A quick post here to end the week on. I've been out sick with the flu for longer than I can remember being sick for a LONG time. four out of five days and the day I did go into work I had to leave an hour early because I was exhausted. I'm finally feeling well enough to rise out of my flannel sheets and make a quick blog post (or two - check WW&W for some countrified Arthur Russell)I picked up this LP for cheap some time back mainly for Donny Hathaway's live version of "Valdez in the Country" but I was pleasantly surprised to find a handful of gems on this album. If you're curious about why Newport was in New York, I found this article from Time magazine backinthday. I've included my favorites here.
Ray Charles - Every Saturday Night (live)Ray Charles in the seventies, still keeping with the times with this funky good times number. I wish ever saturday night was like this in my neighborhood! I'll pass this weekend as I'm still recovering, but this is gonna be my blueprint for next weekend.
Aretha Franklin - Brand New Me (live)
Ray Charles - Just a Man (live)
The Staple Singers - You're Gonna Make Me Cry (live)
My favorite deep soul weeper done to perfection originally by O.V. Wright, but Mavis and fam really stretch out the pain on this one and give an excellent reading.
Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered (live)
Sure, we've all heard this one a thousand times as its been featured in every rom-com in the last two decades, but have you ever heard it live and funky? I didn't think so. There's a bootleg out there of Steve live around this time by the sound quality kinda sucks and I can't say I listen to it very much. I was psyched to hear this, because this is what I would expect Stevie live in 1974 to sound like.
Donny Hathaway - Valdez in the Country (live)
Donny says something at the beginning of this tune about how we all know what "Valdez in the Country" stands for. Sadly, Donny, I for one have no idea what you're talking about. Anyone out there have any clue? Here's a link to an interesting article about Donny's live recordings.
The Staple Singers - And the Lord Will Hear (live)
7 comments:
Don't know what Valdez in the Country means, but I do know that the song is brilliant. The Ray Charles song is also superb.
Thanks and greetings!
WOW!! This is a great find...thank so much!!
Is is possible to upload the rest of the tracks on this album?
thanks again!!
Could it have something to do with Juan Valdez from those old Colombian coffee commercials...and by a stretch could it then be a drug reference?
I'm just guessing.
following the trail over from simon's post...
many thanks for this one -- and if you can up the other tracks, that would be great too.
very best... TN
PS: No idea about Valdez, but I'm looking forward to finding out from someone hopefully.
and the public has spoken . . . I give you the remaining three tracks from this album one each from the staples, ray and aretha.
Thanks So Much!!!!
Could you PLEASE re-up this? i really want to hear Aretha's A brand new me... thanks...
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