Stephanie Mills “Living On Plastic”(From the LP For The First Time, 1975) There’s a lot to be said about the megawattage pairing of Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Among 1960’s female pop phenoms, other than The Shirelles to Supremes continuum, and Aretha’s 1967 ascension,. Dionne’s sophisticated Soft Soul was perhaps the most influential….
Tag: Sunday Serenade
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…
Jimmy Scott “If I Ever Lost You” (From the LP “The Fabulous Songs of Jimmy Scott,” 1960)
Jimmy Scott “If I Ever Lost You” (From the LP “The Fabulous Songs of Jimmy Scott,” 1960) He never garnered the consistent crossover success that his peers did in those transition years between Jazz and Blues birthing soul. Nevertheless, Jimmy Scott’s passionate and peculiar vocal stylings decidedly had an influence on the way male vocalists…
Minnie Riperton “Only When I’m Dreaming” (From the LP “Come Into My Garden,” 1970)
Minnie Riperton “Only When I’m Dreaming” (From the LP “Come Into My Garden,” 1970) Beneath that #1 hit from 1975, and her tragic death in 1979, Minnie Riperton is who I’d love to call The Prodigy of Soul. Studying Opera from childhood, and possessing a four octave range with a searing whistle register, it was almost…
The Intruders “Who’s Your Favorite Candidate” (Gamble 225-B, 1969)
The Intruders “Who’s Your Favorite Candidate” (Gamble 225-B, 1969) On Day 3 of Derek See’s Record Week Challenge, we head over to Philadelphia and back to the mind of Leon Huff. As known, Huff joined forces often with Kenny Gamble during the Mid 60’s. By the end of 1967, they would start partnering on a…
What’s Your Sign? What’s Your Song? Your Girl Group Horoscope “Read” for The Middle of October
If you’ve been following along to this blog on the regular, you know that alongside the DJing I have a dabbling interest in Astrology. Well, probably more than a dabble considering that I have an Astrology lecture to my credit. About 40 days and nights ago I did a blog post on the now over…
Rufus Thomas “Sophisticated Sissy” (Stax 221, R&B#43, 1967)
Rufus Thomas “Sophisticated Sissy” (Stax 221, R&B#43, 1967) It seems appropriate for Folsom Street Sunday to revisit this Rufus Thomas R&B hit. We go back and look back at a Mid Sixties dance trend inspired by the exuberant celebration of sexuality on the dance floor brought by the sway of the hips of less than…
The Marvelettes “Now Is The Time For Love” (From the LP In Full Bloom, 1969)
The Marvelettes “Now Is The Time For Love” (From the LP In Full Bloom, 1969) Our next leading Lady Leo is one of the Motown pioneers. As the eldest member of The Marvelettes when they arrived at Motown in 1961, Wanda Young stood alongside Gladys Horton as the other lead singer in The Marvelettes. Over…
The Velvelettes “Something’s Happening” (1966, Unreleased. From The Velvelettes: Motown Anthology, 2004)
The Velvelettes “Something’s Happening” (1966, Unreleased. From The Velvelettes: Motown Anthology, 2004) We all know that 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit had an overflow of talent. Here this Sunday we come up with the next date where two legendary leading ladies of Motown share the same Birthday. First off we sing in salutation to…
The Dells “Open Up My Heart” (Cadet 5657, R&B#5 Pop#51, 1970)
The Dells “Open Up My Heart” (Cadet 5657, R&B#5 Pop#51, 1970) Some of the most underrated men in Soul Music are The Dells. Even during their time of recording, it took them a long laboring 13 years before they scored a significant chart entry. But in that time they crafted some of the most rich…
DJ Larsupreme 