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[lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Stevie Wonder[/lastfm] released his single “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours” on June 3, 1970. The track was released as a single from Stevie’s 1970 album “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” which also included a cover of the [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Beatles[/lastfm]‘ “We Can Work It Out.”

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“Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours”
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The track was written by Wonder along with Lee Garrett, Syreeta Wright and Stevie’s mother Lula Mae Hardaway. The track was arranged by Motown composer Paul Riser, who made the innovation of using the sitar/guitar that gives the track its signature opening.

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“We Can Work It Out”

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According to Wonder, the lyrics for the song were inspired by his mother, who shouted the title lyric after hearing Stevie experiment with the melody. Stevie produced the track, which later earned him his first Grammy nomination. He lost the award to Ronald Dunbar and General Johnson for their track “Patches,” which was recorded by Clarence Carter.

The only good thing to come out of Haley Reinhart’s painful rendition of the late Michael Jackson’s Earth Song on American Idol was that it inspired me to listen to Michael Jackson at work.  This isn’t entirely outrageous behavior for me as my sister and I are borderline obsessed with the King of Pop, but it had been a few weeks and I needed my MJ fix.  Somehow, I discovered a song of his that I have never heard before.  (Trust me, I never thought this day would come.)  Released this year, I give you Going Hollywood.  With the strong percussion line found in Billie Jean and a flirty mix of Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees,  this song was a true testament to mind over body as I reminded myself that people might judge if I have an all out dance party in my cubical.  This is the work place, after all.

Warning: don’t listen to this if you are in a place where dancing in your chair might be frowned upon.

And just because…

Happy 61st birthday to one of the R&B greats, Stevie Wonder!

So much talent, and two of my all-time favorites, in this little blog post!

At last, on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd April 2011 our rather ‘well-rehearsed’ concert finally took place at Short Cross Methodist Church in Halesowen.  By which time I think we were all getting a little sick of it!   The two performances proved to be very successful with us making just over £1400 which will be split between the church and the charity ‘Help for Heroes’.  As a choir we make no profit whatsoever for the concerts we perform, all money from tickets etc is entirely donated to charity.

The comments we’ve received so far have all been good, with some audience members going so far as to say this has been our best concert to date (but then again we did have an extremely long time to get it right!). Our initial theme for this particular concert had been America but once I started searching for good choir songs they all seemed to be by men which seemed to strike up a theme in itself.  Our last concert was entitled ‘Women in Harmony’ with proceeds going to a local breast cancer charity so to celebrate some of the greater male artists seemed only appropriate.  The aim of our concert was to start by going back in time to the likes of the ‘Rat Pack’, Matt Monroe, Nat King Cole and then coming back towards the present day with Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Queen and Take That plus many others.  Performing the Queen songs Bohemian Rhapsody and Somebody to Love was such a buzz and the audience seemed to love them, I only hope they also realised the amount of work that the choir had to put in to learn the really complex harmonies involved.

We’re now hoping to take the concert out to a few more local organisations and venues to raise money for their charities.  We never charge for this but just ask anyone who asks us to organise the event and sell tickets.  It always seems a shame to not perform the concert elsewhere after we’ve put so much work into learning the songs.

May 3rd will see our regular get together to watch, laugh and poke fun at ourselves on video, then May 17th we will be performing a shortened version of the concert for the residents at Elizabeth House (nearby sheltered accommodation).  We’ve having a short break from rehearsals over the next few weeks but we’ll be getting together again soon for a choir meeting and planning session for next years concert.

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~ DAY FOUR ~

Today is our final day aboard Monarch of the Seas and we are scheduled to be at sea for the entire day. Knowing this the night prior, we  plan to sleep in and attend brunch. There are many activities planned on board the ship today to keep the guests amused, but for the most part, we plan to just relax and soak up the sun while laying out on a deck chair.

It is so peaceful laying out in the sun with nothing but ocean surrounding you. I find my own piece of serenity just by gazing out at the crisp, calm waters. The ocean sparkles as the sun reflects off of it. If only I could do this every day of the week. The trance I am in is soon disturbed as the pool deck entertainment kicks off. First up is a male belly-flop competition which a handful of men have signed themselves up for. I adjust my deck chair up one notch so I am able to peer over the edge to watch the battle. There really are some pathetic excuses for bellies that have entered to score their ten seconds of ship fame. One guy in particular, I feel sorry for. I have the greatest urge to walk up to him and feed him a cookie, or a burger,  better yet, both, but I resist. His competition are several other guys who seem to have enjoyed the ships 24/7 buffet. Poor dude doesn’t stand a chance.

Our cruise friend, Mike, enters himself into a Dodge-ball competition. His team has made the finals so we go to cheer him on. Mike is so caught up in winning the game that he doesn’t realise that his sandal has somehow slid over his foot and is now firmly wrapped around his ankle; almost like a shin guard. It is not until after they are declared the winners that he notices his sandal is not under his foot. He tries to

pull the sandal down but fails miserably. He sits on the pool ledge while his dad tries with all his strength to remove the sandal. Strike two. Mike puts his leg into the pool with hopes that the water will help the sandal slide off. Strike three. At this point, Mike has gathered quite the crowd. A man walks up with his SLR camera and begins taking photos of Mike’s ankle while his daughter watches on in a fit of laughter. I try not to laugh but I can’t help it. We are left with only one more option. Off to the ship doctor we go! Now, I know this isn’t something common, but even the doctor had a hard time taking the situation seriously. The doctor looks down at Mike’s foot and bursts out laughing. He shakes his head and tells us this is the most ridiculous thing he’s ever seen. He disappears for a few seconds then comes back with a packet of KY jelly which he smothers all over Mike’s ankle. The doctor takes a turn trying to pull the sandal off, only when he tries, the chair Mike is sitting on just starts dragging across the floor. Fail.

Mike is faced with no choice; it’s either the leg or the sandal. The doctor knows this is a tough decision so he gives Mike a few seconds to think it through. His time is up. After some serious thought, Mike decides to sacrifice the sandal. The doctor grabs a pair of scissors and begins the pain-free process. Just like that, Mike is free. Hooray!

Tonight for dinner I am super excited to see that they have New York Strip Steak on the menu. This has become one of my favourite cuts of steak while in the USA so there was no hesitation when ordering it as my main meal. In fact, it was so amazingly delicious that I had a second. Dessert was an incredible double chocolate mousse brownie with a dollop of cream and a strawberry. My taste buds may have just had a mouth-gasm. In fact, I think they did.

Sadly tonight was our last dinner on board Monarch of the Seas. This also meant it was our last night with our amazing waitress, Ning, and our phenomenal assistant waiter, Jonathan. They had both been incredible over the last few nights when dealing with our dislike towards veggies, Jessica’s love of cups of hot water and our mad obsession with the sour doll bread rolls they served us before dinner. We made sure to give them both an extra tip on top of the recommended tip because their service really was tremendous. After dinner, we said our thanks and good byes and then had our photo taken with them both.

We head to The Sound of Music Theater for our final night of on board entertainment. Tonight’s show is called Signed, Sealed, Delivered and is a dance and musical number performed to us by the Royal Caribbean Entertainers. The lights dim, the curtain draws and the show begins. The female lead vocalist gives an amazing rendition of Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You which brings down the house. It was absolutely incredible and she sang it perfectly, absolutely killing the big notes with what seemed to be such ease. As she sang she brought chills to my spine. What an amazing voice.

Everything ends early tonight on board the Monarch of the Seas. I feel absolutely buggered. The late nights, alcohol, sun and swimming has all caught up to me. I call it a night and head to bed at around midnight. When I wake up, we will be docked back at Port Canaveral, Florida and our cruise will have come to an end.

What an amazing four days this has been.

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The End

]]> http://www.live-travel-blog.com/2010/08/04/bahama-rama-ii/ Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:24:28 +0000 Lynda http://www.live-travel-blog.com/2010/08/04/bahama-rama-ii/ Location: CocoCay, The Bahamas
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~ DAY TWO ~

I was feeling quite energized considering I’d only scored myself five hours of sleep. I can’t figure out if the incredible sleep was due to the fact that we have no windows in our Stateroom and therefore no light came creeping in or because my bed was just so damn comfortable. Waking up hang-over free was just an added bonus; kinda like the cherry on top of a sundae. Either way, I wasn’t going to complain.

We pack a day bag and make out way over to the Windjammer Café for breakfast. As I step foot into the café and take a peak out the window, I notice the ship has docked in the middle of the ocean. In the distance lays a small island which, without my glasses on, doesn’t look like anything too impressive. I wonder if this is Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island that we are due to visit today. I am hastily side-tracked by the grumbling of my tummy. Well, excuse me! The smell of breakfast aromas fill the air and my taste buds are quickly tickled. I grab a plate and am overcome by the wide offerings. Where do I begin? I head to the hot section and grab me some scrambled eggs, bacon galore, toast, sausage links, cured ham and a selection of fresh fruits and pastries; delicious. I think I have died and gone to food heaven.

After breakfast we decide to make our way down to Deck 1 which is the departure point for Coco Cay. Unfortunately, because the Monarch of the Seas is too big to dock at the island, we must take a ferry from the ship there. We are bummed when we realise the line is backed all the way up to Deck 3 but our disappointment is quickly overturned when one of the crew tell us we’ll be on the next ferry. Turns out they can seat a couple of hundred people at a time and turns out, he’s correct. As we board, I can feel the ferry wobble about while staying afloat in the ocean. I feel a sense of uneasiness and queasiness and my breakfast jiggles around in my belly. We sit there for a good fifteen minutes before the ferry pulls away from the ship and we are off to Coco Cay. We head towards the same island I was eying off over breakfast; I quietly pray it looks prettier up close than it does from afar.

The ferry docks at Coco Cay Island. Within minutes my earlier concerns are put to rest and my heart is at ease. Coco Cay is absolutely stunning. The waters are a gorgeous sparkling teal colour and the sand is so white and pure; the island is like a tiny slice of heaven on earth. The Market Place is an array of bright colours which compliment the dazzling green palm trees, adding to the tropical island feel.

Mike and Jessica head out to do their jet-skiing activity while Lauren and I walk around and explore the market stalls.  The sun is beating down on us; we haven’t even been on the island for twenty minutes and already I am dripping with sweat. It has to be 95, maybe 100 degrees Fahrenheit out and it can’t be much after midday. Phew; what a scorcher! After walking around for a while we decide to find two sun chairs, dump our stuff and without any hesitation, I throw myself into the semi-cold ocean.

Pure bliss. Life really doesn’t get any better than this. The water is lukewarm but still a welcoming cool off from the wicked heat. I doggy-paddle around for a while in the shallow waters. There is a fair bit of seaweed floating about. While paddling I can see it getting nearer so I try to blow it away. Stay away, sea weed, or you shall die a terrible, terrible death! I can’t stand the feeling of seaweed clinging to my bare skin while I’m at the beach; it freaks me out! I clear a path in the water for myself and swim down it to reach deeper waters but alas, seaweed touches my mouth. I panic. This is horrible. Terrible. I throw my arms around in a desperate plea for help. Get it away. Gross! I break free from the seaweed (a single strand, no more than 10cm in length) and I swim back to shore and lay face-down on my beach chair and close my eyes. I can feel the heat of the sun evaporate the water droplets on my back as island music is playing in the background. I open my eyes and sit up. The sky is such a crisp shade of blue; the sand so white,  the water, a sparkling light shade of teal and the palm trees gently whistle in the almost non-existent breeze. I am so relaxed. It’s a tough job, but hey, somebody has to do it. May as well be me.

After a short while, we meet back up with Mike and Jessica and grab a bite to eat. There is a massive BBQ buffet lunch on the island and, despite having our bellies showing, we do not hesitate when piling up our plates with food. I’m rather self-conscious, but after seeing a rather voluptuous lady in her late 70′s in a leopard-print string bikini, I feel a little more comfortable with myself. Lunch is great; we have BBQ ribs, chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, fruit, cakes… I’ve quickly come to realise that cruising really is the way of life.

We spend some more time swimming, sunbathing and shopping at the Market Place before we succumb to the heat and make out way back to the ship, not before a super touristy Coco Cay group photo though.

Tonight is formal dining night aboard Monarch of the Seas; yes, that’s right, it means we must get gussied up and not look like washed up trash. We spend a good few hours in our cabin showering, shaving, straightening hair, curling hair, dressing, doing make up, you know, all the pre-requisites for making ourselves look all pretty and cute. The end result is nothing short of amazing if I may say so myself.

Before dinner we are all invited to the Captain’s Formal Welcoming aboard Monarch of the Seas in The Sound of Music Theater. This takes a while to kick off but we are showered with champagne which is alright by me.  The Captain introduces himself, tells us some interesting facts about the ship and then introduces us to the Managers on board who then each introduce themselves. It turns out to be a rather enjoyable event and we are glad we took the time to attend. After this we head straight to dinner. My choice for tonight’s formal dinner is the beef which is delicious and tender. I’m not a fan of mashed potato so Jonathan, our Assistant Waiter brought me a baked potato which I sliced in half and enjoyed with a dollop of butter. Dinner was followed by an incredible dessert for the sweet tooth. I’m not entirely sure of the name of this one, but it was similar to that of chocolate pudding, only our Waitress, Ning, grabbed my spoon, put a hole in the pudding and then poured a Kahlua-like custard into the middle. Regardless of what it’s name is, it was an absolute treat on the taste buds; yum!

After dinner another visit was paid to Casino Royale and alas, another few dollars were kindly donated to Royal Caribbean. Damn slots, get me every time! It’s a good thing we have plans tonight because I can see all four of us easily losing more money than we have to that place.

Before heading out for the night, we make a quick detour back to our cabin. Much to our delight, our room has been made up and there is a towel creature sitting on my bed wearing Mike’s glasses. It’s so cute. Pretty shoes come off, flip flops go on and off we go to the Sound of Music Theater for a night of entertainment. Tonight’s show is called You Can’t Stop The Beat and is a dance and musical number performed to us by the Royal Caribbean Entertainers. We get there early and secure ourselves front row seats so that I don’t have to wear my glasses. The lights dim, the curtain draws and the show begins. Lauren and I are quick to spot our favourite dancer from 70′s night the night prior. His moves are amazing and his body just seems to stay in sync with the beat; he’s incredible… that is until we are introduced to the three main singers. Their voices are phenomenal and the female singer has a voice that could raise the nine decks above us off the ship. Wow; what a gift to be blessed with.

The show let’s out and Lauren and I make our way to Circuit Nightclub. Upon walking in, we are rather surprised that our favourite bar tender already has our two drinks waiting for us on the bar. After only one night he knows us so well; shucks. Tonight is another night of one too many beers, singing, dancing, a late night pizza rendezvous at Sorreno’s and drunken conversations with the friends we made last night. Who knows what time or how we got back to our beds? Good times.
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~ To be continued ~

]]> http://thegreengorilla.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/new-on-the-turntable-3/ Tue, 11 May 2010 14:21:06 +0000 thegreengorilla http://thegreengorilla.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/new-on-the-turntable-3/ http://badoomph.wordpress.com/2010/04/04/joint-review-usher-raymond-v-raymond-vs-craig-david-signed-sealed-delivered/ Sun, 04 Apr 2010 11:52:35 +0000 Badoomph! http://badoomph.wordpress.com/2010/04/04/joint-review-usher-raymond-v-raymond-vs-craig-david-signed-sealed-delivered/ Soooo, it’s a battle of R&B artists.

Now, to address the point early on. None of these albums were as good as I expected them to be. In short, they were MAJOR FLOPS.

It’s more or less kind of liking choosing the lesser of two evils.

Well, to explian that, this is just an effort to diversify the music genres on the blog. It can’t always be rock now, can’t it? Yes, pop is a definite occasional MUST but I have to say, this has to be the first appearance of R&B on RamORawr‘s blog.

 VERSUS

Now, I’m not trying to say Usher and Craig David suck, on the contrary they can sing, sing INCREDIBLY well, for that matter. But it’s just that this time around, their albums sort of didn’t live up to their names.

Let’s start with Craig David, known for his huuuge dance hit, Insomnia, which is UNDOUBTEDLY a really amazing song. For Signed Sealed Delivered  he opts to do covers of classic motown hits which more or less are fine. Yes, it’s THAT mediocre I have to call it fine.

Practically all traces of the techno pop beat in Insomnia have virtually DISAPPEARED. POOF. Just like that. He reverts to this extremely RETRO version. Which is a BAD, BAD move considering that motown is just OUT OF PLACE in today’s music scene. Well, I’m not criticising him for doing motown, what I’m trying to say is that there’s just not much relevance in doing so.

Not many people would want to listen to songs from a couple of decades ago. Especially in the light of artists such as Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Justin Bieber the mainstream just doesn’t look good for hits from a previous era. It’s a HUGE RISK but if does want to do that, I’ll respect his decision and just go on with my review.

Usher‘s gone way more contemporary this time, going for a more “SAFER” album when compared to his last one, Here I Stand (2008). It’s still a disappointment, though. Everybody knows Usher  can sing great and an album is where the artist can actually showcase their musical ability.

Here in Raymond V. Raymond, it’s just BLAAANDD. This isn’t what Usher can do. He could have done so much better. Most of the time he seems rather …”unattached” to his tracks; as if just singing them just for the sake  of singing them. There’s no PASSION whatsoever.

Craig David on the other hand just uses his tools: that soaring voice of his, hitting falsettos here and there with some old-school crooning à la Stevie Wonder.

He opens Signed Sealed Delivered with a great dsico vibe in One More Lie (Standing In The Shadows)  and that’s about if amazing tracks, it goes all downhill from there. (hmmmm… reminds me of a New Found Glory album. xD) Well it honestly goes from good to bad and from bad to worse.

http://www.youtube.com/v/q2RliVufCLg&hl=en_US&fs=1&

Well there were some good songs but nothing totally incredible or amazing….. just so-so.

Oh but, oh my. He just BUTCHERED the classic, For Once In My Life. Well, he didn’t exactly mutilate it… he just didn’t do it JUSTICE. For such a great song, you’d expect it to be executed with the uttermost care. His version didn’t even stray from Stevie Wonder‘s, he just added a modern beat to it. Though I did kind of enjoy third track, All Alone Tonight (Stop, Look, Listen).

Recommended Tracks: 

• One More Lie (Standing In The Shadows)
• All Alone Tonight (Stop, Look, Listen)
• I Wonder Why
• This Could Be Love

In the other corner, Raymond v. Raymond just falls short of what Usher has been doing for years. Whatever happened to the guy who gave us Yeah! ?

There were some good songs though, Guilty with rapper T.I. was certainly one of them but the rest of the record just wasn’t good. OMG with The Black Eyed Peas’ Will.I.Am was what I mean by “unattached,” the beat was good but you just couldn’t feel Usher‘s heart in it. The intense dance moves in the video couldn’t offset the extreme OVERUSAGE of autotune on Will. I.Am‘s part.

[SERIOUSLY, this abuse of autotune is getting out of hand, sometimes enough is just enough. Yes, it's awesome to add a techno tinge to vocals but using it every single time, that's just not cool. T. Pain, I'm talking about you.]

I guess after six studio albums, you do run out of ideas if you’re not creative enough.

The collabs didn’t even do so much as add the much needed spice to Usher‘s latest album. You’d think that with Nicki Minaj, Ludacris, Will.I.Am, T.I and P.Diddy it’d at least be great, right? WRONG!

His last effort had been so much better and to think that the release of Raymond v. Raymond kept being pulled back, you would have expected a better album considering the time spent to improve it in the time it was pushed back. But then again, the same happened to Rihanna‘s Rated R, and look what happened.

But as usual there are the few songs that stand out (THANKFULLY!) in Usher‘s latest album:

• Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home) Feat Plies [The only song with a semblance of what Usher used to be doing.]
• Papers
• Guilty Feat T.I.
• Making Love (Into The Night)

 
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/10372616001?isVid=1&publisherID=59121

Sadly the oh-so-emotional soft ballads in Here I Stand are absent in this record. Remember Moving Mountains? Oh that was a good one, just good R&B.

Overall, these two albums aren’t the best off the shelf, that much is pretty clear but if I had to declare a winner it would be Craig David‘s Signed Sealed Delivered although as boring as it is, vocals were much better and at least it had some musical “oomph” to it as compared to the otherwise DEAD Raymond v. Raymond.

And to be brutally honest, as much as I wanted to get over with listening to Craig David‘s Signed Sealed Delivered, it was just painfully hard to find something great about it.

Usher‘s Raymond v. Raymond just was WAYYYY too varied with some really good songs and at times dipping so low it was almost as bad as BrokenCyde or The Dillinger Escape Plan.

[Which are the two bands I just HATE, HATE, HATTEEEEEE. They're just a DISGRACE to music. I don't get why they're even still active. WHY they are bands, I'll never understand. END OF RANT.]

So, we conclude, or rather I conclude. I’m sorry I tried to find the best in these albums but this was all I could do.

 The verdict: Craig David – Signed Sealed Delivered: ●●●●●○○○○○ { 5/10 }

The verdict: Usher – Raymond V. Raymond: ●●●●○○○○○○ { 3.5/10 } 

 SEE?

THIS IS WHY I STICK TO ROCK.

Ciaos + Loves. xD

BadoOmph!

12 tracks:

1. One More Lie (Standing In The Shadows)
2. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)
3. All Alone Tonight (Stop, Look, Listen)
4. I Heard It Through The Grapevine
5. Just My Imagination
6. For Once In My Life
7. (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay
8. Mercy Mercy Me
9. I Wonder Why
10. Papa Was A Rolling Stone
11. Let’s Stay Together
12. This Could Be Love

watch and listen:
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)

Signed, Sealed, Delivered (album sampler)

Ever since Craig David asked in 2001, can you “Fill Me In” with his debut single fans have enjoyed his soulful vibe mixed with his across the pond flavor. Now, with over 13 million records sold worldwide and four albums later he is ready to add his own feel to some true old school songs.

This British crooner’s fifth album entitled Signed Sealed Delivered is a compilation of songs that are inspired by hits from the ’60′s including the likes of Stevie Wonder and others from Motown. David’s latest single from this upcoming album includes a sample from the Motown group The Four Tops song “Standing in the Shadows of Love.”

Right now, Craig is mum on many of the full details of this upcoming LP. However, this video displaying him walking through the rain in Miami seems to be a good indication of what fans can expect to see and hear. With David’s first release under the Universal imprint more Grade A music should be in store when the album is scheduled to be released in mid-late March. Now watch Craig David as he shares a little dance fever in this club scene video for “One More Lie (Standing In The Shadows).”

–T. Adeyemi

British pop/soul singer Craig David may not have a hit song outside of Europe in years, but I still check out all the new music he releases.   Not only is David is one of my favorite music artists outside of the United States, he is one of the few male celebrities who is 100% eye candy (for me).

David has a new album coming out this March titled “Signed Sealed Delivered,” and it features the new single “One More Lie.” The dance track is a great pop tune for the radio and the dance floor which samples the classic Four Tops’ Motown tune “Standing In The Shadows Of Love.” “Lie” is one of those dance-pop songs that does not need a remix for the house music fans because the rhythm and vibe of the track is very much a house music hit.

Check out the music video below for “One More Lie.”  Though Mr. David looks very phyne, the concept of this video is bland and boring.

Judging from the album’s first single’s concept, I will assume that Signed Sealed Delivered will be a tribute to the golden era of Motown Records.

Hanni rested patiently while I took my poll.

I took an extremely unscientific poll at Hackney’s, our favorite local, Friday afternoon.

Question: What do you think of when I say the name “Stevie Wonder?”

Answers:

• My Cherie Amour
• Music
• Gangsta’s Paradise
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered

“I think he wrote a symphony, too!” our friend Larry said. It’s true. Stevie Wonder debuted “Sketches of a Life” in Washington, DC this year (Accompanied by a 21-piece chamber ensemble) when he received the Library of Congress’s Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

That’s a remarkable array of music. And Stevie Wonder has had a remarkable career. What is truly remarkable, though, is that not one single person I polled mentioned that Stevie Wonder is blind.

Only 2% of Americans are totally blind. No Wonder, ahem, people sometimes stare at us. Our blindness makes us unique. So unique, that sometimes blindness is the first – or the only – characteristic people remember about us.

Unless you’re Stevie Wonder, that is. The fact that he can’t see is an afterthought. Stevie Wonder is in an enviable position. He could dismiss his disability if he wanted to. But Stevie Wonder is cooler than that. He uses his fame, and his blindness, to encourage technology companies to get together and do some good. Thanks to Stevie Wonder’s leadership (and his House Full of Toys benefit concert last month), 12 manufacturers — normally fierce competitors — have banded together to donate a bunch of expensive adaptive equipment — cool stuff like color identifiers, accessible GPS products, or speech software that transforms average laptops into talking computers. The equipment will be distributed to students around the country who couldn’t otherwise afford it. From an NPR story called Some Technology Leaves the Blind Behind

Unfortunately, the price of many of the devices or software applications created specifically for the blind is anything but accessible and would give most general consumers sticker shock. A case in point is the KNFB Mobile Reader, software that enables a cell phone to read printed text aloud to a blind person through synthesized speech. It sells for close to $1,000 not including the cell phone.

Stevie Wonder was interviewed for the NPR story:

“Hundreds of thousands of people on this planet are blind or with low vision,” says recording superstar Stevie Wonder, who has been blind since infancy. He spoke with NPR at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month.

“So to me, that’s enough to say, ‘Let’s do something about it.’ And when you think about how by making things more accessible for those who are blind, how it would then make them more independent, then for the taxpayer that means less money.”

The equipment will be distributed at the end of January, so if you want to nominate a student to receive the free goods, or if you want to submit an application for yourself, fill out the online form asap. I know how much adaptive technology has helped me stay independent since losing my sight. Thinking of how this effort could change the lives of others who are blind makes me feel, well…”Overjoyed.”

By Joel Francis

Rare was the time Berry Gordy would let Motown artists record songs outside of the Hitsville catalog (and its lucrative publishing).  Fortunately, Jim Stewart at Stax did not have the same stipulation. Thanks to the 2007 compilation “Soulsville Sings Hitsville: Stax Sings the Songs of Motown Records” soul fans have at least one direct barometer to use in the never-ending debate of Stax vs. Motown.

Rivalries and arguments aside, “Soulsville Sings Hitsville” is a great 15-song collection that casts many soul nuggets worn out by oldies radio in a new light. Soul fans from either side of the Mason-Dixon line will find a lot to enjoy here. And now for the 15-round battle in the head-to-head match of Stax vs. Motown.

Round 1:  – “Stop! In the Name of Love”

Margie Joseph vs. the Supremes

The Supremes took this song to No. 1 in 1965 and made it one of their defining songs. Margie Joseph adds a lengthy monologue and a completely new arrangement that transforms the song. They lyrics are about the only element these versions share. Although it’s hard to top Holland-Dozier-Holland production, Joseph accomplishes the feat by making the song her own and having an infinitely better singing voice than Diana Ross.

Winner: Stax

Round 2:  – “I Don’t Know Why I Love You”

David Porter vs. Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5

David Porter made his name as half of the Porter-Isaac Hayes hitmaking machine in the ‘60s before striking out on his own in the ‘70s. His version of “I Don’t Know Why” easily tops the Jackson 5’s reading. Michael Jackson just isn’t old enough to put the necessary grit in his vocals and ends up practically shouting the song. The gold medal here, though, goes to the co-author and original performer Stevie Wonder. Released as a single from his 1968 album “For Once In My Life,” the song peaked at No. 16 on the R&B charts. Wonder’s vocals simmer, building in intensity until they boil over at the 1:40 mark. Wonder sings so hard he’s almost out of breath as the great arrangement continues to build until the only options are to explode out of the speakers or fade out. Faced with potential lawsuits from music lovers, the track ends just under the three-minute mark.

Winner: Motown

Round 3 – “You’ve Got to Earn It”

Staples Singers vs. the Temptations

One of the Staples Singers’ biggest hits, this song is so closely identified with the group that I didn’t even know the Temptations recorded the original. This Smokey Robinson-penned number was released in 1965 on the b-side of “Since I Lost My Baby.” The Tempts version is serviceable, but aside from Eddie Kendricks’ lead vocals isn’t that memorable. The Staples version trumps on every level: Mavis Staples great singing, the spectacular arrangement featuring a signature descending horn line and harmonica, and the soulful playing and support of Pops and Yvonne Staples.

Winner: Stax

Round 4 – “Can I Get a Witness”

Calvin Scott vs. Marvin Gaye

In the NFL, when a play is challenged and the officials go under the hood for review, there must be incontrovertible evidence to overturn the call. So goes it with covers. It is not sufficient to merely equal the original recording, the burden of the cover is to surpass the original. Calvin Scott does a good job putting his twist on one of Marvin Gaye’s earliest hits, but he doesn’t add anything to it either. Take pity on Scott, however – topping Gaye is no small feat.

Winner: Motown

Round 5 – “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)”

Mar-Keys vs. Four Tops

Although some session credits are available, the Mar-Keys kind of became the catch name for whoever was playing with the Memphis Horns. Some of their cuts ended up on Booker T. and the MGs or Isaac Hayes albums, some were added to Bar-Kays releases and others credited to the Mar-Keys themselves. The Mar-Keys’ 1971 version of “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)” is one of the numbers that has fallen through the cataloging cracks – Stax historians aren’t really sure who played on it. However, one fact is indisputable: this track rocks. Andrew Horn blows a mad sax solo with enough grit and soul to match Levi Stubbs’ incomparable voice, while the rest of the musicians strip the sheen laid by the Funk Brothers on the original Motown recording. That said, the Four Tops version became one of their defining performances for good reason. The decision here comes down to preference: the dirtier R&B of Stax or the polished soul of Motown. I like ‘em both.

Winner: Push

Round 6 – “Never Can Say Goodbye”

Isaac Hayes vs. Jackson 5

Isaac Hayes and the Jackson 5 both released their interpretations of Clifton Davis’ “Never Can Say Goodbye” in 1971. The results couldn’t be more different. The pain in Hayes’ deep voice pits him as a grown man with life experience against a bunch of talented kids acting their hearts out. In the weeks following the death of Michael Jackson, the J5 performance has become an unofficial tribute to their singer. It’s a fine sentiment, but, as Mos Def would say, this is grown man business. Hayes wins, no contest.

Winner: Stax

Round 7 – “My Cherie Amour”

Billy Eckstein vs. Stevie Wonder

In the 1940s, Billy Eckstein’s orchestra was one of the first large bop combos in jazz, providing an early home for Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. In the ‘50s, Eckstein’s smooth voice influenced up-and-coming soul singers like Sam Cooke and Solomon Burke. Eckstein dabbled in both soul and jazz in the 1960s, even popping up on  a couple Motown LPs. Although his career was pretty much over by the ‘70s, Al Bell was able to coax the legend to cut a few albums for Stax. Unfortunately, Eckstein’s 1970 delivery of “My Cherie Amour” borders on parody and sadly resembles Jim “Gomer Pyle” Nabors’ version of “You Are the Sunshine Of My Life” that may be found on the Golden Throats series.

Winner: Motown

Round 8 – “Oh, Be My Love”

Barbara Lewis vs. Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

Barbara Lewis actually got her start as a teen soul singer in early ‘60s Detroit before finding greater success on Stax. Based on this number, it’s odd that Berry Gordy passed on Lewis at a time when he was seemingly signing every promising young singer in the city. Lewis’ voice is a perfect fit for the Motown sound. Then again, maybe it’s for the best Lewis didn’t join the Motown family. Chances are she would have ended up another in the long line of promising female talents discarded in the wake of Diana Ross. Lewis does a fine job with this interpretation of a 1967 Miracles b-side penned by Smokey Robinson. Unfortunately, the original version could not be located for comparison.

Winner: No decision

Round 9 – “I Hear a Symphony”

Booker T. and the MGs vs. Diana Ross and the Supremes

On paper, this looks like a slam dunk: Remove Ross’ weak vocals and replace it with one of the tightest, funkiest groups of the day. But somehow, the MGs’ performance just doesn’t add up. The melody just doesn’t sound complete coming only from Steve Cropper’s guitar and Booker T. Jones’ organ can’t replicate the fullness of the Funk Brothers playing. The Supremes’ version is definitely more than the sum of its parts, and a testament to the acumen of the Holland-Dozier-Holland team.

Winner: Motown

Round 10 – “Chained”

Mavis Staples vs. Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye took a break from cutting duets with Kim Weston and Tammi Terrell to lay down this funky number in 1968. The backing vocals and atmosphere give the track a live feel and the sax break is as close to the Stax sound as Motown gets. Mavis Staples cut her version a year later. She more than holds her own against Gaye’s vocals, and the arrangement is just as energetic. Both versions can pack the dance floor, yet are just different enough to stand on their own. Why choose one performance when you can have both?

Winner: Push

Round 11 – “Ask the Lonely”

John Gary Williams vs. Four Tops

John Gary Williams cut several sides for Stax/Volt as a member of the Mad Lads until he was drafted in 1966. When Williams got out of the military, he wasn’t exactly greeted with open arms. His former group had carried on in his absence, and found Williams’ replacement to be much easier to work with. Stax owner Jim Stewart pressured the group to take Williams back and he recorded with the Lads until 1972. That year, Williams was finally able to go solo. He released only one album, which included covers of George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord,” the Spinners and this reading of “Ask the Lonely.” The smooth sax solo that opens this song and Williams’ vocals foreshadow the Quiet Storm movement. Williams arrangement and delivery may have been ahead of it’s time, but it’s not nearly enough to wrestle the title away from Levi Stubbs’ gut-busting performance on the original.

Winner: Motown

Round 12 – “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”

Soul Children vs. Stevie Wonder

The success of “Signed, Sealed and Delivered” – it spent six weeks at No. 1 on the R&B charts in 1970 – gave Stevie Wonder a great deal of leverage when he renegotiated his contract with Motown and gained the artistic control that birthed his spectacular output later in the decade. “Signed” was the first single 20-year-old Wonder produced; his arrangement is so good you can get lost in the various instruments. There isn’t much that can be improved on Wonder’s version and the Soul Children’s slowed-down gospel interpretation falls flat in the face of his triumph.

Winner: Motown

Round 13 – “Someday We’ll Be Together”

Frederick Knight vs. Diana Ross and the Supremes

Diana Ross’ name is coupled with the Supremes on the label of “Someday We’ll Be Together,” technically making it the ensemble’s final No. 1 hit before Ross started her solo career. Peeling back the label and examining the musicians’ chart, however, one can see that the song was actually a dry run for Ross’ solo career. Supremes Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong, who replaced founding ‘preme Florence Ballard, are nowhere to be found, but even if they did they probably wouldn’t have been able to help. The song, co-written and produced by Harvey Fuqua, is a mess. The strings are way too syrupy, and the backing vocals are over-performed. Everything on the track is over-produced. Perhaps this was an effort to make Ross’ thin vocals sound more emotionally relevant, but even that is a failure. It does sport a great guitar line, though. Frederick Knight vaults over this ridiculously low bar, but he doesn’t exactly salvage the song. His strings are more restrained, the arrangement slightly more funky and the vocals greatly improved, but the song itself – which predates Fuqua’s time at Motown – is far from memorable.

Winner: Stax

Round 14 – “I Wish It Would Rain”

O.B. Clinton vs. the Temptations

“I Wish It Would Rain” is one of the most devastatingly heartbreaking songs in the Motown catalog. Mourning his lost love, David Ruffin lays his soul bare for all to see. Topping this soul masterpiece would be quite a challenge – so O.B. McClinton didn’t even try. Dubbed the “Chocolate Cowboy,” McClinton was an oddity on the Stax label. His singles only charted on the country charts, with his slower tempo, pedal steel-backed version of “I Wish It Would Rain” peaking at No. 67 in 1973. His is a noble attempt, but the song works better in R&B than it does country.

Winner: Motown

Round 15 – “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”

The Bar-Kays vs. Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight and the Pips

The wah wah guitar solo that punctures the Bar-Kays’ version of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” just past the four-minute mark eclipses anything Gordy had imagined at Motown (save Rare Earth) and points Stax down the very odd path of Iron Butterfly and the acid rock of the early ‘70s. This version draws on the spirit of Isaac Hayes’ Oscar-winning “Shaft” and steers close to CCR’s lengthy, jammed-out rendition. I’m not sure if this actually tops the performances Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight took to No. 1 a little more than a year apart. The versions are so different; it’s comparing apples and oranges. Enjoy them all.

Winner: Push

Final score: Stax 4, Motown 7.

The winner in this (the only) bout is overwhelmingly Motown, but Hitsville has an incumbent’s advantage of making Stax tackle its material. Listening to the Supremes tackle the Emotions, Levi Stubbs sparring with the Otis Redding songbook , the Temptations doing Sam and Dave and Norman Whitfield and Holland-Dozier-Holland applying their touches to Hayes/Porter and MGs arrangements would not only be a fantastic delight, but likely tip in favor of Soulsville. Sadly, we’ll never know. As a consolation prize, we have this compilation to bridge two very different and influential approaches to soul music.