I don't think I've had so many smiles or so much laughter this week. Thanks for all the appreciation. I can't stop smiling, and just decided that I'm gonna keep being me (sans headaches, that is).
I decided I'd ask a couple of questions last this week, just to stir up some questions. I think I had a mini-revolt going on in instant messaging, which is hilarious, even when you're trying not to laugh so hard while working.
The two main questions I asked, which I am now bringing to the general public, are:
1. What's your favorite Hall and Oates song?
2. What's your favorite Stevie Wonder song?
I'm gonna try to keep a general tally of the answers, so put your thoughts in. I could tell you mine, but they'd change twice a day, trust me. But hey, I've got things for you right here that should make you smile
Old School Wednesday: Seeing Clearly Part II.
01 - EX Girlfriend - Searching To Find The One. This cut was first released by Unlimited Touch, but not being able to find their album in time for this OSW was cause for me to think about dropping this cut all together, but then I remembered this remake of the song that was a spot-on remake of the classic hit (and of course, the executive producers of their album being Full Force didn't hurt either), so it fit right in. Then I had this song in my head:
02 - Intro - So Many Reasons, because even though their debut album went gold, and Kenny Greene was a consummate writer, it was always his voice and talent that got me, as it did the last time (right, Will)?. May he rest in peace. But that was always a nice segue into the very first release from a particular band,
03 - Mint Condition - My Dear, that was an awesome track off of an awesome soundtrack to a not-so-awesome movie, Mo' Money. Besides, I had to tease someone. The song reminded me of something along the veins of....
04 - Al B. Sure! - Touch You, which was one of those songs off of the second album, Private Times and The Whole 9, that, upon my first listens, made me sit there and wonder what he was trying to accomplish. The more and more I heard it, the more it stuck, primarily because of the background vocals and unique arrangements. And then I thought I'd start asking a couple of people some questions, which brought up this track:
05 - Stevie Wonder - As. All I ask you is to not blame me for swaying back and forth at work, okay? And then we went back to 1980, for....
06 - Seawind - What Cha Doin'. See, there's this guy named Qamar, who's shown nothing but appreciation and the more and more we talked about Seawind, the reminiscince of George Duke's produced album Seawind, conjured up this top-20 R&B hit. Awesome stuff. The horn arrangement from this setup had me think of...
07 - Sheila E - Loverboy from Sex Cymbal, which had a tight horn arrangement, coupled with the percussion arrangement, and guitar solo. And yes, I had a crush on her when I was in high school. Don't hate me. Since I was feeling instrumentation, I slowed it down a bit with...
08 - Joe Public - Anything, which also had a solo, a little scratching, and a little rapping, with a couple of hip-hop nods in the back. [EDIT] This also brings me to the following question: in this track there are three vocal samples played continuously through the song. I recognize the second and third one, but I'm drawing a blank on the first one that according to Godizus, the vocalist states, "one of a kind, it shocks your mind." Does anyone, anyone know where that sample comes from?! It's driving me crazy! [/EDIT] Then, since the vibe was slowed down a little, I thought that I'd pull this out.....
09 - Gina Thompson - The Things That You Do (Bad Boy Remix). I don't know if people remember this remix but it has Gina, along with Missy rapping, 112 doing background vocals, and even Puffy in it, just when Bad Boy was starting to take off. I remember hearing this track and having it on cassette. Twice. But then, I thought about three vocalists,
10 - Jade - Every Day Of The Week, off of Mind, Body, and Song. The album was their second, and final, effort together. Of course, when I'm still getting IMs from three more people and thinking about the OSW I reach back and pull out....
11 - Daryl Hall & John Oates - I Can't Go for That (No Can Do), because some dude named KB told me it was essential. But then, you know, I had to pull something else out again that was fits perfectly into this tune, and it had to be played.....
12 - Lee Ritenour - Is It You? You see, back in 1981, this had to be one of the pop and R&B songs that had to be played. I even had this song on 8-track, I'm not afraid to say. But then, back in 1985, living down south, this track...
13 - Mary Jane Girls - Shadow Lover was played every single night on the quiet storm. From Only Four You. But then I had to go back and liven it up with....
14 - Rude Boys - Heaven. I'm still of the opinion that they're one of the understated vocalists back then, as was....
15 - Jevetta Steele - All In Time. Remember Baghdad Cafe? A particular track named Calling You? Well, that a capella track made me find this album especially since her brothers and sisters The Steeles, Prince, and Levi Seacer, Jr. graced this album as well.
Enjoy it.
Most times, if you ask, I'd tell you that the reason that most of my blogging is musically oriented is because I often believe that I don't have much to say. Sights, sounds, work, life and love around me are pretty straightforward. Some people might tell you I'm a mellow kinda cat, and for the most part I'd like to believe that's true. You can even hear me a referred to as listener instead of a speaker. Every so often I have cause to reflect on how good life is, as I'm sure you do. I don't express myself that often because most of the time there's other people around me with a whole lot more to say, and I just enjoy listening, hearing, vibing, being. That's my thing. I'm sure you feel me, right?
Well, the last couple of weeks were a little different if you didn't get that from the vibe all around. While the headaches were a warning sign, I kept going, until I was literally out, as in unconscious, for 48 hours, after having that grand mal seizure. Seems that Thursday and Friday from week before last, they poked and prodded and tried to find out what was goin' on inside my head. Literally. Apparently when I was awake I wasn't happy about the IV equipment (and from what I understand, I was trying to take it out of my arm), the fact that my computer wasn't near me, and most of all, I couldn't listen to music or find interesting television. Of course, when work calls you on the weekend while you're lying down on the hospital bed and you're telling 'em you will be working from home for a little bit because of this seizure, you get a lot of support- even when the
You also get a chance to find out that some people are actually are reading what you've got to say- which isn't much because, ultimately, you're trying to get through these life situations behind and continue forward. What you don't expect is that there are comments waiting, IMs, emails, phone messages and the most unexpected of all, music, plants and flowers. I can name one- and only one- dissapointment that I had while I was laid up. While that one person may or not be contacted, I can honestly say that this has shown me that I've got way more friends than I've ever imagined, that I don't regret walking through my blogs everyday even though I constantly believe that I'm insanely behind, because I still get to see and vibe through things on the web every day that pale in comparison to what one book could show me.
In short, I really do want to thank those that have reached out and said something, have knocked me across the head with love, and have kept me up and carrying on, because even though I'm sure I'm behind in a lot of things, there's quite a few of you who know how to nudge me along and keep me moving, even though I'm convinced I haven't even moved a muscle.
What I'm sayin' is- there's love out there especially to you. If I haven't specifically said so, know that it's definitely my head and not my heart and I have every intention of giving you the same appreciation you've given me.
Thank y'all for showing love to me. In fact, I've been feeling so good about it, I don't believe I've even expressed myself vocally enough. Leave me an email, comment, whatever, if I haven't. We'll exchange phone numbers, whatever you want. I've got love for you even if you can't see it.
And that's the truth. Forreal.
Remember how I was mentioning that I had a massive headache on Wednesday? Well, a funny thing happened to me on Thursday morning around 3AM. My headache came back and I started shaking again until I fell over the bed at which point I laid there until the paramedics came and got me. Yes, my people, there's nothing like a grand mal seizure to brighten up the weekend. I'm better now, with no more headaches but a little more lethargy that I'm trying to get used to. I'm back out and working again, and staying awake for more than 12 hours. Yes, I'm
Old School Wednesday: Seeing Clearly Now.
Just things making me feel good right about now and glad that I've gotten past this point....
01 - Ephraim Lewis - Rule for Life
02 - EX Girlfriend - S.O.S.
03 - George Benson - Love X Love
04 - Guy - Groove Me
05 - Janet Jackson - You Can Be Mine
06 - Real to Reel - Can You Treat Me Like She Does
07 - Nu Colours - Love Unlimited
08 - Jamiroquai - Stillness in Time
09 - S.O.S. Band - No One's Gonna Love You
10 - Chaka Khan - Papillon (aka Hot Butterfly)
11 - Anita Baker - Good Love
12 - Deja - Heartbeat
13 - Johnny Gill - Let's Just Run Away
14 - Chaka Khan - What Cha' Gonna Do for Me
15 - Al B. Sure - Oooh This Love Is So
16 - Cherrelle - Foolin' Around
17 - Earth, Wind & Fire - Spirit
I'm keepin' on...onward and upward....hope the music is keeping you upward too......
There's nothing like a massive headache to start your day. It got so bad, I had to leave work early, work from home, take two Advil, and then lay down. It was only then that I started to feel good. I started out mellow, and I went a little more mid-tempo.
Old School Wednesday: Feeling Good.
Here's the flow....
01 - Shalamar - Sweeter as the Days Go By, because Honey turned 21 today, and heck, what better way to start it off....
02 - Randy Crawford - You Might Need Somebody. Shola Ama does a great rendition, but I thought it would be good to go to the source.
03 - The Jones Girls - Children of the Night. Classic, simply classic. I'm sure Yolie agrees.
04 - Marvin Gaye - Come Live With Me Angel. Because I know that Fave would love the track....
05 - Lil' Louis & The World - Share. Sure, Club Lonely is the classic cut for Lil' Louis, but this is quite possibly my favorite cut from him.
06 - Shanice - Do I Know You?
07 - Deja - That's Where You'll Find Me. Because Qamar came through for me (mad props)....
08 - Pebbles - Stay With Me, because Todd made sure I played it....
09 - Ephraim Lewis - Drowning in Your Eyes.
10 - S.O.S. Band - Even When You Sleep.
11 - Quincy Jones - Betcha' Wouldn't Hurt Me.
12 - Cherrelle - Keep It Inside. Yes, that's Alexander O'Neal on vocals also.
13 - Caron Wheeler - I Adore You, because Will saw me vibe to it, and shouted out...
14 - Chaka Khan - Give Me All, because **RPM** wants to hug herself when she hears it.....
15 - Nu Colours - Want Your Love 2 B Mine. Their album Unlimited was a great album that never got their justice.
16 - Rude Boys - I Feel for You.
I've still got a headache and haven't hit everyone, I'm sure...but it all comes down to feeling good and making sure everyone else feels good, know what I mean? Enjoy the flow. This one's for all of you.
My weekend was all about hanging with some cool people, seeing two concerts, and then making up for it pulling an all-nighter. Was it worth it? Most certainly.
I started on Thursday evening captivated by Honey's radio blog for Katrina: Anger, Sadness, and Hope, and because she and a couple of other people mentioned it, ran out the door to the Apache Cafe. I worked myself into a stupor on Friday, and then after going to Apache Cafe yet again on Friday night, I got to see Anthony David, Jiva, and Donnie.....
...as if that weren't enough, I started out my Saturday having two awesome conversations. I started it out by an impormptu breakfast with the one and only with Bomani, one of the coolest brothers you'd ever want to meet. And then, to put icing on the cake, five hours later, I got to hang with another cool brother by the name of Johnathan. I thought it would end there, but it didn't.
On Sunday, after chilling out with my friends for breakfast, I then got to email back and forth with my cousin and then chill with Donald especially Darrell, who recounted his experiences that Katrina has placed on him. After all the cool people I met during the weekend, and all the good food I've had, what happens? I end up pulling an all nighter, which is what I'm doing now. What's keeping me awake while I'm waiting on co-workers? Music of course.
In Rotation: September 12, 2005.
01 - Blaze - Elevation. Again from Soul Heaven Presents Blaze.
02 - Tortured Soul - Why, per request from Johnathan, since I dropped Blaze.
03 - The Sunburst Band - Thin Air. Instrumental from Until The End Of Time. It took a lot of time and more than a little money to find this CD, and I'm convinced it's one of the best CDs to come out in 2004. I equate it to the same vein as Tortured Soul.
04 - Larry Heard / Loose Fingers - Dreaming Of Better Days.
05 - Alice Russell - What We Want! From the just released CD, My Favourite Letters.
06 - Jiva - Free Falling. Saw these cats perform this past weekend. From thei new CD Sun & Moon. Check them out.
07 - Bruno E - Alma Featuring Xanton Blanq. From the just released Alma Sessions.
08 - Sandboy - Call Out. From the just-released Echoes.
09 - Jafar Curry - No Longer In Love. I mentioned him before, and I'm still grooving his EP.
10 - Floetry - In Your Eyes.
11 - Raheem DeVaughn - Until. Still living in The Love Experience.
12 - DJ Language Featuring Nas - War. From Real Music For Real People.
13 - Little Brother - All For You. From the upcoming CD The Minstrel Show. Review to come soon as soon as I can sync up with a couple of people.
Groove it forward.
Xquizzyt1 thought a new wave vibe was essential for the start of autumn, so here we go:
Old School Wednesday: New Wave.
01 - Kano - I'm Ready
02 - ABC - Be Near Me
03 - Yaz - Situation
04 - Gary Newman - Cars
05 - Naked Eyes - Always Something There To Remind Me
06 - OMD - If You Leave
07 - Level 42 - Lessons in Love
08 - Human League - Don't You Want Me
09 - Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me
10 - Soft Cell - Tainted Love
11 - Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science
12 - Madness - Our House
13 - Tommy TuTone - 867-5309
14 - Duran Duran - Hungry Like The Wolf
15 - Men Without Hats - Safety Dance
16 - J Geils Band - Centerfold
17 - Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight
For those who haven't picked up to the old school vibe from last year similar to this mix, Euro Groovin, Volume I and Euro Groovin' Volume II are still around for your listening pleasure, with only a few duplicates. Enjoy.
