Utah & The Drifters

The Drifters

About a week ago, I was listening to The Drifters' greatest hits and it brought back memories of the magic moment I was introduced to them. So, as a result, I felt that I had to write about that moment so vibe with me as I take you through that moment.

By now you know, I have gotten my musical taste from my mother. And during our South Carolina days, my mother use to listen to oldies and as soon as she started playing them, I used to run in my room and play Super Nintendo. During that time I didn't want to listen to that. I wanted to listen to Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, and some hip-hop. But as I would run away she would tell me "When you get older you are going to love this music, because that's what happened to me". I never wanted to understand what she meant, but today I get it. My friends and family know that oldies are my favorite.

Now this Drifters story starts during my families' South Carolina days when music played a big part of our lives. See my mother was going to college and my father was a truck driver. So sometimes my mother and I would go on trips with him. But this particular time he had this trip going to Utah. At first my mother was little concerned about it because she didn't want me to be out of school too long. But my mother knew I could handle it. As a result, Utah here we come. (Don't want to showoff but I was really smart kid, honor roll all the time. I would have like 25-30 days out of school and still got awesome grades....WELL enough about my grades back to the story....lol)  

The journey to Utah begins and my mother puts on a cassette (funny right). And this song comes out of the speakers.

This Magic Moment

Sound so good didn't it? I didn't feel that way then. I wanted my mother to turn it off. Now I couldn't run so I had to deal with it. I looked at my dad and my mother had him so gone with soul music he was vibing to it. Even if he didn't like it, he wouldn't say anything because he didn't want to hear her mouth. But me "mom please turn this old stuff off". But of course she didn't pay me any attention. So, the album continued to play and the more it continued the more I started to like it. Seeing that we had a long trip and my mother wasn't listening to me, I felt I was forced into liking it. As the album kept playing, two songs came on that I actually knew 'On Broadway' & 'Spanish Harlem'. The reason for me knowing these songs because the jazz legend George Benson remade 'On Broadway' and the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin remade 'Spanish Harlem' Check out each version

Drifters version of On Broadway

George Benson version of On Broadway

Drifters version of Spanish Harlem

Aretha Franklin version of Spanish Harlem

Epic right?? Aww man the original was great but even the remakes were great too. Aretha and George made those Drifters classics their own. So I asked my mom "so the Drifters made these songs first"?  She said "yea George and Aretha were not the first to make those, so many different artists back then remade the Drifters records". With me taking a liking to this, I wanted my mother to continue to keep playing it. By the time we got to Utah, I knew all the words to the songs. Sometimes my mother, dad, and I would sing the songs together. Awesome family moment! The song I can remember us singing together was 'Save The Last Dance For Me'. My mother would always sing lead because OF COURSE she knew all the words and me and pops were the background singers. (Doo wop pop pop in my Tamar Braxton voice) 

Save The Last Dance For Me

Aww listening to that brings tears to my eyes because I can feel that moment with me and my family singing this in my pops truck on the way to Utah. What a magical moment!

Fast forwarding to last week, I was on amazon and I was looking for music to buy and I came across "The Very Best of the Drifters" I knew I had to buy it because these guys played a big part of why I love oldies because of that magical ride to Utah.

Here are other Drifters classics

Up On The Roof

Under The Boardwalk

Fools Fall In Love

There Goes My Baby

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DRIFTERS CLASSIC?? 

My New Jack Swing Era: The Era of the late 80s

As you guys know from reading my blog, I love soul music from the 50s-90s. But finally I can discuss an era that I know about which is the "New Jack Swing Era". This era I actually were born in. To my knowledge the "New Jack Swing Era" was developed by Teddy Riley, of the groups Guy & Blackstreet. "New Jack Swing is R&B vocals sung over a hip-hop and dance-pop. Basically this type of sound made you want to dance. 


Now, I was introduced to this type of sound by my mother and father. During this time, there was 4 albums that they played a lot. The albums included Keith Sweat's "Make It Last Forever", Guy's "Guy", Bobby Brown's "Don't Be Cruel", and Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation 1814". These album were a must play between 1987 to 1992. And until my father's death these albums had to be played every time we went on a trip. Most these albums are very sentimental because it showed me another fun side of my father and mother as child you didn't often see. Now, since my father has passed on listening to these albums bring back happy memories with him and other family members.


In 1988, I was a 2 year old baby and my mother & father decided to move to Richmond VA from the hard life of Brooklyn, NY to start a new life. Now I don't remember a lot about the move to VA, but I remember "Make It Last Forever", "Guy", "Don't Be Cruel", and "Rhythm Nation" was always played. One memory that I can recall from the VA era was one weekend my parents decided to take a trip back to NY for a visit and my mother decided that we all should wear matching white sweat suits. (To this day I am glad my mother doesn't have a picture of that because I bet we looked like clowns..lol) During that 6 hour ride to NY, I can remember those 4 albums being played. Now at 2 or 3 years could you imagine my and my parents  in white matching sweat suits rocking to these songs in the car, CLASSIC!


But it wasn't until we move to South Carolina, when my mother began college that these albums became part of my life. I am going to give a song about each of these 4 albums and at the end I will explain which album I liked the best.

Keith Sweat's "Make It Last Forever"  is the album that put "New Jack Swing" into the mainstream. This Teddy Riley produced album is a classic. With songs like "I Want Her", "Something Just Ain't Right", "In the Rain", and the classic duet "Make It Last Forever", you can't say this album didn't bring the New Jack Swing Era to relevancy. This album is very dear to me because my father, my uncle, and cousin all enjoyed this album to death. Now,  I know they all are in heaven blasting this album riding down the road. I remember when my uncle Alvin and cousin Andre use to come to our house in South Carolina, my father was pop in the tape and they would all sing to it. Three old men singing Keith Sweat, now everybody that is a fan of Keith Sweat knows he is begging type of singer, so to hear them was always funny.(Actually brings tears to my eyes writing about it). But these songs really classified this album as a classic:
                                                           

Something Just Aint Right

Tell Me It's Me You Want

Don't Stop Your Love

Make It Last Forever

Remake In The Rain

NEXT

This is the album that made me fall in love with Janet Jackson. Now with these four albums, this album my mother and I related to more than my dad. This album was more of a social issue album. In this album, Janet was talking about issues that were going on in our communities such as education, illiteracy, and social injustice. Songs like "Rhythm Nation", State of World, and my personal favorite "The Knowledge" defined this album. Now this album, my mother insisted to be played a lot because the songs had a message and you can dance to it and me and her love to dance. Today, I am so happy that this album was played because this is the album that made me want to go to college. One classic memory I can remember from this album, is the first time I heard "The Knowledge" at 4 years old I used to always ask my mother to play this song. So by the time I got to South Carolina, I actually started to listen to the lyrics which was a great message. During this time, I was observing my mother going through college and she would always tell that education is important. Then when I finally listen to the lyrics to "The Knowledge" it make me want something better for my life and at the age of 7, I know that I wanted to be like my mother and follow the lyrics of "The Knowledge".  These songs defined this album as a classic. This is album very still current, for example the Trayvon Martin case. 

The Knowledge

State of World

Alright(Which I can find the album version because the last 40 second is awesome)

Living In A World (RIP Travyon Martin)

NEXT

I am thankful for this album not just for the good music, I was introduced to this my favorite artist of all time Mary J. Blige. I remember this album completely this was a straight new jack swing to the end. Guy included the created of this era Teddy Riley, the voice behind the group Aaron Hall, and Damien Hall. This album had to be played which was agreeable with me, my mother and father. Songs like "Teddy's Jam", "Spend The Night", and "Groove Me" made you just want to dance. I remember me as a young child dancing hard on the dance floor to this album. Then ballad's like "Piece of My Love" and my personal favorite "Goodbye Love" are slow jam classics. The reason for "Goodbye Love" being my personal favorite is because an unknown Mary J. Blige sung the background vocals of this song. Even before I knew that was Mary singing background I loved this song, I used to ask my mother who is that girl singing those epic background vocals, when we learned it was Mary J. Blige, we knew we would meant to love her. (Yes me and family are BIG Mary J. Blige fans) But this "Guy" was a classic, that describes the New Jack Swing Era. But these were my favorites on this album

Goodbye Love (Listen to epic background vocals of Mary J. Blige)

I Like

Spend The Night

Groove Me

LASTLY

This album was more of an album that my father and I vibe on more than my mother because it was a more masculine album. Songs like "My Prerogative" make you just wanted sing to a girl and tell her "It's my prerogative, Imma do what I wanna do" like Bobby said at the end of the song. I can remember me and my father use sing this song in the car while my mother would look at us crazy. This album defined Bobby Brown as his own artist after trying to find himself after being in New Edition. Songs like "Every Little Step", "Don't Be Cruel", "Roni", and "Rock Witcha" made this album an instant classic. These were my personal favorites from the album 

Every Little Step (With the Rap)

Take It Slow

My Prerogative

Rock Witcha

As you see this albums are very close to me because it was the era that I was born in. The New Jack Swing Era was the era that really made me play attention music, which is part of the reason why I fell in love with music. Out of all the 4 albums, I must say that Keith Sweat's "Make It Last Forever" is the album that will always be close to me because my late father, my late uncle, and late cousin love this album. And every time I listen to this album, I just laugh and cry about the great memories I have with them. In the beginning it was hard to listen to, but now I can jam to the album because I know those three are in heaven jamming to the album too. Now as I conclude this blog entry these were the albums that represent my "New Jack Swing" era. 

  

Stronger: Standard Version

The Queen of American Idol is back with "Stronger". Kelly Clarkson has been giving her fans quality music ever since her first album "Thankful". As a long time fan, I was expecting another "My December". I thought this album would be "Breakaway" & "My December" put together. But it's more of a fun album like "All I Ever Wanted", which is not a bad thing. I think this album will definitely give Kelly Clarkson continued success. Even though demos of the songs were leaked it still didn't take away the good of the album. 

The album starts with the albums' first single 'Mr Know It All'. I feel this single wasn't the best single to start the album with but it's still a great song. In addition, I wanted Kelly to really give me more adlibs at the end, but other than that the song is cool.  The second track in my opinion should have been the first single. But I understand that it was leaked, so she and the label felt they had to go with a song that wasn't. But 'What Doesn't Kill You' (Stronger) is an anthem for everyone. Her vocals on this song makes the song so much better. When I first heard this song in July, it became my favorite song of 2011. If you want an anthem like 'Since You Been Gone', 'What Doesn't Kill You' is it. The third and fourth tracks 'Darkside' & 'Honestly' gives me that "My December" vibe. 'Honestly', Kelly is singing her heart out especially when she says "Listen to the truth if it breaks me...if you hating me do it honestly". I can feel her when she sings that. The fifth track is entitled 'You Love Me', which I understand is the reviewer favorite song. Clarkson explained that she was in a dark place when she wrote this song and this song was her way of getting all that pain out. In my opinion, this song is an for anyone that experienced a bad breakup. Track six is another song that leaked entitled 'Einstein' (Previously 'Dumb+Dumb=You'). When I heard this song when it leaked, it became my ringtone because I liked it so much. This song you sing to a person that really hurt you and you are yelling this song to them. I love Kelly's emotions on this song you can tell she is angry but she seems happy to get all the pain out. Another leaked song 'Standing In Front Of You', I love this song as soon as I heard it. But I like the demo and little better than the album version. It seems that the added music takes away from the emotion and rawness of the demo. But the words are beautiful and Kelly's vocals are great as usual. The eighth track 'I Forgive You' was also leaked. This song was produced by Rodney Jerkins(Brandy, Beyonce, and Whitney Houston). I was surprise that Jerkins did rock music, but his sound and Kelly's voice shines on this song. This song give me a 'Walk Away' vibe, very soulful rock. 'Hello' is the ninth track, which I loved when I first heard it. This is song gives you a reminder of "Breakaway", this song gave me the song 'Gone' vibe. I love her vocals on this, when Kelly adlibs it sends chills up my spine. Now, my favorite song on the album has to be the tenth track 'The War Is Over'. This song gives me 'Hear Me' part 2. 'Hear Me' is my favorite song from her, but this song does something to me. The words to me applies to a situation that I experienced and this song tells it all. You know that person has a hold on you, but sometimes you have to let it go. When she sings "I won't let you pull me in because I know you gonna win, but the war is over and I won't fight you anymore, I never been so sure", it speaks to me so much. The next track is 'Let Me Down' which is a classic Kelly Clarkson song, great vocals and rocky. Another favorite of mine is 'You Can't Win', this song is for anyone that feels like that can't shine at anything. When I heard this song for the first time, it made me think of Barack Obama, because he can't win at anything with Congress. 'You Can't Win' is definitely another anthem for everyone. The last track on the album is called 'Breaking Your Own Heart' definitely goes back to Kelly's country roots. When I first heard this song, I cried because it's such an emotional song. This song really gives you that Patsy Cline's 'I Fall to Pieces' vibe. Kelly's vocals are extraordinary on this song. When I heard this song, it brought back memories of my mother and I on the road with my father and hearing country music at the truck stop.  


In all "Stronger" is a good album. Kelly vocals are extraordinary and the song contents are great. She definitely gives you a little bit of each of her albums, but it channels "All I Ever Wanted" because when through she gives you a memories of her older albums, Kelly seemed 
to have fun with this album like "All I Ever Wanted". (8/10)

STANDOUT TRACKS

The War Is Over

What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)

You Can't Win

Breaking Your Own Heart

You Love Me

Family Reunion

O'JAYS "FAMILY REUNION"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tp-9gAuNME

This blog entry is going to be about family. In my life, family has been very important to me. Even though, my blog is about music but my family is a big part of my wide musical selection. This weekend my family decided to throw my Aunt Joyce a surprise 50 birthday party. With this being a milestone, this birthday was a lot more meaningful. In 2006, my Aunt Joyce was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. During the last couple of years, she has been going through a lot but this cancer hasn't changed her. I remember when I called Aunt Joyce when she was diagnosed she told me "this cancer will not break me, I am gonna keep on keeping on". She is such a big inspiration to me because every time I think about the bad things in my life, I look at what she's going through and she still remains positive. Meanwhile, the doctors told her that the survival rate of this cancer is small, as I stated this still doesn't change her at all. 

About a month ago, my mother called me to tell me that the family decided to throw her a birthday party, my answered was a yes, because Aunt Joyce supported me throughout my life. She attended my high school and college graduation, she just shows me so much love, I felt that I owed her to be there, to show her that I loved her dearly. So, the day of the party my family is getting ready to drive to Brooklyn for the big celebration. Now with my family being so close, I felt that she would have suspect something. But when she got to the party and the family yelled surprise you could tell that she didn't know about anything (or Aunt Joyce is a good actress...lol). So, doing the singing of Happy Birthday everyone said some good things. My mother wanted me to speak, but I felt too nervous for some reason. However, I felt Aunt Joyce had the best speech of the nice. She told the family, "GOD blessed her with family and friends and that means everything to her, because of family and friends it keeps her going". Her speech brought tears to my eyes because she is such a survivor. Her speech showed me the importance of family.

THE WORDS I SHOULD HAVE SAID AT THE PARTY

Aunt Joyce I didn't get to speak at your birthday party, but I want to tell you that you are such an inspiration to me. I feel that you are the true meaning of survivor, because the devil tries to keep you down, but you still come out fighting. I'm so blessed to call you my aunt. I want you to keep living because GOD has you here for a reason. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

AUNT JOYCE & I AT MY COLLEGE GRADUATION

MUSIC THAT REMINDS ME OF MY FAMILY

(My Family Gets Down On The Dance Floor)

Songs Got Everyone On The Floor Young & Old

(No Disrespect to the Older Folks...lol)

McFadden & Whitehead -Aint No Stoppin Us Now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuAZTWGfQTs

Marcia Griffiths-Electric Slide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PyLFzcTiYA

Mtume-Juicy Fruit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MucY5wRYByU

Aly Us-Follow Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WkcnbAKRRI

TELL ME A SONG THAT YOUR FAMILY DANCE TO THAT GETS THE YOUNG & OLD ON THE DANCE FLOOR!!!!!