Friday Eve

On this Thursday - Friday Eve - I am featuring Michael Jackson and his official music video for "Smooth Criminal."

As always,

Play it!

Desert Island Discs Vol. 3 - James Brown

 - James Brown -

"Soul Power"

- James Brown Notes -

"Godfather of Soul"

"Mr. Dynamite"

"Soul Brother No. 1"

Genres considered - Funk, Soul, Rhythm and Blues

James Brown's career began in 1953 and lasted to his final years before his passing in 2006.  My research is extensive and exhausting to write here as the post would become exhaustive as well.  Read more about Brown's full career on Wikipedia.

Success -

17 No. 1 singles on the Billboard R&B charts

Honors -

- Inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame (1983)

- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inaugural induction (1986)

- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1992)

- Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Awards (1993)

- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1997)

- Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards (2003)

- Kennedy Center Honors (2003)

- Inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame (2006)

- Inducted into the first class of the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame (2013)

- Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

- No. 7 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time

Discography - 58 studio albums

Debut - Please Please Please (1958)

Final release - The Next Step (2002)

(Wikipedia)

I have so many James Brown favorites in my iTunes library.  He truly is an iconic figure in Soul and R&B music with a legacy to last forever.

Clocks

Clocks

 

"Clocks"

- Single from Coldplay's second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head

- Released in November 2002 (U.S.) and March 2003 (UK)

Genres considered - Alternative Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Considered to be a Coldplay signature song

Honors and Awards -

No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart

No. 29 on Billboard Hot 100

No. 9 on Billboard Modern Rock Tracks

No. 7 in Canada

No. 28 in Australia

Best Single nomination at the 2003 Q Awards

Grammy Award for Record of the Year (2004)

490th on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (2010)

Certifications -

Gold in Denmark and the U.S.

Platinum in Italy and the UK

(Wikipedia)

Rollin' Stone

Monday Blues Spotlight - Muddy Waters

 

April 4, 1913 - April 30, 1983

In this edition of Monday Blues, Set List honors Muddy Waters.

"Father of modern Chicago blues"

Genres considered - Blues, Chicago Blues, Delta Blues

Genres influenced by Muddy Waters - Rock and Roll, Rock

Point of interest -

"...When I went into the clubs, the first thing I wanted was an amplifier.  Couldn't nobody hear you with an acoustic..." (Wikipedia)

In 1950, Waters recorded his signature song, "Rollin' Stone."

In the mid-1950s, several singles by Muddy Waters landed positions in Billboard's Rhythm & Blues charts - "Sugar Sweet" (1955), "Trouble No More" 1956,  "Forty Days and Forty Nights" (1956), "Don't Go No Farther" (1956).  One of Waters' best known songs was recorded in 1956 - "Got My Mojo Working."

In 1958, Waters and pianist, Otis Spann, toured England.  They began in Leeds with their Chicago style.  Comical point of interest - "I was definitely too loud for them.  The next morning we were in the headlines of the paper, 'Screaming Guitar and Howling Piano'."  (Wikipedia)

Bands inspired by Muddy Waters - The Rolling Stones (after "Rollin' Stone"), Cream (especially Eric Clapton), AC/DC (especially Angus Young), and Fleetwood Mac

Songs inspired by Muddy Waters -

- Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" was based on "You Need Love"

- "Hoochie Coochie Man" was covered by several artists, including Steppenwolf and Supertramp

- "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC was inspired by lyrics from Waters' "You Shook Me"

Honors and Awards -

6 Grammy Awards

"Rollin' Stone" (1950) ... "Hoochie Coochie Man" (1954) ... "Mannish Boy" (1955) ... "Got My Mojo Working" (1957) - Listed among the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

5 Blues Foundation Awards

Inductions -

Blues Foundation Hall of Fame (1980)

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987)

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1992)

Discography - 13 studio albums

The background behind Muddy Waters is detailed and would be exhaustive to write here so in conclusion, read more on Wikipedia.

"It's going to be years and years before most people realize how greatly he contributed to American music." - B.B. King

Instrumental Inspired

Due disclaimer - This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a small commission on any purchase made.

Inspiration for the want in life can come from anywhere and is uniquely defined by each person.  On Set List, inspiration comes from music.

In Instrumental Inspired, I am returning to my roots on zZounds to showcase beginner-friendly instruments that inspire the want of learning how to play.

In this edition of the series, my Instrumental Inspired is the Alvarez RF26SSBAGP Acoustic Guitar Pack.  If you - like me - are a beginner and want to start somewhere, this full instrumental package may be the perfect option.

Follow the Alvarez link below for the full category offer - 

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/cat--3960264/cat--Alvarez--3982

As for the Acoustic Guitar Pack...

$219.99 OR 4 Payments $55

Sunburst finish

What's included - Alvarez guitar, Logo gig bag, Clip on digital tuner, Guitar strap, Polishing cloth, Additional picks

If you are seriously interested in learning how to play this guitar and the Alvarez  is an inspiring brand, consider the link below for more information.

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/item--ALVRF26SSBAGP