. . .Busy.
Welcome to the new readers who are stopping by. It's been a busy summer, and so posting (and work on gospelgal.com) has slowed.
It'll probably be a few weeks before I'm posting regularly again. In the meantime, feel free to poke around on the blog, to read some of the reviews and interviews posted on gospelgal.com, or to subscribe (see the left side of the page).
I'll be back on the good foot soon.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Gospel Gal Sort of Answers Your Questions
According to my site statistics, a lot of GospelGal.com readers come here as a result of very specific queries, or looking for answers to specific questions (And here I thought it was all about the incisive commentary and self-deprecating humor!).
Over the last few weeks, I've received some interesting questions through my contact page. And since I don't know the answers to these, I'll share them with you, and maybe we can help one another out. Leave a comment below, or contact me if you can answer these questions:
Over the last few weeks, I've received some interesting questions through my contact page. And since I don't know the answers to these, I'll share them with you, and maybe we can help one another out. Leave a comment below, or contact me if you can answer these questions:
- Where is Keith Pringle?
- Did Joe Carter ever release any albums?
- Where can someone buy a copy of Introducing Perfecting Praise? (Helloooo, reissue?)
All right, blogosphere, do your thing. Folks who know, check in. Hopefully, I'll have some credible information to share. . .but if I find out about that Perfecting album, I'm getting my own copy first!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Good Advice for Musicians . . .and Writers
" . . .You gotta really know yourself. Find out what season you're in. If you're in a season of learning, focus on that 'til God changes it. Find out what season you're in, find out your strengths, find out your weaknesses, and strengthen those weaknesses. That's what you need to do before you step out anywhere. And make sure your skills are tight . . .If you don't have the music to back it up, you can forget it . . .and write good songs. Write songs that tell stories. Don't just write a loop."
--soul man Frank McComb, interviewed by Tavis Smiley
--soul man Frank McComb, interviewed by Tavis Smiley
Thursday, June 21, 2007
In the Meantime, Right On
A couple of summers ago, I spent lots of time working on a review of Michael Eric Dyson's Mercy, Mercy Me: The Art, Love and Demons of Marvin Gaye. I bought more Gaye bios than was reasonable and immersed myself in them--and in his music. I talked to my Dad for some of his memories and insights about Marvin Gaye, and logged lots of coffee shop hours on this manuscript.
I wrote this manuscript on speculation for a critical review journal. Although it was never published, I enjoyed writing it. I enjoy spending time with different subjects, learning as much as I can, then trying to bring all those parts together in an article. So now, I'm posting it here. I figure it'll give you something to chew on while I finish working on gospelgal.com. In the meantime, right on.
Gaye, like many R&B/soul singers, had gospel roots. I know of at least two gospel artists who've produced enjoyable versions of his songs: Ray Bady's Mission K.O.B. (Keep On Believin') album includes a summer-cruisable interpretation of "Mercy, Mercy Me," and Sara Renner brings back a Marvin Gaye-Tammi Terrell classic, "You're All I Need to Get By" on her 2004 album Elements of the Journey.
Know about other gospel-related covers of Gaye's work? Tell me about them.
Before Tower Records closed, I got a super-cheap copy of Jason Miles' What's Going On? Songs of Marvin Gaye. It's a nice tribute.
I wrote this manuscript on speculation for a critical review journal. Although it was never published, I enjoyed writing it. I enjoy spending time with different subjects, learning as much as I can, then trying to bring all those parts together in an article. So now, I'm posting it here. I figure it'll give you something to chew on while I finish working on gospelgal.com. In the meantime, right on.
Gaye, like many R&B/soul singers, had gospel roots. I know of at least two gospel artists who've produced enjoyable versions of his songs: Ray Bady's Mission K.O.B. (Keep On Believin') album includes a summer-cruisable interpretation of "Mercy, Mercy Me," and Sara Renner brings back a Marvin Gaye-Tammi Terrell classic, "You're All I Need to Get By" on her 2004 album Elements of the Journey.
Know about other gospel-related covers of Gaye's work? Tell me about them.
Before Tower Records closed, I got a super-cheap copy of Jason Miles' What's Going On? Songs of Marvin Gaye. It's a nice tribute.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Take 6 Loves Ella
Tonight, We Love Ella: A Tribute to the First Lady of Song premieres on PBS' Great Performances. Check your local listings to find out when the program airs in your area.
The concert, recorded in April 2007 (Fitzgerald would have celebrated her 90th birthday this year) features performers including Patti Austin, Natalie Cole, George Duke, Jon Faddis, Quincy Jones, Dave Koz, Ledisi, Monica Mancini, James Moody, Ruben Studdard, Take 6, Nancy Wilson, Stevie Wonder, Lizz Wright, and Wynonna.
Take 6 performed "How High the Moon" with Patti Austen, and, from last year's Feels Good, "Just In Time." I love tribute albums/programs, and, because I love Ella Fitzgerald and jazz, I'd be interested in this program, even if Take 6 hadn't been part of the event. A few years ago, I taped one of my favorite Fitzgerald quotes to my computer monitor:
“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.”
Amen.
P.S. Speaking of cool tributes, Imani Winds, my favorite wind quintet is releasing a Josephine Baker tribute album in a couple of weeks.
The concert, recorded in April 2007 (Fitzgerald would have celebrated her 90th birthday this year) features performers including Patti Austin, Natalie Cole, George Duke, Jon Faddis, Quincy Jones, Dave Koz, Ledisi, Monica Mancini, James Moody, Ruben Studdard, Take 6, Nancy Wilson, Stevie Wonder, Lizz Wright, and Wynonna.
Take 6 performed "How High the Moon" with Patti Austen, and, from last year's Feels Good, "Just In Time." I love tribute albums/programs, and, because I love Ella Fitzgerald and jazz, I'd be interested in this program, even if Take 6 hadn't been part of the event. A few years ago, I taped one of my favorite Fitzgerald quotes to my computer monitor:
“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.”
Amen.
P.S. Speaking of cool tributes, Imani Winds, my favorite wind quintet is releasing a Josephine Baker tribute album in a couple of weeks.
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