Sorry, but it is the 'silly season' so here's another new Christmas tune with a 60s 'Motownesque' vibe. Gregory Porter teams up with Paloma Faith. I don't really listen to commercial radio but would guess that this will be getting a hammering at present?
This is song that Hathaway wrote for Cold Blood for their 1972 album 'First Taste Of Sin' which he produced for them. It is believed that this track may have been a demo he recorded for them to prepare for the recording session. It has never been released, and you need to listen to it fast as it has already been removed from Soundcoud so who knows how long it will remain on YouTube for, it was only posted a few days ago (4th Dec)?
This is so soulful. Makes you wonder what else was left in the can?
Cold Blood [1972] - You Had To Know [Reprise #MS 2070]
Cold Blood were an Easy Bay Area ('Easy Bay Grease') band (in the same vein as Tower Of Power, Chicago and Blood Sweat & Tears). Their lead singer was Lydia Pense.
They recorded 'You Had To Know' on their 1972 album 'First Taste Of Sin' along with another Hathaway written song 'Valdez In The Country' which they relased on 45 as flip to Down To The Bone in 1972.
Kirk Whalum Feat. Lalah Hathaway [2010] - You Had To Know [Mack Avenue #REN5145]
This is a version recorded in 2010 with Hathaway's daughter Lalah for a tribute album 'Everything Is Everything (The Music Of Donny Hathaway)'
To complete a trio of Christmas record postings, Sony have released the first official video of Whitney's 'One Wish (For Christmas)', which was the only single released from her 2003 'One Wish: The Holiday Album'.
She is in fine voice on this gospel 'tinged' Christmas ballad.
Hey, this isn't half bad! Birmingham's own Beverley Knight pulling out all the stops on a new Chritsmas single which encapsulates the best of previous 'winners' i.e. Mariah Carey and Phil Specter's classic 'Wall Of Sound' style Christmas singles from the 60s. A lush production with strings, a choir, sleigh bells, it's got a real 60s feel to it. The video was filmed in London's West End at The Noel Coward Theatre as a gesture to the 'hit' the theatre industry has taken in 2020.
BPM: 150 Key: 10B (D Major)
It's actually from a new movie 'The Loss Adjuster' released in Nov 2020 by Pink Flamingo Films which stars Luke Goss, Martin Kemp, Kym Marsh and Joan Collins. See trailer below, looks like it's in the spirit of 'Love Actually', directed by Vincent Woods.
Hard to believe that this song is 50 years old this year and to celebrate the golden anniversary a new video has been created by cartoonist Lonnie Milsap. So let's get into the Chrstmas spirit (with only 10 days to go) in this most 'annus horribilis' of years with probably the most soulful Xmas singles ever.
Joss Stone has released her first new material for three years, and what a tune. Authentic deep southern soul with gospel influences. Hard to believe that this young girl from Kent is still only 33 as she seems to have been around forever. She debuted with her 'Soul Sessions' album in 2003 aged just 16.
I've also included the incredible duet she did with Rev. Al Green on his cover of The Bee Gees How Can You Mend A Broken Heart originally released (as far as I can tell) on Sex And The City soundtrack in 2008.
Cover of Chaka Khan's - Eye To Eye from 1984 with Shannon Pearson on lead who does a great job. I'm liking this version!
19 (NE)Fostina Dixon Feat. Larry Blackmon (Cameo) - Get On The Floor
BPM: 116 Key: 8B (C Major)
New single from saxophonist Fostina Dixon which features Larry Blackmon of Cameo on drums whcih comes across as a 80s jazz funk throwback. She led her own group Collage in the 80s, but noth the group of same name on Solar. I discovered that she played flute on the legendary 1978 album by Leo's Sunshipp 'We Need Each Other'
20 (14)Jarrod Lawson - Be The Change (Album)
21 (23)George Anderson/Joyce San Matteo - Lets Celebrate Life
