8/29/15 O&A NYC Its Saturday- Anything Goes: Miles Davis Quintet Live at Teatro dell’Arte in Milan, Italy on October 11, 1964

It is Saturday

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Miles Davis Quintet performed on Sunday, October 11, 1964 Teatro dell’Arte Milan, Italy. The quartet consisted of four musicians plus Davis: Trumpet: Miles Davis, Saxophone: Wayne Shorter, Piano: Herbie Hancock, Bass: Ron Carter, and Drums: Tony Williams.

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8/27/15 O&A NYC Throwback Thursday: Lisa Stansfield – All Around the World

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All Around the World recorded by British R&B/new jack swing recording artist Lisa Stansfield for her 1989 album Affection.  It was written by Stansfield, Ian Devaney and Andy Morris, and produced by Devaney and Morris. Songwriters Stansfield,  Devaney and Morris received the 1989 Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically. The song remains Stansfield’s her biggest hit. Continue reading

8/26/15 O&A NYC Song Of The Day: Grace Jones- Pull Up to the Bumper

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Pull Up to the Bumper  was co-written by Grace Jones, Kookoo Baya and Dana Mano. The uptempo pop-dance song incorporating funk and R&B elements and sparked some controversy for its suggestive lyrics. Due to the figuratively describe sexual intercourse, it prompted some radio stations in the United States to refuse to broadcast it. Continue reading

10/19/17 O&A THROWBACK THURSDAY: Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell- Ain’t no Mountain High Enough

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Ain’t No Mountain High Enough was written in 1966 by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson prior to joining Motown. Simpson recalls “We felt like that could be our entry to Motown. Nick called it the ‘golden egg’.”The care-free, danceable, and romantic love song that became the signature duet between Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. The song set the tone for a string of Ashford and Simpson hits, which many consider the crown jewels of the Motown discography. Continue reading

8/18/15 O&A Song Of The Day: Anastacia- One Day In Your Life

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One Day in Your Life is a song by recording artist Anastacia from her second studio album, Freak of Nature.  It earned her first chart-topper on the Billboard‍ ’​s Hot Dance Club Play chart. The video shot on January 16–17, 2002 and directed by Dave Meyers, who has also directed videos for Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Pink, and Bow Wow.  Continue reading

8/17/15 O&A With WaleStylez- Song Of The Day: FKA twigs – M3LL155X

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FKA twigs has always been an artist that defies convention. This self-directed project M3LL155X feels like a powerful assertion of FKA twigs’ independence and artistic direction. From the opening track “Figure 8” and accompanying visual, we are hit with pure, raw, defiance. Continue reading

8/16/15 O&A Gospel Sunday: Richard Smallwood- Same God

GOSPEL SUNDAY
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Same God, the rousing feel-good retrospective is the lead single from Richard Smallwood’s aptly named Anthology. This epic project includes his 20-member renowned ensemble, Vision. The classically trained Smallwood presents a collection of music like only he can– rich, heartfelt, and layered with dynamic musical arrangements. Anthology is steeped in the tradition of gospel music. Continue reading

2/I/18 O&A NYC BLACK HISTORY MONTH THROWBACK THURSDAY: Al Green- How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

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How Can You Mend a Broken Heart released on the 1972 album Let’s Stay Together is a cover song, originally performed by the Bee Gees and written by Barry and Robin Gibb. His rendition took the soul ballad to new levels of artistry and refinement. Continue reading

8/9/15 O&A Gospel Sunday: Sister Rosetta Tharpe – Didn’t It Rain

GOSPEL SUNDAY

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Sister Rosetta Tharpe, is a pioneer of twentieth-century music. Tharpe attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings that were a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and rhythmic/early rock accompaniment.  She became gospel music’s first crossover artist and its first great recording star. Continue reading