Blog

I was wondering which Stevie Wonder album was my favourite.

Would it be Talking Book featuring Superstition?

Would it be Songs In The Key Of Life featuring Isn't She Lovely and Pastime Paradise (later sampled as Gangsta's Paradise)? (PS also check out the Latin Jazz cover Pastime Paradise)

No, It is Innervisions featuring He's Misstra Know-It-All and the magnificent Living For The City.

"Welcome to the Old School Brand New Heavies!" cries N'Dea Davenport, lead singer of acid jazz band The Brand New Heavies, at the start of what she terms their "welcome home" concert.

Recorded in October 2008 at the Indigo2, Live in London marks the group's first-ever live album. acid jazz fans rejoiced in 2005, when vocalist Davenport rejoined the Brand New Heavies, the British group that scored a series of hits in England beginning in 1990. Best known in the US for the 1991 single "Never Stop," the Brand New Heavies became leaders in the acid jazz and retro soul movements, predating artists such as Jamiroquai, Maxwell, and Jill Scott. Davenport subsequently exited the group in the mid-90s and a series of lead vocalists (including Siedah Garrett) followed to fill the role. After pursuing a solo career, Davenport returned in 2005 to record the album Get Used to It with her former bandmates. They have performed as a core quartet ever since, and their latest album, Live in London, shows that they haven't missed a step since their '90s heyday.

The Brand New Heavies Along with backing musicians, Brand New Heavies core members Simon Bartholomew, Jan Kincaid, and Andrew Levy kick off the show with two instrumentals, setting the stage for Davenport's triumphant entry. Solid versions of "Never Stop" and "All Fired Up" stick closely to the original versions, although the UK hit "Dream on Dreamer" segues into an uptempo cover of "Midnight at the Oasis" that adds a funky twist to the 1970s single. Speaking of the '70s, the wah-wah pedal driven "Ride In The Sky" will make listeners want to check their calendars to ensure that this is really a 2009 album.

They also illustrate their debt to old school soul with a lovely cover of Stevie Wonder's "I Don't Know Why (I Love You)" which draws a direct parallel to their retro sound. Davenport's voice really shines here, as she uses her powerful range to full emotional effect. She also explores her vocals' sensual tone on "Sex God" which also features an irresistible bass line that really rides the song's slinky groove.

I got bored when ill so decided to do this using my iTunes library to figure out favourite songs of each year. Was hard missing some real favourites songs out lol - Might even do a top 10 list of each year as my iTunes library grows and grows!! Try it for yourself if you have a lot of time to spare to, so i don't have to look like the only sad one ;)

1963 - Johnny Cash - Ring Of Fire
1964 - The Kinks - You Really Got Me
1965 - Bob Dylan - Desolation Row
1966 - The Beatles - Eleanor Rigby
1967 - The Doors - The End
1968 - The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
1969 - The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
1970 - Derek and the Dominos - Layla
1971 - Led Zeppelin - When the Levee Breaks
1972 - Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water
1973 - Pink Floyd - Money
1974 - Stevie Wonder - They Won't Go When I Go
1975 - Pink Floyd - Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Part 1)
1976 - The Eagles -Hotel California
1977 - AC/DC - Whole Lotta Rosie
1978 - The Jacksons - Blame It On The Boogie
1979 - Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)
1980 - Bob Marley - Could You Be Loved
1981 - Queen & David Bowie - Under Pressure
1982 - Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
1983 - David Bowie - Let's Dance
1984 - Prince - When Doves Cry
1985 - Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms
1986 - Queen - A Kind Of Magic
1987 - Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel
1988 - Public Enemy - Don't Believe The Hype
1989 - Depeche Mode -Personal Jesus
1990 - Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
1991 - Michael Jackson - Black or White
1992 - Rage Against the Machine - Killing In The Name
1993 - Beck - Loser
1994 - Nas - The World Is Yours
1995 - Leftfield - Release the Pressure
1996 - R. Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly
1997 - Blur - Song 2
1998 - Air - Sexy Boy
1999 - Leftfield - Dusted
2000 - OutKast - Bombs Over Baghdad
2001 - The Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist
2002 - Oasis - Stop Crying Your Heart Out
2003 - Muse - Stockholm Syndrome
2004 - The Killers - All These Things That I've Done
2005 - Pendulum - Prelude/Slam
2006 - Shiny Toy Guns - You Are the One
2007 - Lupe Fiasco - Dumb It Down
2008 - TV on the Radio - Halfway Home
2009 - Basement Jaxx - Raindrops

I've been discovering the legend of Stevie Wonder today. And what a discovery it has been. I am completely in love. Stevie is the new man in my life. I didn't know I had forgotten what soul music was until he reminded me. That there was once a time when actual SOUL existed in soul music. And he was full of that soul.
His music isn't just Motown or funk or groove, it's music that crosses boundaries of style and audience. The timeless quality with which it reaches and touches the deepest parts of you is undeniable. Rich and innovative (even now) sound characterizes his early repertoire (and of course the rarely missing harmonica), yet the strength of composition and melody never wavers. Simply one gorgeous song after another. With his heartfelt lyrics and tender, but powerful delivery, he's like a storyteller in music.
And he's so positive. His songs make me feel so good. Remarkably positive for a blind man. It makes you think... that if Stevie can "see" the world in such a wonderful, hopeful light, then why can't we?
Sometimes it happens - that something you never paid much attention to or never really understood just suddenly clicks. This is the case with me and Stevie Wonder. And I'm glad because I always wanted to like him.
I'm in the process of downloading his albums, starting with the classics from the 70s. I already own The Definitive Collection, although I have suspicions about how definitive it is. These days the Best Ofs are extremely poorly compiled, consisting of only a handful of hits that the record companies keep repackaging and re-releasing to pump the cash. So you have to do the research yourself to get a clear overview of an artist's body of work.



At the moment the list of my favourite songs of his includes the following pearls:
Isn´t She Lovely
My Cherie Amour
Sir Duke
Overjoyed
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours
Place In The Sun
Send One Your Love
Living For The City
I Just Called To Say I Love You
Part-Time Lover
Superstition
Ebony and Ivory
For Your Love
Lately
All In Love Is Fair
Visions
As
I Was Made To Love Her

But it can change - there are too many great ones to choose from.

The ones that came to me off the top of my head.

Andrew W.K.
Arctic Monkeys (2)
Beck
Billy Talent
Bison B.C.
Black Lips
Bob Dylan
The Cribs
Death Cab for Cutie (2)
Deerhunter
Defektors
The Dirty Projectors
Elizabeth
The Evaporators
Franz Ferdinand (2)
Thee Goblins
The Gossip
Japandroids
Jay Reatard
The Jesus Lizard
Joel Plaskett Emergency
Kings of Leon (2)
The Like
Mika
Modest Mouse
Moneen
The National
The New Pornographers
The Pack A.D.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Priestess
Ra Ra Riot
R.E.M.
Rise Against
Sam Roberts
Sonic Youth
Stevie Wonder
The Thermals
Three Inches of Blood
TV on the Radio
The Whigs

In eager anticipation of my 75.000th track, I just had to look back on my time here on last.fm... I never thought I would stay here for almost three years, nor did I ever expect to find such great music and friends (you know who you are).

So I'll be posting my '100 tracks everyone should know'. Some mainstream, some a little harder to find (If you need help or more info, let me know). I don't think I have to tell you this is all just my personal opinion ;)

A lot of these I got to know through Last.fm and the friends here, so thanks everybody.

Greetz, Kenneth

ROCK / ALTERNATIVE / INDIE
30 Seconds to Mars - Fallen
Aerosmith - Livin' On The Edge
Belle and Sebastian - Expectations
Feeder - Feeling a Moment
Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl
K's Choice - Believe
Kings of Leon - Arizona
Kings of Leon - The Bucket
Kings of Leon - Cold Desert
Kings of Leon - Knocked Up
Kings of Leon - Manhattan
Kings of Leon - Trani
Krezip - You Can Say
Muse - Map of the Problematique
Muse - Stockholm Syndrome
Queens of the Stone Age - A Song for the Dead
Queens of the Stone Age - You Can't Quit Me Baby
Radiohead - Street Spirit (Fade Out)
Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name Of
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Venice Queen
Skunk Anansie - The Skank Heads
The Strokes - Heart in a Cage
Zornik - Wasting Time

POP / INDIE
Alabama 3 - Woke Up This Morning
All Saints - Pure Shores
DeVotchKa - How It Ends
Evermore - It's Too Late
Fredo Viola - The Sad Song (Dad And Dog)
Gotan Project - Diferente
Hellogoodbye - Here (In Your Arms)
John Farnham - You're The Voice
Johnny Berlin - Find What You Love And Let It Kill You
Kaki King - Bari Improv
Lenny Kravitz - If You Can't Say No
Lio - Amoureux Solitaires
Maroon 5 - Secret
Nellie McKay - David
Newton Faulkner - Dream Catch Me
Newton Faulkner - Teardrop
Nouvelle Vague - In a Manner of Speaking
Paul Simon - Late in the Evening
Robbie Robertson - Somewhere Down The Crazy River
Rufus Wainwright - Do I Disappoint You
Saybia - The Day After Tomorrow
Sigur Rós - Gobbledigook
Stef Bos - Hier vertrok de trein (Dutch)
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago
Sunrise Avenue - Fairytale Gone Bad
Tanita Tikaram - Twist in My Sobriety
Tom Helsen - Easy
Won Ton Ton - I Lie and I Cheat
Xavier Rudd - Messages

DANCE / ELECTRONIC / HOUSE
2 Unlimited - Jump for Joy
Carlos - The Silmarillia
CJ Bolland - The Prophet
D*Note - Shed My Skin
DJ Gregory - Tropical Soundclash
Faithless - Music Matters (Axwell Remix)
Faithless - No Roots
Ida Engberg - Disco Volante
The Knife - Silent Shout
The Knife - We Share Our Mothers Health
John Dahlbäck - Pyramid (Dirty South Remix)
Massive Attack - Inertia Creeps
Motorcycle - As the Rush Comes
Röyksopp - Alpha Male
Röyksopp - What Else Is There?
Samuel Paganini - Reaching Out
Shameboy - Heartcore
Sidekick - Deep Fear (Phobia Club Mix)
Smoke City - Underwater Love
Sunkids - Rise Up (feat. Chance)
Tocadisco - Morumbi
Underworld - Moaner

HIP-HOP / R&B
Devin the Dude - Hope I Don't Get Sick-A-This
Dilated Peoples - This Way (feat. Kanye West)
Mr Hudson - Supernova (feat. Kanye West)
Nas - Still Dreaming (feat. Kanye West & Chrisette Michele)
The Notorious B.I.G. - Suicidal Thoughts
Shontelle - T-Shirt
Wu-Tang Clan - Gun Will Go (feat. Sunny Valentine)

CLASSICS
Adriano Celentano - Prisencolinensinainciusol
The Alan Parsons Project - Eye In The Sky
Bruce Springsteen - I'm on Fire
Clint Mansell - Lux Aeterna
Creedence Clearwater Revival - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
The Exciters - Tell Him
Johann Pachelbel - Canon in D Major
John Miles - Music
Love - Alone Again Or
Nina Simone - Sinnerman
Queen - Don't Stop Me Now
Queen - Innuendo
Queen - Somebody to Love
Simple Minds - Belfast Child
Sly & The Family Stone - Family Affair
Stevie Wonder - As
Supertramp - From Now On
Supertramp - School
Wim Mertens - Struggle For Pleasure

PS. Hmm looking back on the list, it's more mainstream than I thought, but I hope you enjoy these songs anyway. ;-)

And for those of you, who want more (if any), check out My loved tracks, where you will find most of these songs and more :)

Beatnick & K-Salaam's tribute to Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder & Marvin Gaye

Click The Pic



Click The Pic

Tammi Terrell

It's been a long time since I did one of these lists. So, here's a list of the greatest rock covers (and their originals) of all time. Enjoy!

10) Sweet Dreams by Marilyn Manson (orig. Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics)

9) Cum On Feel The Noize by Quiet Riot (orig. Cum On Feel The Noize by Slade)

8) Am I Evil? by Metallica (orig. Am I Evil? by Diamond Head)

7) Higher Ground by Red Hot Chili Peppers (orig. Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder)

6) No Quarter by Tool (orig. No Quarter by Led Zeppelin)

5) You Really Got Me by Van Halen (orig. You Really Got Me by The Kinks)

4) Come Together by Aerosmith (orig. Come Together by The Beatles)

3) Blinded By The Light by Manfred Mann's Earth Band (orig. Blinded by the Light by Bruce Springsteen)

2) Love Hurts by Nazareth (orig. Love Hurts by Roy Orbison)

1) All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix (orig. All Along the Watchtower by Bob Dylan)