{"id":16512,"date":"2023-09-11T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-11T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/?p=16512"},"modified":"2023-09-10T21:58:24","modified_gmt":"2023-09-10T20:58:24","slug":"the-music-that-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/2023\/09\/11\/the-music-that-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"THE MUSIC THAT MATTERS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Norman Warwick hears about<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE MUSIC THAT MATTERS \u2026.. to Rod Stewart<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

from an interview by Tina Benitez Eves in American Songwiter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tina Benitez Eves, writing in American Songwriter recently, recalled an interview given by Rod Stewart in the classic radio segment, Tracks Of My Years,(with that title snatched from the Smokey Robinson hit, Tracks Of My Tears, made with The Miracles  In this section musicians discuss how not only  their own music has been shaped by others but also how fondly such influences are remembered<\/p>\n\n\n\n

so, come follow your art back to the music that first moved the artists who have moved us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In 2018, Rod Stewart (left)<\/em><\/strong> remembered some of his all-time favourite songs during an interview with Ken Bruce<\/a> on BBC Radio 2. Stewarts\u00b4s musical journey in song, says Tina Benitez Eves, stretches from one of the greatest entertainers of the 1920s through a late \u201950s rock and roll pioneer, the soul of the 1960s, and a few contemporary artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The interview centered around 10 songs chosen by Stewart that left an indelible mark on him from his childhood through to the present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among some of Stewart\u2019s favorite songs were Billie Holiday<\/a>\u2018s rendition of These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You), Sam Cooke<\/a>\u2018s 1961 hit Cupid, Lookin\u2019 For Love by Bobby Womack, Muddy Waters\u2019 Feel So Good, and Eddie Cochran\u2019s No. 1 hit, Three Steps to Heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms. Benitez Eves, though, took a look at the other five songs released between 1928 through 2015 that were hand-picked as favourites by Stewart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sonny Boy by Al Jolson (1928)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written by Ray Henderson Buddy De Sylva, and Lew Brown<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First featured in the 1928 musical film The Singing Fool<\/em> and sung by Al Jolson, \u201cSonny Boy\u201d hit No. 1 on the charts where it remained for 12 weeks and sold one million copies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was what I grew up with, listening with my mom and dad,\u201d said Stewart on BBC<\/a>. \u201cThey loved him. My brothers loved him. We all loved Al Jolson. I was made to love Al Jolson (right)<\/em><\/strong> . My big brother John took me to see the two movies they made about him, and I fell in love with him. I think Michael Jackson, too, because Michael used to [use] the white gloves and the white socks, which is exactly what Al Jolson used to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added, \u201cThis man sang without a microphone, which to me is incredulous. To get up and sing without a mic to 2000 people. So Al, thank you from upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climb up on my knee, Sonny Boy
Though you\u2019re only three, Sonny Boy
You\u2019ve no way of knowing
There\u2019s no way of showing
What you mean to me, Sonny Boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When there are grey skies
I don\u2019t mind the grey skies
You make them blue, Sonny Boy
Friends may forsake me
Let them all forsake me
I still have you, Sonny Boy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Girl Can\u2019t Help It by Little Richard (1956)<\/strong> (left)
Written by Bobby Troup<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Released on his eponymous second album, along with rock and roll classic standards Lucille and Good Golly, Miss Molly,  Little Richard<\/a>\u2018s The Girl Can\u2019t Help It peaked at No. 7 on the R&B Best Sellers chart and was later covered by The Animals and was sampled on Fergie\u2019s 2007 single Clumsy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was little, my brother Bob, who was a bit of a teddy boy, he brought this record [\u2018Little Richard\u2019] home,\u201d said Stewart. \u201cI put it on time and time and time again\u2014another one that was a big influence on me and then I met him. What a sweetheart of a man. Bless him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If she walks by the men folks get engrossed
(She can\u2019t help it, the girl can\u2019t help it)
If she winks an eye and bread slices turn to toast
(She can\u2019t help it, the girl can\u2019t help it)
If she\u2019s got a lot of what they call they most
(She can\u2019t help it, the girl can\u2019t help it)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Try a Little Tenderness by  Otis Redding (1966)<\/strong> (right)<\/em><\/strong>
Written by Harry M. Woods, Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First recorded by the Ray Noble Orchestra in 1932 and later by Bing Crosby<\/a> and Frank Sinatra<\/a>, it was Otis Redding<\/a>\u2018s soulful rendition of the loving ballad Try A Little Tenderness that made the song a hit when it peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also known for his hit (Sittin\u2019 On) the Dock Of The Bay and his rendition of the Ben E. King classic Stand By Me<\/a> within his short career, Redding tragically died in a plane crash at the age of 26 on Dec. 10, 1967.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI saw Otis in 1967 at the Kuban state, and I cried my eyes out when he sang this song,\u201d shared Stewart. \u201cWhat was interesting about the show is that he only played for 20 minutes, they have booked Booker T. & the M.G.\u2019s, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Sam & Dave and they all did 10, 20 minutes and the show was all over in an hour and a half.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh she may be weary
Them young girls they do get wearied
Wearing that same old shaggy dress, yeah, yeah
But when she gets weary
Try a little tenderness<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Cars and Girls by Prefab Scout (1988)<\/strong> (left)<\/em><\/strong>
Written by Paddy McAloon<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Formed by brother Paddy and Martin McAloon along with guitarist and keyboardist Wendy Smith in 1978, Prefab Scout released a number of hits in the 1980s, including When Love Breaks Down, The King of Rock N\u2019 Roll and Cars And Girls\u2014the latter two off the group\u2019s fifth album, From Langley Park To Memphis<\/em>. Though Cars And Girls didn\u2019t move too far up the charts, it still remains one of the British pop band\u2019s most popular songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust gorgeous,\u201d said Stewart of the 1988 Prefab Scout single. McAloon also wrote the bonus track Who Designed The Snowflake, off Stewart\u2019s 2018 album, Blood Red Roses<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlthough we never met, we e-mail each other all the time,\u201d said Stewart of McAloon. \u201cThis band, I\u2019ll tell you, it\u2019s just wonderful. He [McAloon] takes [his sound] outside the rock and roll genre. It\u2019s jazz, almost. Long live Prefab Sprout.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brucie dreams, life\u2019s a highway
Too many roads bypass my way
Or they never begin<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Innocence coming to grief
At the hands of life, stinkin\u2019 car thief
That\u2019s my concept of sin<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does heaven wait all heavenly
Over the next horizon?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

 Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson, featuring Bruno Mars (2015)<\/strong> (right)<\/em>
Written by Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars, Jeff Bhasker, Philip Lawrence, Rudolph Taylor, Ronnie Wilson, Devon Gallaspy, Nicholaus Joseph Williams, Lonnie Lee Simmons, Robert E. Wilson, Charles K Wilson<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBruno Mars<\/a> for me \u2026 I don\u2019t wanna say he is a new Michael Jackson,\u201d said Stewart when talking of one of his more recent favorites, \u201cUptown Funk.\u201d The lead single from Mark Ronson<\/a>\u2018s fourth studio album, Uptown Special<\/em>, featuring Bruno Mars on vocals, won the Grammy for Record of the Year in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think he is a man on his own,\u201d said Stewart of Mars. \u201cHe is doing something totally brilliant. This song, I believe, is one of the best records ever made into our world. I love it so much. The production, Mark Ronson, it just goes without saying, it\u2019s just different class.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stewart added, \u201cThe actual brass riff that goes around, it\u2019s been around for a lot of years. It\u2019s a James Brown thing, but that is what makes it appeal to you and me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Come on, dance, jump on it
If you sexy, then flaunt it
If you freaky, then own it
Don\u2019t brag about it, come show me
Come on, dance, jump on it
If you sexy, then flaunt it
Well, it\u2019s Saturday night, and we in the spot
Don\u2019t believe me, just watch, come on!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Live Jazz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Pigfoot Play Ellington<\/strong>
Friday 15 September
Progress Theatre, The Mount, Reading RG1 5HL
Doors as soon as the bar is open, 7-ish
Music 7.30pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jazz at Progress opens its much anticipated new season with Pigfoot Play Ellington, a celebration of the ultimate giant in the history of jazz, Edward Kennedy \u2018Duke\u2019 Ellington, arguably the greatest composer of the 20th or any other century. His enduring legacy stands, \u2018beyond category<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n



The four members of Pigfoot – Chris Batchelor on trumpet\/cornet, James Allsopp on baritone sax\/bass clarinet, Liam Noble piano\/keyboard and Paul Clarvis drums – have immersed themselves in the sound and tradition of \u2018Ellingtonia\u2019 \u2013 the muted rasp of trumpeter Cootie Williams, the poised grace of Harry Carney\u2019s baritone, the dense crunch of Duke\u2019s piano voicings and the buoyant bounce of drummer Sonny Greer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their evocative reworking of a range of Ellington\u2019s iconic compositions, will conjure images of his early days in Harlem\u2019s\u00a0 Cotton Club, through his\u00a0 Swing hits of the 1930s and 40s to the exotica\u00a0 inspired by his extensive international travels in later years. As Duke would have said himself, with an adoring smile to the audience, \u201cThe guys in the band want you to know that \u2018they love you madly\u2019.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t miss this unique evening. As Kai Hoffman of London Jazz News commented, \u2018You\u2019ll have a heck of a good time.’<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We  look forward to greeting you at 7.00pm on 15 September when the doors of the Progress Theatre open for another season of inspiring musical endeavour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Info and tickets here<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stewarts\u00b4s musical journey in song, says Tina Benitez Eves, stretches from one of the greatest entertainers of the 1920s through a late \u201950s rock and roll pioneer, the soul of the 1960s, and a few contemporary artists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16519,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[78,45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","category-music"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16512"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16512\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16680,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16512\/revisions\/16680"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}