The Sunday Six

Hope everybody is spending a pleasant weekend, and you’re in the mood to join me on yet another imaginary music time travel trip. Let’s get out together and have some fun!

Jimmy Smith/Messin’ Around

Our excursion today starts in the early ’60s with Jimmy Smith, who was instrumental in popularizing the Hammond B-3. It’s one of my longtime favorite instruments I previously covered in a dedicated post. Using the mighty organ, Smith created a neat link between jazz and ’60s soul. In April 1961, he released Home Cookin’, a tasty album featuring tracks recorded between July 1958 and June 1959. Smith (organ) was backed by Percy France (tenor saxophone), Kenny Burrell (guitar) and Donald Baily (drums). Here’s Messin’ Around, an original composition by the B-3 maestro. This is great groovy stuff!

The Cure/Friday I’m in Love

Our next stop takes us to April 1992 and Britain’s The Cure, a band I largely ignored, but how can you resist a jangle pop gem like Friday I’m in Love! Credited to the entire group, it was included on their ninth studio album Wish. The song also became its second single in May of the same year and one of their biggest hits. In the UK, it peaked at no. 6 on the Official Singles Chart. In the U.S., it reached no. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Alternative Airplay chart, then known as Modern Rock Tracks. This is one bloody catchy song!

Altered Five Blues Band/Whiskey Got Me Married

Are you ready for a shot of blues? To get it we shall travel all the way back to the present. On March 22 this year, Altered Five Blues Band came out with their latest release, an EP titled Testifyin’. Originally known as Altered Five, the five-piece was formed in Milwaukee, Wis. in 2002. Their debut album Bluesified appeared in 2008, and they’ve since released five additional full-length albums. Until recently, I wasn’t aware of the group. Then I heard the smoking hot Whiskey Got Me Married and was hooked! The band’s current line-up features Jeff Taylor (vocals), Jeff Schroedl (guitar), Steve Huebler (organ, piano), Jason Ricci (harmonica), Mark Solveson (bass) and Alan Arber (drums). Damn!

Sam Cooke/You Send Me

Just when you may have settled with Altered Five Blues Band it’s time to continue our little music excursion with some sweet soul music. Let’s not be moderate and get it from one of the best: Sam Cooke. You Send Me requires jumping back to February 1958 and Cooke’s eponymous debut album. Written by him, the song also became his first single. It was an immediate success in the U.S., topping both the pop and R&B charts. What a voice!

Mott The Hoople/Roll Away the Stone

Time to pay a visit to the ’70s. In March 1974, English glam rockers Mott The Hoople released their seventh studio album The Hoople, the final under that name. Shortly thereafter, co-founder and lead vocalist Ian Hunter left to launch a solo career that remarkably continues to this day. Meanwhile, the group renamed themselves Mott and came out with two more albums before breaking up in 1980. Roll Away the Stone, penned by Hunter, also became the album’s lead single in December 1973 and marked the band’s last top 10 hit on the British charts.

Sade/Why Can’t We Live Together

And once again, we’re reaching the sixth and final stop. Let’s wrap up today’s trip in July 1984 with music from Diamond Life, the great debut album by Sade. The name refers to both the band and their lead vocalist, Nigerian-born British singer Sade Adu or simple Sade. Diamond Life was well received by music critics, became a huge commercial success, and won the 1985 Brit Award for Best British Album. Here’s the closer, a neat rendition of Why Can’t We Live Together, a song written and first recorded in 1972 by R&B singer Timmy Thomas. Sadly, the lyrics haven’t lost any of their relevance to this day.

Sources: Wikipedia; Acclaimed Music; YouTube; Spotify