Arts and Entertainment

When a perfect song comes into your head, why overthink it? Just put it up on the blog.  Written by Fenton Robinson (His 'I Hear Some Blues Downstairs' is a…

I admit I didn't follow the Cranberries. However, when we learned yesterday that lead singer Dolores O'Riordan had passed away, I checked 'em out. Turns out that I was missing…

By pure unadulterated coincidence, I just happen to be the producer for the upcoming (and almost sold-out) Tinsley Ellis show at the Arden Gild Hall. His combination of blues, soul…

We all know that, at their height, the Temptations featured two great lead singers--Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin. However, on this Smokey Robinson composition/production from 1963, Paul Williams does the…

While Van McCoy is perhaps best (or worst) remembered for 'The Hustle', he was a prolific producer and songwriter during the sweet soul era.  Agent Double O Soul is particularly…

Agent Double O Soul: "The Five Stairsteps aren't everyone's cup of meat, but I love their harmonies, especially the way they stagger the backup vocals during the verse on this…

You've heard of the Friends Of Distinction, but likely haven't properly appreciated them.  They're responsible for gems such as 'Going In Circles' and 'Love Or Let Me Be Lonely'. This…

Kenny Gamble before he became 'Gamble-Huff'. Agent Double O Soul likes the 'spare arrangement' and 'atmospheric production'. Also likes how the bass player keeps things moving along:

A great Motown song that I'd never heard before. With a story every bit as fascinating as the song. I'd never heard of Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers, a group…

We're gonna have a week of great soul songs that you've never heard. My Secret Soul Source demands anonymity, however he/she insists that I play his/her theme song before sharing…

This elegiac farewell to Lester Young was composed by Charles Mingus shortly after Prez's death, and appeared on his essential Mingus Ah Um album. The musicians: Charles Mingus, bass Horace…

McCoy Tyner's first recording after leaving the John Coltrane Quartet was 'The Real McCoy'. In both senses of the term. While the 1967 album demonstrated the spirituality that Tyner shared…

People who have never heard this still know that its opening riff was borrowed by Steely Dan for 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number'.  It's also one of my fave jazz…