Did you know Rick James was Canadian? Me, neither. There go all my “no funk” Canadian stereotypes. Plus: The 10 songs you can play at any party, anywhere, for any age group, and everyone will be up dancing with no exception.
Author: Joe
Seventies Blue-Eyed Soul
Like most things that straddle both decades, the blue-eyed soul from the 70s is slicker and smoother than its 60s counterparts. Like most things that straddle both decades, I prefer the 60s version—proof that I am officially an old fogey.
Seventies Album Rock
It’s hard to argue that there’s much that is “influential, important, or interesting” about this music. But Journey was Daveon’s favorite band for awhile, so I had to get them in here somewhere. Plus, I actually kind of like Boston (while Max detests them, so go figure).
Sarah Vaughan
On the list of “jazz stars I have killed,” Sarah Vaughan is #1 (i.e., I had tickets to see her, and she died a few days before the show—a phenomenon that has happened to me, and more unfortuately, to various jazz stars, more than once). She is also #1 on my list of “favorite jazz singers who actually sing the melody” (i.e., not Betty Carter).
Santana
I suppose I should love Santana, given that he lives in the Bay Area, is vaguely Latin jazz-y, and is all about peace and love.
I don’t.
Samba/Bossa Nova
My friends represent two extremes when it comes to appreciation of samba. At one end, Cedric took lessons for many years and even danced in the San Francisco Carnaval parade. At the other, Leigh hates samba to the point that she will run out of the room screaming if she hears “Girl from Ipanema.” (OK, I made that last part up.) I guess we know who gets invited when my future husband and I go to to Rio.
Sam Cooke
Things I resent, part 1,000,000. Children of the 50s got to listen to Sam Cooke originals in all their gritty, gravelly glory. As a child of the 70s, I was stuck with covers by wispy white folkies. Unfair! (Exception: The Spinners’ disco cover of “Cupid,” which was awesome.)
Salif Keita
My first introduction to Salif Keita was him covering “Begin the Beguine” on the Red Hot & Blue Cole Porter tribute/AIDS fundraising album back in the late 80s. His voice? Amazing. Him singing “Begin the Beguine” in Malinke? Weird.
Rush
I just got back from Canada, and while it’s nice and pleasant at all, the thing that always strikes me about it is that there’s no edge, no funk. I like it “fine,” which is pretty much the same as I feel for all-Canadian, funk-free band Rush.
Run-D.M.C.
Yes, kids, people used to write rap songs about shoes. And you know what? Those songs were awesome. Rap used to be a lot of fun.
Playlist of the Day 