Those who knew Michael Jackson only as the ‘King of Pop’ have no idea how important he was to those of us who were growing up during the Motown years; when “I Want You Back” could breathe life into the deadest party; when “Who’s Loving You” became his song long after Smokey penned and sang it; when we argued endlessly about whether Jermaine was a better singer or Marlon a better dancer; when we raced each other to the record store for the latest release; or when every garage band played at least one Jackson 5 song at local talent shows. Those early years were the foundation of why we loved him so much and so faithfully later; through the craziness, the surgeries, the tabloid garbage and the trial.
It’s been more than a year since Michael Jackson passed away. I’ve avoided including the Jackson boys from all but (I think) two of my mixes. The truth is, I still have a hard time listening to the old stuff without shedding a tear or two; and converting my favorites from vinyl to mp3 is quite a task. However, Michael’s birthday is approaching…it’s time.
When I heard about the memorial service at the Staples Center, I cringed at the thought of the media spectacle it might be. Instead, it was a going home service reminiscent of those I’d grown up attending. I sat among the Thriller-ites at work, and I was proud of those Jackson boys, the Jackson family and all who gave our boy that wonderful send-off. But, I didn’t cry…not at work.
The service was rebroadcast later that night, when I was at home with my kids. We sat and watched; and talked about the songs, the concerts, the records and the music. We sang along with the performers. All the time, I kept my eyes on that gold coffin, trying to process that it held boy, laying inside, never to come back to us and sing “Who’ s Loving You” again. We talked about the four concerts I attended: with my brother, Larry, in ‘72; with Todd, Curt and some friends from ‘the block’ in ‘73; with a group of girlfriends senior year; and with my husband and infant daughter (you could take a baby to a concert back then) in 1979. We talked about how Curt and I used to race to be the first to buy the newest single. Whoever was first would call and play it over the phone. (I was first when “Sugar Daddy” hit the stores.)
After the rebroadcast was over, and the kids had gone back to their Xbox 360; and after I had let in the dog and put out the cat; I closed myself in the living room with a bottle of my favorite wine, my Crossley Stack-O-Matic, and a few stacks of Jackson vinyl. It was mostly pre-Thriller stuff – the group hits and the solo albums from the Motown years that blasted in the basements of my house and Todd’s, and from the window of Curt’s living room to us on the porch. I sang and I danced. And, finally, I cried a while.
For a sweet-voiced little boy from the soundtrack of my life.
They were places to throw a parties for half the neighborhood without having to ‘get the house ready’; or fashion your own little ‘apartment’ when you wanted to pretend you had your ‘own place’ while still in high school. Or, they were living rooms that could get a little messy. Best of all, they were a cool refuge during the hot summers when most homes didn’t have central AC.
Nothing reminds me more of those hot summers in cool basements than the music of War. “All Day Music” was the first War album that caught my attention; and the lazy, hazy harmony of the title song still makes me stop whatever I’m doing, relax a little, and smile at the memory of the basement where I first heard it.
What would those basement parties have been without Earth, Wind & Fire? Every garage band wanted to play like them (when they weren’t playing Kool & the Gang); everyone who thought they could sing wanted to hit Philip Bailey’s high notes. Oh, and the slow jams!
“That’s The Way Of The World” was my first EWF album. I’m not even sure when I bought it. I had “Shining Star” as a single (remember vinyl 45s?); but getting the album didn’t seem a priority until I heard “Reasons”. I remember that I arrived at college intent on showing how hip I was by letting EWF blast through my dorm door (the way kids were doing when I visited my brother at his school); only to hear EWF blasting through every third door I passed on the way to my room. Oh well, I could still fall back on J5 and the Tempts. I was sure that nobody there would have collections that rivaled mine.
“Gratitude” was a Christmas present from my godmother. She loved “Singasong”, and to this day, I think of her whenever I hear it. And, of course, who could forget that live version of “Reasons”? Studio “Reasons” was good for listening and lip-syncing in the dorm room; but, live “Reasons” was a true, blue-light-in-the-basement, up-against-the-wall, New Year’s Eve party slow jam.
The funk; the album covers…! Where did guys store their albums after they taped the album covers to their walls?
Shortly after Cupid’s Hunt, I promised some Class of ‘75 mixes to celebrate those friends and classmates, lost and found. I hadn’t forgotten; I guess I needed a trigger.
Earlier today, I heard “Fire” on the radio, and remembered those evenings in Woody’s car with Woody, Joel and Patty, riding to Buxton’s after picking me up from work; and the parties, dj’d by Todd, where people just weren’t sure when to stop dancing to “Running From the Devil”. Then, I started thinking about all the other good music we danced, studied, slept and parked to that year. I loved those artists; I loved that music. It’s still background noise when I work; it’s still my lullabyes.
Hello, Linden; hello Roselle; hello, Rahway. I know Gold Bell Bakery is long gone; but, is Buxton’s still around?
I wasn’t going to let April 2 pass without paying tribute to Marvin Gaye. Had he lived, he would be 71 today. There’s not much to say beyond that. In light of the circumstances of April 1, 1984, I found “Piece of Clay” to be particularly beautiful and haunting.
This is dedicated to my mom, Ethel Mae McKenzie White, who celebrates her own birthday in two days and always had plenty of Motown playing around the house; to Curt Jones (I can’t hear “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby” without remembering him singing that song on our bus to summer camp); and to my cousin, Patricia (I can’t listen to “Got To Give It Up” without remembering her wedding reception).
Is that the Temptations singing background on “Try It Baby” and “Your Precious Love”?
Cupid’s Hunt was like giving birth…and I was tired! I’m still listening to all the wonderful music posted for the event; and surfing from site to site listening to podcasts posted since then. I’ve also moved The Night Shift to a web host to allow more growth and flexibility. The move was not without bumps in the road; I had to create a new domain and continue to use the original domain to host the large mp3 files. There’s no need to dismantle the old domain for now.
The needle has landed! Gone are the days when I haunted the Radio Shacks for parts. Now, there is actually a TurntabeNeedles.com, and other sites that offer parts I can use to repair old changers I’ve refused to discard. I can’t wait to bust some vinyl, though.
But, in the meantime, shout-outs and prayers for some March birthdays; for those who have left us and for those who grace us still; and especially for the birthday girls featured in what is my first ‘Girl Power’ mix.
March 1 Harry Belafonte
March 4 Miriam Makeba
March 9 Bow Wow; Chingy
March 10 Timbaland
March 11 Marlon Jackson; LeToya Luckett; Bobby McFerrin
March 14 Quincy Jones; Les Brown
March 15 Will.i.am; Sly Stone
March 16 Flavor Flav
March 17 Nat “King” Cole
March 18 Queen Latifah; Irene Cara; Wilson Pickett
Hit It Again – Luther Vandross/Queen Latifah – Dance With My Father [4:37]
Here We Go Again (feat. Norah Jones) – Ray Charles – Genius Love Company [3:59]
I Feel Good All Over – Stephanie Mills – Ultimate Collection [5:02]
Home – Stephanie Mills – Ultimate Collection [3:35]
I Know Where I’ve Been – Queen Latifah – Hairspray – Soundtrack [4:13]
I also would like to thank the members of the Music Podcast Consortium and all the Cupid’s Hunt contributors for inspiring me. I was a child in your playground, and you pushed my swing.
Happy Birthday to Sly Stone . We miss him; and, he’s still around. This is also dedicated to my brother. It’s the hot summer of ‘69…he and his friends are in the cool basement listening to Sly records…I’m sitting at the top of the stairs (they can’t see me)…
Our prayers to the friends and family of Ron Banks , founder of the Detroit soul group, The Dramatics , who passed away at the age of 59. They really rocked the 70s for us with “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get”, a tongue-in-cheek favorite for Flip Wilson fans; “In The Rain ”, that kept the walls buffed clean at blue-light basement parties; and their cover of Billy Paul’s ”Me and Mrs. Jones ”, that knocked me to my knees.
