The first time I heard “Hypnotize” on the radio, I knew it was gonna be huge. Biggie’s impeccable flow had seemingly improved in the two-plus years since he’d released his debut Ready To Die. Puff Daddy and his Hitmen sampled Herb Alpert’s 1979 disco hit “Rise” in a way that had equal appeal to the… Read More “Hypnotize” by The Notorious B.I.G. (1997)
I remember at the height of “Human”‘s success, someone (I’m fairly sure it was Donnie Simpson on BET’s “Video Soul”, but I’m not 100% positive) remarking that it was the “hardest” sounding slow jam that he’d ever heard. That’s the truth. Slow jams were…well, soft. “Human” was sensitive, but the beat kicked. Producers Jimmy Jam… Read More “Human” by The Human League (1986)
“How Will I Know” was the song that made Whitney Houston America’s sweetheart. And as calculated as Clive Davis’s plan to make her a superstar were (release a couple of singles that solidified a base of R&B fans before making an all-out pop push), it worked. And it worked with a great song, even if… Read More “How Will I Know” by Whitney Houston (1985)
I could’ve probably bundled the two Bee Gees “How” songs together and called it a day, but “How Deep Is Your Love” is such a fantastic song that I couldn’t give it short shrift by placing it in a post with another song. To this day, I get goosebumps when those famous Gibb harmonies kick… Read More “How Deep Is Your Love” by The Bee Gees (1977)
The Gibb Brothers were many things over the course of their forty years as a musical unit-Beatle clones, disco savants, disco pariahs, resurgent veterans. One thing that remained consistent, regardless of their public perception, was their ability to write a hell of a song. Proof of that talent lies in the mile-long list of Gibb… Read More “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” by The Bee Gees (1971)/Al Green (1972)
Don Henley and co. don’t allow their music on YouTube, first of all, so the video I post will be of Rene & Angela’s “yacht soul” cover of “Hotel California”, which I discovered last year on the Beyond Yacht Rock podcast and I enjoy very much. Besides, you’ve most likely heard the O.G. “Hotel California”… Read More “Hotel California” by Eagles (1976)
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)
“Holding Back The Years” introduced Simply Red to American audiences in early 1986, zooming to the top of the pop charts while also placing respectably on the adult contemporary and R&B listings. Mick Hucknall (who, for all intents and purposes, is Simply Red) wrote the song about his childhood, focusing on the strained relationships he… Read More “Holding Back The Years” by Simply Red (1985)
The first time I heard “Hey Ya!” was in a hotel ballroom/auditorium in late summer 2003. The occasion was the then Sony-BMG’s unveiling of their fourth quarter heavy hitters. “Hey Ya!” sounded so unbelievably left from anything OutKast (or, for that matter, any hip-hop act) had ever done. It was catchy, sure. I liked it.… Read More “Hey Ya!” by OutKast (2003)
Believe it or not, I did not listen to very much classic rock radio growing up. My folks pretty much kept the dial on R&B radio (with occasional excursions into reggae and adult contemporary/easy listening) and, left to my own devices, I did the same with a heavy concentration of whatever was on the Top… Read More “Hey Joe” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1966)/”Hey Jude” by The Beatles (1968)
Five Star Jamz 