RIBS TPTD: Cupid’s Hunt - “My Funny Valentine”-A Baker’s Dozen

February 16, 2009 by tgrundy · 8 Comments
Filed under: CupidsHunt, Podcast Collabs, R&B, RIBS, Triple Play Thurs-Day, jazz, music, podcasts/mixes, soul 

Yep, we’re still celebrating Cupid’s Hunt and and the spirit of L-O-V-E all weekend long. And for some of us that means a long 3-day weekend cause we have Monday off!

Here’s a mix I put together for the celebration that I hope you find interesting. First though, I must give credit where credit is due. The inspiration for this playlist was sparked from a tweet by one of the wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure to meet on Twitter. She goes by the handle of ElementsOfJazz and is a big Jazz fan. Her tweets are an entertaining flow of information about Jazz events, music and personalities. If Jazz is your thing, you are doing yourself a disservice if you are not following ElementsOfJazz.

Anyway, a few days ago in one of the many conversations going on about music for Valentine’s Day, ElementsOfJazz asked:

“What is your favorite version of My Funny Valentine?”

Well, if you are into Jazz, you are already familiar with this Jazz standard which, if I remember correctly has been recorded over 1300 times! If you are not familiar with the song, here is some detailed history about the song that I found on JazzStandards.com (very good site, BTW) and an excerpt from the My Funny Valentine Wikipedia article:

“My Funny Valentine” is a show tune from the 1937 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical Babes in Arms. It is now considered a jazz standard, appearing on over 1300 albums performed by over 600 artists. The first recorded version of the song to make the charts was by Hal McIntyre with vocals by Ruth Gaylor in 1945. It only appeared for one week and hit #16.

The song reemerged in the 1950s and made it to the top of the charts when Chet Baker released a very popular and influential version (released on the album My Funny Valentine / Blue Note Records). His soft, delicate and serene delivery introduced the world to Chet Baker’s singing skills (he was previously known only for his trumpeting skills, also displayed on this recording). Baker is still associated more with “My Funny Valentine” than with any other of the long list of songs he recorded.

Ok, now back to Twitter. So ElementsOfJazz poses the question, and to make it even more interesting she kept a running tally of the responses (sort of like an informal poll) and would update the numbers several times a day. Well, this got me started. First, having a pretty extensive Jazz collection myself, I searched my files to see how many versions I already had. Then it was off to the ‘Net to see what information I could find about other versions of the song. And finally, after immersing myself in all things My Funny Valentine for a couple of days it wasn’t surprising for me to start thinking about making a playlist out of the variety of different versions I had found.

And that, basically, is how we got here to this post and today’s playlist. *smile* What you are about to check out is something I like to call my “A Baker’s Dozen” mix. This is a playlist that consists of thirteen different versions of the same song. It may seem simple but the trick is to choose the different song versions carefully in order to create a listenable flow of music and, most importantly, keep the mix from being BORING! After all there are only so many times someone can listen to the same song over and over again. Well, I believe I have successfully avoided that trap by collecting a wide variety of My Funny Valentine versions from both Jazz and R&B artists (James Ingram’s version is my personal fav, BTW) and sequencing the songs such that you will have an enjoyable time listening to it from beginning all the way to the end. However, only you the listener can be the final judge as to whether I have succeeded or not.

And remember, “Every day is Valentine’s Day for those of us who are basically lovable!”

So, Check out a RIBS baker’s dozen as I present to you:

Cupid’s Hunt: “My Funny Valentine” - A Baker’s Dozen

RIBS TPTD: Cupid’s Hunt - “My Funny Valentine”-A Baker’s Dozen
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Playlist: (song - artist [time])

  1. My Funny Valentine - Chet Baker [2:20]
  2. My Funny Valentine - James Ingram [3:13]
  3. My Funny Valentine - Whispers [4:18]
  4. My Funny Valentine - Chaka Kahn [4:06]
  5. My Funny Valentine - Herb Alpert [4:41]
  6. My Funny Valentine - Constantine Maroulis [3:16]
  7. My Funny Valentine (Take 3) - Herbie Hancock [6:07]
  8. My Funny Valentine - Pieces Of A Dream [7:10]
  9. My Funny Valentine - Gotan Project [7:52]
  10. My Funny Valentine - Jimmy Ponder [3:39]
  11. My Funny Valentine - Ella Fitzgerald [3:51]
  12. My Funny Valentine - Melinda Doolittle [2:07]
  13. My Funny Valentine - Miles Davis [10:12]

Don’t Forget: the Cupid’s Hunt 2009 master post, Cupid’s Hunt 2009… “Let’s Get It On!” contains links to ALL of the CH 2009 mixes. With the addition of the My Funny Valentine mix this brings us to a total of 21 different mixes for your listening pleasure. Oh, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter: “@cupidshunt”! (no quotes, of course)

Enjoy!

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RIBS TPTD: When Love Calls - The ‘Heavenly’ Mix…

February 12, 2009 by tgrundy · 6 Comments
Filed under: R&B, RIBS, Triple Play Thurs-Day, jazz, music, podcasts/mixes, soul 

Hey, welcome back to the RIBS kitchen! I hope you’re hungry… *smile*

Here’s an idea that popped into my head a few weeks ago, just about out of nowhere it seemed. Today’s buffet is a heavenly mix of songs… literally. I got to thinking about songs with the word “heaven” in them and, even though initially I didn’t think there would be that many, it turns out that I was able to find more than just a handful. This mix actually turned out much, much better than I thought it would. It’s a nice collection of sounds from a diverse group of artists including: Coke Escovedo, Luther Vandross, Seal, The Spinners, Gerald Levert, Teddy Pendergrass, The Dramatics and Roberta Flack just to name a few.

So while we are still just a little less than 48 hours away from the big Cupid’s Hunt Podcast Event, let this mix of “Heavenly” sounds tide you over as we present to you…

When Love Calls, The Heavenly Mix

RIBS TPTD: When Love Calls, The Heavenly Mix
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Playlist: (song - artist - [time])

  1. When Love Calls - Atlantic Starr [3:57]
  2. If I Ever Lose This Heaven - Coke Escovedo [3:34]
  3. Heaven Sent You - Stanley Clarke [6:06]
  4. Heaven Only Knows - Teddy Pendergrass [4:08]
  5. Heaven on Earth (So Fine) - Spinners [3:58]
  6. Heaven Bound - Rufus ft. Chaka Khan [3:47]
  7. Come In Heaven Earth Is Calling - Tata Vega [4:42]
  8. Heaven’s Girl - Quincy Jones [4:53]
  9. Heavenly (Good Feeling) - Seal [5:02]
  10. The Closest Thing To Heaven - Lionel Richie [4:00]
  11. Is This The Way To Heaven? - Gerald Levert [4:51]
  12. All About The Heaven - Brothers Johnson [3:59]
  13. If I Ever Lose This Heaven - Will Downing [4:56]
  14. This Must Be Heaven - Brainstorm [6:35]
  15. That Heaven Kind Of Feeling - Dramatics [3:09]
  16. You Are My Heaven - Roberta Flack [4:14]
  17. Heavens Knows - Luther Vandross [4:24]
  18. Soul Heaven - Johnnie Taylor [4:52]

Enjoy!

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Cupid’s Hunt: Countdown To Love…

February 10, 2009 by tgrundy · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Announcement, CupidsHunt, Holiday, News, Podcast Collabs 

Just in case you have not heard yet, Cupid’s Hunt, is only a few days away! On Saturday, February 14, 2009 over a dozen podcasters will release music mixes on their sites in celebration of the day of Love… Valentine’s Day.

The excitement is starting to build, I hope you are ready for the explosion of love music that is going to be set off on that day! Check back here at Rhythms In Black Satin, your official Cupid’s Hunt Headquarters, on Friday and throughout the day on Saturday for updates on the releases and links to all of the mixes on the participating sites.

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RIBS TPTD: Isaac Hayes, R.I.P.

August 14, 2008 by tgrundy · 4 Comments
Filed under: Funk, RIBS, Triple Play Thurs-Day, music, podcasts/mixes, soul 

Wow, where do I even start to begin writing this one…

As you all know by now (whether you are a music fan or not), Isaac Hayes passed away this past Sunday, August 10, 2008. Because I was off the grid due to computer problems and also busy with a family function that had me out of town most of the weekend I didn’t even hear about it until I checked in with the Four Bothers Beats blog early Monday morning. To say that I was extremely saddened and bummed out by this news would barely describe how I felt (and still feel to tell the truth) at that moment.

Ike (as he liked to be called) and his music is so much a part of the foundation of the “soundtrack of my life” that if you took it away the “house of music” that I have lived in all these years would come crumbling down in a matter of minutes. My mom and I had to laugh the other day when I was speaking to her about Ike’s passing when she reminded me how tired she got of hearing “Theme From Shaft” as I was getting ready to go to school back when the soundtrack album and movie first came out. I loved that soundtrack. I think I played it everyday for about a month or more! Ha! No wonder she got sick of hearing it. {smile}

Ahhhh, I could go on and on and on writing and reminiscing about Isaac Hayes.

HOWEVER… like we do here at Rhythms In Black Satin in times like these, let’s not let the sadness overtake us but rather celebrate the life and legacy of the man and his music. And be thankful that because of the vast catalog of musical goodness Isaac has left us with, that he will never be truly gone.

Rest In Peace, Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. OBTW, give James (Brown) a high five for all of us down here when you see him.

RIBS TPTD: Isaac Hayes, R.I.P.
Alternate (if you have a problem using the javascript pop-up): Click here.
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Download playlist .PDF file here (right-click)

Playlist: (song - album - [time])

  1. Shaft II - For The Sake Of Love [9:56]
  2. Precious, Precious - Presenting Isaac Hayes [2:44]
  3. I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself - The Isaac Hayes Movement [7:03]
  4. Never Can Say Goodbye - Black Moses [5:09]
  5. Ain’t No Sunshine/Lonely Avenue - At Wattstax [17:06]
  6. Chocolate Chip - Chocolate Chip [5:32]
  7. Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic - Hot Buttered Soul [9:39]
  8. Come Live With Me - Chocolate Chip [6:32]
  9. Wonderful - The Very Best Of [3:40]
  10. Pursuit Of The Pimpmobile - Truck Turner [9:01]
  11. Good Love - Black Moses [5:18]

Enjoy!

And remember…

If you have the question: “Where are are the good Soul music sites on the ‘Net?
We have the answer: “Check out NetInfoWeb’s ‘SoulSites’ Aggregator Page!”

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What Is “Soul Music”?

June 26, 2008 by tgrundy · 1 Comment
Filed under: Gospel, blues, jazz, music, soul 

OK, so I’m listening to one of my favorite podcasts this past Friday morning, the Friday Favecast by Fave, and at about the 16 minute, 30 second mark he asks a question that I have *NOT* been able to stop thinking about:

“WHAT IS SOUL MUSIC?”

He goes on to define the question further by asking, “How do you explain to a cat over in the UK or over in Japan or Paris what “soul” is?”, especially if they have never heard it before.

“WHAT IS SOUL MUSIC?”

Ever since then I have been thinking about this question and, to be honest, have even become a little obsessive about it. I had to laugh the other day when I noticed that with every song I play or hear now, inevitably I ask myself, “Is this soul?” Like I said… obsessive. {smile}

Well, I thought I would enlist the help of my RIBS readers and throw the question out to all of you. What is soul music to music to you? How do you define it? What is the history of soul music? How would you explain what it is to someone who has never heard it?

I have been researching this topic off and on for the past week and most of what I have read centers around soul music as a “feeling” or an “emotion” that a person has when listening to or singing this music. While that is very much an integral component of soul and I don’t disagree with that definition, I do want to offer another viewpoint as an additional (and very important) component of what soul is:

Soul music has it’s roots intricately intertwined with the experience of Blacks in America to survive and persevere, especially during the years of slavery and its aftermath.

If you break it down there are four different sources which have shaped soul: racial, geographical, historical and economic factors. From a ‘technical’ point of view, it is the merging of R&B and Gospel in the late 1950’s. Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, James Brown and Solomon Burke are commonly regarded as the pioneers of this style of music.

Agree? Disagree? And what about “soul music” today in 2008? Just like I can name Ray, Sam, James and Solomon above as the beginnings of soul, who are the “soul” singers of today that we’ll be talking about 20, 30 or 40 years down the road?

Looking forward to some interesting discussion…

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