Sly and the Family Stone Greatest Hits is one of my all time favorite albums. It's one I had on vinyl, cassette, CD, and it just now occurs to me that I also need it in digital format for my phone. Every single song on this album just makes me happy.
"Everybody is a Star" was written by Sylvester Stewart. This song was released as a B-Side to "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," and it also charted and went to number one on the Billboard charts in 1970. I love the positive message of this song ... it is so uplifting.
Here is a 1973 live performance of this song from the old show Midnight Special ... and the performance is amazing. What beautiful voices!
Do you like this song? Do you have other favorites by Sly and the Family Stone? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.
Do you remember "Strawberry Letter 23"? This is one of those "turn the radio up" songs for me. It always reminds me of spring and summer. I think it's the lyrics, with lines like:
"All through the morning rain
I gaze - the sun doesn't shine -
Rainbows and waterfalls run through my mind."
This song was originally by Shuggie Otis, who wrote and recorded it in 1971. His version was a softer soul ballad. Later, "Strawberry Letter 23" was recorded by The Brothers Johnson. Their version, produced by Quincy Jones, was more of an uptempo dance tune. It went to number 5 on the Billboard chart.
Fun trivia: the 12" single was on red, strawberry scented vinyl.
For your listening pleasure:
I first heard this song while playing Song Pop, my favorite music trivia game. I really love it, and can't believe I never encountered it before.
"Love Land" was released in 1970 by Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. This song reached #16 on the Billboard record chart in 1970.
Charles Wright hails from Clarksdale, Mississippi. He is a former doo wop singer who sang with the Twilighters, the Shields, the Turks, and the Gallahads. He started his own band in 1962, and over the years the changing band incarnation included many singers and musicians, including Daryl Dragon (The Captain and Tennille).
This is really such a great song! If I was a music supervisor for a movie or tv show (one of my dream jobs), I would find ways to use this song over and over again. It would be great on a show like Scandal, which utilizes retro soul music so well.
Have you heard this song before? If not, do you like it? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.
"Church Bells May Ring" is an old fashioned doo wop song. Doo wop was a 1950's style of R&B music featuring vocal harmonies. This was before my time, but I've discovered doo wop thanks to SiriusXM radio, and I truly love it. I love a song with strong vocals, and especially with harmonies.
"Church Bells May Ring" was by The Willows. This group hailed from Harlem, New York. They started out as The Dovers, and then became The Five Willows. Eventually they settled on The Willows as a group name. The vocal group consisted of: Tony Middleton (lead), Ralph Martin (tenor), Richie Davis (tenor), Joe Martin (baritone), and John Steel (bass). This song charted at #114 on the Billboard record charts in 1956.
This song is new to me, but I love the energy and the great vocals. And here's a bit of trivia -- Neil Sedaka plays the bells (chimes) on this record!
Do you like doo wop music and old fashioned 1950's vocals? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.
I found this video by chance. "I Hear a Symphony" was a big hit for the Supremes (1965). It has always been one of my favorite of their songs. This cover, from about the same period, has The Blossoms, with lead singer Darlene Love, performing the song. It is from Shindig, a 1960's variety show that I have only heard of. I looked up Shindig and found it aired 1964 - 1966, and The Blossoms were regular musical performers on the show.
The Blossoms were a girl group that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1954. The group evolved, and there were a number of different women included over the years. The most famous group was Fanita James, Jean King, and Darlene Love (pictured above). They sang on their own, and also worked as back up singers (for The Ronettes, Shelley Fabares, Marvin Gaye, and more).
Here's a short video of The Blossoms. What do you think? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.
I just can't let Summer slip by without including my all-time favorite Summer song as a Music Monday selection. "Hot Fun in the Summertime" was released by Sly and the Family Stone after their appearance at Woodstock. This was a very popular song, hitting number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. And it is one of my favorites! Do you remember this one?
You know that list of Top 10 all-time favorite songs I've mentioned here before (although I still haven't put together an actual list)? This song is on it. "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers was released in 1977 and charted at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. A little note of trivia -- Bill Withers holds a note for 18 seconds near the end of the song.
Do you remember this one? It is pure musical happiness for me.
I've always said that if you are going to have a one hit wonder, it should be a GREAT one hit wonder. "My Pledge of Love" by The Joe Jeffrey Group is one of my all-time favorite one hit wonders. This retro soul song made it to number 14 on the Billboard Top 100 chart in 1969. The lead singer, Joe Jeffrey, was actually born Joe Stafford, but changed his name to avoid confusion with classic jazz singer Jo Stafford. The band released "My Baby Loves Lovin'," but bubblegum group White Plains had a hit with the same song. Their last release was "A Hundred Pounds of Clay." Joe Jeffrey appears to be a bit of a mystery -- I could find nothing about him beyond info on this song and basic biography. I'm not sure what he is doing now ... but he sure released a great song back in 1969.
If I ever make a 10 favorite songs list, "Summer Breeze" will be included. I love the Seals and Croft originals original (1972), and also love the Isley Brothers cover (1974). Pop culture has brought the Isley Brothers version back to the forefront with me. It was featured on Scandal last year. It also must be on some type of tape loop at Chipotle. Every time I go in for a Sofritas (spiced tofu) bowl, this song plays. I take that as a sign ... at least as a sign that I should share this with you. Enjoy!
When I was a young girl, I loved music so much that I would listen to my favorite songs on the radio, sometimes taping them to play back, and then write the lyrics down in notebooks. "Mighty Love" and "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" by The Spinners are two love songs that I remember as particular favorites.
"Mighty Love" was released in 1973, and made it to the Top 40 in 1974. The Spinners were a group of friends from Michigan, near Detroit. They debuted at the Apollo Theatre, but did not find great success in the 1960's. They worked at Motown - but in desk jobs and support staff positions. Their success came in the early 1970's, and they were everywhere on the radio during the mid-'70's.
I heard this song over the weekend on the radio and have been thinking ever since how much I enjoyed it. I hope you do, too.
Because some days you just need to hear a song that feeds your soul.
