Give The Drummer Some, Part 7: Omar Hakim

 

I was obsessed with this track when I first heard it. I wasn't aware of drummer Omar Hakim prior to seeing him perform live with Sting in 1985. He is featured on both Sting's solo debut and the live concert film and album that followed. But I had been listening to Weather Report since I first heard 1977's "Heavy Weather." It was six years later that Hakim joined Weather Report and it was this track from 1984 that made me a fan for life.

The groove, once you get past the acrobatic intro, is indeed a waltz. And once you grab hold of it, you will find it hard to not count "1-2-3" for the full 11 minutes. Or at least, that's what the drummer in me feels.

The groove, if you don't count "1-2-3," also swings like a muthafu**a! 

I once played this track in a crowded shop on a Saturday afternoon, and I had a dozen people boppin' while shoppin'.

Omar Hakim's playing is off the charts. It's mind-boggling and still fluid. 

I hope you get lost in the "D-Flat Waltz." 

 

I rarely read a post on someone's blog and then immediately post the same thing here. But our pal Steve over at Power Pop shared something today that has really grabbed hold of my head and heart. As Steve put it, "I didn't see this coming down Broadway." Yeah man, neither did I.

This is a new song from Amy Grant, written by Nashville's Sandra Emory Lawrence and released on January 6th. It is stunningly beautiful musically and lyrically, well, you'll figure out why it made my heart hurt.

Songs Of The Week, 2026: 1/3-1/9

 

If I Knew Then What I Know Now- Charlie Rich
I Believe- Robert Plant
Somebody Saved Me- Pete Townshend
Love Has Found Me- The Galaxies
Let The Music Play- Rick Derringer
Pa' Huele- Eddie Palmieri
There's A Ghost In My House- R. Dean Taylor

 

A few quick notes:

Charlie Rich is doing James Hunter 50 years before James Hunter on this track.

Rick Derringer is doing Todd Rundgren and Utopia two years before actually making an album with Todd Rundgren and Utopia. 

This Eddie Palmieri cut is super groovy, especially his twisted quote of "Mary Had A Little Lamb."

Enjoy it all below.

 

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BW's Saturday #74

 

And Here's Some New Misters Robinson

 

Hot off the presses, here are the first two tracks from the forthcoming Black Crowes record, "A Pound Of Feathers" due in March.

If memory serves, we've got some readers who are fans and some who are not. I'm a fan and I dig both tracks. Plus, I am thrilled a new record is coming so soon after "Happiness Bastards," which was a fantastic return to form. 

 

Everlasting Love Affair

 

I knew the single, of course. We all know it. But I had never heard the entire record before yesterday. 1968's "Everlasting Love Affair" by The Love Affair is great fun, It's mostly covers, but all of them are convincing, even if the band can't decide who they want to be. Sometimes it's the Small Faces. Sometimes it's Deep Purple. Sometimes it's The Action. But it all works.

They cover Joe South's "Hush," or actually, they cover Deep Purple's cover of Joe South's "Hush," as well as a few other songs you probably think you don't need to hear covered anymore, like "Tobacco Road" or "Handbags & Gladrags." Except, there is something going on here and it's hard to nail down. But it's really good.

Steve Ellis's vocals are exceptional. The arrangements veer from a Tamla/Motown type pop to a psychedelic, occasionally mod feel. The version of "Tobacco Road" takes its time and that's fine with me. It gives you time to bask in its heaviosity.

I mean, rather than just continuing to toss off names and silly descriptions, listen to some of these tracks. Maybe you'll hear what I hear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buttrey & McCoy

 

Kenny Buttrey is the subject of Chapter 6 in John Lingan's book, "Backbeats." As you may or may not know, Buttrey had been playing sessions in Nashville since he was in grade school, prompting John Sebastian to write the lines, "Nashville cats, been playing since they're babies, Nashville cats, get work before they're two." Along with Charlie McCoy, he appeared on Dylan's "Blonde On Blonde" and "John Wesley Harding," not to mention countless others records in your collection.

This chapter led me to "Harpoon Man," a 1968 single from Charlie McCoy's album, "The World Of Charlie McCoy," featuring Buttrey on drums, which then led me to "Turn On Your Love Light" from the same record.

 

The album is an average garage rock, occasionally psychedelic collection of covers of the hits of the day. The arrangements are mostly standard, but the playing is above standard on most of it, and both McCoy and Buttrey stand out, especially on these two tracks.