one of my first albums & one of my first shows - after 50 years on this planet, hard to beat those moments. thanks for this very visual rendition. listening now.
I am old enough to remember that song's popularity. I sat by the radio every Sunday hanging on every bit of Casey Kasem's AT40. Seems like that was their first hit and it took a while before they exploded. Very very catchy.
May I be so bold as to recommend a listen to a little known gem called Bodacious DF from 73.. the band Marty Balin put together after quitting the Airplane (the 1st time).. Driving Me Crazy alone is worth the price of admission!.. since we're speaking of unappreciated...
Having listened to New Orleans R&B and funk for many years (Toussaint, The Meters, The Wild Tchoupitoulas, etc.), I tell any newbie to start HERE. The amazing, slack syncopation that somehow sounds effortless, the drums to bass locked, that slinky guitar vamping everywhere. And the sisters layer it on, building tension and gospel fever via vocal interplay alone.
Geez. (deep sigh). This is the reason we listen to music, again and again. They could have used this tune in the bus scene in Almost Famous. Essential. Life-enhancing.
The Pointer Sisters and Birch are all Bay Area musicians from Oakland, and I grew up right outside of Oakland (lived there till I was 27). I miss the music scene and culture, I haven't been home in three years and this is making me home sick but not in a bad way. Thank you for that, for real. Here's a good blog post I found about Birch's career.
Also YouTube and streaming do suck for sound quality, but YT definitely had some amazing info on here. Here's a really good (I think) video on stereo mapping. If you have more to show/explain about recording I would love that info. https://youtu.be/h1aNrMEi5XA
Geez okay I'm sorry I am a lot. But this made me recall that I think there may be something wrong with "Hex" on Bandcamp, at around 1:30 - I feel like it gets warbly. I've listened to that song a billion times and every time I play it on Bandcamp I feel like it's off. I may be wrong? I dunno.
Okeee so I need to get some inspiration to start working so I came here and then went to YT and watched this pointer sister concert in full and omg. I am pumped! So good! It put me in my feelings about so many things, not the least gospel's influence on rock, that they were the first woc performers at the grand ole Opry, how much drag culture was injected in to pop. If anyone happens to see this and needs a lift, here it is.
Ps Neko: if you, Rachel, and Shelley don't do a T-shirt and pants reveal by dropping full length neon feather robes for this tour, I'm walking straight out the door. I have standards now.
Pointers can do no wrong. I saw them open for Boz Scaggs, whom I have no beef with but where is justice in this world?! Of course they carted off the whole night in high heels.
Thank you for this. I grew up with The Pointer Sisters. Love your blog and your music. Therapy changed my life snd relaxed me so I could enjoy it. Good luck with yours. Love your music. Sad you like e on Houston, Texas. I was Mesmerized.
Dude, all we do is listen to old Pointer Sisters records at the store. So fucking good. Especially, "Steppin'" - be sure to get into that one if you haven't yet. xoxo Jennifer
A song I freak out to is the Bessie Smith version of "Lord Don't Move That Mountain." I found the record it's on in the original shrink-wrap for cheap. I had to find the song after hearing Neko and her band cover it on some bootleg. It's gospel, and I'm pretty secular but this song packs a ton of "you can DO IT" energy in its 2 minutes. I suggest people find it on youtube. Mahalia Jackson sings it too, but the Bessie Smith version is just so good
Just for the record, some of us still prefer physical media, and still pore over the credits, seeking knowledge and finding connections, and using it to discover new artists. Without the liner notes, I would have never discovered Kelly Hogan, or Jon Rauhouse, just to name a couple. Love to you and all those who have helped you craft your music over the years. We are still out there.
one of my first albums & one of my first shows - after 50 years on this planet, hard to beat those moments. thanks for this very visual rendition. listening now.
I am old enough to remember that song's popularity. I sat by the radio every Sunday hanging on every bit of Casey Kasem's AT40. Seems like that was their first hit and it took a while before they exploded. Very very catchy.
May I be so bold as to recommend a listen to a little known gem called Bodacious DF from 73.. the band Marty Balin put together after quitting the Airplane (the 1st time).. Driving Me Crazy alone is worth the price of admission!.. since we're speaking of unappreciated...
Having listened to New Orleans R&B and funk for many years (Toussaint, The Meters, The Wild Tchoupitoulas, etc.), I tell any newbie to start HERE. The amazing, slack syncopation that somehow sounds effortless, the drums to bass locked, that slinky guitar vamping everywhere. And the sisters layer it on, building tension and gospel fever via vocal interplay alone.
Geez. (deep sigh). This is the reason we listen to music, again and again. They could have used this tune in the bus scene in Almost Famous. Essential. Life-enhancing.
Please beat me with music just like the masochistic bottom I am 🙌🙌🙌 that song is CLEAN. Bumping it in my kitchen. I needed this lift today 🌈🌈🌈🌈
The Pointer Sisters and Birch are all Bay Area musicians from Oakland, and I grew up right outside of Oakland (lived there till I was 27). I miss the music scene and culture, I haven't been home in three years and this is making me home sick but not in a bad way. Thank you for that, for real. Here's a good blog post I found about Birch's career.
http://hooterollin.blogspot.com/2012/02/gaylord-birch-drums.html?m=1
Also YouTube and streaming do suck for sound quality, but YT definitely had some amazing info on here. Here's a really good (I think) video on stereo mapping. If you have more to show/explain about recording I would love that info. https://youtu.be/h1aNrMEi5XA
Geez okay I'm sorry I am a lot. But this made me recall that I think there may be something wrong with "Hex" on Bandcamp, at around 1:30 - I feel like it gets warbly. I've listened to that song a billion times and every time I play it on Bandcamp I feel like it's off. I may be wrong? I dunno.
Okeee so I need to get some inspiration to start working so I came here and then went to YT and watched this pointer sister concert in full and omg. I am pumped! So good! It put me in my feelings about so many things, not the least gospel's influence on rock, that they were the first woc performers at the grand ole Opry, how much drag culture was injected in to pop. If anyone happens to see this and needs a lift, here it is.
Ps Neko: if you, Rachel, and Shelley don't do a T-shirt and pants reveal by dropping full length neon feather robes for this tour, I'm walking straight out the door. I have standards now.
https://youtu.be/vqTMdZOwFlc
Pointers can do no wrong. I saw them open for Boz Scaggs, whom I have no beef with but where is justice in this world?! Of course they carted off the whole night in high heels.
Thank you for this. I grew up with The Pointer Sisters. Love your blog and your music. Therapy changed my life snd relaxed me so I could enjoy it. Good luck with yours. Love your music. Sad you like e on Houston, Texas. I was Mesmerized.
Thanks to my parents this album was def a part of my childhood soundtrack. Also, don't sleep on Lee Dorsey's original!
Thank you for the much-needed dance break.
Dude, all we do is listen to old Pointer Sisters records at the store. So fucking good. Especially, "Steppin'" - be sure to get into that one if you haven't yet. xoxo Jennifer
Dang right. I've got several of their albums from back in the day. Amazing production, amazing vocals, amazing players, and amazing messaging.
Yes. Yes. Brava!!!
A song I freak out to is the Bessie Smith version of "Lord Don't Move That Mountain." I found the record it's on in the original shrink-wrap for cheap. I had to find the song after hearing Neko and her band cover it on some bootleg. It's gospel, and I'm pretty secular but this song packs a ton of "you can DO IT" energy in its 2 minutes. I suggest people find it on youtube. Mahalia Jackson sings it too, but the Bessie Smith version is just so good
Just for the record, some of us still prefer physical media, and still pore over the credits, seeking knowledge and finding connections, and using it to discover new artists. Without the liner notes, I would have never discovered Kelly Hogan, or Jon Rauhouse, just to name a couple. Love to you and all those who have helped you craft your music over the years. We are still out there.
Isnt Kelly just the best? I love her record
Yes, she's pretty great. Hopefully she'll put out another record one day.
This is great. I love hearing musician's love for another band, a song, a guitar or even a note. We'd love to have you talk about this for a cool new podcast we're doing called When I Met You: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-i-met-you/id1607383960