Soul Bossa Nova by Quincy Jones

Back in 1991, I decided to become a disc jockey for my college radio station.  One of the other people who was being trained at the same time I was, played a song by the Dream Warriors, a Canadian duo who spearheaded the "jazz hip hop" genre of the early 90s.  This was the song she played...

I was immediately hooked.

Years later, Canadian Mike Myers released his Austin Powers films.  Those movies also used a familiar hook that was in the song, "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style" by the Dream Warriors...

I had no idea...

Last night, I finally learned the origin of that catchy hook, that was once used as the theme to a Canadian game show called Definition.  Mike Myers had grown up watching Definition, so he decided to use the theme in his Austin Powers movies.   I guess the game show was also why the Canadian Dream Warriors titled their hip hop song, "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style".  

I never knew...

This catchy, familiar, hooky music was composed by none other than American musical genius, Quincy Jones.  Yes, that's right.  The man that helped Michael Jackson make the biggest selling album of all time. The man behind the smooth jazz staple, "Breezin'", also composed "Soul Bossa Nova", which has been used in movies, television, and music for decades now...  This piece was released in 1962, but it still sounds fresh, in a cool retro kind of way, in 2022.

I can't believe it took me over thirty years to find all of this out.  Now I'm gonna have to go download the album.  

Young girl-- get out of my mind!

For some reason, this morning I have an old song in my head.  It's one that hasn't aged particularly well.  It's a song called from 1968 called "Young Girl", and it was sung by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap.  It has a nice melody and Gary Puckett's vocals are soulful enough... but the lyrics are about an older guy who wants to get into a young girl's pants.

"That come on look is in your eyes..."  Eeew!

I guess the men of today can relate to this song, patronizing as the words are.  Gary sings, "Get out of here before I have the time to change my mind..."  Yuck!  Control yourself, man!  Well, the words are kind of gross, as is the sentiment, but at least Gary can sing decently.

I don't know what put this in my head today.  I do see that it's in my library, although I don't think I've recently listened to it before today.  And I haven't been a "young girl" myself in over thirty years.

Wikipedia tells me that Gary Puckett and the Union Gap only lasted a few years.  They were active from 1967 until 1971, before I was even born.  However, during that time, they had a hit in "Young Girl" and even played for Prince Charles at a White House reception.  I wonder if the good prince enjoyed this music.  He did marry himself a "young girl" years later.  We all know how that turned out.

I've been neglecting this blog lately, which means it may be time to retire it.  Or maybe I'll just continue to do what I've been doing for years, which is to only write new posts when inspiration hits.  You'd think with as much time on my hands as I have, I could do that every day, but I've been busy thinking about other stuff.  Maybe 2021 will be a less traumatic year for all of us.

Blood, Sweat, & Tears vs. The Guess Who...

For some reason, I think Blood, Sweat, & Tears and The Guess Who sound sort of similar.  Yesterday, while in a haze of beer, I was listening to music by both bands...  I guess what seems really similar to me are the lead singers.

"And When I Die" by Blood Sweat & Tears

Blood Sweat & Tears came from New York City.  They fused rock, jazz, blues, pop, and the kitchen sink into their music.  Their music is very horn heavy and jazz oriented.  David Clayton-Thomas, a Canadian born in England, was the lead singer for several years until he left in 1972.

"Share The Land" by The Guess Who

The Guess Who came from Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada.  They were known for their edgy sound.  Chad Allan sang lead and Randy Bachman, later of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, was on guitars.  I guess they don't sound too much like Blood Sweat & Tears... except maybe the lead singer whose vocals remind me a lot of David Clayton-Thomas's.

"Lucretia McEvil"  First time I heard this, I was at a bar in Brussels, Belgium.

Updated version of "These Eyes"...

Am I crazy or do these two bands really have similar sounds?  I dunno.  I was really enjoying listening to them last night, though.  Will have to become more familiar with their sound.