20 House Music Classics

Does anyone miss House music as much as I do? Well if you do, let's reminisce together over some of those memorable tunes that kept us on the dance floor, that we couldn't get out of our heads, and that had some of the catchiest lyrics, albeit only a few words that may have been looped throughout the song. Here is my list of 20 House music classics. Note, House music, not Dance music or Techno music. DJ, mix these up at the club and see if anyone sits down! And again, no repeated artist, and this list is not in any particular order.

1. "Whores in This House" - Frank Ski (1992)
2. "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)" (Red Bone Club Mix) - Crystal Waters (1991)
3. "Supermodel" (Tribal Mix) - RuPaul (1993)
4. "French Kiss" (The Songbird Sings Long Vocal Mix) - Lil' Louis & The World (1989)
5. "Work That Motherfucker" - Steve Poindexter (1989)
6. "The Bomb" (Radio Edit) - The Bucketheads (1995)
7. "Zulu" (Change Mix) - Circle Children (1994)
8. "House of Love (In My House)" (The Raise Your House Mix) - Smooth Touch (1994)
9. "Strings of Life" (Piano Mix) - Rhythim is Rhythim (1990)
10. "Witch Doktor" (Dark Ages Mix) - Armand Van Helden (1994)
11. "Throb" - Janet Jackson (1993)
12. "Let the Rhythm Pump" - Doug Lazy (1989)
13. "I'm Beautiful Dammitt!" (Club Mix) - Uncanny Alliance (1993)
14. "Didn't I Know (Divas to the Dance Floor... Please) (D.C. vs. Tom e's Original Dub)- E.G. Fullalove (1994)
15. "Beautiful People" (C.J.'s Club Mix) - Barbara Tucker (1994)
16. "Doo Doo Dub" - Luke **(Sorry! Not sure of the year!)
17. "Hot" (Danny's Runaway Mix) - Willie Ninja (1995)
18. "Percolator" - Cajmere (1997)
19. "Get Up!" (Parade Mix) - Byron Stingily (1997)
20. "Speculation" - Colonel Abrams (1986)

The Best Jazz Albums

Now, I would be remiss if I didn't do a list of the 10 best jazz albums, in my opinion of course. We live in such a pop and hip-hop world that this often forgotten genre doesn't get the props it deserves anymore. I want to keep it alive, the true jazz, that is, because like R&B artists, jazz has gone pop and many people believe that Kenny G is jazz. (And sorry people, Najee is not jazz either.) So, in no particular order, here is my list of the 10 best jazz albums of all-time. I hope it helps you expand your music collection.

1. "Journey in Satchidananda" - Alice Coltrane (1970)
2. "A Love Supreme" - John Coltrane (1964)
3. "Porgy and Bess" - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong (1958)
4. "Jazz in Film" - Terence Blanchard (1999)
5. "Let Freedom Ring!" - Denys Baptiste (2003)
6. "A New Perspective" - Donald Byrd (1963)
7. "Speak No Evil" - Wayne Shorter (1964)
8. "Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus" - Charlie Mingus (1963)
9. "Good Night, and Good Luck" (Soundtrack) - Dianne Reeves (2005)
10. "Miles Ahead" - Miles Davis (1957)

The Best of Contemporary Soul

Now I couldn't do a Top 12 soul list without listing 10 of the best Contemporary Soul albums, could I? Now by Contemporary Soul, I'm talking about anything recorded in the 90s to present, and soul, to me, was personified in the 70s, thus the reason for artists of that decade comprising the previous list. So, I'm sticking to 10, and once again, not in any particular order and will not repeat, and am considering the albums I feel you can listen to without skipping a track. I hope you agree.

1. "Who is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1" - Jill Scott (2000)
2. "Worldwide Underground" - Erykah Badu (2003)
3. "Free" - Chico Debarge (2003)
4. "Self Portrait" - Lalah Hathaway (2008)
5. "Signs of Life" - Dionne Farris (2007)
6. "Flo'Ology"- Floetry (2005)
7. "Voodoo" - D'angelo (2000)
8. "Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite" - Maxwell (1996)
9. "Love the Woman" - Chante Moore (2008)
10. "Eric Roberson Presents: The Vault - Vol. 1.5" - Eric Roberson (2004)

An Update on the Future

So, I have returned, and being the air sign that I am, I'm going to allow the future of this blog to go where the wind blows me. As things come up, I will write about them, the things that move me deep in my spirit. But as I am also moved by things of the past in the world of music, I will share my thoughts on them as well.

So as I stated in my first post of this year, "The Future of Pagebu on Music," I believe in supporting the legends. To be true to my word, here is a list of 12 of the best soul albums of all time, in my opinion. These are albums you can listen to from the first track to the last. These are must-haves if you truly dig soul music. I didn't want to repeat artists, which is why I stopped the list at 12, despite some making such beautiful music several decades and the first three being composed by Curtis Mayfield. They are listed not in any particular order, but please, have a listen (www.lala.com is a great site) and let me know if you agree.

1. "Superfly" (Soundtrack) - Curtis Mayfield (1972)
2. "Claudine" (Soundtrack) - Gladys Knight & The Pips (1974)
3. "Sparkle" (Soundtrack) - Aretha Franklin (1976)
4. "Ask Rufus" - Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan (1977)
5. "Black Moses" - Isaac Hayes (1971)
6. "What's Goin' On" - Marvin Gaye (1971)
7. "Songs in the Key of Life" - Stevie Wonder (1976)
8. "Gratitude" - Earth, Wind & Fire (1975)
9. "For You" - Prince (1978)
10. "The Boss" - Diana Ross (1979)
11. "Express" - B.T. Express (1974)
12. "Everything is Everything" - Donny Hathaway (1970)

Everybody's Gone Pop

Usher. Alicia Keys. Damn, even Vivian Green. It seems like everybody that used to do such great R&B, music that spoke to your soul, has gone pop! Can we get back to the soul, please, minus the lyrics referencing infidelity?

Can it be disputed that "Confessions," "That's What It's Made For," and "Nice and Slow" are not classic Usher songs? With only a few exceptions like "Here I Stand" and "Lifetime," the rest of the "Here I Stand" CD is Usher going pop...hard. And never mind "Raymond vs. Raymond." Can you say, pop goes the weasel? He gives us "Papers" making us think we're getting another fine product like "Confessions" then he delivers a CD with no soul, no R&B, just pop, pop, pop!

What happened to Alicia Keys' good ol' days with songs that spoke to the spirit like "Fallin," "Diary," and "If I Ain't Got You?" I knew when the braids were gone and the hair turned straight what was up.

And Vivian Green, can you take us on an "Emotional Rollercoaster" again, please?

And finally, Mary J. has done the pop thang in a major way. Has anyone other than me felt that she should've left Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" and "Stairway to Heaven" alone? I'm only a fan of covers when they're done well, like when soul artists make pop or rock songs soulful, but Mary J., doing pop versions of these classics was not a good move.

If it's not Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke thinking their the white versions of Marvin Gaye replete with bad falsettos, then it's soulful artists making the transition to the pop world and leaving the soul behind to record mediocre songs. My thing is this, do what you do and do it well. You're all talented in your own ways, just be your true selves and let that talent shine.

And when are these music executives going to stop being greedy thinking they can sell more records if they mold their top-selling artists into pop molds of clay?

Maxwell, What the Hell?!!!

Just when I begin to accept that the 'fro is gone! Just when I start diggin' "BLACKsummers'night" to the point that "Bad Habits" and "Cold" stay on repeat. Just when I get over not being able to attend the concert you did with Chrisette Michele, I get excited when I see you touring with Jill Scott. Then I'm torn because you add a date at the Garden with Badu. Then my heart is crushed when I see the top ticket price is $256.50 at both shows. Maxwell, what the hell? You're breaking my heart all over again! Please, bring back the 'fro!

Baby, I miss that falsetto! It's not as sweet as it was on the Mellosmoothie mix of "Sumthin' Sumthin'." Nevertheless, I was ready to see you, baby, you and one of my girls. Why can't you have a menage-a-tois, with Jill and Badu on the same bill with you in the middle and bring that top ticket price down so I can hear that sexy voice when it speaks and look up at you with naughty thoughts while you perform and long for that 'fro again?

Is it just me, or is anyone else having a hard time during this recession? Maxwell, baby, I like ya, but I've got many other things I could do with $256.50, and buying a ticket way up in the air at Madison Square Garden is not one of them. If I can't see you up close, then I'll just listen to your sweet voice on my ipod instead.

Written with love.

The Return of the Bootay!!!

All right! I finally have some inspiration to return to this blog and it would be Erykah Badu, or shall I say her bootay, in particular, that got me back on track!

By now, with all the controversy, you have seen the "Window Seat" video. Now I've been reading some really unsavory things online about people's opinion of it and her, so Ms. Bootay, better known as Badu, I just want to say, go on with yourself!

There's no shame in my game. When I first watched it, I was hoping you would take it all off, but when you did, my mouth dropped open and I had to shut it and call myself cornbread!

Nonetheless, I love the artistic message and the retro evolution at the end, replete with the beads. I love the use of the JFK audio and the guts to film where he was assassinated. But most importantly, I love the bootay! I was like, damn! I give female props where they are due, and Ms. Badu, the bootay is nice!!!

But I shan't be so shallow. "The Return of the Ankh" is a nice comeback. I must admit, I think I'm still more partial to "New Amerykah Part One..." because it's got that Curtis Mayfield, socio-political, tell-it-like-it-T-I-is, thang going on, but I must say, I am feeling "Out My Mind, Just in Time," "Agitation," "Fall in Love (Your Funeral), "Incense," and of course, "Window Seat," 'cause I can relate to all these depending on my mood and what I choose to recall of my past relationships at any given point in time.

But Badu, for real though, what's up with "You Loving Me (Session)?"

And in case you haven't seen the video, check it out and comment for yourself.

The Infamous Window Seat Video