true faith : GIRL AFRAID (You Can't Overdose on Music!)

I’ve been getting quite a few music recommendations on my twitter page, urging me to try new artists and albums. I’ve had at least 6 this week. So I’ve picked a couple out that I’ve tried and also a couple of golden oldies, to reignite your love. That’s what it’s all about appreciating the music of years gone by and embracing the new stuff. I have to admit I did go through a stage of not really listening to much NEW music. But that’s lazy and also I realised how much I was missing out on. Although I listen to new stuff and enjoy it, I always rely on The Blues and Soul when I need it most. (I’m an insomniac). So without further ado here we go I begin my ramble”’

RICO RODRIGUEZ: RIP

I was sad to hear last week about the death of another fine musician Rico Rodriquez at the age of 80. He will be best known by most as the trombonist in ska band The Specials. As well as playing with The Specials, Rodriguez performed as a solo artist, recording albums including Man from Wareika, Blow Your Horn and Brixton Cat with his band Rico and the Rudies. He worked with many different musicians and producers during a lengthy career, including Prince Buster, Karl Pitterson and Jools Holland in his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. He helped to bridge the gap between early Jamaican music and modern British ska pop music.

Rodriguez was born in Cuba and grew up in Jamaica, before moving to England in the 1960s. In an interview he was asked about his musical style and his long career he said “I like to do different music every night, but I have never been a trendy style of musician who leaves the roots for money or whatever,” he said. “I do a lot of research. You need ideas, new inspiration. Music is an exploratory thing. I can’t stop that.” Well he helped give us that amazing Jamaican sound that I for one will be eternally grateful for. Her are 2 songs I’m sure you will enjoy them both.

THE ROLLING STONES ‘ UNDER MY THUMB

Under My Thumb” is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for The Rolling Stones. Its first appearance was as an album track on 1966’s Aftermath. Although it was never released as a single in English-speaking countries, it is one of the band’s more popular songs from the period, appearing frequently on best-of compilations. In 1968, it was released as a single in Japan.

The song’s lyrics are an examination of a sexual power struggle, in which Jagger’s lyrics celebrate the success of finally having controlled and gained leverage over a previously pushy, dominating woman. Jagger later reflected on the track in a 1995 interview: “It’s a bit of a jokey number, really. It’s not really an anti-feminist song any more than any of the others… Yes, it’s a caricature, and it’s in reply to a girl who was a very pushy woman”. The lyrics, which savour the successful ‘taming of the shrew’ and compare the woman in question to a “pet”, a “Siamese cat” and a “squirming dog” provoked some negative reactions, especially amongst feminists, who objected to what they took as the suppressive sexual politics of the male narrator. In an interview in 1984 Mick Jagger said “The whole idea was that I was under HER, she was kicking ME around. So the whole idea is absurd, all I did was turn the tables around. So women took that to be against femininity where in reality it was trying to ‘get back’ against being a repressed male.”

I’ve been revisiting The Stones of late and enjoying their really early stuff in particular. Love this song and the unusual sounds which were, Brian Jones playing the marimbas. The various instruments he played resulted in many innovative sounds for the Stones

TOBIAS JESSO JNR ‘ WITHOUT YOU

Tobias Jesso Jnr has been hailed as the new king of the heart breaking melody. This 30 year old Canadian musician is definitely an artist to look out for. This track comes from his debut album ‘Goon’ which was released back in March.’ Jesso’s music has been compared to singer/songwriters of the 1960s and 1970s from Randy Newman to Harry Nilsson.” On first hearing this track I thought it sounded very like John Lennon and his style and I liked it a lot. Cant’ quite work the video out?? Now, to give the rest of the album ago. Anyway see what you think.

JILL SCOTT ‘ YOU DON’T KNOW

American R&B singer Jill Scott has been making music for 15 years now. In addition to her successful singing career, she has also written poetry and appeared in a number of films, including the interesting James Brown biopic Get on Up (2014).

Scott released her fifth studio album ‘Women’ back in July, a friend recommended I gave it a listen. The album has been described as ‘classic Philly soul meets country rhythm served with captivating storytelling.

Jill sounds amazing in this track, raw talent with fantastic blues lyrics, the perfect combination. you’really believe her story. I love it and look forward to listening to the rest of the album.