Bettye LaVETTE - I DO NOT WANT WHAT I HAVE NOT GOT

Rachel introduced me to Bettye... and I am thankful for that.  Great voice... and I really like a good a ccapella tune - especially with a voice like this.

I was surprised that Rachel - with her command of the english language would recommend a song with a double negative in the title.. but I let it go.. 

Click here  

to listen to I Do Not Want What I Have Not Got.

 Click here 

if you want something more traditional ....  a great cover of Joan Armatrading's Down To The Ground

Eric Bibb - WITH MY MAKER I AM ONE

I was listening to an acoustic blues channel on Spotify when Eric BIBB came on.  the track was Destiny Blues

I was curious enough to do a little more digging in.  I found that I liked a lot of his music.

With My Maker I am One is a gospel influenced acoustic blues number that is on heavy repeat around the house.

I thought I would like to see him live and found out that he moved to Finland - not what I think of as the hotbed of acoustic blues and gospel.. but there you go

To listen to one of the few songs that Sue likes on my playlist... 

listen here..

Charles Bradley - CHANGES

Charles Bradley, a soul singer covers Black Sabbath.  That piqued my interest enough to take a listen. It's a James Brown/Otis Redding inspired versus of the Sabbath classic.    I like covers when someone really makes it a different song...   

Have a listen...  Click here

Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa - NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS

While this is a duet with Joe Bonamassa, it really is just a showcase for Beth Hart's vocals.  

This cover of the classic Nutbush City Limits is unlike a lot of the other duets Beth does with Joe there isnt' a lot of back and forth, or guitar answering the vocal (a la their fantastic version of I'd rather go blind)

This one just just flat out fun Rock 'n' Roll


Click HERE

Vintage Trouble - BLUES HAND ME DOWN

I have been a fan of these guys for a couple of years now.  Would love to go to one of their shows if they ever come this way.  While the song is a little more laid back than their usual stuff I decided to post this one. If you want some upbeat Soul/Classic R&B/Rock energetic performances go check these guys out.

Shows What you Know is another great track. And I do recommend the Bomb Shelter Sessions.

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Click here to watch

Leon BRIDGES - Take me to the River

Leon Bridges - Coming Home

Leon is a throw back to the soul singers of the '60s.  I have always been a big fan of Stax Volt, Otis Redding, Al Green and the great singers of the sixties.

Leon is smooth - more like Sam Cooke than Otis.  There are several good tracks on this album but The River is certainly my favorite..

Here's a link to the video


Click here to watch

Cynthia Erivo - I'M HERE

Cynthia Erivo - I'm here

While 2016 was the year of Hamilton on Broadway, Cynthia ERIVO's performance in The Color Purple was unbelievable.   
During the performance we saw she got 3 standing ovations during the show.. and she deserved it all.

Her performance was truly one of the best I have seen ever...  Just to give you a sense of it, here's a youtube link to her performance on the Colbert show.  Imagine if you can ... seeing the same performance in a theatre in New York .. on a hot summer day .. with Cynthia belting out this performance 50 feet away... unbelievable...  

I am very fortunate to have seen this and Hamilton on our New York Birthday Surprise Getaway weekend.

Watch the YouTube video here.