'Build Me Up Buttercup'

The Foundations:

Marvin Gaye

"Oh, mercy mercy me..."

Here we have something for you folks, we hope

You enjoy it as we enter our social section, thank you

Woah, ah, mercy, mercy me

Ah, things ain't what they used to be (ain't what they used to be)

Where did all the blue skies go?

Poison is the wind that blows

From the north and south and east

Woah mercy, mercy me, yeah Ah, things ain't what they used to be (ain't what they used to be)

Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas

Fish full of mercury

Oh Jesus, yeah, mercy, mercy me, ah

Ah, things ain't what they used to be (ain't what they used to be)

Radiation underground and in the sky

Animals and birds who live nearby are dying

Hey, mercy, mercy me, oh

Hey, things ain't what they used to be

What about this overcrowded land?

How much more abuse from man can she stand?

Oh, na, na, na

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh...

'I Can't Help Myself'

Described by Billboard as a "spirited, fast -paced wailer performed in unique style."

The Four Tops. A phenomenal hit. 

Another live version here, even more excitedly upbeat.

Gladys Knight, 'Midnight Train'

She's so beautiful.

Glady Knight & the Pips.

'Way Down in the Hole'

It's Tom Waits, taking us way back to 1987.

'Isn't She Lovely?"

Carol Roth asked yesterday what was the best Stevie Wonder song of all time? 

I'm not the biggest fan, but I'd say his best song is "Isn't She Lovely?," or at least that's the one I most enjoy hearing. 

Man, the dude can jam on the harmonica!

Watch and listen:

'I'll Be There'

For some reason this song popped into my brain last night, and I've been singing it ever since.

The Jackson 5, with a very young Michael.

*****

You and I must make a pact

We must bring salvation back

Where there is love, I'll be there (I'll be there)

I'll reach out my hand to you

I'll have faith in all you do

Just call my name and I'll be there (I'll be there)

And oh, I'll be there to comfort you

Build my world of dreams around you

I'm so glad that I found you

I'll be there with a love that's strong

I'll be your strength

I'll keep holdin' on (holdin' on)

Yes I will, yes I will

Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter

Togetherness, girl, is all I'm after

Whenever you need me, I'll be there (I'll be there)

I'll be there to protect you (yeah baby)

With unselfish love that respects you

Just call my name and I'll be there (I'll be there)

And oh, I'll be there to comfort you

Build my world of dreams around you

I'm so glad that I found you

I'll be there with a love that's strong

I'll be your strength

I'll keep holdin' on

Ooh ooh ooh

Yes I will (holdin' on, holdin' on)

Yes I will

If you should ever find someone new

I know he better be good to you

'Cause if he doesn't

I'll be there (I'll be there)

Don't you know, baby, yeah, yeah

I'll be there, I'll be there

Just call my name, I'll be there (I'll be there)

Just look over your shoulders honey, ooh

I'll be there, I'll be there

Whenever you need me, I'll be there (I'll be there)

Don't you know, baby

I'll be there, I'll be there

Just call my name, I'll be there (I'll be there)

Oh, oh, oh, oh, I'll be there

Hot Fun In the Summertime (VIDEO)

Good stuff, from 1969.

Sly and the Family Stone.

I Forgot Maxine Nightingale!

Well, following-up on my post the other day, "Ooh Woo ... I Feel It Still (VIDEO)."

It turns out I'd forgotten about Maxine Nightingale, whose song, "Right Back Where We Started From," used to come on all the time at K-EARTH 101 Los Angeles. 

(And the same goes for Junior Walker and the All Stars, "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)?," which I've posted to this blog more than once; and that's not to mention the Bellamy Brothers, and a few other "oldies buy goodies" kind of folks.)

In any case, here she is, and looking good too. She's apparently still active, according to her Wikipedia entry.

'Stay'

I've probably posted this video before, but not this version, featuring famed session guitarist Andrian Belew. (Yep. Searching the blog brings up this ten-year-old post, "'Cause You Can Never Really Tell When Somebody...", where I discuss my music blogging at the time.)

Well, I don't commute to work anymore (during the continuing state school lock-down), so my normal "drive-time" music blogging is all messed up, lol. 

I probably just hang out in my Challenger now more nowadays, and I'll just listen to songs on YouTube. (I don't have satellite radio, which my wife reminds me about constantly.) I was also listening to music on Pandora over the summer (my sister, Chris, up in Boise, plays it while she's cooking). I'm not into subscription music services, though, so if I can get fine classic rock radio, I'm good. I've been recently sampling 95.5 KLOS Los Angeles. It's been around for decades, but I never liked it as much as KMET (the "Mighty Met"), but that station's ancient history. 

In any case, more on Bowie at the Guardian U.K., "My favourite album: Our writers are picking their favourite albums. Here, Alex Needham takes a journey through 'Station to Station'."

It Ain't Over 'til It's Over

Heard just now while out for a newspaper run (I buy a daily copy of the New York Times at Gelson's market nearby).

At 93.1 Jack FM Los Angeles, Lenny Kravitz, "It Aint Over 'til Its Over."

It Aint Over Til Its Over
Lenny Kravitz
11:33am

Danger Zone
Kenny Loggins
11:30am

Obsession
ANIMOTION
11:20am

All Apologies
NIRVANA
11:16am

I Ran (So Far Away)
A Flock OF Seagulls
11:12am

Sweet Home Alabama
Lynyrd Skynyrd
11:07am

Get Lucky
Daft Punk Feat. Pharrell Williams
11:03am

No One Like You
Scorpions
11:00am

Hungry Like The Wolf
Duran Duran
10:50am

Self Esteem
OFFSPRING
10:45am

Hey Hey What Can I Do
Led Zeppelin
10:41am

Dont Stand So Close To Me
Police
10:38am

Just A Girl
NO Doubt
10:34am

Walk This Way
Run D.M.C./Aerosmith
10:31am

Words
Missing Persons
10:20am

Unforgiven
Metallica
10:14am

She's Gone

Hall & Oates, heard yesterday while out with my wife, in my wife's car, on satellite radio's "70s on 7."

She's Gone:

'You Dropped a Bomb on Me'

From yesterday's drive-time, at 93.1 Jack FM Los Angeles, the Gap Band.

The station's definitely eclectic. (*Eye-roll.*)

I Ran
A Flock Of Seagulls
9:11am

Janie's Got A Gun
Aerosmith
9:06am

Ophelia
The Lumineers
9:03am

Don't Do Me Like That
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
8:54am

Take On Me
a-ha
8:50am

Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana
8:45am

You Dropped A Bomb On Me
The Gap Band
8:41am

Gimme All Your Lovin'
ZZ Top
8:37am

It's Time
Imagine Dragons
8:33am

White Wedding
Billy Idol
8:21am

Paradise City
Guns N' Roses
8:14am

Love My Way
The Psychedelic Furs
8:11am

'Think'

Aretha Franklin, the "Queen of Soul," has dead at the age of 76.

At LAT, "Aretha Franklin, who defined an era as the Queen of Soul, dies at 76."

'La Grange'

From my drive-time this afternoon, while out buzzing around between used bookstores, at the Sound L.A.

Here's ZZ Top, "La Grange":

Gimme Shelter
The Rolling Stones
6:10 PM

Back On the Chain Gang
Pretenders
6:07 PM

All Along the Watchtower
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
5:57 PM

You Better You Bet
Who
5:51 PM

Help!
The Beatles
5:49 PM

Don't Stop Believin'
Journey
5:45 PM

Blitzkrieg Bop
Ramones
5:43 PM

Africa
Toto
5:38 PM

La Grange
ZZ Top
5:34 PM

Stuck In the Middle With You
Stealers Wheel
5:31 PM

People Are Strange
The Doors
5:24 PM

Werewolves of London
Warren Zevon
5:21 PM

Sister Golden Hair
America
5:18 PM

Iron Man
Black Sabbath
5:12 PM

Heartbreaker
Pat Benatar
5:08 PM

Misty Mountain Hop
Led Zeppelin
5:04 PM

Life In the Fast Lane
Eagles
4:59 PM

Dream On
Aerosmith
4:55 PM

'When Will I See You Again'

I was driving around in my wife's Jeep Liberty this morning, fitted with satellite radio, which I pretty much leave on the "'70s on 7" while I'm in there, heh.

And today I realized how much I love this old song, "When Will I See You Again." It's the Three Degrees, with great vocals.

Enjoy!

'I tried, I tried, I tried, I tried, in every way I could, to make you see how much I love you. Ooo, I thought you understood...'

An encore, from Junior Walker and the All-Stars, after six years.

'The Man'

Aloe Blacc.

His new album is out, "Lift Your Spirit."

Go ahead and tell everybody...

Girl, you can tell everybody
Yeah, you can tell everybody
Go ahead and tell everybody
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man
Yes, I am, yes, I am, yes, I am
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man

I believe every lie that I ever told
Paid for every heart that I ever stole
I paid my cause and I didn't fold
Well, it ain't that hard when you got soul
This is my world
Somewhere I heard that life is a test
I been though the worst but I still give my best
God made my mold different from the rest
Then he broke that mold so I know I'm blessed
This is my world

Stand up now and face the sun
Won't hide my tail or turn and run
It's time to do what must be done
Be a king when kingdom comes

Girl, you can tell everybody
Yeah, you can tell everybody
Go ahead and tell everybody
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man

Girl, you can tell everybody
Yeah, you can tell everybody
Go ahead and tell everybody
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man
Yes, I am, yes, I am, yes, I am
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man

I got all the answers to your questions
I'll be the teacher, you could be the lesson
I'll be the preacher, you be the confession
I'll be the quick relief to all your stressing
This is my world
It's a thin line between love and hate
Is you really real or is you really fake?
I'm a solider standing on my feet
No surrender and I won't retreat
This is my world

Stand up now and face the sun
Won't hide my tail or turn and run
It's time to do what must be done
Be a king when kingdom comes

Girl, you can tell everybody
Yeah, you can tell everybody
Go ahead and tell everybody
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man

Girl, you can tell everybody
Yeah, you can tell everybody
Go ahead and tell everybody
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man
Yes, I am, yes, I am, yes, I am
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man

I'm the man
Go ahead and tell everybody what I'm saying y'all
I'm the man
Go ahead and tell everybody what I'm saying y'all

Girl, you can tell everybody
Yeah, you can tell everybody
Go ahead and tell everybody
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man

Girl, you can tell everybody
Yeah, you can tell everybody
Go ahead and tell everybody
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man

Girl, you can tell everybody
Yeah, you can tell everybody
Go ahead and tell everybody
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man

Girl, you can tell everybody
Yeah, you can tell everybody
Go ahead and tell everybody
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man
Yes, I am, yes, I am, yes, I am
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man...

'Aquarius - Let the Sunshine In'

William Jacobson had this posted at the sidebar the other day, at Legal Insurrection.

What a blast (enjoyably so).

The Fifth Dimension - Aquarius - Let The Sunshine In http://t.co/PVvNIFkmD1 Heh. Via @LegInsurrection #Music

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) January 15, 2014

You Can Feel It All Over

My wife was tripping on the Academy of Country Music Awards. The show was broadcast from the Arena at the MGM Grand, where we just saw the Eagles a couple of weeks ago. I was watching Mad Men, but when I went down to get something to drink I see Stevie Wonder playing "Sir Duke" and hung out to watch for a minute. I don't see a video from the show but here's an old clip. Everyone can really feel it.

And Eddie at My World live blogged it:

They are rushing things at this point, they must be behind. Hunter Hayes, aka the 12 year old looking kid is performing. Apparently Stevie Wonder is singing with him. That's, um, an interesting collaboration. He's a pretty good performer, I have to give him that. He plays guitar & piano. He's like Bieber with an accent, musical talent, and no punk attitude. Ooh, a horn section, cool! And the Hunter & Stevie on Sir Duke (You Can Feel It All Over) was actually pretty decent.

And at the Los Angeles Times, "Miranda Lambert is Academy of Country Music Awards' top winner."