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)
In 1976, the Isleys took a short break from epic funk/rock workouts and baby-making slow jams to deliver this inspiring slice of folk/soul. “Harvest For The World” is a hopeful anthem in which Ronald Isley puts on his preacher’s hat and testifies for brotherhood and world peace. As one might sadly expect, those who were… Read More “Harvest For The World” by The Isley Brothers (1976)
Poor Lindsey Buckingham. My man officially got sacked by his Fleetwood Mac bandmates just last year, and the parting does not appear to have been amicable. Sounds like the band took Lindsey’s own lyrics to heart; after all, he was the author and vocalist of “Go Your Own Way”, a song that is not only… Read More “Go Insane” by Lindsey Buckingham (1983)/”Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac (1976)
Sometimes, the “keep it simple, stupid” theory works. It’s a theory George Clinton learned well as the Seventies progressed and his Parliament/Funkadelic machine began to gain more and more commercial traction. “Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)” became the outfit’s first top five R&B single, largely based on the fact that… Read More “Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)” by Parliament (1976)
“Don’t Leave Me This Way” began life as a song by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. It appeared on 1975’s Wake Up Everybody, their last album to feature Teddy Pendergrass as the lead vocalist. Motown’s staff got wind of the song, and decided to re-record it on Thelma Houston. Their recording of the song… Read More “Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Thelma Houston (1976)
Elton John was probably the biggest artist in pop music when “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” was released, and the song performed as one would expect for the guy who was the mid ‘70s equivalent of…Drake, I guess. “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” was a massive chart-topper, got nominated for a Grammy, and is one… Read More “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John & Kiki Dee
Do you think that Daryl Hall masturbates to the sound of his own voice? I’m half-kidding, and I maybe shouldn’t single Daryl out, because almost all great vocalists can get show-offy from time to time. Aretha and Luther did it. Patti and Chaka (maybe not so much Chaka) does. “Do What You Want…”, as good… Read More “Do What You Want, Be What You Are” by Daryl Hall & John Oates (1976)
Most folks wouldn’t normally associate Bobby Womack with party songs, but “Daylight” is a smooth jam tells the story of a guy who enjoys the hell out of the nightlife. The function he sings about sounds more like the house parties that were typical in my neighborhood in my youth than a night at the disco… Read More “Daylight” by Bobby Womack (1975)
A few random observations. “Dancing Queen” might’ve been the poppiest thing in the massive collection of 45s I inherited from my aunts and uncles as a kid. Pretty much everything we owned was in an R&B/funk wheelhouse, even if it was by a traditionally pop artist (i.e. Saturday Night Fever, Boz Scaggs’ “Lowdown”, “Da Ya Think I’m… Read More “Dancing Queen” by ABBA (1976)
Five Star Jamz 