The staff at Monahanssong recently started debating which song deserved credit among all the many that are out there as "The First Rock and Roll Song Ever". Many of the usual suspects surfaced, so there was consensus that "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets deserved consideration, as did "Saturday Night Fish Fry" by Louis Jordan which was featured in this blog in August 2012.
Our further research shows that there is heated debate through the years as to what song deserves the honor, and even the criteria for judging is not fully agreed upon. We are never afraid to wade into debate and would invite you to join the fray...
What song do YOU think deserves credit? Let us know and we will publish the list as well as provide you with a selection of experts choices as well as our own pick for "The First Rock and Roll Song Ever." #monahanssong
Yup, the contest is still on for Best Holiday Song and our staff is having a listening party on Friday to pick the winner. So far we have 20 candidates. In the meantime, and since it has not been nominated, we submit this one for your approval.
A capella, (in the U.S. acapella) is singing without instrumental accompaniment. If you close your eyes during this video, you would certainly believe there is a band behind Nota. They define it themselves as "only human voices, no drums, no guitars, no keys, no horns, no exceptions."
Nota was the first band to win the $100,000 grand prize and recording contractd in "The Sing Off", a show that ran three seasons featuring only acapella groups and was very popular but expensive to run. Many of the groups had as many as 25 members (usually college acapella ensembles) and they had to be put up, fed and videoed.
Nota has been on a journey since The Sing Off. Since then, they have astounded audiences across the country and in their homeland of Puerto Rico with performances that you have to see to believe.
Nota is a group of six male vocalists from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The group met in 1994 and started singing together occasionally. Johnny Figueroa, Nota's bass singer, first heard of The Sing-Off during the summer of 2009. He called five other people he had sung with on and off with for 15 years, seeking the five best singers for the competition. There was initially some doubt that members Rodriguez and Rios would be able to participate as both had family members sick with the H1N1 virus. David Pinto was unsure if he could participate in the competition, due to financial issues. Daddy Yankee, whom Pinto was working with, paid the airline bill in order for Pinto to participate in the competition. All five entered the competition.
They released an album in November 2010, and a Christmas album (only $1.99 on Amazon!) in December of the same year.
No need to tell you about the song "All I want for Christmas is You", as it is a modern day holiday classic and featured in the brilliant movie "Love Actually".
So grab an egg nog, click below and close your eyes...
So what would happen if an amazing strong-voiced singer collaborated on an album with a latter-day guitar legend? The result would be 2011's album "Don't Explain", which featured ten hand selected R & B/blues classics (Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Billie Holliday etc.) interpreted by Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa and his band.
Both of them are based in L.A., but had not played together prior to this project. The story goes that Bonamassa was listening to Tina Turner on the Rolling Stones "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out" and said out loud "Beth Hart!" They later bumped into each other in Holland and they were off to the races.
To say that "I'd Rather Go Blind" is a cover is an understatement. This deliciously sad blues and soul standard was written by Ellington Jordan and recorded by Etta James in 1968. Since then there has been a parade of cover versions by the likes of Little Milton, Chicken Shack, Koko Taylor, Man Man, Rod Stewart, B.B. King,Paul Weller, Ruby Turner, Marcia Ball, Sydney Youngblood and Beyonce' (Just to name a few). The consensus has been that Etta's version along with Rod Stewart's are the best versions to date. I must weigh in however that the version on this album is the best.
Beth Hart: According to producer Kevin Shirley, “Beth’s got a pretty heady voice, very reminiscent of Janis Joplin, and she’s also got a lot of Etta James in her, but hadn’t really accessed it yet,” says Shirley. “With this material, there is a gentleness to the way she delivers the most heartfelt tunes that she hasn’t shown before.”
Joe Bonamassa: According to a review by Bluebird Records, "Joe Bonamassa continues to embrace his legendary guitar talent and carefully places razor sharp guitar solos, accents, blues riffs and soul rhythms to these songs."
The album landed in the top 50 albums chart in eight countries including England, Germany and Switzerland. The U.S.? No better than 120. Guess we were all listening to Tony Bennett, "Duets II".
Enjoy. This baby comes in at just over eight minutes...
