A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
One of Motown’s biggest hits, this was written by Marvin Gaye, William ‘Mickey’ Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter and released in 1964 by Martha and the Vandellas. It reached No … Continue readingMartha and the Vandellas: Dancing in the Street
A rare visit to Funk Country with the Betster, former wife of Miles Davis and girlfriend of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Robert Palmer. From the 1974 album of the … Continue readingBetty Davis: Nasty Gal
The Jamies were an American singing group, led by siblings Tom and Serena Jameson. Tom wrote this song which got to No 26 in America in 1958. It was re-released in … Continue readingThe Jamies: Summertime, Summertime
Excellent clip from the underrated 1982 album Icecream for Crow.
Originally called Tell Her, this was written by Bert Berns, who also wrote Twist and Shout. The first release was by Johnny Thunder in 1962, but it got nowhere. Jerry Leiber and … Continue readingThe Exciters: Tell Him
A Little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara; Picador 2015 WHEN our dog Bingo clattered into a garden table while chasing a ball, causing terminal damage to wine glasses and a newly … Continue readingA not so little slice of life
Live version of the song from the idiosyncratic American’s 1978 album of the same name. Remember when all concert performances were wreathed in smoke, cigarette or otherwise?
‘You walked in, and my life began again. Just when I’d spent the last piastre I could borrow.’ Gorgeous track from the 1975 album Katy Lied https://am-records.com/2018/10/22/steely-dan-cool-not-cold/ .
Written by Jerry Ragovoy (who also wrote Stay With Me Baby) and Bert Berns (who wrote Twist and Shout), this was first recorded by Erma Franklin, older sister of Aretha, in 1967. … Continue readingErma Franklin: Piece of My Heart
THE answer to the prejudice blighting the world has been staring us all in the visage, according to an Italian psychologist. Zapping the brain with electricity would wipe out bias … Continue readingZap those Brexit mutineers, Boris