Sangers Of Yesterday & Today

My 3 Favorite Sangers of Yesterday & Today

Now I was at work just looking over my blog, and thinking about good ideas for the next couple of blog entries. And I saw that I came up with a good quote "Old & New Makes A Perfect Soundtrack" I figured I would do entries about my favorite female/male singers from yesterday and today. So, this blog entry will be about 6 women that can SANG!!!

Nowadays we have people that can sing and others that can SANG. In today's world for you to be popular, it's NOT about the talent anymore, so I just wanted to use this blog to remind people that talent will outshine gimmicks in the end.

OLD SCHOOL

I figure I start with my favorite sanger of all time "The Empress of Soul", Gladys Knight. Her voice to me is everything it's soulful and emotional at the same time. When Gladys sings "I Don't Want To Do Wrong", you believe her. 

JUST LISTEN: SING TO THEM GLADYS!!

YOU CAN'T TELL ME YOU DON'T FEEL THE EMOTION

I want to take you back when I was first introduced to Gladys Knight. Back in South Carolina, my mother was going college to further her education and music was a big part of lives because it was our only way to be free from the struggle. The love of music in my opinion made our bond stronger. Meanwhile, on campus, Friday nights on QUICKIE 93.9 it was always old soul night with Bob Dickels. Now you would think I would want to play video games, because I wouldn't want to hear that old music. But I actually forgot about the video games and chilled in the living with mom. Dickels would go from Motown to Stax to Chess. So I would hear Marvin Gaye to Otis Redding to Etta James, it was great but one night I heard this...

NEITHER ONE OF US..ONE OF THE GREATEST BREAK-UPS SONGS OF ALL TIME YOU CAN FEEL GLADYS PAIN...GO AHEAD LISTEN TO IT AGAIN!!

I remember asking my mother, "who is this?" "Baby that's Gladys Knight and the Pips, she is my favorite singer", she said. "I like her too mommy, she sounds good", I said. See I knew other singers like Aretha Franklin from her version of Otis Redding Respect and Patti Labelle because she kicked off her shoes when she sings, but I will discuss these two later. From the moment I heard, Neither One of Us every Friday I wanted to hear a song from Gladys Knight because her voice gave me a feeling like no other. Fast forward a few years, we moved back up north and I remember going through my grandparents 8 tracks (yup 8 tracks..lol), and the first thing I looked for was Gladys Knight. After about an hour of searching, I found this album...

(www.amazon.com)

I remember I wanted to hear this all night until my family said "Junior another 8-track please" This album had classics like I've Got To Use My Imagination, Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, & the legendary Midnight Train To Georgia. About one year later, my mother and I was watching the classic movie, Claudine with Diahann Carroll. And I said "Ma, is that Gladys singing those songs". She said "yes Gladys Knight and the Pips did the whole soundtrack with Curtis Mayfield". I explained to her that I need this soundtrack and around this time, it was hard to find soundtracks like this. So we found out that that a guy in Brooklyn sold old records like this. So, one day my mother and I rode down to Brooklyn and brought it. It began my favorite soundtrack of all time. 

(www.ebay.com)

And with this soundtrack Gladys Knight will forever be my favorite SANGER of all time.

JUST LISTEN!!!

DIDN'T KNOW YOU

DADDY COULD SWEAR, I DECLARE

IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN

MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA

Now from the "Empress of Soul" to the "Queen of Soul", the legendary Aretha Franklin. Ms Franklin is my 2nd favorite SANGER. I think my first introduction to Aretha was also from listening to Dickel's Friday night show. This was the song that I heard...

ANGEL

RETHA SANGING AINT SHE???

Hmm you thought I would pick something like Respect or Chain of Fools. Nope Dickel was good for playing songs that was not that popular. Anyway, I asked my mother who this was she says "Aretha Franklin!" She explained that my grandparents had a lot of 33's & 45's with Aretha. So I said "ma what is a 33 and 45". Of course she laughed and explained it in great detail. Meanwhile, while Angel was playing and Aretha got to the bridge and it those high notes, I said "WOW she can sing". Now, on Friday I wanted to hear Gladys and Aretha cause they are singing. When we moved up north, I go to the 8 tracks again and found Sparkle 

(www.ebay.com)

And I remember I was blown away with songs like....

LOOK INTO YOUR HEART

IT'S LIKE ARETHA HAS A WAY OF SINGING A SONG IT JUST TAKES YOU SOMEWHERE

My mother explained to me that Sparkle was a movie and that was the soundtrack, even though Aretha's version was recorded before the movie, but it was "said" to be the soundtrack for the movie. So, that day we went to the guy in Brooklyn to get Claudine I asked my mother to get Sparkle too. (I am telling you that ride home listening to those two albums were amazing.)

And with that soundtrack Aretha became my 2nd favorite SANGER of all time. And here's why

DROWN MY OWN TEARS

GIVING HIM SOMETHING HE CAN FEEL

CALL ME

I'M IN LOVE

GOT ONE MORE GREAT SANGER NOW...STAY WITH ME...LOL

Finally to the woman that feels the music when she sings, Patti Patti, the legendary Patti Labelle. I wish they would have gave Patti a nickname or something because she DAMN sure deserves one. I will always remember Patti for kicking off her shoes and get down on the stage. I think my first time hearing about Patti is from my father's mother talking about how Patti sings Over The Rainbow when she was with the Bluebelles. She said when Patti sings she SANGS. So, I remember this song from Patti from the South Carolina days...

THE RIGHT KINDA LOVER

Ohhhh I remember joint, Terry and Lewis did Patti right on this one...I remember this use to come on the THE BIG DM 101 FM alot...when my mother use to pick me up from school. It had the smooth vibe going...

But it wasn't until college when I started learning about Patti's live performances. Patti can hang with the best of them. Just ask Diana Ross (LOL). Patti have performances that will bring tears to your eyes. But Patti still have classic songs like 

IF ONLY YOU KNEW

WHEN SOMEBODY LOVES YOU BABY

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

Now for my favorite 3 performances from them.

GLADYS KNIGHT-NEITHER ONE OF US

ARETHA FRANKLIN- NESSUN DORMA

PATTI LABELLE- YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE

Now from these performances if these don't put Gladys, Aretha, and Patti in your top 5 SANGERS of all time something is wrong with your hearing. Well at least one person agrees with me Oprah, because these are her top 3 singers she had them sing to her on her 40th birthday, the only time these 3 singers were EVER together...check it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkFJYDTCNZ4

NEW SCHOOL

Now it seems these days talent is not the basics of many artist these days. Record companies are about gimmicks and not talent. Many people with the talent are getting pushed to the back instead of getting pushed to the front. But in my opinion, talent outshines all. Nowadays I have 3 singers that I feel can SANG. These ladies are Melanie Fiona, Joss Stone, and Kelly Clarkson. These women are my favorites right now. When these women sing, it sends chills through me just like when I heard Gladys, Patti, and Aretha. 

Starting with my favorite right now the underrated Melanie Fiona. I was introduced to Melanie Fiona in my last year in college. One of my college friends, was always posting depressing songs on facebook. I never paid attention to it, I just used to looked at it and say "she needs to get over it". But one day, I saw her post "It Kills Me" and figured I would play the video. And from that moment, I have been #teamMelanieFiona every since...here's why..

IT KILLS ME

YOU CAN'T TELL ME MELANIE NOT SANGING!!!!!!...*praise dancing*

I knew I had to find more music on this girl because if you can make me feel something after a song, you are talented. But I felt I needed to hear her sing this live to really catch me and Melanie closed my mouth after this performance.

HOLD UP, I NEED TO GET MYSELF TOGETHER AFTER THAT PERFORMANCE...JUST A GUITAR AND HER VOICE!!!! 

So after that performance I went to download her first album, The Bridge and I was amazed. This girl can SANG with songs like "Priceless", "You Stop My Heart" and "Teach Him". With her voice, I was like when she comes out with this 2nd album she will be a problem because she has talent. Two years later, her second album is released, The MF Life. Once again, she was amazed me with her voice with songs like these "Gone and Never Coming Back", "Rock Paper, Scissors, and "Wrong Side of A Love Song". Melanie sings with so much feeling and emotion and that's talent with a singer can do that. In my opinion, Melanie should be getting so much more respect then she gets...here's why!!

JUST LISTEN

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS

WRONG SIDE OF A LOVE SONG

SAD SONGS

From these songs that's why Melanie Fiona is my favorite singer of the new school.

Now to the blue-eyed soul, Ms. Joss Stone. This girl has so much soul it's ridiculous. I was introduced to Joss Stone by my mother. When in high school my mother use to listen to Wendy Williams on WBLS, and she said one day Wendy played this girl from England her name is Joss Stone. My mother said "that girl can sang", she found out Betty Wright was her mentor. This was one time my mother went to Best Buy to buy her first album, The Soul Sessions. Then we was surprised that she was white, but after we put that album into the CD player when we heard this it didn't matter....

A CHOKIN' KIND

COME ON JOSS TOOK THIS JOE SIMON CLASSIC, AND MADE IT A CLASSIC HERSELF!!! WOOOO

Me and my mother loved The Soul Sessions because Joss Stone songs from the 60's and 70's and SANG them. It wasn't just normal covers, it make you forget about the original versions. (That's Crazy!!!) After that I continued to follow her career with Mind, Body, & Soul, Introducing Joss Stone, Free Me, LP1, & The Soul Sessions Vol 2. Like Melanie, Joss is another great voice that don't get the respect she deserves. Check out these videos to see why Joss needs to get more respect.

KILLING TIME

4 & 20

TEARDROPS

And to end this the last one is the first American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson. I remember when I was introduced to Kelly during her first audition on American Idol. See this was a bonding time with me, my grandma, and my late grandfather. And when I heard Kelly sing "At Last" I said, "she is going to the finals, cause that girl can SANG". See why!!

AT LAST

THOSE RUNS SENDS CHILLS....KELLY IS SANGING RIGHT??

Then when she sung this I knew she was going to win...

NATURAL WOMAN

Then Kelly RIGHTFULLY won American idol and I have been following her career from Thankful to Stronger. Even Simon says that Kelly has the best voice of any American Idol winner. Kelly can just SANG, she can sing any genre: soul, pop, rock, blues, country, and etc. 

SOME KIND OF MIRACLE

HEAR ME

MAYBE

My favorite performances from Melanie Fiona, Joss Stone, & Kelly Clarkson

WRONG SIDE OF A LOVE SONG & GET IT TO ME RIGHT

SPOILED

UP TO THE MOUNTAIN

Maybe one day all three of these SANGERS can be on stage together, SOMEBODY make this happen. 

Now these are MY favorite singers, maybe yours are different but at least we can agree that ALL my picks can SANG!!! 

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SANGERS FROM YESTERDAY & TODAY!!

  

My Top Three Soundtracks of all time

On August 17, the remake of Sparkle is being released featuring the late Whitney Houston. This was the last performance from Whitney Houston before her death. But if you are familiar with the original Sparkle, that included Irene Cara and Phillip Michael Thomas, it was known for the music. The soundtrack was done by the "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin and produced by the late great Curtis Mayfield. But I will discuss the background about Sparkle as this blog progress. I decided to do this blog because I saw an article about top soundtracks and three soundtracks weren't one it. So as a music lover, I felt it was my duty to write about them. As you can see my favorite 3 soundtracks are Claudine, Sparkle, and Waiting To Exhale. These three soundtracks displays soul and passion at it's finest.

3. Waiting To Exhale

This Babyface produced album is legendary. This album can be called the "women's soundtrack" because with this album all songs were sung by women. In my opinion, the soundtrack fits the movie. The movie was about 4 women that go through heartbreak and how they conquered. And the soundtrack does the movie so much justice. But the funny thing about this album is that women SANG all the songs but a man wrote all the songs. Babyface might have gone through this situations because he wrote great songs. Nevertheless, this shows that men can also relate to this soundtrack because men experience heartbreak as well. 

Now I knew about this soundtrack because this album has hits but I never fully listen to the album, I only knew the singles. Finally, one of my classmates in college was saying that the Waiting To Exhale is the best soundtrack of all time, I knew then I had to listen to it. The following Saturday came, and I had nothing to do, so I went to the store and brought me a bottle of a certain "spirit" and figured I would listen to this album. I think that was the best and the worse thing I could have done. This album was emotional so when you are full of the "spirit" it makes you think about your situation that you are dealing with. So, as epic as the album was I was in my dormroom crying on certain songs. But that crying show me that if a soundtrack can bring me to tears, it has to be epic. I was "Sittin Up In My Room" (dormroom that is) reminiscing. In addition, what I like is Babyface wrote each song for the right person, which the artist made the song theirs. From this album there are 5 songs that I always have to hear:

Aretha Franklin -It Hurts Like Hell

Whitney Houston- Why Does It Hurt So Bad

Mary J. Blige- Not Gon' Cry

Shanna- How Could You Call Her Baby

Whitney Houston/CeCe Winans - Count On Me

Now after listening to all these songs, they basically tells the story of the movie. The characters go through heartbreak and at the end they realize they could count on with other to get through it. I must say if you want an epic soundtrack this has to be in your collection. 

2. Sparkle

This album takes me back every time I see it the cover. This album was the first 8 track that I pick out of my grandparents wall unit when my mother and I moved back north from her finishing her college education. Now this was the time I started falling in love with soul music. So, me as a 10 year old kid goes to this wall unit and see all these big cassettes and ask my mother "what are these big cassettes?". My mother responds as she laughs, "I am getting old but those are 8 tracks!" So, I see Aretha Franklin and pull that 8 track out and it's  "Sparkle". So, I started asking my mother about this album and she explains this is the soundtrack to a 70s movie titled Sparkle. She then explains that Aretha's "Sparkle" was already done before the movie was done. Of course, I never saw the movie so I started asking questions. As a result, my mother rents the movie but I love Aretha's version so much more. I am not bashing the movie, because it's a classic but Aretha's version to me was more soulful than the movies version. And with Curtis Mayfield's legendary producing this album this album is legendary. Even though, I love all the songs on the album there are 3 songs that are my favorites. Even though there is 8 songs on the cd:

Look Into Your Heart 

Hooked On Your Love

Jump

Now Aretha was SANGING on this album, I know you probably saying why was't "Something He Can Feel" on his favorite list. See I already knew about this song so when I finally heard the album these three songs became my favorites. But as I stated before I love the whole album. Now this leads me to the remake of Sparkle, I was a little nervous when I heard that Whitney Houston was remaking Sparkle back in 1999. I was thinking that this album and movie is tough to remake so if Whitney was going to do it she had to do it right. Then I found out Aaliyah was going to play Sparkle, I figured the movie was be fine but the soundtrack still worried me. But when Aaliyah passed, the movie was put on hold. Then in 2012 it was said that the movie started production with Jordin Sparks as Sparkle. After I heard that I said, well she does remind you of Irene Cara, so I said it could work. Then I said the only person that could produce the soundtrack to get that soul vibe is R. Kelly, because he is the closest to Curtis Mayfield we are going to get today. Next week, it's said R. Kelly was producing the soundtrack. I knew then that this can be a great remake like Dreamgirls. I haven't heard the soundtrack yet but with Curtis and Aretha leaving that legendary, R. Kelly has some big shoes to fill. But the original has to be in your soundtrack collection. 

1. Claudine

Another Curtis Mayfield produced album, this soundtrack is my favorite soundtrack of all time. Not just because Gladys Knight is my favorite singer but with this album all the songs are my favorite. I remembering being 10 years old and first hearing this album I was floored. As I stated, me and mother moved back north after she graduated college and we used to listen to old soul and we couldn't find cassette with old music. As a result, someone told my mother about a guy that sells old music in Brooklyn on Belmont Ave. On Saturday, my family decided to take a ride out to Brooklyn so we can to go meet this guy. So, we went to Belmont Ave and we saw this brown van with this older guy. When we get up to the van, he opens up the van we see all these cassettes that included Tyrone Davis, Sam Cooke, Bobby Womack, etc. Me and my mother felt like we were in heaven. So my mother decided to get two cassettes "Claudine Soundtrack" & "Sparkle". When mom popped that cassette in I fell in love with this album at 10 years old and I still play it at 26. Gladys' voice on this album is just legendary. Since I have pick favorites I will chose 4 songs:

To Be Invisible

The Makings Of You

Hold On

Makes Your A Happy Home

Well I hope yall enjoyed my music journey through my favorite soundtracks, these albums in my opinion define soul at it's finest. Hopefully if you don't have these soundtracks, then maybe this blog can get you add them to your collection.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK?