Laurence Jones

Dee Dee Warwick “Don’t Pay Them No Mind” (From the LP Foolish Fool, 1969)

Dee Dee Warwick “Don’t Pay Them No Mind” (From the LP Foolish Fool, 1969) It stands, the last day of 2015. Personally and collectively its one for the history books. If anyone tells you that this year hasn’t profoundly shaken them in any way, either they’re a profoundly privileged asshole or they’re straight up lying…

Patti Drew “Mirror, Mirror” (Quill 107-B, 1966)

Patti Drew “Mirror, Mirror” (Quill 107-B, 1966) On the penultimate day of the year, we continue to intention set. Maybe a bewitching spell to cast? Had I been more on top of things this week, I’d be on the birthday game a bit better. Yesterday, the 29th, was the 71st Birthday of Chicago Cult Soul…

Joanie Sommers “Never Throw Your Dreams Away” (Columbia 43567, 1966)

Joanie Sommers “Never Throw Your Dreams Away” (Columbia 43567, 1966) As the year winds down to a close, more of the song-intention setting that I do for myself comes to mind. Popular Music in particular is chockful with affirmations worth of a lifetime of Oxygen network self help programming. Thankfully, at 3 1/2 minutes maximum, I can…

Dean and Jean “Hey Dean, Hey Jean” (Rust 5075, Pop #32, 1964)

Dean and Jean “Hey Dean, Hey Jean” (Rust 5075, Pop #32, 1964) It’s the last T-Minus 96 minutes of the Calendar Year. 2015 was a “something” in my parlance. I close out this year feeling feet burned by different coals yet invigorated by the whole process at the same time. The thing that often solves…

Esther Phillips “Too Much Of A Man (To Be Tied Down)” (Roulette 7059-B,1969)

Esther Phillips “Too Much Of A Man (To Be Tied Down)” (Roulette 7059-B, 1969) As we draw back the light as a resource close to Christmas in the early days of Capricorn season, we continue to knock out Birthday Wishes. Today we celebrate the 80th Birthday of Capricorn Princess of Soul, Esther Phillips. Although she’s far often…

Carla Thomas “Don’t Let The Lovelight Leave” (Atlantic 2258-B, 1964)

Carla Thomas “Don’t Let The Lovelight Leave” (Atlantic 2258-B, 1964) We end our SagittariYES spellbinding with one of the most royal of soulful centaurs. It’s Carla Thomas’s Birthday this longest day of the year, and our Full Moon born soul legend turns 73 today. Daughter of Memphis Soul Royalty Rufus Thomas, Carla spent a healthy…

Kim Weston “A Little More Love” (Tamla 54106, 1964)

Kim Weston “A Little More Love” (Tamla 54106, 1964) It’s rare that I say I have a favorite anything. Fickle Gemini and all. But I do, about 75% of the time say I do have a favorite singer, and that’s none other than Kim Weston. Born 76 years ago today as Agatha Nathalia Weston in…

So an Aries, a Gemini and a Sagittarius contemplate Holiday Songs (A Playlist)

Once upon a time, around the warm glow of our collective computer screens around the world, Me, John Hamilton of Chart Rigger and Jens Keller of Beat Frauleins came up with an epic Facebook Thread of Christmas songs you might know, but are more likely not to know. The amazing thing about that thread is that…

The Temptations (With The Supremes) “Not Now, I’ll Tell You Later” (From the LP Get Ready, 1966)

The Temptations (With The Supremes) “Not Now, I’ll Tell You Later” (From the LP Get Ready, 1966) Whoops. Well, yesterday was Eddie Kendrick’s 76th Birthday. The gossamer falsetto that lead The Temptations rocketing into the American Consciousness at the beginning of 1964 was born December 17th, 1939. Although his legacy eventually got eclipsed by groupmate…

The Demures “He’s Got Your Number” (Brunswick 55284-B, 1965)

The Demures “He’s Got Your Number” (Brunswick 55284-B, 1965) Of course, now that I’ve done that “Bye Bye ’65” Girl Sounds of ’65 Mix, I’m kicking my ass about all of the other songs I should have included. I really should have given myself permission to do a Top 50. I wouldn’t have left off…