Adeli’s Music Blog
Music, Music, Music! The New, The Old & The Noteworthy

Roots Propaganda, the newest album by the Paul Carlon Octet, is strong and smooth from beginning to end. Carlon - a saxophonist, bandleader, and composer - has assembled a powerful group of multi-cultural musicians, and created a dynamic jazz set, with elements of Brazilian and Afro-Cuban rhythms. The trombones, saxophones, percussion, tribal chants, flutes, and the vocal talents of Christine Durandy all contribute to the wonderful sound and spirit of Roots Propaganda.

“Backstory” is full of Latin rhythm and flavor. The horns, percussion, and boom-boom beat, along with Ms. Durandy’s words and humming vocals, make this a strong opener. “Ochun,” with its joyous saxophone, tribal chant, and flute, is Afro-Latin music at its best. The next song, “Moro Omin Ma” has a similar feel to it, with a dash of Brazil. Here, Durandy is doing the chanting.
“Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out” and the title track are swinging and the most upbeat songs on the album; the former, with its toe tapping rhythm, and the later, with the horns battling each other.

Other standout songs on this album are “The Limiter” Mammo Pa’ Kanoa, and “Hard Times Killin’ Floor Blues,” a superb tune that fuses genres, and captures the essence of Roots Propaganda.

Roots Propaganda goes back to the roots of classic American jazz and Afro-Latin music, along with some swing and funk. Roots Propaganda is a great collection that will please the jazz aficionado as well the fans of Latin rhythms.

Today is B.B. King’s 83rd birthday! He was born Riley B. King on September 16, 1925 and was named the third-greatest guitarist of all-time by Rolling Stone magazine. He received the 1987 Lifetime Achievement Grammy and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Several of B.B.’s early recordings were produced by Sam Phillips, who later founded Sun Records in Memphis, TN. King was also a disc jockey in Memphis, where he got the nickname “Beale Street Blues Boy,” which was then shortened to “B. B.” Since the 1950s, B.B. has been one of the most important names in Blues and R&B music, with a long list of hits which include:

The Thrill is Gone (His biggest hit, 1969)

How Blue Can You Get

You Know I Love You

Sweet Little Angel

Click here to find out why B.B. named his guitar Lucille.

Today marks the 5th anniversary of Johnny Cash’s passing. He was 71 and had only three months prior, suffered the loss of his wife, June Carter Cash. Despite being sick since 1997 with Autonomic Neuropathy, the Man in Black continued to perform until just two months before his death.

American IV: The Man Comes Around is the fourth album in Johnny Cash’s American series. Most songs are covers which Cash performs in his own simple style. The Eagles’ “Desperado,” Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” The Beatles’ “In My Life,” Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” and Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus” are included on this album. American IV was the first of Cash’s albums to go gold in thirty years, and the last album he released during his lifetime.

The most popular song from this collection is Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt.” The video for “Hurt” was nominated in seven categories at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards and won for Best Cinematography. The video also won a Grammy for Best Short Form Video in 2004. This video is now known as Johnny Cash’s epitaph, since he expressed his view of his past and feelings of regret in this rendition.

Watch some of the videos below.

Hurt

Personal Jesus

Bridge Over Troubles Waters

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

Below, some of the winners from the 4th MTV Awards, which took place on September 11, 1987.

The big winner was Peter Gabriel’s Slegdehammer. It won for Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Best Concept Video, and Most Experimental Video.

Let’s watch it here: Sledgehammer

Other winners from that year include:

Madonna - Papa Don’t Preach (Best Female Video)

Talking Heads - Wild Wild Life (Best Group Video)

Janet Jackson - Nasty (Best Choreography)

U2 - With or Without You (Viewers’ Choice)

Catherine MacLellan’s second album Church Bell Blues is a mix between folk and country music. It’s folk, because of the minimal instrumentation, and country, because it’s quite melancholy and MacLellan’s voice fits nicely in the genre. Her songwriting skills, husky and compelling voice, and guitar talent shine through on this album.

The twelve-song collection begins with “Dreams Dissolve.” The guitar sounds almost purposely out of tune, making this tune dark and sad. “Emily’s Song” is a happier song; MacLellan’s acoustic guitar and James Phillip’s electric guitar make it lively. The title track is bluesy, and a bit more uplifting than its title would suggest. “The Long Way Home” is reminiscent of Emmylou Harris. It has a beautiful melody, male and female voices blending, poetic lyrics and a country twang. “Brave Love” has heavier guitars, and is probably the most fast-paced song on the album. “River Valley Plains” speaks of the environmental problems our earth is facing with powerful lyrics like: One hundred fifty years we’ll throw our garbage, shed our tears into the river that once ran clear through this land. “Brave Love” is another standout song on this album.

All the songs on Church Bell Blues are worth a listen. The album is low-key, and will take a couple of plays for the listener to realize how good it is. Catherine MacLellan is a skilled songwriter and vocalist, and Church Bell Blues is a solid album that showcases her talents.

Elvis Presley first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show on this day - September 9 - in 1956. The video below is part of The History Channel’s When America Was Rocked special. The Jordanaires, Elvis’ backup singers, are interviewed about working with him. They had a working relationship with Elvis for almost 15 years.

When Elvis Rocked America

And here’s an article about Elvis’ early TV appearances.

Elvis Gyrates on Ed Sullivan’s Show

Earlier this week, I requested that my readers send me their thoughts on Elvis: favorite songs, movies, memories, and/or overall impressions. And here they are:

I remember singing “Hound Dog” from the hearth of my fireplace (that was my stage) and listening to my dad’s records. My all-time favorite Elvis song is “It’s Now or Never.” My family was very connected to Elvis because my father loved him. For a few reasons: Elvis was very spiritual, had a good heart and was generous, and was Southern. My dad also grew up listening to the gospel singers that Elvis always had singing backup: Jake Hess (The Imperials), The Jordanaires, The Jubilee Four, and probably the biggest name in southern gospel music: JD Sumner and the Stamps. I remember listening to JD Sumner and the Stamps way before Elvis. I think a lot of people probably don’t even know Elvis had so many gospel singers singing with him. Lastly, I have probably listened to Elvis’s gospel music more than his mainstream music. By the way, the only 3 Grammy Awards he won were for his gospel music.
-Jeremy Beck (singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer)

I am not a huge Elvis fan, but I have to acknowledge him as a great performer in American popular music. Besides the fact that he was very attractive, charismatic onstage, and had an amazing voice, I think he was a very interesting person, too, and people responded to that. Not everyone knows that he had a very diverse ethnic background, including some Native American heritage, and I think that helps to make him an American icon. My favorite periods for Elvis are the very beginning of his career ( before he went into the army, and then did all those movies) and later during his resurgence in the late sixties. I like some of his lesser known songs, such as his cover of the old Hank Snow country song, ” A Fool Such as I” and “Love Me”. From the later period I like ” A Little Less Conversation”, ” In the Ghetto”, and “Suspicious Minds”.
-Sue (singer/songwriter of Ether Park)

Elvis’ profound mark on popular music was, by most accounts, a happy accident. He was not a songwriter, and did not aspire to be an innovator. He was a kid who wanted a record deal. The result of Sun Records’ discovery was nothing less than the gift of “black music” - and essentially rock’n'roll - to the rest of the country. Elvis was the messenger - an interpreter of music considered taboo by white America. Once the secret of this sonic groove and soul was out, it could not be stopped, and it changed the world.
-Doug Hinrichs (percussionist)

Below are my top Elvis songs and movies.

Top 10 Elvis Songs: (in no specific order, although #1 is my favorite)
1. Kentucky Rain
2. Always on my Mind
3. Suspicious Minds
4. In the Ghetto
5. Can’t Help Fallin in Love
6. It’s Now or Never
7. If Everyday was like Christmas
8. If I Can Dream
9. A Little Less Conversation
10. That’s All Right
These last 2 were hard for me to let go of…
Blue Christmas
The Wonder of You

Top 10 Movies:
1. Jailhouse Rock
2. Paradise Hawaiian Style
3. G.I. Blues
4. Blue Hawaii
5. Viva Las Vegas
6. Fun in Acapulco
7. Frankie and Johnny
8. It Happened at the World’s Fair
9. King Creole
10. Clambake
-Claudia Gomez-Pina

For many people, songs like Hound Dog, Don’t Be Cruel, Jailhouse Rock, etc are all they know about Elvis Presley. And it’s these same people who might not think too much of him or wonder what the big deal is. And of course, everyone has a right to his or her opinion. However, one of the things that really makes Elvis so extraordinary, besides his good looks and onstage charisma, is the fact that he did a great deal in a short amount of time. Yes, he started early, but he also made his departure at the relatively young age of 42. It is true that he didn’t write his own songs. But frankly, with all the acting, dancing, recording, and touring he did, I wonder if he’d ever find the time to write anything.

If someone would sit and watch his movies, listen to the soundtracks he recorded while acting and dancing in those movies, listen to his numerous gospel and country western albums, along with his mainstream rock and roll material, it would be quite exhausting. So, I would like to give him credit for all his contributions to American culture: an extensive catalog of music, memorable and pelvis-shaking live performances, and many films. His legacy is still strong, even 31 years after his last performance.

Let’s take a listen to some of Elvis’ lesser known songs, but which still deserve some recognition.

Below, some of his country songs:

Funny How Time Slips Away

(Now And Then There’s) A Fool Such As I

Love Me

I Forgot To Remember To Forget

Some of Elvis’ greatest performances were his inspirational and gospel songs. Here are a few of them:

How Great Thou Art

Peace In The Valley

Amazing Grace

You Gave Me A Mountain

Put Your Hand In The Hand

Below, links to some Elvis performances: gospel, movie music, and more:

You Gave Me A Mountain

How Great Thou Art

Gospel Medley

That’s All Right (in Studio, 1970)

Rubberneckin’ (from Change of Habit)

Treat Me Nice

Baby I Don’t Care

A Little Less Conversation (from Live A Little, Love A Little)

King Creole

Only The Strong Survive

Trouble

In remembrance of the 31st anniversary of Elvis Presley’s passing on August 16, 1977, it will be Elvis Week on Adeli’s Music Blog.

On August 13, 1960, Elvis’ “It’s Now or Never” was the Number 1 song in the U.S. and in other countries. It entered the UK charts at Number 1 and spent nine weeks at the top. This song sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, and it was Elvis’ biggest international hit. “It’s Now or Never” is my favorite Elvis song. Other favorites include “Suspicious Minds,” “Kentucky Rain,” and “In The Ghetto.“