10/31/2005 - I Forgot To Be Your Lover

Song: I Forgot To Be Your Lover
Artist: William Bell
Why this song is the current jam: One of the most heartbreaking guitar riffs ever, played by the master, Steve "the Colonel" Cropper. He was the same guy who did the guitar for a ton of other Stax songs that you know, including "Soul Man" by Sam & Dave. (and for the record, he's a white dude - go my peoples! See we do represent upon occasion) This song is so beautiful and bittersweet. About a guy who has screwed up and will do anything to make it up to the woman he loves, and William Bell sings it beautifully and gently and with complete conviction. This guy had some of the first big hits for the Stax label, who boasted better known greats like Otis Redding. Also, this song has been bitten about a thousand times in the past few years, most notably by Ludacris, Jaheim, Dilated Peoples, and Calvin Richardson. Perhaps not surprisingly, all the songs are kinda tight, at least the sample sure as hell is. If you are not aware of how disturbingly ubiquitous the practice of jacking the whole melody of an old good song to create a new good song is, just think of 5 recent R&B/Hip-Hop hits that you really dig. 3 of them are completely jacked beats. And that is a scientific fact.

10/30/2005 - Oh Lord, What Are You Doing To Me?

Song: Oh Lord What Are You Doing To Me?
Artist: Big Maybelle
Why this song is the current jam: This song was off of an album that I grew up with, Maybelle Sings the Blues. There are several great tracks on there, with this one being, in my humble opinion the best of them all. Big Maybelle was big in the 50’s was never super successful because of her rather anachronistic songs and arrangements (and also the drugs – she died at 47), but her voice kicked some serious ass. And on this song she runs the gamut from delicate and tender verses, to heart-rending and pleading shouts on the chorus. This song is so full of feeling it amazing. And, it was written by Burt Bacharach. It’s weird, but that mothergrabber really has written some amazing songs. Also of note, I guess it was Big Maybelle, not Big Mama Thornton that recorded the original version of Jerry Lee Lewis’s smash, “Whole Lotta Shaking Goin On”.

10/29/2005 - Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime

Song: Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime
Artist: Beck
Why this song is the current jam: Amazing lyrics, beautiful, sad melody. I love this song. This version I first heard on the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind soundtrack (the score of which was done by Jon Brion, one talented M-F'er in the musical arena). The song is originally done by the Korgis in the 80’s and their version is nice too, but I have to say that I prefer the warm, intimate feeling that Beck creates on this track. I never really knew about his more folky stuff until I found his album Sea Change (which is amazing) and man, he can really create a mood. This one is haunting and sad and touching, but without being too heavy and the words kinda look forward to more positive things. Christ I am starting to sound like Greil Marcus so I am going to shut up pronto. Good song.

10/28/2005 - Fairy Tale

Song: Fairy Tale
Artist: Willie Murphy
Why this song is the current jam: Willie Murphy is a very old friend of my dad's and this song has always held a special place in the heart of my family and in the heart of a lot of folks around Minneapolis. This is a song that Willie himself wrote about he and a bunch of guys who used to hang out on 26th and Nicollet back in the day, most of whom my dad knew. I played this song off of our family's cassette tape on my boombox at the funeral service of one of those guys (Mike Mauritson, one of the nicest dudes ever) at the Black Forest restaurant on 26th & Nicollet. In that context the song seemed like more than just a song to everyone I think. It still holds some of that quality on its own too, and Willie is one of our local treasures. He is a charter member of the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame and he was the first head of the Little Richard fan club way back in the 50's, how cool is that! Check him out and see him live at some dive bar if he is in your town.

10/27/2005 - Walk Away From Love

Song: Walk Away From Love
Artist: Bitty McLean
Why this song is the current jam: I found this song while randomly browsing around on the iTunes music store. It is a beautiful reggae remake of the David Ruffin (oft lead singer of the Temptations) hit from back in the day. I think it has a touching sentiment and he has a sweet and emotional delivery especially on the high notes in the chorus. Also, the beat is a classic. It is lifted from Alton Ellis's big hit "Rocksteady" one of the first Rocksteady songs ever and the song that gave the style its name. (the title of the song was intially the name of the dance that Ellis sang about) Alton Ellis was reggae man #1 in many people's eyes until Bob came along. Check him out too. For me this version is even better than the Ruffin original, hope you likey.

10/26/2005 - Closer

Song: Closer
Artist: Slum Village
Why this song is the current jam: It is a sexy slow jam with the nice subtle reggae feel of the doo kee-doo-kee beat. The raps aren't too overbearing and the track along with the smooth vocals by Dwele, a perfectly respectable singer in his own right, create a really intimate feel. For dancing close and sexy with someone with some rhythm. In fact, if you are into rap at all and haven't checked out Slum Village, you should. Their album "Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit)" is an altogether worthwhile endeavor, with nice beats, good rhymes, and a fairly good annoying-braggadocio to actually-saying-something ratio.

10/25/2005 - I Want You Back

Song: I Want You Back
Artist: Raphael Saadiq
Why this song is the current jam: The beat is hot. Plus Raphael Saadiq is an awesome producer. He was in Tony! Toni! Tone! and then later Lucy Pearl, and has worked with D'Angelo and the Roots and other folks. This song is off of his new album "Ray Ray" and it along with his other solo studio album, "Instant Vintage" are both good R&B albums that are actually worth purchasing.