“Hungry Like The Wolf” was the first time many of us in America heard of Duran Duran. Perhaps more importantly, “Hungry Like The Wolf” marked the first time many Americans saw Duran Duran. And while there was certainly a contingent of people who saw the Fab Five as major eye candy (like my cousin Antoinette… Read More “Hungry Like The Wolf” by Duran Duran (1982)
The Pointer Sisters were musical chameleons; able to tackle throwback pop, dance music, middle of the road yacht rock, hard rock, jazz and even country with relative ease. Every couple of albums, they sounded like a completely different group. 1975’s “How Long” finds the Oakland-bred quartet (at least that’s what they were at the time)… Read More “How Long (Bet’cha Got A Chick On The Side)” by The Pointer Sisters (1975)
Lisa Fischer is best known as a background singer. She initially gained prominence working for Luther Vandross, and she was a highlight of his live performances and even his videos, obtaining a featured role in 1987’s “Stop to Love” clip. Her work with Luther caught the attention of Mick Jagger, and she was an integral… Read More “How Can I Ease The Pain” by Lisa Fischer (1991)
Here are two songs that split the difference between rock and disco. The Stones’ “Hot Stuff” is a showcase for some smoking guitar by Keith Richards. I must admit I haven’t paid much attention to Keef as a guitarist, but he is smoking here. There’s also some fantastic interplay between the rhythm section of Bill… Read More “Hot Stuff” by The Rolling Stones (1976)/”Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer (1979)
It was late June 1996. I’d just attended my second ever Pride celebration. I feel like it was still mid day, and I was at a Chelsea bar called King. They were having a post-Pride underwear party and, having never attended an underwear party before, was curious to see what it was all about. I… Read More “Here Comes The Rain Again” by Eurythmics (1983)
“It’s important to meeeeeeeeee…that you know you are freeeeeeeeeeee…” “Hello, It’s Me” is dedicated to someone who wants to be a free spirit. I can appreciate the lyrical sentiment; wanting to love and enjoy someone for the time you share as opposed to thinking of them as belonging to you. It was the first song… Read More “Hello It’s Me” by Todd Rundgren (1972)/The Isley Brothers (1974)
Stanley Clarke came to prominence as the bassist for jazz supergroup Return to Forever, but by the time “Heaven Sent You” came out in the summer of ’84, he’d already branched out beyond jazz into adult contemporary pop and soul. The album “Heaven Sent You” appeared on, Time Exposure, found Clarke dipping a toe into… Read More “Heaven Sent You” by Stanley Clarke (1984)
I’m attempting to think of a creative way to discuss Prince’s “Head”, and it might be the fact that I’m a bit under the weather, but the only way I think I can explain it is just to talk about its, uh, plot. Prince is chillin’, as one does, when he passes a young lady… Read More “Head” by Prince (1980)
If you wanted to make a kickin’ dance record in the mid ’80s, you were going to have to follow Prince or one of his acolytes (like the amazing production duo of Jimmy “Jam” Harris and Terry Lewis). George Michael certainly had the Minneapolis sound Prince, Jam, Lewis and others created on his mind when… Read More “Hard Day” by George Michael (1987)
I was an unhappy kid in the spring of 1987. I’m not sure if that unhappiness played into how much I disliked “Happy”, the breakthrough hit for the band Surface, at that time. Maybe it wasn’t so much unhappiness as it was that the song seemed to be on Detroit radio every half hour (and… Read More “Happy” by Surface (1987)
Five Star Jamz 