Music Monday 2/27/17

After a couple of weeks off, I’ll take the time to use this #MusicMonday as a tribute to Al Jarreau, who passed away just over two weeks ago. His lasting mark is probably “We’re in This Love Together” or the theme to the 80’s TV series Moonlighting, but this man was a masterclass of vocal jazz. I didn’t even know what to pick here. He has such a wonderful library. Here in “Roof Garden” we party with some good friends as Al invites us to what is sure to be a rockin’ celebration. With some wonderful scat as we near the end, it is absolutely uncontrollable to not at least want to tap a foot.

Hump Day Hit 2/8/17

As the Grammy’s draw closer, we take today’s #HumpDayHit to look at a Record of the Year winner. As a drummer and lead singer following Peter Gabriel’s departure, Phil Collins lead Genesis to some great hits in the 80’s such as “Invisible Touch” and “Land of Confusion.” During all of this however, he also had a wildly successful solo career as well, with such classics as “In the Air Tonight” and “Against Al Odds.” Here we look at his final US #1 hit, “Another Day in Paradise.” A song that touches upon the heartbreaking issue of homelessness, an issue that still persists to this day, it’s rather touching whether you’ve stopped for someone or not. The song had some rather tough competition in 1991 to win RotY, beating out “Vision of Love” and “U Can’t Touch This”, and “Nothing Compares 2 U”; all former #1’s as well and all monster hits. While Phil hasn’t had another #1 since, he did a bit more, including the soundtrack to Disney’s “Tarzan”, and remained relatively silent in the music world. One hopes his live shows in London in June are a smashing success.

Hump Day Hit 2/1/17

I liked #HumpDayHit so much, I decided to do it again this week. In these tumultuous days we’re living in, I know you don’t get a chance to take a break this often. Daft Punk feels your pain too. Two Frenchmen with a penchant for electronic music teamed up 24 years ago, and have made an everlasting relationship that has birthed an amazing array of pioneering music. Their music is one I’d call transcendent; with many of their songs providing an escape to another world. While “Discovery” is probably their most critically acclaimed album, and for good reason, “Random Access Memories” is their most commercially successful, their first #1 album and winner of the Album of the Year Grammy in 2014. Teaming up Pharrell, pioneer for his work with The Neptunes, and Nile Rodgers, pioneer from his work with Chic, for two songs on the latter, this song, “Lose Yourself to Dance”, feels like a precursor to the other collaboration, “Get Lucky”. Both going hand in hand for what I’d consider an unforgettable night. One where there are no worries. Where friends and I just click, and build those random access memories as we lose ourselves to dance.