Let’s Get Wet: “In The Rain”
The latest creation from the RIBS kitchen, “In The Rain”, has been posted over on the Rhythms In Black Satin site. You can listen to the radio.blog playlist or, for a real treat, download the .MP3 file, sit back, close your eyes and I swear you’ll actually start to hear rain falling and thunder crashing around you while you drift along on the cloud of music. As I always like to say, “music never felt sooooooooooo good!”
We start off with my absolute favorite track in the entire mix, “Some Days Were Meant For Rain”, by Tower Of Power (however, I really don’t consider it a TOP song; I’ll explain in a minute). Now, you may or may not have ever heard this song before, but it has been a favorite of mine ever since the late 70’s, early 80’s during my college days in Boston. The lead singer (and songwriter) on the tune is a gentleman by the name of Ellis Hall. During my college years in Bean Town he had one of the most popular and dynamic bands in the area called the Ellis Hall Group. I can’t tell you how many hours of pure musical enjoyment my crew and I spent in Jack’s listening to EHG. “Some Days…” was their signature, show stopper tune and, as good as it sounds in recorded format, you just haven’t lived until you’ve heard it LIVE with Ellis crooning his poor broken heart out and background vocalist Patti Unitas pouring salt in the wound singing, “My love for you was just a game in time!”. Oh, baby! I get chills even now thinking about those performances.
As you can see by visiting the Ellis Hall website, Ellis has done quite well for himself since those early days of in MA. And, to my great delight, he was finally able to record “Some Days…” when he spent time as keyboardist and lead vocalist with TOP.
Now, no soul mix about “rain” songs would be complete (nor even contemplated) without including The Temptations’ all-time classic, “I Wish It Would Rain”. From the very beginning when you hear, “Sunshine, blue skies please go away”, well, I don’t really need to say anymore, do I?
Now is where it started to get hard. Continuing with the rain/broken heart theme I originally was going to slide Graham Central Station’s version of “I Can’t Stand The Rain” into slot 3, until a conversation I had with my musical mentor, Lady Viva The High Mistress of Music, convinced me that Tina Turner’s version was far superior. And, of course she was right on.
And then there was the blues, Stevie Ray Vaughan and “The Sky Is Crying”. This is my second favorite cut in the mix. The song lyrics, Stevie’s vocals, the wailing guitar in response to his lament. You can’t help but feel the rain tormenting his soul.
Another song I just could not leave out of the mix is “Riders On The Storm” by The Doors. This version is a nice, slightly jazzy rendition of this moody, melodic classic. And speaking of moody rain music, it doesn’t get any better than Brook Benton and “Rainy Night In Georgia”.
“I wanna go outside, in the rain. It may sound crazy, but I wanna go outside, in the rain.” The Dramatics. “In The Rain”. This was actually the first song I thought of when starting the mix. Beautiful. Poignant. Timeless. Especially the plea near the end, “I got to walk out the door, I can’t stand it no more!”
Santana’s “Stormy” gives us a mid-tempo change of pace from all of the broken hearted doom and gloom of the first half of the mix. However, even though his girl is the sunshine whenever she smiles, like the weather she can change.
With “Can You Stand The Rain?” I couldn’t decide between the Boyz II Men version and the New Edition version since I like them both. Fortunately, the former is ‘a cappella’ and they work well together back-to-back. Almost followed that with Peabo Bryson’s “Can You Stop The Rain?” until I found Grover’s instrumental version. Nothing like a little good “sax” when your heart is broken, eh?
The next two songs, Ashanti’s “Rain On Me” and Jamie Foxx’s “Storm (Forecass)” are totally new to me, I had not heard them before I started researching the mix. The Ashanti song samples Issac Hayes’ “The Look Of Love” and I immediately fell in love with it for that reason, while I just like the imagery and concept of Jamie’s tune. If you haven’t heard it before, listen very closely to the lyrics. Now, that’s a rain storm!
Love Unlimited’s “Walking In The Rain (With The One I Love)” is another soul rain classic that IMO had to be included in the mix, proving not all rain songs are the result of a broken heart.
Carpenters. Richard, Karen and “Rainy Days and Mondays”. I worked hard to try to fit this one in as it has always been a favorite of mine (hey, before I got soul I grew up on Top 40 radio! {smile}) and to me the mix wouldn’t have felt right without it.
Finally, we finish out with “Black Rain” by Teena Marie and “Quiet Storm” by the man himself Smokey Robinson. Teena’s cut is another relatively new rain song I just discovered while making the mix. This one has that sad, bluesy, jazz feel to it. I always imagine myself sitting in a smoky jazz club on a rainy day in the Village in New York City sipping on a Scotch on the rocks when I hear this. As for Smokey and Quiet Storm, well, I couldn’t think of a better way to close out the mix.
So sit back, relax and let the (musical) rain wash all over you.
Weather Forecast: It Looks Like Rain…
Just a quick heads up in case you are interested. I have a new mix I’ve just put the finishing touches on and will be posting over on RIBS sometime over the next couple of days (definitely trying to get it up before the end of the weekend).
We’re gonna be in for some stormy weather this time, as the new mix is built around a “rain” theme. Appropriately titled, “In The Rain”, this one is a collection of songs that have to do with inclement weather: the kind that’s in our hearts, in our minds and even the kind that literally soaks us to the bone.
Teaser… you just know that Brooke Benton, “Rainy Night In Georgia” is in there, as well as The Temptations’, “I Wish It Would Rain”. Now the question is, what other rain songs are in the mix?
Coming soon, watch for it.
The Soundtrack Of Your Life, part 2…
Been thinkin’ some more about this theme. As I mentioned in my previous post, this is probably going to become a regular topic I explore here for awhile. Here’s a few more songs that have to go on the list…
The Jacksons – Heartbreak Hotel
The Isley Brothers – Work To Do
The Main Ingredient – Work To Do
The Jackson 5 (later The Jacksons after they left Motown) are one of the foundation groups in “The Soundtrack”. I was in 5th grade when they were discovered and made their debut, and I have grown up with their music ever since.
The Isleys Brothers have such a long and rich musical history having first formed in the early 50’s. For me though, it’s their work throughout the 70’s that is most memorable to me. Their music makes up an essential part of the latter high school years and especially my first two years in college (oh baby, thank goodness that side 2 of the “Heat Is On” album ["For The Love Of You", "Sensuality", "Make Me Say It Again Girl"] can’t talk! {smile})
The Main Ingredient is one of those groups that has the “high school years” written all over it. Their cover of “Work To Do” was IMHO every bit as good as The Isley Brothers’ version. But the album that this song is from, “Afrodisiac”, wow! This is still my all time favorite Main Igredient disc, and in my opinion their best work ever. “Superwoman/Where Were You When I Needed You”, “Something ‘Bout Love”, “I Am Yours”, “Girl Blue”, “Goodbye My Love” man… this is the “sweet sound of sensuous Soul”.
All That Jazz: In Celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month
I don’t talk about my love for jazz enough on this blog so I figure jazz appreciation month is the perfect time to do so. I have to admit that my knowledge is lacking. Mama Vivrant Thang was never really into jazz so it wasn’t played much around the house. She did love Kenny G though and [...]
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Vendors, Authors and Artists– Sell Your Items in This Year’s Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest
Last year's Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest was a musical celebration while vendors sold their products to eager to buyers. Book authors, including Felicia Pride-- writer of The Message and activist author Devin Walker were among some of the top authors who sold their books. The 2009 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest will be held this year on Sat., July 25 in Marvin Gaye Park in Washington DC. While the musical acts are still being selected, vendors are able to reserve their tables now to receive our Early Bird Discount. For more info, email us at CapitalHipHopSoulFest@gmail.com
Fusion: Where Music, Technology, and Artist Creativity Intersect
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Cupid’s Hunt: 2009
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By N2H