Our crew has been decimated by whatever flu and bug that has tortured the residents of Florida the last 90 days. We are looking more like Monahan's Song of the Month right now. But the crew is filtering back in off of the sick list and we'll be picking up the pace.
James Hunter (James Huntsman), was born in England in 1962. He was influenced by his grandmothers 50's and 60's rock and R & B 78 rpm records and also by his older brother Perry Huntsman who plays fingerstyle acoustic guitar.
He would work for the railroad by day and do any gigs he could get. Hunter's career began with a band called "Howlin' Wilf and the Vee-Jays," who released their first album in 1986 entitled Cry Wilf. Later he released three more with his own band.One evening at a 90's show in Wales, Van Morrison caught his act an hired him on to his tour as a backup singer. According to Hunter's bio on his website: Morrison said, “He’s one of the best voices and best kept secrets in British R&B and soul.” He would appear on two of Van's albums before putting one out of his own.
This 2006 breakthrough albumPeople Gonna Talk, was nominated for aGrammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album that year. He released another critically acclaimed album in 2008 called The Hard Way. This album was praise by Rolling Stone with the accolade: “unbelievably awesome” and the New York Times praised the albums “tight, slithery groove” and “sweet growl.” The Hard Way is where you will find "Carina".
I'll steal your heart away in time It's only fair cause you have mine Oh Carina Don't make me wait too long
Baby can you tell me true Do I stand a chance with you Oh Carina Don't make me wait too long
Good things will come To those who wait But too long will be too late
I'll be brave as I know how Courage don't you fail me now Oh Carina don't make me wait too long
"Carina" feels like is was recorded at Muscle Shoals in 1958, not 2008. It is a smooth delight mixing Hunters effortless singing with plucking violins and a beautiful piano riff floating in the background. A total keeper and a unanimous choice by the crew at Monahan's Song of the Week. There is not a lot more about him on the net, but we have his three albums and that is doing the talking for him. "Carina" came out as an animated video, and we think you will enjoy it!
"Moondance" was the big hit on the identically titled album by Van Morrison in 1970. Looking back on that album, Moondance got all the airplay and one would think that "Glad Tidings" was an afterthought as it was the tenth and last cut on the album.
According to Van, he received a letter while he was in New York from a friend in London. The friend had written glad tidings on the back of the envelope and that gave him the idea for the song.
We read a number of old reviews and they were dead on in that it sounds like something coming right out of an old R & B studio. Vans vocals are sincere, smooth and soulful. The horn arrangements are classic and don't step on the vocals at all.
The song was featured throughout the final episode of The Soprano's fifth season and went so far as to let us her van sing "We send you glad tidings from New York" as Tony Blundetto (Steve Buscemi) is blown away by Tony Soprano (John Gandolfini) wielding a shotgun. The show gave this song another life.
And they'll lay you down low in the easy And the lips that you kiss will say Christmas. And the miles that you traveled the distance
So believe no lies, dry your eyes and realize That surprise La, la, la, la la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la... And the businessmen will shake hands and talk in numbers And the princess will wake up from her slumber Then all the knights will step forth with their arm bands And ev'ry stranger you meet in the street will make demands So believe no lies, then dry your eyes and realize That surprise La, la, la...
[Bridge:] And we'll send you glad tidings from New York Open up your eyes so you may see Ask you not to read between the lines Hope that you will come in right on time And they'll talk to you while you're in trances And you'll visualize not taking any chances But meet them halfway with love, peace and persuasion And expect them to rise for the occasion Don't it gratify when you see it materialize Right in front of your eyes That surprise
And they'll lay you down low and easy As for Morrison, there is not enough room on this blog to do his work justice.
George Ivan Morrison was born in Northern Ireland in 1945. He played several instruments and sang with traditional Irish show bands before becoming lead vocalist for Them, an R & B band from the area. They were most identified by the song "Gloria"
Van would strike out on his own in 1967 as the smash "Brown Eyed Girl" was coming out. He has been recording and performing ever since. He has 30 + albums to his credit, six Grammys, and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has numerous foreign awards as well and got his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.
