Soul by the Dozen V

Whether you’re young or old, good soul music gets your blood flowing, your foot tapping, and your soul itching to dance. Soul ballads touch our souls in a different way and the great soul ballads can transport us and make us cry while sitting in traffic.

The Jackson 5

I first began exploring soul music in college when I purchased ‘70s oldies cassette compilations and really started digging soul, funk, and disco. By the time I graduated college, I was buying Prince albums and had taught myself to dance. Here are some more of my favorite soul songs. Enjoy!

The Ch-Lites

01. The Jackson 5 – “Doctor My Eyes” (1972)
02. The Jackson 5 – “Dancing Machine” (1973)
03. Sly & the Family Stone – “Underdog” (1967)
04. R.B. Greaves – “Take a Letter Maria” (1969)
05. Earth, Wind & Fire – “September” (1978)
06. Prince – “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man” (1987)
07. The Commodores – “Three Times a Lady” (1978)
08. The Chi-Lites – “Oh Girl” (1972)
09. Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack – “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” (1983)
10. The Three Degrees – “When Will I See You Again” (1974)
11. Diana Ross and Lionel Richie – “Endless Love” (1981)
12. Donny Hathaway – “A Song for You” (1971)

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The Hurdy Gurdy Man – Part 3

I guess the first Donovan song I remember hearing when I was kid was “Mellow Yellow” on the radio and on those TV commercials for classic rock compilations and his songs have been used with great effect in some of my favorite films including Goodfellas, Rushmore, Election, and Zodiac (his daughter is actress Ione Skye who married one of the Beastie Boys). I started discovering more of Donovan’s music in the mid-‘00s and it’s impressive to hear how many different styles of music he was able to cram into such a brief time period- and yet it all sounds distinctively Donovan.

I suppose if you asked him about his music Donovan would say he’s most proud of his proficiency and how he was able to take folk, rock, blues, jazz, classical, and even funk and make it into something completely his own. While like Bob Dylan his earlier and folkier songs may be sad, introspective, and earnest, I like that Donovan’s later ‘60s work incorporates more fun, humor, and freakiness in which he proudly let’s his peace and love flag fly (and a little flute or violin never hurts, either). Here are some more of my favorite Donovan songs- all recorded before he was 24 years old! Enjoy!

01. Donovan – “Universal Soldier” (1965)
02. Donovan – “Jersey Thursday” (1965)
03. Donovan – “Superlungs My Supergirl” (1969)
04. Donovan – “Barabajagal” (1969)
05. Donovan – “The Fat Angel (Live)” (1967)
06. Donovan – “Guinevere (Live)” (1967)
07. Donovan – “Widow with a Shawl (A Portrait) (Live)” (1967)
08. Donovan – “Epistle to Dippy” (1967)
09. Donovan – “Celeste (Live)” (1967)
10. Donovan – “I Love My Shirt” (1969)

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Donovan & Crystal Gayle – “Catch the Wind (Live)”

The Hurdy Gurdy Man – Part 2

Donovan gives himself permission to follow his muse and writes and sings about whatever he wants and while the results may be mixed one never doubts his sincerity. It was the 60’s, after all, when young people were encouraging each other to do whatever turns them on and make the most of each and every moment and celebrate life, love, and laughter. Rather than make fun of the ‘60s hippies, perhaps we should ask ourselves: where has the peace and love gone in our own time? Who is our Donovan singing about seagulls, pretty free spirits, and the pain and beauty of trying to catch the wind?

One day I was leaving my Arabic class when I passed one of my classmates on the street. She was wearing headphones and I noticed she was listening to Donovan on her electronic device. Though I didn’t know the young woman very well, as a Donovan fan I suddenly had a newfound respect for her. I imagine any Donovan fan is most likely a person who looks for the good in life, appreciates simple beauty, and wouldn’t mind spending an afternoon alone sitting by a brook in a forest and enjoying the peace, solitude, and birdsong. Here are some more of my favorite Donovan songs. Enjoy!

01. Donovan – “The Tinker and the Crab” (1967)
02. Donovan – “The Entertaining of a Shy Girl” (1968)
03. Donovan – “Sunshine Superman” (1966)
04. Donovan – “Catch the Wind (Single Version with Strings)” (1965)
05. Donovan – “Colours” (1965)
06. Donovan – “Mellow Yellow” (1966)
07. Donovan – “Widow with a Shawl (A Portrait)” (1967)
08. Donovan – “Voyage into the Golden Screen” (1967)
09. Donovan – “The Magpie” (1967)
10. Donovan – “Isle of Islay (Live)” (1967)

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Donovan on teaching guitar technique to the Beatles

The Hurdy Gurdy Man – Part 1

Perhaps no artist personifies the freedom, experimentation, and revolutionary sounds of ‘60s popular music better than Donovan. Decades before bands like Ween and Butthole Surfers lovingly mocked his music and Beck stole his act, Donovan was the pied piper of the ‘60s flower children scene- the psychedelic minstrel who came at the right time when new ways of thinking, living, and making music were suddenly everywhere; and for a brief time Donovan made the most of it by mixing folk, rock, blues, jazz, Celtic, classical, Baroque, and world music- and whatever else struck his fancy (he even traveled to India with the Beatles in 1968.)

Emerging from Scotland as a teenage folkie in the mid ‘60s, Donovan Leitch soon began journeying into- and trail blazing- psychedelic music and by the late ‘60s he was all over the musical map; no one knew what to expect next from him- often the sign of a good artist. His music from this period usually contains just the right amount of childishness and whimsy but never feels silly to me. History, fantasy, science-fiction, mythology, ecology- it’s all fair game for Donovan who seems most at home in an imaginary pagan world where spirits- both good and evil- still inhabit everything and damp, cool forests beckon. And I love when he incorporates that harpsichord. Here are some of my favorite Donovan songs. Enjoy!

01. Donovan – “The Trip” (1966)
02. Donovan – “Bert’s Bues” (1966)
03. Donovan – “Season of the Witch” (1966)
04. Donovan – “Wear Your Love Like Heaven” (1967)
05. Donovan – “Hurdy Gurdy Man” (1968)
06. Donovan – “Jennifer Juniper” (1968)
07. Donovan – “Catch the Wind” (1965)
08. Donovan – “Hampstead Incident” (1967)
09. Donovan – “The Enchanted Gypsy” (1967)
10. Donovan – “Atlantis” (1968)

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Donovan talks about the end of the ‘60s

Alejandro Who? – Part 3

In addition to his distinctive singing voice, I like Alejandro Escovedo’s style. In this age of hipster wannabes in t-shirts and blue jeans, Escovedo still dresses like a rock star- including the trademark sunglasses- and this only adds to his coolness and mystique. He’s a musician’s musician and in recent years Peter Buck from R.E.M. has been playing in AE’s band- something the 61-year old Buck doesn’t have to be doing unless he really wants to. People want authenticity- and AE has it.

I’ve never been to an Alejandro Escovedo concert but I’m guessing the guy puts on a great show and strives to give folks their money’s worth. I don’t know much about Escovedo’s personal life- and I don’t want to know. Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones- we love these artists for their music and not for what they do in their spare time. In a world where rock stars seem to be fading by the day, Escovedo is an endangered species and perhaps that’s why he garners so much praise and respect from musicians and critics alike. As Alejandro Escovedo’s music goes, so goes the state of late 20th century folk, rock, country, and even alternative music. Here are some more of my favorite AE songs. Enjoy- and Happy Thanksgiving! 

01. Alejandro Escovedo – “Man of the World” (2012)
02. Alejandro Escovedo – “Sister Lost Soul” (2008)
03. Alejandro Escovedo – “This Bed Is Getting Crowded” (2010)
04. Alejandro Escovedo – “Farewell to the Good Times” (2016)
05. Alejandro Escovedo – “Sway (Live)” (1996)
06. Alejandro Escovedo – “After the Meteor Showers” (2010)
07. Alejandro Escovedo – “Castanets” (2001)
08. Alejandro Escovedo – “Anchor” (2010)
09. Alejandro Escovedo – “Tired Skin” (1992)
10. Whiskeytown feat. Alejandro Escovedo – “Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight” (1997)

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Alejandro Escovedo – CBS This Morning: Saturday

Austin City Limits Interview with Alejandro Escovedo

Alejandro Who? – Part 2

Alejandro Escovedo comes from a musical family- his brothers played with Santana and his cousin, Sheila E., with Prince- and AE cut his teeth as a guitarist in the punk band the Nuns (who opened for the Sex Pistols during the latter’s final concert in San Francisco in 1978). Escovedo’s music defies classification- which is a good sign- and to me it sounds like he draws inspiration from everything from Vivaldi to Beethoven to Frank Sinatra to Paul Westerberg to cowboy, doo wop, and even psychedelic music. You name it and the guy probably has it stashed away in his house somewhere- on vinyl.

Escovedo writes and sings it like he’s lived it, and in a music business career nearly as old as I am that’s a lot of experience. While not overtly political, after listening to his songs for a while you begin to discern Escovedo’s views on life, love, and how people should treat each other. He supports the underdog, sees beauty in sadness, and knows each of us carries a broken heart. He’s an optimist (he’s American), believes music can help point the way toward salvation, and- like most good artists- he eventually comes to the sensible conclusion that love- real love- is the only thing worthwhile. Here are some more of my favorite Alejandro Escovedo songs. Enjoy!

01. Alejandro Escovedo – “Headstrong Crazy Fools” (2012)

02. Alejandro Escovedo – “Always a Friend” (2008)
03. Alejandro Escovedo – “Across the River” (2001)
04. Alejandro Escovedo – “Rosalie (Live)” (2001)
05. Alejandro Escovedo – “Pale Blue Eyes” (1999)
06. Alejandro Escovedo and Bruce Springsteen – “Always a Friend (Live)” (2008)
07. Alejandro Escovedo – “Irene Wilde” (1999)
08. Alejandro Escovedo – “She Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (1992)
09. Alejandro Escovedo – “Last to Know (Live)” (1994)
10. Alejandro Escovedo – “Silver Cloud” (2010)

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Alejandro Escovedo – Live on The Bridge – PBS

Alejandro Who? – Part 1

Don’t tell Alejandro Escovedo rock is dead- that’s how he still makes his living (as well as from folk, punk, and country music). He may not be a household name- for years his records got tossed in the Latin music section simply because of his Spanish name (for the record, he’s more cowboy poet than mariachi band singer)- but he is a prolific artist and there’s lots to unpack in Escovedo’s long and varied musical career which spans two states- Texas and California- and four decades- and, despite a health scare in the ‘00s, this proud son of Mexican immigrants is still going strong.

I first became aware of Alejandro Escovedo’s punk infused rock music about 10 years ago on Little Steven’s Underground Garage radio show but only recently have I started discovering his solid folk and country chops which dominate the majority of his output. He likes to sing about women and actually seems to understand them which leads me to believe he has sisters and close female friends. He covers songs by the Stones, the Stooges, Lou Reed, John Cale, and the Velvet Underground; employs violin, harmonica, and slide guitar whenever he feels like it (not to mention female back up singers); and these things make him not only cool, dangerous, and unpredictable but also human, authentic, and worth listening to- especially his live stuff. Here are some of my favorite AE songs. Enjoy!

01. Alejandro Escovedo – “Amsterdam” (1999)

02. Alejandro Escovedo – “Losing Your Touch” (1994)

03. Alejandro Escovedo – “Tell Me Why” (1994)

04. Alejandro Escovedo – “Five Hearts Breaking (Live)” (1995)

05. Alejandro Escovedo – “Wedding Day” (2001)

06. Alejandro Escovedo – “Ballad of the Sun and the Moon” (1994)

07. Alejandro Escovedo – “Heartbeat Smile” (2016)

08. Alejandro Escovedo – “Follow You Down” (2001)

09. Alejandro Escovedo – “Sally Was A Cop” (2012)

10. Alejandro Escovedo – “Pissed Off 2 A.M. (Live)” (1996)

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Little Steven's Underground Garage