My pick for this week's #musicwomenwednesday is a video from the 1967 American Folk and Blues Festival. This is Koko Taylor doing a live version of her great hit from the previous year, backed by a stellar group of musicians including Little Walter on harmonica, Hound Dog Taylor on guitar […]

This week's #tunetuesday theme is #steppingstonesongs. Of course, tango as a musical form originated from Argentina, but it has had a very special impact on the history of Finnish popular music as well. If you've ever been curious about the Finnish version of tango, a good place to start would […]

A recent Mastodon discussion reminded of this recording which I decided to pick for #mondaycovers this week: Good Evening Manchester: Turn Back the Hands of Time (1988) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACicus0bH1o The song itself if is a soul classic originally recorded by Tyrone Davis in 1970 […]

Joe Meek is one of the greats behind the scenes. He developed the so-called Wall of Sound in his studios. Today, we are all so used to it that songs older than the 60s seem empty and unfinished to us. You really have to learn to listen to “old” music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxyN3b1bs-w […]

I just found out that there's a large new selection of vintage doowop videos available on YouTube. These were filmed at one of the first "revival" shows at the New York Academy of Music in 1970. The technical quality is not great, as there was only one camera, and much of the footage is very […]

This week's #thursdayfivelist theme is #thefavfiveband. Of course, there are lots of great musicians in many different genres, but since you cannot include all of them, I only listed the first five favorite rhythm & blues players that I came up with: Mickey Baker - guitar […]

It's #musicwomenwednesday once again! My pick for today is a song by one of my favorite #motown artists, Brenda Holloway. The record was only a minor hit for her, but this is still a gorgeous performance, followed by a short interview with Dick Clark: Brenda Holloway: I'll Always Love You […]

This week's #tunettuesday theme is #blackmagick. Here are first five songs that I came up with: Screamin' Jay Hawkins: I Put A Spell On You (1956) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjq-PmryUmA Ann Cole with the Suburbans: Got My Mo-jo Working (But It Just Won't Work On You) (1957) […]

This week's #thursdayfivelist theme is #zenandmotorcycles. Here are the first five tunes that I came up with: The Shangri-Las: Leader of the Pack (1964) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8UKf65NOzM Tico & the Triumphs: Motorcycle (1961) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgfI7tM-RNQ Jo Ann […]

This week's #tunetuesday theme is #bigcrescendos. This classic soul record certainly has lots of them: Lorraine Ellison: Stay With Me (1966) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TOaUxgkLSg The record has divided the opinions of soul fans over the years - for example, Dave Godin (who coined the […]

My #mondaycovers pick for today is an amazingly good 1967 Swedish cover version of a recent soul hit, originally recorded by Darrell Banks: The Slam Creepers: Open the Door to Your Heart (1967) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVcBZ0hkrqk The lead vocalist on this record is Björn Skifs, who […]

Follow King Narcisse and the good Lord. For more ecstasy and salvation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyboCd78yVY https://word.undead-network.de/2025/10/12/follow-king-narcisse-and-the-good-lord-for-more-ecstasy-and-salvation/ #gospel #lord #music #sunday

For this week's #saturdayonstage I've chosen a performance by the Gospelaires, one of the top gospel groups of the 1960s. I have more than a dozen of their singles on Don Robey's Peacock label and several albums as well, but they were also an exciting live act, with a great deal of showmanship […]

This week's #thursdayfivelist theme is #falling. Here's what I came up with: The Kelly Brothers: Falling In Love Again (1966) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Pyi0bZIs8 L.C. Cooke: I'm Falling (1959) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T7F0oIeCSc Love, Darlene: Stumble and Fall (1964) […]

It's #musicwomenwednesday once again! Here's my favorite video of the inimitable La Vern Baker, performing her latest single (Atlantic 1176) on the Ed Sullivan Show, together with comedian/dancer Stumpy (Harold J. Cromer): La Vern Baker: Substitute (1958) […]

There are lots of great versions of this Chips Moman / Dan Penn tune, but Clarence Carter's reading is by far the funniest of them all. It starts with a long, unforgettable, totally off-the-wall spoken intro - but when he finally starts to sing, he does an earnest, powerful version of the song […]

Today is Saturday, with #saturdayonstage. This classic James Brown performance on the Ed Sullivan Show was originally aired on May 1, 1966: James Brown & the Famous Flames: Papa's Got A Brand New Bag / I Got You (I Feel Good) /Ain't That A Groove / It's A Man's Man's Man's World / Please Please […]

This week's #jukeboxfridaynight theme is #countrymusic. Here are a few random favorites from the late sixties and early seventies: Charlie Rich: Life's Little Ups And Downs (1969; a live performance from 1974) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTQbmEdwhSg Bobby Bare: That's How I Got To Memphis […]

This week's #thursdayfivelist theme is #beverages. I ended up doing a special Amos Milburn edition: Amos Milburn: Bad, Bad Whiskey (1952; a live performance from 1954) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCX--0wJQkQ Amos Milburn: Good, Good Whiskey (1953) […]

#musicwomenwednesday Multiple Grammy-winner #ettajames was a master of many musical genres, despite being abused and suffering from a heroine addiction. She is known as one of the greatest voices of the 20th century. To get an idea of her range, check out these two, 33 years apart […]

For this week's #musicwomenwednesday I've chosen an old favorite by Bettye Lavette: Bettye Lavette: Let Me Down Easy (1965) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7RKRkkoGlU This fabulous clip is a live performance from the ABC TV show "Shindig!", originally aired on June 9, 1965. She was 19 at the […]

This week's #tunetuesday theme is #nonlexicalvocals. These are the first five records that I came up with, all with song titles consisting of nonsense words: Little Anthony & the Imperials: Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Pop (1959) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mLjZRAXRRA The Bobbettes: Um Bow Bow […]

I haven't been buying too many 45s in recent months, but I just got this in the mail a few days ago: The Whispers: I Was Born When You Kissed Me (Doré 758, 1966) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTmfDyK5GAk I already had the original version of the song that was recorded by another L.A. group […]

A classic, electrifying 1965 performance by Bo Diddley, with a line-up including the Duchess (Norma-Jean Watford) on rhythm guitar - it doesn't really get better than this: Bo Diddley: Hey Bo Diddley & Bo Diddley (from The Big T.N.T. Show, 1966) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjRdOEPdpTA […]

One more particularly memorable #obsession for this week's #jukeboxfridaynight, written by Tom T. Hall: Bobby Bare: (Margie's At) The Lincoln Park Inn (1969) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2am6GLPlRU #music #bobbybare #countrymusic

This week's #jukeboxfridaynight theme is #obsessions. This wonderfully understated record is one of the all-time soul classics: Toussaint McCall: Nothing Takes The Place Of You (1967) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_qG3tJ7mEQ #music #soulmusic #toussaintmccall

I must have watched this mesmerising live performance more than a dozen times over the years: Etta James: I'd Rather Go Blind (Live at Montreux 1975) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZt1xKtPbUQ #musicwomenwednesday #ettajames

Today's #tunetuesday is #brittlecold. Here's what I came up with: Felice Taylor: It May Be Winter Outside (But In My Heart It’s Spring) (1967) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQwilsT7lFM The Adorables: Deep Freeze (1964) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt4zhycib6c Connie Francis: I'm Gonna Be […]

Going through 1960s music journals at worldradiohistory.com, I came across this review by Penny Valentine, published in Disc & Music Echo (January 28, 1967). I've had the 45 for quite a few years, and still play it every now and then: Mattie Moultrie's […] [Original post on mementomori.social]

This week's #thursdayfivelist theme is #moviesongs. I decided to concentrate on 1960s songs that reference movies as a cultural phenomenon: Dave Ford & the Hollywood Flames: Elizabeth (1962) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVzH1Ff33zo The Everly Brothers: Little Hollywood Girl (1962 […]

For my first-ever #musicwomenwednesday entry I decided to choose a delightful performance by Barbara Lewis, one of my long-time favorites: Barbara Lewis: My Heart Went Do Dat Da (1962, a 1965 TV performance from Shivaree) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN41LpxqBA4 This was her actually first […]

This week's #tunetuesday theme is #mygoldenoldie. I just played the "Songs Our Daddy Taught Us" album a couple of days ago, and while this may not quite be the oldest song that I like, I feel this is still close enough, going back to the early 19th century: The Everly Brothers: Down In the […]

This week's #thursdayfivelist theme is #felinefriends. Here are the first five songs that I came up with: Rufus Thomas: Bear Cat (1953) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpwtof9X7rE Sid King and the Five Strings: Purr, Kitty, Purr (1956) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAkywR3rN_w Fabian: Tiger […]

This week's #tunetuesday theme is #whatwasthat. Here is list of a few random records that I came up with, with an emphasis on the #clashofgenres sub-theme: Wanda Jackson: I Gotta Know (1956) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqfzO6hoTwo Vito & the Salutations: Liverpool Bound (1964) […]

This week's #jukeboxfridaynight theme is #greatoutdoors. Here are some of the songs that I came up with: Johnny Horton: When It's Springtime In Alaska (It's Forty Below) (1959) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKvJm2ROX_8 Young Jessie: Lonesome Desert (1954) […]

This week's #thursdayfivelist theme is #beneaththewaves. Here's what I came up with: Eddie Hodges: The Water Is Over My Head (1965) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08JbThk3tc4 The Dominoes: Deep Sea Blues (1951) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVlpJ1tqxgE The Beatles: Octopussy's Garden […]

Today's #tunetuesday theme is #coolestcat. Here are a few of the first songs that I came up with, all from the 1960s: The Ad Libs: The Boy From New York City (1964) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1WxtqftdZg Little Peggy March: Johnny Cool (1963) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlizwV8hcWc […]

One of the today's #jukeboxfridaynight themes is #lovesongs. For some reason, the first thing that came into my mind was an old favorite that has a somewhat cynical view on the topic: The Beautiful South: Song For Whoever (1989) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwxXIPEW8aA #music […]

This week's #thursdayfivelist theme is #parademusic. I ended up doing a New Orleans edition: Fats Domino: Mardi Gras In New Orleans (1953) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQCNxsqIAQ8 The Hawketts: Mardi Gras Mambo (1954) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UPX0qVJ8H8 Professor Longhair: Big […]

This week's #tunetuesday theme is #firstcomefirstplayed. This is the first song that came into my mind: Rita & the Tiaras: Gone With the Wind Is My Love (1967) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEI72g-cgjA I watched Elaine Constantine's 2014 movie "Northern Soul" a couple of days ago, and this […]

This week's #thursdayfivelist theme is #strongverbs. Here's a list of the first five tunes that I came up with: The Four Seasons: Walk Like A Man (1963) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzoIvwNqKpw The Velvet Underground: Run Run Run (1967) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwHIs7IafD0 Jerry […]

For #tunetuesday we're asked for #songsfromthefuture I love this performance of Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by Carole King. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfmn9M6hXVI

Another old favorite for today's #tunetuesday theme, #songsfromthefuture. Written by Luther Dixon and Don Covay, the lyrics of this song deal with a much more gloomy issues: The Shirelles: Dooms Day (1964) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv3ZCewZFLc #music #shirelles #girlgroups #doncovay […]

This week's #tunetuesday theme is #songsfromthefuture. This has always been one of my favorites, originally released on one of the Lovin' Spoonful albums: John Sebastian: Younger Generation (1967, a live performance from 1970) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZowTbT6hy3k #music #johnsebastian […]

This week's #jukeboxfridaynight theme is #connections. During the late 1950s, it was quite common to have references to current hit records in the lyrics of new songs. In some extreme cases, the lyrics were almost totally constructed of other song titles. These are the first five examples of […]

This week's #thursdayfivelist theme is #musicofthemountains. Quite a few songs to choose from, but here's the list I came up with today: Amos Milburn: Rocky Mountain (1954) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDl5p6FMXhY Johnnie & Joe: Over the Mountain, Across the Sea (1957) […]

Tihis week's #tunetuesday theme is #palettemusic. Here's a small selection of late 1960s songs with color-related lyrics: The Dells: Love Is Blue (I Can Sing A Rainbow) (1969) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5eq0fjdesI Jimmy James & the Vagabonds: Red Red Wine (1968) […]

This week’s #thursdayfivelist theme is #supportyourlocals Olli Haavisto is one of the musicians that you regularly see at local events in my present home town, Järvenpää. Over the years, he has played with many of the Finnish top artists - in this video, he appears as a guest playing steel […]

This week''s #tunetuesday theme is #atthebeach. Here's a small selection of songs from the mid-sixties: The Shangri-Las: Remember (Walking In the Sand) (1964) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlwmyNmrSYw The Beach-Nuts: Out In The Sun (Hey-O) (1965) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt2KKDPrbqE […]