In the Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed folk-rock legend David Crosby for my "Playlist" column in the Review section (go here). David talked about folk singer-guitarist Josh White's version of Strange Fruit. David said it was one of the most moving pieces of music he had ever heard at age 10 and that it started him on his career path. David's latest album is Sky Trails. From the album, here's She's Got to Be Somewhere, which was deeply influenced by Steely Dan...
For my "House Call" column in the Mansion section, I interviewed acclaimed novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford (go here). Barbara first saw her name in print at age 10 and went to work for a local newspaper in England at age 15. Her first novel, A Woman of Substance, was published when she was in her 40s, proof that amazing things can happen at any age. Her latest novel is Secrets of Cavendon. [Photo above of a young Barbara Taylor Bradford, courtesy of Barbara Taylor Bradford]
On March 7, catch my monthly appearance on SiriusXM from 9:15 to 10 a.m. (EST) on Feedback, on the VOLUME network, channel 106. I'll be the guest of co-hosts Nik Carter and Lori Majewski (above) to talk about my latest "Anatomy of a Song" column, which will be up online Monday and in print on Tuesday. I'd love to tell you which song it is, but I'm sworn to secrecy. We'll just have to wait.
Two fantastic R&B sets by the Main Ingredient and the Bar-Kays:
The Main Ingredient: Brotherly Love, the RCA Anthology (SoulMusic). This group from New York pioneered the romantic soul movement in the late 1960s and early '70s. The vocal group formed in 1964 as the Poets but soon changed their name to the Insiders and were signed by RCA. They changed their name again in 1970 to the Main Ingredient. After being assigned producer Bert DeCoteaux, the group began recording hits, including You've Been My Inspiration and Spinning Around. After Cuba Gooding Sr. joined the group, the Main Ingredient took off with hits such as Everybody Plays the Fool, Just Don't Want to Be Lonely, Make It With You and Rolling Down a Mountainside. This two-CD set features 41 songs, and the sound is absolutely terrific. A 24-page booklet with notes by Charles Waring. Go here.
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The Bar-Kays: As One, Nightcruising, Propositions and Dangerous (Robinsongs). The Bar-Kays were from Memphis and were best known as Otis Redding's backup band. Then in December 1967, Redding boarded a private plane with four members of his band. The plane crashed into a Wisconsin lake. The sole survivor was trumpeter Ben Cauley. Fortunately, Bar-Kays bassist James Alexander had skipped the flight. So Cauley and Alexander rebuilt the band and went on to record nearly 20 albums. The four albums on this two-CD set are among their best. The band had a funk-freak Earth Wind & Fire disco feel. What's amazing about these four albums together is that you can listen to them all the way through like a concept album. Songs such as Anticipation, You Made a Change in My Life and Traffic Jamms sound fresh and say it all about this tight-sounding group. Included is a 12-page booklet with notes by Charles Waring. Go here.
In New York on March 18? Singer-songwriter Richard Barone will be hosting "Village Nights" at the Washington Square Hotel. The first event in this series on March 18 will feature composer, conductor and multi-instrumentalist David Amram. Then modern folk artists The Kennedys will perform on Sunday, April 8. Ben Allison & The Easy Way jazz trio will appear on Sunday, May 6th. Show times for all performances are at 7pm at the hotel’s North Square Lounge. Cover charge is $20 with no drink minimum. The Washington Square Hotel is located at 103 Waverly Place in Greenwich Village. For more information: (212) 777-9515 or WashingtonSquareHotel.com. To buy tickets, go here. [Photo above of Bob Dylan and David Amram]
Oddball album cover of the week.
It's a little unclear where this album cover's action was taking place. Take the "A" Train by Billy Strayhorn and recorded first by Duke Ellington was the story of a ride up to Sugar Hill in Harlem. The problem is the A train remains underground the entire way. The only place it peeps above ground is heading in the other direction, way out in Queens. And there's no station platform with people standing just before it emerges after Grant Avenue in Brooklyn. Don't believe me? Here, take an hour-long ride on the "A" train. You'll see daylight at 55:57...
