Can't get over Michael Mcdonald's "Motown" CD. Listening over it the past three days makes me wonder, why it took Michael so long to make something like this. Blue-eyed soul is a term that seemed to be coined for Michael. Chock-full of gold finds, the album is crowded by songs written by my favorite dynamic duo, Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, like my all-time favorite, "Ain't Nothing But the Real Thing" and the immortal "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." There's plenty of Stevie Wonder and Holland-Dozier-Holland, of course. His reading of "All is Fair in Love" is plenty enough reason to plunk down 375 bucks on this wonderful CD.
While I'm on this music trip, would like to wander some more, with the great Linda Ronstadt. It hasn't received the spin it deserves but got this Ronstadt anthology from way back. Wonderful stuff, really. From her duets with Aaron Neville (the sublime "Don't Know Much" and "All My Life") and James Ingram (the wistful "Somewhere Out There"), to the sensuous Ooh Baby Baby" (Smokey Robinson), and the folksy "Blue Bayou" (Roy Orbison). There's also the pensive "Track of My Tears" (another Smokey tune).
Of course, the collection is missing tracks from the Nelson Riddle trilogy but it is a must-have album. Am so fortunate I have the 3 CDs in my collection a long time ago when they were available -- the sweet "I've Got a Crush on You," soaring "When You Wish Upon a Star," "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," among so many wonderful songs. Reading the liner notes on the greatest hits album made me appreciate this great, learned singer who not only knows how to open her mouth and sing carelessly. She really knows her craft which is something you can't say of most of the pop singers out there. Her career has spanned so many decades and genres (she even tried her hand on "La Boheme" and "Pirates of Penzance"), her talent is undeniable. If ever I get marooned on an island, her music is one of those I would gladly marooned with...
p.s. it's the day after the elections. too bad, a player tripped me last sunday so failed to make it to the polls yesterday. hmmm, wonder what happens next. i just pray we elected somebody who deserves and knows what she/he will do to make this country great again...
