en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal The Last.fm journal for TMoor. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2012/02/12/5bt4o9_whitney_houston_dies Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:11:36 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2012/02/12/5bt4o9_whitney_houston_dies LOS ANGELES (AP) — Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.

Publicist Kristen Foster said Saturday that the singer had died, but the cause and the location of her death were unknown.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2012/02/02/5bchik_in_search_of_india.arie Thu, 2 Feb 2012 22:06:46 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2012/02/02/5bchik_in_search_of_india.arie http://soultrain.com/2012/02/01/in-search-of-india-arie/]]> http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2009/10/08/32jza7_harry_connick_jr._vs._austrailia%27s_%27jackson_jive%27 Thu, 8 Oct 2009 19:58:20 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2009/10/08/32jza7_harry_connick_jr._vs._austrailia%27s_%27jackson_jive%27 http://www.azcentral.com/ent/celeb/articles/2009/10/08/20091008connick.html]]> http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2009/06/27/2tuvox_mj Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:00:19 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2009/06/27/2tuvox_mj Over the years I've said some foul stuff about Michael Jackson. Starting the summer of the Jackson sibling's TV variety show. First comments from my friends, acquaintances and me were about the way he spoke. Somethin' just wasn't right.

And when the physical transformations began, I was vocal in my confusion, disappointment and anger. Mostly I was angry about what appeared to be evidence of his racial self-hatred.

And still I continued buying and listening to his music.

Like Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Donna Summer, MJ gave me fits. I was hot and cold.

The album "Off The Wall" was a must-have for my collection. And "Thriller" -- please. I've owned VERY few albums where I've liked or loved ALL the songs.

During homecoming activities in my senior year of college, the most energetic part of the concert (held on the football field) was during setup. I forget the acts on the bill, but MJ wasn't. Preshow music blared from humongous speakers, and hundreds of folk took to the field immediately at the start of 'Wanna be Startin' Somethin'."

I'm not too hot on the songs "Bad" (or the video), "Dirty Diana and "Smooth Criminal." Really like "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Liberian Girl" and "Leave Me Alone." Really love "I Just Can't Stop Loving You".

Hate "Black Or White." What else is on that "Dangerous" album? Oh, yeah. The one song I do like. Love, actually: "Remember The Time." The video's even better than "Beat It" and "Thriller." Yes -- in my opinion -- really. And the whole world knows those two videos more than raised the bar in the then-new medium.

"You Rock My World" is right up there with Jacksons mainstay recordings for me: "Show You The Way To Go," "Blues Away," "Can You Feel It," "Enjoy Yourself," "That's What You Get (For Being Polite)." "Butterflies" is absolutely beautiful." I've read lukewarm reviews of some of these tunes and the supposedly "erratic" albums that spawned them. Whatever, I like 'em.

Nonmusical stuff -- general weirdness, moral and legal issues -- fueled my rhetoric. He was just plain sickening. Embarrassing. I was through with this individual.Didn't know him, never met him, but I could tell you all about him. So I was through. Through with him but not the music.

Yeah, I ran hot and cold with this dude.

I've said foul things about him I can't take back. Thanks to my cds, the news coverage and YouTube, I'm reminded of what I do like about him and how much I've enjoyed. Like his youthful "Sinatra" on a Diana Ross special. And that incredible performance on Motown's 25th anniversary special of "Billie Jean." No elaborate production, no special effects, no stage full of dancers. Just him alone onstage. I can't recall ever witnessing anything so magical.

Hot and cold.

"Beat It" has some of the corniest lyrics ever composed.

"Beat it" sounds like "get lost," "take a hike," "scram."

Love the video.

But, I'm sorry, the lyrics are dumb -- and I know all the words.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2008/02/10/2y2n_timeline Sun, 10 Feb 2008 04:47:10 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2008/02/10/2y2n_timeline A new Last.fm friend recently asked me my favorite songs of all time. I can't compile a list that narrow, but it did get me to thinking about the music I've listened to over the years.

Like the first song I remember hearing: Hit The Road Jack by Ray Charles. I was 3.

The first song I ever learned, my older brother taught me:

It's a me
It's a me Oh Lord
Standin' in the need of prayer

I grew up on Top 40 radio and remember first paying attention to rotation with Another Saturday Night by Sam Cooke. The concept of "crossover" music was years away for me.

One year my older sister came back from summer vacation with a stack of albums that I quickly appropriated. Artists like Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Friends Of Distinction, Junior Walker & the All-Stars. She also had a coupla things I just couldn't get with: A mopped female vocal quartet called The Beatle Buddies and a female country singer. All I remember about her was a cover of Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billie Joe." And then there were the two albums that I eventually would wear out by the newly renamed Diana Ross & The Supremes: Reflections and Love Child -- which began my fascination with the group and its troubling lead singer. Especially the latter collection and specifically the title tune. It answered important questions in my life that I didn't know how to pose at the time. And it was the first time a song's lyrics ever resonated with me.

I started my own music collection (of 45 singles) with the 90-cent purchase of Laura Lee's Women's Love Rights.

I was in junior high school when I was exposed to "Black radio." In heavy rotation at the time were gems such as Master Of Eyes (The Deepness Of Your Eyes) by Aretha Franklin, Midnight Train To Georgia by Gladys Knight & The Pips, Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye.


The first album I ever bought was Rags To Rufus by Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan.

I was a college freshman studying in my dorm room. Normally I liked to study by the school (or one of the city) radio station's quiet-storm airings. This particular day one show ended and another began. No segue, no announcement -- just a sensual jazz guitar intro and even more sensual vocals: "You're so late getting home from the office./Did you miss your train?/Were you caught in the rain?" Nancy Wilson's Guess Who I Saw Today was my introduction to jazz. Years before, I'd seen Sarah Vaughan on a TV talk show. I didn't know who she was. The host made a big deal over the guest as did my mother. I wasn't impressed. Frankly, I thought she sounded like a man. It wasn't until college that I heard Key Largo and Gloomy Sunday and fell in love with that voice. My quote for years had been: Nancy Wilson turned me on to jazz, but Sarah Vaughan turned me out.

Later on during my college years -- while I was seriously feelin' Patti LaBelle, Patti Austin, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, The Emotions and, of course, Aretha Franklin -- a friend lent me an album cassette called You Know How To Love Me, beginning a lifelong love affair with Phyllis Hyman.

Sometime in the early '90s, I found that I'd begun liking fewer and fewer of the top Billboard titles until finally I recognized practically none. Ultimately I wound up a devotee of Grown Folks' music, largely smooth- jazz vocalists and instrumentalists. Some of the young'uns today consistently act like they got some musical sense: India.Arie, Chanté Moore, John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae, Melinda Doolittle. And Janet Jackson. And despite everything, can't leave out Whitney Houston. (May she rest.) But especially India.Arie.

At this point in my life, the music's gotta seriously come right or not at all.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2007/07/08/2y2m_phyllis_hyman_tributes Sun, 8 Jul 2007 22:46:06 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2007/07/08/2y2m_phyllis_hyman_tributes On her '97 debut album Baduism, Erykah Badu dedicates the track "Drama" to Phyllis Hyman. Still not sure whether it's a tribute or a dis: So tired of hearing people say/'how can I go on?'

I ran across a poem on line called "I LONG..." by someone who signed it Jimmy Dennis.

On the HipHop Is Dead album, Nas raps about the suicide deaths of Phyllis Hyman and Donny Hathaway in "Blunt Ashes." So the ashes speak to him when he's gettin' high?

Props sort of from rapper/DJ/producer Pete Rock who loops Phyllis Hyman's "Magic Mona" for the cruising anthem "A-Yo" on Blackout! Vol. 2 by Method Man and Redman.

And Nissi, one of my "Super" Last.fm friends, tells us that A Tribe Called Quest mentions Phyllis on "Baby Phife's Return" from Beats, Rhymes and Life.

Nissi also turns us on to some more, longer-form tributes to Phyllis:

"Memorial Blues For Phyllis Hyman" -- from the Spectrum anthologies by British classical pianist Thalia Myers -- immediately reminds me of "Mood," the piano/electric piano instrumental duet by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, which Flack composed. "Memorial" has some musical breaks a little jarring for my taste. It wrecks the flow. But, like "Mood", its beautiful melody is soothing and perfect for my instrumental playlist.

"A Song For Phyllis Hyman" by jazz singer Raye Jones is from Sistah Girl's Lament. I'm still listening, but I like the spirit: We miss you, Phyllis./Woulda, coulda, shoulda./And we will understand it better bye and bye.

Spoken-word artist Rebecca "Butterfly" Vaughans gives us "Sultry & Sophisticated Phyllis Hyman" from her Tribute to Missed Voices. Again, I'm still listening. I like the spirit of devotion here, too, especially:
Phyllis, music misses you./
I miss you./
We miss you.

Frankly, it's nice to see (hopefully) genuine props to Phyllis from any quarter.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2007/06/28/2y2l_india.arie_&_corinne_bailey_rae Thu, 28 Jun 2007 01:59:17 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2007/06/28/2y2l_india.arie_&_corinne_bailey_rae I’m feelin’ really guilty.

I love me some India.Arie, but her “Testimony” hasn’t reached out and grabbed me like “Acoustic Soul,” which hit me with 13 great full-length songs right out the box. I absolutely love 11 of them.

In truth, “Voyage To India” kinda had to grow on me. For whatever reason it took me a minute to appreciate “Little Things,” “Slow Down,” “Can I Walk With You?” and “Good Man.”

I’m hopin’ “Testimony” grows on me, too. So far I’m only really feelin’ “I Am Not My Hair,” “These Eyes” and “The Heart Of The Matter.”

Corinne Bailey Rae, on the other hand, has won me over totally with her debut.

I pretty much like all 12 songs, but I can’t get enough of “Put Your Records On,” “Trouble Sleeping,” “Butterfly,” “Seasons Change,” “Another Rainy Day.”

She’s got lotsa good India.Arie (-, Sade-, Nelly Furtado-like) moments. But She’s not remotely as soulful as India. Her vocals aren’t nearly as strong. Most of her stuff is more pop than R&B/soul. Hers is a more soft-soul, minimally jazz feel. Despite the girl-next-door thing she’s workin’, she’s does have this growly, guttural yet understated sexiness she throws in from time to time. Works for me.

But I still love me some India.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2007/06/28/2y2k_india.arie_&_corinne_bailey_rae Thu, 28 Jun 2007 01:56:16 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2007/06/28/2y2k_india.arie_&_corinne_bailey_rae I’m feelin’ really guilty.

I love me some India.Arie, but her “Testimony” hasn’t reached out and grabbed me like “Acoustic Soul,” which hit me with 13 great full-length songs right out the box. I absolutely love 11 of them.

In truth, “Voyage To India” kinda had to grow on me. For whatever reason it took me a minute to appreciate “Little Things,” “Slow Down,” “Can I Walk With You?” and “Good Man.”

I’m hopin’ “Testimony” grows on me, too. So far I’m only really feelin’ “I Am Not My Hair,” “These Eyes” and “The Heart Of The Matter.”

Corinne Bailey Rae, on the other hand, has won me over totally with her debut.

I pretty much like all 12 songs, but I can’t get enough of “Put Your Records On,” “Trouble Sleeping,” “Butterfly,” “Seasons Change,” “Another Rainy Day.”

She’s got lotsa good India.Arie (-, Sade-, Nelly Furtado-like) moments. But She’s not remotely as soulful as India. Her vocals aren’t nearly as strong. Most of her stuff is more pop than R&B/soul. Hers is a more soft-soul, minimally jazz feel. Despite the girl-next-door thing she’s workin’, she’s does have this growly, guttural yet understated sexiness she throws in from time to time. Works for me.

But I still love me some India.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2007/05/20/2y2j_how_eclectic_is_my_musical_preference%3F_borderline%3F Sun, 20 May 2007 18:05:56 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2007/05/20/2y2j_how_eclectic_is_my_musical_preference%3F_borderline%3F TMoor's eclectic score is

79/100

If the score is small (extreme = 5), musical preferences are very limited. If it's large (larger than 80), then you have an eclectic musical preference.


BBCode!
The following BBCode can easily be copied to Last.fm forums, journals, ...


Take your top 20 artists. For each of these artists, collect the top 5 similar artists. The resulting number of unique artists is your eclectic score. If the score is small (extreme = 5) your musical preferences are very limited, and if it is large (larger than 80, extreme = 100), then you have an eclectic musical preference. You can compute your own score at http://anthony.liekens.net/pub/scripts/last.fm/eclectic.php


My eclectic score is currently

79/100

The 79 related artists for my profile are Al Green, Alicia Keys, Angela Bofill (2), Anita Baker (2), Anita O'Day, Aretha Franklin, Ashford & Simpson, Atlantic Starr, Babyface, Billie Holiday, Boyz II Men, Brandy (2), Brian McKnight, Brownstone, Chaka Khan (3), Chapter 8, Cheryl Lynn, Chic (3), Commodores, Dennis Rowland, Destiny's Child, Diana Krall, Diana Ross (2), Diana Ross and The Supremes, Dinah Washington, Donald Byrd, Donna Summer, Ella Fitzgerald (2), Erykah Badu, Evelyn "Champagne" King (2), Finishing Touch, George Howard, Gladeez, Herbie Hancock, Isaac Hayes, James Brown (2), Janet Jackson, Jean Carne, Jennifer Lopez, Jill Scott, John Legend, John Mayer, KT Tunstall, Lauryn Hill, Lee Ritenour, Lily Allen, Luther Vandross (3), Mariah Carey, Marvin Gaye, Mary J. Blige, Meli'sa Morgan (2), Miki Howard, Monica, Nat King Cole, Nelly Furtado, Otis Redding, Patti LaBelle (2), Perri (2), Phyllis Hyman, Phyllis Hyman & Michael Henderson, Regina Belle, Roy Ayers, Rufus, Shalamar (2), Shernette May, Shirley Horn, Sister Sledge (2), Soul Of Switzerland, Stephanie Mills, Stevie Wonder, Sunskape, TLC, Teena Marie (2), The Isley Brothers, The O'Jays (2), The Supremes, Toni Braxton (2), Vesta Williams, Whitney Houston.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2006/07/21/2y2i_india.arie_&_corinne_bailey_rae Fri, 21 Jul 2006 02:31:46 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/TMoor/journal/2006/07/21/2y2i_india.arie_&_corinne_bailey_rae I’m feelin’ really guilty.

I love me some India.Arie, but her “Testimony” hasn’t reached out and grabbed me like “Acoustic Soul,” which hit me with 13 great full-length songs right out the box. I absolutely love 11 of them.

In truth, “Voyage To India” kinda had to grow on me. For whatever reason it took me a minute to appreciate “Little Things,” “Slow Down,” “Can I Walk With You?” and “Good Man.”

I’m hopin’ “Testimony” grows on me, too. So far I’m only really feelin’ “I Am Not My Hair,” “These Eyes” and “The Heart Of The Matter.”

Corinne Bailey Rae, on the other hand, has won me over totally with her debut.

I pretty much like all 12 songs, but I can’t get enough of “Put Your Records On,” “Trouble Sleeping,” “Butterfly,” “Seasons Change,” “Another Rainy Day.”

She’s got lotsa good India.Arie (-, Sade-, Nelly Furtado-like) moments. But She’s not remotely as soulful as India. Her vocals aren’t nearly as strong. Most of her stuff is more pop than R&B/soul. Hers is a more soft-soul, minimally jazz feel. Despite the girl-next-door thing she’s workin’, she’s does have this growly, guttural yet understated sexiness she throws in from time to time. Works for me.

But I still love me some India.]]>