Remembering Rhythm & Blues: April 2007

With The Persuaders, It's A Thin Line Between Love And Hate

I'm just not feeling it today folks and the weather outside, which is horribly cold with rain and wind, is just not helping! So naturally, I'm working hard and listening to some music and what should find it's way on my radio? The 1971 hit, Thin Line Between Love and Hate by The Persuaders. Wow! This song, coupled with my funky ass mood, has me really feeling like laying an evil eye on a brotha.

The Persuaders are a New York based soul band, with some fame in the 1970s, known for their hit song "Thin Line Between Love and Hate".

The Persuaders' sound involved close harmony and a heavily- orchestrated soul and rhythm and blues approach, the trademark of the Poindexter Brothers, Richard and Bobby, who produced most of the early 70s hits.

The Persuaders perform to this day, although with a changed lineup that features Richard Poindexter who co-wrote most of their earlier hits including "Thin Line Between Love And Hate", "Peace In The Valley of Love" and "Love's Gonna Pack Up".

The group brought out four albums in the 70s and then in 2006, The Persuaders released a new CD called "Made To Be Loved" on It's Soul Time! Records.

Now, I've heard many versions of this song, from The Pretenders for instance, but quite frankly my all time favorite would have to be H-Town's rendition for the 1996 film of the same name. The updated riffs and the added H-Town bounce conveyed so much of the dangerous emotion surrounding a situation such as the one The Persuaders created. All men need to heed the words of this song, for real:

THE SWEETEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD
COULD BE THE MEANEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD
(IF YOU MAKE HER THAT WAY)
YOU KEEP HURTING HER
SHE'LL KEEP BEING QUIET
SHE MIGHT BE HOLDING SOMETHING INSIDE
THAT'LL REALLY, REALLY HURT YOU ONE DAY

The Persuaders

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posted by Soulfull @ 4/27/2007 , , , links to this post

Walking With Isaac Hayes

I need to take a walk... If you see me walking down the street
And I start to cry each time we meet
Walk on by, walk on by

Make believe
that you don't see the tears
Just let me grieve
in private 'cause each time I see you
I break down and cry
And walk on by (don't stop)
And walk on by (don't stop)
And walk on by

It's amazing how fast sugar can turn to shit. You think you got all the answers and you're coasting to the finish line and BAM! A roadblock presents itself. The ups and downs of love can really make me nauseous and NOTHING conjures up the pain and anguish of a broken heart like Isaac Hayes's remake of Walk On By. You can feel the pain in the horns, the loneliness in the drums, yet there's so much pride in the bass. "'Walk On By' would be the first of many times Hayes would take a Bacharach standard, generally made famous as three minute pop songs by Dionne Warwick or Dusty Springfield, and transform it into an unrecognizable, lengthy and almost psychedelic number."

Isaac Lee Hayes (born August 20, 1942, in Covington, Tennessee) is an actor, soul singer, Academy Award-winning songwriter, musician, and arranger. He voiced the character "Chef", a singing ladies' man and elementary school cook, on the animated sitcom South Park.

In 1972, Hayes won an Oscar for Best Original Song for the film Shaft. Hayes became the first African American to win an Academy Award in a non-acting category. After Hattie McDaniel, James Baskett and Sidney Poitier, he became only the fourth performer of African descent to ever receive an Academy Award. He was also nominated in the Best Original Score category (for Shaft) as well.

Hayes won Grammy awards for:

* Best Instrumental Arrangement, "Theme From Shaft" (arranged with Johnny Allen) in 1971
* Best Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or A Television Special,"Theme From Shaft" in 1971
* Best Pop Instrumental Performance By An Arranger, Composer, Orchestra and/or Choral Leader, "Black Moses" in 1972

In 1992, Hayes was crowned an honorary king of Ghana's Ada district thanks to his humanitarian deeds.

On June 9, 2005, Hayes was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame alongside Bill Withers, Steve Cropper, Robert B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, John Fogerty and his longtime writing partner David Porter.

Some of my favorite tracks from Hayes include Theme from Shaft, The Look of Love, If Loving You is Wrong (I Don't Want to Be Right), and Let's Stay Together. Still I remember watching this video thinking how cool this dude STILL is. Nothing seems to slow Isaac down. Now if I can just find out what his secret is...

Walk On By (Live at Music Scene 1969 Bozo)

Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay (Live at The Staxx Showcase during South by Southwest 2007)

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isaac hayes 70s soul

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posted by Soulfull @ 4/02/2007 , , , links to this post

When I'm With Tony Terry

At some point today, I found myself unable to let go of the Terry's 90's hit, With You. I have such a soft spot for the gooey goodness of this sweeter than sweet love song. I'd like to think that in some way I've found the kind of love that Terry coos about, the kind of love that makes people 'stop and stare and smile', but I know deep down I'm not all that into making 'a scene' in public. LOL! Check out a little history on this Washington, DC native:

Throughout the beginning of his career, Terry landed backup singing jobs for the R&B/pop group Sweet Sensation and hip-hop group The Boogie Boys. In 1987, he signed a record deal with Epic/CBS Records. Terry's first single, "She's Fly", was released the same year, and peaked at number 10 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart. Forever Yours, Terry's debut album for Epic, was released in 1988, and reached the Top 30 of Billboard's R&B albums chart. The follow-up to "She's Fly", "Lovey Dovey", hit number-four on the R&B charts. It was his biggest hit. The single "Forever Yours" was a modest hit, reaching the R&B Top 20.

Terry's second album, a self-titled release, included the single "With You", which was a Top 20 hit on Billboard's pop chart as well as the R&B chart. "Everlasting Love", a number-six R&B hit as was "With You", was also successful. After leaving Epic, Terry moved over to Virgin Records. His debut album for the label was 1994's Heart Of A Man. The album was a commercial failure in sales and on the charts. The following year, Terry contributed background vocals to a track on Yolanda Adams's album More Than A Melody. As the years went by, Terry began to develop his acting talents, landing roles in stage plays.

Man, I have an EVERLASTING LOVE for Mr. Tony Terry so be sure to check out his website here to hear songs from his album, Changed.

With You (1990 Video)