Sharon Jones with her band, the Dap-Kings successfully recreated the sounds of classic r&b for modern audiences beginning in the mid-1990's. Although we sadly lost her in 2016 to pancreatic cancer, Jones has remained an unforgettable force in the soul revival movement. To honor the band's artistry and showcase her extraordinary gift for song interpretation, a new compilation album has been released with the clever title, "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Rendition Was In)". This record features many of the covers Jones and the Dap-Kings had made over the years that were given a funky polish.
We have the band's robust versions of Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered", Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done For Me Lately", Prince's "Take Me With You" and what is probably one of their best known songs, "This Land Is My Land", written and originally recorded by Woody Guthrie.
I have to admit there were some songs I hadn't heard the original versions before like the Marvelettes' "Here I Am Baby", Dusty Springfield's "Little By Little", "Inspiration Information" by Shuggie Otis and the title track from Mickey Newbury, "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)". Yet all of these covers are given smooth and soulful new life by one of the most dynamic vocalists in music. You will not be able to keep still while listening to the powerful voice of the one and only Miss Sharon Jones along with the swinging grooves of the Dap-Kings. Here are a few selections of my favorite covers from the album:
When Maren Morris picked up her third CMA Award of the evening for Female Vocalist of the Year, the singer startled the audience by giving a shout-out to the African-American women in country music in her acceptance speech. Morris may have warmly praised these performers and their contributions to the genre however country radio has never put much effort in to touching their music. It's not like female country music artists have been getting the amount of airplay that they deserve but Black vocalists are not even seriously being considered for exposure on the format.
I think the resistance is very similiar to white performers who try to enter hip-hop and r&b. This viewpoint tends to come from people being irrationally suspect of any apparent outsider. And while that might be somewhat understandable, I know that most would agree that if the performer is heartfelt and talented in any musical genre, regardless of race or gender, they should be welcomed with open arms.
While I had heard of a few of the artists that Morris mentioned (Yola, Rissi Palmer, Rhiannon Giddens), most of them were new to me like Mickey Guyton, Brittney Spencer and Linda Martell. That made me think that a spotlight should be placed on some of these gifted performers and so here it is:
RISSI PALMER
Rissi Palmer came on the scene in 2007 with the aptly titled single, "Country Girl" which was the first song by an African-American female performer to chart on the Hot Country Songs chart in twenty years (which was Dona Mason with Danny Davis on a 1987 cover of "Green Eyes (Cryin’ Those Blue Tears)"). Palmer grew up being a fan of country and r&b before later deciding she wanted to pursue becoming a country performer. The road was definitely bumpy for the young singer but her first opportunity came from producers, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis who wanted to sign the-then nineteen year old to a recording contract. However, Palmer turned it down since they wanted to mold her into a r&b singer and she knew that wasn't the direction she wanted to go.
Palmer finally got a record deal on her own terms, releasing a self-titled debut which featured the charting songs, "Country Girl" and "Hold On to Me". She also charted with a country cover of Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown's hit, "No Air" in 2008. Despite this promising success, Palmer still struggled to make her follow-up and released a children's album, "Best Day Ever" in 2013 that featured inspiring country-soul songs that kids and adults could enjoy. Palmer's last album to date was "Revival" in 2019, a critically acclaimed collection that features some of her most personal work, involving songs on love, racial tensions and self-acceptance.
MICKEY GUYTON
Born Candace Mycale Guyton in Arlington, Texas, she was inspired to become a country singer after watching a teenage LeAnn Rimes sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before a baseball game. Mickey Guyton signed with Capitol Nashville in 2011 but has only released three EPs to date with "Unbreakable" in 2014, a self-titled record the following year and "Bridges" that came out in September. Guyton received attention for the song, "Black Like Me" which went viral during the Black Lives Matter protests earlier this year and she became the first African-American country artist to perform solo on this year's Academy of Country Music Awards with another single from the EP, "What Are You Gonna Tell Her? ".
LINDA MARTELL
Linda Martell was an early African-American pioneer in country music who had a brief yet extremely complicated moment of success in the genre. She was born Thelma Bynem in Leesville, SC, raised on gospel music and began her career singing R&B. Martell drifted towards country which lead to her meeting Shelby Singleton, a very successful music producer, and signed to his offensively named label, Plantation Records in 1969. She would release her debut album, "Color Me Country" the following year which featured the charting songs, "Color Him Father", "Bad Case of the Blues" and "Before The Next Teardrop Falls". This success would lead to appearances on the popular television show, "Hee Haw" and make Martell the first black woman to appear on the Grand Ole Opry.
But Martell had to endure hateful, racist taunts from audiences when she performed. She had sought advice from Charley Pride, the only other African-American performer in country at the time, and all he could recommend was to develop a thick skin and just focus on singing. This proved too much for her to bear and Martell would leave her music career behind. She became a school bus driver and a teacher for children with learning disabilities. Over the years, Martell would try from time to time to attempt a comeback but Singleton had effectively blackballed her in country music.
Tiffany, the teenage shopping mall pop star, with her cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' 1967 hit, "I Think We're Alone Now" was the number one song on the US pop chart during this week, twenty years later from when that band originally charted with the song.
Tiffany Darwish was born and raised in Norwalk, CA, and began singing at the age of four. By ten, she was performing in country music venues. And it was during this time Tiffany was discovered by singer, Hoyt Axton who took her to Nashville where she began to sing professionally. This lead to an appearance on the early talent competition program, "Star Search" in 1985 where Tiffany placed second. She would met George Tobin, a record producer, who signed the teenager to a recording contract and became her manager.
Tiffany's self-titled debut was released in 1987 and the first single, "Danny" failed to chart. Tobin came up with a publicity stunt as a way to appeal to young fans. Tiffany would embark on a concert tour at shopping malls across the country. And the plan worked with Tiffany's second single reaching the top of the pop chart at the age of sixteen. With the ballad, "Could've Been" (which also reached number one on the chart) and another hit cover with a reworking of the Beatles' "I Saw Him Standing There", Tiffany's album sold over four million copies and made the teenager a star.
But in the middle of all of this success, Tiffany was drawn in to a legal battle between Tobin and her parents over her career and earnings. This would be resolved and Tiffany released her follow-up album, "Hold an Old Friend's Hand" in 1988. Despite another top-ten hit, "All This Time", the album was a disappointment and Tiffany's career began to cool down.
Her subsequent albums failed to chart but she has kept busy over the years, appearing in film and reality television. Tiffany still records and tours, releasing a country album in 2011 and last year, the now forty-nine year old performer updated her first hit with a rock & roll arrangement. Here is Tiffany's original video and the 2019 version of "I Think We're Alone Now":
The musical artists inducted in to this year's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame are Depeche Mode, the Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails, Notorious B.I.G., and T. Rex. In order to be considered, at least twenty-five years must have passed since the musician’s first recordings were released in order to ensure that their contribution to music has stood the test of time. Jon Landau, a producer/manager and manager, Irving Azoff will be receiving the Hall’s Ahmet Ertegun Award, which honors industry professionals who have made a significant influence in the world of music.
The induction dinner and ceremony was going to be held live for the very first time back in May but COVID-19 put an end to that idea. So the socially-distanced event will be broadcast on HBO on November 7th.
DEPECHE MODE
There is really only one band who changed our ideas on the possibilities of electronic music while making the sound commercially viable and that is Depeche Mode. This British band began in 1977 with schoolmates, Vince Clarke and Andy Fletcher who played together in a rock band. Martin Gore later joined them in a band called Composition of Sound and they moved towards electronic music, which was beginning to emerge in 1980, and learned to play synthesizers. Clarke invited Dave Gahan to join as their lead vocalist and they changed the name of the band to Depeche Mode. Not long after the release of their debut album, "Speak & Spell" in 1981, Clarke became disillusioned with the direction of Depeche Mode and left (where he would later form the bands, Yazoo and Erasure). Alan Wilder would replace Clarke in the band and Gore would step in as the lead songwriter. He would begin to incorporate themes involving sex, religion and politics in to their music. And this would help expand their fanbase and Depeche Mode went on to sell over 100 million records across the globe. Wilder would leave the band in 1995 and Depeche Mode has remained a trio with their last album to date was "Spirit" in 2016.
THE DOOBIE BROTHERS
The Doobie Brothers are a rock band from San Jose, CA. that blended folk, country and r&b to create their unique sound. They began with Tom Johnston (on guitar and lead vocals), Patrick Simmons (on guitar), Dave Shogren (on bass) and John Hartman (on drums) in 1970 and the band's name was only supposed to be temporary until they came up with something better (which never happened). After playing all over Northern California, they were signed to Warner Bros. Records and released their self-titled debut the following year. But their breakthrough came with their next album, "Toulouse Street" which featured the hits, "Listen To The Music" and "Jesus Is Just Alright". More hits followed with "Long Train Runnin'", "China Grove", "Black Water", and a cover of "Take Me In Your Arms" until health issues forced Johnston out of the band in 1975. Michael McDonald would replace him and took the band in to a different direction with more of a soft rock and blue-eyed soul sound. This helped the Doobie Brothers find a new audience and become even more popular with the songs, "Takin' It To The Streets", "It Keeps You Runnin'" and "What a Fool Believes" which went to number one on the US pop chart in 1978. After a brief break-up in 1982, the Doobies reunited (including Johnston) five years later and have been playing together ever since. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the band and they had planned on going on tour to celebrate but will have to postpone until hopefully next year.
WHITNEY HOUSTON
It was not really surprising that Whitney Houston would become a singer with her cousin being Dionne Warwick and her mother was Cissy Houston, a revered vocalist and part of the group, Sweet Inspirations. But no one could have imagined to what heights she would reach as a performer. With the guidance of music executive, Clive Davis, Houston would find major international success immediately with the release of her self-titled debut in 1985 and would continue to grow until she became a true pop superstar. Houston would make her acting debut in "The Bodyguard" and not only would that movie become a monster hit but the soundtrack was even bigger, selling over 45 million copies worldwide and winning the 1992 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. But the pressures of fame took it's toll and the gifted vocalist fell deep in to drug addiction for a number of years. Houston seemed to recover by 2009 and released an album, "I Look To You" which brought her back to the charts. Yet sadly, Houston had difficulty maintaining sobriety and died in 2012 from an accidental drowning in a bathtub. Whitney Houston is considered to be one of the greatest voices in popular music and what she could do with a song was absolutely breathtaking.
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G
The Brooklyn rapper, Christopher Wallace, who was known to the world as the Notorious B.I.G., was a central figure in the East Coast rap scene and is considered one of the greatest rappers of all time. Wallace (who went by "Biggie Smalls" early in his career but changed it due to someone else using that name) signed to Sean Combs' Bad Boy Records in 1993. He began to attract attention after he make brief appearances on other artist's records before his debut album, "Ready To Die" dropped in 1994. With the singles, "Juicy" and "Big Poppa", Biggie became an instant sensation. Wallace was a skillful storyteller with his raps being playful and funny yet also displaying emotional honesty. He used some of his experiences of childhood hardships and involvement in crime to express himself musically. At the height of his fame in 1997, Biggie was in a car in Los Angeles following an appearance at the Soul Train Music Awards when it was fired upon by an unidentified assailant. Wallace would tragically die later of his injuries at the age of only twenty-four. The Notorious B.I.G. managed to have made a deep impact on hip-hop and rap during his brief time and remains an influential artist in the genre.
NINE INCH NAILS
The industrial alt-rock band, Nine Inch Nails has always been essentially multi-instrumentalist, producer, singer and songwriter, Trent Reznor. While he would utilize a variety of different musicians over the years to help back him up on tours, Reznor was the only creative force during all recordings. But musician, Atticus Ross, a frequent collaborator with Reznor on several film scores (including "The Social Network" which won the team Oscars in 2010), became an official member of Nine Inch Nails in 2016. Reznor began playing with several synth-pop bands in his youth but eventually decided to work alone as he had difficulty finding other musicians to help create what he wanted. With the debut Nine Inch Nails album, "Pretty Hate Machine" in 1989, Reznor played all the instruments (except the drums) and the record was met with rapturous praise and created a rabid fanbase. However, Reznor became unhappy with his label, TVT Records who were pressuring him for a follow-up and trying to take creative control. After refusing to record for them, TVT sold his contract to Interscope Records, who wisely left him alone do his work. Nine Inch Nails would go on to release the critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums, "The Downward Spiral" and "The Fragile" which went on to further create a bigger audience for industrial metal. Reznor has has sold over 20 million records and has been nominated for thirteen Grammy Awards, winning two for the songs, "Wish" in 1992 and "Happiness in Slavery" in 1996.
T. REX
T.Rex was a British band formed by singer, songwriter and guitarist, Marc Bolan. The band began under the full name of Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four notable albums of psychedelic folk beginning in 1967. But by 1969, Bolan shortened the band's name and embraced what would be called glam rock. Despite a number of musicians who came and went, T. Rex found great success and popularity with such songs as "Ride a White Swan", "Hot Love", "20th Century Boy" and "Bang a Gong (Get It On)". In 1977, shortly before the release of the band's twelfth studio album, "Dandy in the Underworld", Bolan died in a car crash which sadly brought an end to T. Rex. But the band has remained highly influential and their music would help spark indie pop and the punk movement.
Kelly Rowland is really on fire right now after releasing another smoking hot single. The former Destiny's Child member and expectant mother has dropped the song, "Crazy", a dance-floor banger about someone who is insanely in love with their significant other. And while there are moments that brings to mind the musical delivery of Rowland's ex-bandmate, this disco-flavored track is solid and will continue to help take Miss Kelly to the next level. After this and the sensual "Coffee" from earlier this year, I can't wait to hear more.
H.E.R.
Gabriella Wilson or as she is best known professionally as H.E.R. has returned with new music. The Vallejo, CA. born and raised singer has helped make classic r&b popular again with her own style of contemporary soul. The music of H.E.R. has been critically acclaimed, winning the singer Grammy Awards in 2019 for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Album, and found chart success with the singles, "Focus", "Best Part" (with Daniel Caesar) and "Slow Down" (with Skip Marley). Her latest single is "Damage" (that is driven by a distinctive sample from Herb Alpert's 1987 song, "Making Love In The Rain"), a soulful ballad on the harm that can happen when your lover takes you for granted. No word on when there will be a new record but with several compilations and EPs since 2016, H.E.R. has not officially released a debut album.
LITTLE MIX
Little Mix is one of the best-selling girl groups of all time and while this British quartet has managed to conquer much of the world, they still haven't been able to reach the US. But they might change with their latest single, "Sweet Melody" which is getting some attention here in the States. The song is the third release from their upcoming sixth album, "Confetti" which is due out in November. I don't think "Sweet Melody" is necessarily a major standout from this pop group but you never know what could potentially help Little Mix crossover to this side of the world.
With the recent release of her fifth solo album, "RóisÃn Machine", I am surprised I had not previously put a spotlight on RóisÃn Murphy, the Irish-born, British-based vocalist. She is a dance floor vet, having been around since the mid-1990's, first as a part of the trip-hop act, Moloko with her former partner, Mark Brydon. They were best known for a dance remix of "Sing It Back" that became an international smash back in 1999. After her romance with Brydon ended in 2003, so did the band but Murphy went on to continue creating music on her own.
Since her debut album, "Ruby Blue" in 2005, Murphy has further experimented with sounds, incorporating avant-pop, bossa nova, jazz and soul styles and samples of odd noises to her dance music. With "RóisÃn Machine", the forty-seven year old singer has brought dramatic theatricality to her new music, clashing together nu-disco, alt-r&b, electro-pop to create beautifully strange, club-ready tracks. Murphy has always been a true innovator who has never settled, always looking to push the boundaries of what is possible in dance. Here are a few of my favorite songs from the album:
