Happy Sunday! It’s my birthday. Gemini gang! I feel so old and so young at the same time it’s weird. I’m still in Europe about to have a little three day mental reset in the Italian countryside with my beautiful lady. In honor of all the above, I’m sharing three soul classics. It’s been my favorite genre to listen to lately because it always just puts me in a good mood and today is all about being happy.
He’s So Easy to Love - Roddie Joy
There’s something special about discovering a song that feels like it’s been waiting just for you. That’s what “He’s So Easy to Love” by Roddie Joy is to me. Released in 1965 on the iconic Red Bird label, this track never cracked the mainstream, but it should’ve.
Wrapped in lush arrangements and led by Joy’s effortlessly tender vocal, it’s pure feel good soul. Think heart-on-your-sleeve energy with a beat made for dancing in your living room with that special someone. You can feel the era in it. This song belongs on your date night at home playlist. Enjoy!
I Choose You - Chicago Gangsters
The fact that these guys aren’t more well-known or even talked about in music circles is absolutely mind-boggling to me. The group was made up of about 10 musicians from New York, not Chicago lmfao. Not entirely sure how they landed on their name given their origins.
Anyway, if you want nine minutes of soul magic for your Sunday morning, this song will do the trick. The album, also titled I Choose You, was released in the ’70s and never got much critical or commercial attention. So it’s not all that surprising it flies under the radar today. But even the few reviews you can find online don’t seem to think it’s anything special.
Personally, I think the whole album is a masterpiece. One of the greatest soul albums I’ve ever heard. No joke. If you like this song, you should definitely listen to the entire album. It won’t disappoint. My two other favorites are “Let Me Go” and “Blind Over You.”
In Summertime - Ronnie McNeir
This song feels like a warm breeze coming through the blinds in a sun drenched living room in the middle of summer. Its got that undeniable '70s glow. Warm piano chords, lush string arrangements, and Ronnie’s voice floating on top like an angel.
McNeir has a unique playing style rooted in intuition. He quit formal piano lessons early on and started figuring things out by ear. As a result, his chords move in these slightly backward progressions. Ronnie was also a member of The Four Tops (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) in the late '90s when Levi Stubbs’ health declined. Before that he served as their musical director.
If you’ve never heard this one, then here’s your chance to experience an ear-gasm.
Quote of the Day
Money had never been the main thing for me. It's the legacy that was important.
Video of the Day
Man, music was just different back in the day. It’ shame artist’s don’t perform with bands like this any more. A dialed in band just brings so much energy and perspective to a performance. You lose that when you just sing over tracks or some highly directed set. I’ll just let this one sit here while you appreciate the talent of the great Marvin Gaye, live in the flesh at Montreux Jazz Festival in 1980.
Photo of the Day
I love this photo cause you can really feel the energy of the moment. Not mention there’s some absolute legends including Smokey Robinson in the background, Louis Armstrong on the right and Berry Gordon, founder and executive producer of Motown Records holding down the keys. I think the woman holding the microphone is Martha Reeves but I’m not entirely sure. This photo was shot inside Hitsville, USA aka the birth place of the Motown movement in 1964. What a time..
My birthday wish is for you to share this with someone if you enjoyed what I had to share today.
One love!