web analytics

Pop Rock Nation

Tag: James Taylor

  • Smokey Robinson sings with friends!

    Smokey Robinson sings with friends!

    Smokey Robinson sings with friends on his brand new duets album, Smokey & Friends!

    Hi folks. I know it’s been a few weeks since my last post. I’ve been busy with this move from Texas to Germany and am still sitting in temporary lodging. Fortunately, I still have Internet access and was lucky enough to score a review copy of Smokey Robinson’s new album, Smokey & Friends!

    Smokey Robinson has had a very long and successful career in the music business. At age 74, his voice is still in great shape as he collaborates with an eclectic variety of rock star notables on Smokey & Friends. Though I can’t yet count myself among his most ardent fans, I do enjoy some of his best known hits as well as the songs he wrote for others. I had the chance to listen to Smokey & Friends yesterday morning and I really enjoyed it.


    On this video by the Associated Press, Smokey Robinson talks about how this project came to be.

    Smokey & Friends consists of eleven tracks written by Smokey Robinson and includes duets by everyone from Mary J. Blige to James Taylor. This new album was produced by American Idol star and record producer Randy Jackson. The production on Smokey & Friends is a bit on the slick side for my usual tastes; on the other hand, it was pretty good morning music and helped me wake up.

    A jaunty organ solo kicks off the first song, “Tracks of My Tears”, which is a collaboration between Smokey Robinson and Elton John. I have always liked this song and I think Smokey and Elton work well together, although I must admit that at first, I thought Elton was Van Morrison. His voice has deepened a bit and, on this song, it almost sounds like he has an Irish accent. It wasn’t until Elton cut loose on the chorus that I recognized his voice. Still, it’s a strong effort and I like it.


    Elton John talks about making his duet with Smokey Robinson.

    Steven Tyler was a great choice for the next song, “You Really Got A Hold On Me”. This sounds like a song Aerosmith could have easily covered. This rendition has edgy guitars that give it a straight rock sound. It works very well, although Smokey’s vocal contributions are less obvious on this track.

    Next comes a very smooth and sweet rendition of “My Girl” featuring Smokey Robinson singing with Miguel, Aloe Blacc, and JC Chasez. Although I am very partial to The Temptations’ famous cover of Smokey’s song, this is a really pleasant, soulful version of “My Girl”. As I listened to these guys singing together, I was reminded of Daryl Hall and I kind of wondered why he’s not on this record too. Their voices blending together reminded me of classic Hall & Oates.

    I first heard of Jessie J. when she was featured at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. I thought she had a pretty powerful voice during that performance. Singing “Cruisin’” here with Smokey Robinson, she offers even more power and soul. Before the song begins, Jessie J. explains that she first heard Smokey sing when she was 7 years old and that singing with him is “a dream come true”. “Cruisin’” happens to be one of my favorite songs by Smokey Robinson. To my ears, this version doesn’t surpass Smokey’s original, but I am impressed by the vocal chemistry Jessie J and Smokey Robinson have.

    I wasn’t familiar with “Quiet Storm” before I listened to this duet version, featuring John Legend. Legend and Robinson work well together on this relaxing, jazzy number; now I’m curious about the original.

    I had no idea that “The Way You Do The Things You Do” was a Smokey Robinson creation. Here, he sings it with CeeLo Green. I like this updated version of “The Way You Do The Things You Do”, which gives CeeLo Green the chance to show off his rich, warm vocals.

    The cool, sensual “Being With You” is another one of my favorite songs by Smokey Robinson. Mary J. Blige offers a sexy counterpart to Smokey Robinson’s silky voice. Though this song was originally a solo, it works great as a duet.

    I love James Taylor’s music and I know that he has a special fondness in his heart for classic hits from the 50s and 60s. “Ain’t That Peculiar” gets a Taylor makeover on Smokey & Friends, which is arranged a bit like Taylor’s most recent recordings. When this song started, I was immediately reminded of the songs on October Road. He uses lots of organ, electric guitars, and an interesting rhythm. He definitely made it his own, which I respect. It sounds like they had a lot of fun with it.

    Sheryl Crow gamely takes a turn with “The Tears of A Clown”, another classic Robinson hit. This is a solid effort; Sheryl Crow has a less tremulous quality to her voice that balances well with Smokey’s voice. Plus, I really like the song itself; it’s one of those numbers that never gets old.

    “Ooh Baby Baby” begins with an introduction by Ledisi, who joins Smokey on this very sexy hit. I have to admit, when it comes to cover versions of “Ooh Baby Baby”, I’m kind of partial to Linda Ronstadt’s take. Ledisi and Smokey Robinson give their duet more of a quiet sensuality and warmth than Ronstadt’s more torch like presentation. It’s appealing and entertaining and I can tell Ledisi is really into it.

    The last song is “Get Ready”, a great song for the morning if I ever heard one. Gary Barlow and Smokey Robinson update this into an exciting and hard driving rock song. I think they did a great job updating this hit and I really like it. It’s a great way to close out Smokey & Friends. This arrangement almost has an element of danger to it, which breathes new life into a true classic.

    Smokey and his friends did fine work with Smokey & Friends. I enjoyed listening to these duet renditions of Smokey Robinson’s classic hits and am very impressed by how great Smokey still sounds after all his years in the music business. This album also reminds me that Smokey Robinson is a great songwriter and inspires me to listen to more of his work. I know I already turned on one of his fans to this latest effort and I hope some of you out there will also give it a spin!


    Trailer for Smokey & Friends… a great place to hear some samples from this record.

  • Family blends

    Family blends

    Sometimes when families get together to sing, they make the most delightful “family blends”…

    Last week, I was on YouTube watching videos starring the Boone Sisters. For those who weren’t around in the 70s, the Boone Sisters are the four daughters of Pat and Shirley Boone. In the 70s, they were a successful singing group, especially among Christians. I’m not a particularly religious person, but I happened to read Cherry Boone O’Neill’s book, Starving For Attention, which is her account of struggling with anorexia nervosa. In that book, she writes about singing with her sisters and what it was like to grow up as Pat Boone’s eldest daughter.

    Many years later, I purchased Debby Boone’s 2005 album, Reflections of Rosemary, which was a tribute to her late mother-in-law, Rosemary Clooney. On that album, there is a single track that features Debby Boone singing with her sisters. In the liner notes, she writes about “family blends”, that is the interesting way singers from the same families can blend their voices. Debby Boone writes of how Rosemary Clooney used to sing with her sister and the two were able to harmonize beautifully. I am myself a singer, though I’ve never tried to sing with my sisters. I think it’s mainly because by the time I started singing, they were already long gone from the house and the opportunity never presented itself. Still, I’m kind of fascinated by musicians who are related and sing together.


    This is a 1977 recording of the Boone Sisters singing “Hasta Mañana”, a song made famous by ABBA.

    The Boone Sisters have obviously sung together since 1977, but this was the best produced example of their family blend I could find. Here’s a more updated version of them singing together.


    Covering “You Won’t, You Don’t”, a song originally performed by Billy Gilman.

    Another family with a great blend is the one formed by Carly Simon and James Taylor. Though they’ve been divorced for decades, they did produce Ben and Sally Taylor, who inherited their parents’ beautiful voices.


    Carly Simon, Ben Taylor, and Sally Taylor sing “You Can Close Your Eyes”, a song written by James Taylor.

    That family blend is especially apparent in this video from 1981 starring James Taylor and his siblings…


    James Taylor with Alex, Hugh, Livingston, and sister Kate!

    Sometimes siblings play together rather than blend their voices. Here’s a video of Stephanie Jordan with the Jordan family, singing “Here’s To Life” on the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. I can’t listen to this version of “Here’s To Life” without being profoundly moved. The Jordan Family was very personally affected by Hurricane Katrina and were still missing a family member when they performed a benefit days after the storm struck.


    Such a moving performance. Brings me to tears every time.

    Lawrence Welk’s show was great for showcasing singing siblings. The Lennon Sisters were just one sister act that performed on his show.


    Based on the comments on YouTube, this video apparently still excites certain male viewers.

    Of course, no blog post about family blends can be complete without at least a mention of the Jackson 5, which is one of the most successful family acts ever.


    The Jackson 5 sings “I Want You Back”…

    And here’s a video starring the Jacksons and little sister Janet!


    The intro to this was obviously very well rehearsed…

    As long as I’m looking at big families and family blends, I have to mention The Osmonds, whose family blends are legendary.


    Anybody else think it’s funny that young Donny Osmond sings about being a swinger?

    I make fun of The Osmonds a lot, but I actually do enjoy this particular rendition of “Love Me For A Reason”.


    It was actually YouTube that introduced me to The Osmonds, since they were popular when I was a wee one. This video is a good example of the way they blend their voices.

    And here’s one that features the entire humongous choir of siblings, including Marie, Tom, and Virl…


    Nice family blend on this video!

    There is something about hearing families sing together that touches my heart, even though I have read that singing families sometimes have their share of interpersonal problems. Of course, the same could be said about any family. I could add a number of groups to this post about family blends, but I want to save them for a future post when I need a good topic. For now, it’s time to get back to the process of moving!

  • Ben Taylor’s salivary duct stones…

    Ben Taylor’s salivary duct stones…

    When I heard about Ben Taylor’s salivary stones, I was reminded that we’re all humans…

    For those who will read this and happened to see the blog post I wrote yesterday about Ben Taylor’s salivary stones, excuse me. For the rest of you, I just have to share this totally funny yet horrifying video I found featuring Ben Taylor. Ben Taylor is the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon. He has a wonderful voice that is a velvety mixture of his father’s clear, comforting tenor and his mom’s smokey alto. Taylor’s parents’ genes endowed him with a voice that is all his, yet recalls the distinctive sounds of his parents and other singing relatives. Not only is he blessed with a fantastic singing voice. He’s also a fine guitar player and songwriter.

    Despite all of those things going for him, Ben Taylor has to deal with unpleasant health stuff just like the rest of us. Not long ago, I had a really bad canker sore in my mouth that for a brief time, had me fearing that I might have salivary duct stones. That fear led me to seek out information about salivary gland stones, which also included some rather disgusting photos of the condition. I also found a video starring Ben Taylor. In it, he discusses his own revolting and painful experiences with the damnable stones and the raging infection that developed due to their presence.


    Try to watch this and not cringe!

    One thing I love about Ben’s video is that he seems like such a down to earth guy. I have a feeling I would enjoy knowing him, if only because we could share gross stories about infections. I have a few of them myself.


    Ben Taylor and dad, James Taylor, play “Up On The Roof”. This is one of my favorite songs by James Taylor and they are great together!


    Sort of the unofficial North Carolina theme… I love this song too. I bet it was magical hearing “Carolina In My Mind” in Raleigh.


    Ben performs “You Can Close Your Eyes”, one of his dad’s old songs, with mom, Carly Simon, and sister Sally Taylor.

    While Ben is great when he performs with his parents, I also like his solo efforts. The video below is of a song my husband, Bill, heard for the first time while he was deployed to Iraq. He was actually in Qatar when he heard it, sitting on a bus waiting to get back to the war zone. Every time I hear it now, it reminds me of how much I missed Bill while he was gone and worried about him.


    Ben talks about his mother, Carly Simon, in concert. The song is “Nothing I Can Do”.

    I think I need to explore more of Ben Taylor’s music. Maybe that will be a project I undertake this weekend.