Showing posts with label Stevie Wonder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stevie Wonder. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Hitsville



Motown night on American Idol was really good tonight.  Adam Lambert did an amazing rendition of TRACKS OF MY TEARS.  



They announced on the show tonight that the versions on itunes this week would be to the original instrumentations.  Isn't that basically Karaoke?  If this is true, I will be very disappointed because I would love to hear a studio version of Adam doing that song.  

Each week itunes offers extended studio versions of the songs as well as videos of the show performances.  I usually really dig them.  It's very interesting to hear what each performer sounds like in the studio.  Sometimes you love a number on the show and then when you hear the studio cut, there is no magic.  Other times it's the complete opposite.

You CAN also download free mp3's of the live versions (including Adam's from last night) on the blog www.rickey.org.  Many times they often are posted the same night of the show. 



A few years back a MOTOWN REMIXED album was released.  A second volume followed.  The results were varied, but I really dig DJ Smash's remix of Stevie Wonder's SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED, I'M YOURS.  It's got a great groove and really show's off Stevie's voice (which is not always the case with remix albums.) 

Check it out...



Here is a video about the remix album.



Saturday, March 14, 2009

Flashback... warm nights... almost left behind.



A few years back I became obsessed with a gorgeous cover of Cyndi Lauper's TIME AFTER TIME by jazz/folk artist ERIN BODE. It is a very "pure" rendition with gorgeous harmonies by Jerry Barnes.  Seriously, their voices together make me very happy!  Perfection!!

Download Erin's version and really listen to the words.  Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman wrote a stunning piece of music that is much more than just a "Cyndi Lauper song."  I feel it has become an American pop standard.



Bode's cover is featured on her first major release DON'T TAKE YOUR TIME.  Besides TIME AFTER TIME, I dig the songs YOU and DON'T TAKE YOUR TIME and her versions of Bob Dylan's TONIGHT I'LL BE STAYING HERE WITH YOU and Stevie Wonder's IF IT'S MAGIC.  



Check her out.