Ray pretty much invented soul and then cornered the market. Instead of leaving well enough alone, he went and invaded Nashville, dressing a string of Country and Western classics in his jazz/pop/soul style, but with fiercely personal interpretations. Something new under the sun. Something indelibly beautiful.
Continue reading...Rock and Roll
218: Bo Diddley, ‘Who Do You Love’
The pogroms in Częstochowa, the African-American folk magic tradition of hoodoo, me bootlegging booze across state lines, and my girlfriend almost being picked up by a blues legend.
Continue reading...182: The Shirelles, ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’
Once upon a time, about 40 years ago, people thought sex was bad. At least they said they thought sex was bad.
Continue reading...034: Dionne Warwick, ‘Walk On By’ (Burt Bacharach)
The first song in my new novel.
Continue reading...321: “The Greatest Band that Never Was”–The Soundtrack
The music behind the words!
Continue reading...048: Sam Cooke ‘Bring It On Home to Me’/The Miracles ‘You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me’
Sam Cooke takes a back seat to no one, not even to Smokey Robinson. The sweetest fruits are sometimes those closest to the roots.
Continue reading...076: Roy Orbison, ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’
Roy was working in his kitchen with his songwriting partner when wife Claudette came in and said she was going shopping. All three knew she had a lover in town. Orbison asked if she needed any money, and the partner cracked, “Pretty woman never needs any money.” By the time she got back, they had the song.
Continue reading...