The Sunday Six

Hope everybody is spending a great weekend. Welcome to another installment of The Sunday Six, my weekly imaginary time travel series visiting six music tracks from six different decades and in different flavors. Except for the first stop, this time we’re back to vocals.

Lou Donaldson/Dorothy

Today, our journey starts in 1957 with alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson. From his web bio: Jazz critics agree that “Sweet Poppa Lou” Donaldson is one of the greatest alto saxophonists of all time. He began his career as a bandleader with Blue Note Records in 1952 and, already at age 25, had found his sound, though it would continue to sweeten over the years — earning him his famed nickname –“Sweet Poppa Lou.” He made a series of classic records for Blue Note Records in the 50’s and takes pride in having showcased many musicians who made their first records as sidemen for him. After an impressive 64-year career as an active performer, Donaldson officially retired in 2017 and last November turned 97. Dorothy, a composition by Rudy Nichols, is the opener of Swing and Soul, an album the Lou Donaldson Quintet recorded in June 1957. In addition to Sweet Poppa Lou, it featured Herman Foster (piano), Peck Morrison (bass), Ray Barretto (congas) and Dave Bailey (drums).

Gitarsong/Lucky Lucky Man

From the past we shall jump 67 years to the present and a neat groovy song by an artist you likely don’t know yet. I came across Gitarsong aka. Tim Jordan and Lucky Lucky Man on Facebook the other day and dug it right away. Jordan’s website notes the guitarist, vocalist, composer, engineer and producer explores guitar-based music in a broad range of genres, including rock, pop, soul, R&B, funk, fusion, blues and groove jazz. He played in two major-label groups, Forest Green (pop/prog rock) in the ’70s and The Ladder (AOR) in the ’80s, and shared concert billings with the likes of Hall & Oates, Steve Miller and Todd Rundgren. Since these major-label engagements Gitarsong has released many self-produced CDs of his original music on his own label. Lucky Lucky Man is from his latest EP Groove Party, which dropped in February this year. The title says it all!

The Music Machine/Talk Talk

Let’s continue jumping decades back and forth coz why not, and head to 1966 with a great recent recommendation by my dear friend Mike Caputo, a singer, songwriter and musician who has been performing in the NY/NJ/PA area for over 50 years. In December 1966, psychedelic garage rock group The Music Machine released their debut studio album (Turn On) The Music Machine. Initially, the Los Angeles band came together in 1965 as folk rock trio the Raggamuffins before expanding into a five-piece and changing their name to The Music Machine. But the group started facing serious challenges starting in late 1967 and after an unsuccessful revival attempt by frontman Sean Bonniwell disbanded for good in early 1969. Talk Talk, written by Bonniwell, was the band’s debut single and a song from their first album. It became their only U.S. top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Soul Asylum/Runaway Train

Our next stop takes us to October 1992. That’s when Soul Asylum released their sixth studio album Grave Dancers Union, which turned them into one of the biggest alternative rock acts. Founded as Loud Fast Rules in Minneapolis in 1981, the band initially had an edgier punk and hard rock sound and by the late ’80s had achieved cult status but no mainstream chart or commercial success. This changed in June 1993 when they released their single Runaway Train, which became a major hit in the U.S. and many other countries. Written by frontman Dave Pirner, it won the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. Each time I’m listening to the song, I’m reminded of Chris Norman, the original lead vocalist of English band Smokie who were hugely popular in Europe in the ’70s, including Germany.

Sly and the Family Stone/If You Want Me to Stay

Let’s get a dose of hot funk on our next stop in June 1973 with Sly and the Family Stone. The group was created in November 1996 when Sly Stone and his brother Freddie Stone combined their bands they had formed earlier in the same year. The group who combined elements from different genres including funk, soul, R&B, rock and psychedelic music helped pioneer psychedelic soul. If You Want Me to Stay, written by Sly Stone, appeared on their sixth studio album Fresh. It also became the album’s biggest hit single, reaching no. 3 in the U.S. on Billboard’s Best Selling Soul Singles chart (today known as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs) and no. 13 on Billboard Hot 100. Feel free to groove along!

Peter Gabriel/In Your Eyes

Once again we’re reaching our sixth and final stop, a real goodie that takes us to May 1986 and Peter Gabriel’s fifth studio album So. In Your Eyes, written by the ex-Genesis frontman, features Senegalese artist Youssou N’Dour singing a part at the end of the song translated into his native Wolof. The song also appeared separately as a single in the U.S. where it received significant airtime on the radio and MTV. It ended up topping Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart and peaking at no. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song reentered the latter chart in 1989 after it had prominently been featured in the teen romantic comedy drama Say Anything…, featuring John Cusack. I guess after watching the picture, you will never look at a boombox the same way.

Last but not least, here’s a Spotify playlist of the above tracks. As always, I hope there’s something there you like.

Sources: Wikipedia; Lou Donaldson website; Gitarsong website; YouTube; Spotify