Summer Soul Station Part 10: Blue Eyed Soul
Summer Soul Station is still on the road! I love those radio friendly and most of all car friendly songs I grew up with in the seventies and eighties. I lived in a small village back then, so the radio was the only source to hear new music. I listened a lot to common names like Toto, Steely Dan, Roxy Music and Boz Scaggs who made really enjoyable blue eyed soul. Or perhaps it’s better to call it (soft) rock with disco and soul influences. Pale British singer James Blunt is one of the latest artists in that tradition. By the way, glam rock star David Bowie was one of the first white guys (after Elton John and Gino Vannelli) to perform on the American television show Soul Train (in 1975). Luther Vandross used to be one of his background singers. This mixtape is a tribute to that disco/rock sound. It pays homage to the Volkswagen Beetle as well, a car my father used to drive. And no, it’s not my mother blowing bubbles in front of the colourful car in the picture… ;-) I included an edit of a classic from Andrew Gold. He passed away two months ago. His contributions to pop music were always wonderful. Front man Dan Peek of folk rock band America left us last month (I put in a Todd Terje edit of 'Horse with no name'). Singer Les Gray of British quartet Mud died of a heart attack seven years ago, but it was his voice, his energy, his charisma and his enthusiasm that introduced me to pop music back in 1974. Guitarist Rob Davis of the band became a dance producer later on and wrote ‘Can’t get you out of my head’ for Kylie Minogue. Drummer Dave Mount tragically took his own life in 2006. Bass player Ray Stiles is a member of The Hollies nowadays. Mud recorded 'Drift away' in 1978, but it was originally sung by John Henry Kurtz on his album 'Reunion' in 1972. The soul version that Dobie Gray (no family of singer Les Gray) made of it a year later, is the most popular one. By the way, Michael Omartian, key member of Rhythm Heritage ('Caravan') and producer of Christopher Cross, played piano on 'Reunion' from John Henry Kurtz.
If you like this one, check out my Trip To The Seaside on AOR Disco. Picture above from Fine Cars. The next episode will be the summer of Motown!
Tracklist:
Joss Stone – Don’t Cha Wanna Ride (2004)
Dillard & Clark – The Radio Song (1968)
It’s Immaterial – Driving Away From Home (1986)
James Blunt – Stay The Night (2010)
Prefab Sprout – Cars And Girls (1988)
Sparks – Let The Monkey Drive (2008)
Rhythm Heritage – Caravan (1976)
Bryan Ferry – The Right Stuff (1987)
David Bowie – Golden Years (1975)
Cat Stevens – Banapple Gas (1976)
Ozark Henry – Word Up (2001)
Andrew Gold – Lonely Boy [Northern Rascal Edit] (2011)
America – A Horse With No Name [Wade Nichols aka Todd Terje Edit] (2008)
Andy Gibb – Shadow Dancing (1977)
Mud – Drift Away (1978)
Daryl Hall & John Oates – Rich Girl (1977)
Shuggie Otis – Strawberry Letter 23 (1971)
Henry Mancini – The Thief Who Came To Dinner (1973)
Steely Dan – Green Earrings [Fat Camp Scratch Re-edit] (2009)
Dennis Coffey – Knockabout [Eddy’s Edit] (2011)
Bojoura – The Letter (1974)
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