Wherein I provide three versions of a song to see how it can be (sometimes radically) reinterpreted …. Even though I wrote a series about Ray Charles at the end of last year, I’d somehow gotten it into my head that Willie Nelson wrote this … Continue reading One Song/Three Versions – Hard Times
“You sing about the woman, but you are really also talking about all the kicking around you’ve had, the humiliations that you’ve had, the throwing out of doors you’ve had, the hunger that you’ve had. You think about all these things, but you’re still singing … Continue reading Ray Charles – Part IV (final)
“Ray Charles is the only genius in our business.” – Frank Sinatra. “Soul is when you take a song and make it part of you – a part that’s so true, so real, people think it must have happened to you… It’s like electricity- we … Continue reading Ray Charles – Part III – Busted
Cigarettes and smack (heroin) are the two truly addictive habits I’ve known. You might add women,” he said. “My obsession centers on women—did then (when young) and does now. I can’t leave them alone.” – Ray Charles Once again Ray was on the move. One … Continue reading Ray Charles – Part II – Life on the Road
For several years now, the Music Enthusiast has done a series on a notable artist at the end of the year. Previous years have included Elvis, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, my tour with the Allmans I’ve done almost nothing about Ray Charles. Time to rectify … Continue reading Ray Charles – Part 1
Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul,” died on August 16, 2018 at the age of 76. This is her story. If you think know Aretha, you probably don’t. Read on. I think that, to make sense of Aretha – “Ree” to her friends and family … Continue reading Aretha Franklin – (Part 1) The Sacred and the Profane
You know the night time (ba-de-day), is the right time (ba-de-day) To be (ba-de-day), with the one you love (ba-de-day) There are so many damn great versions of this song one hardly knows where to start. But the most famous rendition is probably Ray Charles’ … Continue reading One Song/Three Versions – (Night Time is) The Right Time
Music Enthusiast - At the junction of rock, blues, R&B, jazz, pop,and soul 