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Christmas play list

December 23, 2009 By 21 Comments

Everyone’s got their fave Christmas songs. These are mine. Better late than never. Happy Christmas!

father christmas

  • David Bowie & Bing Crosby – Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy
    Bowie: “You the one that sings, right?” Bing: “Right or wrong, I sing either way.”
  • Elvis Presley – Blue Christmas
    You’ve got to have the king.
  • Christmas Tears – Freddie King
    One of three Kings of the blues. Christmas blues, this one’s a little-known classic. Download now!
  • Otis Redding – Merry Christmas Baby
    Not one of his best. But it’s Otis Redding, so it makes it in.
  • Andy Williams – Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
    Played and played year after year but still works.
  • Nat King Cole – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
    Pure class, as you’d expect.
  • Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song
    “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” You just have to have this one. There’s a few more from Nat King Cole. But I’ll have to leave it there. Written in 1944 by vocalist Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer!
  • Ella Fitzgerald – Good Morning Blues
    “It’s Christmas time and I wanna see Santa Claus”. From her Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas 1960 album. With Count Basie
  • Perry Como – It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
    Played and played and on several movies but still a Christmas cracker!
  • The Pretenders – 2000 Miles
    The 80s was a bad decade this one only just makes it in.
  • Harry Connick Jr. – Sleigh Ride
    Loads of artists have done this light orchestral piece by Leroy Anderson. None better than Leo from Will & Grace.
  • Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody
    Glam Rock gave us two Christmas classics.
  • Roy Wood with Wizzard – I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
    This was the second. The Top of the Pops miming performance is priceless!
  • The Drifters – Bells will be Ringing
    Love it. Blues and Christmas again. Really works. Download this relatively unknown classic by the influential 50s R&B doo wop combo.
  • Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas Is You
    OK OK OK! I’m sorry!
  • Paul McCartney – Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time
    Some say he didn’t do anything after the Beatles. I’m not so sure.
  • Dean Martin – The Christmas Blues
    “I’ve done my winter shoppin’ there’s not a store I’ve missed, but what’s the use of stoppin’ when there’s no-one on your list, You’ll know the way I’m feelin’ when you love an’ you lose, I guess I’ve got the Christmas blues!”
  • Frank Sinatra – Winter Wonderland
    Don’t let the football supporters have all the best tunes!
  • Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt
    Only just beats the sultry version by actress and jazz crooner, Cynthia Basinet which has often been mislabeled as Marilyn Monroe, whom never recorded the song. I’m going for Eartha anyway. Thanks to the commenters that pointed this out!
  • Dean Martin – Baby it’s cold outside
    How to get a girl to stay the night…
  • Dean Martin – Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
    And if that doesn’t work try this!
  • The Pogues and Kirsty McColl – Fairy Tale of New York
    No brainer
  • John Lennon, Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band – Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
    Peace, out

Any more?

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Filed Under: News

Stacy Soloman is the girl with the X-Factor

November 7, 2009 By 15 Comments

Stacy Soloman pop art

Stacey Solomon is a female of contestant in the British TV series X Factor and, at the moment, is the most popular girl still left in the show. Stacey, of Dagenham Essex, wowed the judges with her version of What a Wonderful World during her audition.

She is a single mum of 19 and has a giggly “OMG” breathless way of talking that is both endearing and easy to imitate. This coupled with her obvious singing talents make her destined for potential minor celebrity status. We’ll have to see.

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Jamie Archer the afro tipped to win The X Factor

October 18, 2009 By 7 Comments

Jamie

Jamie Archer (also known as Jamie Afro) is a 33 year old musician from Putney, London and finalist in the 2009 series of The X Factor. He is the oldest entrant in the competition in 2009, and keenly aware that it’s his last chance for the big time.

He has considerable experience on the London gig circuit and plays a number of instruments, chiefly the guitar and, reportedly, finds performing without an instrument challenging. As a member of the over 25 category, he is happy that his mentor for the series is Simon Cowell.

His MySpace page lists his influences as: “So many to say and from different areas of music, but here are a few Faithless, The Killers, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, U2, The Chemical Brothers, Kings Of Leon, Blur, Oasis, Luciano Pavarrotti, Micheal Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, The Verve and the list goes on and on….”

Last night, Jamie performed Christina Aguilera’s Hurt proving he had an unexpected ability to deliver a softer, slower melody as well as being able to belt out rock anthems. He has stage presence and a likability. One to watch.

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Jay Z – Clever production and hard hip hop

September 20, 2009 By 7 Comments

Jay-Z with an urban background of skyscrapers at night

Shawn Corey Carter (Jay-Z) was born on December 4, 1969, in the Marcy Houses housing project in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighbourhood of Brooklyn in New York City, USA.

Jay-Z will get his 11th American number one album with Blueprint 3, overtaking Elvis Presley as the solo artist with the most chart-toppers in US chart history.

At the beginning of his career, when no one gave him a record deal, Jay-Z created Roc-A-Fella Records and, after striking a deal with Priority to distribute his material, he released his 1996 debut album Reasonable Doubt with beats from acclaimed producers such as DJ Premier and Ski, and an appearance by The Notorious B.I.G..

Subsequent album’s glossy productions have made some dedicated fans feel that he had “sold out”. But now, 11 albums later, it’s fair to say that he has successfully moved the genre onwards, fusing the hardcore hip hop of his youth with slick productions to critical acclaim and mainstream success.

He heads a multi-million dollar empire built up around clothing lines, restaurants, films, sports, and more recently Roc Nation, a music publishing and touring venture. He endorsed Barack Obama and has been involved in charity work for Africa.

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Michael Jackson pop art

July 7, 2009 By 35 Comments

Michael Jackson pop art

Michael Jackson was born August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana, an industrial suburb of Chicago. He was the seventh child of the Jackson family.

In 1968 as a member of The Jackson 5, he first signed to the Motown label and started having hits. He began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group, a career that saw him dubbed the “King of Pop.”

For many people Michael Jackson’s career can be divided into two parts: before Thriller and after Thriller.

Before Thriller

The Jackson 5 made a record when their first four singles (“I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There”) went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Disillusioned with Motown’s strict refusal to allow them creative input, The Jackson 5 left Motown and signed a new contract with CBS Records in June 1975. From 1976 to 1984, Michael Jackson was the lead songwriter of the group, writing hits such as “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)”, “This Place Hotel” and “Can You Feel It”.

Jackson jointly produced Off the Wall (1979) with Quincy Jones. Songwriters included Jackson, Heatwave’s Rod Temperton, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney.

Then in 1982 he released – again co-producing with Quincy Jones – the album Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time

After Thriller

After Thriller came Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory (1995), none were to top Thriller in terms of sales but all massive successes nonetheless.

One thing that really strikes me is how many good songs he did after Thriller. Dirty Diana, Man in the Mirror, Remember the Time, I Just Can’t Stop Loving You, and The Way You Make Me Feel were all recorded by the singer when he was supposedly past his prime!

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Created from Silence

June 14, 2009 By 6 Comments

Created from Silence

Created From Silence – a four piece acoustic band from Scotland.

Formed in late 2008, when singer/songwriter Colin Taylor advertised for musicians on his MySpace page. He attracted first keyboard player Will Marshall and Rowan Petch on bass. Lastly, Will’s old friend Sandy Harley completed the line up on the drums. They have won WestSound Live 2009.

They have just been played on BBC Radio 6 by Tom Robinson and are performing at this years Wickerman Festival

Live 3 track demo which can be heard at on their MySpace page.

Here is a thread in the forums for Created from Silence.

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Filed Under: News

Little Willie John gives me fever

June 13, 2009 By 3 Comments

Little Willie John (aka William Edward John)

He was born William Edward John in Cullendale, Arkansas, moving with his family to Detroit, Michigan when he was four.

Although barely over 5 feet in height his singing voice was moving. He achieved popularity amongst R&B fans in the 1950s and early 1960s and had already had 3 R&B top tens before the age of 18. He is most famous for the song “Fever” which was an important recording for him. It was his first record to cross over to the white market and enter Billboard’s Top 100 pop charts, where it debuted at position 50 in July 1956 and peaked at the 24th spot. Peggy Lee reworked the lyrics and recorded it in May of 1958. Her version rose to 8th position on the pop charts in August 1958 and quickly became a classic. Since then, “Fever” has been recorded by artists from nearly every musical genre, including pop, rock ‘n’ roll, country, folk, and soul in addition to R&B and jazz. Another of my favorites of his is “Need Your Love So Bad” which was covered by the original Fleetwood Mac and was a big hit in Europe.

Willie suffered from alcoholism and was known to carry a gun. In 1965 he was convicted of manslaughter for a stabbing in Seattle,and was sentenced to a 10-year prison term. He died under mysterious circumstances in Washington State Prison in 1968. He was just 30 years old at the time.

Although his life was short, his musical abilities were well respected by other artists like Jerry Butler, B.B. King and James Brown who recorded a tribute album Thinking Of Little Willie John… And A Few Other Nice Things. He also inspired Stevie Wonder and the Beatles.

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New stars use music studio in London for production and recording

June 9, 2009 By 5 Comments

montage of girl and turntable

Check out these new, up and coming acts that have had their music recorded and produced at Whitelight along with other established artists.

They include:

  • Mozez who is about to release yet another album.
  • Michael Arkk a renowned reggae musician who released an album “Easier Said”
  • Zemmy a promising and talented singer, also winner of the Shure Creative Awards 2009
  • Frank Joshua
  • T’Rese

Some mp3 samples are displayed and rotated on the site.

I particularly like Zemmy.

The recording studio combines the best in digital and analogue technologies. It is spacious with plenty of daylight. It has been acoustically treated and has an open natural sound with accurate monitoring.

Tony White music producerWhitelight Production is owned and run by Tony White. Tony is a multi-instrumentalist, playing acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, bass , drums and percussion.

Tony started working with members of funk/soul band Rokoto after college. He also played live and in the studio with reggae band Exiles Intact, who’s members work with everyone from Finlay Quaye to William Orbit and Gnarls Barkley. At this time he did a lot of session work and played on records by top Jamaican artists such as Admiral Tibet.

He then moved to London. Tony toured the Gospel circuit, playing drums and guitar with top Gospel vocal group Channels of Praise which featured both Mozez and Michael Arkk. During this time he also formed a band with Argentinian keyboard maestro Natalio Faingold (Joan Armatrading) and drummer Errol Kennedy from eighties superstars Imagination. He also worked with The Fingertips – the band of the legendary ‘Fast’ Freddie Horton, managed by Dave Robinson of Stiff Records, with whom he recorded an album and played various venues including Wembley Arena as well as doing live Radio One sessions and many TV appearances. During this time he, along with Trevor White Bentley, composed and recorded music for BBC and Channel 4 television.

Since setting up his own studio some ten years ago Tony has created everything from dance, hip hop and RnB to rock, pop, reggae and jazz. Through the late nineties he had a string of dance and underground garage releases. His work has also featured on chill-out compilation albums from Hed Kandi and The Acid Lounge. Tony is comfortable within a huge range of musical genres and all these influences are present in a fluid and creative production style. Now working with a fantastic group of artists and writers he is getting Whitelight Production geared for mainstream success.

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Early Rolling Stones with Brian Jones

June 8, 2009 By 3 Comments

Early Rolling Stones with Brian Jones

Cheltenham-born bohemian Brian Jones placed an advertisement on 2 May 1962 in the Jazz News inviting musicians to audition for a new R&B group. Ian Stewart was the first to respond, later singer Mick Jagger and his Dartford schoolmate, Keith Richards, joined. Later still, Bill Wyman on bass because he had a spare VOX AC30 guitar amp and cigarettes and they finally persuaded jazz-influenced Charlie Watts to join them.

Brian Jones was inspired by the blues, particularly Elmore James and Robert Johnson, and had named two of his four illegitimate sons Julian in tribute to the jazz saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley. Jagger and Richards loved the blues too, notably Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, and Howlin’ Wolf.

Jones was the leader – promoting the band and negotiating with venues – and he was more animated and engaging a performer than Jagger. While acting as manager, Jones received £5 more than the other members, which did not sit well with the rest of the band.

He played:

  • Slide guitar on “I Wanna Be Your Man”, “Little Red Rooster”, and “No Expectations”
  • Sitar on “Street Fighting Man” and “Paint It Black”; organ on “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” “Complicated,” and “2000 Man”
  • Marimba on “Under My Thumb,” “Out Of Time” and “Yesterday’s Papers”
  • Recorder on “Ruby Tuesday” and “All Sold Out”
  • Saxophone on “Child of the Moon”;
  • Appalachian dulcimer on “I Am Waiting” and “Lady Jane”
  • Accordion on “Backstreet Girl”
  • Saxophone, and oboe on “Dandelion”
  • Harpsichord on “Lady Jane”
  • Mellotron on “She’s A Rainbow”, “We Love You”, “Stray Cat Blues” and “2000 Light Years from Home”
  • The autoharp on “You Got the Silver” – his final recording as a Rolling Stone

With Keith Richards, he performed “guitar weaving” from listening to Jimmy Reed albums – both of them playing rhythm and lead guitar without clear boundaries between the two roles.

His ability with a wide variety of instruments is evident on albums Aftermath (1966), Between the Buttons (1967) and Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967). Jones appears less frequently on Beggars Banquet (1968) and only briefly on Let it Bleed (1969).

Andrew Loog Oldham’s arrival as manager marked the beginning of Jones’s estrangement from the band. And this coupled with the toll from days on the road, the fame and the feeling of being alienated from the group resulted in Jones’s overindulgence in alcohol and other drugs. He frequently used LSD, pills, cannabis, and he drank heavily.

To the public it appeared as if Jones had left voluntarily however the rest of the band had asked to him to leave. Jones released a statement on 9 June 1969 saying, amongst other things, that “I no longer see eye-to-eye with the others over the discs we are cutting”. Jones was replaced by 20-year-old guitarist Mick Taylor (formerly of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers).

At around midnight on the night of 2-3 July 1969, Jones was discovered motionless at the bottom of his swimming pool at Cotchford Farm in East Sussex.

He was 27; Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison found their own drug-related deaths at the same age within two years (Morrison dying two years to the day after Jones). The coincidence of ages has been described as the “27 Club”.

Painter/novelist Brion Gysin first heard the Master Musicians of Joujouka, Sufi trance musicians from Morrocco at a festival in 1950. Entranced with the music’s sound, he was later led to the village by Moroccan painter Mohamed Hamri. Gysin, along with Hamri, brought Brian Jones to hear the village music in 1968. Jones recorded them and in 1971, Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka, was released posthumously. It is a world music classic.

Bless you, Brian

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The Beatles – the fab four – psychedelic pop art

April 28, 2009 By 13 Comments

The Beatles - the fab four - psychedelic pop art

The Beatles were a rock and pop band from Liverpool (in Lancashire as it was then but not now), England that formed in 1960. During their career, the group primarily consisted of John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals). They officially split in 1970, so they were, I suppose, a sixties band!

What can I say about the Beatles that hasn’t already been said. Nothing. So I’ll just have to tell you a few things.

They are a band whose songs have made me cry the most.

  • My favourite Beatle is Ringo – not for his singing abilities, I just like him the most. His childhood featured numerous hospital visits, in 1947 he contracted appendicitis which caused him to fall in to a coma. At the age of 13, he was brought to hospital with chronic-pleurisy which caused him to be admitted to a sanatorium for two years. He had seen the last of his school days. Lucky fella.
  • Paul McCartney can be heard swearing on Hey Jude. (Some people say it’s John).
  • George Harrison is the only Beatle to have published an autobiography, with I Me Mine in 1980.

One of the many amazing things about the Beatles is that at the height of their fame, the group spent the early part of 1968 in Rishikesh, Uttar Pradesh, India, studying transcendental meditation. Ringo, uncertain of the effect of Indian food on his sensitive stomach, left with suitcases full of baked beans.

Well, it’s hard to do justice to anything in a blog post and especially hard to do justice to the Beatles. But I still love them.

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