Jennifer, 1972

 

Jennifer Warnes had been making records since the late 60's, but it wasn't until her 1976 hit "Right Time Of The Night" that anyone took notice. Okay, maybe some of you took notice before that, but I sure didn't. 

Then came the now classic Leonard Cohen tribute, "Famous Blue Raincoat," and of course the monster duet with Bill The Righteous Brother for the "Dirty Dancing" soundtrack. Since then, not much. She is alive, thankfully, but there hasn't been much activity musically.

But I am here today, ladies and gentleman, to talk about her 1972 release for Warner Brothes, entitled "Jennifer." It was only recently that I discovered that this record was produced by one of my music heroes, John Cale. And it was only yesterday that I finally got to listen to it. And I really dug it.

Warnes is backed by an all star lineup that features Spooner Oldham, Richie Hayward, Russ Kunkel, Ron Elliott, Jackson Browne, Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Milt Jackson. Musically, this record is very reminiscent of Cale's masterpiece "Paris 1919." The setlist includes covers of Free, Jackson Browne, Procol Harum, The Bee Gees, as well as a John Cale original.

Is "Jennifer" the great lost record of the 70's? No, not at all. But if you are a fan of any of the people involved, this was a really pleasant spin and I am glad it finally found me.

Meet the BeeGeetles

 

An Artist Is An Artist

 

 

 

I can't say I've listened to a lot of Skunk Anansie in the last 25 years, but I did enjoy their first few releases back in the 90's, or at least some of those records. 

They have a new single and I love everything about it. It's an earworm for sure, kind of like X-Ray Spex meets The Cure meets INXS.

I dig the lyrics, too.

The Rumble

 

From the band's website:

The Rumble continues the legacy of Mardi Gras Indian funk, which was pioneered in part by Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr.’s father Big Chief Monk Boudreaux with the Wild Magnolias. The younger Boudreaux is a Grammy nominated singer himself and a well respected leader of the Black Masking Indian community. Trumpeter Aurélien Barnes masks with the Northside Skull and Bone Gang, another hallmark black masking carnival group. The brass band culture of New Orleans is represented by Barnes, and especially by trombonist José Maize of the TBC Brass band, known for electrifying crowds at the city’s famous second line parades.

Now that you are caught up, get caught up in this record. "Stories From The Battlefield" 

This record makes me happy and that's no easy task.

Songs Of The Week, 2025: 1/4-1/10

 

Catavento- Milton Nascimento
Skinhead Girl- Symarip
Samba De Orly- Chico Buarque
Which Of Us Is The Fool- Robert Palmer
Blood In My Eyes- Bob Dylan
Izaura- Joao Gilberto
The Free Slave- Roy Brooks

zip

About seven years ago, I spent a few months bingeing on Brazilian/Tropicalia music. Before David Byrne released "Beleza Tropical" in 1989 my knowledge of Brazilian music stopped at Sergio Mendes and the oft-covered "Girl From Ipanema." The Tropicalia movement itself, was nowhere on my radar. Since Byrne's release, I had gradually discovered other artists and their music, with Caetano Veloso and Milton Nascimento being two favorites. But it was about seven years ago when I discovered the real deal.

Going through some old hard drives took me to a folder of about 60 Brazilian records I hadn't listened to since that binge, and so I have been bingeing again. Nara Leao, Chico Buarque, Secos & Molhados, Tim Maia, Joao Gilberto. All wonderful music. I created a Weekend Mix back then, which went over like a lead balão. But I've been enjoying these records so much, I couldn't resist sharing a few songs this week.

That Roy Brooks track which closes this mix, opens up my "Jazz Record Of The Week," which like the "Reggae Record Of The Week" will change...uh...every week. For those interested, reggae changes on Monday, jazz on Friday.

So let's see, that's reggae, jazz and Tropicalia. For the five of you still reading, maybe you'll enjoy the Robert Palmer track and Dylan tracks. The Palmer is here because it was at a Robert Palmer concert in 1982 where I first heard "Izaura." He covered that Gilberto track shared in this mix and it took 25 years for me to track it down, with help from my friend cmealha.  The Dylan is from "World Gone Wrong" which held up suprisingly well.

To all my readers in California---

I hope you have been spared. You have been on my mind 24-7.

Saturday Instagram Photo Dump

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ICYMI

 

 

Recorded soon after Linda McCartney's passing, here are Ian Paice, Mick Green, Dave Gilmour with a guitar solo that will make you melt, and Paulie, giving one of his best and most heartbreaking vocal performances of his long and quite successful career, on a cover of the Ricky Nelson hit, "Lonesome Town."