With lyrics written by Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s Tiny Dancer was first featured as the opening track to his 1971 album, Madman Across the Water. Taupin says the song is about Maxine Feibelman, his wife at the time.
Bob Saget’s Version Of The Aristocrats Is What You Need If You Love Dirty Jokes
I’m going to miss Bob Saget greatly. Here he is in Penn Jillette and Paul Provenza’s 2005 documentary The Aristocrats.
Jamie Foxx Reveals What Sidney Poitier Taught Him
It took more than just a powerful performance for Jamie Foxx to win an Academy Award for his role in the movie “Ray”—it took an intervention from Oprah Winfrey.
Here’s The Original Version Of No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak”
“Don’t Speak” was written by lead singer Gwen Stefani and her brother Eric Stefani, and produced by Matthew Wilder. Originally a love song, Stefani rewrote the lyrics almost completely after her breakup with the band’s bass player Tony Kanal.
Roxette’s Isolated Vocals For “It Must Have Been Love”
Originally a Christmas song, four different versions of Roxette’s It Must Have Been Love have been officially released. The original song was released in 1987, which was followed by the most successful incarnation, a slightly edited version, omitting the Christmas references, created for the soundtrack to the 1990 film Pretty Woman. During the “Join the Joyride! World Tour” in 1991, the band recorded a country music version in Los Angeles, included on their 1992 album Tourism. A Spanish-language version of the Pretty Woman recording was released on their 1996 compilation Baladas en Español. Finally, an orchestral live performance from the band’s 2009 concert at Night of the Proms was included on their 2012 studio album, Travelling.
Sonic Reducers: New Music Friday: Mickey Leigh’s Mutated Music, Sea Power, Goodbye June and More!
Sonic Reducers. 1 topic. 2 music nerds. 5 minutes.
We run though new albums out today, including Mickey Leigh’s Mutated Music, Sea Power, Goodbye June, The William Loveday Intention, Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros, Khruangbin and Leon Bridges + more.
My Next Read: Never Be Alone Again: How Bloghouse United the Internet and the Dancefloor by Lina Abascal
For a brief period in the mid-2000s, a network of independent music bloggers and fans merged the digital and physical worlds in a never-before-seen way. Their punk-inspired DIY ethos elevated noname DJs, music producers, and parties to a level of international success that was quickly eclipsed by corporatized EDM and the music festival boom. But before that, for a moment, there was bloghouse.
NEVER BE ALONE AGAIN: How Bloghouse United the Internet and the Dancefloor by Lina Abascal chronicles the rise of the DJ-slash-It Girl, roaming party photography, illegal Mp3 file sharing, canonical scene reports of bloghouse capitals Los Angeles and Paris, the overlooked impact of suburban Latino communities on nightlife, Kanye West’s contribution to the movement, and the slow death of the blog itself.
With a foreword from DJ/producer A-Trak, the highly anticipated new book features over 50 original interviews with DJs, cultural icons, and industry insiders, including A-TRAK, Acid Girls, Bag Raiders, The Cobrasnake, The Bloody Beetroots, The Cool Kids, Chromeo, Crookers, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Flosstradamus, Franki Chan, Girl Talk, The Hood Internet, The Hype Machine, The Knocks, Myspace Music, MSTRKRFT, Nick Catchdubs, Paul Devro, The Presets, The Rapture, Simian Mobile Disco, Spank Rock, Steve Aoki, Van She Tech, and many more.
JUNO Award-Winning & Boogie Woogie Piano Hall of Famer Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne Releases “Rock And Rolling This House”
Canada’s multi-award-winning beacon of the blues Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne has prepared his Hall of Fame talents for takeoff with the announcement of his new album, Blues From Chicago to Paris: A Tribute to Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon — available March 4th via Stony Plain Records.
The 17-track album pays spirited homage to the piano-pounding and bass-slapping bygone legends from a legend himself — all while serving as a rousing and riveting guide to the lively post-war blues scenes of Chicago and Paris.
“Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon were a team, and their styles worked great together,” Wayne says of the artists behind the release’s inspiration. “Out of many other blues piano players I’ve listened to, I found a unique playfulness between these two men, unlike the many other great blues pianists.”
Focused on the period when the two giants of the genre teamed up to tour the globe in the late ‘50s-early ‘60s, Blues From Chicago to Paris presents a robust collection of favourite songs, as well as the innovative tunes that have inspired and influenced artists ever since.
As was the case with his other most recent release, 2020’s Go, Just Do It, Kenny Wayne took on the role of producer once again for Blues From Chicago to Paris; he also invited bassist Russell Jackson, a veteran of the B.B. King band during the 80s, and drummer Joey DiMarco into the studio for the sessions.
Now 77, Wayne’s six-decade musical career began with him soaking up the sounds of gospel music from his father, a preacher. From there, his genre journey traversed through jazz, Latin, R&B, and soul, with explorations in swing, bebop, dance, and the standards, for good measure.
The JUNO Award-winner with multiple Maple Blues Awards and keyboard awards from Living Blues Magazine to his credit, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne was also inducted into the Boogie Woogie Piano Hall of Fame in 2017.
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne’s Blues From Chicago to Paris: A Tribute to Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon is available March 4th, 2022 via Stony Plain Records.
Canadian Blues Matriarch DALANNAH Celebrates Extraordinary Career With Silky-Smooth “Blues Keep Knockin’”
Multi-disciplined Canadian Blues matriarch Dalannah is celebrating an extraordinary career while serenading a song of sorrow with the release of her silky-smooth new single, “Blues Keep Knockin’.”
“Blues Keep Knockin’” is the new original song capping off 15 incredible years with Quest Records on her new album, In My Own Words. The record is an anthology of Dalannah’s greatest hits on Quest, with the new song serving as a bonus track that rounds off an outstanding collection.
Listeners will experience 75 minutes of emotionally resonant music in honour of Dalannah’s 75 years of life well-lived. Her latest song is a testament to the philosophy of love for life and the gift of melody.
“Blues Keep Knockin’” is a tune that reflects on the profound sadness felt when experiencing a significant loss. Dalannah touches on how trauma affects our soul, saying, “when loss becomes your companion, perhaps for life…That ol’ devil blues stays by my side.” When the opening bars graciously hit the ear, listeners are instantly transported to another place and time.
“I keep wonderin’ wonderin’ why,
When I think of you
I start to cry
There’s a hole in me
that can’t be filled
Blues keep knockin’ at my door.”
Sensational piano and clarinet playing lay the sonic foundation for Dalannah to break our hearts once again with a number that pulls at the heartstrings from beginning to end. Dalannah’s Heartbreaking lyrics are embedded with wisdom as beautifully produced harmonies complement one another throughout “Blues Keep Knockin’.”
On Dalannah’s 76th birthday, Quest Records also produced a live show accompanying the release of In My Own Words. It was recorded at The Firehall Arts Center in Vancouver, Canada, in October 2021 to celebrate the release of the 16-track album. The intimate venue allowed Dalannah to shine alongside accomplished and world-class artists, such as pianist Michael Creber (K.D Lang, Andrea Bocelli), renowned clarinet player Tom Keenlyside (Dizzy Gillespie, Aerosmith), and more; this level of talent could only be attracted to an artist of Dalannah’s caliber.
Dalannah started her career as a musician in 1965, with her first break coming from working the music circuit with one of the first all-girl bands in North America, The Feminine Touch. After only three months, The Feminine Touch would open for The Monkees and pave the way for North American tours lighting up stages for legendary Canadian band, The Guess Who. While on the road in Edmonton, Canada, with Coloured Rain, she famously encountered a newly formed Led Zeppelin. Dalannah, whose full name is Dalannah Gail Bowen, has been a lifelong advocate for human rights with a generosity that extends to countless charitable organizations. Just as many awards and acknowledgments pepper Dalaanah’s distinguished career from an honourary key to the city of Vancouver, Canada, and the declaration of December 11th as “Dalannah Gail Bowen Day” by the Mayor and Council of Vancouver, B.C.
Dalannah’s spellbinding track “Blues Keep Knockin’” from the latest album In My Own Words is available on all digital platforms and CD through Quest Records.