This week we would like to feature a cover version of “It Don’t Come Easy” that we heard on The Current earlier this week. Bettye LaVette has been in the music industry for 50 years, scoring her first Top 10 R&B hit in 1962 at age 16. Here she is performing a lovely blues rendition of Ringo’s 1971 smash hit.
And here’s a bonus video of Bettye’s classic “Let Me Down Easy.” Listen to that voice and consider that she was only 19 when she recorded it.
I know I’ve featured Sims and I’ve played the heck outta Dessa, but they both belong to a larger collective of hip-hop artists known as Doomtree, which is also the name of their label. It just so happens that Doomtree has a new album out called No Kings and I’ve really been digging a number of tracks. If you think you don’t like hip-hop, I believe Doomtree will make you think twice.
First up, “The Grand Experiment.”
While that’s a fine start, I’m personally really digging the slower and deeper “Little Mercy.”
Last, but certainly not least, is the catchy number “Bangarang” which Sims performed solo at The Current birthday party a few weeks ago. The song is a lot of fun and stars honorary Doomtree member Har Mar Superstar, which the careful OB&B reader might remember from the early days of this blog.
You go, Har Mar.
If you enjoyed any or all of these songs, be sure to check out the Doomtree website and catch them on tour.
Overheard on The Current this morning was a song we hadn’t thought of in a little while. ”All Together Now” was written and recorded in May of 1967, just after the completion of the Sgt. Pepper sessions and supposedly with the historic “Our World” broadcast in mind. The Beatles were selected to represent the United Kingdom on this program -the first worldwide satellite link-up in television history. The Beatles decided to write a song that could speak to people of all nations with a theme of brotherhood and camaraderie. It certainly seems plausible that Paul wrote this fun little song for that event. Unfortunately for Paul, John was working on his own song for use in the broadcast. It was “All You Need Is Love.” The Beatles would hang on to “All Together Now” until January of 1969 when it was used to close their animated film Yellow Sumbarine.
By the way, The Current is currently having a member drive. It would mean a lot to us if you could click over and see what they have to offer. We don’t know where you live, but we can guarantee that you don’t have a radio station as good as The Current in your area. It is a new/classic/alternative music station with a phenomenal playlist -the kind of station you don’t see much anymore. And thanks to the internet and smartphone apps, you don’t even need to live in Minneapolis to enjoy it.
Pop icon Whitney Houston passed away today at the age of 48.
Whitney Houston, the iconic American singer whose battles with drugs, alcohol and ex-husband Bobby Brown marred her star power, has died. She was 48.
Houston’s publicist confirmed the singer’s death to ABC News. The cause of death is not yet known.
One of the first people we thought of as a parallel to Whitney Houston’s story was Judy Garland. That is not to compare their individual talents or impact on popular culture, but rather to imply that they were both immensely talented performers that shared a similar career arc. Early fame, a career in music and film, industry and media pressure, drug abuse, bad marriages, career downturn, attempted comeback and, tragically, an early death. We both hope that despite the public’s voracious appetite for stories like this, and tabloid journalism’s willingness to feed it, that this story does not turn into another Anna Nicole Smith circus. After all, there was a massive talent that should be celebrated. Not a tragic life that should be deconstructed.
“It is always much easier to call other people names than to engage in hard, intellectual analysis.”
-Milton Friedman
Minneapolis is absolutely buzzing about this week’s featured band: Polica. They’ve burst onto the scene and have quickly become the must see band in town. I was privileged enough to see them on January 28th for The Current’s birthday party, where they were the headlining act. They not only matched the hype, they surpassed it.
The vocals of Channy Casselle are haunting, and her stage presence is mesmerizing. However, for me the awe came from the two drummers. That’s right. TWO drummers. I’ve always enjoyed watching drummers, and watching the two Polica drummers was incredible. In addition, one of these drummers is a former co-worker of mine. I used to watch Ben Ivascu play with countless other bands about 15 years ago, and always thought he was the best drummer in town. I couldn’t be more thrilled to see him finally have an opportunity to make it big. You can see Ben in the first video in the black t-shirt.
Their debut album is being released next week, on Valentine’s day and from there they will be touring (dates and locations are posted on their site) and if you get a chance to see them, I can’t recommend enough that you go.
Yes, it was 43 years ago that The Beatles, seeking an ending visual for their film project Get Back (later renamed Let it Be) decided to take their equipment to the roof of their Apple offices and play an unannounced concert for confused passers-by. As we have mentioned previously, this concert took place during what might have been The Beatles most difficult period. In the week preceding the concert three of The Beatles made the decision to hire Allen Klein as their business manager. Paul was the lone dissenting vote, and the pressure and resentment caused was a leading contribute to the breakup (George had quit the group and rejoined just weeks earlier). In fact, by the time they climbed the stairs of #3 Savile Row they knew that they could not continue for much longer.
But for about 40 minutes The Beatles (with Billy Preston) put their differences aside and played a great set. While they did not get arrested as they had hoped they would, the image of a band playing on the roof became as iconic as an all white album cover and closed the album (and, in a way, their career since it was the last image of their last film, released after they had already broken up) in grand style. We present it for your viewing pleasure.
