You haven’t been scrobbling! What’s up with that?

My review for Maxwell's 'blackSUMMERS'night:' http://www.albumism.com/reviews/maxwell-blacksummersnight

I've been spinning Maxwell's new album all weekend and it's truly addictive. It may be his most musically expansive and invigorating since his ambitious 1998 landmark, "Embrya." I recently finished a in-depth review for it for Albumism.com, the new music site. When my editor-in-chief publishes it, I'll send you a link to it. I really feel like it's an incredible piece of work. Whenever Maxwell drops something, it's truly an event.

*twirls around

By the mid-1970s, Aretha was faced with many changes throughout the soul landscape, as well as tough competitors. There was Chaka, Natalie, Gladys, Deniece, Betty, and Roberta. When there is more than one household name 'grabbing the baton,' so to speak, that is when reality sets in. While I don't think that Aretha ever recaptured the inevitable heights of her glory peak at Atlantic Records post-1974, there is certainly a lot of artistic merit to what came after. 1975's "You" is one of her finest, even though it was the last straw for Jerry Wexler working with her. Her 1980 eponymous debut on Arista, "Aretha," is full of lighthearted fun and she looked amazing on the album cover. Her cover of the Doobie Brothers' hit "What A Fool Believes" rivals their own. Her best album of the eighties for me is 1982's "Jump To It." Aretha pairing up with Luther Vandross and Marcus Miller was a match made in heaven, and everything worked (from production and songs to sequencing).

Hell, even "La Diva" is a good album with top-flight material. That is one album that has been written off as Aretha's worst album, but that is not true at any degree. Admittedly, some of the Van McCoy-produced songs on that album ("Only Star," "The Feeling," and "Ladies Only") were not up to par with the quality of disco productions of that era, but Aretha could still rise a song from its predictability. "Reasons Why" is one of her very best songs that no one has heard. The "Sweet Passion" album deserves to be heard by the masses, as she was commanding a wide range of musical styles and taking the reins of writing her own material as well. Not to mention, the quality of her voice was at an all-time high (just listen to "Mumbles" and "What I Did For Love." Not a weak song in the bunch either. Same for the "With Everything I Feel In Me," "You," and "Almighty Fire" albums. Of course, "Sparkle" is perfection, but that is the only one everyone recognizes from this era unfortunately.

I've been heavily invested in Aretha's later period work on Atlantic Records, particularly the last five albums that came after 1974's "Let Me In Your Life." I've caught a deal during one of my recent record store digs in January, and I obtained a lot of the albums she recorded from 1974-1979 for Atlantic. I don't know what critics and the public were smoking on, but these were extraordinary recordings that captured Aretha at her vocal and musical peak. "Sweet Passion" and her second Curtis Mayfield-produced project, "Almighty Fire" are right up there with her most revered and classic work on Atlantic Records. People need to debunk the myth that Aretha lost her spark after 1972's "Amazing Grace," as she was diversifying her musical aspirations. I have a theory that Arif Mardin and Jerry Wexler have something to do with how people have received her post-1972 work though, as they didn't particularly take a liken to her approach after "Amazing Grace."

I was just thinking about Terri Lyne Carrington's new album, and how I needed to check it out. Looking at the guests she worked with on several of the songs, it seems to be a delicious project. I'll have to check it out soon.

I acquired a couple of the reissues One Way Records and EMI released in the 90s as well. BGO Records eventually released a remastered package of her first three Capitol-era albums as well, and it was splendidly done. For me, her definitive album remains "Thankful." The peak of the team that was Chuck Jackson, Marvin Yancy, and Natalie Cole. Not to mention, the diversity and flow of the album itself is marvelous.

I've been revisiting "Don't Look Back" heavily since Natalie's passing, and it definitely stands up among her revered Capitol work (1975-78). It's quite a shame that her later Capitol-era work gets overlooked by both the masses and her core fanbase. I'm thankful I inherited her early work on vinyl, as I had to do a needledrop of the "Don't Look Back" LP and convert it to my digital library. It's absurd that her early Capitol albums were widely out-of-print on compact disc, even though the UK remastered her albums from that era before her passing a while back. I was equally thankful when I acquired most of them when they were available. It's refreshing that the black press have given a lot of credit to her legacy in the lexicon of R&B/soul history. I even had to write a post about Natalie's R&B legacy on Facebook, on New Year's Day. Many forget that even though Natalie's jazz vocabulary was already established, her soul roots are immeasurable. Next to Chaka, she was a big deal.

I loved Natalie immensely as well. I was very worried about her health during the later years, due to her reacquiring Hepatitis C, but she still possessed grace, beauty, and of course, her timeless gift: the voice. I grew up on Natalie's music over the years, ever since my mom played her music all around the house. My family had all of her early Capitol-era albums on vinyl, and I'm glad I was able to inherit all of them. Everything from "Inseparable" to "Natalie Live" was flawless. Her underrated albums, "I Love You So" and "Don't Look Back" have some incredible gems on them as well. An incredible spirit and lady she was.

Thank you so much. Missing her like crazy.

Bighead :)

dahhhhhhhhhhhling looking at your charts, you are seriously having a flashback type of week lol....but aint that ledisi album everything tho??? <3 the truth...LIKE A HURRICANE WITHOUT WARNING!!!!!!!!....yes gawd!

Warm Hello, Steve! Hug from 1000 miles away.

Well Hello!! :)

I love the r&b soul vibe..hugs

You have an incredible mixture of artists and bands. I highly respect your taste in music.

안녕!^^

I have been singing that song all day : )

"You gonna make me love somebody else..." :)

I agree with you about those Raw Silk comments, but that's how ignorant minds work! :) Anyway, I have to admit; I don't own much of Jean Carne's catalog. My dad used to have a 45 of "Closer Than Close" when I was a kid, and that's how I was introduced to her; I am starting to like her catalog, so I'll check her out. Thanks for the add!

glad i'm not the only one loving roberta flack right about now. she is often overlooked.

i do so appreciate the Dee Dub. i swear, folx like [artist]Jamiroquai[/artist] & [artist]Me'Shell Ndegéocello[/artist] owe their careers 2him. he was defo ahead of his time

yes their voices always bought brightness to a track, I love the work they did with Dexter Wansel on his "time is slipping away" album

Oh yes Shirley, Brenda & Valarie are my favourite female group of all time... I LOVE THEM!!!! my favourite album from them would be "keep It comin" purely because it takes me back to when I was 14 & first discovered them, I played that album till it couldnt be played anymore as it was worn out & scratched. my next fave is "at peace with woman"

sorry i haven't been on yim lately. i will be on it INVISIBLE 2nite if ur available. just send me a msg if u r

Thanks for accepting the friend request! Our taste in music is crazy similar...You might like my blog http://lvsxmusic.blogspot.com Let me know what you think! Rene<3

after STARING at that Chico pic, I have come to the conclusion that Janet had a baby by the wrong DeBarge brother.

yim=esoterik76. or you can send me links to the downloads. either way, i will appreciate it. long story about why i don't have them, but u know i'm dying without it.

hangin' in there man. hey, do you think you can send me sum janet albums via yim? specifically the tvr, 20yo, control, and janet. albums?

Wow! You got great taste in music!!

Happy B-Day fool!

"Oh RJ!" LOL!

yes on FaceBook, check your inbox ; )

I swear im addicted to that new Chico, the album is just so good. as you can see from the plays I cant stop playing it. : )

darius rucker's great! you should check him out

Rehab

Debarge - I Like It ( loveable song )

ahhh.... "Push Me Away" has got to be my favorite Jacksons song. hope all's well as it can be.

yes! i agree about dreamer. you know, i also found some great jacksons songs on the destiny album that i hadn't known about. i'm loving discovering more songs with jackson's lovely voice.

*hugs*

http://jazzradio.ning.com/profile/esbartolo - http://smoothjazzspace.ning.com/profile/esbartolo

of all Patti's albums "im in love again" is without a doubt my favourite

Miss Patti is just what one needs at the midnight hour!!

*snore*

I'm great thanks, enjoying the long sunny days over here while they last lol!

Hey, hows the good old school life going over there in the U.S.?! You still appreciating the good old classics I see

You know im an old school head & I love nothing more than finding out the creative process of these classics

Fantastic Read : ) & I have been playing the hell out of that Stephanie record all last week : )