Rest in peace, James Ingram...

Just before I went to sleep last night, I got the news that James Ingram died yesterday.  His death was announced on Twitter by his old friend, Debbie Allen.  Ms. Allen, fondly remembered as Lydia Grant on Fame, did not specify the cause or time of death.  However, I woke up this morning to see Mr. Ingram's death being reported by the likes of the New York Times. 

I grew up in the 1980s, so my childhood was peppered with songs by James Ingram.  I always appreciated his rich, warm, elegant baritone and R&B sensibility.  I can't think of a single song he ever did that I didn't enjoy.  I especially loved his duets with Patti Austin, "Baby, Come To Me" and "How Do You Keep the Music Playing", both of which I like to sing myself.

Sigh... 

Patti Austin and James Ingram were perfect together.

James Ingram also memorably sang "Somewhere Out There" with Linda Ronstadt, a song I like to sing myself.  And he sang the soulful, faithful duet, "Yah Mo Be There" with Michael McDonald.

"Somewhere Out There"

"Yah Mo Be There"

I also remember his hits, "One Hundred Ways" and "Just Once", both of which came out in the early 1980s and still sound great over 35 years later. 

"One Hundred Ways"

"Just once"

I remember buying his greatest hits compilation, The Power of Great Music, when I was in college and a member of BMG Music Club.  I wasn't familiar with all of the songs on that CD, but once I listened to them, I loved each song.  Mr. Ingram kind of dropped off the radar in the 90s and 00s.  I do remember wondering what happened to him.  I notice that he stayed married to just one woman, Debra Robinson, whom he married in 1975, before he was a star.  

It always saddens me to hear about the death of people who were popular when I was a child.  James Ingram was just 66 years old, which seems too young for death.  My heart goes out to his family and friends who knew him best and will miss his presence for more than just the great music he made.

Rest in peace, James Ingram.

Eight classic feminist anthems...

Since today is Election Day in the USA and we may be getting our very first female president, I think I will focus today's post on classic feminist anthems.  There have been a few of them and this blog is mainly about music from the past, so I will focus on a few that have been around for a long time.  The one that was running through my brain this morning is this one.

Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin sing "Sisters are Doin' it for Themselves"

This was a big hit in the 1980s.  I also seem to remember it being used on The First Wives Club soundtrack back in 1996.  It seems rather appropriate to have this song on the brain today, even though I can't say I'm a big fan of Hillary Clinton's.

No post about feminist anthems would be complete without this song, Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman".  I was never really a big fan of this song.  It came out the year I was born.  But it does seem fitting to listen to it today.

"You Don't Own Me" sung by the late Lesley Gore.  Interestingly enough, toward the end of her life, she came out as a lesbian.  This song was a hit in the 1960s, when it was considered rather edgy.

Dolly lets everyone know... "My mistakes are no worse than yours 'Just Because I'm a Woman'."

Linda Ronstadt, as lead singer of The Stone Poneys, reminds her man that she's not ready for any person, place, or thing to try the pull the reins...

Gloria Gaynor shitcans her louse of a man and tells him she will survive.

Granted, Aretha Franklin is covering a song by Otis Redding, but "Respect" is an ageless song that commands respect from anyone who listens.  You tell 'em, Aretha.

And finally, Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand sing a disco anthem for the ages.  Enough is enough, dammit!

When you think about it, these ladies offered voices for countless women who were emerging from patriarchy.  Not everyone appreciates feminism or feminists.  Personally, I'm for equality, even as I realize we'll probably never really have it.  It certainly won't happen before I'm dead.  I'm not sure what the outcome of today's election will be.  Regardless of who wins, I'm sure there will be bitching aplenty tomorrow.  It makes me glad we're going to Ireland, where we can drown our sorrows for a few days.

Regardless, I'm glad to see a woman is running for president and has a real shot at winning.  It'll be interesting to see who prevails.

Goodbye My Friend...

If you've been reading my main blog, you know that my father died two days ago.  I've already done posts about funeral songs on this blog, so I won't rehash that now.  Instead, I'll just write about a song I recorded in May.  I guess I knew my dad was going to be dying soon, but really I just liked the sentiment of the song, "Goodbye My Friend".  It was written by Karla Bonoff, who recorded it for one of her albums.  Linda Ronstadt later recorded it for her Cry Like A Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind album.    

Karla Bonoff's version...

Linda Ronstadt's version…

Oh we never know where life will take us
We know it's just a ride on the wheel
And we never know when death will shake us
And we wonder how it will feel

So goodbye my friend
I know I'll never see you again
But the time together through all the years
Will take away these tears
It's O.K. now
Goodbye my friend

I'd see a lot of things that made me crazy
And I guess I held on to you
You could've run away and left, well maybe
But it wasn't time and we both knew

So goodbye my friend
I know I'll never see you again
But the love you gave me through all the years
Will take away my tears
I'm O.K. now
Goodbye my friend

A life so fragile, a love so pure
We can't hold on but we try
We watch how quickly it disappears
And we'll never know why

But I'm O.K. now
Goodbye my friend
You can go now
Goodbye my friend

Read more: Karla Bonoff - Goodbye My Friend Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

My version…

I wish I could accompany myself…

This song really sums up how I feel about losing my dad.  It's bittersweet…   

Desperado done many different ways...

"Desperado" is one of those classic songs that everyone wants to do.  It was written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey and, of course, that is the best known and best loved version…

Given how militant Don Henley is about copyrights, it won't surprise me if this video is either pulled, muted, or blocked.  But here it is for the time being.  I do like the song and Don Henley as a performer, but I think he's a bit of an ass.

Linda Ronstadt also sang this song.  I think I like her version the best, mainly because it's easiest for me to copy…  ;-)

Clint Black gave this song a go for the Common Thread compilation album he and a bunch of country singers did for Don Henley's Walden Woods project.

Even Karen Carpenter sang this song!  I can only imagine Richard Carpenter negotiating for the rights to let Karen sing this.  The Carpenters vs. Don Henley and Glenn Frey (or their representatives)…  I bet it was epic.

And so did Kenny Rogers.  This rendition is kind of funny.  It sounds like pure 70s era lounge cheese!  I mean, Kenny sings it alright, but the keyboards are all shitty.  I can imagine sitting there at the bar with some kind of brown liquor getting all fucked up listening to this.  It might even make me want to start smoking.

As I'm scrolling through the renditions posted on YouTube, I see that many videos have been muted.  I know, it's all about copyright infringement and shit… but everyone knows the song and most of us have bought at least one copy of it.  Don and Glenn have made money and so have the record companies.  And honestly, as much as I respect someone's right to their intellectual property and all, I also think that if someone likes your music enough to post it or sing it and they aren't making money off of it, you can only benefit.

That being said, here's my version… for today, anyway.



This is a great song to let go on.  I do it well when I'm drunk.  Or maybe I just imagine it.  

Somewhere Out There...

I remember when this duet featuring Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram came out in the 1980s.  I got kind of sick of hearing it.  Now, many years later, I see it's actually a very lovely duet from the animated film, An American Tail.



I think the time I heard it that really touched me was when it was used in an episode of Designing Women.  Dolly Parton was a guest star playing an angel and they played this song at the end, as a woman was dying and a new baby was being born...  I ended up a blubbering mess.  In the clip below, it starts at about 4:48.



I posted my half of the duet on SingSnap yesterday and a good guy singer named Bradlee joined me...



This guy deserves mad props.  He really nailed it.

On a related note, I watched the end of that Designing Women episode and am now sitting here blubbering again.  Dammit!  I was never a fan of that show, but that particular episode was just awesome.

Linda Ronstadt has lost her voice...

I will probably blog about this on Pop Rock Nation next week, but I wanted to post about Linda Ronstadt and her sudden revelation that she was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease eight months ago.  Apparently, she had been experiencing symptoms for about eight years, but finally saw a neurologist who figured out what the problem is.  Linda Ronstadt says that she can't sing a note anymore and that no one with Parkinson's Disease can sing.

I was very sad to read about this.  Linda Ronstadt is one of my many inspirations.  I have always enjoyed her huge voice and willingness to dabble in so many styles.  My father is also dealing with Parkinson's Disease and was always a singer.  He can't sing anymore either, mainly because he was intubated with a trach tube for many weeks and one of his vocal cords atrophied.  But I imagine the Parkinson's Disease really doesn't help at all.

I can't imagine how devastating it must be for someone so gifted to suddenly lose that gift.  I love singing and get so much joy from it.  I would be sad if I couldn't do it anymore.  I remember when I lived in Armenia, I got sick with a nasty cold that somehow got into my chest and messed up my voice for weeks.  For several weeks, I could speak normally, but completely lost my ability to sing.  I finally recovered, but I remember well how that felt.  But, of course, temporarily losing my voice is nothing compared to permanently losing it.

Julie Andrews can probably relate, too.  She had vocal nodes and got surgery that permanently affected her voice.  Julie Andrews had one of the most splendid instruments.  I'm certain that after that surgery, her life changed in a huge way.  I read Julie Andrews' life story several years ago.  She ended her story in 1962.  I guess she figured she could write another book about the rest of her life.

Linda Ronstadt has a new memoir coming out next month.  I understand she makes no mention of Parkinson's Disease or her vocal loss.  I still look forward to reading about her musical life.  I hope writing is as fulfilling to her as making music has been.

When I Grow Too Old To Dream...

I discovered this classic song by watching The Muppet Show.  Linda Ronstadt was a guest star and this was her second number.  I have already blogged about that here in my Dungeon of the Past, but since I've been moving and not doing much music lately, I got inspired this morning to see if I could sing that pretty song, too.  Lo and behold, I did find a suitable karaoke track.  I changed the original key and recorded it on SingSnap and then put it on Audition and changed the key to something more appropriate for my vocals.

When I have more time (and privacy, since Bill is home), I will make a video with it.  I think my videos turn out better than SingSnap because they don't rely on Internet speed and don't end up with timing issues.

We don't have a regular Internet connection right now, so this recording-- which sounds fine on my end-- may be messed up on other peoples' ends.  I made a recording the other day and someone said the timing was way off, though it seemed fine when I listened to it.  But anyway, this is what I've done so far.



I may later try it in a different key that would have me singing higher, but I wouldn't go for the dramatic ending if I do that.  Don't want to sound like a pipsqueak.

This is a really lovely, romantic standard from 1934 with music by Sigmund Romberg and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II that doesn't get enough airplay.  I would like to eventually try to do it justice.  Besides, I need to start using all these Adobe tools I now have, since they're costing me $50 a month.

ETA:  I recorded this today.  I used Audition to change the key and then did the actual recording with Garage Band.  I might try some harmonies with it next.  It's simple and would probably be pretty with a little contrast.



I re-recorded in a higher key...



And then added two harmonies, which I didn't quite get perfect...



The timing is also whack, but this song has potential...  Might try again when my net is regular.

Goodnight...

Ever heard the song "Goodnight" by The Beatles?

It's kind of a sweet lullaby.

Karen Carpenter sang a gorgeous version of the same song in 1969, accompanied by the choir at California State University at Long Beach and her brother, Richard.

I love the way Karen sings this song, but I also love the addition of the choir, which gives the song depth and texture.  It's beautiful.  I remember when I bought The Carpenters' box set From The Top and heard that deep cut for the first time.  It was stunning.

Years later, I bought a CD of lullabies put out by...  Martha Stewart!  The funny thing is, the liner notes had little to do with the music.  They were all about decorating the nursery and breast milk.  I have a hard time believing Martha breastfed her daughter, but I digress.

Linda Ronstadt's cover of "Goodnight" was on that collection by Martha Stewart.  It was breathy and kind of ethereal and I liked it less than Karen's take, even though I generally like Linda Ronstadt's music.

It would be interesting what Karen Carpenter would have done if she hadn't died so young.  I would have been interested to hear her voice change as she aged.  

My "comforting" playlist...

Some time ago, I made playlists for my iMac.  I usually play them on weekends, when my husband and I are at home together.  I made an 80s list, a 70s list, a holiday mix, and a "comforting" playlist.  Basically, this is a list of songs that are "comforting", no matter which decade they came from.  I find the older I get, the more I want to listen to comforting music.  I no longer care too much about the edgiest, newest stuff, though I still enjoy it to an extent.  I like music that makes me feel good and relaxes me.  I figure as long as I don't start listening to Muzak, I'm okay.

Today, I turned on the mix because I felt like making bread and figured that called for a little baking music.  I've had the mix on all day.  I'm trying to listen to as much as possible, because I have it set to play in order of plays.  The songs I've listened to most often play first and so on.  I have so many songs on my comforting mix, though, that some songs never get played.  It's not because I don't like them.  I just never get to them.

I suppose I could rearrange the list, but I always end up changing it back to the number of plays...

So I've heard a lot of...

And so many others before I get even close to the end of the mix...

Good thing my husband is so patient and doesn't mind when I get in the mood to be soothed.

Linda Ronstadt sings with the Muppets...

I love vintage Linda Ronstadt, before she hooked up with Nelson Riddle and Aaron Neville.  I love her 70s era rock and those soaring, piercing, passionate vocals she was always so famous for.  On the other hand, I also like it when she simmers down a bit with a good standard.

The other night, I was sitting here alone because my husband has been out of town on business.  I had a nice glass of wine and was listening to music.  Suddenly, I remembered an old episode of The Muppet Show, which featured Linda Ronstadt as a guest star.  I remembered a gorgeous song she performed with Kermit and company and decided to find it on YouTube...

Here it is for your viewing pleasure... "When I Grow Too Old To Dream".  Man, I miss the 70s sometimes...

I'm glad I got to grow up at a time when shows like The Muppet Show were still considered entertaining.

The many stylings of "I Will Always Love You..."

With all the talk about Whitney Houston this week, it may seem odd that I would bring up Linda Ronstadt...

But did you know that Linda also had a very successful cover of Dolly Parton's hit, "I Will Always Love You"?  I heard it for the first time this week and loved it...

I don't go to Linda Ronstadt for my politics, but man can that woman sing!  I love most of her music.  And I like what she did with Dolly's song.

When I hear Linda sing this, I hear her influencing Whitney's version on the chorus; while Dolly influenced the way Whitney did the verses.  Whitney sings the verses quietly and with emotion, then lets loose on the chorus the way Linda does.  Kevin Costner reportedly was familiar with Linda's version and brought it to David Foster to arrange for Whitney.  The end result was phenomenal...

  

And now even Glee is getting in on the act.  Sheesh!