HELEN REDDY (1941 - 2020)

Helen Reddy, who is best known for her pop anthem of female empowerment, "I Am Woman", has passed away on September 29th at the age of seventy-eight. The Australian singer (who retired from performing in 2002 but briefly reappeared in 2012) had been struggling with dementia over the last few years.

Born in Melbourne, Victoria, Reddy, at the age of four, was a part of a show-business family. She would sing on radio and television which lead to her winning a talent contest on a television program in 1966. The prize was a ticket to New York City and a chance to audition for a recording contract. Unfortunately, Reddy did not win over the label executives at the time but decided to stay in the States to pursue her dream of becoming a professional singer.

With the lack of a work permit and trying to care for her three-year old daughter, Traci from her brief marriage to musician, Kenneth Weate, Reddy struggled to get singing gigs. But she met and fell for Jeff Wald and they married three days later which solved her ability to perform legally. After the family moved to Los Angeles, Wald would become manager of several musical acts but neglected the career of his own wife, who still couldn't get signed to a label. Reddy gave him an ultimatum to help her or the marriage was over.

Wald went to work and eventually got Capitol Records to give her a one record opportunity in 1971. Reddy recorded two songs; "I Believe in Music" (written by Mac Davis) which was the A-side of the record and a cover of "I Don't Know How to Love Him" from the popular Broadway musical, "Jesus Christ Superstar" on the back. The single wasn't getting much attention until a DJ in Canada flipped over the record and played it on air. This would become Reddy's first hit song, reaching number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She quickly put together her debut album (also called "I Don't Know How to Love Him") and the follow-up single would make her a pop music sensation. 

"I Am Woman" (which Reddy co-wrote with fellow Australian musician, Ray Burton) originally appeared on Reddy's debut album but after it was used in the closing credits for the 1972 film, "Stand Up and Be Counted", it generated some attention. A new version was recorded and released as a single later that year. It took some time but "I Am Woman" eventually reached the top of the US pop chart and would help Reddy win a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (becoming the first Australian to win the prize). The timing of this song couldn't be more perfect as the Equal Rights Amendment was gaining traction in this country and "I Am Woman" would be embraced as a rallying cry for the movement.

More hits followed for Reddy including "Peaceful", "Angie Baby", "Delta Dawn", "Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady", "Keep on Singing" and "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)". She would go on to sell over eighty million records worldwide over her career. 

Reddy also made many appearances on talk shows, television series and variety programs; became the semi-regular host of the late night music variety show, "The Midnight Special" from 1973 until 1975 and even had her own summer replacement series, "The Helen Reddy Show" in 1973. She also appeared in several films (including the 1977 Disney feature, "Pete's Dragon" and the disaster flick, "Airport '75") and theatrical productions ("Anything Goes", "Call Me Madam", "Blood Brothers" and "The Mystery of Edwin Drood") in the 1980's and 1990's.

Reddy wrote her memoir, "The Woman I Am" in 2006 and her life story was given the bio-pic treatment with a 2019 feature film, "I Am Woman" from filmmaker, Unjoo Moon. Reddy is survived by her daughter, Traci and son, Jordan from her marriage to Wald. She was married to Wald from 1968 until 1983 and then married Milton Ruth, a drummer in her band, that year before the couple divorced in 1995.

RANDOM SIGHTS + SOUNDS

The latest single from Lady Gaga's "Chromatica" is "911". The song deals with mental health issues and the medication, olanzapine to help them cope which the singer has to taken. The music video for the track (directed by filmmaker, Tarsem Singh) perfectly merges her love of offbeat imagery and elaborate, quirky costumes with acting performance which she has put on display successfully in the movie remake of "A Star Is Born".



It's hard to believe but the Welsh soul singer, Tom Jones turned eighty a few months ago in June. Since his breakout hit, "It's Not Unusual" in 1965, Jones has enjoyed worldwide success and acclaim with many popular songs like "What's New Pussycat", "Delilah" and "She's a Lady". And he's still quite active, serving as a coach on the British version of "The Voice" and making concert appearances. To celebrate this legendary singer, here is a very unusual live appearance I found of Jones performing his hit tune, "It's Not Unusual" amongst dancers in a cheesy, wild animal setting:

Marianne Faithfull, the British vocalist, has been in the news recently due to the disclosure that she has recovered from COVID-19. This is the latest of many health issues the seventy-three year old performer has suffered throughout her life. But one thing is certain; Faithfull is tough and a survivor. She began singing professionally in 1964 as a folk music performer in coffeehouses in London. Her first opportunity came when she met Andrew Loog Oldham, the manager of the Rolling Stones at a party for the band. He produced Faithfull's first hit record, "As Tears Go By" that he co-wrote with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Even though she was married and had a baby, she would leave her husband for Jagger. Faithfull would enjoy a successful music career, make a few films and experimented with drugs.

By the time her relationship with Jagger ended in 1970, she was a heroin addict and lost custody of her son. Faithfull lived on the streets for a couple of years before friends helped get her in to rehab. She would return to music but her voice, once sweet and melodic, was now weathered and raspy. She released "Broken English" in 1979, a collection of punk and new-wave songs, that became a welcome comeback and now considered a classic recording. Listen to the title track and watch Faithfull in action:

 And to close this out, I will give you the quarantine version of the Go-Go's performing their classic hit, "We Got The Beat" live on the "Today" show on September 15th. These ladies still got it, rocking out together while isolated at home, and it's pure magic. Also be sure to check out their documentary, "The Go-Go's" on Showtime from filmmaker, Alison Ellwood which gives a balanced account of their wild and crazy times as the most successful all-female rock band of all time:

SAM SMITH: LOVE GOES

With an unplanned delay and a title change, Sam Smith's third album has been finally given a release date. "Love Goes" is the new name of the record and is due out on October 30th. The altered record does feature a few recently recorded tracks with the first official single, "My Oasis", a guitar-driven, dance-pop song featuring Nigerian performer, Burna Boy, came out in July. And the follow-up single out now, "Diamonds" is an emotion-filled, kiss-off dance track that the singer does so well. I love the music video for the song where Smith appears free and dancing with passionate abandon.

There were several promotional singles released last year (which includes their hit duet with Normani, "Dancing With a Stranger", the cover of Donna Summer's disco classic, "I Feel Love" and the ballad, "To Die For" which was the original title of this album) that were originally supposed to be a part of this collection but they will now appear as bonus tracks.

TURNTABLES

This year, musician, Janelle Monae will be flexing her acting muscles with a starring role in the psychological horror thriller, "Antebellum" (which is due out Friday on VOD) and makes an appearance as feminist/activist, Dorothy Pitman Hughes in the bio-pic of Gloria Steinem in "The Glorias" with plans of a theatrical release on September 30th. 

But thankfully, Monae has not abandoned her music although her latest song is for an upcoming movie. "Turntables" is for the soundtrack of the Amazon Prime documentary, "All In: The Fight for Democracy" which examines the insidious development of voter suppression happening in this country right now. This song, which she raps over a pulsating hip-hop beat, stresses the importance of "turning the tables" by getting out and voting in this election, done in a way that only Ms Monae can deliver.

HIT DIFFERENT

It's been four years since the release of the debut album, "Ctrl" from alt-r&b artist, SZA. The record was met with universal acclaim and placed a spotlight on an exciting new talent. And while she's made several guest appearances on records by other performers (most notably with Maroon 5 on 2017's "What Lovers Do" and teaming up with Kendrick Lamar on the top-ten hit, "All The Stars" for the "Black Panther" soundtrack which also was nominated for a Best Original Song Oscar), we have been waiting for new music from the singer born Solána Rowe.

SZA had also been frustrated, publicly grumbling recently about the hold-up of her follow-up album from her label, Top Dawg Entertainment which had announced the record's release back in 2019. But now a new song has just materialized called "Hit Different" and that certainly describes this track. Written by SZA, Rob Bisel, Ty Dolla Sign (who also performs on the tune) along with the track's producers, The Neptunes, the song rides a sensual yet choppy beat, which deals with a dysfunctional love affair that she just can't end.

There is also a music video for "Hit Different" directed by SZA that is a striking visual wonder. The clip features the singer seen in a several settings (in a junkyard and a farm surrounded by animals) while performing slick choreography with dancers while wearing various sexy and stylish outfits. But there are also shots of SZA covered in blood like some sort of new-born embryo. Then almost near the end of the video, we are briefly introduced to another song, a smooth ballad. What does it all mean? Who knows and who cares as it all looks and sounds great. I know I can't wait to hear more from SZA.

JAGUAR

Victoria Monét has been creating popular, chart-topping songs for a number of years. But it's been other artists who have largely benefited from her songwriting talent. Some of the musicians who have recorded songs co-written by Monét include Nas, T.I., Chrisette Michele, Fifth Harmony, Chris Brown, Chloe x Halle, Brandy and most notably, Ariana Grande. Monét has worked on the singer's last four albums including "Thank U Next" which she received two Grammy Award nominations for Album of The Year and Record of The Year for "7 Rings".

Raised in Sacramento, CA, Monét was passionate about poetry, dance and music as a child. She became interested in music production and got in touch Rodney Jerkins through social media. The producer also known as "Darkchild" was in the process of assembling a girl group and invited the teenage Monét to join. The act was signed to Motown Records yet never released any music. Monét decided to move away from performing and focus on songwriting which lead to her meeting Sean Combs to write a song for his 2010 Diddy Dirty Money album project.

Monét would sing on her demos with the hope that a record label would hear them and want to sign her. And that is exactly what happened with Atlantic Records and she was signed to the label. Monét would release two EPs, "Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 1" in 2014 and a follow-up in 2015, "Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 2" yet they failed to generate much attention for the singer.

But it would be Monét's songwriting that actually brought her attention and success. Now after years of writing for other artists, she has saved some songs for herself with her recently released first studio album, "Jaguar".  The collection certainly spotlights her gift as writer and the twenty-seven year old singer delivers sensual, groove-driven r&b. Yet the production doesn't do enough to make these songs and Monét stand out in a distinctive way. I definitely admire "Jaguar" and I hope we will hear more from Victoria Monét the singer.