Arts and Entertainment

Mike Dinsmore Week commences.  Listening to Mike's choices, it's clear that he favors folk music of a political bent.  A broad palette of such songs.  We head north to Quebec…

A great band you never heard of: Coming next week: Mike Dinsmore gets his musical closeup!

This song just popped into my head and onto the intertubes:

Shoulda known that, once I took that detour to Muscle Shoals, I'd want to spend some more musical time there.  The Swampers ( Barry Beckett, keys; Roger Hawkins, drums; David…

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…