The Dirty Dozen Brass Band > My Feet Can’t Fail Me Now

DDB is the perfect modern New Orleans version of the perfect NO music traditions. And their song was an excellent NO reaction to a horrendenous situation.

This album gives you all of the New Orleans musical tradtion in one place, and a chance to continuing to contribute to the reconstruction of one of America’s musical cradles. It’s going to take at least a decade, don’t forget them now.

Hurricane Katrina Donation Week #3

Allen Toussaint > Yes We Can Can

Composed by Allen Toussaint

Before it was hope for the future, ‘Yes We Can’ was a call for self reliance. I’ve loved almost every version, but hearing the composer’s cry after Katrina has to be my favorite, musically and emotionally.

Please buy this album and you’ll get pleasure, chills, and the true satisfaction that comes when you know you’re continuing the work of putting America back together.

Hurricane Katrina Donation Week #2 
Legends of Singer/Songwriters #1 
Legends of Soul #14

Irma Thomas > Back Water Blues

Composed by Bessie Smith

“When it rains five days and the skies turn dark as night…”

My wife heard this track and immediately looked up places to help the victims of Katrina. Please buy this album and you’ll get pleasure, chills, and the true satisfaction that comes when you know you’re continuing the work of putting America back together.

Hurricane Katrina Donation Week #1 
Legends of Soul #13

tracks:

Gnarls Barkley: Crazy

tracks:

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell:

Ain’t No Mountain

Just call my name I’ll be there in a hurry…

Legends of Soul #11 & #12
Duet #1

Francis & The Lights > A Modern Promise

This is my favorite song and video.

Covers #10

fred-wilson:

There Goes My Baby - The Walkmen

It’s cover day again. And I’m going with another song from the Stubbs The Zombie videogame soundtrack. I’ve never played the videogame, but I’ve played the soundtrack a bunch.

Legends of Soul #9

365rpm:

Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up
I can never tell what blows me away about this track more: the incredible horn section or the 16th-note percussion. Both completely drive the track, but I think I’m going to have to give my nod to whoever was pounding the skins on “Move On Up.” Not only is this guy playing a wicked beat, he’s playing it at the same rapid tempo for nine minutes straight! It’s unbelievable. I would kill to have been able to see them perform this song live.

Legends of Soul #10

365rpm:

The Temptations - Ball of Confusion (That’s What’s The World Is Today)
Rap on.

kevinpatrick:

Buster Brown went to #1 on the RnB charts in Dec ‘59 with ‘Fannie Mae’.  A few years later, he basically rewrote the song lyrically, becoming the classic ‘Don’t Dog Your Woman’.  Everything about this, especially the harmonica, soon after identified with many of the songs on the 1st few Rolling Stones albums.  I never recall them name checking him though they may have covered ‘Fannie Mae’ early on, as a friend who read this pointed out. Fair enough, but I think the similarity between this and The Rolling Stones’ ‘Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man’ borders on ‘cover song’.

Fred: I knew Bobby Robinson (the proprietor of Fire/Fury and later Enjoy Records) slightly in the 70s when I was recording blues. One of the many true characters in the record business.