As my last few posts have made clear, I’m quite fond of lyricists who are able to capture a specific mood. “Help Me” finds Joni Mitchell falling for a guy who’s unquestionably a cad. He’s a smooth talkin’ ladies man, and he loves his freedom more than he loves love. So why is Joni falling… Read More “Help Me” by Joni Mitchell (1974)
“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)
Although I don’t call myself a believer, there are instances in which musical expressions of faith speak to my soul. One such instance (actually, several such instances) come courtesy of Stevie Wonder. “Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away” is a key track on Fulfillingness’ First Finale, Stevie’s follow up to the incredible Innervisions album.… Read More “Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away” by Stevie Wonder (1974)
There are some people you just can’t picture in a sexual sense. Roberta Flack is one of those people. Her music, to me, has always felt chaste. When I discovered Flack’s music, she was already in middle age, so the image I’ve painted of her in my head has always been matronly. She’s only a… Read More “Feel Like Makin’ Love” by Roberta Flack (1974)
“Do It Baby” was the first major hit for the Smokey Robinson-less Miracles, hitting the top 20 on the pop charts and the top five on the soul charts in ‘74. My folks moved to the U.S. in ‘71 and ‘72, respectively, and their music collections (which got passed down to me when they all… Read More “Do It Baby” by The Miracles (1974)
Nothing but a funk band, doing their thing over a simmering proto-disco groove. How did I not know these cats were from Brooklyn until just now? Wikipedia didn’t help me this time, either! Last.fm gave me this surprising (to me, anyway) info. Yes, folks, I still scribble like a mug. Anyway, regardless of where B.T.… Read More “Do It (’Til You’re Satisfied)” by B.T. Express (1974)
Am I the only person who thinks Fulfillingness’ First Finale sounds like a drug album? Not suggesting anything more than the possibility of pot (or painkillers-given that Stevie almost lost his life in a car accident shortly before recording this album) influencing the much chiller than normal vibe of these songs. Drug-influenced or no, it’s… Read More “Creepin’” by Stevie Wonder (1974)
“Brother Louie”’s current cultural recognition as the theme song to a TV show created by and starring a now-disgraced comedian that I used to majorly crush on and am now incredibly conflicted about has not tarnished the song’s quality one bit. This funky, falsetto-led song (a cover of a song by British band Hot Chocolate… Read More “Brother Louie” by Stories (1974)
“Boogie On Reggae Woman” was released when Stevie Wonder was 24 years old. 24. At that point, he was already four albums deep into his imperial period and 12 years deep into his career. The only musician I can think of since who was in such an advanced spot in their legacy by that age… Read More “Boogie On Reggae Woman” by Stevie Wonder (1974)
Gladys gets the shaft when it comes to public recognition of her as one of the greatest soul singers of all time. Maybe it’s her lack of flashiness. Actually, I’m pretty sure it’s her lack of flashiness. Aretha is sometimes literally larger than life, Patti’s the most histrionic singer in history, Chaka’s a hot mess.… Read More “Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me” by Gladys Knight & The Pips (1974)
Five Star Jamz 