Laurence Jones

Sam Cooke “Everybody Likes To Cha Cha Cha” (Keen 3-2018, R&B #2, Pop #31, 1959)

Sam Cooke “Everybody Likes To Cha Cha Cha” (Keen 3-2018, R&B #2, Pop #31, 1959) It’s weird, as a non-baby boomer to think some of our legends have more than a half century old legacy. Sam Cooke crossed from Gospel to Secular Music 59 years ago this Spring, and by 1959, the handsome Crooner at…

Ruby Winters “Act Three” (Diamond 207-B, 1966)

Ruby Winters “Act Three” (Diamond 207-B, 1966) Singing stories, when you’re great at it, is like making a mini-movie on Vinyl. I write this as I do rehearsals for my first bit of actual stage acting in a good 10 years. There’s so much fun, so much psychology you can dig into when you put…

Civil Discourse – Civil Disobedience: Your Civil Rights Mixtape 1962-1971

When it comes to politically themed soul music, many jump to make reference to either “A Change Is Gonna Come” or the extensive performative politics of Nina Simone. One could say that’s a pretty cursory and surface look at how the politics during a period of social change showed up in a variety of ways…

Barbara Lynn “Don’t Spread It Around” (Jamie 1286, R&B #35 Pop #93, 1964)

Barbara Lynn “Don’t Spread It Around” (Jamie 1286, R&B #35 Pop #93, 1964) First out the door: Barbara Lynn is a bad-ass. The Beaumont born Singer, Songwriter and Electric Guitarist celebrates her 74th Birthday today. A true R&B pioneer, she was one of the women that was determined to do it her way. Be that…

Judy Clay and Billy Vera “Reaching For The Moon” (Atlantic 2654, 1969)

Judy Clay and Billy Vera “Reaching For The Moon” (Atlantic 2654, 1969) It’s oft overlooked that alongside the first romantic Interracial Television kiss between Nichelle Nichols and William Shatner on Star Trek in 1968 that Judy Clay and Billy Vera did so much on Vinyl back in 1967. It was equally rare to cross racial romantic lines…

The Drifters “Answer The Phone” (Atlantic 2268-B, 1965)

The Drifters “Answer The Phone” (Atlantic 2268-B, 1965) One of the difficulties of relating any song about the technology surrounding telephone calls is that most are remarkably dated. From “Beechwood 4-5-7-8-9” from 1962 or “Mr Telephone Man” in 1984, so many things have gone the way of the rotary dial. But avoiding calls is timeless….

Ruth Brown “Help A Good Girl Go Bad” (From the LP Ruth Brown ’65, 1965)

Ruth Brown “Help A Good Girl Go Bad” (From the LP Ruth Brown ’65, 1965) Miss Rhythm, The House That Ruth Built, Ruth Brown is that legend that always fought for her face time. 65 years after her debut on Atlantic Records, 70 years after she ran off and started her performing career, we celebrate…

Mamie Galore “Special Agent (34-24-38)” (St. Lawrence 1004, 1965)

Mamie Galore “Special Agent (34-24-38)” (St. Lawrence 1004, 1965) If any soul singer won the stage name sweepstakes, the once Mamie Louise Davis renaming herself Mamie Galore sure wins. Not only did Mamie pick a name to be reckoned with, she made her recording debut in 1965 with the most action hero of singles. Why…

Doris Troy “I’ll Do Anything (He Wants Me To Do)” (Calla 114, 1966)

Doris Troy “I’ll Do Anything (He Wants Me To Do)” (Calla 114, 1966) It’s of amazing wonder that Doris Troy actually qualifies as a One Hit Wonder. Her 1963 debut for Atlantic Records was her only entry into the Billboard Hot 100. For what would have been her 79th Birthday, we look at some of her…

Step Out From ’66 – Step Out Front in ’16. Your New Year’s Playlist

If you know anything about my vintage pop culture junkie ways is that I do ridiculous tie-ins to the eras I’m interested in. As we creeped into 2016, which makes 1966 50 years ago, I thought of an Oldsmobile slogan from that year as I started to craft the first mix I’ll be creating in…