Friday night dose of Aretha

Aretha and her girls delight in Stockholm, Sweden from 1968.

Aretha Franklin on Merv Griffin

Spectacular performance by Aretha and her fab back-up singers.

All hail the Queen of Soul

Aretha performs Rock Steady live on Soul Train from 1973.

beautiful Janis

Broadway came to the Cabot last night with A Night with Janis Joplin and it was better than great. Janis' spirit and voice took over the body of Mary Bridget Davies. Incredible. The show centers around Joplin telling stories of the singers who inspired her – from Bessie Smith, Odetta, The Chantels, Etta James and Aretha Franklin to Nina Simone. The four women who played these roles received many standing Os but what blew everyone away was the voice of Davies. My favorite scene was the character of Janis talking about cleaning the house with her siblings every Saturday while her mom blasted Broadway albums. These tunes influenced Janis deeply – Summertime from Porgy and Bess being one of them. She would then channel Joplin, belting out her renditions. If you're a Janis Joplin fan, you will loooooooove this show. Everything about it is fantastic: the performances, the band and the set with a balcony from where the "inspirations" sang. Prepare to be awed.

Saturday morning dose of Shindig!

A segment from 1964 with Aretha Franklin singing Mockingbird.

Dave Mason and Steve Cropper

I was fortunate to see two legends at the lovely Cabot Theater Thursday night and it was a very memorable evening. It also happened to be the day that Aretha Franklin passed away. Singer Gretchen Rhodes belted out Chain of Fools in her honor and it was spectacular. If you have a penchant for this type of music, see this tour! Steve Cropper was the guitarist and prolific songwriter for Booker T and the MGs, Stax Records' house band. Besides his solo career, Dave Mason started out in the band Traffic along with Steve Winwood.

• Steve Cropper interview, 1984
• Booker T and the MGs, 1968
• Only You Know and I Know, Dave Mason
• We Just Disagree, Dave Mason
• Feelin' Alright, 2018
• Paper Sun, Traffic, 1967

Good, Good Lovin'

I'll be seeing the tremendous Darlene Love tonight in Boston and I'm sure she'll be getting some good, good lovin' from the audience. In the video above, The Blossoms perform on the very last episode of Shindig! in January 1966. Groove along with them on Shindig!:

• Dancing in the Street
• Needle in a Haystack
• I Like It Like That
• Night Time is the Right Time with The Righteous Brothers
• Backing up Aretha Franklin

UPDATE: I was once again blown away. Gotta love Love!

it's a thataway

Soulville, Dinah Washington, 1963


Soulville, Titus Turner, 1963


Soulville, Aretha Franklin, 1964

Darlene Love

Great beach read if you like reading about the music industry, particularly 60s pop and soul. In Darlene Love's book My Name Is Love, her candor is so refreshing, I like her even more. Plus, juicy rock and roll tidbits, but not gross tidbits. Check out some of the characters: The Blossoms,  
Shindig!, The Righteous Brothers, Phil Spector, Sonny and Cher,  
Tom Jones, Nino Tempo, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick and Ike and Tina Turner. 

Nancy Wilson

This fabulous song received a Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording in 1965. Check out her gorgeous live performance.


(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am, Nancy Wilson, 1964


(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am, Aretha Franklin, 1964

Martha Wash

I had the pleasure of hearing the incredible voice of Martha Wash last night at the Regent Theatre along with her fantastic band and backup singers. She started with a tune about it being her time to shine which we all have the ability to do. Believe in yourself, forget about what everyone else is doing, stop comparing yourself to others and focus on what you have to offer. Then do your own little dance, damn it.



Martha belts out Aretha Franklin's 1985 hit Freeway of Love.