Luther Vandross’ ‘Never Too Much’: Black Music Month Album Spotlight

Posted on July 6, 2010 by admin

With just seven songs, Luther Vandross’ debut album solidified his position as an R&B singer to watch. This album does not include his largest volume of classic records, but it does feature “A House Is Not A Home,” a song written by Burt Bacharach and first performed by Dionne Warwick. The compassionate ballad of heartbreak is memorable on all levels-the classical piano melody, Vandross’ controlled vocal production, and the genius lyrics that use an empty house as a metaphor for a lonely heart.

About Luther Vandross: In African American households, Luther Vandross is arguably the favorite voice of the last 40 years. Growing up in New York, Vandross sang with the likes of Roberta Flack, Barbra Streisand, and Chaka Khan, on television commercial jingles as well as in various recording groups before launching his solo career. His 13 platinum and multi-platinum studio albums resulted in eight Grammy Awards. He died at 54 on July 1, 2005. (Full Bio)

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On Recording While Pregnant, Cher, EnVogue, And Leaving Miley Cyrus Alone

Posted on July 6, 2010 by admin

At the time, she was without a record deal, pregnant, and at home. Since she wasn’t signed to a label, there was no one there to tell her what kind of record to record or to rush her to complete the project by a given date. So she simply found inspiration from within, wrote the music she felt, and worked with the producers who didn’t mind sending her tracks even though she could not tell them when they would get paid for their offerings.

Kelis found herself in a peaceful place, despite the fact that she was going through a divorce from Nas and pregnant with their first child.

Yahoo! Music recently sat down with Kelis at the Interscope Records office to talk to her about motherhood (Part I), recording the album while pregnant (Part II), and why she feels the public needs to cut Miley Cyrus some slack (Part III).

Check out our three-part video interview below:

Kelis Interview Part I Of III: ‘A Song For The Baby’ Continues A Tradition
Kelis explains that her rock star ego takes a backseat to the attention afforded to her son, Knight. She adds that the album track “A Song For The Baby” was inspired by an interpolation of a Sly & The Family Stone record her father used to sing to her as a child. She describes how her pregnancy enhanced her songwriting experience. “[It was] such a great time to write and express myself,” she said.

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Mum’s The Word! Mumford & Sons Generate A Rustic Buzz

Posted on July 6, 2010 by admin

The latest crop of NME-endorsed British buzz bands have created a racket with electric guitars and techno keyboards, but Mumford & Sons have generated just as loud a buzz with such lo-fi instruments as mandolin, accordion, banjo, dobro, double-bass…and hardly any drums.

The instrument-swapping London folk-rockers actually have more in common with legendary Americana acts like Crosby, Stills & Nash and the Byrds, or even with modern-day U.S. buzz band the Fleet Foxes, than with other newbie British acts…although the Sons’ rustic, harmony-laden sound is most definitely their own. And it is a sound that may easily translate and connect with listeners in America, thus giving M&S a better shot at Stateside success than most U.K. baby bands.

With their sweet, pastoral sound and English-gentlemen image, one might expect Mumford & Sons to be all serious and soft-spoken in their interviews. But oh, no. When Yahoo! Music sat down with bandmates and longtime school chums Marcus Mumford, Winston “Country” Marshall, Ben Lovett, and Ted Dwane to discuss their sound, the current London folk scene, and the making of the group’s debut album, Sigh No More, they were actually hysterically funny–especially when fondly petting cuddly blonde bassist Ted in between interview questions. Apparently Ted is the favorite Son.

Check out Mumford & Sons’ amusing, informative interview below, along with three gorgeous performances from their Yahoo! studio visit.

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England’s return of the WAGs

Posted on February 16, 2010 by admin

Now, according to a report in the Sun newspaper, Capello feels he should have allowed his squad to take a two-week holiday with their partners before heading to South Africa, instead of embarking on an intensive training camp in Austria.

It also is expected that, following player unrest at what they felt were draconian measures by Capello – he had rules that included banning cell phones and ketchup – more interaction with their loved ones will be permitted.

Despite Capello’s insistence that the WAGs should stay away, many of them turned up at the World Cup, sparking a paparazzi frenzy. Now it looks as if they may be back with a vengeance from now on, this time with an official stamp of approval.

If that turns out to be the case, it may actually be the lowest point of England’s entire campaign. More than phantom goals or goalkeeping errors, it succinctly explains what is wrong with an England team that boasts some of the world’s finest individual talents but can’t come together as a cohesive unit.

Namely, that by being asked to be professional, they feel they are being treated like teenagers and having their freedom restricted.

Plenty of England’s players from this World Cup should be given more freedom. They should be given all the freedom they want by being dumped from the national team and replaced by individuals prepared to show more passion and desire. No international team should be held hostage by the fragile egos and pampered ways of its foot soldiers.

The problem wasn’t Capello’s idea of wanting to keep a close eye on the off-the-field behavior of his players, but rather England’s bunch of overpaid millionaires who couldn’t handle being told what they could and couldn’t do.

Former captain John Terry’s answer to the team’s frustrating 0-0 draw with Algeria in its second game was to beg for him and several other players to be allowed to drink beer.

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Singer Carole King puts Idaho ranch back on market

Posted on February 3, 2010 by admin

Songwriter and singer Carole King has put her 128-acre central Idaho ranch back on the market with a reduced asking price of $16 million.

The Robinson Bar Ranch compound near Stanley includes a 7,300-square-foot lodge, a private residence, a caretaker’s home, a professional recording studio, guest cabins and horse barns.

King put the ranch up for sale in 2006 for $19 million. A listing agent says the ranch was taken off the market because of problems with a bridge on a U.S. Forest Service road that has since been repaired.

King retains a condominium in the central Idaho resort town of Ketchum, where she is scheduled to perform with James Taylor on July 12 as part of their “Troubadour Reunion” tour.

King’s signature album is 1971′s “Tapestry.”

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