Yesterday I listened to a U.K. Ronnie Spector collection from 2015 called "The Very Best Of Ronnie Spector." The first half is all Ronettes, while the second half contains a few collaborations, one with Southside Johnny and two with the E Street Band, as well as some solo material. It was a pretty solid listen.
Two tracks stood out, mostly because I simply didn't remember them, something I imagine is going to happen more and more.
"Love On A Rooftop" is a Diane Warren/Desmond Child co-write, and while it was released as a single in 1987, it failed to crack the Billboard Top 100. The other is a cover of Marshall Crenshaw's "Something's Gonna Happen," which is one of five Crenshaw tunes Ronnie recorded in 1989 with Marshall and his band, but stayed unreleased in legal limbo until 2003. I don't remember this at all. The Spector/Crenshaw collab also includes "Whenever You're On My Mind," "For His Love,""Favorite Waste of Time" and "Communication."
"Love On A Rooftop" is a fantastic pastiche of 50's doo wop and 60's girl group, albeit with a bit of unfortunate 80's synth for good measure. Why it failed to crack the Top 100, I'll never know. The Crenshaw cover is pretty much the M.C. backing track with Ronnie singing. I believe the other four tracks are on YouTube.
I don't have any post-Grammy commentary. Sorry. I watched the Knicks and the Lakers. But hey, I learned something new about Ronnie Spector. There's that!
Is "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" on the album?
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteLove On A Rooftop originally appeared on Unfinished Business (1987). It and the Crenshaw covers ep, along with the “best of” are available streaming. Ronnie sounds great on both tracks.
ReplyDelete- Paul in DK
"I simply didn't remember them, something I imagine is going to happen more and more." Hahahaha. I feel you. Future Burning Wood post: "Wow, this artist Todd Rundgren is really blowing my mind. So fantastic! Why have I never heard of him before?" And I will eagerly check him out. :)
ReplyDeleteha ha you whippersnapper.....
DeleteI'm very happy about Bad Bunny winning. It's deserved I'd say (certainly he's been a significant artist for a while), a landmark (first album in Spanish to win Album of the Year) and an FU to the racists and fascists trying to dismantle our democracy.
ReplyDeleteA recent Mojo magazine had an article about the Crenshaw/Spector material. "Something's Gonna Happen" is textbook Marshall; inventive use of chords and great guitar solo.
ReplyDeleteBob in IL
"Something's Gonna Happen" is such a great song. I love the structure of it and how it uses the chords it does.
ReplyDeleteI watched the Grammys as I do every year (so you don't have to). Bruno Mars (both songs) and Lady Gaga continue to be great performers with top-notch material.. "Manchild" was fun. The Ozzy/Roberta Flack tributes were on point (though the production showing the deceased artists behind them was so poorly shot through all 3 memoriam songs...)
All the "Best New Artists" were pretty much a snoozefest this year (I thought Chappel Roan fully deserved it last year). I wasn't surprised that Olivia Dean won and considering how long Alex Warren's "Ordinary" was a #1 song (and this was the first time I'd heard it) -- it wasn't great. And I don't really get Justin Bieber's appeal, honestly.
Honestly surprised that the Brian Wilson tribute was just a Springsteen voice-over. Same with Sly Stone. (Though, admittedly, they've done special tribute shows for both in the past...)
It'll be interesting to see if a new broadcast network shakes this presentation up next year. The one good thing about the CBS broadcasts of the past decade is that it has pretty much been wall-to-wall music and that's why I keep tuning in.
I've always loved "Love On A Rooftop"!
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