n the world of the rich and heinous, Jessica and Nick have split up. I suspect it's because she was wearing that chocolate pudding perfume she's selling and Nick just doesn't dig chocolate. Or maybe she realized that being married to someone way smarter than her wasn't working. In any case, the DVDs of their show as well as her coffee table book about weddings will be coming to an eBay auction near you.
Peter Gallagher, whom I've had a crush on for decades, has released an album called '7 Days In Memphis.' After a lengthy career on the silver screen and in musicals, the folks at Epic Records asked him to cut an album, so he did. It's a collection of lesser-known Soul covers. Hop online and visit your favorite music store to hear some clips. Now if he'd only tour here with this album... .
I was at Annex 3 the other evening with a friend from out of town when it happened again. An R&B/Funk track from back in the day poured out of the speakers and I nearly lost my mind. For years I've found myself rediscovering music I'd heard as a kid. When I was a little boy, the radio was my obsession. But somehow I never thought to write the names of the songs I liked down.
But that didn't matter. The fabulous bartender knew exactly who it was. 'Oh child, this is The Brothers Johnson, and the track is called 'I'll Be Good To You' ' A little Googling later, a quick purchase online, and the track was mine.
The story behind the track goes like this: Sometime in 1975 George Johnson ( one half of The Brothers Johnson ) , was tired of playing the field and decided to dedicate himself to just one lady. He wrote the song for her. Quincy Jones produced it on their album Look Out For #1 in 1976 and it became the first hit song for The Brothers Johnson. The track is so happy and bright, if you don't like this song there's something seriously wrong with you.
Historically speaking, you can hear all the beginnings of the Disco to House music transition in that song. It's heavy on the keyboard synths and hissy hi-hats. There's even a hand-clap/rim-shot in the background that hits on the second and fourth beats. Only a few years later, that same beat pattern, taken directly from Disco, would be burning up dance floors under the moniker 'House Music.'
A little over ten years after the '76 hit, Quincy was working on his album 'Back On The Block' and decided to record Chaka Khan doing a remake of 'I'll Be Good To You.' During one of the recording sessions, Quincy's friend Ray Charles phoned, and Quincy asked Ray to contribute some vocals. Without hesitation, he agreed, and their duo went on to win the 1990 Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo.
All that from an innocent cocktail at Annex 3. Who knew?
Good to you in 4/4,
Peter Mavrik
peter@windycitymediagroup.com
