What are you listening to? May 2018

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Zeeba Neighba

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Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)

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^
Oooh, love me some Waylon :)

I'm spinning Blur's Modern Life is Rubbish. Yes, have listened recently but enjoy it. My wife, elder son, and I are going through the 90s nominating albums, and I chose this one. New to my wife but my son has enjoyed it in the past

Next, I'm gonna shuffle my 80s playlist - for some reason, have a hankering for "Boys of Summer"....must have been that Deadhead sticker I saw on a Cadillac today
 
Rosanne Cash - Seven Year Ache (1981)

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Waylon put me in a country mood so here's Rosie's third album. Produced by then-husband Rodney Crowell, its synthesis of country, rockabilly and new wave still sounds fresh today. With musicians like these, how can you go wrong?
:5.0: on the Sam-O-Meter.
 
Willis Jackson - West Africa (Muse 1973)

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Willis "Gatortail" Jackson was a survivor. Like Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, he negotiated the turn from R&B honking to mainstream jazz acceptance. His New York Times obit sez:

Mr. Jackson was born in Miami, where he played as a teen-ager with the celebrated trumpeter Fats Navarro and other future jazz stars. He turned down offers of employment from Lionel Hampton and Andy Kirk in order to complete a college education at Florida A&M. After graduation he left Florida as a member of the Cootie Williams Orchestra.

When Mr. Williams's recording of ''Gatortail,'' featuring Mr. Jackson's impassioned saxophone solo, became a rhythm-and-blues hit in 1950, the saxophonist left the orchestra to lead his own small combos and freelance around New York City.

During the 50's, Mr. Jackson contributed vivid, eloquent saxophone solos to many rhythm-and-blues and rock-and-roll records. On his own jazz recordings, including a series of albums for the Prestige label, he usually worked with bluesy organists, playing a gritty, danceable brand of jazz that was particularly popular with black listeners. He enjoyed a long and fruitful association with the organist Jack McDuff.

In recent years, Mr. Jackson was heard frequently at various Harlem nightspots and at the West End Cafe near Columbia University, where he traded solos with George Kelly, an early friend from Miami, in a band called Two Tenor Boogie.

Willis was also married for a time to R&B singer Ruth Brown.

This soulful Muse outing finds Willis in a combo with Mickey Tucker on keys (mostly organ), Ted Dunbar on guitar and Bob Cranshaw playing the electric bass. The groove never stops.

Alas, West Africa isn't on Spotify but here is the recording that earned Willis his nickname:

 
Rosanne Cash - Seven Year Ache (1981)

0000652011.jpg



Waylon put me in a country mood so here's Rosie's third album. Produced by then-husband Rodney Crowell, its synthesis of country, rockabilly and new wave still sounds fresh today. With musicians like these, how can you go wrong?
:5.0: on the Sam-O-Meter.

I'd place a heart smilie here if we had one.
 
More of my 1980s mix today, the music of my teens, before breaking out some Jack White and Trombone Shorty (who I'm seeing Sunday)

So Laura Branigan's "Self Control" came one - ah Laura, three top 10s - I enjoy all three ("Gloria", "Self Control", Solitaire") but all very much of their era. Let to a Wiki search on Branigan (quite the tragic tale who died too young at 52 from an aneurysm). I have no memory of her version of "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You", the first version of that song recorded, written by a young Michael Bolton (who would of course record his uh...indelible version).
How have I not known this juicy piece of trivia?!
 
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