Teena Marie, 1956 - 2010

The ivory queen of soul passed away in her sleep last night. She was 54.

In my opinion, this superbly produced single from 1980 is her best song...

That's Where the Whole Vibe Comes From

Brent and I are heading out to Auburn for the long holiday weekend. While we're away, here is a playlist from a while back. I consider it one of my better compilations. Press play and enjoy...



Playlist:

When the World Is Running Down - The Police
Give the Drummer Some - Nickodemus
Stoned, Part 1 - Lewis Taylor
As I Went Out One Morning - Mira Billotte
I'll Be Around - The Spinners
Tighten Up - The Bamboos
1,000 Miles - Blake Lewis
Of Moons, Birds & Monsters - MGMT
Hometown Glory - Adele
Feel Good, Inc. - Skye Edwards
How Was I to Know? - M.E.G.
17 Again - Eurythmics

It Is Done

Thank you, Mr. President.

The Best Songs of 2010

My picks for the best tracks of the year, presented countdown style from #20 to #1...



The Countdown:

20. Big Wave - Jenny and Johnny
19. Tonight Let's All Make Love In London - Buff Roshi
18. To Paris, With Love - Donna Summer
17. 1975 - Incognito (feat. Joy Rose)
16. Star Scat - Caravan Palace
15. You Used to Rock - Blue Six
14. History (Love Mix) - Groove Armada
13. The Green Fields of Summer - Peter Wolf & Neko Case
12. The Trip to Pirate's Cove - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
11. I Can't Go For That - The Bird and the Bee
10. Keep Me In Mind - The Bamboos
9. The Perfect Space - The Avett Brothers
8. Stylo - Gorillaz (w/ Mos Def & Bobby Womack)
7. The Fire - The Roots & John Legend
6. Even Judas Gave Jesus a Kiss - !!!
5. Clap Your Hands - Sia
4. The High Road - Broken Bells
3. My Time - Minus the Bear
2. Dance or Die - Janelle Monáe
1. Alphaville - Bryan Ferry

Released on this date, thirteen years ago...

Sweet, Glorious Day

By a vote of 65 to 31, the U.S. Senate repealed the military's ban on gay men and women serving in the military. The bill hits the President's desk for signature during the coming week and, at long last, our brothers and sisters can serve their country without fear of being fired simply for who they love.

Sweet, glorious day.

A Holiday Favorite

The 12 Gays of Christmas...

Song of the Day

New Jamiroquai!! The CD, "Rock Dust Light Star," is out in Europe and should be released domestically early in the new year. From it, check out this superb piece of disco/funk...

"White Knuckle Ride"

Manic Monday Levity

Did Bravo produce "The Real Housewives of Staten Island" and then shelve the project? Is this an out-take? I report, you decide...

Released on this date...

...thirty-eight years ago:

Powered by the Sun

This week's playlist includes Donald Fagen's classic take on those heady days of yester-year, when science reigned supreme and the global goals included solar power and high-speed rail. The set also includes great tracks from !!!, Janelle Monáe, the Avett Brothers, and Lonnie Liston Smith. Press play and enjoy...



Playlist:

Steady As the Sidewalk Cracks - !!!
Cars - Gary Numan
Marble - LoneLady
Dance or Die - Janelle Monáe
No Strings - Mayer Hawthorne
Beautiful People - Pet Shop Boys
I.G.Y. - Donald Fagen
Say No to Love - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Hey Ahab - Elton John and Leon Russell
The Perfect Space - The Avett Brothers
Live In Dreams - Wild Nothing
You Know It's For You - Bee Gees
Do I Love You? - Ella Fitzgerald
Sunset - Lonnie Liston Smith

Friday Afternoon Showcase

I highlighted N'dambi in the Friday showcase a month or so ago. Since then she has released a new single from her stellar "Pink Elephant" album. (An album, by the way, that earned producer Leon F. Sylvers III a Grammy nomination).

From one of the best albums of last year...

"Nobody Jones" by N'dambi

If Only

Mid-Week Levity

Reincarnation really does happen! And Karen Carpenter came back as...A BAD DRIVER!!!

Elizabeth Edwards, 1949 - 2010

Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of John Edwards, the 2004 Democratic vice-presidential candidate, passed away this morning.  She was 61.

Support "Santa John," Boycott Macy's

This is absolutely ridiculous:

John Toomey, known for 20 years at the Union Square Macy's in San Francisco as "Santa John," was told Saturday he'll have to take his "ho, ho, hos" elsewhere because an adult couple complained about a joke he cracked.

The joke has been in his Santa bag for decades. But after thousands of tellings, the 68-year-old retired caretaker for the elderly finally hit the wrong recipients - apparently an older woman and her husband, who considered it inappropriate.

"When I ask the older people who sit on my lap if they've been good and they say, 'Yes,' I say, 'Gee, that's too bad,' " Toomey said Monday.

"Then, if they ask why Santa is so jolly, I joke that it's because I know where all the naughty boys and girls live."

The joke wasn't even CLOSE to inappropriate.

Fuckin' geriatric middle Americans and their so-called "values."

Released on this date...

...nine years ago:

Song of the Day

This family has always been a favorite of mine. They could out-harmonize the Jacksons any day of the week. In 1973, while the six older brothers and sisters were enjoying chart success with such singles as "Fool's Paradise" and "Wish I Could Talk to You," the three youngest siblings (Foster, Pat, and Angie) took this single to #7.

"Misdemeanor" by the Sylvers...

Manic Monday Levity

The Christianists, showing their true colors, courtesy of Richard Dawkins...

The View From My Window

Yours truly makes the Daily Dish.

It's the second time I've had one of my window view pics posted by Andrew. The first one, published in July, 2008, can be seen here.

End-of-the-Week Levity

Kevin Bacon's #1 fan...

Friday Showcase: The Magic Numbers

Another in the weekly series of artists or songs you more than likely haven't heard of, but should definitely know.

Meet the Magic Numbers - an English band comprised of two pairs of brothers and sisters: Romeo Stodart (lead guitar, vocals), his sister Michele (bass, vocals, keyboard), Sean Gannon (drums) and his sister Angela (melodica, percussion, glockenspiel, vocals).

From 2005, here is their top 30 U.K. single, "Love Is Just a Game"...

HumpDay Humor

Doh!