everyone else in the movie. I highly recommend Batman with the warning that this is an adult movie.
The adultness is not derived from a sex or language in the movie. In fact, there is no sex and I can remember any offensive language. But it is very violent. For example, toward the beginning of this movie. the Joker is showing this group of bad guys a trick. He jams a pencil in a table so the pencil stands straight up. One of the henchman in the room steps up to Joker to confront him, the Joker slams the guy’s head into the table and the guy falls on the floor, dead. The camera pans back to the table and the pencil is gone (into the guy’s head).
Although I liked Batman: The Dark Knight, I thought it was too violent. It was almost like one of those Alien-Predator movies where people and aliens die by the hundreds just cuz. I would hope that the next Batman would continue to be brooding, dark, thoughtful but less-violent.
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Errington C. Thompson, MD, is a surgeon, scholar, fulltime sports fan and part-time political activist. He is active in a number of community projects and initiatives. Through medicine, he strives to improve the physical health of all he treats...
